06 Jan 2022: PIB Summary & Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Green Energy Corridor Phase II
2. MoU between India and Nepal
3. South Asian Consultation on Post - 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
4. India’s First Open Rock Museum

1. Green Energy Corridor Phase II

Syllabus: GS 3, Economy, Energy

Prelims: About Green Energy Corridor Scheme

Mains: India’s progress towards an energy-efficient future

Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Phase-II of the Green Energy Corridor for Intra-State Transmission System. 

Green Energy Corridor Scheme (GEC): Aim 

• The scheme on Green Energy Corridor aims to achieve the target of 450GW installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. 

Important Facts related to the scheme:

• The Intra – State Transmission System under the GEC scheme will provide an additional transmission line with a transformation capacity of 27,500 Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) of the substations. 
• The green corridor project is monitored by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy through a Project Appraisal Committee and implemented by the respective State Transmission Utilities.
• The scheme will enable grid integration and power evacuation of 20 GW of renewable energy power projects in seven states namely, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. 
• 33% of the project cost will be funded through Central Financial Assistance which will also help in the offsetting of Intra-State Transmission charges. This will ensure low power costs benefiting the end-users. 
• The transmission systems will be created within a period of five years from the financial year starting from 2021-22 to 2025-26. 

Significance:

• This scheme will contribute to the expanded energy security of the country and promote ecologically sustainable growth by lowering the carbon footprint.
• It will generate large direct and indirect employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled personnel in power and other related sectors. 
• Phase – I of the Green Energy Corridor is already under implementation in states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu for grid integration and power evacuation. The 24 GW of renewable energy is expected to be completed by 2022. 

Also read about Energy Conservation in Perspective, Sansad TV.

2. MoU between India and Nepal

Syllabus: GS 2, International Relations, India and its Neighborhood – Relations 

Prelims: Facts about India – Nepal relationship

Mains: Government of India Initiatives to strengthen its bond with the neighbouring countries. 

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Nepal for the construction of a bridge over the Mahakali river at Dharchula. 

Significance:

• The unique friendship between India and Nepal will witness a new avenue of cooperation through connectivity by an open border and deep-rooted people to people contacts of kinship and culture. 
• This bridge will also symbolize the strong diplomatic ties between the two neighbours. 
• The people of Uttarakhand’s Dharchula area and Nepal will benefit in terms of mobility of goods and services. 

Read more about India – Nepal Relations in the linked article.

3. South Asian Consultation on Post – 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Syllabus: GS 3, Environment and Ecology, Conservation

Prelims: About Global Biodiversity Framework

Mains: Significance of Biodiversity Framework

Context: A two-day meeting of the South Asian Consultation on Global Biodiversity Framework has been held to extend the ambit of biodiversity conservation.

About the Consultation Meeting:

• The meeting has been attended by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan along with representatives from UNCBD, the Global Environment Facility and UNDP. 
• India conveyed a message for innovative financing methods from Global Environment Facility and the Convention on Biodiversity.
• Biodiversity is a major focus area that is mainstreamed in all sectors of economic development under the philosophy of “Development without Destruction”.
• It was highlighted in the meeting that India has joined over 75 countries that are part of the 30 by 30 High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People. 
• India is also putting efforts to increase the effectiveness of the Biological Diversity Act with a greater emphasis on the interests of the local community and promoting research in the field of biodiversity. 

Read more about Biodiversity in the linked article.

4. India’s First Open Rock Museum

Syllabus: GS 1, Geography, Geographical features and their location

Prelims: About the Rock Museum

Mains: India’s progress in the field of Geosciences

Context: The first unique open rock museum has been inaugurated by the Minister of State for the Ministry of Earth Sciences in Hyderabad which houses 35 different rocks from different parts of the country with ages ranging from 3.3 billion years to 55 million years of the Earth’s history to make people aware of the the lesser known facts about geo resources.

Significance:

• This initiative opens up a new avenue for India in the field of geosciences resulting in the self-reliance towards exploration of minerals along with deep-earth and near- surface explorations and their characteristics. 
• This will promote science and technology based initiatives and projects under the supervision of institutes like the CSIR– National Geophysical Research Institute(NGRI). NGRI is a constituent research laboratory of CSIR which was established in 1961to carry out research in the multidisciplinary areas of Earth Sciences.

Read previous PIB here.

January 6th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here