29 Jun 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
2. ABHYAS
3. India Forum for Nature-Based Solutions
4. Report on Future Penetration of Electric Two-Wheelers in the Indian Market
5. National Statistics Day

1. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

Syllabus: GS-3, Disaster Management; Disaster and disaster management.

Prelims: Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

Context:

Cabinet approves categorising the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as an ‘International Organization’.

Details:

• The Union Cabinet has approved the categorisation of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as an ‘International Organization’ and the signing of the Headquarters Agreement (HQA) with CDRI for granting it the exemptions, immunities and privileges as contemplated under the United Nations (Privileges & Immunities) Act, 1947.
• This move will provide it with an independent and international legal persona so that it can efficiently and effectively carry out its functions internationally.

2. ABHYAS

Syllabus: GS-3, Science and Technology;  Developing new technology.

Prelims: About ABHYAS

Context:

High speed Expendable Aerial Target – ABHYAS – successfully flight-tested off the Odisha coast.

Details:

• ABHYAS is designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of DRDO.
• The target aircraft is equipped with a micro-electromechanical systems-based inertial navigation system. 
• It also has a flight control computer for guidance and control along with a radio altimeter for very low-altitude flight and a data link for encrypted communication.
• The vehicle is programmed for fully autonomous flight.

3. India Forum for Nature-Based Solutions

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment; Conservation

Prelims: India Forum for Nature-based Solutions

Mains: Significance of India Forum for Nature-based Solutions

Context:

The National Institute of Urban Affairs’ (NIUA) Climate Centre for Cities (NIUA C-Cube), World Resources Institute India (WRI India) and their partners launched India’s first national coalition platform for urban nature-based solutions (NbS) at the 11th World Urban Forum in Poland.

Background:

• Ecosystem-based services and Nature-Based Solutions are fast emerging as cost-effective and sustainable ways to address climate change-induced challenges such as heat, urban flooding, air and water pollution and storm surges. 
• Apart from mitigating the impact of climate change, NbS also help in providing multiple ecosystem benefits along with addressing various societal challenges including creating resilience among the most vulnerable sections of urban communities that are most affected by climate change-induced disasters.

About the India Forum for Nature-based Solutions:

• It is India’s first national coalition platform for urban NbS.
• It aims to create a collective of NbS entrepreneurs, government entities and like-minded organisations, to help scale urban nature-based solutions by:
  • Defining a shared language and communicating benefits that inform actions at the local level including scaling up of existing NbS interventions.
  • Driving investment and strengthening delivery mechanisms through multi-stakeholder coordination.
  • Mainstreaming urban ecosystem-based services and nature-based solutions in India through informing policy, plans and project interventions.
• ‘India Forum for Nature-based Solutions’ is led by the National Institute of Urban Affairs’ Climate Centre for Cities (NIUA C-Cube) and anchored by World Resources Institute India (WRI India) under the Cities4Forests initiative. 
• It is supported by Caterpillar Foundation, the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Govt. of the United Kingdom and Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI).

4. Report on Future Penetration of Electric Two-Wheelers in the Indian Market

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment; Conservation

Mains: Details about the Future Penetration of Electric Two-Wheelers in the Indian Market report and its significance

Context:

NITI Aayog and TIFAC Launch Report on Future Penetration of Electric Two-Wheelers in the Indian Market.

Significance of the report:

• The report is titled ‘Forecasting Penetration of Electric Two-Wheelers in India’.
• A shift towards electric mobility is essential for India considering the high amount of petroleum imports, its adverse impact on the trade balance, valuable foreign exchange and the environment.
• It is also prudent to accelerate this shift keeping in mind the environmental hazards of continued use of non-renewable sources of energy and the pollution they cause.
• Since two-wheelers dominate the Indian road transport sector this segment deserves immediate attention. 
• The electric two-wheeler technology has now matured to a significant level and a number of manufacturers have come out in the market with saleable products. 
• In this context, a bottom-up estimation of future penetration of electric two-wheelers on yearly basis will help to have important insights into the required infrastructure, manufacturing capability, policies and technology development priorities. 

About the report:

• The study considers eight scenarios for predicting the future penetration of electric two-wheeler vehicles. The scenarios are:
  • Challenged Diffusion
  • Performance Driven
  • Low Battery Cost
  • Technology Driven
  • Incentive Driven
  • Battery Cost Challenged
  • Same Performance
  • Optimistic
• Highlights: 

• • In the ‘Technology Driven’ scenario, if an R&D programme manages to enhance the range and power of electric two-wheelers by 5% annually between FY 2023–24 and 2025–26, and by 10% in FY 2026–2027, then the penetration of electric-two wheelers may reach about 72% in FY 2031–32—even with no extension of demand incentives.
  • The sale of electric two-wheelers may cross 220 lakh units in FY 2028–29 under the ‘Optimistic’, ‘Same Performance’ and ‘Battery Cost Challenged’ scenarios. It may reach 180 lakh units under the ‘Technology-Driven’ scenario. Under the ‘Incentive Drive’ scenario, the sale is expected to reach only 55 lakh units in FY 2031.
  • If there is sufficient installed capacity of electric two-wheelers and charging infrastructure, then sale (which finally reaches about 250 lakh units) may at some point even surpass the production under the ‘Optimistic’, ‘Same Performance’ and ‘Battery Cost Challenged’ scenarios.

Image source: www.niti.gov.in

5. National Statistics Day

Syllabus: GS-3, Indian Economy; Planning 

Prelims: National Statistics Day

Context:

National Statistics Day was observed on June 29.

About National Statistics Day:

• Every year, 29th June is observed as ‘National Statistics Day’ in honour of eminent statistician Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis whose birth anniversary falls on this day.
• Theme of National Statistics Day 2022: Data for Sustainable Development

Know more about the National Statistics Day in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

June 29th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here