15 Mar 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Self Reliance in Energy
2. Cyclone Freddy
3. Gaganyaan Mission
4. Indian Millets
5. O-SMART Scheme

1. Self Reliance in Energy

Syllabus: GS03-Energy

Mains: Significance of becoming self-reliant in energy sector

Prelims: Trade Stats in Energy Sector

Key Details:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has remarked that India is committed to self-reliance in energy and furthering sustainable growth.
• India is the world’s 3rd largest energy consumer, 3rd largest consumer of oil, 3rd largest LPG consumer, 4th largest LNG importer, 4th largest refiner and the 4th largest automobile market in the world.
• The PM reiterated India’s commitment to self-reliance in energy and furthering sustainable growth.

2. Cyclone Freddy

Syllabus: GS02-World Geography

Mains: Impact of Cyclones on property and life

Prelims: Cyclone-Causes; Mapping

Context: Cyclone Freddy dissipated over Malawi on March 15, 2023, after a record-breaking 37-day stint over the southern Indian Ocean and Africa. 

Key Details:

• Cyclone Freddy developed off the coast of Australia, crossed the entire south Indian Ocean, and travelled more than 8,000 km to make landfall in Madagascar and Mozambique in late February.
• It then looped back and hit the coast of Mozambique again two weeks later before moving inland to Malawi.
• At 37 days, Freddy is the longest-lived tropical cyclone ever recorded in any of Earth’s oceans and has broken the record of 31 days set by Hurricane John in 1994. 
• Hundreds of people have lost lives due to Cyclone Freddy in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar.
• Freddy also broke the record for the highest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) at 87.01 units, breaking the record of 85.27 units by Hurricane Ioke in 2006. 
  • ACE is the total wind energy generated by a tropical cyclone throughout its lifetime and is calculated as the square of peak wind speed, observed, calculated and added every six hours. 
• Cyclone Freddy’s ACE is as much as the total ACE of all hurricanes in an average North Atlantic hurricane season, according to a press release by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). 
• Cyclone Freddy is also the first tropical cyclone ever to experience seven phases of rapid intensification (RI) over its lifetime. 
  • RI is when a tropical cyclone gains wind speeds of more than 55 kilometres per hour in a period of 24 hours. 
  • The previous record was four RI phases jointly held by Hurricane John (1994), Hurricane Emily (2005) and Hurricane Norman (2018).
• It held peak wind speeds of 65 km/hr for 22 days.

3. Gaganyaan Mission

Syllabus: GS03-Science and Technology

Mains: Objectives of Gaganyaan mission

Prelims: ISRO; IN-SPACe

Context: Budget allocation for Gaganyaan Mission.

Key Details:

• The Union government informed the parliament that the budget of Rs. 9023 Crore is allocated towards achieving the objectives of the Gaganyaan mission.
• The scope of the Gaganyaan programme is to demonstrate human spaceflight capability to Low Earth Orbit and safe return.  
• ISRO is developing indigenous technologies for human rated launch vehicles, Habitable Crew Module, Life Support System, Crew Escape System, Ground Station Network, Crew Training and Recovery. 
• These technologies are crucial to meet the objectives of the Gaganyaan mission and to take up any further interplanetary missions.

4. Indian Millets

Syllabus: GS03-Agriculture

Mains: International Year of Millets 2023

Prelims: Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) 

Context: The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been entrusted with the task of promoting Indian millets in the international market.

Steps taken to promote Indian Millets:

• APEDA has published e-catalogues for 30 major millet-importing countries and for 21 millet-producing Indian states. 
• APEDA has identified three knowledge partners – the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR); the Centre of Excellence on Millets — University of Agriculture Sciences, Bengaluru; and Yes Bank. 
  • These knowledge partners collaborate for the preparation of content for the publication of millet promotion material, identification of participants for the millet-promotion events to be organised by Indian Missions abroad and millet value chain development.
• APEDA has planned the promotion of Indian millets across international trade fairs and holding B2B (business-to-business) meetings for the year 2023.
• A millet-specific web portal has also been launched. The portal contains information about millets, their health benefits, production and export statistics, millet exporters’ directory, and other relevant information.
• APEDA has been conducting capacity-building programs throughout the country to facilitate the export of millet and millet products. 
  • Start-ups on millets are being mobilised for the export promotion of value-added products such as Ready to Eat (RTE) and Ready to Serve (RTS) categories.
• A knowledge book titled “Superfood Millets: A USD 2 Billion Export Opportunity for India” has been published by APEDA, in association with a knowledge partner. This book will help the prospective exporters of millets.
• An e-platform for Virtual Trade Fairs (VTFs) has been created specifically for millet to invite buyers and visitors from across the globe to interact with exhibitors showcasing millet-based products.
• APEDA has stepped into the brand building of Indian millets; ‘Shree Anna’ to promote the consumption of millets and to create a niche market for Indian millets across the globe. 

Read more on the International Year of Millets

5. O-SMART Scheme

Syllabus: GS01-Mineral and Energy Resources

Mains: Significance of  Blue Economy

Prelims: Storm Surges; Tsunamis; Alga Blooms

Context: The Union Government said that an amount of Rs. 2177 crore is allocated for implementation of the O-SMART scheme during a period of 5 years i.e 2021-22 to 2025-26. 

Key Details:

• The Ocean Services, Modelling, Applications, Resources and Technology (O-SMART) Scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2018 and is implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• It aims at stepping up ocean research and setting up early warning weather systems.
• It addresses ocean development activities such as services, technology, resources, observations and science and provides the necessary scientific and technological background required for the implementation of various aspects of the Blue Economy.

Steps taken by the Ministry of Earth Sciences to achieve the objectives:

• The proposed technology development and R & D activities related to schemes are being assigned to relevant institutes of the Ministry for timely execution.
• Various ocean observational platforms viz., Argo floats, XBT/XCTDs, Wave Rider Buoys, Automatic Weather Stations, Drifters, Moored Buoys, Tide Gauges, Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers, were deployed and existing ones were maintained to obtain continuous data sets for initialising models and assimilation. 
• Operational services on Tsunami Early Warnings, Storm Surges, Potential Fishing Zones, Ocean State Forecast, Harmful Algal Blooms, Coral Reefs, Multi Hazard Vulnerability, Coastal Vulnerability Indices, High Wave Alerts, Oil Spill, Search and Rescue operations etc were generated using the data and models operational in house and was provided on a day-to-day basis to various stakeholders and end users.
• Coastal surveys and deep-sea cruises are conducted as per the requirement of the program using the fleet of research vessels maintained by the Ministry.
• Public awareness campaigns and related activities are conducted on a regular basis to disseminate technology and policies.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

March 15th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here