25 May 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

May 25th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Vesak or Buddha Purnima
2. National Mission on use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants
3. International Day of Biological Diversity
4. Khelo India Centres

1. Vesak or Buddha Purnima

Context:

PM to deliver the keynote address on the occasion of Virtual Vesak Global Celebrations on Buddha Purnima.

Details:

• The GOI’s Culture Ministry is organising the event in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).
• Over 50 prominent Buddhist religious leaders and the supreme heads of Buddhist Sanghas from all over the world will participate in the virtual event.
• This day marks the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha and is also known as Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Day.
• Vesak is from the Pali Vesākha or Sanskrit Vaiśākha.
• The day falls on the full moon day in the month of Vaiśākha, which falls in April-May.

Also read: Buddhism – Comprehensive Article.

2. National Mission on use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants

Context:

Ministry of Power decided to set up a National Mission on use of Biomass in coal based thermal power plants.

Details:

• The Ministry of Power took this decision to address the issue of air pollution due to farm stubble burning and to reduce carbon footprints of thermal power generation.
• Objectives of the Mission:
  • To increase the level of co-firing from present 5% to higher levels to have a larger share of carbon neutral power generation from the thermal power plants.
  • To take up R&D activity in boiler design to handle the higher amount of silica, alkalis in the biomass pellets.
  • To facilitate overcoming the constraints in supply chain of bio mass pellets and agro-residue and its transport up to the power plants.
  • To consider regulatory issues in biomass co-firing.
• The mission will have a Steering Committee headed by Secretary (Power) comprising of all stakeholders including representatives from Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), etc.

What is biomass co-firing?

• Cofiring is a low-cost option for efficiently and cleanly converting biomass to electricity by adding biomass as a partial substitute fuel in high-efficiency coal boilers.
• Biomass cofiring has the potential to cut emissions from coal-fueled generation without substantially increasing costs or infrastructure investments.

3. International Day of Biological Diversity

Context:

International Day of Biological Diversity is observed on 22 May annually.

Details:

• The theme of the 2021 International Day for Biological Diversity is “We’re part of the solution”.
• It is a UN-sanctioned international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues.

Also read: Biodiversity Conservation during a Global Crisis: RSTV- Big Picture

4. Khelo India Centres

Context:

Sports Ministry gives go-ahead to open up 143 Khelo India Centres across 7 States in India.

Details:

• Each of these Centres will be entrusted with one sports discipline each.
• The States include Maharashtra, Mizoram, Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.
• The total outlay for the program is Rs 14.30 Crores.
• The Khelo India Centres have been launched by the Sports Ministry in partnership with the State Governments to ensure the availability of grassroot-level sports infrastructure across the country.
• Previously, 217 KICs had been opened up.

Also read: Khelo India Programme

Read previous PIB here.

May 25th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here