07 Nov 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Middle East Green Initiative Summit 2022 (at COP27)
2. BATS (Broadcast Air Time Scheduler)
3. National Bioenergy Programme

1. Middle East Green Initiative Summit 2022 (at COP27)

Syllabus – GS 3 –  Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment, GS 2- International Agreements.

Prelims – COP 27 Egypt, the second edition of the Middle East Green Initiative Summit 2022.

Context – Middle East Green Initiative Summit at the sidelines of COP27.

Details –

• The Middle East Green Initiative Summit brings nations from across the world under one roof and seeks to create the infrastructure needed to reduce emissions and protect the environment.
• Shri Bhupendra Yadav, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate change spoke at the Summit and said that India is committed towards clean and green energy sources and the National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) is a big step in that direction. 
  • Through NHM India has moved towards an environment-friendly energy source. This will help India and many countries of the world to achieve their goal of net zero.
• As a part of the United Nations Decade of Action for the attainment of SDGs, India has initiated several measures for promoting Resource Efficiency and a Circular Economy, including for prevention and management of waste.
• International Solar Alliance is another measure initiated by India to bring clean and affordable energy within reach of all. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are a part of the International Solar Alliance.
• India has also initiated the Leadership group in Industry Transition (Lead IT) track along with Sweden with a focus on hard-to-abate industrial sectors; and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) for easy and faster mobilisation of technology, finance and necessary information for Small Island Developing States. 

Other Highlights –

• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has vast hydrocarbon resources and in October 2021, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy announced the goal of becoming the world’s largest hydrogen producer.
• The Arab Republic of Egypt is developing a Green Ammonia facility to be used as bunker fuel to serve the Suez Canal Maritime traffic. 

Objectives of the Middle East Green Initiative Summit –

• Reduce carbon emissions by more than 10% of current global levels through several initiatives including reducing carbon emissions from hydrocarbon production in the region by more than 60%.
• Plant 50 billion trees across the Middle East, including 10 billion in Saudi Arabia equivalent to 5% of the global afforestation target.

2. BATS (Broadcast Air Time Scheduler)

Syllabus – GS2, e-governance applications.

Prelims – BATS.

Context – Integrated Traffic and Billing Application Software (BATS) was inaugurated for all commercial operations of All India Radio to increase operational efficiency and reduce cost. 

Details –

• BATS can bring about transparency into the entire operations and make the entire commercial operations very efficient.
• BATS allows monitoring of booking, billing and payment receipts, etc. at various stages and the system can provide various reports which are very essential in taking many management decisions.
• BATS will ensure 100% revenue assurance for the services rendered.

Features –

• Increases operational efficiency and reduces costs.
• One central database – to manage the billing and scheduling of advertising orders across multiple stations.
• Payment processing and collections through the integrated Payment Gateway of SBI.
• Ensures accurate billing by effectively managing account hierarchy, content rights management, pricing plans, etc.
• Media Sales Traffic increases the efficiency of the organisation.

3. National Bioenergy Programme

Syllabus – GS 3, Environmental Pollution & Degradation.

Prelims – National Bio-Energy Programme.

Context – GoI notified the National Bioenergy Programme.

Details –

• The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), GoI has notified the National Bioenergy Programme. The programme will continue from FY 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• The National Bioenergy programme will be implemented in two phases. The first phase has been approved with a budget layout of Rs. 858 cr.

Sub Schemes of the programme –

1. Waste to energy programme – To support setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and power plants (excluding MSW, municipal solid waste, to power projects)
2. Biomass programme – To support the setting up of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse-based power generation projects.
3. Biogas Programme – To support the setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

November 7th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here