Article Tags

You searched “Mineral & Energy Resources”. Your tag search matches the following results:

India Energy Outlook 2021: IEA

Why in News Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has released the India Energy Outlook 2021 Report which explores the opportunities and...

18 Feb 2021 Mineral & Energy Resources
Unified Portal of Gobardhan

Why in News Recently, a Unified Portal of Gobardhan has been launched to ensure smooth implementation of Biogas schemes/initiatives and their real...

06 Feb 2021 Mineral & Energy Resources
Rooftop Solar Scheme

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released an advisory on the rooftop solar scheme. Key...

19 Jan 2021 Mineral & Energy Resources
Single Window Clearance for Coal

Why in News Recently, the Union government has announced a new online single window clearance portal for the coal sector. The coal sector can be...

12 Jan 2021 Mineral & Energy Resources
The Big Picture : One Nation, One Gas Grid

Why in News? The Prime Minister of India has recently inaugurated the 450-km natural gas pipeline between Kochi in Kerala to Mangalore in...

12 Jan 2021 Mineral & Energy Resources
Domestic Vanadium Deposits

Why in News A recent exploration by Geological Survey of India (GSI) has found reserves of Vanadium in Arunachal Pradesh. GSI is an attached...

12 Jan 2021 Mineral & Energy Resources
Domestic Exploration of Lithium

Why in News Recent surveys by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) have shown the presence of lithium resources in...

11 Jan 2021 Mineral & Energy Resources
Conflict Over Nile

Why in News Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have recently agreed to resume negotiations to resolve their decade-long complex dispute over the Grand...

06 Jan 2021 Mineral & Energy Resources
Investment for Creating Gas Infrastructure

Why in News The government will invest around 60 billion USD in creating gas infrastructure in the country till 2024 and increasing gas’s...

23 Dec 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
Recovery from Coal Mining in Meghalaya’s Moolamylliang

Why in News Moolamylliang, a village in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, is making progress in becoming a greener place amid abandoned...

07 Dec 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
The Big Picture: Natural Gas Economy

Why in News? Recently, the Government of India has allowed complete marketing freedom for natural gas produced from non-regulated fields. The...

11 Nov 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
Third Assembly of ISA

Why in News Recently, India and France have been re-elected as the President and Co-President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for a term...

15 Oct 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
Reforms in Exploration and Licensing Policy: Oil & Gas

Why in News The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the Policy framework on reforms in the...

08 Oct 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
O-SMART Scheme

Why in News The Ocean Services, Modelling, Applications, Resources and Technology (O-SMART) Scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2018...

22 Sep 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
Methane Hydrates in Krishna-Godavari Basin

Why in News Recently, a study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin was conducted by the researchers at the Agharkar...

15 Sep 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
Steel Industry in India

Why in News According to recent information shared by the Union Minister for Steel in Lok Sabha, Indian steel companies including the public sector...

15 Sep 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
Net Present Value of Forests

Why in News The Ministry of Mines has requested the Forest Advisory Committee (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) to exempt digging...

12 Sep 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
World Solar Technology Summit

Why in News Recently, the first-ever World Solar Technology Summit (WSTS) was organised by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Federation of...

09 Sep 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
Foundation Day of AREAS

Why in News On the 6th Foundation Day (27th August 2020) of the Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS), the government has...

29 Aug 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources
World Solar Technology Summit: ISA

Why in News The International Solar Alliance (ISA) will organise the First World Solar Technology Summit on 8th September, 2020 on a virtual...

18 Aug 2020 Mineral & Energy Resources

Warning (2): count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable [ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100]

Code Context


<?php if(count($updates)>0){?>
  <div class="updates">

$viewFile = '/var/www/drishtiias.com/public_html/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp'
$dataForView = [
	'progress' => [],
	'bookmarks' => [],
	'notes' => [],
	'mynote' => [],
	'topdata' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'searchdata' => [],
	'amonth' => 'March',
	'ayear' => '2021',
	'articles' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'tags' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'title' => 'Article Tags'
]
$progress = []
$bookmarks = []
$notes = []
$mynote = []
$topdata = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'http://bit.ly/3cdxUfM',
		'title' => 'Prelims Practice Series: History and Art & Culture (Book - English Medium)',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	},
	(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'http://bit.ly/3ee7SvJ',
		'title' => 'UPSC 2021 Form Fill Up - Official Link - Click Here',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	}
]
$searchdata = []
$amonth = 'March'
$ayear = '2021'
$articles = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7722,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India Energy Outlook 2021: IEA',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-energy-review-2020-iea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Energy Agency (IEA)</strong></a> has released the <strong>India Energy Outlook 2021 Report</strong> which explores the opportunities and challenges ahead for India as it seeks to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable energy for a growing population.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The India Energy Outlook 2021 is<strong> a new special report from the IEA&rsquo;s World Energy Outlook series.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Third Largest Energy Consumer by 2030:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India will <strong>make up the biggest share of energy demand growth at 25%</strong> over the next two decades, as it <strong>overtakes the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a> as the world's third-biggest energy consumer by 2030.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Presently, <strong>India is the fourth-largest</strong> global energy consumer <strong>behind China,</strong> the <strong>United States</strong> and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India's <strong>energy consumption is expected to nearly double</strong> as the nation's <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/base-year-for-gdp-calculations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong></a> expands to an estimated USD 8.6 trillion by 2040 under its current national policy scenario.</li>
<li><strong>Prior</strong> to the global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>, India&rsquo;s energy demand was <strong>projected to increase</strong> by almost <strong>50% between 2019 and 2030,</strong> but growth over this period is <strong>now closer to 35%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Industrialisation is a Major Driving Force:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over the last three decades, India accounted for about <strong>10% of World Growth </strong>in<strong> Industrial Value-added</strong> [in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-purchasing-power-parities-icp-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)</strong> </a>terms].</li>
<li><strong>By 2040,</strong> India is set to account for almost <strong>20% of Global Growth </strong>in<strong> Industrial value-added,</strong> and to lead global growth in industrial final energy consumption, especially in steelmaking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reliance on Imports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India's growing energy needs will make it<strong> more reliant on fossil fuel imports</strong> as its <strong>domestic oil and gas production has been stagnant</strong> for years despite government policies to promote petroleum exploration and production and renewable energy.</li>
<li>Rising oil demand <strong>could double India's oil import bill</strong> to about USD 181 billion by 2030 and nearly treble it to USD 255 billion by 2040 compared with 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Oil Demand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <strong>oil demand</strong> is seen<strong> rising by 74% to 8.7 million</strong> barrels per day <strong>by 2040</strong> under the existing policies scenario.</li>
<li>A <strong>five-fold increase in per capita car ownership</strong> will result in India leading the oil demand growth in the world.</li>
<li>Its <strong>net dependence on oil imports -</strong> taking into account both the import of crude oil and the export of oil products - <strong>increases to more than 90% by 2040 from the current 75%</strong> as domestic consumption rises much more than production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gas Demand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India will become the <strong>fastest-growing market for Natural gas,</strong> with demand <strong>more than tripling by 2040.</strong></li>
<li>Natural gas<strong> import dependency</strong> increased from<strong> 20% in 2010</strong> to almost<strong> 50% in 2019</strong> and is set to grow further to <strong>more than 60% in 2040.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coal Demand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Coal currently dominates India's electricity sector,</strong> accounting for over 70% of overall generation.</li>
<li><strong>Coal demand</strong> is seen <strong>rising to 772 million tonnes </strong>in<strong> 2040</strong> from the <strong>current 590.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Renewables Energy Resources Demand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India's share in the<strong> growth</strong> in <strong>renewable energy</strong> is the <strong>second-largest</strong> in the world, <strong>after China.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Energy Agency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Energy Agency is an <strong>autonomous Intergovernmental Organisation</strong> established in 1974 in Paris, France.</li>
<li>IEA mainly focuses on its energy policies which include <strong>economic development, energy security and environmental protection.</strong> These policies are also known as the 3 E&rsquo;s of IEA.</li>
<li>India became an<strong> Associate member of IEA in March 2017</strong> but it was in engagement with IEA long before its association with the organization.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, India has<strong> inked a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agreement-with-iea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strategic Partnership Agreement with the IEA</a></strong> to strengthen cooperation in global energy security, stability and sustainability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The World Energy Outlook Report</strong> is released by the IEA annually.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pollution-from-coal-burning-ieaccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IEA Clean Coal Centre</strong></a> is dedicated to providing independent information and analysis on how coal can become a cleaner source of energy, compatible with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the world seeks ways to accelerate the pace of transformation in the energy sector, <strong>India is in a unique position to pioneer a new model for low-carbon, inclusive growth.</strong> If this can be done, it will show the way for a whole group of energy-hungry developing economies, by demonstrating that <strong>robust economic expansion is fully compatible with an increasing pace of emissions reductions</strong> and the achievement of other development goals.</li>
<li>India is already a global leader in solar power, and <strong>solar combined with batteries will play a massive part in India&rsquo;s energy future.</strong> But India will need a whole host of technologies and policies to chart this new path.</li>
<li>As new industrial sectors emerge and clean energy jobs grow, India will also need to ensure that <strong>no one is left behind, including in those regions that are heavily dependent on coal today.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/commodities/india-to-overtake-eu-as-worlds-third-largest-energy-consumer-by-2030-iea-7181433/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'india-energy-outlook-2021-iea',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7631,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Unified Portal of Gobardhan',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a <strong>Unified Portal of Gobardhan</strong> has been launched to<strong> ensure smooth implementation</strong> of Biogas schemes/initiatives and their real time tracking.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ensure close coordination with various Departments/Ministries for smooth implementation of Biogas schemes/initiatives and its real time tracking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coordinated by:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swachh Bharat Mission &ndash; Grameen (SBMG)</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Economy:</strong> Strengthen the rural economy through a convergent approach for various Biogas projects/models and initiatives.</li>
<li><strong>ODF Plus Goals:</strong> The <strong>ODF Plus goals (solid waste management in villages, along with the collection and transportation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste)</strong> outlined in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swachh-bharat-mission-grameen-phase-ii-approved" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Phase 2 of SBMG</strong></a> will depend on the performance of Gobardhan scheme to a great extent.</li>
<li><strong>Synchronisation with other Schemes:</strong> The portal will further help in achieving objectives of <a href="/daily-news-analysis/satat-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SATAT (Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation)</strong></a> aimed at setting up of Compressed Biogas (CBG) production plants and ensuring market linkage for use of biofuel in automotive fuels.</li>
<li><strong>Better Environment &amp; Public Health:</strong> Rural India generates enormous quantities of bio-waste which can be efficiently utilized and lead to better environment and public health.</li>
<li><strong>Employment Generation &amp; Savings:</strong> Bio-waste processing especially cattle dung into Biogas &amp; organic manure leads to generation of opportunities for employment and household savings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>GOBAR-DHAN Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Launched By:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ministry of Jal Shakti has launched the <strong>GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) - DHAN scheme. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implementation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The scheme is being implemented as part of the <strong>Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Components:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) comprises <strong>two main components</strong> for creating clean villages &ndash;<strong> creating open defecation free (ODF)</strong> villages and <strong>managing solid and liquid waste in villages.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Keeping villages clean, increasing the income of rural households, and generation of energy from cattle waste.</li>
<li>The scheme also aims at creating new rural livelihood opportunities and enhancing income for farmers and other rural people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1694825" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'unified-portal-of-gobardhan',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7495,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Rooftop Solar Scheme',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)</strong> has released an advisory on the <strong>rooftop solar scheme.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To generate solar power by installing <strong>solar panels</strong> on the roof of the houses, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phase-ii-of-grid-connected-rooftop-solar-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (Phase II)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (Phase II):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to achieve a cumulative capacity of <strong>40,000 MW from Rooftop Solar Projects by the year 2022.</strong></li>
<li>In a grid-connected rooftop or small Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) system wherein <strong>the DC power generated from the SPV panel is converted to AC power</strong> using the power conditioning unit and is fed to the grid.</li>
<li>The<strong> major objective</strong> of the programme includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To promote the <strong>grid-connected SPV rooftop</strong> and small SPV power generating plants among the residential, community, institutional, industrial and commercial establishments.</li>
<li>To<strong> mitigate</strong> the <strong>dependence on fossil fuel based electricity generation</strong> and encourage environment-friendly Solar electricity generation.</li>
<li>To create an <strong>enabling environment for investment in the solar energy</strong> sector by the private sector, state government and the individuals.</li>
<li>To create an enabling environment for the <strong>supply of solar power from rooftop and small plants to the grid.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This scheme is being implemented in the state by <strong>distribution companies (DISCOMs).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this scheme the Ministry is providing a <strong>40%</strong> subsidy for the first 3 kW and <strong>20%</strong> subsidy beyond <strong>3 kW</strong> and upto <strong>10 kW</strong> of solar panel capacity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>residential consumer has to pay the cost of rooftop solar plant by reducing the subsidy amount</strong> given by the Ministry as per the prescribed rate to the vendor.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Schemes for Promoting Solar Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pm-kusum#:~:text=PM%2DKUSUM%20consists%20of%20three,standalone%20solar%2Dpowered%20agriculture%20pumps." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan</strong></a> <strong>(PM-KUSUM):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scheme covers grid-connected Renewable Energy power plants (0.5 &ndash; 2 MW)/Solar water pumps/grid connected agriculture pumps.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scheme for Development of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a scheme to develop Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs) under the existing Solar Park Scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The main objective of the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018 is to provide a framework for <strong>promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems</strong> for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.</li>
<li>The wind - solar PV hybrid systems will help in reducing the variability in renewable power generation and achieving better grid stability.</li>
<li>The policy also aims to encourage new technologies, methods and way-outs involving combined operation of wind and solar PV plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Atal Jyoti Yojana</strong> (AJAY):<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The AJAY scheme was launched in September 2016 for the installation of<strong> solar street lighting</strong> (SSL) systems in states with less than <strong>50%</strong> households covered with <strong>grid power</strong> (as per Census 2011).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa#:~:text=The%20second%20assembly%20of%20the,financial%20and%20programme%20related%20issues." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a>: The ISA, is an Indian initiative that was launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30th November 2015 in Paris, France on the side-lines of the Conference of the Parties (COP-21), with 121 solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn as prospective members.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>One Sun, One World, One Grid</strong></a> (OSOWOG): It focuses on a framework for facilitating global cooperation, building a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources (mainly solar energy) that can be seamlessly shared.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Solar Mission</a> (a part of National Action Plan on Climate Change)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Suryamitra Skill Development Programme:</strong> To provide skill training to rural youth in handling solar installations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1688826#:~:text=To%20generate%20solar%20power%20by,kW%20and%20upto%2010%20kW." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'rooftop-solar-scheme',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7435,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Single Window Clearance for Coal',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union government has announced a new <strong>online single window clearance portal for the </strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/investment-in-coal-mining" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coal</strong></a><strong> sector.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The coal sector can be the<strong> biggest contributor</strong> towards the target of<a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/19-07-2019#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20economic%20survey,economy%20in%20the%20near%20future." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India becoming a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025.</strong></a></li>
<li>Despite having the <strong>world's fourth-largest coal reserves,</strong> India is<strong> importing coal.</strong></li>
<li>The next tranche of commercial mining auction would be<strong> launched in January 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aim :</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is aimed at<strong> allowing faster clearances,</strong> including<strong> environmental and forest clearances,</strong> from a<strong> single portal</strong> with progress monitoring, instead of having to go to multiple authorities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Presently, about <strong>19 major approvals, or clearances are required before starting the coal mine</strong> in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The portal will allow successful bidders to <strong>operationalise coal mines more quickly.</strong></li>
<li>It is in the spirit of <strong>minimum government and maximum governance.</strong></li>
<li>It will further<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/steps-to-boost-ease-of-doing-business" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> ease of doing business</strong> </a>in the country's coal sector.</li>
<li>It will help in bringing <strong>huge investment and creating employment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Future Plan:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-1st-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PARIVESH</a> Mechanism</strong> for forest and environment related clearances would likely be <strong>merged into this single window clearance mechanism</strong> which is expected to<strong> help with the operationalisation of the coals blocks</strong> that are set to be auctioned in the upcoming auctions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>PARIVESH</strong> is a <strong>web-based application</strong> which has been developed for online submission and monitoring of the proposals submitted by the proponents for <strong>seeking Environment, Forest, Wildlife and Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) Clearances from Central, State and district level authorities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Initiatives in Coal Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>As a part of Atmanirbhar Abhiyaan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/coal-sector-reforms#:~:text=Announced%20Reforms%20In%20Coal%20Sector,offered%20to%20the%20private%20sector.&amp;text=Coal%20blocks%20to%20be%20offered,through%20rebate%20in%20revenue%20share." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Commercial mining</strong></a> of coal allowed, with 50 blocks to be offered to the private sector.</li>
<li><strong>Entry norms will be liberalised</strong> as it has done away with the regulation requiring power plants to use &ldquo;washed&rdquo; coal.</li>
<li><strong>Coal blocks to be offered to private companies on revenue sharing basis</strong> in place of fixed cost.</li>
<li><strong>Coal gasification/liquefaction</strong> to be incentivised through rebate in revenue share.</li>
<li><strong>Coal bed methane (CBM)</strong> extraction rights to be auctioned from Coal India&rsquo;s coal mines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UTTAM (Unlocking Transparency by Third Party Assessment of Mined Coal):</strong> In April 2018, the Ministry of Coal launched <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coal-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UTTAM Application</strong></a> for coal quality monitoring.</li>
<li><strong>Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala (Coal) Transparently in India (SHAKTI):</strong> Launched in May 2017, for allocation of future coal linkages in a transparent manner for the power sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-new-single-window-clearance-for-coal-how-will-it-help-7142233/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'single-window-clearance-for-coal',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7434,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture : One Nation, One Gas Grid',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wvy_6E2YisY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Prime Minister of India has recently inaugurated the 450-km natural gas pipeline between Kochi in Kerala to Mangalore in Karnataka.</li>
<li>The government has set the energy roadmap, envisaging more than double the share of cleaner natural gas in the consumption basket, diversifying sources of energy, connecting the nation with one gas pipeline grid and bringing affordable fuel to people and industry.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A gas-based economy is crucial for an Atmanirbhar Bharat and work is being done in the direction of <strong>'One Nation, One Gas Grid'.</strong></li>
<li>The pipeline grid is expected to not only help improve clean energy access, but also aid in the development of city gas projects.</li>
<li>The government is also considering the proposal of bringing natural gas under the ambit of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Good and Services Tax.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>One Nation, One Gas Grid</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Indian Power system for planning and operational purposes is divided into five regional grids.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One Nation, One Gas Grid refers to the integration of these regional grids thus establishing a National Grid for providing energy produced by natural gas to various stakeholders like the central government, the state governments, the public and the private sectors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1610439260_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1610439260_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Objective and Need of One Nation &amp; One Gas Grid</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Meeting the targets:</strong> The initiative of the Indian government will help meet its target of reaching 15% natural gas in its energy basket mix by 2030 which is currently at 6.2-6.5% whereas the global average is 23-24%.</li>
<li><strong>Connecting the nation:</strong> With one nation and one gas grid, the energy produced from natural gas will be supplied to the whole country via a single source.</li>
<li><strong>Improving regional imbalance:</strong> It will help in improving the regional imbalance of gas availability as currently the natural gas is only in limited pockets of the country.</li>
<li><strong>India as a gas based economy:</strong> One nation, one gas grid which will help emerge India as a gas based economy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will not only lead to robust development in the economy but also encourage a clean environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cleaner environment:</strong> In times when conventionalsSources are depleting and mining is being extended to a greater depth and area, natural gas can prove to be a boon by preventing deforestation and desertification.</li>
<li><strong>Reduce import dependency:</strong> The import dependency of natural gas in India has reached to 53%. In order to reduce this high percentage, the government is taking measures to diversify the energy mix of India.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India&rsquo;s Targets</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To increase the share of natural gas, the government has announced the expansion of the natural gas grid from the previous 17,500 kilometers to 34,500 kilometers. To which, 450 kms have already been added making it approx 18000.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The next 16000 kms is expected to be achieved in the next 4-6 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Primarily, as a grid, the north and west part of India were already connected via LNG terminal.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the last 4 years, efforts have also been made to connect eastern India with North via the Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline which is a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-gas-grid-fuel-for-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM Urja Ganga Project</strong></a> which is in its final stages and will also add around 3000 kms to the grid.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The southern part of India is also being looked upon and is expected to add about 1500 kms to the grid.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Encouraging investments:</strong> Investing in natural gas should be more encouraged. The share can be divided as : 20% for smaller manufacturing brands whereas for the government and bigger companies it should be 80%.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is important because investing in natural gas means investing in:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cleaner environment</li>
<li>Better health for our people</li>
<li>Creating more jobs and a better economy for our people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Educating about natural gas:</strong> One area where we all should work is in educating people about the natural gas economy because at present the lack of knowledge about natural gas based economy is widely persistent.</li>
<li><strong>Empowering the vehicles:</strong> Empowered vehicles are needed to reach the destination of One Nation, One Gas Grid. Vehicles such as GAIL, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-natural-gas-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ONGC</strong></a> etc need to be strengthened and empowered to eradicate natural gas energy poverty.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is important to give more importance to companies like ONGC when it comes to upstream for gas and GAIL India when it comes to midstream production and gas distribution, and to companies like Oil India when it comes to oil distribution.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>We need more LNG terminals for more upstream production of gas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Marketing and pricing reforms:</strong> To increase domestic exploration, investment and production of natural gas, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/natural-gas-marketing-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Marketing and Pricing Reforms</strong></a> are the one step that the Government of India has taken in a couple of months.</li>
<li><strong>Natural gas democracy:</strong> Like no citizen of a country should be kept out of democracy, similarly no one should be left out of the benefits of natural gas, it should reach each and every household.</li>
<li><strong>Collaborative effort:</strong> It is not enough that only the central government takes initiatives in the direction, various state govts should also come on board or even a public sector is also as important when it comes to contributing their share in the notion of One Nation, One Gas Grid.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Tremendous efforts are on the way to achieve clean affordable and sustainable energy but going forward there will be infrastructure related and many other possible challenges that must be tackled in order to end energy poverty in the times to come, ensuring energy security for the citizens as well.</p>',
		'posturl' => 'the-big-picture-one-nation-one-gas-grid',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7432,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Domestic Vanadium Deposits',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent exploration by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-navy-signs-mou-with-geological-survey-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Geological Survey of India</a> (GSI)</strong> has found reserves of <strong>Vanadium in Arunachal Pradesh.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GSI is an <strong>attached office to the Ministry of Mines.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Vanadium:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Vanadium is a <strong>chemical element</strong> with the <strong>symbol V.</strong></li>
<li>It is a scarce element, hard, silvery grey, ductile and malleable <strong>transition metal</strong> with <strong>good structural strength.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Transition metals are all the elements in groups 3&ndash;12 of the periodic table. These are superior conductors of heat as well as electricity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ores:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Patronite, vanadinite, roscoelite and carnotite.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Uses:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Vanadium is used primarily as an alloying element in the <strong>Iron &amp; Steel Industry</strong> and to some extent as a <strong>stabiliser in titanium and aluminium alloys used in the aerospace Industry.</strong></li>
<li>Modern applications of vanadium include its use as <strong>vanadium secondary batteries for power plants</strong> and <strong>rechargeable Vanadium Redox Battery (VRB) for commercial applications.</strong></li>
<li>Vanadium alloys are used in <strong>nuclear reactors</strong> because of <strong>vanadium's low neutron-absorbing properties.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reserves of Vanadium in Arunachal Pradesh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Concentrations of vanadium have been found in the <strong>palaeo-&shy;proterozoic</strong> (era) <strong>carbonaceous phyllite rocks</strong> in the<strong> Depo and Tamang areas</strong> of Papum Pare district in Arunachal Pradesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Phyllite</strong> is a fine-grained <strong>metamorphic rock</strong> formed by the recrystallization of fine-grained, parent sedimentary rocks, such as mudstones or shales.</li>
<li>Sedimentary rocks containing significant enrichment in organic matter over average sediments are called <strong>carbonaceous sedimentary rocks.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are <strong>other potential sites in various districts</strong> in Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>This is the <strong>first report of a primary deposit of vanadium in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is a <strong>significant consumer of vanadium,</strong> but is not a primary producer of the strategic metal.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to data provided by the GSI, India consumed<strong> 4%</strong> of total <strong>global production of Vanadium in 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is recovered as a<strong> by-product from the slag</strong> of processed vanadiferous magnetite (iron) ores.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Slag is the<strong> glass-like by-product left over after</strong> a desired metal has been separated (i.e., smelted) from its<strong> raw ore.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Reserves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The largest deposits of Vanadium are in<strong> China, followed by Russia and South Africa</strong> respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/arunachal-now-on-indias-vanadium-map/article33544369.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'domestic-vanadium-deposits',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7428,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Domestic Exploration of Lithium',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recent surveys by the<strong> Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research</strong> (AMD) have shown the presence of<strong> lithium resources in Mandya district,</strong> Karnataka.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>AMD is the oldest unit of the<strong> Department of Atomic Energy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Lithium:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Properties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a chemical element with the symbol <strong>Li.</strong></li>
<li>It is a soft, silvery-white metal.</li>
<li>Under standard conditions, it is the <strong>lightest metal </strong>and<strong> the lightest solid element.</strong></li>
<li>It is highly <strong>reactive and flammable, and must be stored in mineral oil.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>an alkali metal and a rare metal.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>alkali metals</strong> consist of the chemical elements <strong>lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, and francium.</strong> Together with hydrogen<strong> they constitute group 1,</strong> which lies in the <strong>s-block</strong> of the periodic table.</li>
<li><strong>Rare Metals</strong> (RM) include Niobium (Nb), Tantalum (Ta), Lithium (Li), Beryllium (Be), Cesium (Cs) etc. and <strong>Rare Earths</strong> (RE) include Lanthanum (La) to Lutetium (Lu) besides Scandium (Sc) and Yttrium (Y). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These <strong>metals are strategic in nature</strong> with wide application in the nuclear and other high tech industries such as electronics, telecommunication, information technology, space, defense etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Uses:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Lithium metal is used to make<strong> useful alloys.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, with lead to make <strong>&lsquo;white metal&rsquo;</strong> bearings for motor engines, with <strong>aluminium to make aircraft parts,</strong> and with <strong>magnesium </strong>to<strong> make armour plates.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In Thermonuclear reactions.</li>
<li>To make <strong>electrochemical cells.</strong> Lithium is an important component in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electric-vehicles-policy-2020-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electric Vehicles</strong></a>, Laptops etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lithium Resources in Karnataka:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The survey shows presence of <strong>1,600 tonnes of lithium resources</strong> in the <strong>igneous rocks</strong> of the <strong>Marlagalla-Allapatna</strong> region of <strong>Karnataka&rsquo;s Mandya district.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of Domestic Exploration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reducing Import Bill:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India currently imports all its lithium needs.</strong> Over 165 crore lithium batteries are estimated to have been imported into India between 2016-17 and 2019-20, at an estimated import bill of upwards of<strong> USD 3.3 billion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reducing Overdependence on China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China is a major source of <strong>lithium-ion energy storage products</strong> being imported into the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Associated with Domestic Exploration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new find is categorised as <strong>&ldquo;inferred&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> &lsquo;inferred&rsquo;</strong> mineral resource is the part of a resource for which <strong>quantity, grade and mineral content</strong> are estimated only with a <strong>low level of confidence</strong> based on information gathered from locations such as <strong>outcrops, trenches, pits, workings, and drill holes</strong> that may be of limited or uncertain quality, and also of lower reliability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The lithium find is <strong>comparatively small,</strong> considering the size of the proven reserves in <strong>Bolivia, Argentina, Australia,</strong> and<strong> China respectively.</strong></li>
<li>India is seen as a<strong> late mover in attempts to enter the lithium value chain,</strong> coming at a time when <strong>Electric Vehicles</strong> are predicted to be a<strong> sector ripe for disruption.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>2021 is likely to be a turning point for battery technology with several <strong>potential improvements to the li-ion technology,</strong> and alternatives to this tried-and-tested formulation in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lithium-ion-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>advanced stages of commercialisation.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Extraction Method:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lithium can be extracted in different ways, depending on the type of the deposit .<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Solar evaporation</strong> of large <strong>brine pools.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>brine pool</strong> is a volume of brine collected in a seafloor depression.</li>
<li>For example: Brines of <strong>Sambhar and Pachpadra</strong> in Rajasthan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hard-rock extraction of the ore</strong> (a metal-bearing mineral).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example: <strong>rock mining at Mandya.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Potential Sites:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The major<strong> mica belts</strong> in<strong> Rajasthan, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Pegmatite</strong> (igneous rocks) belts in<strong> Odisha and Chhattisgarh.</strong></li>
<li>Brines of <strong>Sambhar and Pachpadra</strong> in Rajasthan, and<strong> Rann of Kachchh</strong> in Gujarat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Government Initiative:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India, through a newly state-owned company<strong> Khanij Bidesh India Ltd,</strong> had <strong>signed an agreement with an Argentinian firm</strong> to jointly prospect lithium in Argentina that has the <strong>third largest reserves of the metal in the world.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The company has a specific mandate<strong> to acquire strategic mineral assets such as lithium and cobalt abroad.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/looking-for-lithium-toehold-india-finds-a-small-deposit-in-karnataka-7141303/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'domestic-exploration-of-lithium',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7391,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Conflict Over Nile',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have recently agreed to resume negotiations to resolve their <strong>decade-long complex dispute</strong> over the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/grand-ethiopian-renaissance-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grand Renaissance Dam</strong> </a>hydropower project in the Horn of Africa.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Horn of Africa is the <strong>easternmost extension of African land</strong> and includes the region that is home to the countries of <strong>Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia,</strong> whose cultures have been linked throughout their long history.</li>
<li>The Grand Renaissance Dam is being constructed by<strong> Ethiopia on the river Nile.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1609926506_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1609926506_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Conflict:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Nile, Africa&rsquo;s longest river,</strong> has been at the center of a decade-long complex dispute involving several countries that are dependent on the river&rsquo;s waters.</li>
<li><strong>Grand Renaissance Dam:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This 145-meter-tall (475-foot-tall) hydropower project, started by<strong> Ethiopia</strong> is the cause of conflict.</li>
<li>Given the <strong>dam&rsquo;s location on the Blue Nile tributary,</strong> it would <strong>allow Ethiopia to gain control</strong> of the flow of the river&rsquo;s waters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Blue Nile is a tributary of the Nile river and it carries about two-thirds of the river's water volume and most of the silt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At the forefront of this <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/egypt-ethiopia-conflict-on-gerd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dispute are Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Dam&rsquo;s Importance for Ethiopia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ethiopia believes this dam will generate approximately<strong> 6,000 megawatts</strong> of electricity which will<strong> support its industrial growth.</strong></li>
<li>It can also <strong>export surplus electricity</strong> to neighbouring regions to generate revenue.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Neighbouring countries like <strong>Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea and South Sudan</strong> also suffer from <strong>electricity shortages</strong> and they can also <strong>benefit from the hydropower project</strong> if Ethiopia decides to sell electricity to them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Egypt&rsquo;s Concern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Egypt lies <strong>downstream</strong> and is concerned that Ethiopia&rsquo;s control over the water could result in <strong>lower water levels within its own borders.</strong></li>
<li>Egypt depends on the Nile for approximately 97% of its drinking water and irrigation supplies.</li>
<li>The dam would jeopardise<strong> food and water security</strong> and <strong>livelihoods</strong> of ordinary Egyptian citizens.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sudan&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sudan too is concerned that if Ethiopia were to gain control over the river, it would affect the <strong>water levels Sudan receives.</strong></li>
<li>Sudan is likely to<strong> benefit from the power generated</strong> by the dam.</li>
<li>The<strong> regulated flow of the river will save Sudan</strong> from serious flooding in August and September. Thus it has proposed joint management of the dam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Situation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The latest round of talks between<strong> Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt</strong> occurred with<strong> South Africa</strong> observing the proceedings in its role as the current head of the<a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/09-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> African Union&rsquo;s</strong> </a>rotating council, in addition to other international observers.</li>
<li>Despite previous talks, the point of contention hasn&rsquo;t changed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Nile River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The River Nile is in Africa. It originates in <strong>Burundi, south of the equator,</strong> and flows northward through northeastern Africa, eventually flowing through Egypt and finally draining into the <strong>Mediterranean Sea.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Source:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The source of the Nile is sometimes considered to be <strong>Lake Victoria,</strong> but the lake itself has feeder rivers of considerable size like the<strong> Kagera River.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Nile River is considered as one of the<strong> longest rivers</strong> in the world.</li>
<li>The Nile has a length of about <strong>6,695 kilometers</strong> (4,160 miles).</li>
<li>The Nile basin is huge and includes parts of <strong>Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Congo (Kinshasa), Kenya.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Nile River</strong> forms an <strong>arcuate delta</strong> as it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Deltas with<strong> triangular or fan-shape</strong> are called<strong> arcuate (arc-like) deltas.</strong></li>
<li>The Nile is formed by three principal streams: <strong>the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1609926533_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1609926533_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="320" height="586" /></strong></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To solve the <strong>conflict peacefully, mediation and facilitation</strong> by the neighbouring countries and the international bodies are necessary.</li>
<li>In case, the attempt to resolve the conflict does not work out by facilitating negotiations between the conflict parties, then<strong> a compensation method</strong> can be adopted which would need the countries to compensate each others&rsquo; losses.</li>
<li>All countries involved in the issue <strong>need to peacefully resolve the issue</strong> so that they can <strong>reap the advantages</strong> of the dam and <strong>their peace and security</strong> is restored again.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ethiopias-dam-on-river-nile-is-triggering-water-conflict-in-east-africa-7133441/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'conflict-over-nile',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7288,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Investment for Creating Gas Infrastructure',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The government will invest around <strong>60 billion USD</strong> in creating gas infrastructure in the country till <strong>2024</strong> and increasing <strong>gas&rsquo;s share</strong> in the energy mix upto <strong>15%</strong> by <strong>2030.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Currently, gas accounts for<strong> 6% in the country&rsquo;s total energy mix.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Proposed Infrastructure Plan:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes <strong>pipelines, LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) terminals </strong>and<strong> CGD (City Gas Distribution) networks.</strong></li>
<li>It has been envisaged to develop<strong> additional about 14,300 km pipelines</strong> to complete the <strong>National Gas Grid</strong> and are at various stages of development.</li>
<li>At present, the country has <strong>6 operational LNG regasification terminals.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government has further planned to have <strong>1,000 LNG fuel stations</strong> across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Coverage of CGD projects is being expanded to 232 geographical areas spread over 400 districts, with potential to cover about <strong>53% of the country&rsquo;s geography and 70% of population.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Gas Grid:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since a <a href="/pdf/1600768330-the-big-picture-gas-grid-fuel-for-all.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Gas Grid (NGG)</strong> </a>was conceptualized in 2000, India has built more than 16,000 km of gas network. Recent initiatives include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project:</strong> It seeks to cater to the energy requirements of<strong> Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.</strong></li>
<li><strong>North East Region (NER) Gas Grid:</strong> It will pass through Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya in a phased manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>City Gas Distribution (CGD) Network:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the<strong> Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board</strong> (PNGRB)<strong> Act 2006,</strong> PNGRB grants the authorization to the entities for <strong>developing a</strong> <a href="/printpdf/city-gas-distribution-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CGD network</strong></a> in a specified Geographical Area (GA) of the country.</li>
<li>The CGD sector has four distinct segments &ndash; <strong>Compressed Natural Gas</strong> (CNG) predominantly used as <strong>auto-fuel,</strong> and <strong>Piped Natural Gas</strong> (PNG) used in <strong>domestic, commercial and industrial segments.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Government Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Natural Gas Marketing Reforms:</strong> Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reforms-in-exploration-and-licensing-policy-oil-gas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Policy framework on reforms in the exploration and licensing sector</strong> </a>for enhancing domestic exploration and production of oil and gas.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Gas Exchange:</strong> India&rsquo;s first automated <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-gas-exchange-igx" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>national-level gas trading platform</strong></a> was unveiled in June 2020, to promote and sustain an efficient and robust gas market and foster gas trading in the country</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana:</strong> It aimed to provide <strong>free cooking gas connections</strong> to poor families.</li>
<li><strong>Gas4India Campaign:</strong> It is a multimedia, multi-event campaign to communicate to people, the national, social, economic and ecological benefits of using natural gas as the fuel.</li>
<li><strong>Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP):</strong> It is a <a href="/printpdf/hydrocarbon-exploration-and-licensing-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>contractual and fiscal model</strong> </a>for award of hydrocarbon acreages towards exploration and production (E&amp;P). It provides a <strong>single, or uniform, license</strong> for the exploration and production of all conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons from an entire contract area.</li>
<li>Promotion to <strong>Compressed Natural Gas based Public Transport.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transnational Gas Pipelines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline.</li>
<li>Middle East to India Deepwater Pipeline</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Natural Gas</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Natural Gas is mainly extracted from the<strong> petroleum deposits deep beneath the earth.</strong> It occurs <strong>just above the layer of crude oil, as gases are lighter than oil.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>High temperatures and pressure leads</strong> to the conversion of the <strong>remains of plants and animals buried under the earth</strong> into naturally occurring gas along with petroleum and coal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In India,<strong> Jaisalmer, Krishna Godavari delta, Tripura</strong> and some areas offshore in <strong>Mumbai</strong> have natural gas resources.</li>
<li>The <strong>Gas Authority of India Limited</strong> was set up in 1984 as a public sector undertaking to transport and market natural gas.</li>
<li><strong>Need for Gas-based Economy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Energy efficient:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Natural gas produces more energy than any of the fossil fuels in terms of <strong>calorific value.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cleaner fuel:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Natural gas is a superior fuel as compared with coal and other liquid fuels; being an <strong>environment-friendly, safer and cheaper fuel.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Emission commitments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India made a commitment to <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COP-21 Paris Convention</strong> </a>in December 2015 that by 2030, it would reduce carbon emission by 33%-35% of 2005 levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Diverse applications:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Natural gas can be used as<strong> domestic kitchen fuel,</strong> fuel for the <strong>transport sector</strong> as well as a fuel for fertilizer<strong> industries</strong> and commercial units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pacing up the progress line:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>On the global front, switching to natural gas is bringing commendable results. The latest report released by the <a href="/printpdf/world-energy-outlook-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Energy Agency</strong></a> shows that the electricity produced by natural gas worldwide was more than that of coal for the first time ever.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/commodities/usd-60-billion-investment-coming-in-gas-infrastructure-dharmendra-pradhan/article29673498.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'investment-for-creating-gas-infrastructure',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7154,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Recovery from Coal Mining in Meghalaya’s Moolamylliang',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Moolamylliang,</strong> a village in <strong>Meghalaya&rsquo;s East Jaintia Hills district,</strong> is making progress in becoming a greener place amid abandoned pits from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rat-hole-mining#:~:text=Rat%20hole%20mining%20involves%20digging,unscientific%20and%20unsafe%20for%20workers." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>rat-hole mining.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Jaintia Coal Miners and Dealers&rsquo; Association</strong> claims there are around 60,000 coal mines across 360 villages in East Jaintia Hills district.</li>
<li>Moolamylliang used to be one such village until the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a> (NGT) <strong>banned</strong> hazardous rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya in <strong>April 2014</strong> and set a time limit for transporting the coal already mined till that time.</li>
<li>Though the NGT <strong>ban did not stop illegal mining</strong> in the district, it <strong>helped Moolamylliang reform.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coal Mining in Northeast:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the northeast, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/liberalisation-of-coal-mining" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coal mining</strong></a> is part of a larger trend which is the <strong>decimation of natural resources.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, there is large-scale <strong>deforestation going on in the Garo and Khasi Hills</strong> of Meghalaya, besides <strong>limestone mining</strong> in the <strong>Jaintia Hills.</strong></li>
<li>Assam, which has lost most of its once extensive forest cover, sees <strong>poaching in the Dima Hasao region, coal mining</strong> in Upper Assam, and<strong> sand/stone mining</strong> from river beds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are three notable <strong>peculiarities of coal mining in the Jaintia Hills</strong> (and elsewhere in Meghalaya).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Being a tribal state where the <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/indepth-6th-schedule-and-ilp#:~:text=6th%20Schedule,(1)%20of%20the%20Constitution." target="_blank" rel="noopener">6<sup>th</sup> Schedule</a> applies, all land is privately owned,</strong> and hence coal mining is done by private parties. The schedule <strong>does not explicitly refer to mining.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>sizable coal deposits</strong> in the state, mostly in the Jaintia Hills, <strong>occur in horizontal seams only</strong> a few feet high that run through the hills which is why <strong>rat-hole mining is practised instead of open cast mining.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Most of the labour</strong> (including children) comes from Nepal, the <strong>poorer areas</strong> of Assam, and Bangladesh. In Meghalaya, the non-tribal is a second-class citizen, as is the poor tribal, which explains the<strong> general lack of concern even within the State about the trapped miners.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rat-hole Mining:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a term used for a <strong>hazardous and arduous mining technique</strong> where miners crawl into winding underground tunnels that are just 4-5 feet in diameter to extract coal from the deep seams with a pickaxe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Open Cast Mining:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a<strong> surface mining technique</strong> of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open-air pit, sometimes known as a <strong>borrow.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ecological Issues:</strong> Unsustainable mining in hilly areas <strong>contaminates the farmlands and turns the streams acidic,</strong> leading to the<strong> loss of biodiversity and local heritage.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Health Issues:</strong> The prevalence of mining in an area <strong>causes various diseases</strong> like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetic-disorders" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fibrosis</strong></a>, pneumoconiosis and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/silicosis-and-mining-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>silicosis</strong></a> in workers as well as locals.</li>
<li><strong>Child Labour and Trafficking:</strong> Majority of the workers involved in 'rat-hole' mining are children. They are suited for this job because of their small anatomy that fits small mine tunnels. Rat-hole mining has <strong>encouraged child<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-war-against-human-trafficking#:~:text=Section%20370%20and%20370A%20of,the%20forced%20removal%20of%20organs." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> trafficking</a></strong> apart from <strong>engaging with immigrants</strong> from many states.</li>
<li><strong>Corruption: Police officials often collaborate with mine owners</strong> in states where the open cast mining and rat hole mining are the norms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Measures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The administration tried to make coke factories and cement plants in the vicinity contribute to <strong>earth rejuvenation programmes</strong> in the area under their <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corporate-social-responsibility-csr-expenditure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Corporate Social Responsibility</strong> </a>(CSR).</li>
<li>Among the projects being pursued is <strong>low-cost <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/water-conservation-traditional-approach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rainwater harvesting</a></strong> for <strong>recharging the area</strong> that has become dry because of coal mining.</li>
<li>Making Moolamylliang a <strong>base camp for tourists to explore caves, canyons and waterfalls</strong> in parts of East Jaintia Hills that have escaped the impact of mining, will <strong>boost <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/tourism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tourism</a> and bring in revenue.</strong></li>
<li>Since the 6<sup>th</sup> Schedule does not explicitly refer to mining,<strong> environmental activists are calling for the coal trade to come under central mining and environmental laws.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government Initiatives Related to Mining</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <strong>April 2018,</strong> the Ministry of Coal launched the <strong>Unlocking Transparency by Third Party Assessment of Mined Coal </strong>(UTTAM)<strong> Application</strong> for coal quality monitoring.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/national-mineral-policy-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Na&shy;tional Min&shy;eral Pol&shy;icy</strong></a> (NMP) was ap&shy;proved in 2019, which em&shy;pha&shy;sises&shy; on themes such as sus&shy;tain&shy;able min&shy;ing, boost&shy;ing ex&shy;plo&shy;ration, en&shy;cour&shy;ag&shy;ing the use of state-of-the-art tech&shy;nol&shy;ogy and skill de&shy;vel&shy;op&shy;ment.</li>
<li>In <strong>Septem&shy;ber 2019, 100% FDI un&shy;der the au&shy;to&shy;matic ap&shy;proval route was allowed</strong> for the sale of coal and coal min&shy;ing ac&shy;tiv&shy;i&shy;ties in&shy;clud&shy;ing as&shy;so&shy;ci&shy;ated pro&shy;cess&shy;ing in&shy;fra&shy;struc&shy;ture.</li>
<li>In <strong>January 2020,</strong> the Parliament passed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mineral-laws-amendment-bill-2020#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20Parliament%20has%20passed,promulgated%20on%2011th%20January%202020." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It amends the <strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957</strong> and the<strong> Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>1957 Act</strong> regulates the mining sector in India and specifies the requirement for obtaining and granting mining leases for mining operations.</li>
<li>The<strong> 2015 Act</strong> provides for allocation of coal mines and vesting of the right, title and interest in and over the land and mine infrastructure together with mining leases to successful bidders with a view to ensure continuity in coal mining operations and production of coal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Bill <strong>per&shy;mits com&shy;mer&shy;cial coal min&shy;ing for lo&shy;cal and global firms</strong> with&shy;out im&shy;pos&shy;ing any end-user re&shy;stric&shy;tions, also it ex&shy;tend&shy;s the va&shy;lid&shy;ity of clear&shy;ances for min&shy;ing leases ex&shy;pir&shy;ing in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/meghalaya-village-turns-oasis-in-coal-mine-desert/article33265390.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'recovery-from-coal-mining-in-meghalaya-s-moolamylliang',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6971,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Natural Gas Economy',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M62cF5PhNbg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the Government of India has allowed complete marketing freedom for natural gas produced from non-regulated fields. The Union Cabinet has approved a standard e-bidding procedure to discover the price of gas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The policy aims to provide <strong>standard procedure for sale of natural gas</strong> in a transparent and competitive manner to discover market price by issuing guidelines for sale by contractor through e-bidding.</li>
<li>This will bring <strong>uniformity in the bidding process</strong> across the various contractual regimes and policies to avoid ambiguity and contribute towards ease of doing business.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ease of Doing Business:</strong> The whole ecosystem of policies (production, infrastructure and marketing of natural gas) has been made more transparent with a focus on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ease-of-doing-business-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ease of Doing Business.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Encourage investments:</strong> Fulfilling the notion of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat</strong></a>, these reforms encourage investments in the domestic production of natural gas and <strong>reduce import dependence.</strong></li>
<li>Though the producers will continue to be barred from participating in such auctions, the affiliates would still be allowed to bid.</li>
<li>The domestic gas production will have complete marketing and pricing freedom.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the existing pricing mechanism for gas produced by state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd from fields given to them on a nomination basis would continue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The reforms will also help India in shifting towards a <strong>gas based economy.</strong></li>
<li>The increased gas production consumption will help in the<strong> improvement of the environment.</strong></li>
<li>More <strong>employment opportunities</strong> will be there in the gas consuming sectors including <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MSMEs.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Oil and Natural Gas Corporation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It was set up in 1995 and is under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.</li>
<li>It is the largest crude oil and natural gas company in India, contributing around 70% to Indian domestic production.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Natural Gas</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Natural gas is found with petroleum deposits and is released when crude oil is brought to the surface. It can be used as a domestic and industrial fuel.</li>
<li>In India, Jaisalmer, Krishna Godavari delta, Tripura and some areas offshore in Mumbai have natural gas resources.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why Natural Gas?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Excess usage of fossil fuels:</strong> The average global share of fossil fuels in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/energy-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>energy basket</strong></a> is 84% which is even more for India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/opec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Energy Agency (IEA)</strong></a>, India is the world's third largest consumer of oil.</li>
<li>Dependence on coal and oil needs to be reduced and natural gas has to be replaced as much as possible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Share of Natural Gas:</strong> While the world average share of natural gas in the energy basket is 23%, it is only 6% for India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the government of India has set the target to make it 15% by 2030.</li>
<li>Our consumption has been 1/3<sup>rd</sup> of world average. That would increase in future.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>ONGC under APM:</strong> In India, 80% of natural gas produced by ONGC and Oil India Limited falls under<strong> Administered Price Mechanism (APM)</strong> which means the government controls its price.</li>
<li><strong>Reform related challenge:</strong> Currently, the reform impacts only 20% of gas production,while the nominated fields account for 80% India&rsquo;s gas production. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The policy does not include existing producers.</li>
<li>These fields will be out of the benefit zone of the new policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The fertilizer Industry:</strong> The impediment is most of the gas coming from the nominated fields is going to fertilizers which is highly subsidised, hence the sector does not have its control over marketing and setting prices.</li>
<li><strong>Limited Reserves:</strong> Resources of natural gas are limited in India; 55% of natural gas is imported in the form of <strong>Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)</strong> (which is even costlier).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s reserves for natural gas are <strong>located in deep or ultradeep water</strong> which requires specific technology and higher cost and extraction is difficult.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Varied Prices:</strong> In India, natural gas is sold at varied prices- the gas under administered price regime at $1.79 per mBtu and other domestic gas in the range of $4.5 to $5.5 per mBtu.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> unit MBtu</strong> is a measure unit of energy, defined as one thousand the British thermal unit (symbol: Btu). The "M" stands for one thousand, distinguishing with the SI mega (M) prefix, which stands for one million.</li>
<li><strong>Liquefied natural gas (LNG)</strong> is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state (liquefied), at about -260&deg; Fahrenheit, for shipping and storage. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The volume of natural gas in its liquid state is about 600 times smaller than its volume in its gaseous state in a natural gas pipeline.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Realising the Opportunity:</strong> At present, when the prices are low for importing natural gas, India should take the advantage and enter into contracts with the countries rich in natural gas resources such as Iran, Turkmenistan and Myanmar to bring ga to India through pipelines.</li>
<li><strong>More Reforms:</strong> More aggressive and dynamic reforms is what is needed in the field. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To go ahead, we need to reform our whole structure (subsidies) to improve the production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Putting the producers and buyers in charge:</strong> Government should allow the producers and buyers more control of the price. ONGC shall undergo reforms in terms of its marketing and pricing freedom, E-bidding etc.</li>
<li><strong>Alternative:</strong> No doubt natural gas is a cleaner fuel but<strong> cannot be called a green fuel,</strong> that&rsquo;s why more inclination should be there towards electricity; more dependence on electricity should be there as compared to natural gas or any other fuel.</li>
<li><strong>Government as a facilitator:</strong> The government should act as a facilitator and improve quality and quantity of the resources available.</li>
<li><strong>Self reliance:</strong> Infrastructure and facilities should be provided within the country. The import dependence of 55% should be taken on a serious note and should be brought down.</li>
<li><strong>Subsidy in fertilizers:</strong> The government should take action accordingly so that fertiliser subsidy goes directly into farmers account and fertiliser industry doesn't get subsidised so that they too could have their freedom in marketing and pricing.</li>
<li><strong>Extend to the entire gas sector:</strong> The policy should be extended to the entire gas sector, the government should move away from administrative price mechanism (APM).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is Immense potential as far as gas consumption in India is concerned. The need is to scale up in a big way as natural gas is a far more cleaner fuel than any of the fossil fuel.</li>
<li>Natural Gas is going to be a very important part of the country's economy, at least for the next 3 decades, therefore, a holistic approach is needed to find the best suited source of energy from an economic as well as environmental point of view.</li>
</ul>',
		'posturl' => 'the-big-picture-natural-gas-economy',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6748,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Third Assembly of ISA',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> India and France</strong> have been re-elected as the President and Co-President of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a> (ISA) for a term of two years at the virtual third Assembly of ISA.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first two assemblies were held in<strong> India in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-assembly-of-international-solar-alliance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2018</a></strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2019</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Assembly approved institutionalising ISA&rsquo;s engagement with the private and public corporate sector through the <strong>Coalition for Sustainable Climate Action</strong> (CSCA).</li>
<li><strong>Various solar awards</strong> were conferred on countries as well as institutions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/birth-anniversary-of-m-visvesvaraya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visvesvaraya</a> award</strong> recognises the countries with a maximum floating solar capacity in each of the four regions of ISA, which are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Asia Pacific Region.</li>
<li>Africa Region.</li>
<li>Europe and others Region.</li>
<li>Latin America and Caribbean Region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Kalpana Chawla award</strong> for outstanding contribution of scientists and engineers working in the field of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>solar energy</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Diwakar award</strong> recognises organisations and institutions that have been working for the benefit of differently-abled people and have maximised the use of solar energy in the host country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Assembly was <strong>presented the report prepared by</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-forest-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Resources Institute</strong></a> (WRI) which <strong>identifies the sources of funds, opportunities and constraints, in scaling up solar investments and the contribution</strong> of ISA in assisting Member countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ISA will work with WRI to develop a roadmap for <strong>mobilisation of USD 1 trillion by 2030</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the wake of the global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>, ISA responded by setting up <strong>ISA CARES</strong> (like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-cares-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM-CARES</strong></a> in India), an initiative dedicated to the deployment of solar energy in the healthcare sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The initiative <strong>aims to solarize one primary health sector</strong> in each district of the target member countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ISA Secretariat has launched a <strong>Seventh Programme on Solarising Heating and Cooling systems</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Demand for cooling alone outpaced solar deployment in 2017.</li>
<li>Heating and cooling systems have scope to directly convert solar radiation and at higher efficiency levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SAARC</a> Development Fund&rsquo;s</strong> technical assistance along with the <strong>ISA Technical Assistance</strong> is proposed to be implemented jointly with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asian-development-outlook-2019-strengthening-disaster-resilience-adb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asian Development Bank</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The ISA has recently signed a tripartite agreement with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> and the Government of India and is now actively involved in preparing a vision and <strong>implementation plan for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-sun-one-world-one-grid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;One Sun, One World, One Grid&rdquo;</a> Initiative</strong> to harness the power of interconnected grids for enabling energy transition to a low-carbon world.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Perspective and Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The President of the ISA Assembly, <strong>India&rsquo;s Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister</strong> appreciated the Alliance Members coming together to work for combating climate change.</li>
<li>He also<strong> highlighted various activities and programmes</strong> initiated by ISA since the 2<sup>nd</sup> Assembly like the <strong>development of a pipeline</strong> of more than USD 5 billion,<strong> aggregated demand</strong> for more than 270,000 solar pumps across 22 countries, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>France&rsquo;s Role:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France has <strong>committed 1.5 billion Euros</strong> for financing solar projects in ISA member states up until 2022.</li>
<li>The <strong>first project under the Solar Risk Mitigation Initiative</strong> (SRMI) <strong>is being</strong> launched in<strong> Mozambique</strong> with the support of <strong>France and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a></strong> (EU).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SRMI will help mobilise billions in private investment to finance more than 10 GWs of solar projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the frame of the <strong>ISA&rsquo;s Solar Technology Application Resource Centre</strong> (Star-C) <strong>programme</strong>, the <strong>French National Institute for Solar Energy</strong> (INES) will launch a specific program for the small island states of the Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>Indian initiative</strong> that was launched by the <strong>Prime Minister of India and the President of France</strong> on <strong>30<sup>th</sup> November 2015 in Paris</strong>, France on the side-lines of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conference of the Parties</strong></a> (COP-21), with <strong>121 solar resource-rich countries</strong> lying <strong>fully or partially between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn</strong> as prospective members.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in ISA member countries.</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong> Till now, <strong>87 countries have signed the Framework Agreement</strong> of the ISA and of these <strong>67 have deposited their instruments of ratification</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nicaragua, a Central American country</strong> is the <strong>87<sup>th</sup> and the latest</strong> country to sign the agreement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has <strong>allotted 5 acres of land</strong> to the ISA in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solar-thermal-energy-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Institute of Solar Energy</strong></a> (NISE) campus, Gurugram and has released a <strong>sum of Rs. 160 crore</strong> for creating a corpus fund, building infrastructure and meeting day to day recurring expenditure of the ISA up to the year 2021-22.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1664423" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'third-assembly-of-isa',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6680,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Reforms in Exploration and Licensing Policy: Oil & Gas',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/centre-cuts-non-urea-fertiliser-subsidy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs</strong></a> (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the<strong> Policy framework</strong> on reforms in the exploration and licensing sector for enhancing domestic exploration and production of oil and gas.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Attract new <strong>investment</strong> in Exploration and Production (E&amp;P) Sector.</li>
<li>Intensification of <strong>exploration</strong> activities in unexplored areas.</li>
<li><strong>Liberalizing</strong> the policy in producing basins.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Four Focus Areas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Increasing Exploration Activities in Unexpected Areas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bidding out <strong>uncommercialized basins</strong> to contractors without them having to share revenue or production with the Government and only paying royalties/levies.</li>
<li>For <strong>unallocated/unexplored areas,</strong> the bidding to be based on a revenue-sharing basis but more weightage to work programme to be given.</li>
<li>Shorter exploration period and <strong>fiscal incentives.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Marketing and Pricing Freedom:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To incentivize enhanced gas production, marketing and pricing freedom to be granted for those new gas discoveries whose <strong>Field Development Plan (FDP)</strong> is yet to be approved.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>FDP is the evaluation document of multiple development options for a field and selecting the best option based on assessing tradeoffs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal incentive on additional gas production</strong> from domestic fields over and above normal production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Preparation of Enhanced Production Profile:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Public sector Undertakings like <strong>Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL)</strong> will prepare an enhanced production profile to enhance production from their existing fields.</li>
<li>For production enhancement, bringing new technology, and capital, No Objection Certificates (NOCs) will be allowed to <strong>induct private sector partners.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Ease of Doing Business:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Measures like setting up coordination mechanism and simplification of approval, alternate dispute resolution mechanism etc. to be taken.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Domestic production of oil and gas was declining, import dependence was rising and investment in E&amp;P activities was reducing.</strong> Thus, policy reform in this sector was needed.</li>
<li>Earlier, the government between 2016 and 2019 had given pricing freedom for all fields except those given to state-owned ONGC and OIL on a nomination basis.</li>
<li>But, there were<strong> restrictions on marketing</strong> like a ban on affiliates of producers buying the fuel etc. This <strong>restricted competition</strong> kept<strong> prices artificially low.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/hydrocarbon-exploration-and-licensing-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy or HELP</strong></a> was approved in March 2016, aimed at increasing the transparency and decreasing the administrative discretion in granting hydrocarbon licenses. It replaced the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/increasing-domestic-oil-production" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP)</a>, 1997.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, India also launched its first gas exchange which has been named as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-gas-exchange-igx" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Gas Exchange (IGX).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Development of support services.</li>
<li>Employment generation.</li>
<li>Transfer of advanced technology.</li>
<li>Reducing import dependence.</li>
<li>Improve <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/energy-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>energy security</strong></a> of the country.</li>
<li>Save the precious foreign exchange on imports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Petroleum</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Crude petroleum occurs in <strong>sedimentary rocks</strong> of the tertiary period.</li>
<li>It consists of <strong>hydrocarbons of liquid and gaseous states</strong> varying in chemical composition, colour and specific gravity.</li>
<li>It is an essential source of energy for all internal combustion engines in automobiles, railways and aircraft.</li>
<li>Its numerous by-products are processed in petrochemical industries such as fertiliser, synthetic rubber, synthetic fibre, medicines, vaseline, lubricants, wax, soap and cosmetics.</li>
<li>Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Russia are some <strong>major countries with the largest oil reserves.</strong></li>
<li>Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran in<strong> Assam,</strong> Ankleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana, Navagam, Kosamba and Lunej in <strong>Gujarat;</strong> Mumbai High in <strong>Maharashtra</strong> are important <strong>oil-producing areas in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Natural Gas</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Natural gas is found with petroleum deposits and is released when crude oil is brought to the surface. It can be used as a domestic and industrial fuel.</li>
<li><strong>Russia, Norway, UK and the Netherlands</strong> are the major producers of natural gas.</li>
<li>In <strong>India</strong>, Jaisalmer, Krishna Godavari delta, Tripura and some areas offshore in Mumbai have natural gas resources.</li>
<li>The<strong> Gas Authority of India Limited</strong> was set up in 1984 as a public sector undertaking to transport and market natural gas.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Oil and Natural Gas Corporation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is a <strong>Maharatna</strong> Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It was set up in 1995 and is under the <strong>Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>largest crude oil and natural gas company in India,</strong> contributing around 70% to Indian domestic production.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The production enhancement scheme for the nomination field of NOCs is likely to <strong>augment production</strong> by leveraging new technology, capital and management practices through private sector participation.</li>
<li>It would bring <strong>uniformity to the bidding process</strong> across various contractual regimes and policies to avoid ambiguity and contribute towards <strong>ease of doing business.</strong></li>
<li>The move is in line with India&rsquo;s goal of becoming self-reliant as envisaged in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanibhar Bharat initiative</strong></a>. It will help India develop into a <strong>gas-based economy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1565313" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'reforms-in-exploration-and-licensing-policy-oil-gas',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6551,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'O-SMART Scheme',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ocean Services, Modelling, Applications, Resources and Technology (O-SMART) Scheme</strong> was <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approves-o-smart-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2018</strong></a> and is implemented by the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It aims at <strong>stepping up ocean research</strong> and<strong> setting up early warning weather systems.</strong></li>
<li>It addresses ocean development activities such as services, technology, resources, observations and science and provides necessary scientific and technological background required for implementation of various aspects of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Blue Economy</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>generate and regularly update information</strong> on Marine Living Resources and their relationship with the physical environment in the Indian <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones#:~:text=Exclusive%20Economic%20Zone%20(EEZ)%3A,200%20nm%20from%20its%20baselines." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exclusive Economic Zone</strong></a> (EEZ).</li>
<li>To<strong> periodically monitor levels of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/marine-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seawater pollutants</a></strong> for health assessment of coastal waters of India, to <strong>develop shoreline change maps</strong> for assessment of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/India%20lost%20One-Third%20of%20its%20Coastline%20Due%20to%20Soil%20Erosion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coastal erosion</strong></a> due to natural and anthropogenic activities.</li>
<li>To <strong>develop a wide range of state-of-the-art <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-national-centre-for-ocean-information-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ocean observation systems</a></strong> for the acquisition of real-time data from the seas around India and to cater to the testing and sea trial activities of <strong>ocean technology.</strong></li>
<li>To<strong> generate and disseminate a suite of user-oriented ocean information,</strong> advisories, warnings, data and data products for the benefit of society.</li>
<li>To<strong> develop high-resolution models for ocean <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ibm-graf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forecast</a></strong> and reanalysis systems.</li>
<li>To<strong> develop algorithms for validation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cartosat-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">satellite data for coastal research</a></strong> and to monitor changes in the coastal research.</li>
<li><strong>Acquisition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/opv-sarthak" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coastal Research Vessels</a></strong> (CRVs) for coastal pollution monitoring, testing of various underwater components and technology demonstration and to support their operation and maintenance.</li>
<li>To <strong>develop technologies to tap the marine bioresources,</strong> generate freshwater and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ocean-energy-as-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ocean energy</strong></a> and develop <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ocean-mapping-seabed-2030-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>underwater vehicles</strong></a> and technologies.</li>
<li><strong>Establishment of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/imo-guidelines-on-shipping-fuel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ballast water</a> treatment facility.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ballast Water Discharge by ships is <strong>responsible for the introduction of invasive species</strong> in the oceans by taking water from one port and discharging it during the next port call.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To <strong>carry out exploration of Polymetallic Nodules</strong> (MPN) from water depth of 5500 m in site of 75000 sq. km allotted to India by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> in Central Indian Ocean Basin, and <strong>to carry out investigations of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iit-madras-team-produces-gas-hydrates#:~:text=A%20team%20of%20Indian%20researchers,Clathrate%20Hydrates%20or%20Gas%20Hydrates." target="_blank" rel="noopener">gas hydrates.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>MPN, also called manganese nodules, are <strong>rock concretions formed of concentric layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core.</strong></li>
<li>MPN contain multiple metals like copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, iron, lead, zinc, aluminium, silver, gold and platinum etc. in variable constitutions and are precipitate of hot fluids from upwelling hot magma from the deep interior of the oceanic crust.</li>
<li>Mining for Polymetallic nodules is of <strong>strategic importance</strong> for India as there are <strong>no terrestrial sources of these metals in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Exploration of <strong>polymetallic sulphides</strong> near Rodrigues Triple junction (convergence of Central Indian Ridge, the Southeast Indian Ridge, and the Southwest Indian Ridge) in 10000 sq. km of area allotted to India in International waters by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-begins-talks-to-regulate-the-high-seas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Seabed Authority.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Submission of India's claim over continental shelf</strong> extending beyond the EEZ supported by scientific data, and the<strong> Topographic survey of EEZ</strong> of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1657412" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'o-smart-scheme-1',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6489,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Methane Hydrates in Krishna-Godavari Basin',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin was conducted by the researchers at the <strong>Agharkar Research Institute (ARI),</strong> an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Biogenic Methane:</strong> It is the <strong>methane produced from the metabolic activities of living organisms.</strong> The research team has <strong>identified the methanogens</strong> that produced the<strong> biogenic methane trapped as methane hydrate,</strong> which can be a significant source of energy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Methanogens:</strong> These are microorganisms that produce methane as a <strong>metabolic by-product in hypoxic</strong> (low levels of oxygen) conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ARI team has documented a <strong>predominance of genus <em>Methanosarcina</em> in the KG basin,</strong> followed by a few other genera <em>Methanoculleus, Methanobacterium.</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Methane hydrate</strong> is formed when hydrogen-bonded <strong>water and methane gas</strong> come into contact <strong>at high pressures and low temperatures such as in oceans.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Methane Hydrate</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Methane hydrate is a <strong>crystalline</strong> solid that consists of a<strong> methane molecule surrounded by a cage of interlocking water molecules.</strong></li>
<li>Methane hydrate is an <strong>"ice"</strong> that only <strong>occurs naturally in subsurface deposits</strong> where temperature and pressure conditions are favourable for its formation.</li>
<li><strong>Difficult to handle:</strong> If the ice is removed from this temperature/pressure environment, it becomes unstable. For this reason, methane hydrate deposits are difficult to study and handle.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They cannot be drilled and cored for study like other subsurface materials because as they are brought to the surface, the pressure is reduced and the temperature rises.</li>
<li>This causes the ice to melt and the methane to escape.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Several <strong>other names</strong> are commonly used for methane hydrate. These include: methane <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iit-madras-team-produces-gas-hydrates#:~:text=A%20team%20of%20Indian%20researchers,Clathrate%20Hydrates%20or%20Gas%20Hydrates." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>clathrate</strong></a>, hydromethane, methane ice, fire ice, natural gas hydrate, and gas hydrate.</li>
<li>Most methane hydrate deposits also contain small amounts of other hydrocarbon hydrates. These include propane hydrate and ethane hydrate.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600165407_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600165407_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;"></ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of the Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Methane is a clean and economical fuel.</li>
<li>It is estimated that <strong>one cubic meter</strong> of methane hydrate contains <strong>160-180 cubic meters</strong> of methane.</li>
<li>This study revealed <strong>maximum methanogenic diversity in the KG basin,</strong> which is one of the prominent reasons to confirm it to be the extreme source of biogenic methane<strong> in comparison to the Andaman and Mahanadi basins.</strong></li>
<li>Even the lowest estimate of methane present in the methane hydrates in the KG Basin is <strong>twice</strong> that of <strong>all fossil fuel reserves</strong> available worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Krishna-Godavari Basin</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An <strong>extensive deltaic plain</strong> formed by two large east coast rivers, <strong>Krishna and Godavari</strong> in the state of <strong>Andhra Pradesh</strong> and the adjoining areas of <strong>Bay of Bengal</strong> in which these rivers discharge their water is known as Krishna-Godavari Basin.</li>
<li>The KG Basin is a <strong>large basin of continental margin</strong> located on the east coast of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its land part covers an area of <strong>15000 sq. km</strong></li>
<li>The offshore part covers an area of 25,000 sq. km up to 1000 m isobath.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The basin contains about <strong>5 km thick sediments</strong> with several cycles of deposition, ranging in age from Late Carboniferous to Pleistocene.</li>
<li>The major <strong>geomorphological units</strong> of the basin are upland plains, coastal plains, recent flood and delta plains.</li>
<li>The site is known for the<strong> D-6 block</strong> with the biggest natural gas reserves in India. The first gas discovery was made in <strong>1983</strong> by ONGC.</li>
<li>The basin is <strong>home to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/olive-ridley-turtles#:~:text=The%20Olive%20ridley%20turtles%20are,same%20beach%20to%20lay%20eggs." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Olive Ridley Sea Turtle</a></strong> (IUCN Status: Vulnerable).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1653545#:~:text=Methane%20is%20a%20clean%20and,180%20cubic%20meters%20of%20methane.&amp;text=of%20India%20have%20found%20that,basin%20are%20of%20biogenic%20origin." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'methane-hydrates-in-krishna-godavari-basin',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6488,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Steel Industry in India',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to recent information shared by the Union Minister for Steel in Lok Sabha, <strong>Indian steel companies</strong> including the public sector <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/iron-and-steel-industry-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>steel</strong> </a>companies <strong>have consistently enhanced their capacities, production and sales</strong> including exports over the years.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Improvements:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India was a <strong>net exporter of steel in 2019-20</strong> and during the period of April-August, 2020, steel exports from India have increased by more than 153% in comparison to the same period in 2019-20.</li>
<li><strong>Capacity for domestic crude steel production</strong> has been expanded from 109.85 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) in 2014-15 to 142.29 MTPA in 2019-20.</li>
<li><strong>Crude steel production</strong> has gone up from 88.98 MTPA in 2014-15 to 109.14 MTPA in 2019-20.</li>
<li>These improvements can be <strong>attributed to the continuous efforts of skill training and government initiatives</strong> in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Skill Training:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By <strong>Skill Training Centres</strong> under the Ministry of Steel. For example, <strong>National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology</strong> (Punjab), <strong>Institute for Steel Development and Growth</strong> (Kolkata), etc.</li>
<li>By <strong>Central Public Sector Enterprises</strong> (CPSEs) like <strong>Steel Authority of India Ltd.</strong> (SAIL) and <strong>Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd.</strong> (RINL).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both CPSEs have been making continuous efforts towards reducing the operational costs through technology induction, enhanced productivity and streamlining procurement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Capital:</strong> Iron and steel industry<strong> requires large capital investment which is difficult for a developing country like India</strong> to afford. Many of the public sector integrated steel plants have been established with the <strong>help of foreign aid.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Low Productivity:</strong> The per capita labour productivity in the country is at 90-100 tonnes for the steel industry which is very low. It is 600-700 tonnes per person in Korea, Japan, and other steel producing nations.</li>
<li><strong>Low Potential Utilisation:</strong> Durgapur steel plant makes use of approximately 50% of its potential which is caused by factors like strikes, shortage of raw materials, energy crisis, incompetent administration, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Huge Demand: Huge chunks of steel are to be imported</strong> in order to meet the demands. In order to save invaluable foreign exchange, productivity needs to be increased.</li>
<li><strong>Inferior Quality of Products:</strong> The <strong>weak infrastructure, capital inputs</strong> and other facilities eventually lead to a steel making<strong> process which is more time-taking, expensive and produces an inferior variety</strong> of steel products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Initiatives for Steel Industry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/iron-and-steel-industry-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Steel Policy (NSP) 2017</strong></a>: It seeks to create a technologically advanced and globally competitive steel industry that promotes economic growth.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/steel-scrap-recycling-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Steel Scrap Recycling Policy</strong></a>: It was launched to utilise steel scrap emanating from vehicles and white goods (that have reached their end of life) for quality steel production.</li>
<li><strong>Introduction of Quick Response</strong> (QR) code based traceable tags where quality and genealogy can be tracked, <strong>wireless hand-held terminal</strong> to reduce retention time and improved identification and handling of the material and <strong>steel ladle management system are few other initiatives.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Optimisation of coke, pellet and sinter quality</strong> to improve the yield and throughput of the Blast Furnaces and <strong>modelling of iron making process</strong> inside a blast furnace to reduce coke consumption and enhance the yield.</li>
<li><strong>Adoption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-industrial-revolution-4-0#:~:text=It%20is%20an%20initiative%20of,brought%20about%20by%20smart%20technologies." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Industry 4.0</a>):</strong> It will improve manufacturing processes, material usage, energy efficiency, plant and worker productivity, supply chain and product life-cycle.</li>
<li><strong>Steel Research and Technology Mission of India:</strong> It provides for the grant of financial assistance to various institutions including <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research</strong> </a>(CSIR) laboratories and academic institutions for carrying out research in the iron and steel sector including environmental issues like utilisation of wastes, improvement in energy efficiency and reduction in <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>greenhouse gases</strong> </a>(GHG) emission.</li>
<li><strong>Draft Framework Policy:</strong> It is aimed at facilitating setting up of greenfield steel clusters along with development and expansion of existing steel clusters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The steel clusters will help the country become <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar</strong></a> (self-reliant) in value-added steel and capital goods and also generate employment, especially in the eastern part of the country covering the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh as part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-purvodaya-accelerated-development-of-steel-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Purvodaya initiative</strong></a> of the Ministry of Steel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Indian steel industry has entered into a new development stage, post de-regulation, riding high on the resurgent econom y and rising demand for steel.</li>
<li>Huge scope for growth is offered by India&rsquo;s comparatively low per capita steel consumption and the expected rise in consumption due to increased infrastructure construction and the thriving automobile and railways sectors.</li>
<li>The steel industry&rsquo;s products play a crucial role in the development of the sustainable society and its significance for India&rsquo;s prosperity and welfare cannot be emphasised enough.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1654015" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'steel-industry-in-india-1',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6463,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Net Present Value of Forests',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Mines has requested the Forest Advisory Committee (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) to <strong>exempt digging exploratory boreholes </strong>from<strong> Net Present Value (NPV).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2018, the Ministry of Coal, the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had sought to be exempted from forest clearances for exploratory boreholes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Exploratory Boreholes:</strong> An exploratory borehole is drilled for the purpose of identifying the characteristics, location, quantity and quality of a resource (coal, metal or petroleum). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a part of <strong>prospecting a site</strong> for future use for mining and extraction activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Net Present Value (NPV):</strong> It is a mandatory one-time payment that a user has to make for diverting forestland for non-forest use, under the <strong>Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Calculation:</strong> This is calculated on the basis of the services and ecological value of the forests. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It depends on the<strong> location and nature of the forest and the type of industrial enterprise</strong> that will replace a particular parcel of forest.</li>
<li>These payments go to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/compensatory-afforestation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF)</strong></a> and are <strong>used for afforestation and reforestation.</strong></li>
<li>The CAF is managed by the<strong> Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decided by</strong>: The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/panel-approves-scheme-to-trade-in-forests" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Advisory Committee</strong> </a>constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC) decides on whether forests can be diverted for projects and the NPV to be charged.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a<strong> statutory body</strong> constituted by the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exemptions:</strong> Some projects have been provided exemption from paying NPV like construction of <strong>Schools, Hospitals, village tanks, laying down of optical fibre</strong> etc. Projects like underground mining and wind energy plants have been given a 50% exemption from NPV.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> In the <em><strong>N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India case,</strong></em> <strong>2008,</strong> the <strong>Supreme Court mandated</strong> the payment of NPV.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Kanchan Gupta Committee</strong> developed the concept of NPV after this case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Argument by Ministry of Mines:</strong> All areas of exploration are not converted into mining. Only about 1% of cases are converted to mining.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Payment of NPV at a present rate of 2% or 5% NPV of the total forest area in the lease area is one of the major challenges which leads to <strong>delay in the exploration/ prospecting activities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Response from the Forest Advisory Committee :</strong> While it was not possible to do away with NPV, it recommended that the MoEF&amp;CC may consider charging NPV on a per borehole basis instead of the present practice of charging 2 or 5%.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Forest Conservation Act, 1980</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 stipulated that the central permission is necessary to practice sustainable agro-forestry in forest areas. Violation or lack of permit was treated as a<strong> criminal offence.</strong></li>
<li>It puts a restriction on the <strong>use of forest-land for non-forest purposes.</strong></li>
<li>It targeted to <strong>limit deforestation, conserve biodiversity and save wildlife. </strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/environment-ministry-rejects-plea-for-exemption-from-forest-penalty/article32584230.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'net-present-value-of-forests',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6431,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Solar Technology Summit',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> first-ever <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Solar Technology Summit</a></strong> (WSTS) was organised by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a> (ISA) and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-asean-expo-and-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry</strong></a> (FICCI).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To showcase to member countries the state of the art and next-generation solar technologies worldwide.</li>
<li>To give an opportunity to decision-makers and stakeholders to meet, and discuss their own priorities and strategic agenda towards a larger integration.</li>
<li>To discuss the recent highlights of solar technologies, cost-wise, technology-wise, technology transfers, challenges and concerns in the field.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In spite of having<strong> one of the lowest per-capita carbon emissions</strong> in the world, India has pressed ahead with the deployment of renewable energy at a fast pace for lowering carbon footprints.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>enhanced its installed renewable capacity by 2.5 times </strong>and<strong> increased the solar installed capacity by more than 13 times.</strong></li>
<li>Globally, India <strong>ranks 4<sup>th</sup> in terms of renewable power.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has <strong>scaled non-fossil fuel-based power generations to 134GW,</strong> which is about 35% of the total power generation and it is <strong>expected to increase it to 220 GW by 2022.</strong></li>
<li>India is <strong>providing capacity-building support to ISA member countries</strong> through its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vice-president-s-visit-to-comoros-and-sierra-leone#:~:text=The%20ITEC%20programme%20provides%20for,and%20feasibility%20studies%2Fconsultancy%20services." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Project Preparation Facility</strong> has been set up to <strong>develop bankable Solar Energy</strong> projects in ISA member countries with the help of<strong> Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India.</strong></li>
<li>In 2018, India announced about <strong>USD 1.4 billion worth of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/line-of-credit-to-pacific-island-nations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lines of credit</a></strong> (LOCs) for covering 27 solar projects across 15 countries. These projects are in various stages of implementation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solar Energy related Schemes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Solar energy</strong></a> has taken a central place in India's <a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Action Plan on Climate Change</strong> </a>with the <strong>National Solar Mission</strong> as one of the key Missions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National Solar Mission (NSM) was launched on 11<sup>th</sup> January 2010 and is in line with India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-climate-action-ministerial" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intended Nationally Determined Contributions</strong></a> (INDCs).</li>
<li>Its objective is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for solar technology diffusion across the country as quickly as possible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Sun, One World, One Grid</a> (OSOWOG):</strong> India&rsquo;s ambitious cross-border power grid plan which seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-website-of-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>KUSUM Scheme:</strong></a> It aims to replace the use of diesel in the farm sector with solar energy with the target of solarisation of 2.8 million irrigation pumps.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solar-charkha-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Solar Charkha Mission:</strong></a> It is an enterprise driven scheme and envisages setting up of &lsquo;Solar Charkha Clusters&rsquo; which will have 200 to 2042 beneficiaries. These solar charkhas are operated using solar power, keeping the environment clean and generating sustainable employment for the artisans.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rewa-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>750 megawatt (MW) solar project</strong> </a>which has been inaugurated in <strong>Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation</strong> which was jointly launched by <strong>India and France on 30<sup>th</sup> November 2015</strong> during the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>21<sup>st</sup> session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties</strong></a> (COP-21) in Paris, France.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To lower the cost of technology and finance and thereby facilitate deployment of over 1,000 GW of solar energy and mobilize more than USD 1,000 billion into solar power by 2030 in member countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar energy is a key source of affordable and reliable energy, thus it could play a significant role in achieving the <strong>universal energy access</strong> goal <strong>(SDG 7).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong> Gurugram in Haryana, India.</li>
<li>As of June 2020, the ISA Framework Agreement has been <strong>signed by 86 countries, </strong>with <strong>68 having also deposited instruments of ratification.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1652436" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'world-solar-technology-summit-1',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6329,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Foundation Day of AREAS',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>On the 6<sup>th</sup> Foundation Day (27<sup>th</sup> August 2020) of the <strong>Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS),</strong> the government has launched a website and telephone directory for AREAS.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agenda Behind AREAS:</strong> <strong>State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) for Renewable Energy (RE) interact</strong> and learn from each other&rsquo;s experiences and also share their best practices and knowledge regarding technologies and schemes/programmes.</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong> The <strong>Union Minister for New &amp; Renewable Energy (NRE)</strong> is the <strong>Patron</strong> of the Association and <strong>Secretary, MNRE</strong> is the ex-officio <strong>President</strong> of the Association. All <strong>SNAs</strong> are members of the Association.</li>
<li><strong>Formation:</strong> It got registered under <strong>Society Registration Act, 1860</strong> on 27<sup>th</sup> August 2014.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Renewable Energy Initiatives in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)</strong></a> is the nodal Ministry of the Government of India for all matters relating to new and renewable energy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>New and Renewable Energy sources include <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solar energy</a>,</strong> geothermal energy, wind power, hydropower, biomass, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In September <strong>2019,</strong> at the <strong>United Nations Climate Action Summit,</strong> India announced increasing the <strong>renewable energy target to 450 GW by 2030</strong> from 175 GW by 2022.</li>
<li>In its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/emission-gap-report-by-unep" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC)</strong></a>, India has pledged to increase the<strong> share of non-fossil fuels-based electricity to 40% by 2030.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Green Energy Corridor Project</strong> aims at synchronizing electricity produced from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, with conventional power stations in the grid.</li>
<li>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-railways-to-use-more-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Railways</strong> </a>has contacted solar power developers to meet the net zero carbon emission target by 2030.</li>
<li><strong>Sector Specific Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Solar Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa#:~:text=The%20second%20assembly%20of%20the,financial%20and%20programme%20related%20issues." target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Solar Alliance</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Solar Mission</strong></a> (a part of National Action Plan on Climate Change)</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-website-of-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradham Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM)</strong></a></li>
<li>Atal Jyoti Yojana</li>
<li>Suryamitra Skill Development Programme</li>
<li>Solar Park Scheme and Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rewa-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rewa Solar Power Plant</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wind Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National Wind Resource Assessment programme</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-indias-wind-energy-potential#:~:text=A%20Solar%2DWind%20Hybrid%20policy,resources%2C%20transmission%20infrastructure%20and%20land." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy 2018</strong></a></li>
<li>National Institute of Wind Energy, Tamil Nadu</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Waste to Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial, Agricultural Wastes/Residues and Municipal Solid Waste</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bio Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Biomass power &amp; cogeneration programme</li>
<li>Biogas Power Generation (Off-grid) and Thermal energy application Programme (BPGTP)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1649208" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'foundation-day-of-areas',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6212,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Solar Technology Summit: ISA',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong> will organise the<strong> First World Solar Technology</strong> Summit on<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> September, 2020</strong> on a virtual platform.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>objective</strong> of the event is to bring the spotlight on <strong>state-of-the-art technologies</strong> as well as <strong>next-generation technologies</strong> which will provide impetus to the efforts towards harnessing <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>solar energy</strong></a> more efficiently.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Key Participants:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Prime Minister of India</strong> will deliver the inaugural address of the First World Solar Technology Summit, to be graced by <strong>Ministers from member countries from across all ISA regions.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Dr. M. Stanley Whittingham</strong> who was awarded the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prizes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nobel Prize</a> in Chemistry</strong> (jointly with <strong>John B Goodenough &amp; Akira Yoshino</strong>) in <strong>2019</strong> for the revolutionizing discovery of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increasing-imports-of-li-ion-batteries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lithium ion batteries.</a> </strong></li>
<li><strong>CEOs of top global corporations</strong> will share their vision on how scientific breakthroughs and innovations can be commercially made available to all parts of the world for wider consumption.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Four Sessions:</strong> The event will hold four technical sessions that would be available to the participants in different languages namely <strong>English, Spanish, French &amp; Arabic.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Session -1: Vision 2030 &amp; Beyond:</strong> The overall context of Photovoltaic (PV) technology development and its future, on its way towards becoming the first source of energy worldwide, with PV technologies supplying 70% of the world&rsquo;s electricity generation.</li>
<li><strong>Session -2: Towards a Decarbonised Grid:</strong> The most recent advances (conversion efficiency improvements and declining costs) regarding key components such as PV modules and storage technologies.</li>
<li><strong>Session -3: Disruptive Solar Technologies:</strong> On-grid applications, whether ground-mounted, floating, or integrated in residential and commercial rooftops.</li>
<li><strong>Session -4: Solar Beyond the Power Sector:</strong> Innovative applications where PV is used to move, heat, cool, and drive eco-friendly industrial processes and produce fuels as well as off-grid applications, to provide universal access to energy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>I JOSE:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ISA would also launch the <strong>ISA Journal on Solar Energy (I JOSE)</strong> that would help authors from across the globe to publish their articles on solar energy, during the event.</li>
<li>The articles in this journal would be reviewed by global experts and will reach the Member countries through ISA&rsquo;s vast network of <strong>NFPs (National Focal points) </strong>and <strong>STAR (Solar Technology and Application Resource centers)</strong> centers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Solar Energy Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar energy has taken a central place in India's<a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Action Plan on Climate Change</strong> </a>with the <strong>National Solar Mission </strong>as <strong>one of the key Missions.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National Solar Mission (NSM) was launched on 11<sup>th</sup> January, 2010.</li>
<li>Its objective is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for solar technology diffusion across the country as quickly as possible.</li>
<li>It targets installing <strong>100 GW grid-connected solar power plants by the year 2022. </strong>This is <strong>in line with India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-climate-action-ministerial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)</a> target</strong> to achieve about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources and to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% from 2005 level by 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to achieve the above target, the Government of India has launched various <strong>schemes</strong> to encourage generation of solar power in the country like <strong>Solar Park Scheme,</strong> Canal bank &amp; Canal top Scheme, Bundling Scheme,<strong> Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme etc.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Solar power capacity has increased by more than 11 times in the last five years</strong> from 2.6 GW in March, 2014 to 30 GW in July, 2019.</li>
<li>Recently, a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rewa-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 750 megawatt (MW) solar project</strong> </a>has been inaugurated in<strong> Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>India has an ambitious cross-border power grid plan&mdash;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;One Sun One World One Grid&rsquo;</strong></a>&mdash; that seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>launch</strong> of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was announced by the <strong>Prime Minister of India</strong> (Narendra Modi) and former<strong> President of France</strong> (Francois Hollande) on <strong>30<sup>th</sup> November 2015,</strong> at the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>21<sup>st</sup> session of United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21)</strong></a> in Paris, France. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>67 countries</strong> have signed and ratified the ISA framework agreement.</li>
<li>The <strong>Assembly of the ISA is the apex decision-making body</strong> which comprises representatives from each Member Country.</li>
<li>It<strong> aims</strong> at lowering the cost of technology and finance and thereby facilitate deployment of over 1,000 GW of solar energy and mobilize more than USD 1,000 billion into solar power by 2030 in Member countries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar is a key source of affordable and reliable energy, thus it could play a significant role in achieving the<strong> universal energy access goal (SDG 7).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has allotted 5 acres of land to the ISA in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solar-thermal-energy-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE)</strong></a> campus,<strong> Gurugram</strong> and has released a sum of Rs. 160 crore for creating a corpus fund, building infrastructure and meeting day to day recurring expenditure of the ISA up to the year 2021-22.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1646492" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'world-solar-technology-summit-isa',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	}
]
$tags = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'id' => (int) 266,
		'tag' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'colorcode' => 'FFFFFF',
		'posturl' => 'mineral-&-energy-resources',
		'status' => (int) 1,
		'sort_order' => (int) 5,
		'type' => (int) 0,
		'relivant' => (float) 1,
		'metatitle' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'metakeyword' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'metadescription' => 'Mineral & Energy Resources',
		'addedby' => (int) 9,
		'updatedby' => (int) 9,
		'added' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'modified' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'tags'
	
	}
]
$title = 'Article Tags'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/articlebox.ctp, line 5
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Articles/tags.ctp, line 61
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 765
Cake\Controller\Controller::render() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 623
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 125
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 93

Achievers Corner

Prelims

Mains & Interview

Current Affairs

Drishti Specials

Free Downloads

Test Series

Videos

Tag Search Results

You searched “Mineral & Energy Resources”. Your tag search matches the following results: