Connect to Current -Daily Current Capsules 9th March 2019

NITI Aayog
National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage approved by Cabinet

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the mobility mission) + Mains (GS III infrastructure development - energy + environment conservation)

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved:
i. Setting up of a National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, to drive clean, connected, shared, sustainable and holistic mobility initiatives;
ii. Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) valid for 5 years till 2024 to support setting up of a few large-scale, export-competitive integrated batteries and cell-manufacturing Giga plants in India.
iii. Creation of a PMP valid for 5 years till 2024 to localize production across the entire Electric Vehicles value chain.

Know! all about National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Storage:

Composition:
• The multi-disciplinary "National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage" with an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee will be chaired by CEO NITI Aayog.
Role:
• The Mission will recommend and drive the strategies for transformative mobility and Phased Manufacturing Programmes for EVs, EV Components and Batteries.
• A Phased Manufacturing Program (PMP) will be launched to localize production across the entire EV value chain.
• The National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage will determine the contours of PMP, and will finalise the details of such a program.

Roadmaps:
• A phased roadmap to implement battery manufacturing at Giga-scale will be considered with initial focus on large-scale module and pack assembly plants by 2019-20, followed by integrated cell manufacturing by 2021-22.

• Details of the PMP for Batteries shall be formulated by the Mission. The Mission will ensure holistic and comprehensive growth of the battery manufacturing industry in India.
Impact:
• The Mission will drive mobility solutions that will bring in significant benefits to the industry, economy and country.

• These solutions will help improve air quality in cities along with reducing India's oil import dependence and enhance the uptake of renewable energy and storage solutions.

• The Mission will lay down the strategy and roadmap which will enable India to leverage upon its size and scale to develop a competitive domestic manufacturing ecosystem for electric mobility.
Know! the genesis of it
• During the Global Mobility Summit held in September 2018, Prime Minister had outlined the vision for the future of mobility in India based on 7 C's which are Common, Connected, Convenient, Congestion-free, Charged, Clean and Cutting-edge mobility.
• Mobility has the potential to drive the economy forward and positively impact the lives of citizens both in urban and rural areas.

Factoids
Advanced Braking Systems Made Mandatary for Vehicles
Relevance IN - Prelims ( facts regarding the advance braking system)

What's the NEWS
• The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has decided to mandate advanced braking systems, technologies and performance requirements for improved road safety and reducing accidents.
• The provision will be binding on all vehicles with 9 seats and above.

Know! more about it
• A notification to this effect was issued. The existing vehicles will be required to adopt new provisions with effect from April 2021, while all new vehicles rolling out from April 2022 will have these pre-fitted.

• This includes mandatory fitment of Anti lock braking system, introduction of stringent braking performance, endurance braking requirements, intelligent braking system to assist drivers in managing braking force, and electronic stability for better stability and to reduce roll over.
• With this, Indian braking regulations will be at par with European standards.

Economic Development
Government approves Strategic Disinvestment of 100% GOI shares in Dredging Corporation in favour of Visakhapatnam Port, Paradip Port,Deendayal Port and JNPT
Relevance IN - ( Prelims - about disinvestment) + Mains ( GS III economic developments)

What's the NEWS
• The Government had accorded approval for Strategic Disinvestment of 100% GOI shares in DCIL in favour of consortium of 4 ports, namely, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Paradip Port Trust, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Deendayal Port Trust (formely known as Knadla Port Trust).

• The share purchase agreement was executed between GOI and the four ports on 8.3.2019. With this the 73.47% holding of GOI in DCI has been transferred to the four ports

• The Government has mobilized a total amount of Rs. 1049 Cr. By this strategic sale
• With this transfer of shares, the management and control of the company has been also transferred to the four Ports.

• With this transfer of the shares and management and control, of the Company, it is expected that the Company will have more operational and financial freedom in decision making which would enable the Company to take up and execute more works in an efficient way.

Know! about DCI
• Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI) on 29th March, 1976, was incorporated as wholly owned Government of India Undertaking with the primary objective of catering to the dredging requirements of Indian ports.
• DCI was initially incorporated as a 100% Government owned Company.

• The Company was declared a Mini Ratna - Category I Public sector enterprise in the year 1999. The Company is a Schedule B Public Sector Enterprises.
• The Registered Office of the Company is situated at New Delhi. The head office of the company is located on the east coast of India at Visakhapatnam.

Infrastructure Development
The Government of India, the World Bank and the representatives of Five States sign the Loan Agreement for Additional Financing of $137 Million for the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about DRIP) + Mains ( GS III economic developments + environment conservation)

What's the NEWS

• The World Bank, the Government of India and representatives of 5 States of Government of India and Implementing Agencies signed the Loan Agreement for Additional Financing of $137 Million for the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) that will help rehabilitate and modernize over 220 selected large dams in the States of Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.

Know! more about the agreement
• In 2010, the Bank's Board approved $350 million to finance the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project to improve the safety and sustainable performance of over 220 selected dams in India.

• This Ongoing Project has so far benefitted 25 Million Primary Beneficiaries from urban and rural communities providing them water and livelihood opportunities.
• India is home to more than 5200 large dams and another 400 that are under construction having a total storage capacity of more than 300 billion cubic meters.

• The dams play a key role in fostering rapid and sustained agricultural and rural growth and development - a key priority for the Government of India since independence.
• The World Bank has so far invested $280 million in the Project that acts as a "lighthouse", showcasing how best to make dams fully operational and safe in a technically sound and sustainable manner.

Know! more about DRIP

• Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project (DRIP) DRIP is a state sector scheme with central component to improve safety and operational performance of selected dams, along with institutional strengthening with system wide management approach.

• The project was launched in 2012 by Central Water Commission (CWC) under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation with assistance from World Bank.

• Originally the scheme was scheduled for six years with closure in June 2018 with total original cost of Rs. 2100 crore with state component of Rs. 1968 crore and central component of Rs. 132 Crore

• Rehabilitation of old dams in country experiencing distress and are in need of attention for ensuring their structural safety and operational efficiency

• Strengthening institutional capacity and project management in this area.

• Bring greater awareness on dam safety issues and finding novel solutions to address them by pooling best knowledge, technologies and experience available around world

Environment, Forest and Climate Change
India Cooling Action Plan Launched
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the action plan) + Mains( GS III environment conservation)

What's the NEWS
• India is one of the first countries in the world to develop a comprehensive Cooling Action plan which has a long term vision to address the cooling requirement across sectors and lists out actions which can help reduce the cooling demand.

• Cooling requirement is cross sectoral and an essential part for economic growth and is required across different sectors of the economy such as residential and commercial buildings, cold-chain, refrigeration, transport and industries

India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP)
• The overarching goal of ICAP is to provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all while securing environmental and socio-economic benefits for the society.

• This will also help in reducing both direct and indirect emissions." said Dr. Vardhan.
• India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) provides an integrated vision towards cooling across sectors encompassing inter alia reduction of cooling demand, refrigerant transition, enhancing energy efficiency and better technology options with a 20 year time horizon.

The India Cooling Action seeks to
(i) reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% to 25% by 2037-38,
(ii) reduce refrigerant demand by 25% to 30% by 2037-38,
(iii) Reduce cooling energy requirements by 25% to 40% by 2037-38
(iv) Recognize "cooling and related areas" as a thrust area of research under national S&T Programme,
(v) Training and certification of 100,000 servicing sector technicians by 2022-23, synergizing with Skill India Mission.

• Cooling is also linked to human health and productivity. Linkages of cooling with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are well acknowledged.

• The cross-sectoral nature of cooling and its use in development of the economy makes provision for cooling an important developmental necessity.
• The development of ICAP has been a multi-stakeholder inclusive process encompassing different Government Ministries/Departments/Organizations, Industry and Industry Associations, Think tanks, Academic and R&D institutions.

Defence
India signs $3 billion contract with Russia for lease of a nuclear submarine
Chakra III submarine

What's the NEWS
• India and Russia have signed an agreement for the leasing of a nuclear-powered attack submarine for the Indian Navy for a period of 10 years.
Know! more about the agreement
• Russia will be delivering the Akula class submarine, to be known as Chakra III, to the Indian Navy by 2025.
• India had earlier leased two nuclear submarines from Russia. They are INS Chakra leased in 1988 under a three-year lease and second INS Chakra was taken on lease in 2012 for a period of 10 years.

• Russia will lease Akula class submarine for the period of 10 years at the cost of USD 3 billion.
• Chakra III will be equipped with Indian communication systems and sensors, including the indigenously-developed USHUS integrated sonar system and Panchendriya sonar.

• Chakra III get a unified submarine sonar and tactical control system, which are already in use on the INS Arihant.
• The Indian Navy also operates the home-built, nuclear-propelled submarine INS Arihant, which is equipped with nuclear ballistic missiles. A second nuclear submarine, INS Aririghat, will be commissioned later this year, with two more currently under construction.

• India has already commissioned French Scorpene submarine INS Kalvari and is in the process of inducting another French Scorpene submarine INS Khanderi

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