29 Aug 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Mission Net Zero
2. National Sports Day
3. ​​​​​​​Let’s Move Forward
4. ​​​​​​​World’s first prototype of the BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex fuel vehicle’ launched

1. Mission Net Zero

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment

Prelims: Mission Net Zero

Context: PM hails progress in Mission Net Zero as solar capacity increases 54x in the last 9 years.

Details:

• The Railways had posted on X that solar capacity increased 54x in the last 9 years. They informed that the solar power capacity commissioned till March 2014 was 3.68 MW whereas during 2014-23, 200.31 MW were commissioned.
• It Shows commendable progress in our commitment towards a greener future. 
• In just 9 years, India has enhanced our capacity significantly, taking significant strides towards.

Also read India’s Net Zero Plan.

2. National Sports Day

Syllabus: GS-2, Government Policies & Interventions 

Prelims: National Sports Day

Context: Prime Minister greets all sports persons on National Sports Day. Also pays homage to Major Dhyan Chand on his birth anniversary.

About National Sports Day:

• Every year, National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29 on the birth anniversary of Indian hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. 
• The Day has been dedicated to the great athlete and hockey player Dhyan Chand who won gold for the Indian Olympic thrice and was also known as The Wizard of hockey.
• National Sports Day was included in the list of celebratory days in India for the first time in 2012.
• National Sports Day 2023 Theme- The theme for  National Sports Day 2023 celebration is “Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society”.

3. Let’s Move Forward

Syllabus: GS-2, Education

Prelims: Let’s Move Forward

Context: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launches Comic Book Developed by NCERT and UNESCO “Let’s Move Forward”.

Details:

• This book will motivate students to prioritize holistic well-being while entertaining them through storytelling, with a key focus on good health and wellness. 
• Comic Book to impart  health education, prevent diseases, and enhance access to health services through wellness centres within educational institutions.
• Books will be accessible in 11 languages
• Good stories are extremely important for developing societal harmony and well-being.
• Shri Dharmendra Pradhan mentioned the importance of the partnership with UNESCO at the time of India’s G20 Presidency and the subject of FLN which can be spread with the help of comic books.
• He urged UNESCO to spread Indian stories so that it benefits not only the youth of India but that of the entire world. 
• ‘Explore’, ‘Experiment’ and ‘Experience’ are going to be of great significance.
• This comic book is a collaborative effort between the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and UNESCO New Delhi. 
• It signifies a significant stride towards augmenting the goals of the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP). 
• The SHWP, initiated under the Ayushman Bharat campaign in April ,2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is an initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 
• Its primary objective is to impart health education, prevent diseases, and enhance access to health services through wellness centres within educational institutions.

4. World’s first prototype of the BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex fuel vehicle’ launched

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment

Prelims: BS 6 Stage II

Context: World’s first prototype of the BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex fuel vehicle’ launched recently.

Details:

• This innovative vehicle is engineered to adhere to India’s stricter emission standards.
• India can utilise excess ethanol potential by promoting flex fuel vehicles.
• Highlighting the potential of Flex Fuel Vehicle Technologies in energy and automobile industry, the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, said that these vehicle technologies provide an opportunity of greater substitution of petrol by Ethanol as it is capable of using any of the higher blends of ethanol mix beyond 20%.
• The Prototype of World’s 1st BS-6 Stage-II, Electrified Flex fuel vehicle, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
• It introduces the world’s first BS 6 (Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle prototype, which has both the flex fuel engine as well as an electric powertrain, thereby offering higher use of ethanol combined with better fuel efficiencies. 
• With Industry and Government collaboration, we see India becoming a global hub for cleaner technologies and achieving self-reliance in energy soon.

Read the previous PIB articles here.