NITI Aayog releases "Composite Water Management Index: A Tool for Water Management"

Composite Water Management Index: A Tool for Water Management
by NITI Aayog, New Delhi, India, June 2018.

About the Report: The Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) is a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive scorecard for identifying, targeting, and solving problems in the water sector across the country. Its ranking and scoring system across states, as well as the collaborative process of Index design and updates, will ensure that the principle of 'competitive and cooperative federalism' is actualized in the country's water management system. As the Index goes through multiple iterations, its ability to capture the fundamental drivers of water in India will increase, and it is likely to emerge as the definitive dataset for understanding India's water sector.

Table of Contents

1. Background

2. Objectives and scope

3. Methodology

4. Results and commentary

Overall analysis

Thematic analysis

Indicator-wise analysis

Case studies on best practices adopted by states

5. Conclusion

6. Annexures

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A Policy Statement on "Dissemination and Evaluation of Research Output in India" by the Indian National Science Academy (New Delhi)

A Policy Statement on "Dissemination and Evaluation of Research Output in India" by the Indian National Science Academy (New Delhi)

by Praveen Chaddah, Subhash C Lakhotia, Proceedings of the  Indian National Science Academy, June 2018, 84(2), 319-329.

Abstract: Considering the necessity of common and objective parameters of assessment of research outputs, the Indian National Science Academy (New Delhi) has, after extensive deliberations involving its entire fellowship, issued this policy statement on Dissemination and Evaluation of Research Output in India. It is expected that this will be adopted and implemented by different agencies/regulatory bodies in India.

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RS PSC Invites Suggestions on the Subject Issues Relating to Functioning of University Grants Commission (UGC)

Parliament of India | Rajya Sabha Secretariat

Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development Invites Suggestions on the Subject Issues Relating to Functioning of University Grants Commission (UGC)

1. The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development headed by Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya, M.P., Rajya Sabha has taken up the subject "Issues relating to Functioning of University Grants Commission (UGC)" for examination.

2. The University Grants Commission, a statutory body of Government of India is an apex regulator of Higher education in the country. The mandate of the UGC includes promoting and coordinating University education, determining and maintaining standards of teaching, examination and Research in Universities, framing regulations on norms and standards of education, disbursing grants to the Universities and colleges, serving as a vital link between the Union and the State Governments and institutions of higher learning and advising the Central and State Governments on the measures necessary for improvement of higher education.

3. The Committee while examining the subject will like to consider the role of UGC in promoting quality and excellence in higher education, giving affiliation to Universities and colleges and promotion of research, innovation and skill development.

4. The Committee, accordingly, invites memoranda, containing views/suggestions from individuals/organizations interested in the subject. Those desirous of submitting memoranda to the Committee may send their written memoranda, either in English or Hindi to Shri Vinay Shankar Singh, Additional Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Room No. 141, 1st Floor, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi- 110001 (Telephone No. 23035446 and Fax- 21410346) email rsc_hrd@sansad.nic.in or committeehrd@gmail.com within fifteen days from the date of publication of this advertisement (i.e., on or before 25th June 2018). Those who are willing to appear before the Committee for oral evidence besides submitting the memoranda may indicate so. However, the Committee's decision in this regard shall be final.

5. The memoranda submitted to the Committee would form part of the records of the Committee and would be treated as confidential and would enjoy privileges of the Committee.

Source: davp 31202/11/0001/1819

Enrollment of Indian and Global Desalination Solution Providers for the National Mission on Desalination

Government of India

Ministry of Science & Technology

Department of Science & Technology

Enrolment  of Indian and Global Desalination Solution Providers for the National Mission on Desalination

The National Mission on Desalination (NMD), conceptualised in 2017 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Govt. of India in partnership with concerned ministries and departments at the behest of NITI Aayog, aims  to ensure water security of the country and provide clean and safe drinking water to water-scarce areas of the country. NMD envisages making use of desalinated water as a sustainable solution for water supply in the coastal states across India. It is proposed to enlist all technologies (developed and commercialized, developed and awaiting commercialization, and likely to be developed in next 5 years) and enroll all Indian and Global desalination technology Solution Providers in this Mission. As an initial step in this direction, it is planned to identify technology solution providers offering diverse technology options both from India and abroad for conversion of seawater/ brackish water into water for different end use (domestic/agriculture/ industrial) under the National Mission on Desalination (NMD).

Department of Science & Technology (DST) seeks to enroll the solution providers on the choice of technologies/ solutions. Based on the information, a Compendium of Technological Solutions will be prepared for use by state governments, urban local bodies and other organizations regarding selection and use of appropriate technologies for processing of seawater/ saline/ brackish water to be made safe for human, agricultural and industrial consumption. The information bank on desalination technologies, and operational desalination units will be used by the central, state and local governments to take an informed decision on appropriate technology choices suited in specific socio-economic context and would provide an opportunity to enrolled solution providers to be a part of activities of National Mission on Desalination.

Technology solution providers are requested to submit information online in the questionnaire at the following link: https://goo.gl/E6iLRq latest by 31^st July 2018.

For any queries, you may write to: desalinationmission[@]gmail.com.

Softcopies along with supporting documents and photos of technology components and operational systems may be submitted to desalinationmission[@]gmail.com.  These documents and photos can also be sent by post to Dr. Neelima Alam, Scientist E, Technology Mission Division, Department of Science & Technology (DST), Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110016.

Further Details

New Book | Global Open Data for Agriculture & Nutrition: Success Stories, Issue 2

Global Open Data for Agriculture & Nutrition: Success Stories, Issue 2
by Global Open Data for Agriculture & Nutrition (GODAN), May 2017; written by: Sam Compton, edited by: Paul Nagle.

Table of Contents

1. CTA, Africa, Caribbean & Pacific: Delivering Practical Data for Farmers, Decision-Makers
   
2. Foodie, Global: Open Geospatial Data, Arable Farming
3. AUSGOAL, Australia: Public Service Sharing Open Data
4. Boer & Bunder, the Netherlands: Open Data for Farmers and Plot Development
5. Digital Green, Asia and Africa: Community Video Production, Improving Agricultural Techniques
6. Accessible Data on Irrigation, Yemen: Irrigation, Decision-Makers Data
7. LANSA, Asia: Open Data Helps Research into Nutrition
8. Sustainable World, Global: Training and Advice for Accessing Open Data for Development
9. AGRIS, Global: Domain, Community and Database on Agricultural Open Data
10. Global Yield Gap Atlas, Global: Crop Yield Research
11. Open Data Institute, Global: Supporting Open Data in Agriculture and Nutrition, with Focus on New Businesses

Foreword: The Data Revolution

This second issue of open data success stories demonstrates the importance and the key role that open data plays in supporting innovation in agriculture and nutrition across the globe. As food insecurity continues to threaten many lives, the increased awareness of open data has catalysed a multitude of initiatives designed to improve agricultural productivity at a pace that will allow everyone enough nutritious food for an improved quality of life. 

Since our first book of success stories, GODAN has expanded from 250 partners to over 500. We have seen our partner's research data provide new tools for making geospatial data more accessible to all and encourage the flow of best practices from one continent to another. Our partners have stressed the importance of access to reliable nutrition data, which is now seen as an integral part of the global food security agenda. 

Open data presents us with huge opportunities. But how do we deliver a responsible data revolution that leaves no one behind? As science-led thinking evolves and more data becomes available, we learn also more about obstacles that make increased agricultural productivity even more challenging than we initially thought.

Success in open data initiatives looks different depending on one's perspective. For some, simply kicking off an open data initiative is a huge success while for others, success is a clear policy outcome or an improvement in human nutrition. Additionally, we also need to be able to articulate where we fail as well as succeed, and most importantly learn and do better next time. Our next compilation will also tell stories of failure. Are you brave enough to share them with us? 

The next digital revolution has truly begun. We aim to make it for the benefit of all.

 

André Laperriere, GODAN Executive Director

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See Also:

Global Open Data for Agriculture & Nutrition: Success Stories, Issue 1. by Global Open Data for Agriculture & Nutrition (GODAN), August 2016; written by: Sam Compton, edited by: Diana Szpotowicz and Paul Day.

NITI Aayog releases a Discussion Paper on "National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence"

Discussion Paper on National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence
by NITI Aayog, New Delhi, India, June 2018.

Table of Contents

• Introduction - #AIforAll: Technology Leadership for Inclusive Growth
  
• Executive Summary
• What is Artificial Intelligence?
• Global Developments in Artificial Intelligence 
• Artificial Intelligence and India 
• Focus Areas for AI Intervention 
• Healthcare 
• Agriculture 
• Education 
• Smart Cities and Infrastructure 
• Smart Mobility and Transportation 
• Key Challenges to Adoption of AI in India 
• Way Forward To Harness the Power of AI 
• Research 
• Skilling for the AI Age 
• Accelerating Adoption 
• Ethics, Privacy, Security and Artificial Intelligence 
• Actions for the Government 
• Appendix I: Artificial Intelligence Explained 
• Appendix II: Global Country Strategy Review 
• Appendix III: Data Ecosystem 

Introduction [Excerpt]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to disrupt our world. With intelligent machines enabling high-level cognitive processes like thinking, perceiving, learning, problem solving and decision making, coupled with advances in data collection and aggregation, analytics and computer processing power, AI presents opportunities to complement and supplement human intelligence and enrich the way people live and work. 

India, being the fastest growing economy with the second largest population in the world, has a significant stake in the AI revolution. Recognising AI's potential to transform economies and the need for India to strategise its approach, Hon'ble Finance Minister, in his last budget speech, mandated NITI Aayog to establish the National Program on AI with a view to guiding the research and development in new and emerging technologies. In pursuance of the above, NITI Aayog has adopted a three-pronged approach – undertaking exploratory proof-of-concept AI projects in various areas, crafting a national strategy for building a vibrant AI ecosystem in India and collaborating with various experts and stakeholders. Since the start of this year, NITI Aayog has partnered with several leading AI technology players to implement AI projects in critical areas such as agriculture and health. Learnings from these projects, under various stages of implementation, as well as our engagement with some of the leading institutions and experts have given a better perspective to our task of crafting the national strategy for AI which is the focus of this discussion paper.

This strategy document is premised on the proposition that India, given its strengths and characteristics, has the potential to position itself among leaders on the global AI map – with an unique brand of #AIforAll. The approach in this paper focuses on how India can leverage the transformative technologies to ensure social and inclusive growth in line with the development philosophy of the government. In addition, India would strive to replicate these solutions in other similarly placed developing countries.

#AIforAll will aim at enhancing and empowering human capabilities to address the challenges of access, affordability, shortage and inconsistency of skilled expertise; effective implementation of AI initiatives to evolve scalable solutions for emerging economies, and endeavors to tackle some of the global challenges from AI's perspective, be it application, research, development, technology, or responsible AI; will focus on harnessing collaborations and partnerships, and aspires to ensure prosperity for all. Thus, #AIforAll means technology leadership in AI for achieving the greater good. 

Amitabh Kant | CEO, NITI Aayog

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Call for Papers 2nd International Triple Helix Summit 2018 | Dubai, UAE | 10-13 November

The role of Government /Academia / Industry in building Innovation-based Cities and Nations The II International Triple Helix Summit 2018, Dubai, UAE, 10-13 November 2018     The British University in Dubai (BUiD) has been successful in attracting region's first International Triple Helix Summit on "The Role of Government / Academia / Industry in building Innovation-based Cities and Nations"   BUiD, Triple Helix Association, University of Dubai, Al Maktoum College of Higher Education, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government and American University of Ras Al Khaimah are jointly organizing the event. The event will be held from 10th – 13th November 2018 in Dubai.   The call for abstract is open for submission with seven themes on various Triple Helix topics and bring together researchers and practitioners from different fields.   The Summit will have plenary sessions, presentations of successful case studies, poster sessions, panel discussions and workshops to touch base upon on challenges and solutions of Triple Helix.   Renowned Speakers including Professor Henry Etzkowitz, who is one of the founder of the Model, and other experienced scholars and practictioners would be addressing on the Government-Academia-Industry Role in the Triple Helix Model.   The Theme for the Summit is "The Role of Government / Academia / Industry in building Innovation-based Cities and Nations" and it focuses on the following areas in the Summit:  The Role of Triple Helix in Transforming Nations into Knowledge-Based Economies The Role of Triple Helix in Building a Sustainable Economy The Role of Government and Public Policy in Developing Triple Helix Systems Entrepreneurial University and its Engagement in the Triple Helix System Smart Cities and Overcoming Security Challenges Towards a More Effective Triple Helix Management and Partnership Challenges for Effective Partnership and Interactions Among Triple Helix Actors   We invite you to an enriching and thought-provoking International Summit on Triple Helix in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This is a new area for exploration within the Gulf Region and welcome the participants to hear about the best practices and researches on this field.  The deadline for Submission is 15th June 2018. Hurry up and submit your abstract now!!     Why the TH Summit 2018 in Dubai?   UAE's founding father Late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was a great visionary whose wisdom and struggle in uniting the seven Emirates as one nation served as a strong Foundation and Inspiration for the next line of Leaders. UAE has been rated first globally in 50 development indices according to the Global Competitiveness Reports 2017-2018, which is a mammoth step towards development for only a 46 years old country. The UAE connects the West to East due to its strategic geographical location; the rapid development that took place in the last 15 years has established UAE as one of the most Innovative Nations in the Arab world. In addition, to lead as one of the Innovative Nations of the world UAE launched the National Innovation Strategy in 2014.The Strategy targets seven crucial sectors such as renewable energy, transport, education, health, technology, water and space. In addition, other strategies that have been set in place to drive innovation across other sectors are UAE Vision 2021, Centennial Strategy 2070, UAE Clean Energy 2050 Strategy, UAE Future Accelerators programme, UAE Mission to Mars 2021 etc.   Dubai city on its own under the leadership of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai has also been at the forefront leading on the new technological advancements and have announced a number of initiatives such as Dubai Future Strategy, Dubai Artificial Intelligence Strategy, Dubai Smart City initiative, Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 and 10X. Thus, it is very evident that the Governments across the world are working towards adapting the Digital Transformation initiatives and rapid advancements are taking place in the field of Mobility, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, 3D printing, Big Data etc. and the Global Economies are moving towards platform economies.   The Triple Helix Summit comes at a very crucial time where the Business dynamics globally and within the country are changing so fast and that there is an urgent need for all stakeholders to work hand in hand to create sustainable economies and leave a legacy for generations to come. The themes for the conference have been carefully designed to create an opportunity for the Government and Industry to network with Academics, Scientist, students and wider academia community from across the globe to understand and comprehend how knowledge partnerships are taking place worldwide to design Innovative solutions to form Happier and Prosperous communities. In addition, it will provide an opportunity for the Academia to identify  key areas of research that are most crucial to the Government bodies and how jointly they can set up incubators to create homegrown future scientists but also help it meet the goals and KPI's of the UAE Innovation strategy.     The British University in Dubai formed a Consortium with a shared understanding on the importance of the Triple Helix Model for Sustainable Innovation in the UAE. The members are linked with common goal of supporting the UAE's National Innovation Strategy leading to societal benefits and driving the development of the knowledge-based economy. The consortium aims to attain the aim of the three components of the Triple Helix Model working towards sustained growth and development.  Students receive great discount on the registration fees. Papers presented at the II International Triple Helix Summit in Dubai, UAE would be considered for publication in one of the upcoming Topical Collections of the Triple Helix Journal (THJ) and other scientific Journals. If you have any inquiry about the Summit, please contact us  Submit now your abstract in order to join us in Dubai! We look forward to meet you! British University in Dubai & Triple Helix Association Facebook | LinkedIn Copyright © 2018 Triple Helix Association, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Triple Helix Association, Via della Lungara 10, 00165 Rome, Italy | website http://www.triplehelixassociation.org/