24-11-21 Daily-Himachal Pradesh-HPPSC Current Affairs

After 15 years,Himachal Pradeshis going to change its policy to address fresh challenges in hydro, Biomass and solar power development. The state has prepared adraft energy policy 2021that aims to promote green, clean and sustainable generation of energy to enable quick harnessing of full potential of Himachal Pradesh. It also aims to harness and commission 10,000 MW of hydro energy by 2030 to have an operational capacity of 20,948 MW beside upgrading the existing run ofriver hydro plantsforpumped storage Plants/hybrid power plants.

According to officials, the hydro power policy 2006 of the state has served its objectives well and over the last 15 years, there has been a paradigm shift in energy scenario of the country. The country is moving towards RENEWABLE ENERGY that is total green energy as per the Paris Agreement signed in December 2015. The solar and wind power share is increasing at a faster rate than the hydro. Hydro power along with hybrid, battery and pumped storages and hydrogen energy is going to be the focus areas in coming years.

Himachal Pradesh is blessed with hydro potential of 24,587 MW distributed over five river basins, out of which 10,948 MW has been harnessed (as on October 31 this year) and out of 13,639 MW, maximum potential will be harnessed by 2030.

Himachal Pradesh is leader in hydro power generation in the country and contributing nearly one-fourth of total hydro generation in the country. Approximately 45% of total hydro potential in the state has been harnessed and in next 10 years, nearly 10,000 MW renewable energy will be added.

Under new policy, it has been proposed to promote storage or pondage, including pumped storage power plants/combined cycle power plants, battery storage and other emerging technologies such as Hydrogen storage, capable of quick ramp up and ramp down and store energy with higher efficiency for long duration.

Policy aims to develop adequate and efficient transmission Network in the state and to evolve a dynamic and robust electricity Infrastructure for better consumer Services. It also proposes to revitalize state utility for distribution of power and to establish and promote a power trading entity in the state.

launched Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Urban Index and Dashboard 2021-22. Shimla has topped the list of cities by scoring highest on the index.

Coimbatore and Chandigarh have been ranked at second and third position.

Thiruvananthapuram, Panaji, Pune, Kochi, Tiruchirappalli, Ahmedabad and Nagpur are among top 10 cities on the index.

SDG Urban Index & Dashboard

The SDG Urban Index & Dashboard (2021-22) was launched by NITI Aayog on November 23, 2021. It ranks 56 urban areas on 77 SDG indicators across targets like zero hunger, ending POVERTY, quality Education, good Health and wellbeing, gender Equality etc in the SDG framework.The index and dashboard will help in strengthening SDG localization as well as institute robust SDG monitoring at the city level. The index highlights strengths and gaps of ULB-level data, monitoring as well as reporting systems.

The and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021 is expected to be taken up for final consideration and passing during the winter session of the parliament, which is scheduled to start from November 29, 2021.

The bill seeks to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India, with some exceptions.

This bill is among26 new Bills, out of total of 29 Bills in the governments legislative agenda.

With Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021, government seeks to create a facilitative framework for creation of official digital currency that will be issued by the Reserve Bank Of India.

Cryptocurrency is the collection of binary data, that works as a medium of exchange. Cryptocurrency does not exist in physical form. It is not issued by a central authority and use decentralized control.

The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2021 has been given to Pratham NGO for its efforts to broaden the scope of Education in India.

Highlights:

Pratham NGO was given the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2021 for,its pioneering efforts in ensuring that every child has access to quality education for more than a quarter-century.

Its creative application of digital technologies to offer education.
Its frequent examination of educational quality.

Its quick reaction in encouraging youngsters to learn despite the limits imposed by Covid-19.

The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize is a prominent honour given out every year. Indira Gandhi, the previous Prime Minister of India, was the inspiration for the name.

On November 23, 2021, Australia’s weather bureau announced that a La Nina weather phenomenon had formed in the Pacific Ocean for the second year in a row.

Highlights:

This phenomenon will deliver above-Average rainfall to central, north, and east Australia as it develops.

This event has the potential to increase wheat production in Australia.

Because of favourable weather, India upped its wheat projection for this season by 17% to near-record levels in September 2021.

According to Climate projections, the La Nina trend will be short-lived this year, lasting until late summer or early fall in the southern hemisphere in 2022.

India and United States have decided to revive the Trade Policy Forum after four years.

Highlights:

In addition to reinstating the Commerce Policy Forum after four years, India and the US have agreed to look into ways of addressing disputes on matters such as market access and digital trade.

This deal was reached at the outset of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s two-day visit.

Negotiators from both nations laboured for more than a year to reach an agreement on a trade package, as India and the United States clashed over issues such as tariffs.

It is overseen by a delegate from each country. The purpose of this initiative was to increase bilateral trade and flows.

After four years, India and the United States have decided to resurrect their Trade Policy Forum.

The BSE and NSE kicked off the celebrations of “World Investor Week 2021,” a worldwide recognised event. Several educational activities will be held as part of the event.

World Investor Week (WIW) is being held by Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL) from November 21 to November 28, 2021, under the auspices of SEBI and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

WIW is a week-long international festival organised by the IOSCO. It is celebrated all throughout India to promote awareness about the significance of investor Education and protection.

Market Infrastructure institutions (MIIs) including stock exchanges, clearing organisations, and depositories will hold instructional events throughout the week-long celebrations.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) participated in ‘Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy‘ to raise awareness about the need for investor education and protection.