Content

1. Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Pratap
2. SAMPANN: Transforming Pension Administration for DoT Pensioners

Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Pratap

Why is it in News?

• Raksha Mantri commissioned ICGS Samudra Pratap at Goa.
• India’s first indigenously designed Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) built by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL).
• Largest ship in the Indian Coast Guard fleet; enhances environmental response & coastal security.
• Over 60% indigenous content; symbol of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in shipbuilding.
• First frontline ICG ship to have women officers posted onboard.

Relevance

GS-3 | Internal Security & Disaster Management

• Strengthening maritime security, coastal surveillance & EEZ protection
• Enhances capability for oil-spill response, marine pollution control & disaster mitigation
• Builds environmental security resilience in alignment with NOS-DCP, MARPOL, UNCLOS
• Supports multi-mission maritime operations (SAR, law enforcement, firefighting)

What is a Pollution Control Vessel (PCV)?

• A specialised maritime platform to:
  • Detect, contain & recover oil spills / hazardous pollutants
  • Support fire-fighting, salvage & maritime safety
  • Protect marine ecosystems & blue economy assets
• Critical for India’s obligations under:
  • MARPOL Convention
  • UNCLOS environmental responsibilities
  • National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP)

Mission Capabilities

• Pollution Control Suite
  • Side-sweeping arms
  • Floating booms & high-capacity skimmers
  • Portable barges
  • Onboard pollution control laboratory
• Fire-fighting: Fi-Fi Class 1 external system
• Automation & Navigation
  • Dynamic Positioning System
  • Integrated Bridge & Platform Mgmt Systems
  • Automated Power Mgmt System
• Aviation Capability
  • Helicopter hangar & aviation support facilities
• Armament
  • 30-mm CRN-91 gun
  • Two 12.7-mm SRCGs with modern FCS
• Roles Beyond Pollution Response
  • Coastal patrol & surveillance
  • SAR & maritime law enforcement
  • EEZ monitoring & environmental safety ops

Strategic Significance

• Environmental Security = Maritime Security
  • Protects coral reefs, mangroves, fisheries, biodiversity
  • Supports coastal livelihoods & blue economy
• Places India among select nations with advanced marine pollution response capability
• Strengthens India’s position as a Responsible Maritime Power in the Indo-Pacific
• Enhances operational readiness in rough sea conditions
• Aligns with Grand Maritime Vision, SAGAR & Indo-Pacific stability framework

Indigenisation & Defence Industrial Ecosystem

• Built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL)
• Reflects shift to:
  • Platform-agnostic, intelligence-driven, integration-centric Coast Guard
  • Growth of domestic shipbuilding, servicing & repair ecosystem
• Supports:
  • Make in India
  • Aatmanirbhar Bharat
  • Maritime manufacturing value chains

Gender Inclusion Milestone

• First frontline ICG ship to appoint women officers
• Expands roles in:
  • Aviation, operations, logistics, law, air-traffic control
• Marks shift toward a gender-neutral operational force

Broader Context: Global Maritime Uncertainty

• Enhances capability against:
  • Marine disasters
  • Oil spill contingencies
  • Hybrid maritime threats
• Supports regional capacity-building & cooperative frameworks

Conclusion

ICGS Samudra Pratap marks a major leap in indigenous maritime environmental protection & coastal security capacity, positioning India as a responsible, capability-driven maritime power in the Indo-Pacific.

SAMPANN: Transforming Pension Administration for DoT Pensioners

 Why is it in News? 

• SAMPANN platform expanded for DoT pensioners with deeper digital integration.
• Key update → Pension documents now accessible via DigiLocker:
  • e-PPO / Pension Certificate
  • Gratuity Payment Order
  • Commutation Order
  • Form-16 (tax document)

Relevance

GS-2 | Governance, Service Delivery & e-Government

• Example of digital public service reform in pension administration
• Improves transparency, accountability & grievance redressal
• Paperless workflows → reduced delays, fewer intermediaries, faster outcomes
• Strengthens citizen-centric governance for elderly & retired employees

Basics — What is SAMPANN?

• Full form: System for Accounting and Management of Pension
• Sector: Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
• Type: Integrated online pension management system
• Core objective: End-to-end digital pension lifecycle management from sanction → disbursal → grievance redressal.

What SAMPANN Does ?

• Single unified platform for:
  • Pension processing & sanction
  • Direct pension disbursal to bank accounts
  • Digital profile & transaction history
  • Online grievance redressal
• Transparency + real-time tracking
• Paperless workflow + reduced delays

New Enhancement (2026 Update): DigiLocker Integration

• Makes key pension records securely available online:
  • e-PPO / Pension Certificate
  • Gratuity Payment Order
  • Pension Commutation Order
  • Form-16
• Benefits
  • Anytime-anywhere access
  • Tamper-proof authenticity
  • Long-term digital preservation
  • Eliminates dependency on physical copies

Governance & Reform Significance

• Strengthens:
  • Digital Governance
  • Paperless Administration
  • Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) architecture
• Improves:
  • Service delivery to telecom retirees
  • Efficiency, transparency & accountability
• Reduces:
  • Processing delays
  • Manual handling errors
  • Intermediary dependency

Policy Linkages

• Aligns with:
  • Digital India
  • e-Governance & Good Governance reforms
  • National Digital Public Infrastructure
  • Pension sector modernization initiatives

Impact on Stakeholders

• Pensioners
  • Faster approvals & disbursal
  • Secure digital records
  • Simplified grievance process
• Administration
  • Better monitoring & audit trails
  • Reduced paperwork & transaction costs

Conclusion

SAMPANN is a digitally integrated, end-to-end pension management platform for DoT pensioners, now strengthened through DigiLocker-based access to official pension records, enhancing convenience, transparency, and paperless governance.