TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. ISA and WAPP 2. India - France Strategic Partnership 3. Operation Dost 4. Presidents Colour to Haryana Police 5. Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
1. ISA and WAPP
Syllabus – GS2, Important International Institutions.
Prelims – International Solar Alliance (ISA), West African Power Pool (WAPP)
Context – India is hosting delegates from the West African Region for knowledge sharing in solar energy implementation.
Details –
- The International Solar Alliance (ISA), in association with the Grid Controller of India Ltd (Grid India) and the West African Power Pool (WAPP) is hosting delegates from the West African Region in New Delhi, India in February 2023.
- Sixty participants from 13 WAPP countries will participate in a knowledge-sharing and study tour highlighting aspects of solar energy implementation.
- The 13 WAPP countries include – Burkina Faso, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana, Gambia, Mali, Liberia, Nigeria, Niger, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.
- India’s journey in energy has been comprehensive, satisfying and thrown up experiences that are beneficial for the growth of energy ecosystems in the world. The challenge is to make energy available for 800 million people across the world and give them a better standard of living.
- There is a need to encourage capacity building and disseminating best practices to increase solar deployment worldwide. In collaboration with Grid India and WAPP, this programme will strengthen the solar ecosystems in all ISA member countries.
- Today India has 60GW solar capacity and 42 GW of wind capacity. Also, India has reached 32% instantaneous MW penetration of wind and solar.
- This knowledge-sharing and study tour is the first step towards creating a long-lasting partnership and collaboration between WAPP and India.
- By 2040, Africa will account for one-fourth of the world population and therefore, the demand for electricity is increasing. The challenge is to promote integrated economic development and provide energy for all.
Read more about ISA in the linked article – International Solar Alliance.
2. India – France Strategic Partnership
Syllabus – GS2, Bilateral Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Prelims – Air India – Airbus Partnership.
Context – Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in a video call with the President of France, H.E Emmanuel Macron on the occasion of the launch of a partnership between Air India and Airbus.
Details –
- Shri Modi thanked President Macron for this partnership and said that this deal will take India – France relationship a step forward.
- Air India (owned by Tata Group) and Airbus (France) signed a contract for the supply of 250 aircraft, 210 single-aisle A320 neos and 40 widebody A350s to Air India.
- The rapid expansion and growth of the civil aviation market in India will give a boost to the greater connectivity between India and the rest of the world, thereby increasing tourism and business.
- This commercial partnership between two players in the aviation sector also displays the strength of the India-France strategic partnership, which marks its 25th anniversary this year.
- Recently, French aerospace engine manufacturer SAFRAN decided to set up its largest MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) facility in India to serve aircraft engines for both Indian and international carriers.
Syllabus – GS2, International Relations
Prelims – Operation Dost initiated by GoI.
Context – Operation Dost – to extend assistance to Turkey and Syria, nations hit by intense earthquakes.
Details –
- India is providing assistance to the two countries in the spirit of its age-old tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
- Under Operation Dost, Emergency Relief Materials comprising life-saving medicines, protective items and critical care equipment valued at over Rs. 7 crores have been promptly dispatched to Turkey and Syria.
- On February 6, earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria
4. Presidents Colour to Haryana Police
Syllabus – Miscellaneous – Awards and Honours
Prelims – Presidents Colour to the Haryana Police Force.
Context – Shri Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation presented the “Presidents Colour” to the Haryana Police in Karna, in recognition of its exceptional services.
Details –
- The President’s Colour is a special flag given to a military, paramilitary or police unit as a mark of recognition for its services which replica of the flag presented to the unit can be worn as an insignia by all officers and ranks of the force on their uniform.
- Haryana police is one of the ten state police forces of the country to receive the highest honour – Presidents Colour.
- Indian Navy was the first one to receive this honour in 1951 and since then, 10 State Police Forces, and several Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been presented with the President’s Colour.
- Uttar Pradesh Police was the first state police force to receive the award from then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1952 followed by Delhi Police (1954), Maharashtra Police (1961), J&K Police (2003), Tamil Nadu Police (2009), Tripura Police (2012), Gujarat Police (2019), Himachal Pradesh Police (2021) and Assam Police (2022).
5. Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
Syllabus – GS2, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors.
Prelims – Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
Context – Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana to provide skills to youth in Railway Training Institutes.
Details –
- Under Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana, a skill development programme for youth, the Indian Railways impart technical training in various trades to enhance their employability and entrepreneurship.
- The training commenced in September 2021 on a pan-India basis. So far, 23,181 candidates have been enrolled under RKVY and 15,665 candidates have completed their training.
- Under this scheme, training is imparted in 14 industry-relevant technical trades like welder, technician, electrician, etc. The training is imparted at 94 training locations.
- For monitoring the scheme, there is a dedicated website.
Read the previous PIB articles here.
February 14th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here
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