IEA: Electricity Market Report

The International Energy Agency (IEA) published the bi-annual Electricity Market Report in early 2022.

Highlights:

According to the report, countries are increasingly turning to fossil fuels to meet rising electricity demand as Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ease.

In 2021, global electricity demand is expected to rise by 6% year on year. It was the IEA’s steepest year-on-year increase since the 2008 financial crash.

Year on year, global energy intensity fell by 1.9 percent. This drop was only half of what was needed to lay the groundwork for net-zero energy by 2050.

Renewable electricity generation will increase by 6% year on year in 2021. Coal-fired power generation has increased by 9%.

TheNational Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM)and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India for regulating medical education and conducting scientific research respectively, have launchedSMART (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals).Theprogram aimed to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.

The proposed initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas including Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

The MoU was signed in Indore and theExternal Affairs Ministerhas noted that they have discussed the opportunities for greater economic, health, finance, and people-to-people linkage. Both leaders have also shared their perspectives on global situations.

During the convention between both countries, both the ministers discussed the opportunities for greater economic, Health, finance, and people-to-people linkage.

CCI Approves Air India Stake Acquisition by Tata Sons

The Competition Commission Of India (CCI) approved Talace, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, acquiring Air India Stakes on 20 December.

Highlights:

Air India is currently entirely owned by the Indian government.

Air India and AIXL are principally delivering domestic scheduled air passenger transportation, air cargo transport, and international scheduled air passenger transport.

Air India SATS Airport Services provides ground handling services at Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Thiruvananthapuram. Bengaluru Airport also provides cargo handling services.

In October 2021, the Tata Group signed a share purchase deal with the government of India to buy the government’s stake in national carriers Air India, Air India Express, and AISATS. Following that, Tata Group received a Letter of Intent (LoI).

The Tata Group had to meet the agreement’s pre-conditions following the SPA before acquiring Air India.

Under the sale process, Tata Sons’ subsidiary Talace emerged as the highest bidder for AIR India.

Golden Peacock Environment Management Award 2021: SAIL

For the third year in a row, the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), which is part of the Ministry of Steel, has been granted the coveted Golden Peacock Environment Management Award 2021.

Highlights:

Since 1998, the Environment Foundation (WEF) has granted the award to organizations for notable achievements in environmental management.

The company’s environmental protection efforts are focused on upgrading pollution control facilities, water conservation efforts with the goal of achieving Zero Liquid Discharge, efficient handling of various solid wastes (viz. process waste, hazardous waste, canteen/ waste), Carbon Sequestration through afforestation, eco-restoration of the mined-out area, and other environmental measures.

The company’s corporate policies and practices have made carbon footprint reduction a priority.

Noises Captured Near Jupiters Moon Ganymede Released By NASA

Juno returned data from its flyby across https://exam.pscnotes.com/the-solar-system”>The Solar System‘s largest moon.

Data derived from noises recorded on the moon’s surface provides a thrilling journey inside Ganymede’s domain.

Juno’s wave instrument selected a 50-second audio track, which NASA shared.

The wave instrument listens for electric and magnetic radio waves produced in Jupiter’s magnetosphere.

For the audio track, scientists adjusted the collected frequencies into the audio range.

Juno came near 1,038 kilometers of Ganymede’s surface on its closest approach. It was traveling at a speed of 67,000 kilometers per hour.

Ganymede is a Jupiter satellite (moon). It is the Solar System’s largest and most massive moon, as well as the ninth-largest object. Ganymede takes about seven days to orbit Jupiter.

Juno is a NASA spacecraft that orbits Jupiter. Lockheed Martin designed and built it.

End of Censorship in Cinematic Releases In UAE

The UAE has declared the end of Censorships in International Movies on 19 December.

Highlights:

To entice foreigners, the UAE government decided to abolish censorship.

According to the government’s recent announcement, sensitive scenes that violate Islamic feelings will not be eliminated.

In addition, the administration has created a new ‘above 21 years of age’ category for spectators.

Movies will now be exhibited in theatres according to their international versions, and their categorization will be based on UAE media content regulations.

The decision to abolish censorship is regarded as the UAE’s attempt to compete in the Gulf area by seeming open-minded and liberal to outsiders.

ADB: USD 350 Million Improve Urban Services In India

The Asian (ADB) will give a loan of USD 350 million to improve access to urban Services in India.

Highlights:

By expediting policy initiatives and reforms aimed at improving service delivery and by supporting performance-based central fiscal transfers to urban local governments, access to urban services will be improved (ULBs).

For program execution, monitoring, and evaluation, the ADB will provide knowledge and advisory support to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

ADB will also assist ULBs, particularly in low-income states, in the areas of policy reform, Investment planning, and cross-cutting concerns such as gender Equality, Climate-change”>Climate Change, social inclusion, and environmental and social safeguards evaluation.

Under the Sustainable Urban Development & Service Delivery Programme, the finance ministry has inked a loan arrangement for the first sub-program for USD 350 million.

The sub-program aims to develop key policies and principles for urban transformations at the national level.

This program is consistent with the government’s national flagship initiatives, encouraging cities as economic Growth engines.

National Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping

Indias first National Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) was announced by the Union Minister of , Shipping and Waterways.

National Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) is a major initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to provide sustainable solutions for the shipping sector.

Its main purpose is to assist the union ministry in developing and maintaining a policy and regulatory framework for the promotion of green alternative technology in Indias shipping sector.

Its ultimate goal is to ensure the sectors shift towards carbon neutrality and circular economy (CE).

This centre is in line with the Indian Governments Mission LiFE movement.

PM KISAN Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme to supplement financial needs of land holding farmers. Financial benefit of Rs. 6000 per year is transferred into the bank accounts of farmer families through direct benefit transfer. Certain categories of higher economic status are excluded from the scheme.

This ambitious scheme, which was launched on 24thFebruary, 2019 by Honble Prime Minister, is one of the largest DBT Schemes in the world. The scheme has been able to reach out to crores of farmers, with no middlemen involved in between. Maintaining absolute transparency in the process of registration and verification of beneficiaries, Government of India has been able to transfer benefits within minutes of press of a button by Honble Prime Minister during the bulk release events.

The release of benefits for any installment period under PM KISAN has now crossed 10 crore farmers from 3.16 crore for the first instalment period more than 3 times increase in over 3 years.

PM KISAN through a span of over 3 years has successfully provided assistance of more than Rs. 2 lakh crores to crores of needy farmers. Of this amount, more than Rs 1.6 crores has been transferred since the lockdown due to Covid Pandemic.

PM KISAN is an evolving scheme. The scheme was initiated with eligibility of the farmers determined on self-certification by each farmer. Improvements have been made overtime in the way farmers are registered and verified by the States.

The Department of Consumer Affairs launched the framework for safeguarding and protecting consumer interest from fake and deceptive reviews in E-Commerce.

The standard will initially be voluntary for compliance by all e-commerce platform. Bis will also develop a Conformity Assessment Scheme for the standard to assess compliance.

The guiding principles of the standard are Integrity, accuracy, privacy, security, transparency, accessibility and responsiveness. The standard prescribes specific responsibilities for the review author and the review administrator. For review author, these include confirming acceptance of terms and conditions, providing contact information and for review administrator, these include safeguarding personal information and training of staff.

First Biodiversity Heritage Site of Tamil Nadu

The of Tamil Nadu recently issued a notification declaring Madurai districts Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages as the states first Biodiversity heritage site.

The Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site spans across two villages Arittapatti village (Melur block) and Meenakshipuram village (Madurai East taluk).

Arittapatti village is known for its ecological and historical significance. It hosts some 250 bird species, including three important raptors (birds of prey) the Laggar Falcon, the Shaheen Falcon and Bonellis Eagle. It also hosts Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris and pythons and others.

The declaration of this site was made under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.