Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 01 April 2022

Daily Current Affairs 01 April 2022

Important News: World

World Energy Transitions Outlook 2022

Why in News

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) launched the World Energy Transitions Outlook 2022 at the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue.

Key Points

Findings of the World Energy Transitions Outlook 2022:

Short-term interventions addressing the current energy crisis must be accompanied by a steadfast focus on mid- and long-term goals of the energy transition.
High fossil fuel prices, energy security concerns and the urgency of climate change underscore the pressing need to move faster to a clean energy system.
The Outlook sets out priority areas and actions based on available technologies that must be realised by 2030 to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century.
The Outlook sees electrification and efficiency as key drivers of the energy transition, enabled by renewables, hydrogen, and sustainable biomass.
Increasing ambition in the National Determined Contributions and national energy plans under the Glasgow Climate Pact must provide certainty and guide investment strategies in line with 1.5°C.

State of India’s Energy Transition:

The country’s installed Renewable Energy (RE) capacity stands at 150.54 GW (solar: 48.55 GW, wind: 40.03 GW, Small hydro Power: 4.83 GW, Bio-power: 10.62 GW, Large Hydro: 46.51 GW) as on 30th November 2021 while its nuclear energy based installed electricity capacity stands at 6.78 GW.
India has the 4th largest wind power capacity in the world.

Related Initiatives/Schemes:

One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)
International Solar Alliance
National Solar Mission
PM KUSUM
Solar Park Scheme and Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme
National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy 2018
Hydrogen Based Fuel Cells Vehicles

Source: DTE

Important News: India

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY)-Gramin

Why in News

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 5.21 lakh houses of beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY)-Gramin in Madhya Pradesh while participating in the 'Grah Pravesham', a ceremony to hand over new houses to their owners.

Key Points

So far, 2.5 crore houses have been constructed under the PMAY scheme in the country, including two crore in rural areas.
The Prime Minister also called upon people to take a vow to construct 75 'amrit sarovar' (ponds) in every district of the country over the next 12 months, as the nation marks 75 years of its independence.

About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY)-Gramin:

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY)-Gramin, previously Indira Awas Yojana, is a social welfare programme, created by the Indian Government, to provide housing for the rural poor in India.
A similar scheme for urban poor was launched in 2015 as Housing for All by 2022.
Indira Awas Yojana was launched in 1985 by Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, as one of the major flagship programs of the Ministry of Rural Development to construct houses for BPL population in the villages.

Source: ET

Series of reforms undertaken to promote Indian drone industry

Why in News

The Central Government has undertaken a series of reform measures to promote India's upcoming drone industry.

Key Points

Reforms undertaken to promote Indian drone industry:

Liberalised Drone Rules, 2021
Drone Airspace Map
Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme
UAS Traffic Management (UTM) Policy Framework
Monetary grant program for purchase of agricultural drones
Application forms under Drone Rules, 2021 made online on the DigitalSky Platform
Drone certification scheme
Drone import policy
Drone (Amendment) Rules, 2022

Source: PIB

Important News: State

Government of India reduces disturbed areas under AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur

Why in News

The Government of India has reduced disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur after decades.
In comparison to 2014, there has been a reduction of 74 percent in militancy incidents in 2021.

Key Points

The Disturbed Area Notification is in force in whole of Assam since 1990. Due to the significant improvement in the situation, now AFSPA is being removed with effect from 01.04.2022 completely from 23 districts and partially from 1 district of Assam.
The Disturbed Area Declaration is in force in the entire Manipur (except Imphal Municipality area) since 2004. 15 police station areas of 6 districts of Manipur will be excluded from the Disturbed Area Notification with effect from 01.04.2022.
The Disturbed Area Notification is in force in the whole of Nagaland from 1995. The Disturbed Area Notification is being withdrawn from 15 police stations in 7 districts in Nagaland with effect from 01.04.2022.

Note:

The Disturbed Area Notification under AFSPA was completely removed from Tripura in 2015 and Meghalaya in 2018.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 grants special powers to the security forces to conduct operations anywhere and to arrest anyone without any prior warrant.

Source: Indian Express

Massive fire in Sariska Tiger Reserve

Why in News

Recently, a massive fire has broken out in the Sariska Tiger Reserve.

Key Points

An 8-10 sq km area in the Akbarpur range has been affected despite timely satellite warnings and the availability of a real-time mobile application-based fire response system.

About Sariska Tiger Reserve:

Sariska Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve in Alwar district, Rajasthan, India.
It stretches over an area of 881 km2 comprising scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and rocky hills.
This area was a hunting preserve of the Alwar state and was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958.
It was given the status of a tiger reserve making it a part of India's Project Tiger in 1978.
The wildlife sanctuary was declared a national park in 1982, with a total area of about 273.8 km2.
It is the first reserve in the world with successfully relocated tigers.

Other Protected Areas of Rajasthan:

Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur
Ranthambore National Park
Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary, Udaipur
National Chambal Sanctuary

Note: Recently, the Ramgarh Vishdhari wildlife sanctuary received a nod from the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s technical committee to become the 4th Tiger reserve of Rajasthan.

Source: Indian Express

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launches MyGov- the robust citizen engagement platform for Jammu & Kashmir

Why in News

To take forward the idea of citizen engagement and achieve the goal of ‘Good Governance’ in India’s first Union Territory, MyGov Jammu & Kashmir has been launched by Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor, Jammu & Kashmir.

Key Points

MyGov Jammu and Kashmiris the 16th MyGov Instance and 1st ever MyGov for any Union Territory in the 7+ years journey of MyGov.

About MyGov:

MyGov was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 26th July 2014, with the idea of bringing the Government closer to the common man by creating an interface for a healthy exchange of ideas and views towards the social and economic transformation of India.
Taking forward the idea of participative governance, MyGov initiated the implementation of MyGov State Instances and has successfully implemented Instances for 15 states namely Haryana, Maharashtra, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

Source: PIB

Mumbai International Cruise Terminal to be commissioned by July 2024

Why in News

The Mumbai International Cruise Terminal, the iconic sea cruise terminal coming up at BPX-Indira Dock, is expected to be commissioned by July 2024.
This was informed by the Chairperson, Mumbai Port Authority, Rajiv Jalota on the occasion of completion of 7 years of Sagarmala - Government of India’s flagship programme for port-led development of the nation.

Key Points

The terminal will have a capacity of handling 200 ships and 1 million passengers per annum.
Out of the total project cost of Rs. 495 crore, Rs. 303 crores will be incurred by Mumbai Port Authority and the remaining by private operators.

About Sagarmala:

Sagarmala is an ambitious national initiative aimed at bringing about a step change in India’s logistics sector performance, by unlocking the full potential of India’s coastline and waterways.
The vision of Sagarmala is to reduce logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimized infrastructure investment.

Source: PIB

Important News: Defence

20th edition of India France Naval Exercise VARUNA – 2022

Why in News

The 20th edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between Indian and French Navies – ‘VARUNA’ is being conducted in the Arabian Sea from 30 March – 03 April 2022.

Key Points

The Bilateral Naval Exercises between the two Navies were initiated in 1993.
The exercise was christened as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001 and has become a vital part of India – France strategic bilateral relationship.
Various units including ships, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, fighter aircraft and helicopters of the two navies are participating in the exercise.

Source: India Today

Important News: Science

ISRO to step up tracking of space debris

Why in News

With space junk posing an increasing threat to Indian assets in space, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is building up its orbital debris tracking capability by deploying new radars and optical telescopes under the Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) project.

Key Points

A space debris tracking radar with a range of 1,500 km and an optical telescope will be inducted as part of establishing an effective surveillance and tracking network under NETRA.

Space Junk:

Space junk or debris consists of spent rocket stages, dead satellites, fragments of space objects and debris resulting from Anti-satellite (ASAT) System.
Hurtling at an average speed of 27,000 kmph in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), these objects pose a very real threat as collisions involving even centimetre-sized fragments can be lethal to satellites.

NETRA Project:

It is an early warning system in space to detect debris and other hazards to Indian satellites.
Once operational, it will give India its own capability in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) like the other space powers.

Note: At present, India uses a Multi Object Tracking Radar at Sriharikota range (Andhra Pradesh), but it has a limited range.

Source: The Hindu