14 Feb 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Aatmanirbharta in Defence
2. AHIDF Scheme
3. Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA)
4. Scheme Guidelines for Pilot Projects on Use of Green Hydrogen in Transport Sector

1. Aatmanirbharta in Defence

Syllabus: GS-3, Defence

Mains: indigenisation of defence manufacturing

Context:

MoD signed a contract with Advanced Weapon Equipment India Ltd. (AWEIL), Kanpur.

Details:

• The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Advanced Weapon Equipment India Ltd. (AWEIL), Kanpur for the manufacturing & supply of a total of 463 indigenously manufactured 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote Control Guns (SRCG) for the Indian Navy & the Indian Coast Guard. 
• Total cost – Rs. 1752.13 crores
• The manufactured equipment will have more than 85% Indigenous Content (IC).
• The SRCG will enhance the capability of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard to accurately engage small targets that pose a threat to ships in an asymmetric environment, both during the day and night.

2. AHIDF Scheme

Syllabus: GS-3, Agriculture

Prelims: AHIDF Scheme

Context:

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying launched the realigned AHIDF Scheme.

Background:

• The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) scheme was launched in June 2020 by the Prime Minister under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan Initiative. 
• The scheme incentivises investments by individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSMEs, Farmers’ Producers Organizations (FPOs) and Section 8 companies to establish 
  • The dairy processing and value-addition infrastructure
  • Meat processing and value-addition infrastructure
  • Animal Feed Plant
• According to the government, the scheme’s performance has been commendable with Rs. 8903 crores worth of investments received and about 15 lakh jobs created.

Realigned AHIDF scheme:

• Now, the scheme has been realigned and slated for implementation for the next three years.
• Features of the realigned scheme:
  • Interest Subvention of 3% payable up to 8 years
  • Individuals, FPO, Dairy Cooperatives, Private Companies, Section 8 companies, MSMEs will be benefited
  • Credit guarantee cover up to 25% of the term loan.
  • No ceiling on the loan amount
  • Loan up to 90% of the estimated/actual project cost
  • Dovetailing with capital subsidy schemes of other ministries or state-level schemes
  • Ease of application process through online portal www.ahidf.udaymimitra.in.

Read more on the AHIDF scheme in the link.

3. Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA)

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity & Governance

Prelims: Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA)

Context:

The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA), Chennai started a national campaign to achieve 100% farm registration in the country from Nagapattinam.

Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA):

• The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) was established under the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005.
• The CAA regulates the activities connected with coastal aquaculture in coastal areas and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. 
• The main objective of the Authority is to regulate coastal aquaculture activities in coastal areas to ensure sustainable development without causing damage to the coastal environment. 
• The Authority is empowered to make regulations for the construction and operation of aquaculture farms in coastal areas, inspection of farms to ascertain their environmental impact, registration of aquaculture farms, fix standards for inputs and effluents, remove or demolition of coastal aquaculture farms, which cause pollution, etc.
• It is under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GOI.
• It is situated in Chennai.

4. Scheme Guidelines for Pilot Projects on Use of Green Hydrogen in Transport Sector

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment

Prelims: Green Hydrogen

Mains: Alternative fuels for transport sector

Context:

The Government of India has come out with guidelines for undertaking pilot projects for using Green Hydrogen in the transport sector. 

Details:

• The “Scheme Guidelines for implementation of Pilot Projects for use of Green Hydrogen in the Transport Sector” were issued by the ​​Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Background:

• With the falling costs of renewable energy and electrolyzers, it is expected that vehicles based on green hydrogen can become cost-competitive over the next few years. 
• Future economies of scale and rapid technological advancements in the field of vehicles powered by hydrogen are likely to further improve the viability of transport based on green hydrogen.

Pilot Project for Replacing Fossil Fuels with Green Hydrogen & Its Derivatives in Transport Sector:

• The scheme will support the development of technologies for the use of Green Hydrogen as a fuel in Buses, Trucks and 4-wheelers, based on fuel cell-based propulsion technology/internal combustion engine-based propulsion technology. 
• The other thrust area for the scheme is to support the development of infrastructure such as hydrogen refuelling stations.
• These pilot projects will be implemented through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Scheme Implementing Agencies (SIAs) nominated under this Scheme.
• The scheme will also seek to support any other innovative use of hydrogen for reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector, such as blending methanol/ethanol based on green hydrogen and other synthetic fuels derived from green hydrogen in automobile fuels.
• Total budgetary outlay – Rs. 496 Crores 
• Scheme will be implemented till the financial year 2025-26.

Significance of the scheme:

• It will lead to the development of necessary infrastructure including refuelling facilities and distribution infrastructure, resulting in the establishment of a Green Hydrogen ecosystem in the transport sector. 
• With the expected reduction in the Green Hydrogen production cost over the years, the utilization in the transport sector is expected to increase.

Read previous PIB articles here.