National Current Affairs – UPSC/IAS Exams- 27th September 2019

by Mentors4ias · September 27, 2019

Indigenous fuel cell system

Topic: Science and Technology

In News: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in partnership with private sector has developed India’s first indigenous high-temperature fuel cell system that has the potential to replace polluting diesel generating (DG) sets and reduce the country’s dependence on crude oil.

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The fuel cell system is based on high-temperature proton exchange membrane technology generates power in a green manner using methanol/bio-methane, with heat and water as byproducts for further use.
This amounts to greater than 70% efficiency, which otherwise may not be possible with other energy sources.
It is developed under India’s flagship program named, New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative.
The fuel cell system developed is most suitable for distributed stationary power applications in small offices, commercial units, data centers, etc where highly reliable power is essential with simultaneous requirement for air-conditioning.
This system will also meet the requirement of efficient, clean and reliable backup power generator for telecom towers, remote locations and strategic applications as well.

Significance:

The developed technology is world class, placing India in the league of developed nations which are in possession of such a knowledge base. CSIR has an impressive portfolio of global patents on these developments.
In the field of clean energy, fuel cell distributed power generation systems are emerging as promising alternative to grid power.
Fuel cells fit well in India’s mission of replacing diesel with green and alternate fuels. The development of indigenous fuel cell technology carries immense national importance in terms of non-grid energy security.

High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (HTPEM) Technology:

High-Temperature Proton-Exchange-Membrane (HTPEM) is the core of the fuel cells that run above 150 °C. It works on two modes of operation with respect to the source of fuel.
One mode is based on the conversion of natural gas into Hydrogen by means of steam reforming. This mode is used to fulfil stationary power demands.
Steam reforming or steam methane reforming is a chemical synthesis process for producing syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) from hydrocarbons such as natural gas.
The second mode is based on the operation of Hydrogen with Oxygen obtained by the process of electrolysis. This is generally used in the space-related applications.
Electrolysis is a chemical decomposition process in which an electric current is passed through a liquid or a solution containing ions.

About the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI):

As a part of new millennium initiative, the Government mounted a farsighted R&D programme named New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) in Public-Private Partnership mode in 2000-01.
The responsibility of conceptualising, evolving and implementing the programme has been assigned to the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).
It is the largest public-private-partnership effort within the R&D domain in the country. The Government finances and plays a catalytic role.

Source: PV Magazine India

World Digital Competitiveness Ranking

Topic: Reports and Indices

In News: India has advanced four places to 44th position in terms of digital competitiveness in the world as the country has made improvement in terms of knowledge and future readiness to adopt and explore digital technologies, according to IMD global report.

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India has improved overall in all factors knowledge, technology and future readiness as compared to the previous year’s ranking.
The US was ranked as the world’s most digitally competitive economy, followed by Singapore in the second place. Sweden was ranked third on the list, followed by Denmark and Switzerland in the 4th and 5th place, respectively.
Several Asian economies advanced significantly in the ranking compared to last year. Hong Kong SAR (8th) and the Republic of Korea (10th) entered the top-10 for the first time, while Taiwan and China moved up to 13th and 22nd place, respectively.
The Ranking, produced by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Center, measures the capacity and readiness of 63 nations to adopt and explore digital technologies as a key driver for economic transformation in business, government and wider society.
To evaluate an economy, WDCR examines three factors:
Knowledge: the capacity to understand and learn the new technologies
Technology: the competence to develop new digital innovations
Future readiness: the preparedness for the coming developments

Source: Business Standard

India and CARICOM group

Topic: International Relations

In News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the leaders of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) during the first-ever India-CARICOM leaders’ summit.

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The focus of the meeting was on fighting climate change and increasing India’s participation with the grouping.
PM has announced a $14 million grant for community development projects in the CARICOM and another $150 million line of credit for solar, renewable energy and climate- change related projects.
PM also invited them to join the International Solar Alliance, a grouping of over 122 countries initiated by India, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
He also announced the setting up of a regional centre for excellence in information technology in Georgetown, Guyana, and a vocational training centre in Belize by upgrading the existing India-funded centres in these countries.

About CARICOM Grouping:

The CARICOM grouping has 15 members-states and five associate members. Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago are the member countries.
CARICOM countries came together in 1973 to form an economic and political community that works jointly to shape policies for the region and encourages economic growth and trade.

Source: Hindu

Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS)

Topic: Government Policies

In News: The head of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has said that she expects the Union Agriculture Ministry’s Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS) to incentivise more farmers to grow organic food.

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PGS is a process of certifying organic products, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards. The certification is in the form of a documented logo or a statement.
According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Bonn-based global umbrella organisation for the organic agriculture movement, PGSs are “locally focused quality assurance systems” that “certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange”.

Advantages of the scheme:

Procedures are simple, documents are basic, and farmers understand the local language used.
All members live close to each other and are known to each other. As practising organic farmers themselves, they understand the processes well.
Because peer appraisers live in the same village, they have better access to surveillance; peer appraisal instead of third-party inspections also reduces costs
Mutual recognition and support between regional PGS groups ensures better networking for processing and marketing.
Unlike the grower group certification system, PGS offers every farmer individual certificates, and the farmer is free to market his own produce independent of the group.

Challenges:

Individual farmers or group of farmers smaller than 5 members are not covered under PGS.
They either have to opt for third party certification or join the existing PGS local group.

Source: Indian Express

US President Impeachment Procedure

Topic: International Affairs

In News: US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently announced that the House would launch an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, over his alleged efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, Trump’s potential rival in the 2020 elections.

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Impeachment is a provision that allows Congress to remove the President of the United States.
The House of Representatives (Lower House) has the “the sole power of impeachment” while the Senate (Upper House) has “the sole power to try all impeachments”.
The Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court has the duty of presiding over impeachment trials in the Senate.
The President can be removed from office for an abuse of power by a high-level public official. This does not necessarily have to be a violation of an ordinary criminal statute. Historically, in the US, it has encompassed corruption and other abuses, including trying to obstruct judicial proceedings.

Impeachment Procedure:

It begins with an investigation by a House committee. If they find that there is enough evidence of wrongdoing, it will refer the matter to the full House and voted.
When the full House votes, if one or more of the articles of impeachment gets a majority vote, the President is impeached. Next, the proceedings move to the Senate.
The Senate holds a trial, overseen by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. A team of lawmakers from the House, known as managers, play the role of prosecutors. The President has defence lawyers, and the Senate serves as the jury. If at least two-thirds of the Senators present find the President guilty, he is removed and the Vice President takes over as President.

Source: Indian Express

Sardar Patel National Unity Award

Topic: Awards and Honors

In News: A notification instituting the Sardar Patel National Unity Award was issued by Ministry of Home Affairs.

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It is the Highest Civilian Award for contribution to Unity and Integrity of India.
The Award seeks to recognize notable and inspiring contributions to promote the cause of national unity and integrity and to reinforce the value of a strong and united India.
The award will be announced on the occasion of the National Unity Day, i.e. the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel on 31st October.
The Award shall be conferred by the President by a Sanad under his hand and seal and presented by him in a presentation ceremony along with the Padma award presentation ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhawan.
An Award Committee would be constituted by the Prime Minister, which would include the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary to the President, Home Secretary as Members and three-four eminent persons selected by the Prime Minister.
The Award would consist of a medal and a citation. No monetary grant or cash award would be attached to this Award.
Not more than three Awards would be given in a year.
It would not be conferred posthumously except in very rare and highly deserving cases.
Any Indian national or institution or organization based in India would be able to nominate an individual for consideration for this Award. Individuals may also nominate themselves. State Governments, UT Administrations and Ministries of Government of India may also send nominations.

Source: PIB

‘Tikki Mausi’ Mascot

Topic: Government Policies

In News: The Department of Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) unveiled a mascot named ‘Tikki Mausi’ to spread awareness about nutrition of children and women.

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The mascot- ‘Tikki Mausi’ aims to change the behaviour of common people and make them aware about child and woman’s nutrition and development in every household.
Tikki Mausi is gregarious character and is an empathetic protagonist with extensive knowledge on all issues related to women and children, thus loves to talk to people and raise their awareness on key positive social behaviors and practices.
The mascot will also take care of providing the right information about state government projects for women and children to every household for better future of children in the state and thereby spread awareness for better health care of children and their development.

Model Mains Question: Comment on the role which can be played by ICT technologies in reduction of malnutrition among women and children.

Source: ANI News