Current Affairs – 24th Apr 2024

Articles Covered

  1. India indigenises electric vehicle production
  2. Voyager 1 Spacecraft
  3. Technology Development Board -Department of Science & Technology empowers Indigenous Space Innovation: Funding M/s Dhruva Space’s Solar Array Project”
  4. Centre asks states to monitor, inspect organ transplants involving foreigners
  5. TINA Factor
  6. Crystal Maze 2
  7. PM addresses 6th edition of International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

India indigenises electric vehicle production

The Union government on March 15 approved a policy to promote India as a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles. This paves the way for EV manufacturers like Tesla and Chinese automaker BYD to manufacture locally.

  • “This will provide Indian consumers with access to latest technology, boost the Make in India initiative, strengthen the EV ecosystem by promoting healthy competition among EV players,” the government stated, adding that this move would lead to higher production, attaining economies of scale, and help reduce air pollution, among other things. The minimum investment cap has been set at ₹4,150 crores.
  • The move attempts to combine two goals – localising production and an annual EV car sale of 30% by 2030.

The Union government has approved a policy to promote India as a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles (EVs)

  1. Goal: To enable a transition to localized production in a commercially viable manner as per local market conditions and demand and to achieve an annual EV car sale of 30% by 2030.
  2. The policy broadly clears the path for global EV makers like Tesla and Chinese EV maker BYD to enter the Indian market.

Electric Vehicle

  • It is entirely powered from electricity and consists of one or more electric motors powered by a battery pack to propel the vehicle and is known as battery electric vehicle (BEV).
  • They use rechargeable battery packs to provide energy for their operation.
  • Target: The Indian government has set a target to achieve 30 percent electrification of the country’s vehicle fleet by 2030.
  • The Economic Survey 2023:It predicts that India’s domestic electric vehicle market will see a 49 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2022 and 2030, with 10 million annual sales by 2030.
  1. Reduction of import duty: The policy seeks to reduce the import duty on electric vehicles imported as a completely built unit (CBU) with a minimum cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of $35,000 to 15% from the present 70%-100%.
  2. The provision will be extended for five years subject to manufacturers setting up their facilities in India within three years. 
  3. A total duty of ₹6,484 crore or an amount proportional to the investment made whichever is lower would be waived on the total number of EVs imported.
  4. Maximum Quota on Imports: total of 40,000 EVs can be imported under the scheme with a maximum of 8,000 units a year,provided the minimum investment made is $800 million.
  5. Overall, the minimum investment cap for eligibility has been set at $500 million(approximately ₹4,150 crore).  Carryover of unused annual imports limits is permitted.
  6. Localisation Targets: Manufacturers will have 3 years to set up their manufacturing facilities in India with expected attainment of 25% localisation by the third year of incentivised operation and 50% by the fifth year. 
  7. If the localisation targets are not achieved, and if the minimum investment criteria are not met, the bank guarantees of the manufacturers would be invoked.

Advantages of the Policy:

  1. A mid-way strategy: The policy is India’s attempt to find a midway point where affordability for a captive market is prioritised by encouraging foreign competition while recognising that import substitution is a phased process which requires a layered approach
  2. New opportunities for the Indian EV ecosystem: Components like body parts, motors, electric parts can be localised within three years, while other parts like chips, battery cells and magnets, can be indigenised in the medium term including BMS (battery management system).
  3. Accelerated understanding of the Indian market: The reduction in custom duty on import of completely built units for testing and market trials would help global players accelerate the development process with reduced risk.
  4. Building EV Ecosystem: The policy makes it lucrative for global EV players and their Indian JVs to expand sales and manufacture in India which would lead to technology transfer and upgrade of local supplier ecosystem benefiting local manufacturers and boosting our overall EV ecosystem.

Concerns in the EV Landscape:

  1. Endangering domestic EV players: Lowering of import duties would hit the domestic industry which is at a nascent growing state and can result in killing the competition.
  2. India Specific: The policy will only be successful if global players consider local circumstances and Indian customer expectations like the environment, roads, driving behaviour and usage conditions only.
  3. Limitations of the Indian EV market: It is plagued by low-battery capacity and lower range (when compared with EV models in E.U., China and the U.S.), with crucial parts/systems being imported.
  4. Lacklustre EV adoption: While penetration in the two-and three-wheeler segment has been significant, passenger vehicles have seen only a 2.2% contribution thus far mainly because of lack of proper charging infrastructure, range anxiety, and limited number of products in the affordable range due to limited localisation.
  5. Inadequate charging infrastructure: To scale charging infrastructure is crucial to scale EV adoption in the country.
  6. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in a 2023 report had observed that India may require at least 13 lakh charging stations by 2030 to support aggressive EV uptake.

Voyager 1 Spacecraft

NASA’s Voyager 1 probe is returning usable information to ground control following months of spouting gibberish, the US space agency announced recently.

Voyager 1 Spacecraft

  1. It is a space probe launched by NASA on September 5, 1977, about two weeks after its twin voyoger2
  2. Objective: To study the outer Solar System and beyond.
  3. Voyager 1’s mission has included flybys of Jupiter and Saturn, with the goal of studying their moons, rings, and magnetic fields.
  4. It is currently the most distant human-made object from Earth.
  5. It was the first spacecraft to cross the heliosphere, the boundary where the influences outside our solar system are stronger than those from our Sun.
  6. It crossed into interstellar space in August 2012, making it the first human-made object to venture out of the solar system.
  7. It discovered a thin ring around Jupiter and two new Jovian moons: The be and Metis.
  8. At Saturn, Voyager 1 found five new moons and a new ring called the G-ring.
  9. Voyager 1 carries a golden record that contains sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth, in the event that it is ever encountered by extraterrestrial life.
  10. According to NASA, Voyager 1 has enough fuel to keep its instruments running until at least 2025. By then, the spacecraft will be approximately 13.8 billion miles (22.1 billion kilometres) away from the sun.

Key Facts about Voyager 2 Spacecraft

  1. It is a space probe launched by NASA on August 20, 1977.
  2. It is part of the Voyager program,which also includes Voyager 1.
  3. Primary mission:To study the outer planets of our solar system and their moons, and then continue on an interstellar mission.
  4. It is the second spacecraft to enter interstellar space.
  5. It also carries a golden record similar to Voyager 1.

Firsts:

  • It is the only spacecraft to study all four of the solar system’s giant planets at close range.
  • It discovered a 14th moon at Jupiter.
  • It was the first human-made object to fly past Uranus.
  • At Uranus, Voyager 2 discovered 10 new moons and two new rings.
  • It was the first human-made object to fly by Neptune.
  • At Neptune, Voyager 2 discovered five moons, four rings, and a “Great Dark Spot.”

Technology Development Board -Department of Science & Technology empowers Indigenous Space Innovation: Funding M/s Dhruva Space’s Solar Array Project”

“M/s Dhruva Space’s endeavour aligns with TDB’s mission to promote indigenous innovation in space engineering.”- Secretary, TDB

  • As a significant step towards indigenization in the space sector and aligning with its mission of advancing indigenous capabilities, The Technology Development Board (TDB) is proud to announce its financial support for the project titled “Space Grade Solar Array Fabrication and Test Facility” by M/s Dhruva Space Private Limited, Hyderabad. TDB has sanctioned financial assistance for this space startup, demonstrating its confidence in the project’s potential to drive technological advancements in the space industry.
  • With TDB’s backing, Dhruva Space is undertaking an ambitious initiative to develop and commercialize space-grade solar array fabrication and testing processes tailored for spacecraft applications. The primary objective of this project is to pioneer technological innovations in solar panel manufacturing to meet the rigorous demands of on-orbit usage.

  • The project entails several key innovations, including the adoption of new materials like carbon fiber and resins for substrate-side IP to enhance performance and durability. It also focuses on process innovations in solar cell assembly (SCA) through novel stringing and bonding techniques. Dhruva Space aims to manufacture high-efficiency solar panels using triple-junction GaAs technology, targeting an efficiency of up to 30%. Additionally, a specialized test facility will be developed to ensure compliance and certification of space-grade solar arrays.
  • Furthermore, the project encompasses a series of space-qualified processes, including substrate fabrication, precise cell welding, secure cell bonding, integration of electrical harnesses, and comprehensive testing and evaluation.
  • Mechanical tests will cover vibration, shock, and full-panel assessments, while electrical evaluations will utilize a Large Area Pulsed Sun Simulator for thorough testing. Environmental testing will include thermo-vacuum chamber conditions and acoustic testing, with zero-gravity (Zero G) deployment simulations to assess performance in space environments.
  • “We are excited to support M/s Dhruva Space in their endeavor to develop cutting-edge space-grade solar array technologies. This project perfectly aligns with TDB’s mission to promote indigenous innovation and strengthen India’s capabilities in domestic production, furthering India’s commitment to becoming a global hub for advanced and cost-effective space technologies.”
  • “One of the crucial product offerings at Dhruva Space is the end-to-end design, engineering, assembly, integration, and testing of spacecraft solar arrays for manned and unmanned space programs.
  • One of our core capabilities has been to supply space power solutions to large satellites as well, and we are thankful to the Technology Development Board, Department of Science & Technology, for enabling us to scale these capabilities where we have seen traction not just in India but also overseas.”

Centre asks states to monitor, inspect organ transplants involving foreigners

Directs states to ensure a NOTTO ID is generated for both donor, recipient

  • The Centre has directed the states to ensure that a NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation) ID is generated for the donor and recipient for living-donor as well as deceased-donor transplants.
  • “Besides NOTTO-ID being mandatory for considering allocation of organ in case of deceased-donor transplant, this ID in case of a living-donor transplant shall also be generated at the earliest, maximum within 48 hours after the transplant surgery is done,” the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) wrote to the states.

Recently, the Centre has issued few directions to the states with regard to NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation).

  1. Recently, two successive organ transplant cases involving foreign nationals came to the fore in which regulations were violated. In Rajasthan, fake NoCs were allegedly issued to Bangladeshi nationals, and in Delhi, poor Myanmar nationals were allegedly paid to donate kidneys.
  2. Earlier, after the case involving Myanmar nationals came to light, the Union health secretary had urged the foreign secretary to sensitize the embassies as they are required to issue a certificate to their respective citizens, stating that the donor and recipient are related to each other for undergoing transplant in India.
  3. The NOTTO registry datashows that there has been an increase in the number of transplants in foreign nationals. 

Recently Issued Directions by the Centre:

  • ID-Generation:The directions are given to ensure that a NOTTO ID is generated for the donor and recipient for living-donor as well as deceased-donor transplants.
  • Mandatory Quick Identification:NOTTO-ID being mandatory for considering allocation of organs in case of deceased-donor transplant, this ID in case of a living-donor transplant shall also be generated at the earliest, maximum within 48 hours after the transplant surgery is done.
  • Investigation & Inspection:The Union Health ministry has directed state authorities to investigate cases of commercial trading of organs and take appropriate action for violations, if any.
  • State governments to devise a system for regular inspection of all transplant and retrieval centres. 
  • Combat Arising Commercial Trading Issue: Organs of the deceased donor are anonymously allocated to people waiting for a transplant, while an organ can be donated by a living person only if donor and recipient are close relatives or share a close bond and want to donate altruistically.
  • Commercial trading of organs is not allowed under Indian laws.
  • In Accordance with Law:To ensure that foreigners come to India to get a transplant by following the laws of the land. 
  • While it is encouraging to see an increasing number of foreign nationals choosing India as their destination for getting a transplant as India offers world class transplantation at a fraction of the cost as compared to several Western countries. It must be held in accordance with the law.

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO):

  • It is a national level organisation set up under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  • It functions as the apex centre for all India activities of coordination and networking for procurement and distribution of organs and tissues and registry of organs and tissues donation and transplantation in the country.

It has following two divisions:

  1. National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network
  2. National Biomaterial Centre

Mandate:

  • To establish a network for organ procurement and distribution.
  • To maintain a national registry on organ donation and transplantation.

TINA Factor

The recent surge in gold prices is due to the TINA (there is no alternative) factor in China, with retail shoppers, investors, futures traders, and central bank, all turning to the bullion in uncertain times.

TINA Factor

  • TINA stands for There Is No Alternative.
  • It refers to a situation where investors perceive a particular asset class or investment as the best option available given the prevailing market conditions.
  • This perception arises when other investment options are deemed unattractive due to factors such as low returns, high volatility, or economic uncertainty.
  • Essentially, people fearful of possible uncertainties in the future consider investing in the safest investment instrument.
  • People feel that there is simply no other alternative.
  • The TINA effect can explain a price bubble. That is, prices rise to unrealistic heights due to a lack of reasonable alternatives.
  • TINA has historically been a response to certain economic conditions where investments typically seen as safe have become less favourable.
  1. This might include bonds or real estatewhich might offer lower returns due to low interest rates or an inflated real estate market.
  2. In these scenarios, TINA takes hold,with investors feeling as if their options have shrunk
  3. In periods when stock prices soar and bond returns languish, TINA has been used to justify investing in anything other than stocks or bonds, such as gold, cryptocurrencies, NFTs

INDIAN ARMY CONDUCTS A SEMINAR CUM EXHIBITION ON THEME “YEAR OF TECH ABSORPTION, EMPOWERING THE SOLDIER”

  1. A seminar cum exhibition was conducted today by the Indian Army on the theme “Year of Technology Absorption – Empowering the Soldier”. The event was conducted by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), on behalf of the Indian Army in Manekshaw Centre.
  2. The seminar brought together technology experts and industry professionals to deliberate on the adoption of modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence and advanced hardware in the military domain. It aimed at fostering a collaborative environment for academia and the defence industry to fast-pace the ongoing initiatives for technological absorption in the military.
  3. The event commenced with an inaugural address by General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). Keynote Address was delivered by Dr Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM, NITI AAYOG). This was followed by an exhibition, demonstrating the progress and capabilities of India’s Defence Sector.
  4. The COAS underscored the vital need of being self-reliant in war fighting platforms and systems besides achieving self-sufficiency in critical technologies through indigenous Research & Development. He emphasised that the Technology has emerged as the new strategic arena of competition which drives geo-political powerplay. He also said that technology is being leveraged for weaponisation of varied domains, ranging from Information to Supply Chains. Citing examples from recent conflicts, he mentioned that disruptive and dual use technologies are proliferating at unprecedented scale and transforming the Character of Modern Wars.  He mentioned that a suite of digital technologies encompassing Electronic Warfare, Micro-electronics, Drones, Precision Attack Systems, Loiter Munitions and Star-link Terminals are challenging traditional force multipliers.
  5. The COAS reiterated the commitment of Indian Army to continue its pursuit towards transitioning into a modern, agile, adaptive and technology enabled future ready force. He urged all stakeholders, the Services, Industry Partners, Start-Ups, Research & Development institutions, Academia and Policy Makers to synergise their efforts and develop a vibrant national defence eco-system.
  6. The seminar was conducted in three sessions, with first session focussed on “Contemporary Technology and Industry Capabilities”. The session was moderated by Lieutenant General Vineet Gaur, Director General Capability Development and the speakers were eminent personalities from academia and industry such as Prof Mayank Vatsa (IIT Jodhpur), Dr Mandira Majumder, Shri Rajiv Mehrotra, Shri Vaibhav Gupta, and Colonel Karandeep Singh (Retired). This session analysed the emerging role of the Indian Defence Industry in strengthening of overall defence architecture. The speakers also deliberated upon the technology developed so far and future roadmap to build cutting-edge technologies for military usages.
  7. The second session was moderated by Lieutenant General Subrata Saha (Retired) and focussed on “Empowering Soldiers: Amplifying Impact Through Modern Technologies”.  Major General Sunil Mehrotra from Signals Directorate and Shri SB Taneja from DRDO examined options to leverage present and next-generation technologies to enhance the capabilities of Indian Army. Looking beyond the domain of land, this session analysed the role of space and cyber domains in the present context and future scenarios.
  8. The final session on “Maximising Technology Effectiveness & Soldier Preparedness” was moderated by Lieutenant General PR Shankar (Retired). The speakers were Lieutenant General Rajesh Pant (Retired), Mr Geo George Philip, Dr K Mohanavelu, and Major General Ajay Sharma. The participants brainstormed wide-ranging options ranging from military applications of cyberspace, impact of drones and satellites on the modern battlefield, besides delving upon hardware and software options to empower soldiers.
  9. The seminar culminated with closing remarks by Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Strategy). Reflecting positive thoughts on impressive trajectory of Indian Army’s transformation, he reiterated that adoption of niche technology in tandem with agile doctrinal reforms is extremely crucial. He also stated that Indian Army will continue to foster a spirit of collaboration with the industry and academia to empower the soldiers.
  10. The proceedings underscored the importance of technology absorption in empowering soldiers besides providing a snapshot of available solutions and highlighted the contributions of the Indian Defence Industry, delineating their strengths, future trajectories, and their pivotal role in ensuring future ready armed forces.

Crystal Maze 2

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully carried out a test firing of the Crystal Maze 2 missile.

ballistic missiles

Ballistic missiles are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an un powered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads.

  • Crystal Maze 2, also referred to as ROCKS, is an air-launched medium-range BALLISTIC MISSILE.
  • It is of Israeli origin.
  • It is designed to target high-value stationary and relocatable assets,such as long-range radars and air defense systems, of potential adversaries.

Features:

  1. Distinguished from its predecessor, Crystal Maze 1, which has been inducted into the IAF from Israel previously, the Crystal Maze 2 boasts extended stand-off range capabilities as an air-to-surface missile.
  2. It is capable of hitting targets over 250 kilometers
  3. With options for either a penetration or blast fragmentation warhead, the missile is capable of destroying above-ground or well-protected underground targets.
  4. It is specifically effective in GPS-denied environments.
  5. The deployment strategy of the ROCKS involves releasing the missile well outside the surface-to-air-defended area, followed by a high-velocity trajectory to minimize the risk to aircraft and missiles.

PM addresses 6th edition of International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

  • “We must invest in resilient infrastructure today for a better tomorrow”
  • “The world can be resilient collectively, only when each country is resilient individually”
  • “To achieve shared resilience, we must support the most vulnerable”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the 6th edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure via video message today.

  1. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister extended a warm welcome to all the dignitaries and said that their participation would strengthen the global discourse and decisions on the important issue of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
  2. Reflecting on the impressive growth of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure since its inception in 2019, the Prime Minister underlined that it is now a global coalition of 39 countries and 7 organizations. “This is a good sign for the future”, he added.
  • Noting the growing frequency and severity of natural disasters where the damage caused is usually evaluated in dollars, the Prime Minister highlighted that its true impact on people, families and communities is beyond numbers.
  • Shri Modi drew attention to the impact of natural disasters on humans and mentioned earthquakes destroying houses making thousands of people homeless and natural disasters disrupting water and sewage systems putting people’s health at risk.
  • He also touched upon natural disasters that can impact energy plants leading to potentially dangerous situations.
  • The Prime Minister emphasized, “We must invest in resilient infrastructure today for a better tomorrow.” He stressed that resilience must be factored into new infrastructure creation while also being a part of post-disaster rebuilding.
  • The Prime Minister pointed out that the focus should shift towards resilience in infrastructure once relief and rehabilitation are carried out after a disaster strikes.
  • Underlining that nature and disasters have no borders, the Prime Minister said that disasters and disruptions cause widespread impact in a highly interconnected world. “The world can be resilient collectively, only when each country is resilient individually”, PM Modi said.
  • He stressed the importance of shared resilience due to shared risks and said that CDRI and this conference will help the world come together for this collective mission.
  • “To achieve shared resilience, we must support the most vulnerable”, the Prime Minister remarked. Referring to the Small Island Developing States at high risk of disasters, Prime Minister Modi mentioned a CDRI program for funding projects across 13 such places.
  • He gave examples of resilient housing in Dominica, resilient transport networks in Papua New Guinea, and enhanced early warning systems in the Dominican Republic and Fiji. He expressed satisfaction that CDRI also has a focus on the Global South.
  • The Prime Minister recalled the formation of a new Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group with financing at the heart of its discussions during India’s G20 Presidency and said that such steps will take the world to a resilient future along with the growth of CDRI.
  • He concluded his address by expressing confidence about the fruitful deliberations at ICDRI over the next two days.
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