Latest News

Current Affairs

15th Oct 2021

POWER MINISTRY MANDATES ENERGY ACCOUNTING OF DISCOMS TO CUT ELECTRICITY LOSSES The Ministry of Power has mandated energy accounting of Distribution Companies (Discoms) on a periodic basis to reduce electricity losses. Highlights:
  • The regulations have been issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
  • Objective: To reduce distribution sector inefficiency and losses, hence moving towards the economic viability of discoms.
Key Points:
  • It stipulates quarterly energy accounting by discoms through a certified energy manager within 60 days.
  • There will an annual energy audit by an energy auditor. The reports will be published in the public domain.
  • The reports will provide information about electricity consumption by consumers, the transmission and distribution losses in various areas.
    • It will identify areas of high losses and theft and enable corrective actions.
  • It will enable the fixation of responsibility on officers for losses and theft.
  • The data will enable the discoms to take appropriate measures for reducing their electricity losses.
  • The discoms will be able to plan, suitable infrastructure up-gradation and demand-side management (DSM) efforts in an effective manner.
  • This initiative will contribute towards India’s climate actions in meeting Paris Agreement goals.
What is Energy accounting?
  • Energy accounting is a system to record, analyse and report energy consumption and cost on a regular basis.
In the power sector, energy accounting involves preparation of a “balance sheet” of energy, the preparation of accounts of:
  • The energy flow to various segments.
  • Energy consumption by various categories of consumers.
  • Energy losses including both technical and commercial losses at various stages.
  • Energy required for meeting the technical requirements of the system out of the total energy available over a specified time period.
Objectives of Energy Accounting: For power distribution utilities, the objectives are:
  • To segregate losses into technical/non-technical losses.
  • To identify areas of mismatch between billing and revenue collection and improve metering, billing, and collection.
  • To identify high loss areas and remedial steps for reduction of both technical and commercial losses.
  • Initiate benchmarks of actual system losses with the standards.
Functions:
  • Monitoring conformity with meeting requirements.
  • Preparing energy flow diagrams and energy balancing.
  • Performance Degradation analysis and benchmarking.
  • Fuel procurement and handling efficiency.
  • Estimation of Non-Metered Consumption.
  • Generating management information systems reports.
Significance:
  • It helps to establish the energy input consumed by various consumers, identify high loss areas, and evolve strategies to reduce losses.
  • It is as fundamental to energy management as cost accounting is to financial management.
  • It is one of the most cost-effective tools to cut energy costs and conserve energy.
  • It can raise awareness about reducing energy demand and help in energy conservation efforts.
    PRODUCERS GIVEN TARGETS TO MANAGE THEIR PLASTIC PACKAGING WASTE IN DRAFT EPR NOTIFICATION The Ministry of Environment has unveiled a draft notification for regulation of extended producer responsibility under PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES 2016.
  • The notification is expected to release on 6th December 2021.
Highlights:
  • It has specified a system whereby makers and users of plastic packaging can collect Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates and trade in them.
  • Plastic such as multi-layered and multi-material will be eligible to be sent for end-of-life disposal such as road construction, waste to energy, waste to oil and cement kilns.
Plastic packaging, as per the rules, fall into three categories:
  1. Rigid Plastic.
  2. Flexible plastic packagingof single-layer plastic sheets and covers made of plastic, carry bags, pouches etc.
  3. Multi-layered plastic packaging.
What will producers of plastic do?
  • They will inform the government about how much plastic they produce annually.
  • Companies will have to collect at least 35% of the target in 2021-22, 70% by 2022-23 and 100% by 2024.
    • In 2024, they will have to recycle 50% of their rigid plastic (category 1) and 30% of category 2 and 3 plastics.
  • After 2026-27, 80% of category 1 and 60% of the other two categories will need to be recycled.
Targets for the companies using Packaging Material:
  • If entities cannot fulfil their obligations, they will be permitted to buy certificates for their shortfall from the organisations that have used recycled content.
  • In case of Non-compliance, there will be no fine. Instead, an “environmental compensation” will be levied.
  • Entities that do not meet their targets must pay a fine & if they meet their targets within three years, they will get a 40% refund.
    • Funds collected in this way will be put in an account and can be used to collect and recycle plastic packaging waste on which the environmental compensation is levied.
    CHILD MARRIAGE KILLS OVER 60 GIRLS A DAY GLOBALLY: SAVE THE CHILDREN REPORT Recently, an Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Save the Children released the Global Girlhood Report 2021: Girls Right in Crisis. International Day of the Girl Child
  • It is observed annually on 11thOctober. It was declared by the United Nations (UN), which was first observed in 2012.
  • A resolution to declare 11thOctober as the International Day of the Girl Child was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 19th December 2011.
  • The day is dedicated to raising awareness on gender equalitywhile assuring rights and improving opportunities for girls.
  Theme for 2021: Digital generation. Our generation. Key Points Rate of Child Marriage: West and Central Africa has the highest rate of child marriage in the world. Death Due to Child Marriage:
  • Child marriage kills more than 60 girls a dayglobally, 26 girls a day in West and Central Africa and six girls a day in South Asia.
  • South Asia is followed byEast Asia and the Pacific and Latin American and the 
  • The deaths are majorly caused from pregnancy and childbirthresulting from child marriage.
  Effect of Covid on Child Marriage:
  • With school closures, health services under strain or closed, and more families being pushed into poverty, women and girls face an increased risk of violence during lengthy lockdowns.
  • A further 10 million girlsare now expected to marry by 2030, leaving more girls at risk of dying.
  • Earlier, according to a report published by ChildLine India the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have proved to be new drivers of child marriagesin rural Madhya Pradesh.
  • Also some activists and organisations of Karnataka have raised the issue of increased child marriages in Lockdownwith the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
  Suggestions: The report called on the governments to: Help Girls Raising Voices Raise girls’ voices by supporting their right to safe and meaningful participation in all public decision-making. Focus on Gender Equality: Address immediate and ongoing risks of gender-based violence, including child marriage, by putting girls’ rights and gender equality at the center of Covid-19 and humanitarian responses, development policy, and broader efforts to build forward better.   Guarantee Girls Their Rights: Guarantee the rights of all girls, including those impacted by different forms of inequality and discrimination by developing inclusive policies and programs. Safe and ethical data collection must also be improved to better understand and respond in real-time to Covid-19’s impact on existing economic, climate, and conflict-related crises.   Ensure Participation of Female Staffs:
  • Ensure the safe and unrestricted participation of female humanitarian staff in all humanitarian response efforts, including needs assessments and the design, implementation, and monitoring, and evaluation of all humanitarian services at every level.
Join the Generation Equality Movement:
  • The movement is working to deliver on the Global Acceleration Plan for Gender Equality(launched by Generation Equality Forum), which set a target to prevent nine million child marriages in five years.
Related Indian Initiatives:
  • The Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929restricts the practice of child marriage.
  • The Special Marriage Act, 1954and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 prescribe 18 and 21 years as the minimum age of consent for marriage for women and men respectively.
  • The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006was enacted to address and fix the shortcomings of the Child Marriage Restraint Act.
  • The Union Ministry for Women and Child Development has set up a committee to examine matters pertaining to age of motherhood, imperatives of lowering Maternal Mortality Ratio and the improvement of nutritional levels among women. The Committee is headed by Jaya Jaitely.
  • The Committee was proposed in the Union Budget 2020-21.
  • Prevention of Child Marriage is a part of SDG 5which deals with gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
  Child Marriages India Specific Data
  • United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)estimates suggest that each year, at least 5 million girls under 18 get married in India, which makes it home to the largest number of child brides in the world - accounting for a third of the global total.
  • Nearly 16% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 are currently married.
  • While the prevalence of girls getting married before age 18 has declined from 47% to 27% between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016.
    CABINET APPROVES NUTRIENT BASED SUBSIDY RATES FOR P&K FERTILIZERS; NET SUBSIDY OF RS 28,655 CRORE FOR RABI SEASON The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy Rates for P&K Fertilizers for the year 2021-22.
  • The CCEA also approved the inclusion of Potash derived from Molasses (0:0:14.5:0) under the NBS Scheme.
Nutrient Based Subsidy:
  • The subsidy on P&K fertilisers is governed by the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme from April 2010.
  • The subsidy on P&K fertilizers will be provided based on the NBS rates approved by the CCEA to ensure smooth availability of these fertilizers to the farmers at affordable prices.
Genesis:
  • Government is making available fertilizers, namely Urea and 24 grades of P&K fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers/ importers.
  • The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is being governed by NBS Scheme w.e.f. 01.04.2010.
  • In accordance with its farmer friendly approach, the Govt. is committed to ensure the availability of P&K fertilizers to the farmers at affordable prices.
Benefits:
  • This will enable smooth availability of all P&K fertilizers to the farmers during Rabi Season 2021-22 at the subsidized/affordable prices.
  • It will support the agricultural sector by continuing the present subsidy levels and giving special packages of additional subsidy for DAP and three mostly consumed NPK grades.
    RETAIL INFLATION FALLS SHARPLY TO 4.35% IN SEPTEMBER ON DECLINE IN FOOD PRICES India’s retail inflation fell to a five-month low of 4.35% in September 2021 due to a sharp dip in food price inflation. Highlights:
  • Food inflation based on the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) eased to 0.68% in September from 3.11% in August.
  • Within the food prices, Vegetables registered a de-growth of minus 22%, while food and beverages segment grew 1.01%.
  • Inflation in the fuel and light category remained elevated at 13.63%.
  • Index of industrial production (IIP) for the month of August surged 11.9%.
  • The Central bank (RBI) in its latest monetary policy meeting lowered the inflation forecast at 5.3% for the current financial year (2021-22) from an earlier estimate of 5.7%.
    Consumer Price Index (CPI):
  • CPI is a measure of change in retail prices of goods and services consumed by a defined population group in a given area with reference to a base year.
  • This basket of goods and services represents the level of living or the utility derived by the consumers at given levels of their income, prices and tastes.
  • The consumer price index number measures change only in prices.
  • Published and developed by: The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
  • Base Year: 2011-12.
  • Importance:
  • Used as an economic indicator of:
      • Inflation.
      • Monitoring price stability.
      • Deflator in national accounts.
      • Determining dearness allowance of Government employees and wage contracts between labour and employer.
      • Inflation targeting in Monetary Policy by RBI.
  • The formula for calculating Consumer Price Index is Laspeyre’s index which is measured as follows:
  • [Total cost of a fixed basket of goods and services in the current period * 100] divided by Total cost of the same basket in the base period.
  • Presently the consumer price indices compiled in India are:
    • CPI for Industrial workers CPI(IW)
    • CPI for Agricultural Labourers CPI (AL)
    • CPI for Rural Labourers CPI (RL)
    • CPI for Urban Non-Manual Employees (UNME)
Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI):
  • CFPI is a measure of change in retail prices of food products consumed by a defined population group in a given area with reference to a base year.
  • CFPI have been widely used as a macroeconomic indicator of inflation.
  • Published and developed by: The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
  • Base Year: 2011-12.
  • Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) is a component of all-items Consumer Price Index.
  • Three categories -rural, urban and combined - separately on an all-India basis.
  • CFPI is also calculated on a monthly basis, and methodology remains the same as CPI.
Headline Inflation vs Core inflation:
Headline Inflation Core Inflation
  • Refers to the rate of change in the CPI.
  • Refers to the change in value of all goods in the basket.
  • Headline inflation is more relevant for developing economies than developed economies.
  • Measures the change in average consumer prices after excluding from the CPI certain items with volatile price movements.
  • Excludes food and fuel items from headline inflation.
  • Since the prices of fuel and food items tend to fluctuate and create ‘noise’ in inflation computation, core inflation is less volatile than headline inflation.
Index of Industrial Production (IIP):
  • It is an index that tracks manufacturing activity in different sectors of an economy. It is released monthly by NSO.
  • Mining, manufacturing, and electricity are the three broad sectors in which IIP constituents fall.
  • IIP index is currently calculated using 2011-2012 as the base year.
  • It consists of 8 core Industries that constitute 38% of the total IIP.
    1. Electricity (Highest weightage)
    2. Steel
    3. Refinery Products
    4. Crude Oil
    5. Coal
    6. Cement
    7. Natural Gas
    8. Fertilizers
    NEW CICADA SPECIES IN NAGALAND UNDERSCORES NEED FOR CONSERVATION A new variety of cicada species ‘Platyomia kohimaensis’ was discovered almost after a century in the Naga Hills, Nagaland. cicadas:
  • Cicadas are members of the superfamily Cicadoidea.
  • They are physically distinguished by their stout bodies, broad heads, clear-membraned wings, and large compound eyes.
  • There are more than 3,000 species of cicadas. They occur in deserts, grasslands, and forests.
  • Male cicadas produce loud noises by vibrating membranes near the base of the abdomen.
  • They occur in deserts, grasslands, and forests.
  • Cicadas have been used in folk medicines, religious and monetary symbols, and an important source of food.
  • They act as indicators of a healthy forest ecosystem, but there are no conservation measures for them at present.
  • Major threat: Rapidly diminishing natural habitat
    HOW AN INDIAN METEORITE HELPED STUDY EARTH’S FORMATION By studying the composition of meteorite fragments from Katol, researchers have unravelled the composition expected to be present in the Earth’s lower mantle which is at about 660 km deep. Genesis:
  • On May 22, 2012, a large meteor shower occurred near the town of Katol in Nagpur.
  • The shower caused sonic booms or thunder-like noises, initially spreading rumours that an aircraft had crashed.
  • The next day, researchers from the Geological Survey of India collected about 30 meteorite fragments with the largest weighing around a kilogram.
Findings of the study:
  • International team of scientists examined a section of the highly-shocked meteorite from Katol.
  • The first natural occurrence of a mineral called bridgmanite. The mineral was named in 2014 after Prof. Percy W. Bridgman, recipient of the 1946 Nobel Prize in Physics.
  • About 80% of the Earth’s lower mantle is made up of bridgmanite.
  • By studying this meteorite sample, scientists can decode how bridgmanite crystallized during the final stages of our Earth’s formation.
  • The host rock was mainly composed of olivine, an olive-green mineral.
    • Olivine is the most abundant phase in our Earth’s upper mantle.
  • Our Earth is composed of different layers including the outer crust, followed by the mantle and then the inner core.
  • The composition expected to be present in the Earth’s lower mantle which is at about 660 km deep.
  • Studying the meteorite could also tell us more about how our Earth evolved from being a magma ocean to a rocky planet.
How to study a meteorite?
  • A small sample of the meteorite is examined using special microscopy techniques. The mineralogy was determined using a laser micro-Raman spectrometer.
  • These techniques helped identify, characterise the crystal structure of the meteorite and determine its chemical composition and texture.
Bridgmanite on Earth VS on meteorite
  • The bridgmanite in the meteorite was found to be formed at pressures of about 23 to 25 gigapascals generated by the shock event.
  • High temperature and pressure in Earth’s interior have changed over billions of years causing crystallisation, melting, remelting of the different minerals before they reached their current state.
    INDIA'S C-DOT TO WORK ON 6G, ROLLS OUT QUANTUM COMMUNICATION LAB Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked state-owned telecom research and development organisation C-DoT to start working on 6G and other futuristic technologies.
  • He inaugurated the Quantum Communication Lab in C-DoT and unveiled the indigenously developed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution.
Highlights:
  • C-DoT has become India's first organisation to offer a complete portfolio of indigenous quantum secure telecom products and solutions.
  • Samsung, Huawei, LG and some other companies have started working on 6G technologies which is said to be 50 times faster than 5G and is expected to be commercially launched between 2028-2030.
6G Technology: What is 6G?
  • 6G, or the sixth-generation wireless communications system will be built upon the shortcomings of 5G.
  • It is said to be 50 times faster than 5G.
  • It is expected to roll out for consumers by 2030.
Features of 6G:
  • Higher millimeter-wave
  • Microsecond latency
  • Autonomous wireless systems
Working principle:
  • 6G will selectively use different frequencies to measure absorption and adjust frequencies accordingly. 
  • This is based on the phenomenon that atoms and molecules emit and absorb electromagnetic radiation at characteristic frequencies, and the emission and absorption frequencies are the same for any given substance.
 Goals of 6G networks:
  • Able to use higher frequencies than 5G networks
  • To provide substantially higher capacity
  • To support one microsecond-latency communication
  • Extremely high data rates per device
  • A very large number of connected devices
  • Global connectivity
  • Lowering the energy consumption with battery-free IoT devices
Need of 6G:
  • It can integrate a set of previously disparate technologies, including deep learning and big data analytics.
  • To handle IoT and mobile device data, strong relation has to be maintained between High Performance Computers (HPC) and 6G.
  • It will provide the communication and data gathering necessary to accumulate information.
Advantages:
  • Capacity of supporting data rate of 1 Terrabyte per second and latency will expand the scope of capabilities to support innovative applications in wireless connectivity, cognition, sensing and imaging.
  • 6G will have big implications for many government and industry approaches to public safety and critical asset protection such as:
    • Threat detection
    • Health monitoring
    • Feature and facial recognition
    • Decision-making in areas like law enforcement and social credit systems
    • Air quality measurements
    • Gas and toxicity sensing
Challenges of Implementing 6G Technology:
  • Terahertz (THz) Signal:
    • Generation of continuous THz signal is difficult and expensive because it has more strict requirements regarding size and has more complexity in designing the antenna/transmitter.
    • The energy loss of signal is too much.
  • Underwater Communication:
    • 6G is also aiming to provide underwater communication.
    • Radio signals are highly attenuated in salt water.
    • Therefore, acoustic communication is the only option for communication which is expensive.
  • Global Coverage:
    • 6G will rely on the low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite having a height of 500 to 2000 km from the orbit for providing global coverage.
    • LEO satellites travel very fast compared to the rotation of Earth. This leads to doppler variation and doppler shift in the network communication and cause random access, synchronization, signal detection, and signal measurement issues.
  • Heavy Computation:
    • 6G will combine communication with computation.
    • To solve that 6G will rely on new technologies such as edge computing, federated AI, etc.
    • However, implementing these technologies also has many sets of issues.
  • Lack of Technology:
    • The 6G has many promises to deliver, but hindered by underdeveloped real technology which could drastically advance 6G technology from 5G.
  • Artificial Technology:
    • 6G will be truly AI-driven mobile wireless communication.
    • Implementing AI in physical layer is difficult due to the complexity of the physical layer and bounded learning capacity of AI algorithms.
    UN Human Rights Council recognised access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right The UN Human Rights Council recognised access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right on 8th October 2021, to fight against climate change and its devastating consequences. Highlights:
  • The resolution was first discussed in the 1990s. The framework proposed by Costa Rica, the Maldives, Morocco, Slovenia, and Switzerland, was passed with 43 votes in favour and 4 abstentions from Russia, India, China, and Japan.
 
  • UNHRC consists of 47 members, elected yearly by the UN General Assembly for staggered three-year terms.
 
  • It has the potential to shape global standards towards the environment and human rights.
 
  • It will send a message to communities around the world struggling with climate hardship.
 
  • As per WHO, 24.3% of the global deaths, occur due to environmental risks like air pollution and chemical exposure.
            RUSSIAN PLANE CRASHES IN TATARSTAN REGION, 16 FEARED DEAD An L-410 plane crashed near a city in Tatarstan region, Russia recently. Tatarstan:
  • Tatarstan is a republic of Russia located in Eastern Europe.
 
  • It is a part of the Volga Federal District.
 
  • It is one of the most important cultural centres of Russia.
 
  • "Tatarstan" derives from the name of the ethnic group Tatars and stan means state.
      CHINA PLEDGED $233 MILLION INTO A NEW FUND TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DURING COP15 China pledged to inject $233 million into a new fund to protect biodiversity in developing countries during a key UN conservation summit, despite disagreements among major donors on the initiative.
  • The summit aims to establish a new accord setting out targets for 2030 and 2050.
‘30 by 30’ agenda:
  • A key proposal being debated at the conference is the “30 by 30” agenda that would afford 30% of the Earth’s land and oceans protected status by 2030.
  • Global spending to protect and restore nature needs to triple this decade to about $350 billion annually by 2030 and $536 billion by 2050 to meet this target.
  • Some rich country donors say a new fund for conservation is unnecessary because the United Nations’ Global Environment Facility already helps developing nations finance green projects.
    FACEBOOK STORM MAKES GOVT 'RETHINK' SAFE HARBOUR FOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS India is considering a "rethink" of the safe harbour framework enjoyed by social media platforms in the country.
  • This comes at a time when calls to further regulate Facebook have intensified across the world following revelations by whistle-blower Frances Haugen.
Key Facts:
  • India is closing in on 750 million internet users and is the largest market in terms of users for many technology giants, including Facebook.
  • Under Section 79 of the IT Act, intermediaries including social media firms get immunity from content posted on their platforms by third-party users.
  • India’s IT Rules, which were notified in May, put in place a mechanism for social media users to flag problematic content as soon as they see it and asks companies to submit compliance reports on such complaints each month.
    WATER PURIFIERS MUST MENTION WASTAGE, EFFICIENCY RATING: OFFICIALS The environment ministry has notified- 'Regulation on Use of Water Purification System (WPS)' for water purification systems which will come into effect 18 months from now.
  • The regulations follow the National Green Tribunal's advice to the environment ministry on May 20, 2019 that it should come out with regulation on appropriate use of RO-based water purification systems.
Highlights:
  • Manufacturers of Reverse Osmosis-based water purifiers will now have to rate their appliances on efficiency and water wastage.
  • Water supply agencies will have to declare the total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water being supplied.
  • The move is aimed at allowing consumers to make informed decisions on the kind of water purifier needed.
  • The water purifier will now come with a 'conformance label'-a star rating like label- declaring its efficiency level as well as water rejection/wastage levels.
 


POSTED ON 15-10-2021 BY ADMIN
Next previous