With an imperative to empower the youngest minds of the country with the latest technologies, NITI Aayog, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), in collaboration with the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), today launched an AI-based Module rolled out for students in Indian schools.

The AI-Base Module has been introduced to help students leverage the full potential of AIM’s Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL). Further, it empowers them to innovate and create valuable solutions benefiting societies. The module contains activities, videos, and experiments that enable students to work through and learn the various concepts of AI.

Sharing his thoughts, CEO NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant said that India can add 1.3% to its GDP annually through machine learning and artificial intelligence.

“Indians can find solutions to the challenges of a shared, connected zero-emission world, improving learning outcomes, diseases like tuberculosis, cancer, etc. If we are able to find solutions to these challenges for the 1.3 billion people of India, we can find solutions for the 7.5 billion people of the world too,” he said.

He added that this AI module is so critical that it will start teaching young children from a very young age, and then Indians will become significant players in AI like it has been done for robots, 3D printing, and IoT. “This is path-breaking, it combines playing and academics and our job are to make things very interesting. We want to make artificial intelligence great fun so that children can enjoy it, they can evolve and learn and take India forward.”

Technology innovation over the last decade has been breathtakingly fast as industries have intertwined with emerging technologies like never before. It has been estimated that by 2030, the global AI market will likely be 15 to 15.5 trillion dollars, out of which India’s share will be close to a trillion.

Mission Director Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog R Ramanan said that AI is going to be an integral part of the new 21st-century innovations, and we are proud to introduce the Learn-It-Yourself module in all our 5000 Atal Tinkering Labs with over 2.5 million students having access to it. “This is the first-ever industry-government academia initiative on such a scale to keep the school students abreast of latest technologies.” 

Meanwhile, for India to lead and remain relevant in this new ‘tech-driven decade’, especially in emerging technologies like AI and the ubiquity of AI in society, the government and academia must collaborate and introduce AI learning at schools and prepare young minds for the AI-led Digital future. 

Speaking on the collaboration, Debjani Ghosh, President of NASSCOM, said, “AI has become a strategic lever for economic growth across nations and will continue to be one of the most crucial technologies of the future. Given its impact, it is an embracing step taken by NITI Aayog to introduce the resources for students to learn AI. This will create the right foundations for students, especially the K-12 segment, to onboard onto future technologies and prepare them fully for the digital and AI era. The partnership is a crucial step in building citizens and a workforce that is aware of AI and can work with AI.”

The hands-on AI module has been designed with the academic, co-scholastic, and other ATL programs at school in mind. It is formulated to encourage young students to contribute to the nation-building journey. The module will catalyze the youth to explore, ideate, and learn the latest technologies and build a generation of innovators at the grassroots level.

Atal Innovation Mission, housed at NITI Aayog, is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. At the school level, AIM establishes ATLs in all districts across India. As of today, AIM has selected 14,916 schools across the country, spread across 33 different states and union territories to establish ATLs.

NASSCOM acknowledges the role played by AI and other emerging technologies as an imperative to building a digitally powered tomorrow. By inculcating AI and a ‘learning by doing’ culture in schools, tremendous opportunities are bound to arise for the overall industries on a global scale. To achieve this, NASSCOM and AIM have collaborated with industry members and universities to develop special modules on Artificial Intelligence learning.

Promoting digital talent for nation-building has been one of the consistent efforts laid out by the IT-ITeS Sector Skills Council, NASSCOM. For this critical initiative and many such programs, the IT-ITeS Sector Skills Council has been an essential pillar for NASSCOM to catalyze the skill development ecosystem in the country and build industry-ready talent for the IT sector in India.

The AI Base Module is ready to be introduced to the ATL students on February 27th. Additionally, an AI Step-up Module is under development, which will be the next step that builds on the base module.

Source: Press Release
Release ID: 1604543
Date: February 27, 2020
PIB Delhi
NITI Aayog

PYTHON FOR WEB DEVELOPMENT

• General Purpose: The most well-known benefit already is its natural adaptability. sJava will be the best option if an individual desires to create a website for gaming purposes. Still, if he wishes to use his website for another function, he can get to a web developer and ask him to develop his website in Python. Python is a language that can be used for versatile means or, better to say, for a website’s entire purpose. A few websites are used chiefly by people worldwide who are working and supported by the Python programming language. A few of them are Google, NASA, Yahoo, etc., and there are more than that in numbers.
• If an individual uses Python to develop a website, it will save him a lot of time. It is an immaculate and effortless programming language that doesn’t need much code to remember. If an individual uses some other programming language, he has to spend a significant amount of time creating a website. Tgeneratete more, he has to dedicate his life then.
• Python can be known as a perfect language alternative that allows an individual to add versatility to his website. It may be games, e-commerce addition or something else. The main issue is security. When using any of the websites, Python fulfils that criterion well, as it is as secure as the other languages. Soms it, mi, might be more protective than them.
• Experience the exhilaration of Programming: Python coders appreciate the language’s error-handling techniques, control structures, file handling, and object-oriented approach.
• Rapid Application Development: The language strongly emphasises code simplicity and readability.
• Highly readable, interactive and high-level programming language: provides high-level dynamic data types and supports active type-checking
• Supports Functional, Structured, and Object-oriented, i.e. encapsulates code within objects
• Interpreted: processed at runtime and used as a scripting language
• Supports automatic garbage collection
• Compiled to byte-code for building large applications
• Easy integration with other languages like C, C++, JAVA
• Source code available under the GNU General Purpose License (GPL)
• Provides interface to all major commercial databases.
• The language is used to develop database applications, game programming, mobile applications, and network programming.

A dual national citizen of the United States and Ireland Eric Eoin Marques, 33, of Dublin, Ireland, pleaded guilty in federal court in Maryland before U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang to conspiracy to advertise child pornography.

Marques was extradited to the United States by Irish authorities on March 23, 2019. In his plea agreement, Marques admitted that between July 24, 2008, and July 29, 2013, he conspired to advertise child pornography by operating an anonymous web hosting service (AHS). Sentencing scheduled for May 11.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said: “The defendant’s anonymous web service hosted dozens of insidious criminal communities dedicated to children’s sexual exploitation and spread millions of images of that abuse. His guilty plea is proof of the department’s fierce commitment to rooting out those who hide behind anonymous networks to commit serious child exploitation offenses.”

U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur of the District of Maryland said: “Child pornography is created by documenting children’s sexual abuse. It is an egregious case where one individual facilitated the abuse of more than a million new child victims and attempted to keep the dark web’s abuse hidden. We must do everything we can to bring individuals like Marques to justice to keep our children safe.”

Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division said: “Today’s guilty plea validates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to stop those who sexually exploit innocent children. The FBI and its international law enforcement partners will remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice for the world’s most vulnerable victims harmed at others’ ruthless hands.”

Dark Web Child Pornography Facilitator Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Advertise Child Pornography

According to court documents, between July 24, 2008, and July 29, 2013, Marques operated a free anonymous hosting service located on the “dark web,” an area of the Internet that is only accessible using specialized software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable. The hosting service hosted websites that allowed users to view and share images documenting children’s sexual abuse, including the abuse of prepubescent minors, violent sexual abuse, and bestiality.

The investigation revealed that the hosting service contained over 8.5 million images of child exploitation material. Over 1.97 million of these images and/or videos involved victims that were not known by law enforcement. As of July 12, 2013, one child exploitation website hosted on the hosting service reported nearly 1.4 million files were uploaded and accessible by individuals who visited that hidden service.

During 2012 and 2013, FBI special agents and employees using computers in Maryland downloaded more than one million files from that website. As part of the investigation, those files reviewed. Nearly all of the files depict children who are engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults or other children, posed nude and/or in such a manner as to expose their genitals, in various state of undress, or depict child erotica.

A substantial majority of the images downloaded by the FBI depict prepubescent minor children who are fully or partially nude or engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

This case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Itis led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

The FBI’s Violent Crime Section, Child Exploitation Operational Unit, and the Violent Crimes Against Children International Task Force investigated significant assistance from the Legal Attaché London Office, An Garda Síochána, and EUROPOL. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in bringing Marques to the United States and procuring foreign evidence.

CEOS Deputy Chief Keith A. Becker and Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristi N. O’Malley and Thomas M. Sullivan of the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.

Project Safe Childhood
Component(s):
Criminal Division
Criminal – Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section
Criminal – Office of International Affairs
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
USAO – Maryland Source: Press Release Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs Date: Thursday, February 6, 2020

As per directives of the Government of India, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has identified five niche technology areas and established the following Young Scientist Laboratories (YSLs) in the year 2019:

• Artificial Intelligence (DYSL-AI), Bengaluru

• Quantum Technologies (DYSL-QT), Mumbai

• Cognitive Technologies (DYSL-CT), Chennai

• Asymmetric Technologies (DYSL-AT), Kolkata

• Smart Materials (DYSL-SM), Hyderabad

The five labs were dedicated to the Nation by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on January 02 2020.

The initial sanction of Rs five crore was accorded to each of these five DYSLs. The same is to be augmented as per the lab requirements.

The five newly established labs have started functioning very recently. However, as suggested by the Hon’ble PM during the dedication of five DYSLs to the Nation on January 02 2020, DRDO will identify more niche technology areas and set up YSLs if required.

DRDO is making all-out efforts towards indigenous R&D and technology capability building. India is self-reliant today in technology areas about Missiles, Radars, Sonars, and Electronic Warfare(EW), and all the requirements in these areas can be met based on indigenous technologies. DRDO Synergies with Armed Forces, Industry and academia for developing technologies and systems based on National priorities. DRDO has also successfully developed significant platforms like the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, Main battle Tank Arjun, Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher System Pinaka, Akash Weapon System, etc. These systems, after development, are produced by Indian Industries for their induction by the Armed Forces.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Naik in a written reply to Smt Kirron Kher and others in Lok Sabha today.

Source: Press Release
Release ID: 1602035
Date: February 05, 2020
PIB Delhi
Ministry of Defence

Defense PSU, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will showcase state-of-the-art products and systems spanning every domain of its business at Aero India 2021, to be held from February 3-5, 2021, at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru. The products and systems are clustered as ‘Airborne & Space Application’, ‘Satellite and Space Application’, ‘Products and Systems for Self-Reliance (Aatmanirbhar Bharat)’, ‘High-Performance Computing & Artificial Intelligence Systems’, ‘Land and Naval Products and Systems’, ‘Communication and Laser-based Products ’, ‘Non-Defence/Diversification and Outdoor Display Products’.

Also, BEL will showcase its R&D capabilities by launching/demonstrating some of its new products and technologies. Some of the latest products and technologies in the area of Airborne and space/Satellite Applications include a protection Suite with DIRCM (with foreign ToT), a held Field Signal Generator, Airborne and ground Spread Spectrum Modem, Backpack Anti Drone System, BE NAVIC 705, Compact Time Reference Server (Airborne), VPX architecture based SDR for Air Borne platforms and Airborne Sonar.

In total, about 30 products and systems developed as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative will be on display, including Airborne Missile Electronics, Receivers for EW Systems and many others such as 2KW Fuel Cells, FO Gyro FO-based sensor Packaged Units, Athermal Laser Transmitters, IR Jammer, Call Manager & Media Gateway, C-Band Tropo Power Amplifier and IR Seekers Missiles.

Other Innovative Solutions and Artificial Intelligence Systems on display in the area of High-Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence Systems will include RRO (Software-based solution), Secure Video Conferencing Solution, Generic Networking System, Imagery Solution for Defence and civilian applications, Automatic Train Supervision System for DMRC and Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Center besides others.

BEL will showcase its Land and Naval Products and Systems comprising QRSAM Radars (BFMR and BSR), BFSR-XR AESA, DDR (FMCW), Coastal Surveillance System, GBMES, Single Combat Vehicle (QRSAM), Weapon Control System, etc.

BEL will also display Communication and Laser-based products, including MODEM for Troposcatter Communication Systems, Encryptors, Frequency Modulated Continuous- Wave (FMCW) Radar for Fog Vision and Drone Guard systems for Railways, 4G Secure Phone and 5G Tablet PCs, High Power Fiber Laser, Li-Fi High-Speed Communication System and Software Defined Radio under Communication and Electro-Optics segments.

Besides, products for non-application like ventilators and dialysis machines, intelligent city platforms with IoT components, etc., will also be showcased. The highlight of BEL’s outdoor display will be the Mini Shelter-based Mini C4I system, Atulya (ADFCR), CTFCR (X-APAR on 4 x 4), WLR (Mountain Version), and Anti Drone System. The entire state-of-the-art equipment will be a force multiplier for any Defence force.

Source: Press Release
Release ID: 1694387
PIB
Ministry of Defence
Date: February 02, 2021