Prelims Factoids
NTPC commissions largest Floating Solar PV Project in the country

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the largest floating solar PV project)
What's the NEWS

• The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC ) Ltd, has commissioned the largest floating solar PV project of 25MW on the reservoir of its Simhadri thermal station in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• This is also the first solar project to be set up under the Flexibilisation Scheme, notified by the Government of India in 2018.

Know! more about the unique project

• The floating solar installation which has a unique anchoring design is spread over 75 acres in an RW reservoir.
• This floating solar project has the potential to generate electricity from more than 1 lakh solar PV modules.
• This would not only help to light around 7,000 households but also ensure at least 46,000 tons of CO2e are kept at arm's length every year during the lifespan of this project.
• The 2000MW coal-based Simhadri Station is the first power project to implement an open sea intake from the Bay of Bengal which has been functional for more than 20 years.
• NTPC is also planning to set up a hydrogen-based micro-grid system on a pilot basis at Simhadri.
• NTPC has set a target to install 60 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy (RE) capacity by 2032.
• NTPC is also India's first energy company to declare its energy compact goals as part of the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE).

Flexibilisation Scheme

• Flexibility is defined as the extent to which a power system can modify electricity production or consumption in response to variability, expected or otherwise.
• Flexibilisation of conventional power plants involves retrofitting of certain physical and digital components, making operational, procedural modifications

Prelims Factoids
Algae with umbrella-like head, discovered on Andaman Island

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Acetabularia jalakanyakae)
What's the NEWS

• In a new discovery, a plant species with an umbrella-like cap has been found on the Island of Andaman & Nicobar.
• A team of marine biologists from the Central University of Punjab discovered a new marine algae species in the Andaman archipelago, which has been named Jalakanyaka.
• The species is also the first of the genus Acetabularia to be discovered in India.

The mermaid species

• The new algae species has been named ‘Acetabularia jalakanyakae', after the Sanskrit word ‘Jalakanyaka' meaning the ‘goddess of oceans' or ‘mermaid'.
• The marine species has been named as inspiration from Hans Christian Anderson's fictional character, The Little Mermaid fairy tale.
• The authors used a combined approach, including Scanning Electron Microscopy based morphological assessments combined with DNA sequence-based phylogenetic analyses for describing it as a new species.

Jalakanyakae: Features

• The whole plant is made up of just one gigantic cell with only one nucleus.
• A nucleus is where the cellular processes of the plant are controlled.
• Furthermore, a structure called a rhizoid is formed towards the end of the plant cell containing its nucleus.
• This allows the algae to attach to the rocks underneath the shallow tropical ocean, where it grows.
• Another feature of Acetabularia is their regenerative potential. For example, if the top part of the algae is cut off, it can regrow the structure.

Significance of the discovery

• The last time a new algae species was found on the Island was in 1984, i.e, 37 years ago.
• Algae are the source of more than half of the world's oxygen through photosynthesis.
• They turn carbon dioxide into biomass and release oxygen. They play a vital role in the environment.
• Andaman & Nicobar Islands are home to some of the last remaining healthy coral reefs in the world.
• In addition to that, algal diversity is one of the highest in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Know! the importance of Algae
Oxygen producers:

• Marine algae produces almost two-third of oxygen in the air we breathe

Food producers:

• Single-celled marine species are key to all the life forms on Earth.
• Algae convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into food for the marine ecosystem.
• They are at the base of the food chain.
• Also, when the algae die, they are consumed by organisms called decomposers (mostly fungi and bacteria).

Petroleum fossils:

• Algae are also responsible for petroleum. When they die, they sink to the ocean floor.
• Over the years, this layer turns into what we know as petroleum.
• Petroleum is essentially fossils of algae; the reason we call it as fossil fuel.

Defence
Exercise MALABAR-21

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Exercise MALABAR-21)
What's the NEWS

• Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt arrived at Guam, an Island Territory of the USA on 21 Aug 21 as part of their on-going deployment to nations in South East Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
• The two ships are scheduled to participate in the annual Exercise MALABAR-21, between navies of Australia, India, Japan and the USA.

Know! about MALABAR Exercise

• MALABAR series of maritime exercises commenced in 1992 as a bilateral IN-USN exercise and has grown in stature over the years to include four prominent navies in the Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.
• Exercise MALABAR-21 will be conducted with USN, JMSDF and RAN at sea from 26-29 Aug 21.
• The exercise will provide an opportunity for common minded navies to enhance inter-operability, gain from best practices and develop a common understanding of procedures for Maritime Security Operations.
• MALABAR-21 would witness high-tempo exercises conducted between Destroyers', Frigates, Corvettes, Submarines, Helicopters and Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the participating navies.
• Complex surface, sub-surface and air operations including Live Weapon Firing Drills, Anti-Surface, Anti-Air and Anti-Submarine Warfare Drills, Joint Manoeuvres and Tactical exercises will be conducted during the exercise.
• Indian Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt are equipped with a versatile array of weapons and sensors, can carry multi-role helicopters and represent the growth of India's warship building capabilities.

Prelims Factoids
EXERCISE KONKAN 2021
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Exercise Konkan 2021)
What's the NEWS

• Exercise Konkan 2021 was held between INS Tabar and HMS Westminster(Royal Navy) in the English Channel.
• The exercise included the participation of integral helicopters of the two ships and the Falcon Electronic Warfare aircraft.
• A wide range of exercises including co-ordinated anti-submarine procedures, firing drills, combined maritime picture compilation, combat formation maneuvering and replenishment at sea were conducted.
• Exercise Konkan 2021 consolidate interoperability and helped cement the strong bonds of friendship the between the two navies.(Indian - United Kingdom)

Prelims Factoids
North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the role of NERAMAC)
What's the NEWS

• Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister has approved a revival package of Rs77.45cr for a revival of North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC), a central Public Section Enterprises under the administrative control of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Regional (MDoNER).
• The revival of NERAMAC will ensure remunerative prices to the farmers and provide better farming facilities and training to the farmers of the North Eastern Region".

Know! about bout NERAMAC

• It was set up to support farmers/producers of North East getting remunerative prices for their produce and thereby bridge the gap between the farmers and the market and also to enhance the agricultural, procurement, processing and marketing infrastructure of the Northeastern Region of India.
• Presently it is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India
• NERAMAC is offering helping hand in sourcing and procuring cash crops of the producers by intervening in the market and provide them remunerative prices.
• It also helps processing units by providing raw materials and arranging packaging materials.
• NERAMAC has a few retail outlets within the North East region which directly sell various processed and value added products produced locally in the region.

National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

• The Union Cabinet also approved the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) as a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a special focus on the North east region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The Mission aims to increase the area under cultivation for Oil Palm by an additional area of 6.5 lakh hectare (ha.) thereby reaching the target of 10 lakh hectares in the next 5 years
• India is the largest edible oil importer in the world and imports 133.50 lakh tonnes costing 80 thousand crores.
• The government has identified the North Eastern region as a special focus area as the target set for the North east in the next 5 years is more than 50% of the overall target of 6.5 lakh hectares set for the entire nation.

NITI Aayog
National Monetisation Pipeline

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) - HIGHLIGHTS)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs,will launch the National Monetisation Pipeline

Know! about NMP

• The National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) comprises a four-year pipeline of the Central Government's brownfield infrastructure assets.
• Besides providing visibility to investors, NMP will also serve as a medium-term roadmap for the Asset Monetisation initiative of the Government.
• The Union Budget 2021-22 laid a lot of emphasis on Asset Monetisation as a means to raise innovative and alternative financing for infrastructure, and included a number of key announcements.

More info about the NMP will be shared in tomorrow's current capsules ( after its official launch)

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