23 Apr 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

23 Apr 2024 PIB
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PLI ACC Scheme
2. C-DOT and IIT, Jodhpur sign agreement
3. AFMS & ICMR Sign MoU
4. New NCPOR study
5. World Energy Congress 2024

1. PLI ACC Scheme

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: PLI ACC Scheme

Context:

Ministry of Heavy Industries received seven bids against global tender for the selection of bidders to set up giga-scale Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) manufacturing facilities of cumulative 10 GWh capacity under the PLI ACC scheme.

Details:

• In May 2021, the Cabinet approved the technology-agnostic PLI Scheme on ‘National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage’ for achieving a manufacturing capacity of Fifty (50) Giga Watt hours (GWh) of ACC with an outlay of Rs.18,100 Crore. 
• The scheme envisages enhancing India’s manufacturing capabilities of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) by setting up giga-scale ACC and battery manufacturing facilities in India, emphasising maximum domestic value addition. This scheme will promote the Make in India initiative.
• It is expected to strengthen the ecosystem for Electric Mobility and Battery Storage in the country.
• The beneficiary firm has to ensure achieving a domestic value addition of at least 25% and raise it to 60% within 5 Years while also making the mandatory investment of Rupee 225 crore /GWh for committed capacity within 2 Years. 

What are Advanced Chemistry Cells?

• Advance Chemistry Cells (ACCs) are the new generation of advanced energy storage technologies that can store electric energy either as electrochemical or as chemical energy and convert it back to electric energy as and when required.

2. C-DOT and IIT, Jodhpur sign agreement

Syllabus: GS-3, Science and technology

Prelims: C-DOT

Context:

C-DOT and IIT, Jodhpur signed an agreement for “Automated Service Management in Network of 5G and beyond Using AI”.

Details:

• The agreement is signed under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) of the DoT, which is designed to provide funding support to domestic companies and institutions involved in technology design, development, and commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions to enable affordable broadband and mobile services in rural and remote areas.
• Objective: To develop AI frameworks for automated network management, fault detection, and diagnostic techniques by utilizing continuous information generated within networks like 5G. 
• The service will establish a real-time 5G and Beyond testbed (in compliance with O-RAN) for the demonstration of the developed automated network management and slicing techniques in conjunction with specific application use cases such as smart metering, remotely operated vehicles, etc.

3. AFMS & ICMR Sign MoU

Syllabus: GS-3, Science and Technology

Prelims: ICMR

Context:

AFMS & ICMR join hands to undertake biomedical research for the Armed Forces.

Details:

• The MoU aims to undertake cooperative and collaborative activities, in the field of biomedical research and academics, which will address multidisciplinary scientific, technological and educational problems of relevance to the country and the Armed Forces.
• AFMS and ICMR have joined hands for health research in High Altitude, Battle-related trauma/Post-traumatic stress disorder, Aerospace medicine, Infectious diseases and other health issues faced by Armed Forces Personnel.
• Under the ambit of this MoU, various joint academic activities are also planned, including opportunities for AFMS officers to register for PhD under the ICMR-AcSIR PhD programme.

4. New NCPOR study

Syllabus: GS-2, Geography; GS-3, S&T

Prelims: NCPOR

Mains: Reasons for the extremely low sea ice cover in the Antarctic

Context:

A new NCPOR study attempts to resolve the Mystery of extremely low sea ice cover in the Antarctic.

Details:

• A study led by a researcher at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey, United Kingdom, reported the conditions that led to unprecedented hindrances in Antarctic ice expansion and ice retreat ahead of the annual ice maximum in 2023. 

Background: 

• In light of global warming, the Arctic has witnessed a significant loss of sea ice in the past decade, while the Antarctic experienced a moderate increase until 2015 followed by a sudden decrease since 2016. 
• Notably, the Antarctic saw extremely low sea ice conditions during each summer from 2016 to 2023, with unprecedented slow ice expansion or retreat in 2023. 
• The underlying cause of the observed sea ice changes remained a crucial question both for the scientific community and policymakers. 

Findings of the study:

• The findings suggest the excessive upper-ocean heat contributed to reducing the ice expansion in 2023, but the atmospheric circulation changes were considerable and played an important role. 
• The change in wind patterns such as the extremely deep Amundsen Sea Low and its eastward shift resulted in a strong northerly flow across the Weddell Sea. 
• The northerly wind gave record atmospheric warming and forced the ice edge to remain southward from its usual position.
• An impact of exceptional ocean-atmospheric warming and changes in winds, combined with heat fluxes, extreme winds and high ocean waves associated with polar cyclones (storms), contributed to the record low ice conditions in the Antarctic. 
• In particular, cyclones caused episodes of exceptional slow ice expansion or even retreat.

5. World Energy Congress 2024

Syllabus: GS-3, Energy

Prelims: World Energy Congress 2024

Context:

India at World Energy Congress 2024.

Details:

• India is showcasing its innovative technologies and power generation practices, at the 26th World Energy Congress, being held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from 22nd April 2024 to 25th April 2024.
• The India Pavilion at the Congress aims to be a hub for showcasing innovative technologies and power generation practices, reinforcing India’s commitment to environmental conservation on the global stage.
• The participants at the India Pavilion are Central Public Sector Enterprises under the Ministry of Power, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.

World Energy Congress:

• The 26th World Energy Congress is expected to be a critical turning point for leadership on clean and inclusive energy transitions worldwide. 
• Themed ‘Redesigning Energy for People and Planet’, the four-day gathering marks the World Energy Council’s centenary in world energy. 
• According to the Council, the Congress seeks to explore the role of connected energy societies in driving forward global energy transitions in a world context which is less predictable, more turbulent and faster-shifting.

World Energy Council India:

• World Energy Council India is a country member of the World Energy Council (WEC), a global body established in 1923, to promote sustainable supply and use of energy. 
• WEC India is one of the earliest country members of the World Energy Council, having joined the Council in 1924. 
• WEC India functions under the patronage of the Ministry of Power, Government of India and with the support of the Ministries of Coal, New & Renewable Energy, Petroleum & Natural Gas and External Affairs.

Read previous PIB articles here.