UPSC/STATE PSC

The Hindu & Indian Express

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News 1: ‘India may need up to 28 GW in new coal-fired plants by 2032’

Background:

• India may need up to 28 gigawatts of new coal-fired power plants by 2032 to meet power demand that is expected to more than double from the current 404.1 GW, a government advisory body said, signaling more increases in coal use by the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter.

India’s energy demand:

• India’s annual electricity demand could grow by an average of 7.2% over the five years to March 2027, almost double the rate of increase in the fiscal years from 2017 to 2022, the plan said.
• The share of coal in India’s total power generation, however, is likely to fall below 60% by 2027, with India targeting the addition of 500 GW in non-fossil based installed capacity by 2030, according to the plan.
• Although India is a major greenhouse gas producer, its per capita power demand and emissions are much lower than most developed countries.
• It also accounts for a huge share of renewables along with China.

Central Electricity Authority

• Ministry: Ministry of Power
• Type: Statutory
• Vision: To ensure reliable 24×7 power supply of adequate quality to all consumers in the country.
• Function: The functions and duties of CEA are delineated under Section 73 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
• CEA has to discharge various other functions as well:
  • Section 3 (National Electricity Policy & Plan)
  • Section 8 (Hydro Electric Generation)
  • Section 34 (Grid Standards)
  • Section 53 (Provision relating to Safety and Electric Supply)
  • Section 55 (Use of Meters) 
  • Section 177 (Making of Regulations) of the Electricity Act, 2003.

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News 3: Naga delegation meets Shah, pushes for revival of talks

Background:

• A Naga delegation led by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday to push for revival of talks between the Centre’s envoy and Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM).

Demands by NSCN-IM:

• Inclusion of Yehzabo (Naga constitution) into the Indian constitution
• Integration of Naga-dominated areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur into the existing State of Nagaland
• Creation of regional autonomous territory council for Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Peace talks:

• The NSCN-IM, a key player in Naga peace talks, has been demanding a separate Constitution and a flag for the Nagas and creation of ‘Greater Nagaland’ or ‘Nagalim’ by integrating Naga-dominated areas in neighbouring Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to unite 1.2 million Nagas.

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News 4: E-FAST- India’s first National Electric Freight Platform Launched by NITI Aayog, WRI

Background:

• NITI Aayog and World Resources Institute (WRI), launched India’s first National Electric Freight Platform- E-FAST India (Electric Freight Accelerator for Sustainable Transport-India). 

About E-FAST:

• The platform aims to raise awareness of freight electrification bolstered by an on-ground demonstration pilot and evidence based research.
• It will support scalable pilots and inform policies aimed at accelerating freight electrification in India.

NITI Aayog:

• Established: 2015

• • NITI Aayog replaced erstwhile Planning commission in 2015 and serves as the apex public policy think tank of the Government of India, and the nodal agency tasked with catalyzing economic development, and fostering cooperative federalism through the involvement of State Governments of India in the economic policy-making process using a bottom-up approach.

• Composition:
  • Chairperson: Prime Minister
  • Vice-Chairperson: To be appointed by Prime-Minister
  • Chief Executive Officer: Appointed by Prime minister for a fixed tenure, in rank of Secretary to Government of India.
  • Governing Council: Chief Ministers of all states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories.
  • Regional Council: To address specific regional issues, Comprising Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors Chaired by Prime Minister or his nominee.
  • Ad hoc Membership: 2 members in ex-officio capacity from leading Research institutions on rotational basis.
  • Ex-Officio membership: Maximum four from Union council of ministers to be nominated by Prime minister.
  • Special Invitees: Experts, Specialists with domain knowledge nominated by Prime minister.

• Hubs of NITI Aayog:

• • Team India Hub acts as an interface between States and Centre.
  • Knowledge and Innovation Hub builds the think-tank acumen of NITI Aayog.
• Important index published by NITI Aayog: Composite Water Management Index, Sustainable Development Goal index, India Innovation Index, School Education Quality Index, Export Competitiveness Index

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News 5: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

• Headquarter: Vienna, Austria
• Membership: 175 member states
• Objective: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.
• It is known as Atoms for Peace organization and is not a Principal or specialized agency of UN 
• It reports to both General Assembly and Security Council of United Nations
• Missions:
  • Peaceful uses: Promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy by its member states,
  • Safeguards: Implementing safeguards to verify that nuclear energy is not used for military purposes, and
  • Nuclear safety: Promoting high standards for nuclear safety

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News 6: Rohingya Refugees

• Rohingyas are the minorities, who are predominantly Muslims but also includes people from different religions, are from Rakhine state of Myanmar.
• Several Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh and India.
• Bangladesh has relocated several Rohingyas to Bhasan Char island, which lies in ecologically fragile area, as it is prone to cyclone, floods, erosion.

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News 7: National Investigation Agency:

• Established: 2009 constituted under National Investigation Agency Act, 2008
• Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs
• Headquarter: New Delhi
• NIA is functioning as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in India. 
• NIA aims at creating deterrence for existing and potential terrorist groups/individuals. It aims to develop as a storehouse of all terrorist related information.
•  It can deal with investigation of terror crimes in states without the permission from states under written proclamation of Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Areas of investigation:NIA is mandated to investigate all the offences affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of India, which includes:
• Friendly relations with foreign states.
• Against atomic and nuclear facilities.
  • Smuggling of arms, drugs and fake Indian currency and infiltration from across the borders.
  • The offences under the statutory laws enacted to implement international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organisations.

Jurisdiction:

• It extends to the whole of India and also applies to Indian citizens outside the country.
• Persons in the service of the government wherever they are posted.
• Persons on ships and aircraft registered in India wherever they may be.
• Persons who commit a scheduled offence beyond India against the Indian citizen or affecting the interest of India.

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News 8: G7 countries:

• Formed: 1973

• Members: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political forum.
• In addition, the European Union is a ‘non-enumerated member’.
• Its members are the world’s largest advanced economies and liberal democracies.
• The G7 was founded primarily to facilitate shared macroeconomic initiatives in response to contemporary economic problems; the first gathering was centered on the Nixon shock, the 1970s energy crisis, and the ensuing global recession.

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