Infrastructure

THER GREAT NICOBAR PROJECT

The Union government will not allow the displacement of tribespeople to make way for the ₹72,000-crore Great Nicobar island project, the Tribal Affairs Ministry told the Rajya Sabha. About the project: The project, being implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO), includes: International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) The proposed …

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GENERATING POWER FROM GOLD MINES

Australian technology may help generate power from defunct gold mines in Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka. Need for such technology: A drawback that makes renewable energy unreliable, from solar or wind power, is that there is no power during nights or windless days. The idea is to address this challenge by relying on low-tech gravity. How power will be generated? …

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SPECIALTY STEEL

India emerged as world’s second largest crude steel producer since 2018 and second largest consumer of finished steel since 2019. A Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Specialty Steel was approved by the Government on 22.07.2021, with a financial outlay of ₹ 6,322 crores. The PLI scheme aims to extend an incentive of 4% to …

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INDIA’S FIRST CABLE-STAYED RAILWAY BRIDGE

India’s first cable-stayed bridge and the first-of-its-kind in the country, is currently under construction and will soon be completed. The Anji Khad bridge is being constructed in the Reasi district of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This is a 80 km long bridge. The idea was first conceived in 2002 and was declared a …

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EARTH HOUR

Lights at public places and some temples in different cities including Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi were turned off between 8.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. as part of the global ‘Earth Hour’ event. Earth Hour was launched in 2007 by the World Wildlife Fund and its partners in Sydney, Australia. Earth Hour is described …

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100% ELECTRIFICATION OF ODISHA RAILWAYS

Indian Railways completes 100% electrification of Odisha. Key details: On the lines of setting the target of achieving Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030, the Indian Railways has 100% electrified existing Broad Gauge network of Odisha. Benefits: saving on account of reduced line haul cost, heavier haulage capacity, increased sectional capacity, reduced operating & maintenance cost of electric loco, energy efficient and eco-friendly mode of transportation …

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WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANTS

The Kerala government recently announced the State’s first waste-to-energy project in Kozhikode. The planned facility is expected to be built in two years and generate about 6 MW of power. There are around 100 waste-to-energy projects around the country but only a handful of them are operational, thanks to various production …

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ROOFTOP SOLAR SCHEME

Union Power Minister informed the Parliament that 3377 MW capacity allocated to States and 4.3 lakh people have benefited from the Programme. What is solar energy? Solar energy is obtained from the sun. Solar energy is less costly in comparison with electrical energy. The solar energy can be used for both household as well as for commercial …

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70 HTT-40 BASIC TRAINER AIRCRAFT

Ministry of Defence, on March 07, 2023, signed contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) for procurement of 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft & three Cadet Training Ships respectively in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar …

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URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND

Union Finance Minister had announced in her Budget speech that the UIDF would be established through the use of priority sector lending shortfall. The Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) is to be set up to ramp up infrastructure in tier-2 and tier-3 cities with an annual allocation of Rs 10,000 crore It will be established …

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GREEN HYDROGEN SUPERPOWER

India has committed to 50% electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. But an energy transition in industry is needed at the same time. Most industrial greenhouse gas emissions in India come from steel, cement, fertilizers and petrochemicals. Green hydrogen holds the promise of fuelling industrial growth while simultaneously reducing …

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NEW POLICY TO SCRAP OLD VEHICLES

Old vehicles of the Union and state governments would be scrapped under the vehicle scrapping policy. He also said the government has made a provision of ₹3,000 crore in the 2023-24 budget to encourage vehicle scrapping. Vehicle scrapping policy is an important part of the green growth strategy.  ‘Green growth …

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ECOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE

A 4. 5 km-long tunnel planned to reduce traffic congestion on the approach road to Mussoorie has led to several residents expressing concern that the project, envisaged two years ago, could be an “ecological disaster” and pose a threat to the hill town. The concerns, which were raised even when …

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INDIA PLANS TO EXPORT SOLAR POWER

By 2026, Indian industry will be able to manufacture every year solar modules that can generate 100 gigawatts of power, and help the country be a net exporter of solar power. This will significantly aid India’s target of installing 500 GW of electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, Bhupinder …

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LEVERAGING J&K’S LITHIUM RESERVES

News of the discovery of “5.9 million tonnes inferred resources of lithium” in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir, by the Geological Survey of India has been received as a game-changer in India’s impending transition to a green economy. The term ‘inferred’ refers to the ‘preliminary exploration …

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J&K – NEW SOURCE OF LITHIUM:

A lot rides on lithium in the age of electric mobility and personal devices. But the lightest metal known to humans is also famously scarce. Hence, the discovery of lithium deposits in J&K could come as a potential game changer for India. Chethan Kumar breaks it down. Lithium Referred to …

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NEW FUEL FOR RAILWAYS

Trains Powered With Hydrogen Fuel Cells Don’t Emit Noxious Gases, Not Even Carbon Dioxide. They Will Cut Down Global Diesel Consumption By Millions Of Litres A Day By the end of this year you could ride up to Shimla in an electric train. Only, it will be an electric train …

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