Daily Current Affairs: 09:02:2022
Important News: World
1. Salesforce Global Digital Skills Index 2022: India leads in digital skills readiness:
Why in News
- Salesforce, a leading player in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), said that according to its Global Digital Skills Index 2022, India leads in digital skills readiness and has the highest readiness score amongst 19 countries it surveyed.
Key Points
- India had the highest digital readiness score of 63 out of 100.
- The average global readiness score was 33 out of 100.
- According to Salesforce, in India, 72 percent of respondents say they are very actively learning digital skills. 66 percent of respondents in India also said they feel very equipped with resources to learn digital skills.
About Global Digital Skills Index 2022:
- The Index is based on a survey of over 23,500 workers in 19 countries.
- The index measures global employee sentiments and readiness to acquire the key digital skills needed by businesses today and over the next five years.
Source: ET
Important News: India
2. Centre’s proposal for solar tariffs
Why in News
- The centre is set to come up with rules to pool solar tariffs and is also aiming to increase bundling of renewable energy in existing thermal Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to boost the procurement of renewable energy.
- The government is aiming to boost installed renewable energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.
Key Points
- Solar tariffs have fallen consistently over the past decade to a low of under Rs 2 per unit (1 unit = 1 kWh) in December 2020 due to the falling price of solar panels and lower financing cost.
- The trend of lower solar tariffs has led to many players waiting on tariffs to fall further instead of entering into long term power procurement agreements.
- The Centre is encouraging bundling of renewable energy with thermal power under existing PPAs.
- The power ministry, in November 2021, permitted thermal generation companies to supply power to customers from their renewable energy projects under the existing PPAs for coal-based electricity, with gains from the bundling of renewable energy to be shared between generators and discoms on a 50:50 basis.
- The Centre is targeting bundling of 10,000 Megawatt of renewable energy with fossil fuel based power over the next 4-5 years.
Current state of India’s Solar Sector:
- India has the 4th largest wind power capacity in the world.
- The country’s installed Renewable Energy capacity stands at 150.54 GW as on 30th November. 2021 while its nuclear energy based installed electricity capacity stands at 6.78 GW.
Related Initiatives:
- International Solar Alliance
- Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM)
- One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)
- National Solar Mission
- National Offshore Wind Energy Policy
- Roof Top Solar programme Phase-II
- Hydrogen Based Fuel Cells Vehicles
- National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy 2018
Source: Indian Express
3. National Ropeways Development Programme – “Parvatmala”
Why in News
- Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting Union Budget for 2022-23 announced National Ropeways Development Programme – “Parvatmala”.
Key Points
About “Parvatmala” scheme:
- The scheme will be taken up on PPP mode, which will be a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative in place of conventional roads in difficult hilly areas.
- The idea is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters, besides promoting tourism.
- This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit system is not feasible.
- The Finance Minister announced that contracts for 8 ropeway projects for a length of 60 km would be awarded in 2022-23.
- The scheme is being presently started in regions like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir and the other North Eastern states.
Note:
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) has so far been responsible for development of Highways and regulating the road transport sector across the country.
- However, in February 2021, the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961 was amended, which enables the Ministry to also look after the development of Ropeways and Alternate Mobility Solutions.
MoU with Uttarakhand:
- MORTH has initiated a study carried out by M/s Mckinsey & Co. for Ropeway development in the country.
- The study suggested that MORTH may take National Ropeway Development Programme named “Parvatmala”, similar to the “Bharatmala” programme.
- An MoU has been signed with Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB), Govt. of Uttarakhand, for development of Ropeways in the State.
Source: PIB
4. Powerthon-2022
Why in News
- Union Minister for Power and MNRE R K Singh launched Powerthon-2022, a hackathon competition under RDSS to find technology driven solutions to solve the complex problems in power distribution and to ensure quality and reliable power supply.
Key Points
- Powerthon-2022 is being launched in line with the aim of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) introduced by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
- RDSS is a Reform-based and Result-linked Scheme introduced by the Ministry of Power and the key objectives of RDSS are Reducing AT&C losses to 12-15%, eliminating the ACOS-ARR gap by 2024-25 and improving the quality & reliability of the power supply to build a robust power sector which can amplify the development opportunities in the nation’s quest for a thriving economy.
- Startup India, the flagship initiative of the Government of India, intended to catalyse startup culture and build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in India is also supporting in wide publicity of Powerthon-2022.
Other Schemes related to the Power Sector:
- Integrated Power Development Scheme
- Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya)
- Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
- GARV (Grameen Vidyutikaran) App
- Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY)
Source: PIB
5. “India Telecom 2022”
Why in News
- Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railway, inaugurated ‘India Telecom 2022’ - an Exclusive International Business Expo.
Key Points
- The event is being organised by Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) from February 8thto 10th, 2022 under Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAI) of Department of Commerce, Government of India and with support of Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions in different countries.
- Qualified buyers from more than 45 countries are attending the event. Apart from the conference, 40+ Indian telecom companies are showcasing their products and capabilities at the exhibition.
- Event aims to provide opportunities to the Indian telecom stakeholders to meet qualified overseas buyers
Source: PIB
Important News: State
6. J&K becomes the first Union Territory to be integrated with National Single Window System
Why in News
- Jammu & Kashmir became the first Union Territory to be integrated with the National Single Window System (NSWS).
- Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched the J&K Single Window Clearance System integrated with NSWS.
Key Points
- NSWS is linked with India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) which hosts 45 industrial parks of J&K. This will help Investors to discover available land parcels in J&K.
- The NSWS, a 2020 budgetary announcement of the Government of India, is a digital platform that serves as a guide for investors to identify and to apply for approvals as per their business requirements.
- The platform was soft launched in September 2021 by the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.
- NSWS will eliminate the need for investors to visit multiple platforms/offices to gather information and obtain clearances from different stakeholders.
Source: PIB
7. Akshay Kumar appointed as Uttarakhand's brand ambassador
Why in News
- Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced ahead of Assembly Elections 2022.
Key Points
- In 2017, Akshay Kumar was appointed as Uttarakhand's brand ambassador for 'Swachhata Abhiyan'.
- He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009.
Previous Brand Ambassador: In 2021, cricketer Rishabh Pant, who hails from Roorkee, was appointed as Uttarakhand's brand ambassador.
Source: ET
Important News: Sports
8. China PR wins AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 Football Tournament
Why in News
- China PR (People’s Republic) defeated South Korea (Korea Republic) to win the AFC Women`s Asian Cup India 2022 final title at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, India.
Key Points
- This is the record-extending 9th AFC Women`s Asian Cup title won by China.
AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022:
- The AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 was the 20th edition of the AFC Women's Asian Cup.
- India was recommended as the host of the tournament by AFC Women's Football Committee and selected as the host in June 2020.
Source: ndtv
Important News: Personality
9. Mahabharat's Bheem aka Praveen Kumar Sobti passes away
- Praveen Kumar Sobti who played the role of Bheem in BR Chopra's Mahabharat, passed away.
- Sobti was 20 when he joined the Border Security Force (BSF), and later represented the country across various athletic events in hammer and discus throw.
- The Arjuna Awardee was a two-time Olympian (1968 Mexico Games and 1972 Munich Games) and four-time Asian Games medallist (two gold, one silver and one bronze)
Source: TOI
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