16 Aug 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PM-eBus Sewa
2. Meri Maati Mera Desh Compaign
3. ICAR-CIFA
4. INS Vindhyagiri

1. PM-eBus Sewa

Syllabus: GS-2, Govt schemes

Prelims: PM-eBus Sewa

Context:

Union Cabinet approved the PM-eBus Sewa.

About the PM-eBus Sewa:

• The PM-eBus Sewa intends to augment city bus services with 10000 e-buses on a PPP model.
• The estimated cost of the scheme is Rs.57,613 crore, out of which support of Rs.20,000 crore will be provided by the Central government. The Scheme will support bus operations for 10 years.
• Who will the scheme cover?
  • The scheme will cover cities of 3 lakh and above population as per the census 2011 including all the capital cities of Union Territories, North Eastern Region and Hill States. Under this scheme, priority will be given to cities having no organized bus service.
• The scheme is expected to generate 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs.
• There are two segments to the scheme:
  • Segment A – Augmenting the City bus services (169 cities): The approved bus scheme will augment city bus operations with 10,000 e-buses on a PPP model.
  • Segment B – Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI) (181 cities): The scheme envisages green initiatives like bus priority, infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, NCMC-based Automated Fare Collection Systems, Charging infrastructure, etc.
• Benefits of the PM-eBus Sewa:
  • Promote e-mobility and provide full support for behind-the-meter power infrastructure.
  • Under GUMI, infrastructure for charging will be developed in cities.
  • Foster innovation in the e-mobility sector including for high-efficiency e-buses.
  • Help develop a resilient supply chain for the electric vehicles segment.
  • Bring in economies of scale for procurement of electric buses through aggregation for e-buses.
  • Help reduce air and noise pollution and curb carbon emissions through the adoption of EV technology.
  • Increased share of bus-based transportation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Meri Maati Mera Desh Compaign

Syllabus: GS-2, Governance

Prelims: Meri Maati Mera Desh Compaign

Context:

The Govt of India has launched the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh Compaign’ as a continuation of the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ Campaign:

• The ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign started on 9th August, with scheduled programs until Independence Day on 15th August 2023. 
• Subsequently, events will take place from 16th to 30th August when the closing ceremony will take place in New Delhi.
• This campaign aims to honour the brave freedom fighters and bravehearts who sacrificed their lives for the country. 
• The campaign will include various programs across the country to remember the bravehearts (Veers). 
• Shilaphalakams (memorial plaques) commemorating them will be installed in gram panchayats, close to Amrit Sarovars. 

3. ICAR-CIFA

Syllabus: GS-2, Govt institutions

Prelims: ICAR-CIFA

About ICAR-CIFA:

• The Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) is a premier research institute on freshwater aquaculture in the country under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• The institute originated in the Pond Culture Division of the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) at Cuttack in 1949.
• To enhance operations, CIFRI establish the Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Training Centre (FARTC) campus at Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar which became the CIFA in 1987 after developing full capacity.
• The Institute is also the Lead Centre on ‘Carp Farming in India’ under the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) operative under the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
• The institute is engaged in research for developing sustainable and diversified freshwater aquaculture practices for enhanced productivity, quality, water use efficiency and farm income.
• Functions of CIFA:
  • Basic and strategic research for the development of sustainable culture systems for freshwater finfish and shellfish
  • Species and systems diversification in freshwater aquaculture
  • Human Resource Development through training, education and extension

4. INS Vindhyagiri

Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: INS Vindhyagiri

Context:

Entire 4000 Tonnes special steel for Indigenous Frigate Ship “Vindhyagiri” supplied by SAIL.

About INS Vindhyagiri:

• INS Vindhyagiri is the sixth ship of Project 17A of the Indian Navy. 
• The frigate is named after the mountain range in Karnataka.
• It is built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers Limited.
• These warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems. 
• It is a technologically advanced Frigate that pays a befitting tribute to the distinguished service of its predecessor, the erstwhile INS Vindhyagiri, the Leander Class ASW Frigate.
• Project 17A ships have been designed in-house by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, the pioneer organisation for all warship design activities.

Read more on Project 17A in the linked article.

Read the previous PIB articles here.