TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 2. 13th BRICS Summit 3. Task Force and Expert Committee for Coal Based Hydrogen Production 4. Smog Tower
1. Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Context:
PM greeted people on the occasion of Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Details:
- The occasion marks the completion of the holy book of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, under the supervision of the fifth Guru Arjan Dev Ji in 1604 at Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib.
Know more about Sikhism in the linked article.
Context:
As part of India’s ongoing Chairship of BRICS in 2021, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will chair the 13th BRICS Summit to be held in virtual format.
Details:
- The theme for the Summit is ‘BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus’.
- India had outlined four priority areas for its Chairship. These are:
- Reform of the Multilateral System
- Counter terrorism
- Using Digital and Technological Tools for achieving SDGs
- Enhancing People to People exchanges
- The Indian Chairship of BRICS this year coincides with the fifteenth anniversary of BRICS, as reflected in the theme for the Summit.
3. Task Force and Expert Committee for Coal Based Hydrogen Production
Context:
Ministry of Coal Constituted Task Force and Expert Committee to Prepare Road Map for Coal based Hydrogen Production.
Details:
- The Ministry of Coal has constituted 2 Committees, one to oversee the program and another of experts to give guidance to the Ministry.
- This is aimed at contributing to the agenda of a hydrogen-based economy in a clean manner.
- The Task Force constituted is chaired by the Additional Secretary, Coal and has the following terms of reference:
- Identification of role to be played by each stakeholder Ministry.
- Coordination with Stakeholder Ministries.
- Monitoring of activities towards achieving coal based Hydrogen production and usage.
- Setting up sub committees to achieve the objective.
- To coordinate with Coal Gasification Mission and NITI Aayog.
- The Expert Committee has the following terms of reference:
- Identifying experts in India and co-opting as members.
- Desk based review of progress in hydrogen technology and also review ongoing research projects in Hydrogen technology.
- Coordinate with various national/international technology institutions in hydrogen.
- Prepare a road map for coal based Hydrogen production and usage including economic viability, environmental sustainability and policy enablers required.
- Identifying activities for implementation of coal based hydrogen production and usage.
- Assisting Task force in implementation of Coal based Hydrogen production and usage.
Background:
- Coal is one of the important sources of hydrogen making apart from natural gas and renewable energy through electrolysis.
- Hydrogen obtained from coal is called Brown Hydrogen.
- Coal has not been encouraged in hydrogen production because of the fear that while extracting hydrogen via coal (from the moisture embedded in coal) there may be carbon emission.
- Almost 100% of hydrogen produced in India is through natural gas.
- Cost of hydrogen produced from coal can be cheaper and less sensitive to imports when compared with hydrogen production through electrolysis and natural gas respectively.
- Production of hydrogen from coal will have challenges in terms of high emissions and CCUS will play an important role. However, when the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide formed during coal to hydrogen process are trapped and stored in an environmentally sustainable manner (CCS and CCUS), then, Indian coal reserves could become a great source of hydrogen.
4. Smog Tower
Context:
Minister dedicates first functional Smog Tower of India, situated at Anand Vihar in New Delhi.
Details:
- A smog tower is a structure designed as large/medium scale air purifiers to reduce air pollution, usually by forcing the air through filters.
- The smog tower at Anand Vihar with a height of over 20m, is of the downdraft type, i.e. polluted air comes in from the top of the tower and clean air comes out of the bottom.
- It is intended for localised reduction in air pollution (Particulate Matter). The filtration system used in the tower has been designed by University of Minnesota with an expected efficiency of 90%.
Note:- “PRANA” – Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was also launched.
Also read: Air Pollution in Delhi
Read previous PIB here.
September 7th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here
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