Cabinet Approvals on April 19, 2023

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals:

i.National Quantum Mission to scale-up Scientific & Industrial Research and Development(R&D) for Quantum Technologies(QT).

ii.Cinematograph Amendment Bill 2023.

Cabinet approves National Quantum Mission to scale-up Scientific & Industrial R&D for QT

The Union Cabinet has approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) with an outlay of Rs.6003.65 crore for 8  years (from 2023-24 to 2030-31).  With this, India will join the top 6 nations (the United States of America (USA), Canada, China, France, Austria, and Finland who are involved in the R&D in the QT.

Aim:

i.To seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial Research and Development (R&D)

ii.To create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in QT

iii.To make India one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies & Applications (QTA)

Target of Mission:

i.To develop intermediate scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.

ii.To develop satellite based secure quantum communications between ground stations over a range of 2000 kilometres within India, long distance secure quantum communications with other countries, inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km, and multi-node Quantum network with quantum memories, among others.

Who will run the mission?

i.The mission will be led by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) under a Mission Director.

ii.The Central Government will also constitute a mission secretariat which will have a governing body to steer the work under the leadership of scientists from the quantum field. iii.The Mission Technology Research Council will work as a scientific advisory body for the governing body.

Mission Insights:

i.Under this mission, four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) will be set up in top academic and National R&D institutes on the domains – Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology and Quantum Materials & Devices.

• The hubs which will focus on generation of new knowledge through basic and applied research and promote R&D.

ii.The mission will help in the development of atomic-based magnetometers and atomic clocks, which can improve precision in timing, navigation, and communication.

iii.It will also support the design and production of quantum materials, such as superconductors, semiconductor structures, and topological materials, for use in quantum devices.

iv.The development of single photon and entangled photon sources/detectors will also be prioritized to advance quantum communication, sensing, and metrology.

v.The mission has the potential to significantly benefit communication, health, financial and energy sectors as well as drug design, and space applications.

• It will provide a boost to National priorities like digital India, Make in India, Skill India and Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

What is Quantum technology (QT)?

It is a field of physics and engineering that utilizes quantum phenomena to create new types of technology and devices.  It involves the manipulation and control of the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level.

• Quantum computers are work on atoms by using quantum bits (qubits) instead of classical bits to perform calculations. It can solve problems much faster with more authenticity, and also offers unique security.

Cabinet approves Cinematograph Amendment Bill 2023, aims to tackle problem of film piracy

The Union Cabinet also approved the Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2023 proposed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952. It will be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.

• The proposed amendments would make the certification process more effective, in tune with the present times.

The Bill aims to address the following three issues:

i.To improve the procedure for certification of films by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and categorizations of the certifications of the films.

ii.To address unauthorized recording and exhibition of films and curb the menace of film piracy.

iii.To harmonize the law with extant executive orders, Supreme Court judgements, and other relevant legislations.

Key Amendments:

i.Provisions to Check Unauthorised Recording and Exhibition of Films Amounting to Piracy:

Strict penal provisions are madeto stop film piracy by way of camcording in theatres and to forbid unauthorized transmission and exhibition of a pirated copy of any film. It will allow Government to block websites where unauthorized copies are transmitted.

• As per draft bill, there will be up to three years of imprisonment and Rs10 lakh penalty for those who engaged in film piracy.

ii.Age-Based Certification: The age based categories of certification are further sub-divided the existing UA category into three age-based categories, viz. seven years (UA 7+), thirteen years (UA 13+), and sixteen years (UA 16+), instead of twelve years.

iii.Aligning with the Supreme Court Judgements: Omission of Revisional Powers of Central Government as per judgment of Supreme Court in the case of K.M. Shankarappa vs Union of India (2001) to ensure that the Act is constitutionally compliant.

iv.Perpetual Validity of Certificates: Removal of the restriction in the Act on validity of certificate for only 10 years for perpetual validity of certificates of CBFC.

v.Change of Category of Film for Television: Recertification of the edited film for Television broadcast, as only Unrestricted Public Exhibition category films can be shown on television.

Background:

The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on February 12, 2019 with the approval of Cabinet. It proposed changes relating only to the issue of film piracy through cam-cording in film halls. The 2019 Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Information Technology, which presented its report on 16th March 2020. Accordingly, a revised Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was prepared. Subsequently, the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was casted after seeking public comments.

Recent Related News:

i.Cabinet approved the listing of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA), the CPSE under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), on stock exchanges through an initial public offer (IPO) by the part sale of the government’s stake in the public sector entity.

ii.Union Minister of State (MoS) Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) announced approval for the establishment of the Rs. 180 crore Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Dharwad District, Karnataka, which is estimated to create over 18,000 jobs.

About Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC):

Chairperson– Prasoon Joshi
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra