Goaltide Daily Current Affairs
Current Affair 1:
. FATF Asia-Pacific Group (APG) blacklists Pakistan over non-compliance in terror financing
Let FATF do whatever it wants to do. Our Prime Minister is taking care of it. Our concern is:
- What is this FATF.
- What does it mean if it puts any country in Grey List or Black List?
- FATF in respect of India
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989.
The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF is therefore a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.
The FATF's decision making body, the ‘FATF Plenary’, meets three times per year.
The FATF Secretariat supports the substantive work of the FATF membership and global network. The Secretariat is located at the OECD Headquarters in Paris.
To achieve global implementation of the FATF recommendations, the FATF relies on a strong global network of 9 FATF-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs), in addition to its own 38 members. Among these 9 FSRBs, India is a member of two: Asian Pacific Group and Eurasian Group.
Pakistan is not a member of FATF. It is member of only Asia Pacific Group
This Asia Pacific Group for terror financing & Money Laundering (APG) has only put Pakistan on its “Enhanced Expedited Follow up list” or in other words “Blacklist” for its non-compliance towards Terror Financing & Money Laundering.
What is Grey List and Black List?
FATF maintains two different lists of countries: those that have deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing (AML/CTF) regimes but they commit to an action plan to address these loopholes, and those that do not end up doing enough. The former is commonly known as grey list and later as blacklist.
Once a country is blacklisted, FATF calls on other countries to apply enhanced due diligence and counter measures, increasing the cost of doing business with the country and in some cases severing it altogether. As of now there are only two countries were in the blacklist — Iran and North Korea, now it includes Pakistan too.
Current Affair 2:
SARAL – ‘State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index
Again, as we have mentioned in first week of current affairs, whenever any news comes about solar energy, first and most important thing that should come up in your mind is India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDCs), i.e. To achieve about 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy and Solar energy is part of non-fossil fuel-based energy.
Keeping this in mind, A target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by the year 2022 has been set which includes:
100 GW from solar (40GW rooftop solar electricity generation and 60GW large and medium-scale grid-connected solar projects), 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydropower.
To achieve our rooftop solar targets, it is important to develop an ecosystem that ensures information symmetry, access to financing and clear market signals. Thus, the MNRE has developed the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index–SARAL that evaluates Indian states based on their attractiveness for rooftop development.
SARAL is the first of its kind index to provide a comprehensive overview of state-level measures adopted to facilitate rooftop solar deployment.
SARAL has been designed collaboratively by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Ernst & Young (EY). It was launched during the Review Planning and Monitoring (RPM) Meeting with States and State Power Utilities. SARAL currently captures five key aspects –
- robustness of policy framework
- implementation environment
- investment climate
- consumer experience
- business ecosystem
The State of Karnataka has been placed at the first rank in the Index that evaluates Indian states based on their attractiveness for rooftop development. Telangana, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have got 2nd, 3rd and 4th rank respectively.
Current Affair 3:
Union Human Resource Development Minister launched the National Mission to improve Learning Outcomes at the Elementary level- NISHTHA( National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement.)
Teachers are the important pillars of society, but it is important to upgrade their skills and ensure that they are trained in the best way. This is only possible in collaboration with teacher education institutions, which play a key role in their actual transformation.
- It aims to build capacities of 42 Lakh government teachers across the country.
- It is the largest teachers’ training programme of its kind in the world.
- The basic objective of this massive training programme ‘NISHTHA’ is to motivate and equip teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking in students.
- Teachers will get awareness and develop their skills on various aspects related to Learning Outcomes, Competency Based Learning and Testing, Learner-centered Pedagogy, School Safety and Security, Personal-social qualities, Inclusive Education, ICT in teaching-learning including Artificial Intelligence, Health and well-being including yoga, Initiatives in School Education including library, eco club, youth club, kitchen garden, School Leadership qualities, Environmental Concerns, Pre-school, Pre-vocational Education and School Based Assessment in a joyful learning manner.
- The training will also sensitize teachers on key provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 2019.
- The initiative is first of its kind wherein standardized training modules are developed at national level for all States and UTs.
- However, States and UTs can contextualize the training modules and use their own material and resource persons also, keeping in view the core topics and expected outcomes of NISHTHA.
- A Mobile App and Learning Management System (LMS) based on MOODLE (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) have been developed by NCERT.
- LMS will be used for registration of Resource Persons and Teachers, dissemination of resources, training gap and impact analysis, monitoring, mentoring and measuring the progress online.
19,000 teacher-training institutes across the country were mapped and put on Google Earth. "Users can go online not only to see the geographical location of these institutes around the country but also to check their report cards and give their feedback
Current Affair 4:
CCI needs to ensure Indian cos are not subject to abuse from overseas entities: Sitharaman
We will take CCI from here (for UPSC) and leave rest to Nirmala Sitharaman.
Competition Commission of India (CCI)
Competition Commission of India is a statutory body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India and to prevent activities that have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India. It was established on 14 October 2003.
Powers and Functions of CCI (no need of any more functions, except given below):
- To eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade by other participants
- Inquire into certain agreements and dominant position of enterprise– It provides that the Commission may either suo moto or on receipt of any information of alleged contravention of Section 3 (prohibits anti-competitive agreements) may inquire into the same.
- Inquiry into combinations– Section 20 of the Act entrusts the Commission with the power to inquire into any information relating to acquisition and determine whether such combination or acquisition may have an appreciable adverse effect on competition (AAEC).
- Power to issue interim order– Section 33 of the Act empowers the Commission to issue interim orders in cases of anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position, thereby temporarily restraining any party from carrying on such an act.
- Competition Advocacy– Section 49 of the Act provides for competition advocacy and enumerates that the Central or the State Government may while formulating any policy on Competition or any other matter may refer to the Commission for its opinion on possible effect of such policy on Competition. However, the opinion given by the Commission is not binding on the Central Government.
Now the most important part for UPSC:
The Finance Act primarily amends Section 53 A of the Competition Act, 2002 (Competition Act) which was the core provision in relation to filing an appeal against specific orders of the Competition Commission of India.
It put an end to Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) replacing it with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
So now, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) is an appellate body for appeal against CCI.
In 2019 Prelims, they asked about appellate body:
Nothing irrelevant will be provided here. Each and Every topic will be important for your Prelims.
Current Affair 5:
“Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme 2019”
Before going into scheme, from the above image, see the Ministry (Finanace) and Department (department of Revenue).
This scheme is very complicated but try to understand it in very simple terms. Don’t go into technical aspects.
The scheme is simple - not to waste resources of the industry, the department and the judiciary in long pending litigations and let the taxpayer settle matters of central excise and service tax by paying around 30% to 60% of the 'tax dues. Once the 'amount payable' as per the scheme is paid, it is conclusive. The scheme clearly states that the matter and time-period shall not be re-opened in any other proceeding.
Why this scheme?
Pending legacy indirect tax litigation has been a cause for worry for both government and businesses. Experts point out that around 85% of the cases under litigation have been decided in favour of taxpayers by high courts. The pending cases in the Income tax appellate tribunal (ITAT), HC and SC add to the exchequer's cost.
India already has lot of economic challenges ahead. It was necessary to unload the baggage of past litigations, which was impeding growth.
The new scheme envisages settlement of the legacy indirect tax disputes under central laws, covering central excise, service tax laws, cesses and 26 other laws.
What are the relief measures offered in the new scheme?
The relief varies from 40 to 70 per cent of the tax amount. If arrears are in the nature of late fee/penalty, they are waived, provided there are no tax dues. The amount already paid/pre-deposited could be reduced from the amount payable under the scheme. However, any excess payment cannot be claimed as a refund. Further, the amount payable under the scheme cannot be claimed by way of input tax credit.
How is the new scheme different from earlier ones?
The Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme (VCES) offered a waiver of interest and penalty.
However, the new scheme offers waiver of tax dues itself, apart from interest and penalty (also prosecution). The Finance Bill, 2019, notes that the scheme “…provides for certain immunities including penalty, interest or any other proceedings under the Central Excise Act, 1944 or Chapter V of the Finance Act, 1944 to those persons who pay the declared tax dues”.
VCES scheme announced in 2013 covered only unpaid service tax dues, while the new scheme covers disputes covering both excise and service tax.
Current Affair 6:
Amit Shah chairs 24th meeting of Western Zonal Council
Let him do whatever he wants. We will focus only on Zonal Councils. It is very important for your Exam. Just remember it was 24th meeting. UPSC can ask questions like (more than 30 Zonal Council meeting has taken place, correct or wrong).
For example, they asked in 2019, There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far (Set B, Q.NO.81). It was wrong statement. So please keep in mind these small things.
Zonal Councils were set up under States Re-organisation Act, 1956. There are total five Zonal Councils- North, South, West, East and Central.
Don’t include North-Eastern Zonal Councils in it. North Eastern Council is a statutory advisory body constituted under the NEC Act 1971.
One more important thing to understand here is Standing Committee to Zonal Councils.
Nothing more than this is required for your Exam.
Current Affair 7:
Nigeria has become the first country to approve open cultivation of genetically modified (GM) Bt cowpea
What do you mean by Genetically Modified (GM)?
“Genetic modification” or “genetically modified” short for GM involves altering the genes of an organism, be it a plant, animal or microorganism. This can be done by altering an existing section of DNA or inserting a gene from another organism.
When a scientist performs genetic modification to a plant, they insert a foreign gene (called „transgene?) in the plant’s own genes. This could be introduced from one plant to another plant, from a plant to an animal, or from a microorganism to a plant. For example, this might be a gene from a bacterium resistant to pesticide. Therefore, the genetically modified plant also is able to withstand pesticides due to the transgene.
Nigeria has become the first country to approve open cultivation of genetically modified (GM) Bt cowpea, according to a report by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications on August 22, 2019.
Pests, particularly pod borer (Maruca vitrata), have hampered production of cowpea, the most important legume in the west African country. It has to import about 500,000 tonnes annually to meet demand, according to a release by Cornell University’s Alliance for Science.
Let’s also see about The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
It functions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above.
Few points extremely important for Prelims:
Bt. cotton is the only Genetically Modified (GM) crop approved in 2002 by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee.
There is a well-established regulatory framework for approval of GM Crops as per “Rules for the Manufacture/Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989” under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, growing GM crops that are not approved by the government can lead to a five-years jail term and Rs 1 lakh fine.
Current Affair 8:
The 50th Pacific Islands Forum held in Tuvalu.
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between countries and territories of the Pacific Ocean.
Founded in 1971, it comprises 18 members: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Please try to locate the above places in Map. It is the most probable question of Prelims 2020. Just few important Places.
India and Pacific Island Forum (this is important)
India is not a member, but a dialogue partner to Pacific Island Forum.
The government of India announced grant assistance of $1.9mn to the government of Tuvalu for construction of Tuvalu Convention Center being built in Funafuti to host the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit meeting.
It’s expected that India will soon have diplomatic representatives in both Samoa and Tonga (which are currently served from Wellington and Suva, respectively) thereby increasing its influence in Polynesian, Micronesian, and Melanesian countries.
Why Pacific Islands Region is important to India?
- It connects Australasia (Australia, New Zealand and Melanesia) to the Latin American subcontinent and region will face increased maritime traffic once the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is finalized (the one, Obama signed and Trump withdrew, but still TPP is functional).
- India’s desire to enhance its influence in the Pacific Islands Forum could be a bid to win support for India’s formal membership for the United Nations Security Council. It has long been a goal of New Delhi to win a permanent seat in the UNSC, which would influence its relations with other countries like China and Pakistan.
- The region falls organically into China’s maritime strategic thinking and expansion as a part of its oft-stated “island chain” strategy. India’s presence in the region will curb China’s expansionist policy.
Current Affair 9:
ANUBHAV AWARDS Conferred.
Few important points you need to remember:
- It is an initiative of the Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Government of India.
- To provide a platform for the retiring Central Government employees (remember this, central employees only) to showcase commendable work done during service.
- Employees retiring in the next 6 months may be provided an online facility to submit their achievements.
Current Affair 10:
Composite Water Management Index 2019
Its 239 Page report but what is important for exam, we will finish it here.
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has developed the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) to enable effective water management in Indian states.
It represents a major step towards creating a culture of data-based decision-making for water in India, which can encourage “competitive and cooperative federalism” in the country’s water governance and management.
This is the second edition of the CWMI published by NITI Aayog. The first edition was published in 2018.
Few success stories of states mentioned in report. It is important for you to know that. It is given below:
Mukhya Mantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan: Rajasthan
Neeru-Chettu Programme: Andhra Pradesh
Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan: Maharashtra
Mission Kakatiya: Telangana
Sujalam Sufalam Yojana: Gujarat
Kapil Dhara Yojana: Madhya Pradesh
Paani Bachao, Paise Kamao: Punjab
Depleting access to clean water impacts food security and health and can cause social unrest and political instability. Key risks under this category include food security and the carrying capacity of urban centres.
Demand and supply Gap
Indicators of Index: 
Evolution of state rankings over time for non-Himalayan states, North-Eastern and Himalayan states, and UTs:
For Non- Himalayan states (first few states from top aand bottom, we will mention):
For Himalayan and North-Eastern states:
Union Territories:
Nothing more than this can be asked in UPSC Exam. Still you want to enjoy reading more, go through link given below. May God Bless You!
Current Affair 11:
G-7 Summit, 2019, held in France
The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal bloc of industrialized democracies—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United State- that meets annually to discuss issues such as global economic governance, international security, and energy policy.
The group was previously known as the G8 and counted Russia among its members, but Russia has been excluded since annexing the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in early 2014.
List of Summits important for Prelims
The 1st G6 summit took place on 15–17 November 1975, in Rambouillet, France. In 1976, Canada joined and the first G-7 Summit held in US in 1976.
The 2018 summit was hosted by Canada in Quebec from June 8-9.
This year, 2019, 45th G7 summit will be held from August 24-26 in Biarritz in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
Let see G-20 members also:
Its members represent 85 percent of global economic output, and it’s a little less exclusive than the G-7. The members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.
So, all G-7 members are G-20 members too.
India is a member of only G-20.
Everything relevant for exam, we have put. In daily news, we will cover the outcomes of Summit. So, wait for updates.
Current Affair 12:
Prime Minister visted UAE and Bahrain
This is just beginning. He will visit many more places. So, we have to follow countries he visit, not him.
Here, we will see two important things:
- What all agreements/MoUs they signed?
- A close look of the Map
India- Bahrain:
Manama is the capital of Bahrain.
Bahrain is an island country in Persian Gulf. Bahrain does not share a land boundary with another country. Bahrain shares maritime borders with Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Can u name a country in Asia which doesn’t share land boundary with any country?? Answer in comment section.
India, Bahrain sign agreements after delegation-level talks. Four agreements were signed in the fields of Culture, Space, Solar alliance and an MOU on the roll-out of RuPay card.
India-UAE
The UAE shares a border with three countries: Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar.
India has sign a memorandum of bilateral currency swap agreement between Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of the UAE.
According to Press Release, the growing relationship between the two countries will further strengthen the cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy between Emirates Nuclear Energy cooperation and the global centre for nuclear energy partnership.
The ties have broadened with the signing of memorandum on employment of ex-servicemen of Indian Navy in the Navy and Coast Guard of the UAE.
There will be a trilateral cooperation in Africa. The Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis and Emirates Centre of Strategic Studies and Research will ensure more cooperation through a memorandum of understanding.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with the 'Order of Zayed', the UAE's highest civilian award, as a mark of appreciation for his efforts to boost bilateral ties between the two nations.
Current Affair 13:
Sebi eases Foreign Investment Portfolios norms
Why SEBI eased the norms for FPIs?
In 2014, after the Modi government took charge, the avoidance treaties were re-worked and even LTCG (long term capital gain tax) and STCG (short term capital gain tax) was imposed on FPIs. This was in addition to STT (securities transanction tax) and a 30 per cent business profit tax in the derivatives segment.
Again during budget, when Sitharaman hiked the tax on these entities in Jul, they resorted to relentless selling in stock markets, contributing to a more-than-10 per cent fall in benchmark indices and a brutal crash in small and mid-cap stocks.
New Norms to help FPIs:
The SEBI has recently come out with the new norms so as to simplify the compliance and operational requirements for the FPIs. The new norms have been laid down on the basis of recommendations of H.R. Khan committee.
The key focus of the proposed regulations is to simplify and rationalize the existing regulatory framework for FPIs in terms of easing the operational constraints and compliance requirements.
Some of the key aspects of revised regulations include:
- Doing away with Broad based Criteria: Earlier, the SEBI had laid down broad based criteria for the FPIs, which needed them to fulfil two criteria.
- The first criteria is there should be at least 20 investors and,
- that no individual investor should own more than 49 percent.
This broad based criteria has now been removed.
- Categorization of FPIs: Presently, FPIs have been categorized into three major categories:
e. Foreign Central banks, Sovereign wealth Funds, Multilateral Organizations, etc
Category II (Moderate Risk) which would include Regulated entities such as banks, Pension Funds, Insurance Companies, Mutual Funds etc
Category III (High Risk) which would include all other FPIs not eligible to be included in the above two categories.
The SEBI has now decided that the FPIs may be re-categorized into two categories -Category I and II, instead of the present requirement of three categories.
- Enhancing coverage of FPIs: Considering that the central banks are relatively long term, low risk investors directly/ indirectly managed by the Government, the central banks that are not the members of BIS (Bank
for International Settlement) shall also be eligible for FPI registration.
- Simplified KYC Norms: Documentation requirements for KYC have been simplified.
- P-Notes: Offshore Derivative Instruments (ODIs), also known as Participatory notes (p-notes) are instruments used by the foreign investors to invest in India’s securities markets without getting registered with the SEBI. Participatory notes are issued by FPIs registered with SEBI to overseas/ foreign investors. These FPIs make investments on behalf of the overseas investors.
The SEBI has decided that the requirements for issuance and subscription of Offshore Derivative Instruments (ODIs) would be rationalized (guidelines for this will come out).
Current Affair 14:
India declares ocean power as renewable energy
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has declared Ocean Energy as renewable energy and shall be eligible for meeting the non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).
According to MNRE, there is not any installed Ocean Energy capacity in India. The total identified potential of tidal energy is about 12,455 MW, with potential locations identified at Khambat & Kutch regions, and large backwaters, where barrage technology could be used.
The total theoretical potential of wave energy in India along the country’s coast is estimated to be about 40,000 MW – these are preliminary estimates. This energy is however less intensive than what is available in more northern and southern latitudes.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) has a theoretical potential of 180,000 MW in India subject to suitable technological evolution.
What is Renewable Purchase obligations?
Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) refers to the 'obligation' of certain entities who have to meet a part of their electricity consumption using electricity from renewable resources. So basically, electricity consumers who consume above a certain defined limit, have to (i.e. they are obligated) purchase a fixed part of their electricity from renewable energy sources.
RPO is of two categories –Solar and Non-Solar. Under the solar obligation, every State in the country has announced a solar specific percentage as part of overall RPO.
This move (declaring ocean power as renewable energy) will also help states to achieve the Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO) targets set by Central governemnt given below:
Now one more important thing left is RPO Compliance Cell.
To meet the target the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has in 2018 created a compliance cell for renewable purchase obligations (RPOs).
The cell will coordinate with states, the central electricity regulatory commission (CERC) and state electricity regulatory commissions (SERCs) to ensure RPO compliance.
See below how much we have achieved:
Current Affair 15:
Environment Ministry relaxes lease rent on wind power projects
What is this lease rent that Ministry has relaxed?
Currently, to establish wind power project over forest land, the existing procedure requires payment of mandatory charges for compensatory afforestation and Net Present value (NPV). In addition to mandatory charges, the wind power companies had to pay additional lease rent of Rs 30000 per MW. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change has decided to relax this mandatory charging of lease rent of Rs 30000 per MW for wind power projects.
This additional cost is not mandatory for other renewal energy projects such as solar power and hydel electric projects. Additional cost for generation of clean energy through wind power, in turn escalate the per unit cost of power at consumer level.
Now something more…..
India has set an ambitious target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by the year 2022, which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydro-power.
So, whatever we will do enhance wind energy is to achieve this target of 60GW.
According to an year-end review by MNRE, A total of around 73.35 GW of renewable energy capacity has been installed in the country as on October, 2018 from all renewable energy sources which includes around 34.98 GW from Wind.
Below are few points which were mention in the document of Year-end review by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Just have a look at it.Renewable energy topic is very important for exam. You can expect question either in Prelims or Mains regarding renewable energy.
- The country currently has the fourth highest wind installed capacity in the world with total installed capacity of 34.98 GW as on October, 2018 against a target of 60 GW by 2022. Further, around 9.4 GW capacity is under implementation or have been tendered out.
- The recent assessment conducted by National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) indicates a gross wind power potential of 302 GW in the country at 100 meter above ground level.
- The capacity additions till 2017 were through Feed in Tariff (FiT) mechanism. Subsequently, the tariff regime has been shifted from Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) to bidding route.
- The National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy was issued in May 2018. The main objective of the policy is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid system for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.
- A bid for setting up of first 1200 MW Greenfieldwind solar hybrid project was floated by SECI.
- The National Offshore wind energy policy was notified in October 2015 with an objective to develop the offshore wind energy in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) along the Indian coastline.
- LiDAR was commissioned on the monopile platform in November 2017 at Gulf of Khambhat, off Gujarat coast for wind resource assessment.
- The expansion of the wind industry has resulted in a strong ecosystem, project operation capabilities and a manufacturing base. State-of-the-art technologies are now available in the country for the manufacture of wind turbines.
- All the major global players in this field have their presence in the country. Over 24 different models of wind turbines are being manufactured by more than 12 different companies in India. Wind turbines and components are being exported to the US, Australia, Europe, Brazil and other Asian countries.
Around 70-80% indigenization has been achieved with strong domestic manufacturing in the wind sector.
Current Affair 16:
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) 2019 Convention in Geneva, Switzerland
We have already covered in detail aboout CITIES Convention in our last Weekly Current Affaits PART-2.
This Convention will be caried from 12 August to 28 August, 2019.
Till now some important decisions have been taken. We will discuss it below:
- Saiga Antelope:
An opportunity to protect the critically endangered saiga antelope of the Eurasian steppe was lost on August 22, 2019 after governments refused to accord it the highest protection that can be offered under international law.
A proposal moved by Mongolia, which is a saiga range state, and the United States to include the saiga in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was rejected at the ongoing meeting of the 18th Conference of Parties (CoP) in Geneva.
- Sale of Ivory Stockpile:
Governments on August 22, 2019, rejected proposals by southern African countries to resume international sales of their ivory stockpiles at the ongoing 18th Conference of Parties (CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at Geneva.
The proposal by Zambia to downlist its elephants to Appendix II was rejected by 102 votes against, with 22 votes of support and 13 abstentions.
- Protection to Giraffes:
On August 22, 2019, the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species or CITES in Geneva passed a resolution to place the giraffe in Appendix II of CITES. This is a big conservation win for giraffes.
There is currently only one recognised species of giraffe, with nine sub-species. They have been listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Species Red List since 2016, with some sub-species classified as ‘endangered’’ or ‘critically endangered’.
- Eighteen species of sharks and rays, threatened by the scale of international trade in their fins and meat, were included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on August 25, 2019.
Wait or further updartes. We will cover them. Don’t worry. Be happy.
Current Affair 17:
Ghariyals Populations improved in Chambal Sanctuary
More than 5,000 gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) were born in the latest hatching season (June-July, 2019) at the National Chambal Sanctuary.
The number of gharials was 905 in 2012 and increased to 1,896 in 2019. On the other hand, the sanctuary had 205 mugger crocodiles in 2012 and their number rose to 706 in the past seven years.
Here, it is important to know about Ghariyal and Chambal Valley.
Chambal Sanctuary:
National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a tri-state protected area in northern India for the protection of the Critically Endangered gharial, the red-crowned roof turtle and the Endangered Ganges river dolphin.
It is Located on the Chambal River near the tripoint of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
The Chambal is the chief tributary of the Yamuna River and rises in the Vindhya Range just south of Mhow, western Madhya Pradesh state.
Current Affair 18:
Iran recently tested and announced the success of their new Bavar 373 long range, mobile, anti-missile defense system.
Iran developed the Bavar 373 in response to sanctions slapped on the country in 2010. When it became clear to Iranian leadership that Russia would not be able to deliver the S-300 long range mobile missile defense system they had requested, Iran took the bull by the horns and made its own.
At the same time, Iran took Russia to the World Court for breach of contract, arguing that they paid for the weapons in full and Russia failed to deliver the goods.
Current Affair 19:
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying a humanoid robot failed to dock with the International Space Station (ISS).
The FEDOR (Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research) is the first humanoid robot sent to space by Russia. NASA sent humanoid robot Robonaut 2 to space in 2011 to work in hazardous environments.
Just remember the name.
Current Affair 20:
India-Maldives MoU on Training and Capacity Building Programme for Maldivian Civil Servants operationalised
Background:
The Prime Minister of India in his visit to Maldives in June 2019, had emphasised India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and assured India's full support to Maldives in realising its aspirations for broad based socio-economic development and strengthening of democratic and independent institutions.
One of the MoUs signed during the visit was between the National Center for Good Governance, India and the Civil Services Commission of Maldives which envisaged capacity building activities for 1000 Civil Servants of Maldives at the National Centre for Good Governance over the next 5 years.
If you have observed Prelims Paper 2109, You can find one question given below:
So, it is important now that you remember important agreements India signs with countries.
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