01 Mar 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Bureau of Energy Efficiency
2. Intense Geomagnetic Storm of April 2023
3. Project ODISERV
4. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
5. Exercise Samudra Laksamana
6. Historic Resolution on Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles
7. National Birth Defect Awareness Month 2024
8. Prelims Facts

1. Bureau of Energy Efficiency

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity & Governance

Prelims: Bureau of Energy Efficiency

Context:

22nd Foundation Day of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency celebrated.

About the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has been established with effect from 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. 
• It is responsible for the implementation of policies and programmes related to energy. 
• It also coordinates the implementation of energy conservation activities. 
• The mission of the Bureau is:
  • To institutionalise energy efficiency services, 
  • To enable delivery mechanisms in the country
  • To provide leadership to energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy
  • To assist in developing policies and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles, within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 (Amendment Act, 2010).
• Its primary objective is to reduce energy intensity in the Indian economy.
• Powers and functions of BEE:
  • To recommend to the Central Government the norms for processes and energy consumption standards required to be notified.
  • To recommend to the Central Government for issuing of the energy savings certificate. 
  • To prepare standards and labels of appliances and equipment. 
  • To develop a list of designated consumers. 
  • To undertake promotional activities in coordination with centre and state-level agencies.
  • To develop Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). 
  • To transform the market for energy efficiency. 
  • To create awareness through a variety of measures including clearing house.
  • To promote innovative financing of energy efficiency projects. 

On the occasion, the State Energy Efficiency Index 2023 was also released.

About the State Energy Efficiency Index 2023:

• The State Energy Efficiency Index was initiated by the BEE in association with the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), to evaluate the annual progress of energy efficiency implementation in the states. 
• 2023 is the fifth edition of the index.
• The index identifies and addresses gaps concerning state-level energy efficiency policies, programmes, and investments. 
• The SEEI 2023 uses 65 qualitative, quantitative, and outcome-based indicators measures. distributed across seven demand sectors: buildings, industry, municipal services, transport, agriculture, electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs), and cross-sector initiatives to evaluate the states and UTs in energy efficiency.
• The states and UTs are categorized as ‘Front Runner’ (>=60), ‘Achiever’ (50-59.75), ‘Contender’ (30-49.75), and ‘Aspirant’ (<30) based on their total scores.
• Performance of the states in SEEI 2023:
  • Karnataka is the top-performing state in SEEI 2023 with an overall score of 86.5 out of 100.
  • The second-highest-ranked performer is Andhra Pradesh with a score of 83.25 out of 100.
  • The most improved states are Maharashtra and Haryana.

2. Intense Geomagnetic Storm of April 2023

Syllabus: GS-3, Science & Technology

Prelims/Mains: Geomagnetic storms, coronal mass ejections

Context:

Studying the intense geomagnetic storm that occurred in April 2023.

Background:

• In April 2023, a severe geomagnetic storm in Earth’s magnetosphere led to a vivid display of the aurora in lower latitudes extending to places like Ladakh.
• Astronomers have ​​found that the rotation of the filament structure when it was near the Sun was the leading cause behind this solar storm.

Magnetic Storms:

• The sun often ejects ionized gas, (plasma) and magnetic fields in the form of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) into the interplanetary space. 
• When these CMEs encounter planets such as our Earth, they interact with the planetary magnetic fields resulting in major magnetic storms. 
• Since such storms can adversely affect human technology on the Earth and in space, it is imperative to understand CMEs and predict them.

CME in April 2023:

• A large-scale CME eruption originated from the ‘Active Region 13283’ located near the solar disk centre at midnight (IST) on April 21, 2023, resulting in the most intense geomagnetic storm of solar cycle 25. 
• The CME was launched at a speed of about 1500 km/s.
• Consequently, a geomagnetic storm commenced an hour later at the Earth. 
• The storm reached its peak value of magnetic field and was classified as “G4 severe”. 
• The resultant auroral light was captured by all the sky cameras located at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh.

3. Project ODISERV

Syllabus: GS-2, Govt schemes

Prelims: Project ODISERV

Context:

Union Minister launched Project ODISERV.

Project ODISERV:

• The project aims to prepare young graduates of Odisha for employment opportunities in the financial services sector.
• It is expected to empower the youth, make them more employable and fulfil their aspirations. 
• The minister stated that 1100 students in Odisha have already been trained under Project ODISERV and a few of them have also received job offers.
• Project Odiserv is the inaugural skill development initiative, following the partnership announced by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Bajaj Finserv in December 2023.
• The project will impart knowledge and skills to graduates, especially first-generation graduates, through Bajaj Finserv’s Certificate Programme for Banking Finance & Insurance (CPBFI) programme, a 100-hour comprehensive training programme that prepares youth from tier-II and tier-III cities for employment in the financial services sector.
• It is envisaged to replicate the project in other Indian states as well.

4. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: Open Network for Digital Commerce, FPOs

Context:

Around 5,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) registered on ONDC platform.

Details:

• Almost 5 thousand out of 8,000 registered Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been registered on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) portal for selling produce online to consumers across the country. 
• The move aims to empower FPOs with direct access to digital marketing, online payment, business-to-business and business-to-consumer transactions.

Significance of FPOs:

• The formation & promotion of FPOs is the first step for converting Krishi into Atmanirbhar Krishi. 
• The initiative enhances cost-effective production and productivity and higher net incomes for the members of the FPO. 
• It also improves the rural economy and creates job opportunities for rural youths in villages.
• Benefits of FPO Formation:
  • FPOs are provided financial assistance up to Rs 18.00 lakh per FPO for 3 years. 
  • In addition to this, provision has been made for matching equity grant up to Rs. 2,000 per farmer member of FPO with a limit of Rs. 15.00 lakh per FPO and a credit guarantee facility up to Rs. 2 crores of project loan per FPO from eligible lending institution to ensure institutional credit accessibility to FPOs.
• The “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs)” scheme was launched in 2020.
• Aggregation of small, marginal and landless farmers into FPOs helps enhance economic strength & market linkages of farmers for enhancing their income. FPOs facilitate farmers with access to improved technology, credit, better input and more markets to incentivize them to produce better-quality commodities.

Read more about Farmer Producer Organisations in the linked article.

5. Exercise Samudra Laksamana

Syllabus: GS-3, Defence & Security

Prelims: Exercise Samudra Laksamana

Context:

Exercise Samudra Laksamana was conducted from 28 Feb – 02 Mar 24 off Visakhapatnam.

About Exercise Samudra Laksamana:

• It is a bilateral naval exercise between India and Malaysia.
• Indian Naval Ship Kiltan participated in this third edition of the exercise.
• The exercise aims to strengthen bonds and enhance interoperability between the Indian and Royal Malaysian Navy.

6. Historic Resolution on Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment & Ecology

Mains: Promoting sustainable lifestyles

Context:

The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) at its Sixth Session held in Nairobi, Kenya from 26 February – 1 March 2024, adopted on 1st March the resolution on sustainable lifestyles submitted by India.

Details:

• This resolution was adopted by all participating member states.
• The resolution recognizes the potential of behavioural changes toward sustainable lifestyles, in contributing to the achievement of the three dimensions of sustainable development.  
• It takes note of the work of the 10-Year Framework Programme, including the One Planet Network Programme on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education and other international, regional, and national initiatives, and notes that successful national initiatives can serve as a model to be replicated.
• It also underscores the role of the private sector and industry, local authorities, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples in supporting more sustainable lifestyles.
• The resolution further emphasises that eradicating all forms of poverty is the most important goal.
• The resolution on promoting sustainable lifestyles submitted by India was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka and Bolivia.

7. National Birth Defect Awareness Month 2024

Syllabus: GS-2, Health

Prelims/Mains: Birth Defects

Context:

National Birth Defect Awareness Month 2024 launched.

Details:

• The theme of National Birth Defect Awareness Month 2024 is “Breaking Barriers: Inclusive Support for Children with Birth Defects”. 
• The birth defects awareness campaign would focus on awareness about prevention, early identification and timely management.
• Birth Defect Day is observed on the 3rd of March every year and National Birth Defect Awareness Month is an initiative to raise awareness for all birth defects and improve the care and treatment for children. 

About birth defects:

• Birth defects are structural changes present at birth that can affect almost any part or parts of the body (e.g., heart, brain, foot). They may affect how the body looks, works, or both.
• Depending on the severity of the defect and what body part is affected, the expected lifespan of a person with a birth defect may or may not be affected.
• Six percent of children are born with birth defects every year worldwide.
• Some of the most common birth defects are cleft lip/palate, heart defects, Down syndrome, spina bifida, club foot, etc.
• Birth Defect contributes to 4.9% defects of neonatal mortality and 5.7% of U5MR mortality in India.
• Early identification with assured linkage to care, support and treatment introduces an equitable child health care approach, which in the end will reduce the burden of disability, improve health and ensure the development of children born with Birth Defects.

8. Prelims Facts

International Wheelchair Day

• March 1 is observed as International Wheelchair Day.
• Launched in 2008, the Day aims to enable wheelchair users to celebrate the positive impact a wheelchair has in their lives.
• The Day aims to create awareness about the need for wheelchairs for many people and also to celebrate the large number of people who provide wheelchairs to the needy.

Civil Accounts Day 2024

• Civil Accounts Day 2024 was celebrated to mark the 48th foundation day of the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS).
• Read in detail about the Indian Civil Accounts Service in the linked article.

Read previous PIB articles here.