01 Apr 2024 PIB
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Defence Exports
2. IMD’s Latest Outlook for the Weather
3. SKOCH ESG Award 2024

1. Defence Exports

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy; Defence

Mains: Defence exports from India, Defence manufacturing in India

Context:

Defence exports touch record levels.

Details:

• Defence exports reached an all-time high of Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24.

• This indicates a growth of 32.5% over the last fiscal when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore. 

• The recent figures indicate that the defence exports have grown 31 times in the last 10 years compared to FY 2013-14. 
• The private sector and the DPSUs have contributed about 60% and 40% respectively.
• There has also been a rise in the number of export authorisations issued to the defence exporters during FY 2023-24 (from 1,414 in FY 2022-23 to 1,507 in FY 2023-24).
• This growth reflects the global acceptability of Indian defence products and technologies

 

2. IMD’s Latest Outlook for the Weather

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment and Ecology

Prelims: IMD

Mains: Climate change in India, factors affecting Indian weather conditions

Context:

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an updated seasonal outlook for the hot weather season (April to June) 2024 and the monthly outlook for April 2024 for rainfall and temperature.

Details:

• According to the report, during the upcoming hot weather season (April to June), above Normal maximum Temperatures are likely over most parts of the country, especially with high probability over central India and western peninsular India.
• Normal to below normal maximum temperatures are likely over some parts of the western Himalayan region, NE states and north Odisha during this hot weather season.
• For the month of April 2024, above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country. However, isolated pockets of east, northeast and northwest India are likely to experience normal to below-normal maximum temperatures.
• During the April-May-June hot weather season, above-normal heatwave days are likely to occur over most parts of the southern peninsula, central India, east India and plains of northwest India.
• During April 2024, above-normal heatwave days are likely over many parts of the southern peninsula and adjoining northwest central India and some parts of east India and plains of northwest India.
• The rainfall during April 2024, averaged over the country as a whole, is most likely to be normal (88-112% of LPA). 
• Normal to above-normal rainfall is likely over most parts of northwest India and many parts of central India, north peninsular India, and some parts of east and northeast India. 
• Below-normal rainfall is likely along the east and west coasts, some parts of east and northeast India and west central India.
• A transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral is expected by April-June 2024 and thereafter, La Niña is favoured in June-August 2024.

Impact of heatwave:

• During heatwaves, elevated temperatures pose significant risks, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, who are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. 
• Prolonged periods of extreme heat can lead to dehydration and strain infrastructure such as power grids and transportation systems. 

Measures taken by NDMA to combat the heatwave:

• Comprehensive Mitigation Framework
• NDMA Manual on Cool Roof: technologies to reduce indoor temperature
• Advanced Meteorological Services and operational forecasts for temperature, wind, humidity, and heat index to inform mitigation strategies
• Ecosystem and Water Management: green cover, water bodies
• Making Heat Action Plans more dynamic and adaptive
• Integrating Heatwave Mitigation in Urban Planning: cool roofs, greenery, and water conservation as key facets, changes in building codes and bye-laws
• Technological solutions: Construction technology, monitoring system
• All 23 heatwave-prone States/ UTs have prepared heat action plans based on NDMA guidelines.

 

3. SKOCH ESG Award 2024

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: SKOCH ESG Award, REC

Context:

REC won the SKOCH ESG Award 2024 in the Renewable Energy Financing Category.

Details:

• REC was bestowed with the SKOCH ESG Award 2024 in the ‘Renewable Energy Financing’ category. 
• The award underscores REC’s dedication to sustainable financing, paving the way for a greener future and accelerating the transition to renewable energy.
• Through various initiatives and achievements, REC has committed to numerous sustainable projects and signed various MOUs for green projects.
• REC anticipates a significant expansion in its renewable energy portfolio, with projections indicating growth to 10 times its present value, reaching more than Rs. 3 lakh crores by 2030, representing approximately 30% of its Assets Under Management.

SKOCH ESG Awards:

• The SKOCH ESG Awards recognize organizations that demonstrate outstanding performance in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. 
• The SKOCH ESG Award and Assessment serves as an important benchmark for evaluating organizations’ commitment to India 2047. 
• It focuses on the interplay between sustainable investments and processes in shaping a sustainable and growing business future.

About REC:

• REC is a ‘Maharatna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and is registered with RBI as a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), and Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC). 
• REC finances the entire Power-Infrastructure sector comprising Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Renewable Energy and new technologies like Electric Vehicles, Battery Storage, Pumped Storage Projects, Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia projects. 
• Recently, REC has also diversified into the Non-Power Infrastructure sector comprising Roads & Expressways, Metro Rail, Airports, IT Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure (Educational Institutions, Hospitals), Ports and Electro-Mechanical (E&M) works in respect of various other sectors like Steel and Refinery.

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