Relevance IN - Prelims (about the Healthy and Energy Efficient Buildings initiative + about MAITREE program + about EESL) + Mains (GS III infrastructure development -energy)
What's the NEWS

• On occasion of World Environment Day, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) MAITREE program, launched the "Healthy and Energy Efficient Buildings" initiative that will pioneer ways to make workplaces healthier and greener.

• This initiative is addressing the challenges of retrofitting existing buildings and air conditioning systems so that they are both healthy and energy efficient.
• This pilot will pave the way for other buildings to take appropriate steps to be healthy and energy efficient.
• EESL has taken the lead by being the first to implement the idea in its own office in New Delhi.

• The Market Integration and Transformation Program for Energy Efficiency (MAITREE), under which this initiative has been launched, is a part of the US-India bilateral Partnership between the Ministry of Power and USAID and is aimed at accelerating the adoption of cost-effective energy efficiency as a standard practice within buildings, and specifically focuses on cooling.

• It is a Super-Energy Service Company (ESCO)
• It enables consumers, industries and governments to effectively manage their energy needs through energy efficient technologies.
• EESL is implementing the world's largest non-subsidised energy efficiency portfolio across sectors like lighting, buildings, e-mobility, smart metering and agriculture
• EESL focuses on solution-driven innovation with no subsidy or capital expenditure (CAPEX).
• It is able to do so using its Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) model, which obviates the need for any upfront capital investment by the consumer.
• The entire investment by EESL is recovered through monetised energy savings over a scheduled project period.
• EESL is promoted by the Ministry of Power Government of India as a Joint Venture of four reputed public-sector undertakings - NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation Limited., REC Limited, and POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited

• USAID is the world's premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results.
• It is an independent agency of the United States federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about ‘#iCommit' initiative ) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development -energy + GS II Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
their design and implementation
What's the NEWS

• The Ministry of Power has initiated the ‘#iCommit' campaign, on the occasion of World Environment Day.
• The initiative is a clarion call to all stakeholders and individuals to continue moving towards energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability to create a robust and resilient energy system in the future.

Know! more about the initiative

• The ‘#iCommit' initiative, driven by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the administration of Ministry of Power, Government of India is uniting a diverse set of players such as Governments, Corporates, Multilateral and Bilateral Organisations, Think Tanks and Individuals.
• The #iCommit initiative, especially in the backdrop of World Environment Day can bring together a diverse spectrum of government and private players to build a new energy future for India.
• The ‘#iCommit' initiative is centred around the idea of building an energy resilient future.
• The pre-requisite for that goal is to create a flexible and agile power system.

The initiative will also celebrate and promote key undertakings of Government of India such as

• National Electric Mobility Mission 2020
• FAME 1 and 2
• DeenDayalUpadhyaya Gram JyotiYojana
• the Saubhagya Scheme
• Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojna (UDAY)
• Atal Distribution system Improvement Yojna (AJAY)
• Smart Meter National Programme, PradhanmantriKisanUrja Suraksha evamUtthanMahaabhiya (KUSUM)
• Solar Parks
• Grid Connected Rooftop
• Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LED for All (UJALA)
• Atal Jyoti Yojna (AJAY)

Government Schemes
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2020-21
Relevance IN -Prelims ( about Sovereign Gold Bonds scheme and its features)
What's the NEWS

• The Sovereign Gold Bonds 2020-21 (Series III) will be opened for the period June 08-12, 2020 with Settlement date June 16, 2020.
• The issue price of the Bond during the subscription period shall be Rs 4,677 (Rupees Four thousand Six hundred Seventy seven only) - per gram
• The central bank in April had announced that the government will issue Sovereign Gold Bonds in six tranches from April 20 till September.
• Sovereign Gold Bonds 2020-21 will be issued by Reserve Bank India on behalf of the Government of India.

Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme

• It was launched by Govt in November 2015, under Gold Monetisation Scheme
• Under the scheme, the issues are made open for subscription in tranches by RBI in consultation with GOI.
• RBI Notifies the terms and conditions for the scheme from time to time.
• The rate of SGB will be declare by RBI before every new tranche by issuing a Press Release.
• The bonds will be denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold with a basic unit of 1 gram and the tenor of the Sovereign Gold Bond will be eight years with exit option after fifth year to be exercised on interest payment dates.
• The bonds are restricted for sale to resident individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), trusts, universities and charitable institutions.
• The minimum permissible investment will be 1 gram of gold, and the maximum limit of subscription shall be 4 kg for individual, 4 kg for HUF and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March).
• The gold bonds will be sold through banks (except small finance banks and payment banks), Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL), designated post offices, and recognised stock exchanges (NSE and BSE).
• It was launched with an objective to reduce the demand for physical gold and shift a part of the domestic savings, used for purchase of gold, into financial savings.

Other Gold Schemes

Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
President promulgates two Ordinances with the aim of giving a boost to rural India and agriculture

Relevance IN - Prelims ( facts regarding these two schemes) + Mains ( GS III farmer's welfare + GS II government policies and interventions)
What's the NEWS

• The President of India has promulgated the following Ordinances with the aim of giving a boost to rural India for farmers engaged in agriculture and allied activities;

i. The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Ordinance 2020
ii. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance 2020

The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Ordinance 2020

• It will provide for the creation of an ecosystem where the farmers and traders enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and purchase of farmers' produce which facilitates remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels.
• It will promote efficient, transparent and barrier-free inter-State and intra-State trade and commerce of farmers' produce outside the physical premises of markets or deemed markets notified under various State agricultural produce market legislations.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance 2020

• It will provide for a national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri- business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner

Benefits is these two ordinances

• The above two measures will enable barrier-free trade in agriculture produce, and also empower the farmers to engage with sponsors of his choice. The freedom of the farmer, which is of paramount importance, has thus been provided.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Urban Forest scheme to develop 200 ‘Nagar Van' across the country in next five years

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about World Environment day + about Urban forest Scheme) + Mains ( GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• On the occasion of World Environment Day, the government announced implementation of the Nagar van scheme to develop 200 Urban Forests across the country in next five years with a renewed focus on people's participation and collaboration between Forest Department, Municipal bodies, NGOs, Corporates and local citizens.

Know! about WED

• World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on 5^th June every year. Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change celebrates WED focusing on the theme declared by United Nation's Environment Programme (UNEP)
• This year's theme is ‘Biodiversity'.
• The ministry held virtual celebrations of World Environment Day on this year's theme with focus on Nagar Van (Urban Forests).

Know! about Nagar Van scheme ( benefits)

• These forests will work as lungs of the cities and will primarily be on the forest land in the City or any other vacant land offered by local urban local bodies.
• Biodiversity is vital for survival of all life form on this planet and is a key to providing various ecological services.
• Biodiversity conservation has traditionally been considered confined to remote forest areas but with increasing urbanisation a need has arisen to safeguard and save biodiversity in urban areas also.
• Urban forest is the best way to bridge this gap.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has therefore, appropriately adopted Nagar van as the theme of WED celebrations 2020 to promote and conserve biodiversity in urban landscapes.

The Warje Urban Forest ( fact to substantiate your answer)

• The initiatives of Punaikars along with Forest Department and local body has converted 16.8 ha of a barren hill into green forests.
• This Urban Forest project started in 2015 as a pilot project under PPP is now helping maintain ecological balance, serving both environmental and social needs. The Warje Urban Forest(Pune) is now a role model for the rest of the country.

Know! the Indian Biodiversity statics

• India has 8 percent of world's biodiversity, despite having many constraint like only 2.5 % of the world's landmass, has to carry 16% of human as well as cattle population and having only 4% of fresh water sources
• India is endowed with rich biodiversity having several species of animals and plants and hosts 4 of the 35 global bio-diversity hotspots containing several endemic species.

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