07 Feb 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India will become largest source of global oil demand growth: IEA
2. India's First Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility
3. NITI Aayog and the Netherlands Release Report
4. Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of India
5. Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC)
6. PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI) Scheme

1. India will become largest source of global oil demand growth: IEA

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: IEA

Mains: Oil demand in India

Context:

India will become the largest source of global oil demand growth between now and 2030: IEA.

Details:

• A report titled ‘Indian Oil Market Outlook to 2030’ released at the second edition of India Energy Week 2024 reveals India will become the largest global oil demand growth source between now and 2030.
• It also says that India’s role in global oil markets is expected to expand substantially over the remainder of the decade, fuelled by strong economic growth, population and demographics.
• Urbanisation, industrialisation, the emergence of a wealthier middle class keen on mobility and tourism, plus efforts to achieve greater access to clean cooking will lead to the expansion in oil demand.
• The report found that massive industrial expansion means that diesel/gasoil is the single largest source of oil demand growth, accounting for almost half of the rise in the nation’s demand and more than one-sixth of total global oil demand growth through to 2030.
• Further, the report said that combined, new EVs and energy efficiency improvements will avoid 480 kb/d of extra oil demand in the 2023-2030 period.
• Biofuels are also expected to play a key role in India’s decarbonisation of the transport sector. 
• India’s ethanol blending rate of around 12% is amongst the world’s highest, and the country has advanced by five years its deadline for doubling nationwide ethanol blending in gasoline to 20% in Q4 2026.

2. India’s First Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility

Syllabus: GS-3, Science and technology

Prelims: Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility

Context:

India’s first Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility has been successfully established and tested by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK).

Details:

• This is a major achievement that puts India amongst a handful of countries with this advanced hypersonic testing capability.
• The development of the facility was supported by the Fund for Improvement in S&T Infrastructure (FIST) of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) with a sum of Rs 4.5 Crores in 2018.
• The facility was developed by the Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory at the Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur.
• It is capable of generating flight speeds between 3-10 km/s, simulating the hypersonic condition. 
• Named S2, it was indigenously designed and developed and is a valuable test facility for ongoing missions of ISRO and DRDO including Gaganyaan, RLV and hypersonic cruise missiles.
• The implementation of the Hypersonic Test Facility in India will enable more aerospace engineers and researchers to pursue hypersonic research. 

3. NITI Aayog and the Netherlands Release Report3

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment

Prelims: ‘LNG as a Transportation Fuel in Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle’ Report

Context:

NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands released a report titled ‘LNG as a Transportation Fuel in Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle’ at India Energy Week.

Background:

• NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the Netherlands have been actively collaborating in the field of energy transition under the Statement of Intent (SoI) partnership since 2020. 
• The report was released as the first outcome of the cooperation. 

Details:

• The report explores different challenges and barriers to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) adoption in India and recommends a roadmap of actionable solutions. 
• The report further highlights the need for the development of a transparent implementation framework for these recommendations, driven by near-term goals of demand creation and market seeding.

Image source: niti.gov.in

4. Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of India

Syllabus: GS-2, Health

Prelims: MMR in India

Mains: Steps taken by the government to reduce MMR

Context:

MMR of India declined from 384 in 2000 to 103 in 2020: UN MMEIG 2020 report.

Details:

• The average annual rate of reduction (ARR) in global MMR during the 2000-2020 periods was 2.07% while India’s MMR has declined by 6.36%, which is higher than the global decline.
• The Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG) provides global estimates of MMR.

Steps taken by the government to reduce MMR and related issues:

• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan: Scheme provides fixed-day, free-of-cost, assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care on the 9th day of every month, universally to all pregnant women in their 2nd / 3rd trimesters of pregnancy.
• Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) 
• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK): Scheme entitles every pregnant woman to free delivery including for caesarean section, in public health institutions along with the provision of free transport, diagnostics, medicines, other consumables, diet and blood (if required).
• LaQshya (Quality Improvement Initiatives)
• Monthly Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND)
• Outreach camps in rural 
• Health and wellness centres
• MCP Card and Safe Motherhood Booklets
• Information Education & Communication (IEC)/Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) campaigns
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
• Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0

5. Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC)

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy; GS-2, Governance

Prelims: Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC)

Context:

In a first, Fair Price Shops on-boards on Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC).

Details:

• The Government of India launched a pilot to on-board the Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in Una and Hamirpur districts of Himachal Pradesh on the Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC). 
• This is the first time when Fair Price Shops are on-boarded on ONDC.
• This effort aims at providing additional avenues of income generation for FPS dealers along with enhancing beneficiary satisfaction.
• Benefits for FPS dealers:
  • Visibility in the digital marketplace
  • Access to a larger customer base beyond NFSA beneficiaries
  • Ability to compete on an equal footing with large retailers and e-commerce platforms
• Beneficiaries who face difficulties in making online purchases can approach the FPS dealer to make online orders on their behalf.
• The pilot will serve as a model for statewide and nationwide adoption in the future. 

6. PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI) Scheme

Syllabus: GS-3, Science & technology

Prelims: PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI) Scheme

Context:

The Union Cabinet in January 2024 approved the overarching scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” of the Ministry of Earth Sciences for implementation during the period 2021-26 at an overall cost of Rs. 4797 crores.

Details:

• The PRITHVI scheme encompasses five ongoing sub-schemes namely:-
  • Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS).
  • Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART).
  • Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER).
  • Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE).
  • Research, Education, Training and Outreach (REACHOUT).
• The overarching scheme of PRITHVI holistically addresses all five components of the Earth system namely the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, cryosphere and biosphere to improve the understating of the Earth System Sciences and to provide reliable services for the country.

Read more on the PRITHVI Scheme in CNA dated Jan 6, 2024.

Read previous PIB articles here.