Current Affairs – 15th Mar 2024
Articles Covered:
- First training squadron enhances bilateral relations during visit to PORT LOUIS
- Livestock Sector to have Digital Footprints
- ETHANOL 100 fuel launched by Petroleum Minister Hardeep S Puri
- Nuclear waste and what are the challenges of handling -Explained
- India seriously considering FTA with Eurasian Economic Union: Belarus Foreign Minister
- Over 1.50 lakh migratory birds visited sanctuaries, wetlands in Andhra Pradesh this winter, say forest officials
- In Gujarat, harnessing the value of dung to boost farmers’ income
First training squadron enhances bilateral relations during visit to PORT LOUIS
- The First Training Squadron (1TS), comprising INS Tir and CGS Sarathi, concluded visit to Port Louis, Mauritius, as part of their Long-Range Training Deployment. The visit, coinciding with the 57th Mauritius National Daycelebrations, highlighted the deep maritime ties between India and Mauritius.
- A naval contingent and a helicopter participated in the Mauritius National Day city parade which was witnessed by Droupadi Murmu, the Hon’ble President of India, as the Chief Guest.
- The visit was enriching for the Indian Naval trainees who visited Maritime Air Squadron and Police Helicopter Squadron of Mauritius. As part of cross training visit, the National Coast Guard personnel of Mauritius were imparted training on small arms and firefighting onboard 1TS ships.
- The visit culminated in PASSEX and VBSS exercise further enhancing interoperability. Joint EEZ surveillance was also undertaken by 1TS along with Mauritius Coast Guard Dornier prior entering Port Louis.
The extant visit underscores the shared commitment to regional security and highlights rich cultural and diplomatic ties between India and Mauritius.
Livestock Sector to have Digital Footprints
Bharat Pashudhan/ 1962 Pashupalak App- Data Power in the hands of the livestock farmers
The Prime Minister, on 2nd March, dedicated the Bharat Pashudhan Livestock Data Stack to the Nation. This remarkable addition to India’s impressive array of Digital Public Infrastructure is already in use since last few months, across the entire country, by nearly four lakh field workers in the Animal Husbandry Sector. This will set the ground for Pashu Aadhaar and collate record of Services provided.
Through the App, the field workers are uploading important information related to animal transactions like vaccinations, artificial inseminations, fresh animal registrations, change in ownership, even e-prescriptions, disease reports, milk recording etc. are uploaded, tracked, monitored, on real time basis using the unique ID number or Pashu Aadhaar assigned to every animal. At present, over 15.5 crore entries have already been uploaded, and about 16 lakh entries are being added each day.
Livestock Sector has a very important role to play in rural economy.
- It has a GVA share of about 5% and a total Growth Rate of about 7.93 %, and a Market Size of Rs 15.63 lakh Cr. Addition of this new stack will consolidate the sector from current situation of disorganized and fragmented growth.
- With no visibility and reliable source of information, the Bankers and insurers shying away due to lack of trust. With an end-to-end ERP usable live data set, all activities can be tracked, monitored, and eventually monetized for the benefit of the farmers as well as the processing industry.
- This New Scheme of AHIDF providing current subvention has already made processing of applications seamless with end-to-end digital transaction capability.
- This will also address the long-standing issue of traceability through National Digital Livestock Mission.
- The new stack design allows API sharing at any level within the bounds of the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP) and can be used by State Governments to converge with their other datasets and activities, for disease surveillance and monitoring and early warning systems in the case of zoonotic diseases.
- Traceability of dairy and livestock products would foster a better expert regime. The large farms and organizations will also use this for their internal operations with add on services such as IOT devices.
- With the help of this robust data, disease free zones can be established in high production areas in the first instance, and exports can be enabled.
- The Prime Minister also at the same time launched the Pashupalak App. It will empower the farmers to be able to access all free and paid livestock related schemes/services. For instance, every time a cow is given an FMD vaccination under the National Animal Disease Eradication Programme, the vaccinator uploads the information on the stack, and she can see it from her app too.
- Entire history of the animal, from calving to the fist lactation, from every illness episode and treatment provided can be viewed and even shared with insurance company or banker etc. The farmer can even mark the animal for sale so that other buyers can see it and negotiate with the farmer.
- The farmer also has other important information at her fingertips like contact details of all nearby Al technicians, availability of good quality semen straws to IVF services, educational videos on ethno veterinary medicines, safe milking etc., rational balancing calculator and social community features, thus, eliminating the information asymmetry that has plagued the livestock farmers.
- Government has already started the MVUs, with centralised call centres. Now all can be accessed through veterinary services toll-free call centre 1962 through a single button, which is already available in 18 states and will soon be rolled out across the country, thus ensuring maximum utility of the 4335 Mobile Veterinary Units which are already sanctioned.
- The upcoming livestock Census, due to be undertaken later this year, will also take place on the Bharat Pashudhan Interface, ensuring an accurate and up to date count for focused planning of future initiatives.
- The availability of ready accountability and transparency through the Bharat Pashudhan will also permit better spend towards the pressing problem of stray animals.
- Animal shelters and goshalas can now track information like no. of animals, their feed, how they are taken care of etc. all on this interface, encouraging both Governments and private persons to fund these activities.
Finally, the accurate database of animals and farmers will allow the rollout of DBT based schemes, use of e-Rupi to farmer transactions, use of AI and many more applications providing a platform for phenomenal growth.
ETHANOL 100 fuel launched by Petroleum Minister Hardeep S Puri
Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs, launched ‘ETHANOL 100, a revolutionary automotive fuel at IndianOil Retail Outlet M/s. Irwin Road Service Station,here today. Starting from today, customers can avail ETHANOL 100 at select 183 retail outlets across five states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, and Tamil Nadu.
- Launching the path breaking fuel, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri said that the launch of ETHANOL 100 was inspired by the vision of the Prime Minister of India to transform Annadatas to Urjadatas.
- Calling it a revolutionary fuel, the Minister said that ETHANOL 100 fuel has the potential to transform our transportation sector and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
- “It reflects the government’s commitment to reducing import dependency, conserving foreign exchange, and boosting the agriculture sector.
- Since the Prime Minister’s announcement on E20 (20% ethanol blended fuel) in 2023, the E20 availability has increased to 12,000 outlets in under a year, and now, with the launch of ETHANOL100 at 183 outlets of IndianOil, we are close to achieving the target of 20% ethanol blending by 2025-26.
- During the last 10 years these ethanol blending initiatives have enhanced farmer incomes, increased rural employment, reduced CO2 emissions equivalent to planting 1.75 crore trees and resulted in savings of Rs 85,000 crore worth of foreign exchange” he stated.
- Speaking about the strides made by the country towards realizing vision of PM to reach 20% blending of Ethanol in Petrol by 2025-26, Shri Puri, said that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been at the forefront of this endeavour, introducing various blends of Ethanol with Petrol across the country.
- He said that OMCs have signed long term offtake agreements with 131 dedicated ethanol plants.
- These plants are expected to add an annual production design capacity of 745 crore litres.
- OMCs have also invested in increasing storage capacity and allied infrastructure for handling higher blending percentages, he added.
- On the occasion, Shri Jain, Secretary MoPNG, said “The initiative underscores a significant shift towards embracing sustainable technologies, instilling confidence in manufacturers to invest in ethanol-based vehicles. The transition of high-volume vehicles to alternative fuels is a testament to our commitment. Moreover, the consistent supply of ethanol, backed by our robust ethanol industry, addresses concerns over its availability. This move also affirms our commitment to decarbonization.
- I extend my compliments to Indian Oil for spearheading this initiative. Their support signifies the permanence of ethanol and flex fuels in our energy landscape”.
- Addressing the gathering, Shri Vaidya, Chairman, Indian Oil highlighted that India is among the few countries of the world to have ETHANOL 100 fuel. He said “This marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards sustainability and clean mobility”.
ETHANOL 100 stands as a cleaner, greener alternative to gasoline, boasting lower emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants, thus aiding in combating climate change and enhancing air quality in our communities.
With its high-octane rating, typically between 100-105, ETHANOL100 proves ideal for high-performance engines, ensuring improved efficiency and power output all while minimizing environmental impact.
Moreover, ETHANOL 100’s versatility shines through, as it can be used in a wide array of vehicles, including flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) designed to run on gasoline, ethanol, or any blend of the two, showcasing its practicality and potential to become a mainstream fuel option with the right infrastructure in place.
Nuclear waste and what are the challenges of handling -Explained
A bird’s eye view of the production, handling, and storage of this difficult substance and their effects on policy and tariffs
- Recently, India loaded the core of its long-delayed PFBR vessel, bringing it to the cusp of stage II — powered by uranium and plutonium — of its three-stage nuclear programme.
- By stage III, India hopes to be able to use its vast reserves of thorium to produce nuclear power and gain some energy independence. But the large-scale use of nuclear power is accompanied by a difficult problem: waste management.
- In a fission reactor, neutrons bombard the nuclei of atoms of certain elements. When one such nucleus absorbs a neutron, it destabilises and breaks up, yielding some energy and the nuclei of different elements.
For example, when the uranium-235 (U-235) nucleus absorbs a neutron, it can fission to barium-144, krypton-89, and three neutrons. If the ‘debris’ (barium-144 and krypton-89) constitute elements that can’t undergo fission, they become nuclear waste.
Nuclear waste
- Nuclear waste is also known as radioactive waste.
- It refers to materials containing radioactive isotopes that are no longer useful for their original purpose.
- Ina fission reactor, atoms of certain elements are bombarded by neutrons.
- When an atom’s nucleus absorbs a neutron, it becomes unstable and splits apart.
- This process releases energy and forms nuclei of different elements.
- For instance, uranium-235 can split into barium-144, krypton-89, and three neutrons.
- The resulting elements become nuclear waste if they cannot undergo further fission.
Nuclear Waste Management Conventions:
- Bamako Convention:This treaty was framed by African nations to prohibit the import of hazardous waste(radioactive) into Africa.
- Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management: It is an international treaty of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- It is an initial treaty on the international level to address the management of radioactive waste.
- Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS): It ensures that all nations with nuclear power plants prioritise safety.
- CNS makes fundamental safety principles that all states are to follow. The convention aims to increase safety levels through regular meetings.
Nuclear Waste Handling Techniques:
- Spent Fuel Storage: Spent fuel is stored underwater for up to a few decades for cooling. Later, after cooling, it is transferred to dry casks for longer-term storage.
- Ex:The U.S. had 69,682 tonnes of spent fuel (as of 2015), Canada had 54,000 tonnes (2016), and Russia had 21,362 tonnes (2014).
- Liquid Waste Treatment: “Nuclear power plants treat liquid waste and release some of it into the environment after treatment.”
- Vitrification: “High-level liquid waste contains nearly all of the fission byproducts created in the fuel. It is turned into a glass-like material calledvitrification for storage.”
- Reprocessing: Reprocessing is a method to separate usable material from spent fuel.
- Geological Disposal: Geological disposal waste includes sealing nuclear waste in special containers buried deep underground in granite or clay.
Issues Associated with Nuclear Waste:
Radioactive Pollution:
- Harmful Radiation: Nuclear waste contains radioactive materials that emit harmful radiation.
- Pollution:Improper handling or leaks can pollute soil, air, and water, harming people and the environment.
Storage Challenges:
- Long-term Storage:High-level waste (HLW) stays dangerously radioactive for thousands of years.
- Finding safe places for long-term storage and disposal is difficult.
Safety Concerns:
- Risk of failures in maintenance: Transporting and storing nuclear waste has a lot of risks, such as accidents (such as releasing toxic radioactive materials into the environment).
- Ensuring secure storage facilities is vital to prevent unauthorised access.
- : The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in the U.S. experienced an accident in 2014, releasing radioactive materials.
Financial Burden:
- High Cost:Building and maintaining safe waste facilities requires a lot of money.
- Waste management imposed a cost of $1.6-7.1 per MWhof nuclear energy.
India’s Nuclear Waste Management
- On-Site management: The waste produced at nuclear power stations during operation has low to intermediate levels of radioactivity and is handled on-site.
- These facilities are available at all nuclear power stations for waste treatment and storage.
- Reprocessing: Reprocessing plants are in Trombay, Tarapur, and Kalpakkam, India, as per the International Panel on Fissile Materials report.
- Trombay facility processes 50 tonnes of spent fuel annually from two research reactors.
- These research reactors produce plutonium.
- Regular surveillance:All surrounding areas of nuclear power plants undergo regular monitoring for radiation levels.
- IAEA Safeguards: India follows International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, ensuring the safe and secure handling of nuclear materials and waste.
India seriously considering FTA with Eurasian Economic Union: Belarus Foreign Minister
During the visit, Sergei Aleinik met with Mr. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
- India is “seriously considering” starting talks for a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Aleinik declared during his two-day visit to India.
- The remarks from the Belarusian Minister acquires significance as Belarus has been closely aligned with Russia even as President Vladimir Putin continues to push ahead with the military operation against Ukraine since February 2022.
- “My counterpart confirmed that India is seriously considering starting negotiations on a free trade agreement. Of course, we agreed to maintain contacts on this issue,” Mr. Aleinik was quoted as saying by Belta, the State-owned news organisation of Belarus.
Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU):
- Background: The Eurasian Economic Union was created in part in response to the economic and political influence of the European Union (EU)and other Western trade agreements.
- About:The EAEU is an international economic union and free trade zone comprising countries located in central and northern Asia and Eastern Europe.
- Objective:To increase cooperation and economic competitiveness for the member states, and the promotion of stable development to raise the standard of living in member states.
- Governing Body:The EAEU heads of state comprise a governing body known as the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.
- Executive body: Known as the Eurasian Economic Commission, an analog to the European Commission, it oversees day-to-day operations.
- Member countries: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
- No Common Currency:Unlike the European Union (EU), the EAEU does not share a common currency.
Limitations of EAEU:
- Internal disagreements and Uneven Markets: Members of the union have different goals, and there are recurrent clashes between members over the application of non-tariff regulations and accusations of protectionism.
- Limited Economic Success: Failure In the eight years since its creation, the EAEU has failed to establish itself as a profitable economic alliance or attract new member states.
- Uneven Resolution of Benefits and Duties: The resolution of benefits and duties within the alliance has consistently favored Russia, posing ongoing challenges for Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.
Over 1.50 lakh migratory birds visited sanctuaries, wetlands in Andhra Pradesh this winter, say forest officials
Kolleru, Coringa, Pulicat, Nelapattu and other bird sanctuaries were seen abuzz with roosting birds this migratory season, say wildlife authorities
- In recent times, nature lovers, bird watchers, students and many tourists have been having an enjoyable time at Atapaka Bird Sanctuary with thousands of migratory birds arriving at Kolleru Lake.
- Mounds, trees and iron stands erected by the Forest Department in the lake were swarming with the winged visitors, much to the joy of birdwatchers.
Atapaka Bird Sanctuary:
- Located:It is located in Kolleru Lake on Krishna-West Godavari borders, Andhra Pradesh.
- It fallsunder the Kaikalur forest range.
- Recognition: It was officially declared as a sanctuary in the year 1999 by the Andhra Pradesh government.
- It is also known as a bird’s paradise.
Threats:
- Habitat Loss: Urbanization, encroachment and conversion of natural habitats pose a significant threat to the sanctuary’s avian species.
- Pollution:Discharge of industrial effluents and pollution from nearby human settlements can degrade water quality and negatively impact birdlife.
- Climate Change: Rising temperatures, weather change and sea-level rise can disrupt bird migration, nesting and feeding patterns.
Few Important Flora & Fauna:
- Flora: Avicennia Marina (white mangrove), Rhizophora Mucronata (red mangrove), Ceriops Decandra, etc.
- Fauna: Spot-billed Pelican, Open-billed Stork, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill Stork, White Ibis, Grey Heron, Little Cormorant, Eurasian Spoonbill, etc.
Significance:
- Biodiversity Conservation:It is one of the critical habitats for several endangered and migratory bird species, contributing to the conservation of avian biodiversity.
- Ecotourism Potential:It possesses beauty and diverse birdlife making it an attractive destination for eco-tourists and bolstering local economies.
Kolleru Lake:
- Location: It is located between the Krishna and Godavari rivers and deltas in Andhra Pradesh.
- Recognition: It was designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999 under India’s Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
- It was declared a wetland of international importance in 2002 under the Ramsar convention.
- Significance: It is a natural flood-balancing reservoir for the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
- It is an essential habitat for an estimated 20 million residents and migratory birds like Grey or Spot-billed pelicans.
In Gujarat, harnessing the value of dung to boost farmers’ income
Gujarat’s dairy cooperatives are showing the way in supplementing their farmers’ income from milk by procuring dung and converting it into Bio CNG and fertiliser.
- The Banaskantha District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union in Gujarat has embarked on a transformative initiative to convert dung into BioCNG (compressed natural gas) and fertilizer, thereby supplementing farmers’ income.
- This innovative project not only addresses waste management challenges but also creates new revenue streams for dairy farmers.
- The BioCNG outlet, situated on the Deesa-Tharad highway in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, stands as a pioneering venture, being India’s first and only gas-filling station operating on dung sourced from cattle and buffaloes.
- From a distance, it looks like any CNG (compressed natural gas) outlet. But the one on the Deesa-Tharad highway in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, catering to 90-100 vehicles daily, is India’s first and only gas-filling station based on dung from cattle and buffaloes.
- The ‘BioCNG’ outlet in Dama village of Deesa taluka, belonging to the Banaskantha District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union, sells 550-600 kg of gas per day generated from 40 tonnes of dung at an adjoining four-acre plant.
Dung facts
An average adult bovine animal discharges 15-20 kg of fresh dung daily, while calves give out 5-10 kg. Fresh dung contains 80-85% water; one kg weighs hardly 200 grams on drying.
Harnessing the Value of Dung in Farming
Dung Production and Composition:
- An adult bovine animal produces 15-20 kg of fresh dung daily, while calves yield 5-10 kg.
- Fresh dung, containing 80-85% water, weighs only 200 grams per kg when dried.
Biogas Production from Dung:
- Methane in fresh dung, crucial for biogas production, is obtained through anaerobic digestion.
- Bacteria-like microbes in the bovine’s rumen produce methane during the fermentation of plant material.
- The digestion involves four successive stages: hydrolysis (break-down of organic matter into simple molecules), acidogenesis (their conversion into volatile fatty acids), acetogenesis (production of acetic acid, CO2 and hydrogen) and methanogenesis (biogas generation).
- Biogas digesters reduce methane emissions, aiding in greenhouse gas mitigation.
Biogas Purification and Compression:
- Raw biogas undergoes purification to remove CO2, H2S, and moisture.
- The purified biogas, compressed to 96-97% methane, is sold as BioCNG at Rs 72/kg.
Utilization of Slurry for Fertilizer:
- After biogas extraction, the slurry is dewatered and separated.
- The solid residue is decomposed and sold as PROM (phosphate-rich organic manure) or used for compost production.
- The liquid portion is reused or sold as liquid-fermented organic manure.
Scalability and Replicability:
- The BioCNG model is scalable and replicable, utilizing dung from district member unions.
- Gujarat’s Kaira Union’s decentralised model targets 10,000 Flexi Biogas plant installations.
- Individual farmers can benefit from smaller Flexi plants for personal use and potential income generation.
Key Challenges to Address
- Ensuring Organic Feedstock Supply: Consistent access to high-quality organic feedstock for animals is crucial for sustained biogas production.
- Effective Waste Segregation and Collection: Implementation of efficient waste segregation and collection systems is necessary to ensure a steady supply of feedstock.
- Lack of Knowledge and Resources: Individual farmers and smaller cooperatives may lack the expertise and resources for proper maintenance and monitoring of BioCNG plants.
- Training and Technical Support: Training programs, technical support, and standardized operating procedures are essential for ensuring the efficient operation of BioCNG plants.
- Access to Financing Options: Financial barriers can hinder the establishment of BioCNG plants, highlighting the need for subsidies, grants, or low-interest loans.
- Skilled Labour and Infrastructure: Addressing the shortage of skilled labor and infrastructure requires public-private partnerships, technology transfer, and capacity-building initiatives.
- Efficient Storage and Distribution: Efficient storage systems and distribution networks are necessary to ensure the reliable supply of BioCNG to end-users.
- Overcoming Misconceptions: Overcoming misconceptions about the safety and hygiene of dung gas is crucial for widespread adoption, necessitating educational outreach and demonstration of the process’s cleanliness and safety.