State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 12 Nov 2025

GreenMind AI

Why in News? 

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has launched ‘GreenMind AI’, an artificial intelligence–powered environmental information assistant. 

Key Points 

• About: 
  • It is developed by Axion Labs. 
  • Its objective is to centralize Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s (MPCB) environmental data, rules, and permissions on a single digital platform, making regulatory information easier to access for citizens, industries, and professionals. 
  • It uses natural-language AI to simplify complex environmental norms and enhance public understanding and compliance. 
• Core Components: 
  • Public Chatbot: An AI-based virtual assistant that allows users to ask questions about MPCB norms, permits, and environmental guidelines in simple language, delivering accurate, source-linked answers instantly. 
  • Internal AI Portal: A dedicated interface for MPCB officers that integrates and cross-references regulatory data, improving efficiency in decision-making, documentation, and inter-departmental coordination. 
  • Admin Panel: A secure management dashboard enabling MPCB administrators to update circulars, track real-time user queries, monitor citizen engagement, and ensure data transparency. 

India’s First MWh-Scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB)

Why in News? 

Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs inaugurated India’s first megawatt-hour (MWh) scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) in Greater Noida. 

Key Points 

• About: 
  • The 3 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) is developed by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)’s NETRA (National Energy Technology Research Alliance)  
  • It aims to demonstrate Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) technology for large-scale renewable energy integration and grid stability. 
• Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB): 
  • It uses vanadium ions in different oxidation states to store and discharge electricity efficiently. 
  • The system offers long operational life, and excellent scalability compared to lithium-ion batteries. 
  • Non-flammable electrolytes make it safer for large-scale energy storage applications. 
  • It is well-suited for grid-scale renewable energy storage, microgrids, and peak-load management. 
  • VRFBs are increasingly viewed as a sustainable alternative for integrating intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind into the grid.