Infrastructure Development - Energy
NTPC Declares its Energy Compact Goals towards Sustainability

Relevance IN -Prelims ( about UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE).+
Ministerial-level Thematic Forums + Mains ( GS III Infrastructure development - energy)
What's the NEWS

• NTPC Limited, India's largest power generating company under Ministry of Power has become first energy company in energy domain in India to declare its Energy Compact goals as part of UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE).

Energy Compact goals

• NTPC has set a target to install 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032. India's largest power producer is also aiming at 10% reduction in net energy intensity by 2032.
• NTPC is among the few organisations globally to declare its Energy Compact goals.
• Further, NTPC has declared that it will form at least 2 international alliances/groups to facilitate clean energy research and promote sustainability in energy value chain by 2025.
• The targets were unveiled in the recently held ‘Ministerial Thematic Forums for the HDLE' event.
• The commitment from NTPC has been made public on UN's website as well.
• United Nations is set to convene a high-level dialogue in September, 2021 to promote the implementation of the energy-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• NTPC has been taking various steps in increasing its green energy portfolio by adding significant capacities of Renewable Energy (RE) Sources.
• The Company had earlier planned to have a minimum of 32 GW capacity through RE sources constituting nearly 25% of its overall power generation capacity by 2032.
• This development will prove to be huge boost for nation's largest energy producer that will catapult its position in the green energy map of the country.

High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE).

• The General Assembly, through resolution 74/225, invited the Secretary-General, with the support of the relevant United Nations system entities, to convene a high-level dialogue in 2021 to promote the implementation of the energy-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in support of the implementation of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (2014-2024), including the global plan of action for the Decade, and the high-level political forum on sustainable development.
• The High-level Dialogue on Energy in 2021 represents the first global gathering on energy under the auspices of the General Assembly since the UN Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy held in Nairobi in 1981.
• Marking the 40^th anniversary of the Nairobi conference, it presents a historic opportunity to provide transformational action in the first years of the SDG Decade of Action and support the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Ministerial-level Thematic Forums

• Ministerial-level Thematic Forums will bring together key stakeholders virtually over five days, 21-25 June 2021, to mobilize actions as a major milestone on the road to the High-level Dialogue on Energy in September 2021.
• Ministers from national governments and leaders from business, cities, civil society and youth organizations and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to showcase solutions and partnerships on each priority theme and present their Energy Compacts, setting out their voluntary commitments and actions.
• A report detailing recommendations for action needed on each of the five priority themes will be officially launched at each Forum by the Technical Working Group co-lead organizations.
• Together these five reports will comprise a global roadmap for achieving affordable and clean energy for all by 2030, on the road to net-zero emissions by 2050.
• SDG7 Action Zones will provide space for side events where Energy Compacts can be featured, bringing together interested partners.

Defence
INS TABAR DEPLOYED TO PARTICIPATE IN JOINT EXERCISES WITH FRIENDLY NAVIES IN AFRICA AND EUROPE

Relevance IN -Prelims ( about INS Tabar deployment)
What's the NEWS

• Towards enhancing military cooperation with friendly nations, Indian Naval Ship Tabar commenced her prolonged deployment on 13 June and will visit a number of ports in Africa and Europe till end September.

INS Tabar deployment ( activities and participations)

• During port visits, Tabar will conduct professional, social and sporting interactions. The ship will also participate in a number of joint exercises with friendly navies.
• During the deployment, INS Tabar will transit across the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea and Baltic Sea while making port calls at Djibouti, Egypt, Italy, France, UK, Russia, Netherlands, Morocco, and Arctic Council countries like Sweden and Norway.
• In addition to PASSEX with host navies of countries being visited, the ship is also scheduled to participate in bilateral exercises like Ex Konkan with Royal Navy, Ex Varuna with French Navy and Ex Indra with Russian Federation Navy.
• The deployment will also see participation by the ship in the Russian Navy Day celebrations from 22 to 27 July.
• The ship will operate in conjunction with the friendly navies, so as to build military relations, develop interoperability and project long range sustenance.
• IN undertakes regular overseas deployments particularly in the maritime areas of primary interest.
• These engagements are aimed to further strengthen maritime security in the region and to consolidate combined operations against maritime threats.
• These interactions will also offer an opportunity to navies to observe and imbibe the ‘Best Practices' followed in each other's Navy.
• INS Tabar, is a Talwar-class stealth Frigate built for Indian Navy in Russia.
• The ship is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors and is among the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy.
• The ship is part of the Indian Navy's Western Fleet which is based at Mumbai under Western Naval Command.

Prelims Factoids
Zen Garden and Kaizen Academy
Relevance IN -Prelims ( about Zen garden and Kaizen academy)
What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate a Japanese Zen garden and Kaizen academy at the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA)
• Zen-Kaizen'' at AMA seeks to showcase several elements of Japanese art, culture, landscape and architecture, and it is a joint endeavour of the Japan Information and Study Centre at AMA and Indo-Japan Friendship Association (IJFA), Gujarat, supported by the Hyogo International Association (HIA), Japan

Social Justice
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Relevance IN -Prelims ( about Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) + International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking + Mains ( GS II Social Justice and social issues)
What's the NEWS

• The Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment launched the website for the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan(NMBA) on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
• The Day is observed worldwide to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving the goal of a sustainable world free of substance abuse.
• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, which is the nodal ministry for Drug Demand Reduction, implements various programmes for the drug abuse prevention across the country.
• The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan website launched today provides detailed information about the Abhiyaan and its activities, give glimpses through the Photo & video gallery, provides IEC resource material and information on the institutions set up by the Ministry with the aim of Drug Demand reduction.

• This year, to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment organized a 6-day Nasha Mukt Bharat Summit which ended with the e-launch of several initiatives undertaken by the Ministry for the prevention of Drug Abuse.

National Comprehensive Survey

• According to the National Comprehensive Survey conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, there are more than 60 million drug users in the country of which a large number of users are in the age group of 10-17 years.

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'(NMBA)

• 272 high burden districts were selected under NMBA. Nearly 8000 youth volunteers have been going door to door and canvassing against substance abuse.
• The ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' or a ‘Drugs-Free India Campaign' was flagged off on 15th August 2020 across 272 districts of the country found to be most vulnerable based on the data available from various sources.
• The focal points of the Campaign are preventive, mass education and sensitization, capacity building of service providers, positive partnership with educational institutions, and augmentation of treatment, rehabilitation and counselling facilities.

Science & Technology
The triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG)
Relevance IN -Prelims ( about triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG)
What's the NEWS

• Scientists have fabricated a simple, cost-effective, bio-compatible, transparent nanogenerator that can generate electricity from vibrations all around for use in optoelectronics, self-powered devices, and other biomedical applications.

Know! about TENG

• The triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) make use of mechanical energy in the form of vibrations present everywhere in different forms to generate electricity.
• The energy harvesting TENG works on the principle of creation of electrostatic charges via instantaneous physical contact of two dissimilar materials followed by generation of potential difference when a mismatch is introduced between the two contacted surfaces through a mechanical force.
• This mechanism drives the electrons to move back and forth between the conducting films coated on the back of the tribo layers.
• The method employed till date to design TENG use expensive fabrication methods like photolithography or reactive ion etching, and additional process like electrode preparation and so on.

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

• June 26 every year is observed as International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking or World Drug Day to create awareness about issues related to drugs and seek international cooperation to combat its effects on health, society, and governance.
• This year, the theme is ‘Share Facts On Drugs, Save Lives'. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the motive is to combat misinformation by sharing real facts on drugs - from health risks and solutions for the world drug problem to evidence-based prevention, treatment, and care.
• The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade.
• UNODC prepares the World Drug Report which contains factual data and statistics to address the current drug problem.
• The day June 26 was chosen by the UN General Assembly, on December 7, 1987, as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by its resolution 42/112.
• The assembly made the decision to observe this day as an expression of its resolution to make international society free of drug abuse.

Defence
Construction of first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier(IAC)

Relevance IN -Prelims ( about India's first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC)
What's the NEWS

• India's first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), progress of which was reviewed by Defence Minister will begin its sea trials next month and is set to be commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command as INS Vikrant by mid-2022.
• The nearly Rs 24,000-crore project has been hit by delays. While the original targeted year of commissioning was 2018, Covid pandemic contributed to the delay later.

INS Vikrant

• The IAC would be commissioned as INS Vikrant in the first half of 2022, which would be the most potent sea-based asset.
• The ship shall operate MiG-29K fighter aircraft, Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters, the soon to be inducted MH-60R multi-role helicopter and the indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters.
• It would offer an incomparable military instrument with its ability to project Air Power over long distances, including Air Interdiction, Anti-Surface Warfare, offensive and defensive Counter-Air, Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare and Airborne Early Warning.
• IAC has nearly 75 per cent indigenous content - from design to steel used in construction to key weapons and sensors.
• A recent approval accorded by the Defence Acquisition Council for RFP of Project 75-I under the Strategic Partnership model, which will give further fillip to indigenous development of niche manufacturing technologies.

Defence Minister's two days visit to the Southern Naval Command (highlights)

• The Defence Minister was also informed about the activities being conducted and planned by Indian Navy towards ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh' being celebrated by the Armed Forces to commemorate the victory of 1971 war and ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of India's Independence.
• The Raksha Mantri reiterated the Prime Minister's vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the wider goal of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific to ensure peace and stability in the region.
• The Raksha Mantri lauded Indian Navy for its contribution in the fight against COVID-19 - from bringing back Indian citizens from overseas during Operation Samudra Setu I and ferrying in Liquid Medical Oxygen from abroad during Operation Samudra Setu lI - despite the danger of spread of the virus onboard warships.
• He also commended the Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts by Navy during Cyclone Tauktae and Cyclone Yaas.
• The Defence Minister also visited the Karwar Naval Base and reviewed the progress of ongoing infrastructure development under ‘Project Seabird'
• Project Seabird at Karwar will be the Asia's largest Naval Base

Know! the history of IAC 1

• Though the original plans for the ship were floated in 1989, the design work began fresh in 1999 after then Defence Minister George Fernandes green-lighted the project that had been stuck due to a number of reasons, including financial resources.
• The keel was laid in February 2009. It was floated out of its dry dock in December 2011 and was launched on 12 August 2013.
• It has been designed by the Indian Navy's Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
• The IAC is 262 metres long and 62 metres wide and has a STOBAR (short takeoff but arrested recovery) configuration with a ski jump capability.
• Once commissioned, INS Vikrant would be the most potent sea-based asset of the Indian Navy.
• The carrier would have on board about 35-40 aircraft - a mix of naval fighters, anti-submarine helicopters, and naval UAVs.

Environment
LIDAR survey of forest areas in 10 states for water and fodder augmentation released

Relevance IN -Prelims ( about WAPCOS and LIDAR Survey)
What's the NEWS

• Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change in a virtual event released the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of LiDAR based survey of forest areas in ten states namely Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura.

Project Reports (DPRs) of LiDAR based survey (highlights)

• The project which was awarded to WAPCOS, a PSU under the aegis of Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India is a first of its kind and a unique experiment using LiDAR technology which will help augment water and fodder in jungles areas thereby reducing human-animal conflict, help in groundwater recharge, help local communities and also asked state forest departments to use CAMPA funds towards implementation of these projects in right earnest and in accordance with the ‘Ridge to Valley' approach of watershed management.
• WAPCOS has prepared these DPR's using LiDAR technology in which the 3-D(three dimensional) DEM (Digital Elevation Model), imagery and layers of the project areas are used for recommending different types of Soil & Water conservation structures such as Anicut, Gabion, Gully Plug, Mini percolation tank, Percolation Tank, Field bund, Sunken pond, Farm pond etc.
• These structures will help in catching the rain water and prevent stream run off, which will help in recharging of Ground water.
• WAPCOS with the participation of State Forest Departments identified one major ridge inside a forest block in these states with average area of 10,000 ha selected in each State for preparation of Detailed Project Reports for planning and identifying locations and structures for construction of appropriate and feasible micro soil and water conservation structures consistent with site specific geography, topography and soil characteristics.
• States/UTs identified one major ridge inside a forest block with the criteria that area selected should have average rainfall of the state, and the area requires assisted natural generation which means the density of forests should be less than 0.4 or below, but should have reasonable potential to regenerate with the ANR interventions.
• The project was awarded to WAPCOS in July 2020 at a cost of Rs.18.38 Crore/- for implementation in 26 states over 261897 hectare. The DPR's for the remaining 16 states will also be released shortly.

Know! about WAPCOS

• WAPCOS Limited earlier known as Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited is an Indian government undertaking and consultancy firm wholly owned by Ministry of Jal Shakti , Government of India.
• The firm provides consultancy services in the fields of water resources, power and infrastructure.
• Launched in 1969, it is now an ISO 9001:2015 certified, Mini Ratna company with several projects across India, Asia and Africa.
• WAPCOS was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 on 26 June 1969.
• Since its founding, the company has undertaken consultancy assignments in 50 countries globally.
• WAPCOS is currently a Schedule B company in India with a turnover of Rs. 5.50 billion in 2012-13
• WAPCOS provides a range of services in the areas of infrastructure development, water resources and power generation.
• As a consultancy, some of its activities include pre-feasibility studies and feasibility studies, master plans and regional development plans, detailed engineering reports, commissioning and testing, operations and maintenance and capacity building and human resource development in its areas of competence.
• WAPCOS also provides commissioning services for developmental projects in India and abroad.
• WAPCOS has developed a large global presence over the years, especially in South Asia and across Africa.
• It has undertaken works in 50 countries around the world in areas of power, water resources and infrastructural development.

Know! about LIDAR

• Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth.
• These light pulses-combined with other data recorded by the airborne system - generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.
• A lidar instrument principally consists of a laser, a scanner, and a specialized GPS receiver. Airplanes and helicopters are the most commonly used platforms for acquiring lidar data over broad areas.
• Two types of lidar are topographic and bathymetric. Topographic lidar typically uses a near-infrared laser to map the land, while bathymetric lidar uses water-penetrating green light to also measure seafloor and riverbed elevations.
• Lidar systems allow scientists and mapping professionals to examine both natural and manmade environments with accuracy, precision, and flexibility.
• Scientists are using lidar to produce more accurate shoreline maps, make digital elevation models for use in geographic information systems, to assist in emergency response operations, and in many other applications.

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