GS- 3 Paper
Topic covered– Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
National Institute of Solar Energy
Context
An agreement was signed today between the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to initiate a skill development programme for different levels of beneficiaries in the solar thermal energy sector.
About NISE
- National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is an autonomous institution of Ministry of New and Renewable (MNRE).
- It is the apex National R&D institution in the field Solar Energy.
- The Government of India has converted 25 year old Solar Energy Centre (SEC) under MNRE to an autonomous institution in September, 2013.
- It is to assist the Ministry in implementing the National Solar Mission and to coordinate research, technology and other related works.
About the National Solar Mission
- The National Solar Mission is also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Missio.
- It is one of the eight key National Mission’s which comprise India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
Objective
- The National Solar Mission is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy, by creating the policy conditions for its development across the country.
- The Mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 100GW of grid connected solar power by 2022.
- The target will comprise of 40 GW Rooftop and 60 GW through Large and Medium Scale Grid Connected Solar Power Projects.
- The mission is aimed at reducing the cost of solar power generation in the country through long term policy; large scale deployment goals and aggressive R&D.
- It also aims at setting up of dedicated manufacturing capacities for poly silicon material to annually make about 2 GW capacity of solar cells.
Challenges in India’s energy sector
- India is still heavily dependent on petroleum imports to meet its requirements.
- A variety of subsidies and taxes distort the energy market and promote the use of inefficient over efficient fuels.
- Land for coal mining is becoming a major issue.
- There are supply chain issues in biomass power generation.
- Import of cheaper solar cell panels is s major cause of worry.
- India and the US clashed in their trade dispute over solar cells and solar modules at WTO.
- The non-availability of sufficient credit facilities and difficulties in obtaining required finances for energy saving projects are strong deterrents to investments in energy efficiency in India.
- Commercial banks in India constitute major source of financing for infrastructure. But these banks provide loan at a rate much higher than in the developed nations.
- Limited technical capabilities, high initial capital expenditure, limited market and policy issues have adversely affected efforts to achieve energy efficiency.
UNIDO and NISE partnership
- UNIDO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalisation and environmental sustainability.
- UNIDO acts to mobilise knowledge, information, innovation, skills and technology to promote competitive industry and productive employment by applying best practices and approaches to common problems of the region, whilst also protecting the environment.
- NISE and UNIDO will engage national and international experts to bring the best practices by developing specialized training material.
- The agreement is part of the ongoing MNRE-GEF-UNIDO project implemented jointly by UNIDO and to support capacity building and skill development of technical manpower in the Concentrated Solar Thermal Energy Technologies (CST).
- The Concentrated Solar Thermal Energy Technologies (CST are being used to replace conventional fossil fuels e.g. coal, diesel, furnace oil etc. and save costs and emissions in the industrial process heat applications.
Way Forward
- India is the world’s third largest energy consumer and according to International Energy Agency.
- It is high time for the government to formulate a comprehensive energy policy and launch substantial programmes with a view to balancing socio-economic growth with environmental protection.
- Developers and manufacturers need to voice their needs clearly and respond to policy implications clearly.
- India also has a need of comprehensive strategy on issues such as effective sourcing of critical minerals and investment in R&D.
- Innovative Financing measures such as clean energy fund, generation based incentive linked loan repayment and green bonds could be one solution to overcome the financial needs of this sector.
GS- 2 Paper
Topic covered- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
National Child Labour Project Scheme
Context
The Government is also implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for rehabilitation of child labour.
About the NCLP Scheme
- It is central sector scheme launched in 1987 for rehabilitation of child labour.
- Under it, special schools/rehabilitation centres for rehabilitation of child labourers are opened so that they can be mainstreamed into formal schooling system.
- These centres provide non formal education, vocational training, supplementary nutrition and stipend to children withdrawn from employment.
- The Government has amended the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 and enacted Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016.
- Government has framed Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2017.
- Under the NCLP Scheme, children in the age group of 9-14 years are rescued/withdrawn from work and enrolled in the NCLP Special Training Centres.
- They are provided with bridge education, vocational training, mid day meal, stipend, health care, etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system.
- Children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal education system through a close coordination with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
Objectives
- To eliminate all forms of child labour through Identification and withdrawal of all children in the Project Area from child labour,
- To prepare children withdrawn from work for mainstream education along with vocational training.
- To ensure convergence of services provided by different government departments/agencies for the benefit of child and their family.
- To contribute to the withdrawal of all adolescent workers from Hazardous Occupations/ Processes and their Skilling and integration in appropriate occupations through identification and withdrawal of all adolescent workers from hazardous occupations / processes,
- To facilitate vocational training opportunities for such adolescents through existing scheme of skill developments.
- Raising awareness amongst stakeholders and target communities.
- To create a Child Labour Monitoring, Tracking and Reporting System.
Significane
- The NCLP Scheme will contribute to the identification and eradication of all forms of child labour.
- It will contribute to the identification and withdrawal of adolescents from hazardous occupations and processes in the target area.
- Successful mainstreaming into regular schools of all children who have been withdrawn from child labour and rehabilitated through the NCLPS
- Adolescents withdrawn from hazardous occupations /processes to have benefited from skills training wherever required and linked to legally permissible occupations.
- Enhanced capacities to address the issue of child labour through training of NCLP staff and other functionaries.
For Prelims-
Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award in Space Science, Technology and Research
Context
ISRO announces Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award in Space Science, Technology and Research.
About
- ISRO institutes two categories of awards in journalism on the centenary year celebrations of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, father of Indian space programme.
- ISRO has announced its “Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award in Space Science, Technology and Research” to recognize and reward journalists who have actively contributed towards the field of space science, applications, and research.
- Two categories of awards: first category holds a cash price of Rs 5,00,000, a medal and
- Two journalists or freelancers of print media will be awarded in this category.
- Nominated candidates will be judged on the basis of the articles or success stories published in Hindi, English, or Regional languages in popular Periodicals, Science magazines, or Journals in India during the year 2019 to 2020.
- The second category of the award holds 3 cash prizes of Rs 3,00,000, 2,00,000 and 1,00,000 and citation each for journalists or freelancers of print media.
- The articles or success stories published in Hindi, English, Regional languages in popular newspapers or news magazines in India during the one year as indicated in the proposal.
National Handloom Day 2019
Context
The 5th National Handloom Day was held today at 16 NIFT Campuses and Weavers’ Service Centres in different States across the country.
Key highlights
- The National Handloom Day is observed annually on August 7 since 2015.
- The objective of the day is to generate awareness about the importance of the handloom industry to the socio economic development of the country.
- In India, handlooms have emerged as the largest cottage industry with weavers creating products using natural fibres such as cotton, silk and wool.
- August 7 was chosen as the National Handloom Day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on this day in 1905 in Calcutta Town Hall to protest against the partition of Bengal by the British government.
- The main essence behind National Handloom Day is just to boost the confidence or income of artisans but also to provide greater recognition to handloom products.
- The National Handloom Day 2019 event is being held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- The objective is to empower women and girls of the state.
