26 Jul 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. New Schemes in PPP mode
2. FAME India Scheme
3. MoU between ONGC and M/s Geenko ZeroC Private Limited

1. New Schemes in PPP mode

Syllabus: GS 3, Agriculture; e-Technology in the aid of farmers.

Prelims: Agricultural Schemes of the Govt.

Context – Steering Committee constituted on various initiatives being undertaken, especially India Digital Ecosystem in Agriculture (IDEA) and the proposed Agristack.

(This information was provided by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in Lok Sabha).

Details:

• A Steering Committee has been constituted comprising experts from different ministries of GoI, fields/domains, educational and research institutes, private tech players and other stakeholders for advising on various initiatives that are being undertaken, especially India Digital Ecosystem in Agriculture (IDEA) and the proposed Agristack, including implementation experiences across different fields and sectors.
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare had organised a Digital Agricultural Stakeholder Consultation to create a vision of a Public Private Partnership for the delivery of digital and high-tech services to farmers.
• Drone Technologies in Agriculture – The Department has released the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for use of drones in pesticide and nutrient applications.
  • Under Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM), financial assistance @100 % for the purchase of agri drones and their attachments (actual cost of expenditure and its attachments or Rs 10 lakhs, whichever is lower) along with contingent expenditure is provided to make this technology affordable to farmers.
• Under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR, 2018-19), a component called “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” has been launched. Its objective is to promote innovation and agri entrepreneurship by providing financial assistance and nurturing the incubation ecosystem.
• Under the project, National Agriculture Innovation Fund (NAIF), 2016-17, the ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) supports agri-based start-ups. It has two components-
  • Component 1 (Innovation Fund) – it provides a single window mechanism to manage innovation, showcase intellectual assets, pursue matters related to Intellectual Property (IP) management and transfer/commercialisation of technologies in these institutes.
  • Component 2 (Incubation Fund and National Coordinating Unit (NCU )- Agri Business Incubator Centres (ABICs) are set up to speed up the delivery of technology to stakeholders.

2. FAME India Scheme

Syllabus: GS 3, Environment; Environmental pollution and degradation 

Prelims: FAME, Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India.

Mains: Government interventions to promote the EV industry in India

Details:

• Phase 2 of FAME India proposes to give a push to Electric Vehicles (EVs) in public transport and encourage the adoption of EVs by way of market creation and demand aggregation.
• The scheme envisaged the holistic growth of the EV industry including providing charging infrastructure and pushing towards indigenisation.
• Also, a draft National Automotive Policy has been prepared by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) which is holistic in nature and addresses the interests of the Automotive Industry in meeting the objectives of the Auto-Mission Plan, 2016- 2026.
• Under FAME India Scheme 1&2, a total of 532 charging stations have been installed.

3. MoU between ONGC and M/s Geenko ZeroC Private Limited

Syllabus: GS 3, Environment; Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation.

Prelims: Green Hydrogen

Context – ONGC to make Green Hydrogen.

Details:

• Energy major, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) signed an MoU with M/s Greenko ZeroC Private Limited to jointly pursue opportunities in Renewable Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia and other derivatives of Green Hydrogen.
• This MoU is in line with the National Hydrogen Mission launched by Hon’ble PM in making India a global green hydrogen hub.
• This MoU will also act as a stepping stone for ONGC to achieve renewable energy targets as per its energy strategy 2040.

Also read: Green Hydrogen Policy 2022

Read previous PIB here.

July 26th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here