19 Aug 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Green Hydrogen
2. New Variety Lotus Flower
3. Sports News

1. Green Hydrogen

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment & Ecology

Prelims: Green Hydrogen

Context:

India announced a definition of green hydrogen.

Details:

• The government has notified the Green Hydrogen Standard for India. 
• The standard issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India outlines the emission thresholds that must be met in order for hydrogen produced to be classified as ‘Green’, i.e., from renewable sources. 
• The scope of the definition encompasses both electrolysis-based and biomass-based hydrogen production methods.
• According to the standard, green hydrogen will have a well-to-gate emission (i.e., including water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, drying and compression of hydrogen) of not more than 2 kg CO2 equivalent/kg H2.
• The notification specifies that a detailed methodology for measurement, reporting, monitoring, on-site verification, and certification of green hydrogen and its derivatives shall be specified by the MNRE.
• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power shall be the Nodal Authority for accreditation of agencies for the monitoring, verification and certification of Green Hydrogen production projects.

Read more on green hydrogen in the linked article.

2. New Variety Lotus Flower

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment & Ecology

Prelims: New variety Lotus flower; CSIR-NBRI

Context:

New variety “Lotus” flower developed by Lucknow Institute CSIR-NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute).

About the new variety lotus flower:

• The new variety of lotus developed by the NBRI has been named ‘Namoh 108’.
• The Namoh 108 lotus variety flowers from March to December and is rich in nutrients. 
• This is the first lotus variety whose genome is completely sequenced for its characteristics.
• A new variety of Aloe vera named ‘NBRI-Nihar’ was also released.
  • It has approximately 2.5 times high gel yield in comparison to Aloe vera.
  • It is found least affected against bacterial and fungal diseases.

About National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI):

• • The CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) is a constituent research institute of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
  • Originally set up as the National Botanic Gardens (NBG) by the State Government of Uttar Pradesh, it was taken over by the CSIR in 1953.
  • It was renamed to its current name in 1978.
  • It is situated in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

• Objectives:

• • Basic and applied research on plant diversity and prospection, plant-environment interaction and biotechnological approaches for plant improvement.
  • Development of technologies for new plant and microbial sources of commercial importance.
  • Building up germplasm repository of plants of indigenous and exotic origin, including rare, endangered and threatened species.
  • Providing expertise and assistance for identification, supply and exchange of plants and propagules, garden layout and landscaping.
  • Dissemination of scientific knowledge and technologies on plants and microbial resources through publications, training, capacity building and extension activities.

3. Sports News

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Prelims: Sports updates regarding India

Context:

Indian women’s wrestling team won the 2023 U-20 World Championships.

Details:

• The team won the championship winning 7 medals including 3 golds.

Read the previous PIB articles here.