Rajasthan

Appearance

India's National Space Policy (NSP) 2023 ​

  • Objective: To govern the activities of the Indian space sector and promote participation from Non-Government Entities (NGEs).
  • Key Roles Defined:
    EntityPrimary Function
    ISROFocus on R&D, development of new technologies, and strategic national missions.
    IN-SPACeSingle-window regulatory and promotional body for NGEs. Authorizes and supervises space activities.
    NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL)Commercial arm of ISRO, responsible for transfer of technologies and commercial exploitation of R&D outputs.
  • NGEs are permitted to carry out activities in areas including satellite communication, data collection, and launch vehicle operation, subject to authorization.
  • The policy encourages academic institutions and private industry involvement in future space exploration missions.

Geopolitical Crisis in Sudan (April 2023) ​

  • Conflict Participants: Fighting primarily between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
  • Cause of Conflict: A power struggle stemming from the failure to integrate the SAF and RSF under a unified military command, following the 2021 military coup.
  • Impact: Severe humanitarian crisis, focused heavily in the capital city, Khartoum. Widespread shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
  • International Response (Evacuation Missions):
    • India: Launched Operation Kaveri to evacuate Indian citizens trapped in the conflict zone.
    • Other Nations: Multiple countries (including the US, UK, and France) conducted rapid evacuation efforts for their diplomatic staff and citizens.

World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2023 ​

  • The LPI measures the speed and reliability of supply chain performance across countries.
  • Metrics Used: The index is based on six key components: Customs, Infrastructure, International Shipments, Logistics Competence, Tracking & Tracing, and Timeliness.
  • India's Performance:
    • India registered a notable jump in ranking from the previous index.
    • 2023 Rank: 38th (out of 139 countries).
    • Improvement Areas: Significant progress recorded in the quality of infrastructure and the competence of logistics services.
  • The 2023 report emphasizes the increasing importance of digital infrastructure in improving trade logistics resilience.