Posted by IAS Vidyalaya
in Jan 12, 2010
Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Mission "Solar India"
On Monday 11, January, 2010, PM
Dr. Manmohan Singh Launched "Solar India" mission which aims at development and deployment of solar energy technologies in the country to achieve parity with grid power tariff by
2022.
The
objective of the
National Solar Mission is to establish
India as a global leader in
solar energy, by creating the policy conditions for its diffusion across the country as quickly as possible.
It is a 3-phase approach, spanning the remaining period of
the
11th Plan and first year of the
12th Plan (up to 2012-13) as Phase 1, the remaining 4 years of the 12th Plan (2013-17) as Phase 2 and the
13th Plan (2017-22) as Phase 3.
To achieve this, the Mission
targets are:
1. To create an enabling policy framework for the deployment of 20,000 MW of solar power by 2022.
2. To ramp up capacity of grid-connected solar power generation to 1000 MW
within three years – by 2013; an additional 3000 MW by 2017 through the
mandatory use of the renewable purchase obligation by utilities backed with a preferential tariff. This capacity can be more than doubled – reaching 10,000MW installed power by 2017 or more, based on the enhanced and enabled international finance and technology transfer. The ambitious target for 2022 of 20,000 MW or more, will be dependent on the ‘learning’ of the first two phases, which if successful, could lead to conditions of grid-competitive solar power. The transition could be appropriately up scaled, based on availability of international finance and technology.
3. To create favourable conditions for solar manufacturing capability, particularly solar thermal for indigenous production and market leadership.
4. To promote programmes for off grid applications, reaching 2000 MW by 2022 including 20 million solar lighting systems.
5. To achieve 20 million sq. solar thermal collector area by 2022.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal Ministry of the Government of India for all matters relating to new and renewable energy. The broad aim of the Ministry is to develop and deploy new and renewable energy for supplementing the energy requirements of the country.
ASTRA - Air-to-Air Future Missile Of India.
India test fired
ASTRA twice at its
Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Orissa on Monday,11, January, 2009. It is beyond visual range (BVR) missile with solid fuel as propellent. ASTRA is designed and produced by
DRDO.
But the problem is, with 160 kg weight and 3.7-metre long Astra is very heavy compared to other foreign made BVR missiles and, its integration with Sukhois and other fighter planes poses problems. Moreover, tests on Monday were from underslung ground launchers, not from fighters flying at supersonic speeds.
Furthermore, it will need 20-40 tests for Astra-I, with a 45-km strike range, to be dubbed fully-operational. Then only 80-km range Astra-II will follow.
Consequently, India is forced to import from Russia, France and Israel huge quantities of expensive BVR missiles like AA-12 Adder, Matra Super 530D and Derby to arm its fighters like Sukhoi-30MKIs, Mirage-2000s and MiG-29s.
Meanwhile, IAF desperately needs indigenous BVR missiles since the days of close-range dogfights are fast receding. In modern-day air combat, fighters often use BVR missiles to destroy enemy aircraft at ranges over 40 km away, without coming anywhere close to each other.
Posted by IAS Vidyalaya
in Jan 8, 2010
An official report
'India State of Forest Report 2009' released in New Delhi on Monday by the Minister for Forests and Environment Jairam Ramesh shows that India's green cover during the period 1997-2007 had grown by 3.13 million hectares.It is based on the work done by the Forest Survey of India
According to the official report, India's net addition is 0.3 million hectares per year. Whereas for Brazil and Indonesia there has been a net loses 2.5 million hectares in the same time period.
Broadly, about 34 per cent of the country's forests fall in the tropical moist deciduous category, 30 per cent in the tropical dry deciduous, 11 per cent in Himalayan temperate, nine per cent in the tropical wet evergreen category, 6 per cent in subtropical pine and about 5 per cent in the tropical thorn category, says the report.
Moreover, for the first time, India's forests have been mapped into 16 forest type groups and forest and tree cover has been estimated with due consideration to altitudinal levels.
One of the Key finding of the report indicates that India seemed to be doing well in protecting its dense forests, but lagged behind where moderately forest areas are concerned. So, it is a matter of concern as our large forest area is under moderately forest area.
Posted by IAS Vidyalaya
in Jan 5, 2010
China - ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The
Free Trade Agreement(FTA) between China and ASEAN comes into force on Friday.
In this agreement China cut tariffs on import from ASEAN from an average of 9.8% to about 0.1%. Original members of ASEAN - Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillipines, Singapore and Thailand have also agreed to cut import duty from an average of 12.8% to just 0.6%. This agreement expands a limited 2005 agreement between these nations.
Impact on India
India had also signed Free Trade Agreement in Goods with ASEAN as part of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement(CECA), in August 2009 in Bangkok. Moreover, currently negotiations on Agreements on Trade in Services and Investment with ASEAN are going on.
So, there is little concern regarding trade with ASEAN countries but story is different when picture of trade with China comes. At present 58% of Indian export to China consists of Iron Ore with very little component of value added goods. India has been trying to widen the trade basket to inclue manufactured goods, fruits and vegetables. This effort might be severely hit because goods from ASEAN nations will now cost much less to Chinese Consumers.
Posted by IAS Vidyalaya
in Jan 3, 2010
On January,2 ,2010 UPSC notified for 965 post for Civil Services 2010. It is the largest number of vacancies in last 10 years. Moreover, the last date for submission of farms is Feburary,1,2010.Also, the prelims exam will be held on May,23,2010.
For more information please visit UPSC 2010 Notification.
