Current Affairs – 05th Apr 2024

Articles Covered

  1. DPIIT organises Workshop on ‘Integration of Economic/User Ministries/Departments on PM Gatishakti National Master Plan’
  2. Paira cropping system:
  3. Microplastics
  4. Indian Coast Guard rescues 27 Bangladeshi fishermen; hands over them to Bangladesh Coast Guard
  5. WHO launches gen-AI powered digital health promoter S.A.R.A.H. for public health
  6. How are symbols allotted to political parties
  7. Agni-Prime Missile
  8. More than deepfakes, shallow fakes should worry everyone
  9. Hydroelectric power projects with aggregate capacity of 15 GW under construction
  10. Sannati Buddhist site
  11. 15th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards 2024 honour SJVN for its Corporate Social Responsibility Contribution

DPIIT organises Workshop on ‘Integration of Economic/User Ministries/Departments on PM Gatishakti National Master Plan’

  • Workshop to sensitise user Ministries/ Departments about onboarding of GIS Data Layers on PM GatiShakti and benefits of using platform
  • Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, organised a pivotal Workshop on ‘Integration of Economic/User Ministries/Departments on PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP’ on 3rd April 2024 in New Delhi.
  • The workshop was chaired by Additional Secretary (Logistics), DPIIT, Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur, aimed to sensitise the Economic/User Ministries/ Departments about onboarding of GIS Data Layers on the PM GatiShakti NMP, benefits of using the platform for planning and to review the progress made in this respect.
  • Additional Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur, highlighted PM GatiShakti principles to be adopted for integrated planning and holistic development of socio-economic infrastructure. He further emphasized PMGS-NMP as a comprehensive and sustainable strategy to reshape India’s infrastructure, by fostering integrated planning and harmonised project implementation involving all relevant Ministries and State Governments.
  • This “whole-of-the-government” approach is embraced to enhance decision-making in project planning as well as ‘ease of doing’ and ‘ease of living’.
  • Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Dr. Surendra Kumar Ahirwar, mentioned that adoption of PM GatiShakti NMP by economic Ministries is important not only for efficient data driven planning of its own infra/schemes but also for planning of infra/schemes by infra/social Ministries as well as States/UTs.
  • Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Shri E Srinivas, stated integration of Economic/User Ministries on the PMGS-NMP will ensure the efficient realisation of the core principles of GatiShakti—logistical efficiency, multimodality, and connectivity to economic hubs.
  • The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 32 officials representing 18 ministries/departments, including Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Fertilisers, Coal, Commerce, Food & Public Distribution, Defence Production, Electronics & Information Technology, Economic Affairs, Revenue, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Fisheries, Food Processing Industries, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Mines, Steel, Earth Sciences, and Pharmaceuticals. More than 20 officials from BISAG-N and Logistics Division, DPIIT were also present.
  • The event commenced with a thought-provoking video on PM GatiShakti, followed by a comprehensive presentation by the Logistics Division, DPIIT, highlighting the overview, progress, benefits, and the way forward for the ambitious program.
  • BISAG-N, the technical partner, provided an insightful presentation on the technical architecture of PMGS-NMP and tools developed for various ministries enabling participants to gain a practical understanding of its features.
  • The core segment of the workshop involved presentations from the economic/user ministries/departments, showcasing their status of adoption of PM GatiShakti and the necessary steps taken in line with the provided pointers.
  • This interactive session facilitated an exchange of best practices, challenges faced, and potential solutions, fostering a collaborative approach towards seamless implementation, leading to a conclusion that the Ministries/Departments should proactively identify and upload various data layers on the PMGS-NMP, develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for data management, and enhance capacity to independently plan projects and programs utilising PMGS-NMP and develop specific Planning Tools.
  • As a way forward, specific action points were highlighted, involving identification of interventions followed by analysis, leading to accelerated adoption of PM GatiShakti principles in planning of socio-economic infrastructures.
  • The use of the PMGS-NMP platform has generated successful use cases in the infrastructure sector such as urban transport, roadways, railways, etc., along with benefits to users.
  • The use of PMGS-NMP has significantly de-risked infrastructure investments for the private sector, streamlined operations and decision-making for Ministries/Departments and States/UTs.
  • The GatiShakti approach is also helping to plan disaster management, location of social sector assets, development of tourism circuits, etc., in a manner to give maximum connectivity for the users. Recognizing the significant progress made by Infrastructure and Social sector Ministries, the workshop focused on enabling Economic/User Ministries to effectively leverage the PMGS-NMP platform.

 Paira cropping system

  • The utera/paira is a type of cropping which is commonly practiced in Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
  • It is a kind of relay methodof sowing in which lentil/ lathyrus/ urdbean/ mungbean seeds are broadcast in the standing crop of rice about 2 weeks before its harvest.
  • This system does not allow agronomic intervention such as tillage, weeding, irrigation and fertilizerHowever, rice variety decides the productivity of pulses in this system.

Advantages:

  1. This practice enables us to use better soil moistureavailable at the time of harvesting of rice crops, which could otherwise be lost quickly.
  2. Experimental evidence showed that paira cropping produced more yieldof lentil than planting with tillage after harvesting of the rice crop.
  3. This is an efficient way of utilising resources for sustainablecrop intensification and boosting land productivity.

Relay cropping method

  1. It is a method of multiple cropping where one crop is seededinto standing second crop well before harvesting of second crop.
  2. It can solve a number of conflicts such as inefficient use of available resources, controversies in sowing time, fertilizer application and soil degradation.

Microplastics

  • Microplastics are tiny plastic particlesthat result from both commercial product development and the breakdown of larger plastics. Officially, they are defined as plastics less than five millimeters (0.2 inches) in diameter.
  • The name is used to differentiate them from “macroplastics”, such as bottles and bags made of plastic.
  • They are present in a variety of products, from cosmetics to synthetic clothing to plastic bags and bottles. Many of these products readily enter the environment as waste.
  • They consist of carbon and hydrogen atomsbound together in polymer chains. Other chemicals, such as phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), are typically also present in microplastics.

There are two categories of microplastics: primary and secondary.

  1. Primary microplastics are tiny particles designed for commercial use, such as cosmetics, as well as microfibers shed from clothing and other textiles, such as fishing nets.
  2. Secondary microplastics are particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items, such as water bottles. This breakdown is caused by exposure to environmental factors, mainly the sun’s radiation and ocean waves.

Environmental Impacts:

  • The problem with microplastics is that, like plastic items of any size, they do not readily break downinto harmless molecules.
  • Thus, once in the environment, primary and secondary microplastics accumulate and persist.
  • Microplastics in the ocean can bind with other harmful chemicalsbefore being ingested by marine organisms. Standard water treatment facilities cannot remove all traces of microplastics.
  • Microplastics are also a source of air pollution, occurring in dust and airborne fibrous particles.

Polymers

  • Polymers are materialsmade of longrepeating chains of molecules. The materials have unique properties, depending on the type of molecules being bonded and how they are bonded.
  • Some polymers bend and stretch, like rubber and polyester. Others are hard and tough, like epoxies and glass.
  • The term polymer is often used to describe plastics, which aresynthetic polymers.However, natural polymers also exist; rubber and wood, for example, are natural polymers that consist of a simple hydrocarbon, isoprene.

Indian Coast Guard rescues 27 Bangladeshi fishermen; hands over them to Bangladesh Coast Guard

In a swift operation, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued 27 Bangladeshi fishermen on 04 April 24, stranded on their fishing boat at sea. At about 1130 hrs on April 4, 2024, Indian Coast Guard Ship Amogh during patrol at Indo-Bangladesh International Maritime Border Line (IMBL), sighted a Bangladeshi fishing boat (BFB) Sagar II, adrift inside Indian waters.

ICG ship launched boarding team to investigate. During investigation it was revealed that the boat had a steering gear breakdown for the last two days and had been adrift since then, which led to the boat drifting inside Indian waters. The BFB had 27 crew/fishermen onboard.

The Indian Coast Guard technical team tried to identify and rectify the defect, but it was observed that the rudder of the boat was completely damaged and could not be repaired at sea.

As the sea state and weather conditions were conducive, it was decided that the distressed boat will be towed to the Indo- Bangladesh IMBL and handed over to another Bangladeshi fishing boat operating across IMBL or to Bangladesh Coast Guard Ship, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indian Coast Guard and Bangladesh Coast Guard.

In the Meantime, Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters at Kolkata established communication with Bangladesh Coast Guard and informed them about the incident and plan of action. Bangladesh Coast Guard Ship (BCGS) Kamaruzzaman was deployed by BCG for towing of BFB. BCG Ship Kamaruzzaman arrived near the IMBL at about 1845 hrs on 4th April 24. ICGS Amogh handed over the 27 Bangladeshi fishermen along with their boat to BCG ship Kamaruzzaman.

The operation reflects the commitment of Indian Coast Guard towards safeguarding precious lives at sea against all odds. Such successful Search and Rescue operations will not only strengthen the regional SAR structure but also enhances the international cooperation with neighbouring countries. This is in keeping with the motto of the Indian Coast Guard “VAYAM RAKSHAMAH” which means “WE PROTECT”.

WHO launches gen-AI powered digital health promoter S.A.R.A.H. for public health

S.A.R.A.H., also known as Sarah, has the ability to support people in developing better understanding of risk factors for some of the leading causes of death in the world, including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes, WHO stated.

S.A.R.A.H.:

  1. Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health(S.A.R.A.H.) is a digital health promoter prototype with enhanced empathetic response powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI).
  2. It is launched by the World Health Organisation(WHO). It aims to provide an additional tool for people to realize their rights to health, wherever they are.

Features:

  1. It is trained to provide information across major health topics,including healthy habits and mental health
  2. It has the ability to support peoplein developing better understanding of risk factors for some of the leading causes of death in the world, including cancer, heart disease
  3. It can help people access up-to-date informationon quitting tobacco, being active, eating a healthy diet and de-stressing among other things.
  4. It can engage users 24 hours a day in 8 languageson multiple health topics, on any device. It is now powered by generative AI rather than a pre-set algorithm or script helping her to provide more accurate responses in real-time.

How are symbols allotted to political parties

Why was the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi denied a common symbol by the ECI in Tamil Nadu?

The Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) that secured 3.9% and 6.5% votes in Tamil Nadu in 2019 and 2021 respectively, has been allotted a new common symbol (Mike). The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) that secured 1.09% and 0.99% votes in 2019 and 2021 has been denied a common symbol (Pot). This has raised questions about the allotment of symbols to ‘registered unrecognised parties.

A party is recognised as a ‘national’ or ‘state’ party under the provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 (Symbols Order) by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The criteria for recognition at the State level consists of (a) winning one Lok Sabha seat for every 25 seats or 3% of Legislative Assembly seats or (b) winning one Lok Sabha or two Assembly seats along with 6% of votes polled or (c) securing 8% of votes polled in a general election.

Symbols are allotted to political parties and contesting candidates as per the provisions of the Symbols Order by ECI. In the largest democracy where a sizeable population is still illiterate, symbols play a crucial role in the voting process. A recognised political party has a reserved symbol that is not allotted to any other candidate in any constituency.

For registered but unrecognised political parties, one of the free symbols is allotted as a common symbol during an election if that party contests in two Lok Sabha constituencies or in 5% of seats to the Assembly of a State as the case may be.

Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968:

  1. Under Paragraph 15 of the Order, EC can decide disputes among rival groups or sections of a recognised political party staking claim to its name and symbol.
  2. The EC is the only authority to decide issues on a dispute or a merger under the order. The Supreme Court (SC) upheld its validity in Sadiq Ali and another vs. ECI in 1971.
  3. This applies to disputes in recognised national and state parties.
  4. For splits in registered but unrecognised parties, the EC usually advises the warring factions to resolve their differences internally or to approach the court.
  5. In almost all disputes decided by the EC so far, a clear majority of party delegates/office bearers, MPs and MLAs have supported one of the factions.
  6. Before 1968, the EC issued notifications and executive orders under the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.
  7. The splinter group of the party – other than the group that got the party symbol – had to register itself as a separate party.
  8. They could lay claim to national or state party status only on the basis of its performance in state or central elections after registration.

Types of symbols are there

  • As per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) (Amendment) Order, 2017, party symbols are either:
  • Reserved: Eight national parties and 64 state parties across the country have “reserved” symbols.
  • Free: The Election Commission also has a pool of nearly 200 “free” symbols that are allotted to the thousands of unrecognised regional parties that pop up before elections.

Types of Election Symbols

  1. Reserved and Free Symbols: Symbols can be either reserved, exclusively assigned to recognized political parties, or ‘free’ symbols that can be chosen by unrecognised registered parties’ candidates. Unrecognized parties are those that haven’t met the criteria for state party recognition.
  2. Exclusive Symbols: Recognized national and state parties are granted exclusive symbols, signifying their established status.

Symbol Selection by Parties

  1. Preference Lists: Unrecognized parties provide a list of ten preferred symbols from the free symbol pool.
  2. Proposal of New Symbols: Parties can propose up to three new symbols for consideration, provided they do not resemble reserved or free symbols, carry religious or communal connotations, or depict birds or animals.
  3. Common Symbol Assignment: The ECI may allot a proposed symbol as a common symbol for the party if it deems it suitable.
  • The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 empowers the Election Commission to recognise political parties and allot symbols.
  • An electoral or election symbol is a standardized symbol allocated to a political party.
  • They are used by the parties during their campaigning and are shown on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), where the voter chooses the symbol and votes for the associated party.
  • They were introduced to facilitate voting by illiterate people, who can’t read the name of the party while casting their votes.
  • In the 1960s, it was proposed that the regulation, reservation and allotment of electoral symbols should be done through a law of Parliament, i.e. Symbol Order.
  • In a response to this proposal, the ECI stated that the recognition of political parties is supervised by the provisions of Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 and so will the allotment of symbols.
  • The Election Commission registers political parties for the purpose of elections and grants them recognition as national or state parties on the basis of their poll performance. The other parties are simply declared as registered – unrecognised parties.
  1. The recognition determines their right to certain privileges like allocation of the party symbols, provision of time for political broadcasts on television and radio stations and access to electoral rolls.
  2. Every national party and every state party is allotted a symbol exclusively reserved for its use throughout the country and the states respectively.
  3. A recognised political party has a reserved symbol that is not allotted to any other candidate in any constituency. For registered but unrecognised political parties, one of the free symbols is allotted as a common symbol during an election if that party contests in two Lok Sabha constituencies or in 5% of seats to the Assembly of a State as the case may be.

current issue

  1. Rule 10Bof the Symbols Order provides that the concession of a common free symbol shall be available to a ‘registered unrecognised party’ for two general elections.
  2. Furthermore, a party shall be eligible for a common symbol in any subsequent general election if it had secured at least 1% of votes polled in the Stateon the previous occasion when the party availed of this facility.
  3. Such an unrecognised party should however apply for a symbol every time in the prescribed format. This application can be made any time during the period commencing six months priorto the expiry of the term of the Lok Sabha or State Assembly as the case may be. The symbols are thereafter allotted on a ‘first-come-first-served’
  4. In the above cases, the NTK had secured more than 1% of votes in the last two elections with the common symbol of ‘Ganna Kisan’.
  5. However, since they applied for that symbol only in February 2024, the ECI had allotted that symbol to Bharatiya Praja Aikyata Party (BPAP), that had applied earlier, based on the ‘first-come-first-served’ rule. However, the BPAP has not contested elections in Tamil Nadu before.
  6. The VCK was declined allotment of a common symbol as it had failed to secure 1% of votes polled in the elections to the State Legislative Assembly in 2021. The VCK notably has one Lok Sabha MP and four MLAs in Tamil Nadu contesting on the ‘Pot’ symbol in 2019 and 2021 elections.

way forward

  • The ECI has decided on the applications of NTK and VCK as per existing rules. However, it is counter intuitive from a layman’s perspective that the NTK which secured more than 6% of votes polled is not allotted the previous common symbol of its choice.
  • It would be equally baffling for an average voter that the VCK which has elected representatives is ineligible to obtain a common symbol. The two VCK candidates have been eventually allotted the free symbol of ‘Pot’ by the respective returning officers.
  • The existing threshold for recognition of a party may continue.
  • The candidates set up by recognised parties enjoy the advantage of being listed at the top of the ballot in the Electronic Voting Machine.
  • Nevertheless, the ECI may consider amending the rules that registered unrecognised parties that secure at least 1% of votes polledin a previous election or have an elected representative in the Lok Sabha or State Assembly, shall have the right to be allotted a common symbol of their choice.
  • This would ensure a fair weightage being given for their past electoral performance and strengthen the democratic process.

Agni-Prime Missile

  1. It is a nuclear-capable new-generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles. It is a two-stage canisterisedmissile with a maximum range of 1,000 to 2,000 km.
  2. It is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles. It weighs at least 50 per cent less than the Agni 3 missile and has new guidance and propulsion systems.
  3. It can be transported by road and railand stored for longer periods, significantly reducing the time required for preparation and launch. The missile uses a cold launch mechanism and can be fired in salvo mode.

Ballistic Missiles

  1. These are launched directly into the upper layers of the earth’s atmosphere. They can travel outside the atmosphere, where the warhead detaches from the missile and falls towards a predetermined target.
  2. They are rocket-propelled self-guided weapons systems which can carry conventional or nuclear munitions. They can be launched from aircraft, ships and submarines and land.

More than deepfakes, shallow fakes should worry everyone

Shallow fakes or cheap fakes are pictures, videos and voice clips created without the help of AI technology but by either editing or by using other simple software tools.

  • For elections, 2024 is going to be a record-breaking year. An unprecedented number of voters will participate in elections globally, with elections scheduled in over 50 nations, which are home to half the planet’s population.
  • Elections and misinformation often go hand in hand. This year, fighting misinformation will be tougher, because not just the old, traditional types of misinformation will be shared online, but the deepfakes and generative artificial intelligence will make matters much worse. But more than deepfakes, what we must be worried about is shallow fakes, or cheap fakes.

Shallowfakes

With the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to start on April 19, social media platforms are abuzz with misinformation, mostly in the form of shallow fakes.

  • Like deepfake, shallowfake is also an act of morphing people’s picturesand using them for malicious activities. But unlike deepfake, which is created by using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) software, shallowfake can be created by simplyusing basic editing software.
  • They are made with existing technologies—for example, a conventional edit on a photo, slowing-down a video to change the speech patterns of an individual or more often, relying on mis-captioning or mis-contextualising an existing image or video, claiming it is from a time or place which it is not from.
  • And precisely because of this easier way to create them, many experts consider shallowfakes to be bigger threats than deepfakes.
  • Why are they called shallow?The term ‘shallow’ implies the quality of such fakes, which are lower in quality compared to deepfakes.
  • They are used to create a false proofof identityor address, including photo ID documents like passports, driving licences etc.
  • It is also used to create fake supporting evidenceto support a claim or transaction, like contracts, agreements and invoices for services, no claims discount certificates, etc.

Deepfakes

  • Deepfakes are a compilation of artificial images and audio put together with machine-learning algorithmsto spread misinformation and replace a real person’s appearance, voice, or both with similar artificial likenesses or voices. The term “deepfake” combines the deep learning concept with something fake.
  • It can create people who do not existand it can fake real people saying and doing things they did not say or do.

Working:

  1. They are created by machine learning models, which use neural networks to manipulate images and videos.
  2. To make a deepfake video of someone, a creator would first train a neural network on many hours of real video footage of the person to give it a realistic “understanding” of what he or she looks like from many angles and under different lighting.
  3. Then they’d combine the trained network with computer-graphics techniques to superimpose a copy of the person onto a different actor.

Deep fakes differ from other forms of false information by being very difficult to identify as false.

Hydroelectric power projects with aggregate capacity of 15 GW under construction

Hydro capacity to increase from 42 GW today to 67 GW by 2031-32, marking an increase of more than 50 percent Good monsoon in FY 2024-25 as per IMD prediction to contribute to improvement in water reservoir levels

  • Hydroelectric power projects with aggregate capacity of 15 GW are under construction in the country. The hydro capacity is likely to increase from 42 GW to 67 GW by 2031-32, marking an increase of more than half of present capacity.
  • The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted higher rainfall in the current financial year. Further, hydropower projects located in the Himalayan region get base flow from contribution of snowmelt, i.e., from surface runoff produced by melting snow; so, any rise in temperature will increase snowmelt contribution.
  • Moreover, given the ongoing energy transitions in the country, the development of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) assumes importance for providing greater inertia and balancing power to the grid. PSPs are also known as ‘the Water Battery’, which is an ideal complement to modern clean energy systems.
  • Currently, PSPs with aggregate capacity of 2.7 GW are under construction in the county and another 50 GW is under various stages of development. It is projected that PSP capacity shall increase from 4.7 GW to around 55 GW by 2031-32.
Why the Fall in Hydro Power Generation in 2023-24

  1. The fall in hydro power generation in 2023-24 as compared to 2022-23 cannot be attributed solely to less rainfall. In the southern region, which contributes approximately 22% of the total hydro energy generated, low rainfall has indeed played a role.
  2. However, the hydroelectric power projects in Northern and Eastern regions, comprising over 60% of total hydro energy generation, have been severely impacted by natural disasters in 2023-24.
  3. In July 2023, Himachal Pradesh experienced flash floods, disrupting the operation of many power stations in the area.
  4. Besides, flash floods in the Eastern region in October 2023 have further hindered the operation of several hydro power stations, thus affecting the generation severely.
  5. Hydrology of any river basin is variable and follows some period of alternate wet and dry spells. Lower rainfall in the past does not mean that the same type of the rainfall will necessarily occur in the future as well.

Potential for Replenishment of Capacity in Water Reservoirs

  1. While the lightest rainfall since 2018 resulted in reduced water levels in a few reservoirs, the government is reasonably optimistic about the future.
  2. The prediction by the IMD of good monsoon in FY 2024-25 suggests a potential reversal of the trend. This anticipated increase in rainfall could contribute to replenishment of reservoir capacities which were lost during the scarce rainfall in the previous year.
  3. Further, the current downturn may be temporary rather than indicative of a long-term decline.

Contribution of Hydro to Power System

  1. It is important to recognize that the country is in the midst of an energy transition, marked by significant additions of solar and wind power to the current energy mix. Further, power from solar energy is available during the time of the day that does not coincide with the peak power demand.
  2. Hydroelectric power has always played a significant role in the energy landscape of the country, providing essential peaking support to the electricity grid, thus enhancing the reliability and resilience of the power system.

Share of Hydro in Total Energy Mix and Pace of Addition of Hydro Capacity

  1. The development of hydro power projects has been marred by various issues such as natural calamities, geological surprises and contractual disputes, which have resulted in slower hydro capacity addition in recent years.
  2. Nevertheless, aligning with the ambitious targets set forth by India in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the COP Paris agreement, which are aimed at reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by the year 2030 and achieving 50% of installed electric power capacity from non-fossil-fuel sources by the year 2030, the government has adopted a proactive stance towards hydro power development, striving for accelerated progress.

Growth in India’s Renewable Energy Capacity

  • India’s renewable energy capacity has increased significantly in recent years. As on 30.11.2021, the installed Renewable Energy (RE) capacity of the country stood at 150.54 GW
  • (solar: 48.55 GW, wind: 40.03 GW, Small hydro: 4.83 GW, Bio-power: 10.62 GW, Large Hydro: 46.51 GW) while its nuclear energy based installed capacity stood at 6.78 GW.
  • This brings the total non-fossil-based installed energy capacity to 157.32 GW, which is 40.1% of the total installed electricity capacity of 392.01 GW at the time. Thus, India has overachieved its commitment made at COP 21 Paris Summit by achieving more than 40% of its installed power capacity from non-fossil fuels, almost nine years ahead of its commitment.
  • India is the only G20 country that has fulfilled all commitments it made in Paris on climate change.
  • Subsequent to this, India upgraded its commitments under Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Glasgow COP26 and in August 2022 communicated its updated NDCs to UNFCCC, which includes:
  1. To put forward and further propagate a healthy and sustainable way of living based on traditions and values of conservation and moderation, including through a mass movement for ‘LIFE’– ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ as a key to combating climate change.
  2. To reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030, from 2005 level.
  3. To achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil-fuel-based energy resources by 2030, with the help of transfer of technology and low-cost international finance including from Green Climate Fund (GCF).
  • At the same time, India is targeting to achieve renewable energy capacity more than the committed capacity of 50% from non-fossil sources, by the year 2030. In order to meet 500 GW non-fossil fuel generation capacity, transmission plan has already been prepared and bids for renewable energy capacity have been finalized.
  • All-India Renewable Energy Generation (excluding Large Hydro) has increased steadily from 61.7 billion units in 2014-15 to 225.5 billion units in 2023-24 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.47%.
  • Similarly, the growth in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity (excluding Large Hydro) has increased from 38.96 GW as on 31.03.2015 to 136.57 GW as on 29.02.2024, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.94%.
  • Also, the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of All India Solar Power Generation from 2014-15 to 2023-24 is 42.97%.

Sannati Buddhist site

  • It is the ancient Buddhist site on the bank of Bhima River near Kanaganahalli (forming part of Sannati site) in Kalaburagi district, Karnataka. It is also popular among tourists for the Chandrala Parameshwari Temple.
  • Major findings in this site:

  1. It is believed to have been developed in three constructional phases – Maurya, Early Satavahana and Later Satavahanaperiods stretching from 3rd Century B.C. to 3rd Century A.D.
  2. Ranamandala area of Sannati offers a unique chronological scale from prehistoric to early historic times.
  3. An inscription written in the Prakrit language using the Brahmi script is also found here.
  4. The excavation also recovered another precious stone of historical importance – a stone sculpture portraying Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The emperor is seen surrounded by his queens and female attendants in this rare sculpture. The sculpture had the words “Raya Asoko” etched on it in Brahmi script leaving little scope for mistaking the identity of the man featured in it.
  5. The recoveries included around 60 dome slabs with sculptural renderings of selected Jataka stories, main events in the life of the Master, portraits of Shatavahana monarchs and certain unique depictions of Buddhist missionaries sent by Ashoka to different parts

The site of ancient Nagavi Ghatikasthana, which was often termed the Takshashila of the South by historians, is around 40 km away from Sannati.

The Ghatikasthana, which had the status of a present-day university, was a major education hub during rulers of the Rashtrakuta and Kalyana Chalukya dynasties between the 10th and 12th Centuries.

CIDC Vishwakarma Awards 2024 honour SJVN for its Corporate Social Responsibility Contribution

  1. SJVN Limited has won two prestigious awards at the 15th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards 2024, instituted by the Construction Industry Development Council.
  2. SJVN has been conferred with ‘Achievement Award for Creating Social Development & Impact’ and ‘CIDC Partners in Progress Trophy’.
  3. Speaking about the recognitions, Chairperson & Managing Director, SJVN and Chairperson of CSR Foundation Smt. Geeta Kapur said that these awards acknowledge SJVN’s commitment to positive change through innovative and sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. 
  4. She highlighted that the company has secured these prestigious awards for the third consecutive year. “We are immensely proud for being recognized for our contribution to the society and we will remain dedicated to furthering our efforts in creating a meaningful impact,”stated Smt. Kapur.
  5. All the CSR initiatives of SJVN are undertaken through the registered trust, SJVN Foundation. Till date, the company has spent more than Rs. 450 crores on a spectrum of CSR activities spanning the verticals of Education & Skill development, Health & Hygiene, Infrastructural Development & Community Asset Creation, Sustainable Development, Assistance during Natural Disasters, Preservation & Promotion of Local Culture and Sports.
  6. On behalf of SJVN, the awards were received by CGM (HR), Shri Baljeet Singh during a ceremony held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

CIDC Vishwakarma Awards have become an epitome for recognizing organizations and individuals for their initiatives across various fields, including Corporate Social responsibility, contributing significantly to the growth and sustainable development of the nation.

15926