Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• Judgement reserved – Too early to celebrate the lithium find

GS Paper 2

• Changes in organ transplant rules: A new lease of life
• All That India Can Do To Make Cancer A Less Dismal State
• The curious case of the disqualification of a politician
• On sealed cover jurisprudence

GS Paper 3

• land degradation: Saving the land for better use
• India as a developed country: Developed by 2047? Yes

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Chandrayaan-3 successfully completes crucial test
• AICTE launches a curriculum designed for B. Tech Electronics VLSI Design & Technology and Diploma in IC Manufacturing
• How is India addressing sickle cell anaemia?
• Union Minister launches Sagar Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port in Gujarat
• Indians go West, take up ‘residence by investment’
• Navy plans for another Vikrant-size carrier before Vikramaditya retires
• India plans to export solar power: official
• North India’s first Nuclear Plant is coming up in Haryana in the town of Gorakhpur
• Centre Approves Odisha’s Proposal to Declare Debrigarh a Tiger Reserve

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

Judgement reserved – Too early to celebrate the lithium find

News: Recently, a vast deposit of lithium ores has been found in Jammu´s Reasi district.

What is Lithium?

About the Lithium findings

What are the applications of Lithium?

What are the issues with extracting the identified Lithium resources?

If the estimates that the Reasi deposits of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium are close to being accurate, then India possesses the largest reserves after Bolivia. However, a) the accurate estimates of proven quantity could eventually be significantly lower than the current inferred amount.

b) The extraction process could take a decade or more and require substantial investment. For instance, in 2005, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) announced that it had discovered $100 billion worth of natural gas in the offshore Krishna Godavari Basin. It was hailed as a historic moment and large investments poured in over the next 17 years. But GPSC still did not achieve commercial production.

c) India should not only have to extract and refine lithium but also set up a value chain for battery production. This process of extraction, refining, and battery production will take a fair amount of investment and time.

d) The project will create a serious environmental impact and possibly require the shifting of local populations since the area is geologically “young” and seismically unstable.

e) Reasi is close to the Line of Control, which means there could be geopolitical complications.

What should be done?

The government will have to work out a comprehensive policy if the reserves are proven.

Work on sodium-ion batteries: India has always been aware that it is lacking in lithium reserves. Hence, India has invested in researching alternative storage technologies involving sodium-ion batteries. Sodium is far more abundantly available than lithium it can be extracted from seawater. There has been promising research into sodium-ion battery technologies in the laboratories of the IITs. Indian should continue and scale up it to be commercially available.

The lithium discovery is worth investigating, but that should not hurt research on alternative storage technologies.

GS Paper 2

Changes in organ transplant rules: A new lease of life

News: The Union Health Ministry has recently revised several guidelines related to organ donation.

What is Organ Donation?

India’s organ transfer law recognises donations by the patient’s close relatives — parents, spouses and siblings. In case, a near relative is medically incompatible with the recipient, the pair is permitted a swap transplant with another related unmatched pair.

What are the revised guidelines for organ donation?

What are the benefits of the revised guidelines for organ donation?

Benefits of removing the upper age limit for registration: The pool of organ donors for a large section of critically ill people above 65 will be wider. Senior citizens in the age group above 65 can now register to receive donations from live donors.

Benefits of removing domicile-related restrictions: Earlier, some states either registered recipients who lived there or accorded priority to them in allocating organs. Now the new guidelines will make organs accessible for timely transplants.

Increase organ transplantation: India conducts the third-highest number of transplants in the world every year. But only 4% of the patients who require a liver, heart or kidney transplant manage to get one.

The new guidelines will increase organ transplantation percentages in India.

What are the issues with organ donation in India?

Problem with organ shortage: It is a complex problem faced by policy planners from not only India but also from nations whose healthcare systems are far better equipped than India’s.

The issue of the black market in organ donation: The majority of organ donations in the country are not by the close kin of patients. This highlights the black market which lures the desperately poor to sell their organs.

An issue with the screening committee: Donors have to convince a screening committee of their altruistic motives. But suggestions to make the proceedings of the committees more transparent have been ignored by authorities.

What should be done to address issues in organ donation in India?

India’s growing burden of lifestyle diseases might increase demand for the pool of organs. Hence, India should increase the pool of organs along with regulatory creativity without compromising on ethical imperatives.

Introduce an opt-out system: It is adopted in some western countries. Under this, all citizens will be donors unless they “opt out”. But for introducing such a system in India, the government should improve awareness of organ donation.

All That India Can Do To Make Cancer A Less Dismal State

News: Recently, World Cancer Day was celebrated.

About cancer in India

The incidence of all cancers is estimated to increase to 15.7 lahks by 2025. The incidence of cancer of the uterine cervix has reportedly dropped over the last 50 years from 45 to 10 per 1,00,000 population, and the HPV vaccine will likely to reduce it further. Breast cancer continues to rise in urban centres.

What are the challenges in reducing cancer in India?

-India made little progress to detect cancer early enough to reduce death rates.

-Because of high levels of pollution, India is going to witness a significant rise in rates of lung cancer in the future among non-smokers too.

-People who live in villages have much more advanced stages of cancer than their urban counterparts.

-There is also a lack of awareness and widespread use of carcinogenic products like tobacco in India.

-Cancer generally presents itself in an older age group. As human life spans increase the risk of getting cancer also rises. Older adults also have additional problems associated with ageing.

What are the steps undertaken to detect cancer in India?

Access to early detection facilities and affordable treatments have an important role in reducing cancer mortality.

The government is providing that by making primary health centres more responsive and taking attempts through Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. This will shorten the time lag between diagnoses and treatment.

What should be done to reduce cancer in India?

Compulsory Palliative care: Only an estimated 1 in 10 people who need palliative care worldwide are receiving it. In India, it is estimated that less than 2% of people with serious and chronic conditions availing palliative relief care. So, palliative care must be made part of India’s healthcare agenda and should be available to all.

Focus on preventive health: For example, tobacco is implicated in one-third of India’s cancers. Punitive measures and higher taxation of tobacco products as well as bans should be imposed along with strict and effective enforcement for raising awareness and tackling cultural factors.

Focus on technological solutions: Such as immunotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy and other cutting-edge treatments and technological advances.

India should work on preventing cancer, catching it early and ensuring the quality of life for those who have it.

The curious case of the disqualification of a politician

News: The Kerala High Court suspended the verdict passed by the District and Sessions Court in which the then-sitting MP of Lakshadweep was sentenced to 10 years in jail.  

What is the issue? 

A sitting MP of Lakshadweep was convicted by the Kavaratti sessions court on January 11.  The Lok Sabha announced that he was disqualified as an MP with effect from the date of conviction. The Election Commission of India fixed a date for a by-election to that constituency.  

However, the Kerala High Court stayed his conviction and sentence. The High Court said that the consequence of not suspending the conviction is drastic not just for the particular person but also for the nation. The MP then challenged the ECI’s announcement in the SC of India.  

What is the question before SC? 

It is related to whether the person automatically will resume his membership of the Lok Sabha.  

The answer lies in deciding whether the cancellation of disqualification takes effect when the High Court suspended the conviction or from the date of conviction and disqualification.  

What are constitutional and legal provisions regarding the disqualification of a sitting member of Parliament? 

Article 102 of the Constitution contains provisions for disqualification. It specifies that a person shall be disqualified from contesting elections and being a Member of Parliament under certain conditions.  

These include holding an office of profit, being of unsound mind or insolvent, or not being a citizen of India.  

It also authorises Parliament to make law determining conditions of disqualifications. There are analogous provisions for members of state legislatures. 

The Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides that a person will be disqualified if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more. The person is disqualified for a period of imprisonment and a further six years.  

There is an exception for sitting members. They have been provided a period of three months from the date of conviction to appeal. The disqualification will not be applicable until the appeal is decided.  

What are the judgements of higher courts on disqualification? 

The differential treatment of candidates for elections and sitting members were challenged under Article 14. The Supreme Court in K. Prabhakaran vs P. Jayarajan case decided that the consequences of disqualifying a contestant and a sitting member were different. 

In the case of sitting members, the strength of the party in the legislature would change. It could have an adverse impact if a government had a thin majority. It would also trigger a by-election. Therefore, it was reasonable to treat the two categories differently.  

It stated that disqualification would be removed with retrospective effect as this would require the cancellation of election results. Therefore, the removal of disqualification would be prospective and for future elections. 

Supreme Court in Lily Thomas vs Union of India case, 2013 stated that Article 102 empowers Parliament to make law regarding the disqualification of a person. If Parliament could specify conditions for disqualification, those conditions would apply equally to candidates and sitting members. 

If a Member of Parliament was disqualified under Article 102, his seat shall become vacant. Therefore, the disqualification will be automatic and have immediate effect. 

On sealed cover jurisprudence

News: The Chief Justice of India firmly refused the ‘suggestions’ offered by the government in a sealed cover on the formation of a proposed committee to enquire into the Hindenburg report on the Adani Group. 

What are the issues related to the practice of routine handing over of sealed covers by the government? 

It erodes public confidence in the ‘open court’ principle of justice administration.  

The petitioners are unable to defend themselves. They do not know what they are supposed to defend against.  

Passing on materials in a sealed cover to the court compels judges to accept the state’s version, that too, in cases in which the government’s narrative is under challenge. 

What are the historical facts related to this practice? 

The origins of sealed cover jurisprudence can be traced to service or administrative cases. Official service records and promotion assessments of individual personnel were received in a sealed cover in order to avoid harm to the reputation of officers.  

The court continues to receive confidential documents in sexual assault cases to protect the identity of survivors. However, recently there has been a rise in the incidence of the government providing documents in a sealed cover. 

Sealed cover documents have been received by the apex court in cases such as the Rafale jets’ purchase deal, the Assam National Register of Citizens case, the Ayodhya title dispute, the Gujarat Police ‘fake’ encounter case, the electoral bonds case, and Bhima Koregaon case.  

What are the rules associated with this practice? 

Supreme Court Rules, 2013 provides that the Chief Justice can direct any document to be kept confidential in a sealed cover if publication of the records is “considered to be not in the interest of the public”.  

Section 123 of the Evidence Act of 1872 provides that the government should give a prior permission to a person who wants to give evidence “derived from unpublished official records relating to any affairs of state”. 

How the Supreme Court is now witnessing a turnaround? 

The SC, in the Media One telecast ban case, observed that the government should explain the exceptional circumstances to keep documents secret from the other party. The court has made it clear that sealed covers could be used only in a “small exception” of cases. 

In the S.P. Velumani case, 2022; the Supreme Court criticised the Madras High Court’s decision to permit a report to remain “shrouded in a sealed cover” when the State had not even claimed any specific privilege.  

The court admonished the Bihar government for attempting to give information in a sealed cover in the Muzaffarpur shelter case. 

In the Pegasus case judgement, SC underscored that the government must prove the facts that the information sought would affect national security concerns. The state cannot get a free pass every time the issue of ‘national security’ is raised.  

GS Paper 3

land degradation: Saving the land for better use

News: “Arresting land degradation” was included among the top priorities by the G20 Working Group on Environment and Climate Sustainability. In India, the economic loss due to land degradation and changes in land use patterns was estimated in 2014-15 at Rs 3.17 trillion, equivalent to 2.5% of that year’s gross domestic product.

What is the present state of land degradation in India?

Land degradation in States: Rajasthan is the most land degradation-prone state. This is followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat. No state is, actually, immune to land deterioration due to some factor or the other. The most rapid deterioration in land quality is in the biodiversity-rich and ecologically sensitive north-eastern region.

Low per-capita availability of land: Arresting land degradation is highly relevant for India as it has to support 18% of the world’s population on only 2.4% of the land.

The per capita availability of arable land has shrunk from 0.48 hectares in 1950 to merely 0.16 hectares now. This is much lower than the global average of 0.29 hectares.

Reduction in land quality: A sizeable segment of India’s land has already lost part of its productivity and carrying capacity due to mismanagement and indiscriminate anthropogenic activity. Thus denoting ill for the livelihood of a large number of farmers and forest-dwellers.

What are the major reasons for land degradation in India?

The major reasons are a) deforestation; b) wind and water erosion; c) imprudent alteration of land use; d) excessive pressure on land beyond its carrying capacity; and e) flawed farm practices such as imbalanced use of chemical fertilisers; inadequate application of organic manures; indiscriminate tillage; and mismanagement of many other kinds, f) India does not have a precise data on the amount of degraded land. For instance, the data on National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, and the Space Application Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation vary vastly.

How India has reclaimed the degraded land?

India is among the 123 countries that have committed themselves to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030.

According to a recent report issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, India has restored around 9.8 mha of degraded land between 2011 and 2018 — an average rate of reclamation of around 1.4 mha a year.

What should be done further to reclaim the degraded land?

The benefits of land restoration can be as high as 10 times the cost of reclamation and ill effects of land degradation, ranging from the drop in crop yields to the out-migration of the population. Hence, India should take steps a) to safeguard the physical, chemical, and biological health of the existing normal land, b) to invest in land improvement, and c) To evolve and meticulously enforce judicious land use policy based on the capability classification of land.

India as a developed country: Developed by 2047? Yes

News: PM Modi, in his 2022 Independence Day speech, announced the goal for India in 2047. It will get the status of a developed country.  

What is the per capita income level in India? 

It measures the average income earned per person in a given area in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area’s total income by its total population. 

It is useful in evaluating people’s affordability and purchasing power. Per capita income indicates whether certain commodities and facilities are out of reach by average people in terms of financial aspects. 

India’s per capita income India’s per capita net national income or NNI was around 150 thousand rupees in the financial year 2022. In contrast, the gross national income at constant prices stood at over 146 trillion rupees. 

What are ways that can help India to improve its per capita income? 

-Increasing income for farmers. 

-Through government expenditure and investment in infrastructure.  

-Urbanizing India’s rural populations. 

-Becoming competitive in high-potential sectors. 

Can India get the status of a Developed nation by 2047? 

India’s start-up ecosystem is the third largest in the world after the US and China. Several prominent start-ups such as Ola, BYJU’S, Zerodha, Cred, Razorpay, and more have their head offices in the city which is often called the ‘Silicon Valley of India.’  

Innovation will be key in transforming India’s economy. Its progress in the Global Innovation Index 2022 from the 81st spot in 2015 to the 40th now is a good indicator of the road ahead. 

What should be India’s focus areas going forward? 

As per ‘UN State of World Population Report 2022’ in 2023 India will dethrone China, as the world’s most populous country. 

A hungry nation cannot be a developed country. As per the latest Global Hunger Index (2022) is ranked 107th among 121 countries.  

As per the World Inequality Report 2022, India is among the most-inequitable countries globally. It has the bottom half of the population earning Rs 53,610, but the top 10 percent earning 20 times at Rs 11,66,520.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Chandrayaan-3 successfully completes crucial test

Source: The post is based on the article “Chandrayaan-3 successfully completes crucial test” published in The Hindu on 20th February 2023

What is the News?

Chandrayaan-3 has successfully completed EMI/EMC (Electro-Magnetic Interference/ Electro-Magnetic Compatibility) test.

What is the EMI-EMC test?

The EMI-EMC test is conducted for satellite missions to ensure the functionality of the satellite subsystems in the space environment and their compatibility with the expected electromagnetic levels.

What is Chandrayaan-3?

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up to the Chandrayan-2 mission.

The mission has three main objectives which include: a) demonstrating a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, b) demonstrating the rover’s roving capabilities on the moon and c) performing in-situ scientific observations.

The mission will be launched by GSLV MkIII from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. It is likely to be launched in June 2023.

Modules: It has three major modules. They are – the Propulsion module, Lander module and Rover.

– The propulsion module will carry the Lander and Rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit. The propulsion module has Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

– The Lander payloads have 1) Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure the thermal conductivity and temperature, 2) Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) for measuring the seismicity around the landing site, 3) Langmuir Probe (LP) to estimate the plasma density and its variations. A passive Laser Retroreflector Array from NASA is accommodated for lunar laser ranging studies.

– The Rover payload has an Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope(LIBS) for deriving the elemental composition in the vicinity of the landing site.

AICTE launches a curriculum designed for B. Tech Electronics VLSI Design & Technology and Diploma in IC Manufacturing

Source: The post is based on the article “AICTE launches a curriculum designed for B. Tech Electronics VLSI Design & Technology and Diploma in IC Manufacturing” published in PIB on 20th February 2023

What is the News?

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched the curriculum designed for B. Tech Electronics VLSI Design & Technology and Diploma in IC Manufacturing.

These courses will provide a variety of employment roles featuring outstanding salary incentives for Indian students in global companies as well as Indian companies. 

What is IC and VLSI?

An integrated circuit (also called IC, a chip, or a microchip) is a set of electronic circuits on one small flat piece (or chip). An IC is the fundamental building block of all modern electronic devices.

Very large-scale integration(VLSI) is the process of creating an integrated circuit (IC) by combining many metal oxide silicon transistors onto a single chip.

What are the other Initiatives launched to promote electronics manufacturing in India?

Semicon India program: It is aimed at the development of semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystems in India. The programme provides financial support to companies investing in semiconductors, display manufacturing and design ecosystem.

Chips to Startup (C2S) programme: It aims to train 85,000 engineers (Bachelors, Masters and Research level combined) qualified in Electronics System Design & Manufacturing(ESDM) disciplines over a period of 5 years. Necessary tie-ups with 82 technical education institutes have been made.

Scheme for setting up of Display Fabs in India: It provides fiscal support to eligible applicants for setting up of Display Fabs which is aimed at attracting large investments for setting up TFT LCD / AMOLED based display fabrication facilities in the country. The Scheme provides fiscal support of up to 50% of Project Cost subject to a ceiling of INR 12,000 crore per Fab.

Click Here to read about other schemes

How is India addressing sickle cell anaemia?

Source: The post is based on the article “How is India addressing sickle cell anaemia?” published in The Hindu on 20th February 2023

What is the News?

In Budget 2023-24, the Finance Minister has said that the government will work in “mission mode” to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia(SCA) by 2047. 

Note: India is the second-worst affected country in terms of predicted births with SCA — i.e. chances of being born with the condition.

What is Sickle Cell Anaemia?

Haemoglobin which is tasked with carrying oxygen to all parts of the body has four protein subunits — two alpha and two betas. 

In some people, mutations in the gene that creates the beta subunits impact the shape of the blood cell and distort it to look like a sickle. 

A round red blood cell can move easily through blood vessels because of its shape but sickle red blood cells end up slowing and even blocking, the blood flow. 

Moreover, sickle cells die early, resulting in a shortage of red blood cells that deprive the body of oxygen. 

These obstructions and shortages may cause chronic anaemia, pain, fatigue, acute chest syndrome, stroke and a host of other serious health complications.

Without treatment, quality of life is compromised and severe cases can become fatal in the initial years of life.

Does SCA only affect some?

Research and screening programmes have found that the prevalence of haemoglobinopathies — disorders of the blood — is more common among tribal populations than non-tribal communities in India. 

Research has also shown that SCA is prevalent in communities residing in areas where malaria is endemic. During the 1940s, doctors found that those with sickle red blood cells were more likely to survive malaria.

Note: In India, States and UTs with tribal populations contribute a significant malaria caseload.

Can SCA be treated?

Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic disorder, making complete “elimination” a challenge that requires major scientific breakthroughs. 

The only cure comes in the form of gene therapy and stem cell transplants — both costly and still in developmental stages.

Blood transfusion wherein red blood cells are removed from donated blood and given to a patient is also a trusted treatment in the absence of permanent cures. But challenges include a scarcity of donors, fears around the safe supply of blood, risk of infection etc.

What has been announced in the Budget for SCA?

Click Here to read

Union Minister launches Sagar Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port in Gujarat

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister launches Sagar Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port in Gujarat” published in PIB on 20th February 2023

What is the News?

The Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has launched the Sagar Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port, Gujarat.

What is the Sagar Parikrama Program?

Sagar Parikrama is a navigation journey to be conducted in all coastal states/UTs through a pre-decided sea route to demonstrate solidarity with all fisherfolk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders.

The program will be conducted in all coastal States/Union Territories from Gujarat, Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.

Objectives of the program: To facilitate interaction with fishermen, coastal communities and stakeholders so as to disseminate information on various fisheries-related schemes.

– To demonstrate solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders with the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat

– To promote responsible fisheries with a focus on the sustainable balance between the utilization of marine fisheries resources for the food security of the nation and the livelihoods of coastal fisher communities.

– To protect marine ecosystems.

About India’s Fisheries Sector

India is the second major producer of fish through aquaculture in the world and also the 4th largest exporter of fish in the world. The exports from India contribute 7.7% to global fish production.

Gujarat is the leading state in marine fish production, sharing 16.67 per cent of the country’s total marine fish production.

Various schemes initiated by the government for the upliftment of the fisheries sector include Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Palk Bay Scheme, Marine Fisheries Bill, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), the fishing harbour, seaweed park, Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Marine Products Export Development Authority. 

Indians go West, take up ‘residence by investment’

Source: The post is based on the article “Indians go West, take up ‘residence by investment” published in The Hindu on 20th February 2023.

What is the News?

According to Ministry of External Affairs data, over 2.25 lakh Indians renounced their Indian citizenship in 2022, the highest since 2011.

Note: India does not allow dual citizenship and taking up the citizenship of another country automatically results in the cancellation of Indian citizenship. 

How many people have renounced their citizenship in 2022?

A total of 2.25 lakh Indians renounced their citizenship in 2022, the highest since 2011.

There has been a surge in requests for residence-through-investment programmes especially the U.S. EB-5 visa, Portugal Golden Visa, Australian Global Talent Independent Visa, Malta Permanent Residency Programme and Greece Residence by Investment Programme.

This data reflects how Indians especially high net-worth individuals (HNIs) are moving westwards. According to the Henley Global Citizens Report, there were 3.47 lakh HNIs in India in December 2021. Of these, 1.49 lakh HNIs were found in just nine cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Gurugram and Ahmedabad.

Note: HNIs are those who have wealth of over $1 million or ₹8.2 crore. 

Why do people renounce citizenship?

A 2020 report by the Global Wealth Migration Review showed that High net worth Individuals (HNIs) around the world who renounce citizenship acquired at birth may do so for reasons of rising crime rates or the lack of business opportunities at home.

Among the other reasons why people make the decision to migrate to other countries and to eventually acquire citizenship were: the safety of women and children, lifestyle factors like climate and pollution, financial concerns including taxes, better healthcare for families and educational opportunities for children, and to escape oppressive governments.

Navy plans for another Vikrant-size carrier before Vikramaditya retires

Source: The post is based on the article “Navy plans for another Vikrant-size carrier before Vikramaditya retires” published in The Hindu on 20th February 2023.

What is the News?

Indian Navy plans for another INS Vikrant-size Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) with some modifications.

What are the Indian Navy’s plans related to Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)?

The Indian Navy has planned for another INS Vikrant-size Indigenous Aircraft Carrier(IAC).

The upcoming IAC-2 would be bigger than the present IAC-1.INS Vikrant’s size is around 44,000 tonnes and the IAC-2 planned was around 65,000 tonnes. 

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) will be given the order for IAC-2 as it has acquired considerable expertise in building an aircraft carrier with INS Vikrant. It has said that it can deliver another vessel in 8 years from date of order.

Note: The Indian Navy requires three aircraft carriers because when the ship undergoes maintenance, it takes time given its size and the possible delays.

What is INS Vikrant?

Click Here to read

INS Vikrant was commissioned in September 2022 and is currently undergoing aviation trials. It is expected to be operationally ready by the end of 2023. 

India plans to export solar power: official

Source: The post is based on the article “India plans to export solar power: official” published in The Hindu on 20th February 2023.

What is the News?

By 2026, the Indian industry will be able to manufacture solar modules every year that can generate 100 gigawatts of power and help the country be a net exporter of solar power.

What is the present solar power status of India?

India was to have installed 175 GW of renewable energy — from solar, wind, biomass and small hydropower sources — by December 2022 but has only installed 122 GW.

Of this, solar power was to have been 100 GW, though only 62 GW has been installed.

Why has India not achieved its solar power target?

Cost of solar modules (or panels): India has traditionally relied on Chinese-made components such as polysilicone wafers to make solar modules. But higher customs duty on them (to make equivalent Indian-manufactured components more competitive) has shrunk supply.

Land Acquisition: Land acquisition has been a major challenge for solar power manufacturers. Despite the Centre commissioning 57 large solar parks with a capacity of 40 GW in recent years, only 10 GW has been operationalised.

This is because installing a megawatt of solar power requires on average four acres of land. So various developers face challenges in acquiring land.

What is the plan for renewable energy going ahead?

The future phase of India’s renewable energy development will be led by hybrid projects and renewable energy parks that will host solar and wind projects along with battery storage systems.

North India’s first Nuclear Plant is coming up in Haryana in the town of Gorakhpur

Source: The post is based on the article “North India’s first Nuclear Plant is coming up in Haryana in the town of Gorakhpur” published in PIB on 20th February 2023

What is the News?

The Union Minister of Atomic Energy and Space has announced that North India’s first nuclear plant will soon be operational in Haryana’s Gorakhpur.

About Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant

Located in: Haryana 

Features: It will have two units of 700 MWe capacity each of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) indigenous design.

Significance: This will be a major achievement since the installation of nuclear and atomic energy plants was earlier confined mostly to southern states such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and in western Maharashtra.

What is a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor(PHWR)?

PHWR is a nuclear power reactor, commonly using unenriched natural uranium as its fuel. It uses heavy water (Deuterium oxide D2O) as its coolant and moderator.

The heavy water coolant is kept under pressure, allowing it to be heated to higher temperatures without boiling, much as in a typical pressurized water reactor.

While heavy water is significantly more expensive than ordinary light water, it yields greatly enhanced neutron economy, allowing the reactor to operate without fuel enrichment facilities.

Centre Approves Odisha’s Proposal to Declare Debrigarh a Tiger Reserve

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre Approves Odisha’s Proposal to Declare Debrigarh a Tiger Reserve” published in New Indian Express on 17th February 2023

What is the News?

National Tiger Conservation Authority(NTCA) has approved Odisha’s Proposal to declare Debrigarh a Tiger Reserve.

About Debrigarh Tiger Reserve

Debrigarh is located near the Hirakud dam at Sambalpur, Odisha.

It will become the third tiger reserve in Odisha after Similipal and Satkosia.

It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985 and is situated near Hirakud dam (Mahanadi River).

Debrigarh is well connected with the proposed Sunabeda Tiger Reserve (in Odisha) and Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh on its southwest. Similarly, it is linked to the Satkosia Tiger Reserve.

Significance: It finds a special mention because of noted freedom fighter veer Surendra sai. During his rebellion against the British Veer SurendraSaimade his base at ‘Barapathara” located within the sanctuary.

Fauna: A wide variety of animals including leopard, wild boar, bison, sambar, chital and Four-horned antelope are sighted in the sanctuary.