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1.Indian Naval ship Sahyadri reaches Darwin, Australia for exercise KAKADU 2018

Exercise KAKADU

1. After having been deployed to the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean for over four months, which included representing Indian Navy in multinational exercises MALABAR 18 at Guam and RIMPAC 18 at Hawaii, INS Sahyadri entered the Port of Darwin, Australia to participate in Exercise KAKADU 2018
2. Indian Navy’s participation in KAKADU 18 provides an excellent opportunity to engage with regional partners and undertake multinational maritime activities ranging from constabulary operations to high-end maritime warfare in a combined environment
3. It is aimed at enhancing interoperability and development of common understanding of procedures for maritime operations

About the exercise

1. Exercise KAKADU, which started in 1993, is the premier multilateral regional maritime engagement exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
2. The exercise is held biennially in Darwin and the Northern Australian Exercise Areas (NAXA)
3. Exercise KAKADU derives its name from Kakadu National Park, which is a protected area in the northern territory of Australia, 171 km south-east of Darwin
4. KAKADU 2018 is the 14th edition of the exercise
5. During the exercise, professional exchanges in harbour and diverse range of activities at sea, including complex surface, sub-surface and air operations would enable sharing of best practices and honing of operational skills.

2.Operation NISTAR Successfully Culminates with Safe Disembarkations of 38 Indian Nationals at Porbandar

Operation NISTAR

• INS Sunayana successfully evacuated 38 Indian Nationals at/ off Socotra Islands during a swift Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operation (HADR), code named Operation NISTAR.
• The Indian Nationals were stranded after severe Cyclonic Storm – Mekunu devastated the area around Socotra Island.
• INS Sunayana was diverted from Gulf of Aden deployment to Socotra Island for search and rescue operations.

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) in India’s National Strategy

• HADR operations have attracted the attention of the global community in recent years.
• The Indian armed forces have a wide experience of disaster relief operations both at home and abroad, where they have been the core of relief operations.
• Due to its sub-continental size, geographical location and its vulnerability to disasters, India has kept its forces ready to render assistance at short notice.
• In the six decades since independence, India has experienced a number of natural and man-made disasters such as floods, earthquakes, famines, industrial accidents etc.
• At the same time, India has partnered the global community in providing relief in affected regions.

3.INS Karanj boosts Navy’s firepower

Third Scorpene class submarine joins Naval fleet

1. The Navy’s third state-of-the-art Scorpene class submarine, INS Karanj, has been launched
2. The new submarine is named after the earlier Kalvari class INS Karanj, which was decommissioned in 2003
3. This launch follows the launch of the first two Scorpene submarines — INS Kalavari and INS Khanderi.

4.Indian Navy inducts its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle

• The Indian Navy has inducted its first Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) System at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

About DSRV

1. DSRV is used to rescue crew members stranded in submarines that get disabled. The Indian Navy joins a select group of naval forces in the world that boasts of this niche capability.
2. The DSRV can be operated at a depth of 650 meters and can hold around 15 people.
3. The Indian Navy in March 2016 had commissioned two DSRVs, the second will deployed at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.
4. The induction of the DSRV marks the culmination of years of effort of the Indian Navy in acquiring this niche submarine rescue capability.

Why need DSRV System?

1. The Indian Navy currently operates submarines of the Sindhughosh, Shishumar, Kalvari Classes as well as nuclear powered submarines.
2. The operating medium and the nature of operations undertaken by submarines expose them to high degree of inherent risk.
3. In such an eventuality, traditional methods of search and rescue at sea are ineffective for a disabled submarine.
4. To overcome this capability gap the Navy has acquired a third generation, advanced Submarine Rescue System considering of a Non-tethered Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) and its associated equipment.

What makes Indian DSRV special?

1. The Indian Navy’s DSRV System is considered to be the most advanced system currently in operation globally for its capability of undertaking rescue from a disabled Submarine upto 650 m depth.
2. It is operated by a crew of three, can rescue 14 personnel from a disabled Submarine at one time and can operate in extreme sea conditions.

5.Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) Capability

Context

• The Indian Navy has inducted a Submarine Rescue System with a Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) along with associated equipment.

Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV)

1. The Indian DSRV has the capability to rescue personnel from a distressed submarine (DISSUB) up to a depth of 650 m and it is the latest in terms of technology and capabilities.
2. It has been designed and supplied to meet unique requirements of our submarines by M/s James Fishes Defence, UK.
3. This System has a Side Scan Sonar for locating the position of the submarine in distress at sea.
4. It will be providing immediate relief by way of posting Emergency Life Support Containers with the help of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for the rescue.
5. To ensure early mobilization, the System permits rapid transportation of the Rescue System from the base to the exact location of the distressed submarine by transportation using air/land/sea vessels.

1.Saubhagya

Objectives –

• To provide electricity connections to over 4 crore families in rural and urban areas by December 2018. -scheme deals the cost of last-mile connectivity to willing households to help achieve the goal of lighting every household by 31 December 2018.
• The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
• Un-electrified households not covered under the SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs. 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bill.
• Free connections will be provided to below poverty line (BPL) households.
• For households outside the reach of national electricity grid, solar power packs along with battery banks shall be provided.
• The solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp (Watt peak capacity) with battery bank, comprises of Five LED lights, One DC fan, One DC power plug.
• The scheme also includes the Repair and Maintenance (R&M) for 5 years.
• States have also been provided with an incentive of 50% of their loan being converted to grants, if the electrification targets are met by 31 December 2018.
• Nodal Ministry –State-run Rural Electrification Corporation

2.UDAY

Objectives –

• It has ambitious target of making all discoms profitable by 2018-19.
• -Improving operational efficiencies of discoms,
• -Reduction of cost of power,
• -Reduction in interest cost of discoms and
• -Enforcing financial discipline on discoms through alignment with state finances.
• It has all the 3 elements — 1.Clear up the legacy issues of past losses and debt. 2.Provide a financial road map to bring tariffs in line with costs by FY19. 3.Provide enough deterrents for the state govt to not allow the state discoms to become loss ridden post FY18, as losses start to impact their FRBM limits.
• The State govt. will takeover the discom liabilities over 2-5 year period. 2.This will allow discoms to convert their debt into State bond. These bonds will have a maturity period of 10-15 years. 3.It will allow transfer of 75% outstanding debts incurred by stressed discoms to States’ debt, 50% in 2015-16 and 25% in 2016-17
• The central government will not include the loans of the discoms in calculation of the state’s deficit till 2016-17.
• DISCOM debt not taken over by the State shall be converted by the Banks / FIs into loans or bonds.
• Till November 2017, only states that have not joined it are Odisha and West Bengal
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of power

3.Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DUGJY)

Objectives –

• To provide 24×7 uninterrupted electricity supply to each rural household across the country by 2022.1. It focuses on feeder separation for rural households and agricultural purpose. 2. Seeks to strengthen the distribution and sub-transmission infrastructure, including metering at all levels in rural areas. 3. It also seeks to strengthen Micro grid and off grid distribution network of rural electrification.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power

4.24×7 – Power for All

Objectives –

• • To provide 24×7 power available to all households, industry, commercial businesses, public needs, any other electricity consuming entity and adequate power to agriculture farm holdings by FY 19.‘Power for All scheme’ is a joint initiative of the central and state governments, with the objective of providing 24X7 electricity to all households, industry, commercial businesses and other electricity-consuming entities within the time span of four years.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power

5.Integrated Power Development Scheme” (IPDS)

Objectives –

• Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution network in the urban areas;
• Metering of distribution transformers /feeders / consumers in the urban areas.
• IT enablement of distribution sector and strengthening of distribution networkThe scheme will help in reduction in AT&C losses, establishment of IT enabled energy accounting / auditing system, improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and improvement in collection efficiency

Nodal Ministry –.Ministry of Power

6.National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM)

Objectives –

• The mission entails implementation of a smart electrical grid based on state-of-the art technology in the fields of automation, communication and IT systems that can monitor and control power flows from points of generation to points of consumption.-The major activities envisaged under NSGM are development of smart grid, development of micro grids, consumer engagements and training & capacity building etc.
• NSGM entails implementation of a smart electrical grid based on state-of-the art technology in the fields of automation, communication and IT systems that can monitor and control power flows from points of generation to points of consumption
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power

7.UJALA

Objectives –

• To save energy consumption by distributing LED bulbs which are energy efficientThe scheme is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Union Ministry of Power.
• It is LED based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP).
• Under it, LED Bulbs are distributed.
• It wants every home in India to use LED bulbs so that the net power or energy consumption rate comes down and the carbon emission rates can also be checked
• The scheme will not only help reduce consumers their electricity bills but also contribute to the energy security of India.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power

8.TARANG, UJALA, VIDYUT PRAVAH, GARV, URJA and MERIT

Objectives –

• The initiatives were launched keeping in line with the Digital India initiative. The primarily seek to enhance transparency in power sector.All apps released by Power Sector,
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power

9.Sustainable Rooftop Implementation for Solar Transfiguration of India (SRISTI)

Objectives –

• It will provide incentives for the installation of rooftop solar power plant projects in India.
• The important features and highlights of this scheme are as follows:-
• This Solar Power Plant Subsidy Scheme will provide incentives for the sustainable implementation of Rooftop.
• Subsequently, this scheme will form the advanced version of the previous MNRE scheme in Phase II.
• Accordingly, govt. will integrate Discoms to implement this solar subsidy scheme.
• 4.Central govt. will provide financial assistance to implement rooftop solar power plants for the residential users.
• 5.Henceforth, users of the residential sectors can install the particular in-line capacity as per their necessity and their SERC (State Electricity Regulation Commission) Regulation.
• Central govt. will provide subsidy up to 5 KWP capacity of power plant.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

10.Green Energy Corridors Project

Objectives –

• The green energy corridor is grid connected network for the transmission of renewable energy produced from various renewable energy projects.
• The project was envisaged by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) in its innovative report titled ‘Green Energy Corridors’.
• It was proposed as a dedicated transmission network for renewable energy across different renewable energy potential states.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

11.India’s Street Lighting National programme (SLNP)

Objectives –

• The programme aims to install LED bulbs street-lighting across different cities in the country.
• The LED lights will replace inefficient lamps.
• The initiative is part of the Government’s efforts to spread the message of energy efficiency in the country.
• It will result in energy savings and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Nodal Ministry –Ministry of Power, Energy Efficiency Services Limited

12.SuryaMitra programme

Objectives –

• To provide skill training to rural youth in handling solar installations
• It is Union Government skill development program
• Aims to create skilled manpower in commissioning, installation, O&M of solar power plants and equipment.
• It primary objective is to provide entrepreneurship and employability opportunities to rural and urban youth & women.
• The scheme is aimed at creating 50,000 trained solar photovoltaic technicians by March 2020.
• Special emphasis is given to skill youth from SC/ST/OBC categories.
• The qualification required to participate in the program is ITI (Electrical & Wireman) / Diploma in Engineering (Electrical, Electronics & Mechanical).
• Higher qualified participants such as B.Tech etc are not eligible for this programme.
• The programme is 100% funded by GOI and implemented by National Institute for Solar Energy (NISE) across the country.
• In addition, short term training programmes for small hydro, entrepreneurship development, operation & maintenance of solar energy devices and boiler operations in co-generation plants have been organized.
• National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is an autonomous institution of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE)).National institute of solar energy

13.National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE)

Objectives –

• PAT (perform, achieve & trade) scheme: Improving efficiency in energy intensive sector.
• Energy Efficiency Financing Platform (EEFP): provides a platform to interact with financial institutions and project developers for implementation of energy efficiency projects
• Framework for Energy Efficient Economic Development (FEEED): focuses on developing appropriate fiscal instruments to promote energy efficiency financing
• Market transformation for Energy Efficiency (MTEE): Accelerating shift toward energy efficient appliances

14. Setu Bharatam

Objectives –

• To free all national highways from railway level crossings and renovate the old bridges on national highways by 2019.
• .Setu Bharatam is an ambitious programme with an investment of Rs. 50,000 crore to build bridges for safe and seamless travel on National Highways.
• 2.208 new “road over bridges / road under bridges” are envisaged for construction, while 1500 bridges will be widened, rehabilitated or replaced.
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

15.Bharatmala

Objectives –

• It is an umbrella program that will subsume unfinished parts of NHDP
• It will also focus on the new initiatives like development of Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal & port connectivity roads, National Corridors Efficiency improvements, Economic corridors development and others.
• Around 80 per cent of Bharatmala will be based on a government funded, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) model while the rest will be a hybrid-annuity public private partnership.
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

16.National Highways Interconnectivity Improvement Project

Objectives –

• This is a project to ensure safe, fast and all weather movement of traffic on National Highways mostly located in backward regions
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

17.Logistic Efficiency Enhancement Programme (LEEP)

Objectives –

• Aimed at enhancing the freight transportation in India through improving cost, time, tracking and transferability of consignments through infrastructure, procedural and Information Technology (IT) interventions.Under this programme
• road ministry has shortlisted 15 locations with the highest freight movement for the development of multimodal logistics parks worth Rs.32,853 crore.
• The parks would be spread over a total area of around 4,800 acres and will be built under the first phase of the ministry’s Logistics Efficiency Enhancement Programme (LEEP).
• Through the programme, the government is trying to improve efficiency and reduce logistics costs by as much as 10%.
• The parks are expected to serve four key functions:
• 1. Freight aggregation and distribution,
• 2. Multimodal freight movement,
• 3. Storage and warehousing,
• 4. Value-added services such as custom clearances.
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

18.Vehicle Fleet Modernization Programme

Objectives –

• To enable the replacement of old, heavy and medium commercial vehicles as they contribute the maximum of vehicular pollution
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

19.Highway Advisory System (HAS)

Objectives –

• HAS was launched as a pilot project on Delhi-Jaipur highway.
• It is a free-to-air information distribution system that uses radio to make the travelling experience on National Highways safer, faster and hassle-free.
• HAS control centre collects data, processes and analyzes it, generates alerts and sends it to be broadcast by All India Radio.
• Nodal Ministry –“The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

20. Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS)

Objectives –

• It is aimed at ensuring safety of bridges in India-IBMS is being developed to create an inventory of all bridges in the country and rate their structural condition so that timely repair and rehabilitation work can be carried out based on the criticality of the structure.
• How Will it Work?
• -A unique identification number or National Identity Number (NIN) will be given to each bridge, and the number will be based on the state, RTO zone or based on location (National Highway, State Highway etc.).
• -Along with NIN, Bridge Location Number (BLN) will also be allotted to every bridge based on specific GPS given latitude-longitude. Another number- Bridge Classification Number (BCN) will be assigned to the bridge structure based on its engineering characteristics.
• -A Structural Rating Number (SRN) will be assigned to bridge structures on a scale of 0 to 9
• -Another number – Socio-Economic Bridge Rating Number will specify the contribution of bridge in daily socio-economic activity of that area. IBMS will analyse this data and recognize bridges which need renovation.
• Nodal Ministry – The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

21.National Green Highways Project

Objectives

• Under the Green Highways Project the government has made it mandatory to set aside 1% of the total project cost of any NH contract to a Green Fund corpus that will be used for plantation purposes.
• The afforestation is expected to help in sequestering approximately 12 lakh mt carbon annually
• The funds to be transferred to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would be used exclusively for plantation and maintenance on all NH stretches being developed on the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) and Build Operate Transfer (BOT) mode.
• The NHAI will act as Fund Manager for maintaining the account and for release of the payments made by the Regional Officer or Project Director based on the recommendation of the monitoring agency-Indian Highways Management Company Ltd (IHMCL).
• There will be a strong monitoring mechanism in place by using ISRO’s Bhuvan and GAGAN satellite systems. Every planted tree will be counted and auditing will be done. The agencies performing well will receive annual awards.
• Nodal Ministry – The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

22.Kisan Harit Rajmarg Yojana

Objectives

• A pilot scheme to extend green belt beyond the existing ‘Right of Way’ of highways by engaging farmers and providing alternative livelihood option to the nearby communities.
• Nodal Ministry –The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

23.Chaar Dham Highway Development Project

Objectives

• To improve connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage centres in the Himalayas.To improve connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage centres in the Himalayas.
• The project’s main objective is to develop around 900 km of national highways. These highways will be built at an approximate cost of Rs 12,000 crore. 2.It will allow uninterrupted access for pilgrims to the four Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttarakhand.
• The all-weather roads will have tunnels, bridges and fly-overs to enhance road safety and uninterrupted access. It will have proper slope stabilisation to ensure protection against landslides. 3.It will benefit people visiting holy shrines in Uttarakhand. It will generate additional employment for the local population and will change the economy of the State as it will give strong boost to connectivity and tourism.
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

24.SagarMala

Objectives

• To promote port-led direct and indirect development and to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost-effective
• Three pillars:
  • Supporting and enabling Port-led Development
  • Port Infrastructure Enhancement, including modernization and setting up of new ports, and
  • Efficient Evacuation to and from hinterland. 
• The programme aims to promote port-led development in the country by harnessing India’s 7,500-km long coastline, 14,500-km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.
• It envisages transforming existing ports into modern world class ports as well as developing new ones.
• It also aims to develop efficient evacuation systems through road, rail, inland and coastal waterways.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Shipping

25.Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(Urban)

Objectives –

• To provide housing for all by the year 2022.
• The Mission will be implemented during 2015-2022 and will provide central assistance to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other implementing agencies through States/UTs for:
• 1.In-situ Rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers using land as a resource through private participation 2.Credit Linked Subsidy 3. Affordable Housing in Partnership 4. Subsidy for Beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancement.

Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Urban Ministry

26.National Urban Housing Fund

• To finance Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) which aims to build 1.2 crore affordable houses in urban areas by 2022.-NUHF will be placed under aegis of Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC).
• It will be raised from non-budgetary sources and will tap into existing government entities such as Housing and Urban Development Corp. (Hudco).
• NUHF will facilitate raising requisite funds in next four years and plug any budgetary shortfalls.
• It will smoothly sustain construction of houses to address gap in Urban Sector progresses by maintaining flow of Central Assistance under different verticals i.e. Affordable Housing in Parternership (AHP), Beneficiary Linked Construction (BLC), In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) and Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS).