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From e-Post to eIPO (Indian Postal Order)

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Syskool
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e-Post

e-post is a service in which customers’ printed or handwritten messages are scanned and transmitted as e-mail through internet. In fact, it is an unregistered hybrid mail that is designed to provide service to both individual as well as corporate customers. The message may include text message, scanned images, pictures etc. These messages are printed, enveloped at the destination offices and delivered in hard copies through postmen like other letters at the postal addresses.

On 30 January 2004, showing its commitment and desire to bridge the digital divide and to cater the benefit of the revolutionary internet technology to the people living in rural and remote areas, the Department of Post (DoP) introduced a nation- wide e-Post service.

Must Read: INDIA’S PROGRESS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Speaking at the launching ceremony of this Service then Secretary of the Department of Post had said that it is a great landmark’ in the history of India Post.

In fact, e-Post was started as a pilot project in 2002 in 205 Post Offices in Five States: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Kerala and Maharashtra.

At present, booking facility is procurable in more than 13,000 Post Offices and are physically delivered through a network of more than 1,55,000 Post Offices. e-Post costs just Rs. 10 per page of A4 size.

Corporate customers including Government Departments Public Sector Units (PSUs), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Companies etc. can also avail e-Post service from their offices by having a business agreement with Indian Post. Corporate customers get special e-Post rates and other value additions.

Also Read: UPSC Previous Paper – Science and Tech

e-Post Office

The e-Post Office is an e-Commerce shopping Portal of the Department of posts. In order to provide selected facility to the common man through the internet it sells Stamps, Postcards, Packets and Cartons. Aiming to provide convenience to the public it has services like courier, registering for electricity vendors, selling mobile cards etc.  Under this website products and services can be ordered by customers from their home/office for which they would have to use their own computer and internet by developing this web site.

e-Post office, brought to you by Post Corporation, is a service that makes mailing more convenient. EPO- commonly known by its web address, e-Post – permits candidates to receive their mail, conduct financial transactions and access information online.

By using e-Post services customers can purchase philatelic stamps and pay Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) premium online by using their credit/debit card through this postal. However, to avail these Services the first time customers would have to register on the website.

Don’t Miss: Infrastructure and development

Some of the Limitations are:

But like many other systems, this existing system of has got its limitations: this system does not cater all country products, items information like cards, inland covers and services like speed post; it does not provide mobile card details; it does not cater the service of paying electricity bills; this system does not maintain customers information.

eIPO (Electronic Indian Postal Order)

On 22 March 2013, the scheme of eIPO (Electronic Indian Postal Order) was launched by the Department of Post, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in association with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) with a view to enable Indian citizen living abroad to pay the RTI fee online through e-Post Office portal (https://www.epostoffice.gov.in)

On 13 February 2014, this facility was made available to Indian citizens living in India.

By using the website of e-Post portal, customers can buy an Indian Postal order electronically by paying a fee through the credit card or debit card of any bank powered by Visa/Master.

The RTI application having an e-Post is similar in all respects to the RTI application accompanied by fees through any other approved mode.

Must Read:Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

Economic Survey of India 2015-16 – Key Highlights

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Syskool
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economic survey key highlights

The Economic Survey 2015-16, presented in Parliament, has described external environment as challenging but projected a GDP growth rate of 7 to 7.75% in the next fiscal that could achieve the target of 8% in a couple of years. The Survey has also emphasized on carrying forward the reform to obtain macroeconomic stability.

The Economic Survey is presented in parliament as a pre-budget annual exercise during Budget Session. The Economic Survey is aimed at providing statistical analysis of economy during last fiscal by the Ministry of Finance.

Despite challenges and lower than projected GDP growth rate during 2015-16, the Survey has claimed, “the fiscal deficit target of 3.9% of GDP seems achievable.

Read Also:Union Budget of India 2016-17 – Key Features

The Economic Survey claimed that after achieving 7.2% economic growth in 2014-15, the growth in economy will be 7.6%, the fastest in the world, in the current fiscal. However, putting a note of caution it said that if the world economy remained weak, India’s growth would face considerable setbacks.

According to the Economic Survey, on the domestic front, two factors – if the Seventh Pay Commission is implemented and return of normal monsoon – can boost consumption through increased spending from higher wages allowances of government workers.

Along with this, the Economic Survey, mentioning three downside risks, said that trouble in global economy could worsen the prospect of experts; contrary to expectations, oil price rise would enhance the pull from consumption; and the most serious risk is the combination of these two.

The Economic Survey informed, “One of the most critical short term challenges confronting the Indian economy is the twin balance sheet problem – the impaired financial positions of the public sector banks and some corporate houses. The twin balance sheet challenge is a major impediment to provide investment and a full fledged economic recovery.”

Must Read: Both Rail Budget and Union Budget Go Green

The Economic Survey proposed that in order to obtain its long term potential growth rate of around 8 to 10%, India should endorse a three-pronged strategy by encouraging competition and investing health and education and in the process not neglecting agriculture.

The Survey suggests that India must plan for a major currency readjustment in Asia in the wake of a similar adjustment in China for it considers this as one tail-risk scenario.

The Economic Survey asked the banks, mentioning RBI’s appeal, to value their assets as for as possible to be true value(Recognition). The Survey further advised that once Banks do so, their capital, as per the demands of the Banks, must be safeguarded via infusions of equity (Recapitalization).

The survey further stressed that, as per the wish of the government, the underlying stressed assets in the corporate sector must be sold or rehabilitated (Resolution).

The Economic Survey disclosed that, as everyone has been demanding, the future incentives for the private sector and corporates must be set right(Reform) to eschew a repetition of the problem.

The Economic Survey was prepared by the Chief economic adviser, Arvind Subramanian, of the Ministry of Finance.

Also Read: Salient Features of Railway Budget 2016

 

Salient Features of Railway Budget 2016

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Syskool
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railway budget 2016

Union Minister Suresh Prabhu presented the Railway Budget 2016 his second Rail Budget- in Lok Sabha.

The Salient Features of the Railway budget are:

In Railway Budget 2016-17 passenger Fares and Fright rates have not been changed, giving relief to the millions of commuters as it was being anticipated that passenger Fares might be increased this time.

It is an announced that IRTC will start to manage catering in a phased be made available and children’s menu, baby foods, baby boards also be made available for travelling mothers.

It was informed that India Railway has already started using World’s first Bio-vacuum toilet developed by itself in Diburgarh Rajdhani Express. It has been proposed that 17000 Bio toilets and additional toilets at 475 stations will be provided prior to the close of this year.

Also Read: Union Rail Budget 2014–15 (Previous Year’s Rail Budget)

In order to check without ticket travelers, it is announced, the railways is going to introduce bar- coded tickets, scanners and gain control on pilot basis on major stations. It is also announced that the quota reserved for lower berth for senior citizens and women will be increased by 50 %.

It has been claimed that Indian Railway has opened long awaited Broad Gauge lumding – Silchar section in Assam, connecting Barak Valley with the rest of country.

To make the life simpler for the train travelers it is announced that the sale of tickets would be conducted through hand held terminals for the benefit of suburban and short- distance travelers; vending machine will be used to sell platform ticket through not only cash but also credit/debit cards.

It is announced that 139 helpline post verification using ‘One Time Password’ sent on registered phone number for the cancellation of reservation will be initiated by Railways.

To provide Tatkal Tickets to rightful passengers in the morning tatkal hours, Railways will install CCTV coverage at tatkal counters. It has been claimed that CCTV network has been provided at 311 railway stations.

This Railway Budget 2016 has a plan outlay of about Rs. 1.21 lakh crore.

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Promises announced in the Railway Budget 2016

  • The companies owned by Railways will come under a holding company
  • By 2019 two dedicated Freight corridors will be completed
  • 33 % sub quota will be provided for women under all reserved categories.
  • India first rail auto hub will start functioning in Chennai.
  • Will enhance advertising revenue by more than four times this year, specially by changing the traditional dress of porters (coolies); they will wear dresses advertisements written on that and now they are going to called luggage assistants (Sahayaks). They will be provided with lorries.
  • GSP based digital display will be installed in coaches for showing upcoming stations.
  • Will introduce new policy or multi-purpose stalls at all stations to facilitate multiple services like milk and medicines.
  • On business travel routes overnight double decker trains will be introduced.
  • New freight corridors are announced between Kharagpur-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai, and Kharagpur-Vijaywada for which 2800 km of new tracks will be commissioned in the next year; Mizoram and Manipur will be connected with broad gauge; 600 kilometer electrification this year and another 2000 km have been proposed for next year.
Indian Railway Performance 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Gross Traffic Receipts 54491 62732 71720 81901
Working Expenses 45488 49047 54462 66590
Net Traffic Receipts (1-2) 9003 13685 17258 15311
Net Miscellenious Receipts 1140 768 1076 1112

Also Read: 20 Reasons to Be Proud of Indian Railways

Genetically modified mosquitoes to fight Zika Virus

By
Syskool
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zika ades moquito

To counter the threat and spread of Zika virus the authorities in the south eastern Brazilian city of Piracicaba have ordered the dumping of the genetically engineered Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

These mosquitoes have been genetically engineered to pass a lethal gene to their offspring which die before they can reach adulthood.

The biotech bugs, developed by a British company – Oxitec – to fight dengue, but would also work to reduce the spread of Zika, could become one of the newest weapons in the ceaseless battle between humans and mosquitoes.

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This approach, in small test, has reduced mosquito populations by 80% or more. The company, Oxitec, has claimed that since last April in one neighborhood of Piracicaba populated by about 5,000 people the mosquitoes have been released. There was a reduction, by the end of 2015, in wild mosquito larvae – as opposed to larvae inheriting the lethal gene – of 82%.

An all-out war on Mosquitoes and Zika Virus

Oxitec and the city informed that they would expand the project for another year which would cover an area of up to 60,000 people. To rear enough mosquitoes Oxitec is building a new factory that would cover an area with 300,000 people.

These genetically engineered mosquitoes have been named “Friendly Aedes aegyptic” by the company. According to the company it releases only male mosquitoes, which do not bite.

The company has also claimed that its solution is ecologically friendly because only one species targeted, whereas chemical spraying affects many types of organisms.

Also Read: Medicines and Pharmaceutical Drugs

However, Reo de Janeiro is grappling with another approach in which mosquitoes are infected with Wolbachia, a bacterium that does not infect them naturally. Once infected, the mosquitoes do not collect and transfer viruses as easily. The bacteria can be transferred to the next generation through eggs, so they expand through the mosquito population.

However, gene drives, which are genetic mechanism that swiftly produce a trait through a wild population, may be a new and even more powerful tool. Gene drives that work in mosquitoes in the laboratory have been made by scientists.

According to a professor, Anthony A James, at the University of California, Irvine, it would be straightforward to apply a gene drive to spread something like a sterility trait by using the Aedes aegyptic population to kill them.

Also Read: Ebola virus

Zika Virus – The Alarming Spread of Threat

By
Syskool
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zika virus microcephaly

WHO has issued a note of warning that Zika Virus linked to birth defects (microcephaly) and neurological problems is spreading “explosively” and can effect countries like India and China, because both countries have suffered from Dengue and Yellow fever or Chikungunya. It is spread by the same mosquito – Aedes aegypti – carriers that spread Dengue and Chikungunya.

Zika Virus Infection and microcephaly

WHO director – General Dr. Margret Chan claimed although there was no decisive proof that Zika Virus was responsible for a increase in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads – microcephaly in Brazil, the level of alarm was becoming much more of a threat.

Head of WHO’s endemic response team in the Americas – Sylvain Aldighieri – claimed that there could be 3 to 4 million Zika infections mostly in Central and South America over the next year.

Also Read: Medicines and Pharmaceutical Drugs

Its effect on pregnant women

WHO has said that there was no vaccine available for this virus. The agency has also informed that it might take six to nine months to collect any data showing a relationship between Zika and the babies born with microcephaly or abnormally small heads. Pregnant women in most cases are victims of this virus.

French Government has forbidden the women of its country to travel to French overseas territories in South America and the Caribbean because there Zika Virus has caused a rise in birth defects.

Spread of Zika Virus

Zika Virus has already spread in 23 American Countries along with Brazil and 50 persons have already been declared dead due to this virus.

In Brazil, nearly 4000 cases of Zika infections were recorded till October, 2015.

Last year due to this Zika Virus emergency was declared in six states of Brazil. 20 out of 26 states of the Country is feeling the heat of this Virus. In Pernambuko (a state of Brazil) alone 900 cases have been recorded.

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First encounter with Zika Virus

The Zika Virus was first detected in 1947 and in 2015 it spread speedily in Latin American Countries.

Symptoms

There was a subtle Symptoms of Zika Virus infection. The commonly found symptoms are fever, muscle pain, headache, joint pain, rash and conjunctivitis which are similar to those of Dengue and Chikungunya.

Also Read: All you need to know about Ebola virus

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