Population explosion has resulted in manifold increase in demand for energy. The conventional, non-renewable sources of energy, such as coal, petroleum, natural gas, etc. are experiencing extensive pressure, resulting in an urgent need to switch to non-conventional sources of energy which are renewable and ecologically safe.
For instance, solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, tidal and wave energy fall under non-conventional sources. Maximum utilisation of renewable sources will facilitate generating energy without harming the environment and its surroundings.
The role of new and renewable energy has been assuming increasing significance in recent times with the growing concern for the country’s energy security. Energy self-sufficiency was identified as the major driver for renewable energy in the country in the wake of the two oil shocks of the 1970s. The sudden increase in the price of oil, uncertainties associated with its supply and the adverse impact on the balance of payments position led to the establishment of the Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (CASE) in the Department of Science & Technology (DST) in March 1981. The Commission was charged with the responsibility of formulating policies and their implementation programmes for development of renewable energy apart from coordinating and intensifying research and development in the sector.
There has been a visible impact of renewable energy in the Indian energy scenario during the last five years. Renewable energy sector landscape in India has witnessed tremendous changes in the policy framework with accelerated and ambitious plans to increase the contribution of solar energy. There is a perception that renewable energy can now play a significant role with access to improved technologies. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy:
The total power generated, as on March 31, 2016, from various renewable energy sources is 65.76 GW, bifurcation of which is – wind (33.03 GW), solar (7.45 GW), small hydro power (up to 25 MW) (8.33 GW), bio power (16.95 GW).
- The Indian government has up-scaled the target of renewable energy capacity to 175 GW by the year 2022 which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydro power.
- The capacity target of 100 GW set under the National Solar Mission (JNNSM) will principally comprise of 40 GW Rooftop and 60 GW through large and medium scale grid connected solar power projects. With this ambitious target, India will become one of the largest green energy producers in the world, surpassing several developed countries.
- The total investment in setting up 100 GW will be around INR 6,00,000 crore. Several states are already witnessing silent revolution on rooftop solar power generation with the launch of net metering in the country.
- The new initiatives announced by the government during the financial year 2016-17 include setting up of two Light Detector and Ranging (LIDAR) at identified locations to study the offshore wind speed profile which would help in establishing techno-economic feasibility of the sites for installation of offshore wind power projects, schemes on energy storage, deployment of mini grid for meeting energy access and strengthening biodiesel activities in the states.
- The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) was launched on the January 11, 2010 by the Prime Minister. The Mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022. It is aimed at reducing the cost of solar power generation in the country through long term policy, large scale deployment goals, aggressive research and development and domestic production of critical raw materials, components and products, as a result to achieve grid tariff parity by 2022. The Mission will create an enabling policy framework to achieve this objective and make India a global leader in solar energy.
- The Special Area Demonstration Project (SADP) Scheme was started in 1992-93 with the objective to demonstrate the New and Renewable Sources of Energy (NRSE) systems and devices and also to provide training facilities for meeting the energy needs in special areas.
- The renewable energy systems being set up under SADP include mainly solar power plants, solar water heaters, solar lights, biogas plants from kitchen waste and battery operated vehicles.
- SADP Scheme is being continued during the 12th Plan Period. The scheme comprises of the following two components; energy park scheme and demonstration of renewable energy systems at places of national and international importance to illuminate these places to supplement the energy requirement through clean and green energy.
Since India is running one of the largest renewable capacity expansion programmes in the world and there is a need for corresponding grid stability. Regulator will frame norms for ancillary services to support power system or grid operation especially with expanding renewable energy.
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- Anonymity: Darknet allows users to communicate and transact with each other anonymously. Users can maintain their privacy and avoid being tracked by law enforcement agencies or other entities.
- Access to Information: The darknet provides access to information and resources that may be otherwise unavailable or censored on the regular internet. This can include political or sensitive information that is not allowed to be disseminated through other channels.
- Freedom of Speech: The darknet can be a platform for free speech, as users are able to express their opinions and ideas without fear of censorship or retribution.
- Secure Communication: Darknet sites are encrypted, which means that communication between users is secure and cannot be intercepted by third parties.
- Illegal Activities: Many darknet sites are associated with illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, weapon sales, and hacking services. Such activities can attract criminals and expose users to serious legal risks.
- Scams: The darknet is a hotbed for scams, with many fake vendors and websites that aim to steal users’ personal information and cryptocurrency. The lack of regulation and oversight on the darknet means that users must be cautious when conducting transactions.
- Security Risks: The use of the darknet can expose users to malware and other security risks, as many sites are not properly secured or monitored. Users may also be vulnerable to hacking or phishing attacks.
- Stigma: The association of the darknet with illegal activities has created a stigma that may deter some users from using it for legitimate purposes.
- Virtual assistants: Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant are examples of virtual assistants that use natural language processing to understand and respond to users’ queries.
- Recommendation systems: Companies like Netflix and Amazon use AI to recommend movies and products to their users based on their browsing and purchase history.
- Efficiency: AI systems can work continuously without getting tired or making errors, which can save time and resources.
- Personalization: AI can help provide personalized recommendations and experiences for users.
- Automation: AI can automate repetitive and tedious tasks, freeing up time for humans to focus on more complex tasks.
- Job loss: AI has the potential to automate jobs previously performed by humans, leading to job loss and economic disruption.
- Bias: AI systems can be biased due to the data they are trained on, leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes.
- Safety and privacy concerns: AI systems can pose safety risks if they malfunction or are used maliciously, and can also raise privacy concerns if they collect and use personal data without consent.
Darknet
Definition:
Darknet, also known as dark web or darknet market, refers to the part of the internet that is not indexed or accessible through traditional search engines. It is a network of private and encrypted websites that cannot be accessed through regular web browsers and requires special software and configuration to access.
The darknet is often associated with illegal activities such as drug trafficking, weapon sales, and hacking services, although not all sites on the darknet are illegal.
Examples:
Examples of darknet markets include Silk Road, AlphaBay, and Dream Market, which were all shut down by law enforcement agencies in recent years.
These marketplaces operate similarly to e-commerce websites, with vendors selling various illegal goods and services, such as drugs, counterfeit documents, and hacking tools, and buyers paying with cryptocurrency for their purchases.
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Artificial Intelligence
Definition:
AI, or artificial intelligence, refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, such as recognizing speech, making decisions, and understanding natural language.
Examples:
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