What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Background:
• Need for a global plastic treaty
• Agendas of the negotiation
• India’s position on the Global Plastic Treaty

Why in News?

Representatives from over 170 countries have gathered in Busan, South Korea, for the fifth and final round of negotiations on a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution, including marine pollution. 

This initiative follows the 2022 UN Environmental Assembly's agreement to finalize the treaty by the end of 2024.

Background:

• Resolution to end plastic pollution:
  • The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) passed a resolution to “end plastic pollution” in 2022. 
• Setting up of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC)
  • INC was set up and tasked to develop a legally binding instrument - a global treaty - to govern plastic production and use across all nations.
• Global Plastics Treaty: 
  • In 2022, 175 nations agreed to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 2024 to reduce GHG emissions from plastic production, use and disposal.

Need for a global plastic treaty

• The Growing Dependence on Plastic
  • Plastic's versatile and adaptable properties have made it indispensable, leading to a surge in global production, which doubled from 234 million tonnes in 2000 to 460 million tonnes in 2019. 
  • By 2040, production is projected to reach 700 million tonnes.
• Plastic Waste and Environmental Crisis
  • Plastic decomposition takes 20–500 years, with less than 10% recycled to date. 
  • Annual plastic waste generation is approximately 400 million tonnes and could increase by 62% by 2050. 
  • A significant amount of waste leaks into rivers and oceans, breaking down into harmful microplastics and nanoplastics.
• Impact on Environment and Health
  • Plastic waste threatens ecosystems and human health. Chemicals in plastics can cause endocrine disruption, cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurodevelopmental impairments. 
  • Marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species are severely affected.
• Plastic’s Role in Climate Change
  • Plastic production and waste management contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 
  • In 2020, plastics accounted for 3.6% of global emissions, primarily from fossil fuel-based production. Emissions could increase by 20% by 2050 if trends persist.
• India's Contribution to Plastic Pollution
  • India is the largest contributor to global plastic pollution, accounting for 20% of emissions (9.3 million tonnes annually), surpassing Nigeria (3.5 mt), Indonesia (3.4 mt), and China (2.8 mt).

What is on the negotiating table?

• Focus of Negotiations
  • The talks aim to establish global rules to tackle plastic pollution across its lifecycle, from production to disposal. 
  • Proposed measures include banning specific plastics, setting binding recycling targets, and regulating chemical additives in plastics.
• ‘Just Transition’ Considerations
  • Discussions include ensuring a fair transition for workers, communities, and livelihoods affected by reduced plastic production and the elimination of certain products.
• Diverging Positions Among Nations
  • Countries remain divided on key issues, particularly on production caps for plastics:
    • Opposition to Production Caps: Oil and gas-rich nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, and India oppose strict production limits, favoring downstream measures like improved waste management.
    • Support for Ambitious Targets: Rwanda, Peru, and the EU advocate aggressive pollution reduction, with Rwanda proposing a 40% cut by 2040 using 2025 as the baseline.

India's Stance on the Global Plastic Treaty

• Opposition to Production Caps
  • India opposes restrictions on polymer production, arguing that such measures exceed the UNEA 2022 resolution's mandate.
• Focus on Financial and Technical Assistance
  • India advocates for financial aid, technology transfer, and technical support to be part of the treaty's core provisions.
• Regulation of Harmful Chemicals
  • Decisions on harmful chemicals in plastic production should be based on scientific studies and regulated domestically.
• Approach to Plastic Phase-Out
  • While India banned 19 categories of single-use plastics in 2022, it emphasizes that any phase-out in the treaty should be pragmatic and driven by national circumstances.
    • In 2022, India brought into effect the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules (2021) that banned 19 categories of single-use plastics.
• Safe Waste Management Mechanism
  • India calls for mechanisms to assess infrastructure needs, financial requirements, and predictable funding for scientific and safe waste management.

Q.1. Why is a global plastic treaty needed?

A global plastic treaty is crucial to combat the growing environmental crisis, reduce plastic waste, and minimize its harmful effects on ecosystems and human health while addressing greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production.

Q.2. What is India’s stance on the global plastic treaty?

India opposes strict production caps on plastics, focusing instead on financial and technical support, regulation of harmful chemicals, and pragmatic national approaches to plastic phase-out and waste management.

News: Why the world needs a global plastic treaty | Down to Earth | Live Mint

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Problems of Urban Self-Governance in India
• Key Challenges in Municipal Financing
• Strategies for Strengthening Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
• Strategic Recommendations for Financial Improvement in MCs
• Some Government Initiatives to Promote Urban Governance in India
• Conclusion

Why in News?

• Urban India, contributing nearly 60% to the nation’s economic output, relies heavily on municipal corporations (MCs) for essential services like road maintenance and sanitation.
• However, the financial constraints faced by the MCs impede their capacity to deliver efficiently.

Problems of Urban Self-Governance in India:

Key Challenges in Municipal Financing:

• Limited revenue generation:
  • With revenue receipts constituting a mere 0.6% of GDP in 2023-24, MCs rely significantly on state and central government transfers, curtailing their financial autonomy and developmental capabilities.
  • The low revenue receipts of the MCs are mainly because of the poor property tax revenues, a critical revenue source, which remains abysmally low at 0.12% of GDP.
  • Revenue concentration: Over 58% of municipal revenue is generated by the top 10 municipal corporations, highlighting fiscal disparity among urban areas.
• Inefficiency in tax and fee collection:
  • Ineffective property tax systems fail to reflect actual property valuations.
  • User fees for essential services like water supply and sanitation are inadequately adjusted, affecting cost recovery.

Strategies for Strengthening Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):

• Enhancing participatory governance: Encourage direct citizen involvement in policy-making through forums like resident welfare associations, NGOs, and citizen forums.
• Building capacity of municipal personnel: Implement comprehensive training programs that include administrative and management skills. Continuously calibrate training outcomes using measurable indicators.
• Legislative and institutional reforms: Strong institutional arrangements are essential to empower ULBs as self-governing entities. Therefore, states must enact legislative reforms for fiscal and functional devolution.

Strategic Recommendations for Financial Improvement in MCs:

• Enhancing own-source revenues:
  • Implement GIS-based property tax mapping for better compliance. Use valuation-linked property tax formulae to improve revenue elasticity.
  • Periodic adjustments for cost recovery. Better service delivery to increase public willingness to pay.
• Boosting non-tax revenues:
  • Increase income from services like waste management and urban transport through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
  • Enhance revenue from investments and user charges via technology integration and monitoring systems.
  • Reducing dependence on transfers: Clearly defined, rule-based frameworks for state and central transfers to ensure predictable compensation. Adjust transfer amounts for inflation and economic growth potential.
  • Strengthening fiscal management: Digitalisation and automation to streamline expenditures and free resources for capital projects. Pooling resources across MCs to fund large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Exploring innovative financing options:
  • Utilise municipal bonds to finance infrastructure development, as adopted by larger MCs.
  • Introduce diverse financing instruments to attract private investments in renewable energy and urban transport.

Some Government Initiatives to Promote Urban Governance in India:

• Citizen-centric programs:
  • Swachh Sarvekshan (2017) promotes citizen participation to enhance urban hygiene.
  • ‘Swachh Bharat Idea Book’ empowers citizens to contribute innovative solutions at the grassroots level.
• Performance-based indexes:
  • Ease of Living Index (2017) evaluates urban living quality across three parameters: quality of life, economic ability, and sustainability.
  • Municipal Performance Index (2019) assesses ULB performance in service delivery, financial management, planning, technology, and governance.

Conclusion:

• Since empowering ULBs is a national priority, cooperation between the government, academia, and civil society is essential to reaching this objective.
• Through collaborative efforts, MCs can overcome fiscal constraints and deliver sustainable urban development outcomes.

Q.1. What are municipal bonds?

Municipal bonds are debt securities issued by local governments and municipal corporations. The funds raised through municipal bonds are used to finance various public works projects, such as building schools, highways, bridges, and other municipal infrastructure.

Q.2. What is the Municipal Performance Index (MPI)?

The MPI is developed by the Institute of Competitiveness and rolled out by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to assess the performance of Indian municipalities.

News: Civic woes: Why municipal corporations’ struggle for revenues mirrors India’s faltering urban development agenda | IIPA

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Antitrust Case Against Google in US Courts - Background
• US Antitrust Actions Against Big Tech
• Proposed Remedies for Google’s Search Monopoly
• Google's Response to Proposed Remedies
• Potential Outcomes and Legal Proceedings

Why in News?

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) and multiple states proposed measures to address Google's alleged monopolistic practices, including the possible sale of its Chrome web browser.

This comes after a landmark ruling in August, where Judge Amit Mehta of the US District Court of Columbia said, “Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly.”

Antitrust Case Against Google in US Courts 

• Background
  • The antitrust case against Google is a significant legal battle centered around the company’s alleged monopolistic practices, primarily in the search and advertising markets. 
  • The case involves multiple lawsuits filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) and several state attorneys general.
  • These lawsuits have accused Google of using anti-competitive tactics to maintain and expand its dominance in online search, advertising, and related markets.
• Multiple antitrust lawsuits
  • Search market
    • The US DOJ filed a lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging that the company violated antitrust laws by creating barriers to entry and maintaining a monopoly in the search market. 
    • In August 2024, a federal judge ruled that Google violated the Sherman Act by maintaining a monopoly in the search and advertising markets. 
    • The DOJ is considering breaking up Google's businesses, including Chrome, Play, or Android. 
  • Digital advertising
    • The DOJ is also suing Google for anti-competitive practices in the digital advertising industry. 
    • The DOJ is seeking to determine if Google is using its power to edge out competitors. 
  • App store
    • In December 2023, Epic Games won an antitrust case against Google in the app store, alleging that Google maintained monopoly power in the Android app distribution market. 

US Antitrust Actions Against Big Tech

• Background
  • In recent years, U.S. agencies have accused major tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Google of monopolistic practices that stifle market competition.
• Google’s Search Monopoly Case
  • The DoJ and several states sued Google in 2020 for maintaining dominance by paying companies like Apple and Samsung billions to prioritize Google for search queries on devices.
• Landmark Verdict 
  • In August 2023, Judge Amit Mehta ruled Google as a monopolist and directed the DoJ and states to propose corrective measures, potentially including breaking up Google’s business units, to address its search monopoly.
• Potential Impact of Proposed Measures on Google
  • If implemented, the proposed measures could significantly disrupt Google’s business, which is projected to generate over $300 billion in revenue this year. 
  • Google, which holds around 90% of the online search market and 95% of the smartphone search market, could face 10 years of regulation and oversight by the federal court that ruled the company monopolistic.

Proposed Remedies for Google’s Search Monopoly

• The petitioners propose measures to address Google's monopolistic practices and foster competition:
  • Encouraging Competition and Innovation
    • Solutions aim to create an open search ecosystem, enabling rivals to compete for consumers and advertisers.
  • Divestment from Android and Chrome
    • Google may be required to divest from Android to prevent its use for excluding rival search providers.
    • The proposal also calls for divestment from Chrome, citing its control over search distribution as a barrier to competition.
  • Restrictions on Exclusive Agreements and Acquisitions
  • Google should be banned from entering exclusive agreements with content publishers and acquiring competitors in search or ad technology without prior approval.
  • Prohibition on Owning Search-Related Assets
    • Google should be prohibited from owning web browsers, search competitors, query-based AI products, or related ad technologies.
  • Data Sharing Requirements
    • Google must provide rivals with ad and user-side data for 10 years, free of charge, with privacy safeguards to ensure fairness and transparency.

Google's Response to Proposed Remedies

• Google's parent company, Alphabet, criticized the proposals as "staggering" and accused the Department of Justice (DoJ) of pushing a "radical interventionist agenda." 
• It argued that the measures would:
  • Harm consumers, developers, and small businesses.
  • Undermine U.S. global technological leadership.
  • Disrupt popular Google products, including Search and AI advancements.

Potential Outcomes and Legal Proceedings

• Judge Amit Mehta has scheduled a trial for April to address the proposals. If accepted:
  • Google may be forced to sell Chrome within six months.
  • The company would be barred from favoring its own services, such as YouTube.
  • Google plans to appeal any penalties, potentially prolonging the legal battle further.
• The stance of the incoming administration under President-elect Donald Trump on the case remains unclear, adding further uncertainty to the proceedings.

Q.1. Why does the US Justice Department want Google to sell Chrome?

The DOJ argues that Google’s control over Chrome is a barrier to competition in search and digital advertising, and its divestment could foster a more competitive ecosystem.

Q.2. What impact could the proposed remedies have on Google?

If implemented, the proposed remedies could disrupt Google’s $300 billion business, requiring it to sell Chrome, divest from Android, and adhere to stricter regulations for the next decade.

News: Why US Justice Department wants Google to sell Chrome | Times of India

The Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) represents a pivotal development in India's investment treaty framework, replacing the earlier Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA).

Key Features of the India-UAE BIT

Following are the key features of India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty 2024: 

1. Exhaustion of Local Remedies

• The period for foreign investors to exhaust local remedies before accessing international arbitration has been reduced from 5 years to 3 years.
• This change ensures quicker access to Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms, addressing concerns over India's lengthy judicial processes.
• Impact: Reduces subjective interpretations by ISDS tribunals.

2. Treatment of Investments

• Article 4 explicitly defines circumstances constituting treaty violations, such as denial of justice or fundamental breaches of due process.
• It excludes references to customary international law (CIL), reducing arbitral discretion and offering greater clarity.

3. Exclusion of Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) Clause

• The treaty omits the MFN provision, which is significant for ensuring non-discrimination in international economic relations.

4. Taxation Issues

• Actions related to taxation are excluded from the BIT’s scope.
• Impact: Investors cannot challenge potentially abusive tax measures, enhancing state regulatory powers at the cost of investment protection.

5. Limitation on ISDS Tribunal Jurisdiction

• Article 14.6(i) restricts ISDS tribunals from reviewing the merits of domestic court decisions.
• Ambiguity: This clause could allow states to block ISDS claims for cases adjudicated domestically.

6. Disallowance of Third-Party Funding

• External financiers cannot fund ISDS claims, potentially limiting investors’ ability to pursue claims without sufficient financial resources.

7. Fraud and Corruption Exclusion

• ISDS mechanisms are unavailable if there are allegations of fraud or corruption against the investor, reinforcing ethical standards in investment claims.

India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty 2024 Implications

The India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) seeks to strengthen economic ties by offering a stable legal framework that fosters investment between the two nations. From April 2000 to June 2024, the UAE contributed around $19 billion to India, accounting for about 3% of total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows.

The introduction of this treaty comes at a time when India’s previous investment agreements have faced challenges, resulting in a decline in active bilateral treaties and a decrease in FDI inflows—specifically, a 24% drop in equity inflows and a 15.5% reduction in total FDI between April 2023 and September 2024.

Experts note that while the BIT may attract more investments from the UAE, it could also lead to an increased risk of arbitration claims against India, as the treaty shortens the period for exhausting local remedies. This highlights India’s effort to strike a balance between protecting foreign investors and maintaining its sovereign right to regulate.

What is BIT?

A Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) is an agreement between two countries aimed at promoting and safeguarding investments made by investors in each other's territories.

Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is a legal framework that enables foreign investors to challenge host government actions impacting their investments in an international tribunal.

In the event of a BIT violation:

1. Right to Arbitration: The aggrieved investor can initiate international arbitration proceedings against the host state, as outlined in the BIT.
2. Notice of Dispute: The investor formally notifies the host state of the alleged BIT breach.
3. Arbitration Initiation: If the dispute remains unresolved, the investor may proceed with arbitration, typically through institutions like the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) or an ad hoc tribunal.
4. Arbitration Process:
   • Appointment of Arbitrators: Both parties select one or more arbitrators.
   • Submission of Claims: Parties present their arguments and supporting evidence.
   • Hearings: Oral hearings may be conducted for argument presentation.
   • Final Decision: The tribunal delivers a binding award, which may include compensation for the investor's losses.

India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty 2024 FAQs

Q1. What is the bilateral agreement between India and UAE?
Ans. The India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) is an agreement to promote and protect cross-border investments.

Q2. What is the BITs Treaty in India?
Ans. BITs in India are agreements ensuring protection for foreign investors while balancing the host country's regulatory sovereignty.

Q3. What is the 2024 India-UAE BIT text?
Ans. The 2024 India-UAE BIT text establishes a legal framework focusing on investment protection, dispute resolution, and regulatory safeguards.

Q4. What is the purpose of the Bilateral Investment Treaty?
Ans. The purpose of a BIT is to encourage and safeguard investments between two countries through a stable legal framework.

Q5. What are the advantages of bilateral treaties?
Ans. Bilateral treaties provide investment protection, foster economic ties, reduce risks, and enhance investor confidence.

Q6. What are the principles of BIT?
Ans. The principles of BIT include non-discrimination, fair and equitable treatment, protection against expropriation, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

What’s in today’s article?

• Introduction
• Features of NBFCs
• Types of NBFCs
• Role of NBFCs
• News Summary

Introduction

• Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) are financial institutions that provide banking-like services but do not hold a banking license.
• They are governed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the provisions of the RBI Act, 1934.
• NBFCs play a crucial role in the Indian financial system by offering credit to sectors underserved by traditional banks.

Features of NBFCs

• Non-Deposit Holding: Unlike banks, most NBFCs do not accept demand deposits (e.g., savings or current accounts).
• Credit Focus: They provide loans, hire-purchase financing, leasing, and other financial products.
• Specialized Services: NBFCs cater to niche markets such as microfinance, vehicle loans, housing finance, and infrastructure development.
• Diverse Clients: NBFCs often serve rural and semi-urban areas, SMEs, and individuals who lack formal credit access.

Types of NBFCs

• Asset Finance Companies (AFCs): Provide financing for physical assets like vehicles and machinery.
• Loan Companies: Focus on loans and advances to individuals or businesses.
• Investment Companies: Deal with securities investments.
• Infrastructure Finance Companies (IFCs): Offer credit for infrastructure projects.
• Microfinance Institutions (MFIs): Provide small loans to low-income groups.
• Housing Finance Companies (HFCs): Specialize in housing loans.

Role of NBFCs

• Financial Inclusion: NBFCs bridge the credit gap in rural and unbanked areas.
• Economic Growth: They finance key sectors like MSMEs, transport, and infrastructure.
• Risk Diversification: By targeting niche markets, NBFCs diversify risks in the financial system.
• Job Creation: NBFC activities stimulate economic growth, leading to employment generation.

News Summary

• NBFCs are grappling with challenges due to rising interest rates, regulatory changes, and limited funding avenues.
• Sector Overview:
  • NBFCs account for significant credit growth, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, due to their wider reach and faster loan disbursals compared to banks.
  • Assets under management (AUM) in the NBFC sector are projected to surpass ₹50 lakh crore in FY25, up from ₹47 lakh crore in March 2024.
• Regulatory Interventions:
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased the risk weights for loans to NBFCs, raising borrowing costs and reducing bank funding.
  • Emphasis on compliance, risk management, and grievance redressal has added operational pressure on NBFCs.
  • Larger NBFCs are being discouraged from lending to smaller NBFCs and fintech firms to mitigate systemic risks.
• Funding Challenges:
  • Bank funding to NBFCs has declined from 22% to 15% over the past year.
  • Smaller NBFCs and those with lower credit ratings face greater difficulty due to rising borrowing costs and fewer funding options.
  • NBFCs are exploring alternative sources like non-convertible debentures (NCDs), commercial papers, securitization, and external commercial borrowings, but limited liquidity in India’s shallow bond market remains a challenge.
• Role of Co-Lending:
  • Co-lending partnerships with banks can help NBFCs reduce costs and improve credit access for the underserved sectors, including agriculture and micro-enterprises.
• Impact on Priority Sector Lending (PSL):
  • NBFCs play a critical role in priority sector lending, especially in agriculture and microfinance.
  • However, rising credit costs are expected to impact their operations, with credit costs projected to increase from 2.6% in 2024 to 4% in 2025.
• Potential Solutions:
  • Development of a vibrant bond market could ease funding challenges and attract more investors, reducing reliance on banks and external markets.
  • Strengthened co-lending frameworks can create mutually beneficial models for NBFCs and banks.

Q1. What is Repo Rate?

The repo rate is the interest rate at which the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lends money to commercial banks and financial institutions.

Q2. What do you mean by Demand Deposit?

A demand deposit is a bank account that allows the account holder to withdraw funds at any time without giving the bank notice. Demand deposits are also known as checkbook money. Demand deposits are highly liquid and are often used for daily transactions like paying bills, making purchases, and withdrawing cash. They are different from term deposits, which lock money away for a set period of time.

News: NBFCs face funding challenges as RBI insists on risk management

The Department of Telecommunications has recently released the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Rules 2024. These new rules have been released after Telecommunication rules 2023. 

Telecom Cybersecurity Rules Key Provisions

Aim: To enhance the security of India’s communication networks and services through measures such as defined timelines for telecom operators to report security incidents and disclosures.

1. Definition of Telecommunication Organisation:
   Telecommunication organisationincludes individuals who provide telecom services, or are involved in establishing, operating, maintaining, or expanding telecom networks, including authorized organisations with proper authorisation.
2. Data Access to Union Government:
   The Telecom Cybersecurity Rules have empowered the central government to access traffic data and other non-content data from telecom organisations to ensure cybersecurity.
3. Cybersecurity Incident Reporting:
   Aa a mandate, telecom companies are compelled to report cybersecurity incidents to the government within six hours of detection, with additional details to follow within 24 hours.
4. Chief Telecommunications Security Officer:
   • Telecom operators should appoint a Chief Telecommunications Security Officer who has to be an Indian citizen and resident.
   • The officer will be responsible to implement the rules on behalf of the central government. 
5. Cybersecurity Policy Adoption:
   Telecom operators must implement a cybersecurity policy encompassing security safeguards, risk management, training, best practices, and advanced technologies.
6. IMEI Registration for International Equipment:
   Manufacturers of devices with International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers have to register these numbers with the government before they start selling such devices manufactured in India.

Indian Telecom Sector 

India's telecom sector is the second largest industry globally, with a user base of 1.19 billion. The country's overall tele-density is 84.69%, with rural tele-density at 58.48% and urban tele-density at 131.86%.

Over the period, internet subscribers (narrowband + broadband) have exceeded 969 million, with 42% being from rural areas. Average monthly data consumption per wireless user has increased from 61.66 MB in March 2014 to 17.36 GB in March 2023.

The sector's exponential growth has been due to the following reasons:

• Affordable tariffs
• Wider network availability
• Expansion of Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
• Increasing 3G and 4G coverage
• Shifting consumption patterns
• Government initiatives to boost domestic telecom manufacturing
• A favorable regulatory framework

The Indian telecom sector is ranked 4th largest for FDI inflows, and contributes 6% of total FDI, while directly employing 2.2 million people and indirectly supporting 1.8 million jobs.

Government Initiatives to promote Telecommunication Laws

Following are the initiatives taken up by Government of India for promote Telecommunication Laws: 

• Digital India Programme (2015):

Digital India Programme focuses on transforming India into a digitally empowered society by providing broadband connectivity to all villages and e-governance promotion. 

• BharatNet:
  Bharat net isaiming to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural regions. 
• Infrastructure Development: 

Investments made in the telecom infrastructure including optical fiber networks, fiber networks and mobile towers to improve the quality of service and overall sector growth. 

• Atmanirbhar Bharat :
  Aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing of telecom equipment and components in order to reduce import dependence and strengthen the local telecom industry.
• Ease of Doing Business Reforms:
  Streamlined regulatory processes, reduced paperwork, and digital services have improved business conditions, attracting investments and fostering growth in the telecom sector.

Telecommunication Rules 2024 FAQs

Q1. What is the telecom policy 2024?

Ans. The Telecom Policy 2024 aims to boost domestic manufacturing and improve rural connectivity which enables 5G adoption.

Q2. What is the telecommunication Act 2024?

Ans. The Telecommunications Act 2024 has updated rules and regulations to address telecom challenges and strengthen cybersecurity measures.

Q3. What is telecom regulation 2024?

Ans. Telecom Regulation 2024 has updated rules and regulations related to spectrum allocation and data protection. 

Q4. What is the new telecom rule?

Ans. The new telecom rule allows faster reporting of cybersecurity incidents and promotes domestic usage.

Q5. What is the newest telecommunications Act?

Ans. The latest Telecommunications Act is the Telecommunications Act 2024, which addresses emerging technologies and services.

Q6. How many SIM companies are in India in 2024?

Ans. India has majorly three SIM companies in 2024- Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone-Idea.