1ST JULY
Contents
WORLD’S SECOND BIGGEST HYDROELECTRIC DAM
INDIAN INITIATIVES SHAPING ENERGY TRANSITION
PM MODI INAUGURATED ZEN GARDEN & KAIZEN ACADEMY
AMITABH KANT GETS EXTENSION AS CEO OF NITI AAYOG
ITU’S GLOBAL CYBERSECURITY INDEX (GCI) 2020
CENTRE INAUGURATED ASIA’S LONGEST HIGH SPEED TRACK
NATIONAL DOCTOR’S DAY: 1ST JULY
WORLD’S SECOND BIGGEST HYDROELECTRIC DAM
- The Government of China officially turned on the first two generating units of the Baihetan Dam, the world’s second-biggest hydroelectric dam, to start generating energy.
- The Baihetan Dam is set up on the Jinsha River, in southwestern China.
- About the dam: The dam is a 289-meter-tall (954-foot-tall) double-curvature arch dam, having 16 generating units.
- Each unit will have to generate a capacity of 1 million kilowatts, making it the second biggest in size after the “Three Gorges Dam” opened in 2003 on the Yangtze, with5 million kilowatts of generating capacity.
- Through the Baihetan Dam, the Chinese government aims to curb surging fossil fuel demand by building more hydropower capacity.
- Both the dams have been built by the state-owned Three Gorges Group Corp., the world’s biggest investor in hydro, solar and wind generation.
(SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA)
INDIAN INITIATIVES SHAPING ENERGY TRANSITION
- The Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy released the booklet titled “The India Story.” It is a collection of Indian initiatives that are shaping the country’s energy transition.
- It was unveiled at the Accelerating Citizen-Centric Energy Transition event. In addition, the Minister launched a website that will serve as a repository for energy transition-related knowledge resources from around the world.
- In the last six years, India’s installed Renewable Energy (RE) capacity has increased by more than two and a half times, reaching more than 141 Giga Watts (including large Hydro).
- The installed solar energy capacity has grown by more than 15 times and now stands at 41.09 GW. Over the last seven years, over USD 70 billion has been invested in real estate in India. India accepts 100 per cent FDI through the automatic route in the energy sector.
- A Renewable Energy Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (REIPFB) Portal has also been developed to provide one-stop assistance and facilitation to the industry and investors for project development and attracting new investment to India’s Renewable Energy sector.
- Several industry members have voluntarily declared RE goals and committed to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Renewable 100% (RE100), and Science-based targets (SBTs).
- Rules are being developed for a ‘green tariff’ policy that will allow electricity distribution companies (Discoms) to supply electricity generated from clean energy projects at a lower cost than power generated from conventional fuel sources.
- The government is encouraging the use of green hydrogen by imposing obligations on the fertiliser and refining industries (Green Hydrogen Purchase obligations).
(SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES)
PM MODI INAUGURATED ZEN GARDEN & KAIZEN ACADEMY
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated a Zen Garden and Kaizen Academy at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) premises in Ahmedabad.
- These two new initiatives are part of PM’s vision of creating a ‘Mini-Japan’ in Gujarat.
- The newly launched Zen Garden in Ahmedabad will showcase several elements of Japanese art, culture, landscape and architecture.
- The Zen garden features a statue of Lord Buddha. The garden is built in partnership with the Japan Information and Study Centre at AMA and Indo-Japan Friendship Association (IJFA), Gujarat, supported by the Hyogo International Association (HIA), Japan.
(SOURCE: LIVE MINT)
AMITABH KANT GETS EXTENSION AS CEO OF NITI AAYOG
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has extended the tenure of NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant, by one year till June 30, 2022.
- This is for the third time that Kant’s tenure has been extended. Mr Kant was first appointed as the CEO of the federal policy think tank on February 17, 2016, for a fixed two-year term.
- The 1980 batch IAS officer was given an extension for the first time till 30 June 2019, after his tenure was to expire in February 2018. Again he was given two years extension till June 30, 2021.
- NITI Aayog Formed: 1 January 2015.
- NITI Aayog Headquarters: New Delhi.
- NITI Aayog Chairperson: Narendra Modi.
(SOURCE: JAGRAN JOSH)
ITU’S GLOBAL CYBERSECURITY INDEX (GCI) 2020
- India has been ranked as the 10th best country in the world in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020, released by International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- The GCI 2020 is the fourth edition of the annual index and ranked 194 countries. The GCI measures the commitment of countries to cybersecurity at a global level.
- Countries were ranked on the basis of performance on five parameters, which includes: legal measures, technical measures, organisational measures, capacity development, and cooperation.
- Index: India ranked at 10th position, with 97.5 points to rank among the top ten best countries in the world.
- The United States has topped the GCI 2020. The United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia is tied on the second position Estonia was ranked third in the index.
- International Telecommunication Union Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- International Telecommunication Union Founded: 17 May 1865.
- International Telecommunication Union Head: Secretary-General; Houlin Zhao.
(SOURCE: HINDUSTAN TIMES)
CENTRE INAUGURATED ASIA’S LONGEST HIGH SPEED TRACK
- Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Prakash Javadekar has inaugurated NATRAX- the High-Speed Track(HST) in Indore which is the longest such track in Asia.
- NATRAX, developed in an area of 1000 acres of land, is a one-stop solution for all sorts of high-speed performance tests for the widest categories of vehicles from 2 wheelers to heavy tractor-trailers.
- Launching the world-class 11.3 km High-Speed Track, Javadekar stated that India is destined to become a hub of automobiles, manufacturing, and spare parts.
- The NATRAX centre has multiple test capabilities like measurements of maximum speed, acceleration, constant speed fuel consumption, emission tests through real road driving simulation, high-speed handling and stability evaluation during manoeuvred such as lane change, high-speed durability testing, etc. and is a Centre of excellence for Vehicle Dynamics.
- According to the ministry, HST is used for measuring the maximum speed capability of high-end cars like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Tesla and so forth which cannot be measured on any of the Indian test tracks.
- Being centrally located in Madhya Pradesh, it is accessible to most of the major OEMs. Foreign OEMs will be looking at NATRAX HST for the development of prototype cars for Indian conditions.
- At present, foreign OEMs go to their respective high-speed track abroad for high-speed test requirements.
(SOURCE: LIVE MINT)
NATIONAL DOCTOR’S DAY: 1ST JULY
- The National Doctors’ Day is organized on 01 July annually in India by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
- The day is celebrated to honour the great physicians and help us understand the importance of doctors in our lives and value them, to offer them our respects by commemorating one of their greatest representatives.
- At the time of the ongoing pandemic, doctors are at the forefront and leading the battle. Their commitment to keeping the nation safe and healthy in these challenging times is truly exceptional.
- Doctor’s Day is celebrated on different dates in different countries across the world. Several governments and non-government healthcare organisations celebrate this day.
- No doubt the doctors play an important role in our life. The day raises awareness about the roles, importance, and responsibilities of doctors and promotes the medical profession.
- National Doctor’s Day is observed to honour the legendary physician and West Bengal’s second Chief Minister, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy whose birth and death anniversary coincides on the same day.
- The day pays tribute to the whole medical profession and highlights the value of doctors in our lives. In 1991, the National Doctor’s Day was established by the Central Government to pay honour Bidhan Chandra Roy and is celebrated on 1st July.
(SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS)