Current Affairs GK 15th & 22nd June 2024

1. AS OF MARCH 2024, INDIA’S TOTAL INSTALLED ROOFTOP SOLAR (RTS) CAPACITY STOOD AT 11.87 GIGAWATTS (GW), WITH A NOTABLE INCREASE OF 2.99 GW IN INSTALLED CAPACITY DURING 2023-2024 –

• The government introduced the Rooftop Solar Programme in 2014 to promote rooftop solar installation. The original target was 40 GW installed capacity (out of 100 GW by 2030) by 2022 but the goal was not met by 2022, the deadline was extended to 2026.
• Rooftop solar panels are photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of a building and connected to the main power supply unit.
• This program was launched as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in 2010, the Initial target was 20 GW of solar energy by 2022 then the revised target was 100 GW by 2022, including 40 GW from RTS.

Key Initiatives under Rooftop Solar-

• SUPRABHA (Sustainable Partnership for RTS Acceleration in Bharat).
• SRISTI (Sustainable Rooftop Implementation for Solar Transfiguration of India).
• Centrally driven by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and executed through state nodal agencies and power distribution companies.

Top performers States: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan.

Moderate performers: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka.

Underperformers: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand.

What is the Significance of the Rooftop Solar Programme-

1. Decentralised Energy Production
2. Economic Advantages
3. Energy Independence
4. Rural Electrification and Energy Diversification
5. Sustainable Development

• India’s total installed rooftop solar capacity is reported to be approximately 11.87 GW, with Gujarat leading the table followed by Maharashtra, as of March 2024.

2. RECENTLY, RUSSIA HAS SENT TWO TRAINS CARRYING COAL TO INDIA THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR (INSTC) FOR THE FIRST TIME –

• The consignment travels over 7,200km from St. Petersburg, Russia to Mumbai port via Bandar Abbas port of Iran.
• International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200-kilometer Multimode Transit Route linking the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran and onward to northern Europe via St. Petersburg in Russia.
• It connects ship, rail, and road routes for moving cargo between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.
• It was launched on 12th September 2000 in St. Petersburg, by a trilateral agreement signed by Iran, Russia and India at the Euro-Asian Conference on Transport in 2000 for promoting transportation cooperation among the Member States.
• Since then, INSTC membership has expanded to include 10 more countries (total 13)-Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Syria, Belarus, and Oman.

3. THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA RECENTLY ADDRESSED THE JOINT SITTING OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE ADDRESSED THE NEWLY ELECTED 18TH LOKSABHA –

• A joint sitting involves both houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) meeting together.

     There are two main types of joint sittings in the Indian parliamentary system.

• First is the presidential address under Article 87 and
• Second is the resolution of legislative deadlocks under Article 108.
• The President addresses the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha at the beginning of the first session after each general election. The President also addresses both Houses at the beginning of the first session of each year.
• The Constitution (First Amendment) Act of 1951 modified Article 87 as follows: In clause (1), the phrase “every session” was replaced with “the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year.

4. INDIAN NAVY JOINS WORLD’S LARGEST NAVAL EXERCISE RIMPAC-

• As a participant in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2024, the Indian Navy has made a strong statement in the world of military exercises. This exercise is the world’s biggest international maritime warfare exercise, and it takes place in Hawaii with a huge group of troops from around the world.
• In 2024, the exercise had over 150 planes, 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, people from over 29 countries, and a total of over 25,000 people. The Hawaiian Islands are the focus of this huge show of military power and cooperation, which runs until August 01. The Indian Navy sent the INS Shivalik, a cutting-edge multi-role stealth frigate, to this important military gathering.
• The INS Shivalik, a guided missile stealth frigate that was planned and built in India, shows how technically advanced and flexible the Indian Navy. The frigate was sent to Pearl Harbor to take part in different parts of RIMPAC 2024. It had been sent to key areas like the South China Sea and the North Pacific Ocean before. That the ship traveled 9000 Nautical Miles to take part in the drill shows how far the Indian Navy can go.

5. WHAT IS TEESTA TREATY –

• In June 2023, when Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, paid a state visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that a technical team would go to Bangladesh to talk about how to protect and control the Teesta River. The Teesta water-sharing pact has been a point of contention between India and Bangladesh for over a decade. This brought it back to the public’s attention.
• After Modi’s speech, India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra made it clear that the talks were more about controlling the flow of water in the Teesta than making deals to share water. While the central government agreed with this position, West Bengal’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, disagreed. She said that talks about the Teesta waters should not continue without the state’s participation. She was worried that sharing Teesta’s water would have bad effects on the people in north Bengal.

6. PARAGUAY BECOMES 100TH MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE –

• Paraguay is the 100th country to become a full member of the International Solar Alliance. A formal ceremony was held in New Delhi to mark this important step in the growth of ISA. Fleming Raul Duarte, Paraguay’s ambassador to India, gave the Instrument of Ratification. The event shows that Paraguay is serious about promoting clean energy.
• India and France helped to start the International Solar Alliance at the COP21 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015.
• The ISA’s main goal is to make it easier for many people to use solar energy and to support healthy growth around the world. Its main goal is to work together with countries that get a lot of sun to make energy more accessible, improve energy security, and help the world move to a low-carbon economy.

7. RECENTLY, INDIA HAS ACHIEVED HIGHER ETHANOL PRODUCTION FROM GRAINS, PARTICULARLY MAIZE, SURPASSING THAT FROM SUGAR-BASED FEEDSTOCK –

• Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is a biofuel produced from various sources such as sugarcane, corn, rice, wheat, and biomass.
• Molasses, a byproduct of sugar manufacture, are generally the main source of production of ethanol (anhydrous alcohol) and rectified spirit.
• The production process involves the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration.
• Ethanol is 99.9% pure alcohol that can be blended with petrol to create a cleaner fuel alternative. Ethanol is a clear, colorless liquid with a characteristic wine-like odor and pungent taste. It is fully soluble in water and most organic solvents.
• In its pure form, it has a boiling point of 78.37 degrees Celsius and a melting point of -114.14 degrees Celsius. Ethanol is a combustible material and has a lower combustion temperature than gasoline, making it a cleaner-burning alternative.

8. RECENTLY, THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES WAS OBSERVED WHICH WAS SIGNED ON 28TH JUNE 1919, AT THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES, IN PARIS, FRANCE –

• It was one of the treaties that officially ended five years of conflict known as the World War I (1914-18). The Treaty mentioned the conditions of peace between Germany and the victorious Allies, led by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom.
• The war guilt clause of the treaty forced Germany and other Central Powers (like Austria-Hungary) to take all the blame for World War I.
• This led to the loss of territories, reduction in military forces, and reparation payments to Allied powers by Germany. Disintegration of the German population was later used by Hitler to justify German aggression and expansion.
• It further posed severe risks to the entire European economy which led to the Great Depression of 1929. The treaty caused resentment among Germans who saw it as a dictated peace and is considered one of the reasons for World War II.
• Also, the treaty led to the formation of the League of Nations.

9. T20 WORLD CUP 2024, INDIA LIFTS THE TROPHY –

• India beats South Africa by 7 runs and lifts the India lifts ICC T20 World Cup 2024 for 2nd time after 2007. India has ended an 11-year trophy drought by defeating South Africa in the T20 World Cup final by a margin of 7 runs. This victory marks India’s second T20 World Cup title. At the end of their 20 overs, South Africa managed to reach 169/8, chasing India’s 176/7.
• Earlier, Virat Kohli (76) and Axar Patel (47) weathered the early storm to push India to a competitive score in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Bridgetown on June 29.

Here is the list of all winners of the T20 World Cup 2024:

• Player of the match – Virat Kohli (India)
• Player of the tournament – Jasprit Bumrah (India)

10. SEBEX 2, INDIA’S NEW EXPLOSIVE REVOLUTIONIZING MILITARY FIREPOWER –

• India has taken a significant leap in military technology with the development of SEBEX 2, a powerful new explosive.
• Certified by the Indian Navy, SEBEX 2 is reported to be twice as lethal as the standard Trinitrotoluene (TNT), marking it as one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosives globally. This breakthrough is set to revolutionize artillery shells and warheads, enhancing their destructive capabilities without increasing their weight.
• SEBEX 2 was rigorously tested under the Defence Export Promotion Scheme of the Indian Navy. The formulation was developed by Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL), a subsidiary of Nagpur-based Solar Industries. The certification process, completed last week, highlights the explosive’s enhanced firepower and blast effect, which surpasses any currently available solid explosive.
• The development of SEBEX 2 falls under the Make in India initiative, showcasing India’s commitment to advancing its defense capabilities with indigenous technologies.

11. WORLD BANK APPROVES $1.5 BILLION LOAN TO SUPPORT INDIA’S GREEN HYDROGEN PUSH –

• The World Bank has approved a second round of $1.5 billion in financing to help India accelerate its development of low-carbon energy. This funding aims to promote the market for green hydrogen, electrolysers, and increased renewable energy penetration. The initiative aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and energy transition targets, including achieving 500 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2070.
• First Round of Funding (June 2023):

     The World Bank initially approved a $1.5 billion loan for the First Low-Carbon Energy Programmatic Development Policy Operation. This supported transmission charge waivers for renewable energy in green hydrogen projects, annual renewable energy tenders of 50 GW, and the creation of a national carbon credit market framework.

Objectives of the Second Round

• Green Hydrogen Market:

     Boost production and consumption of green hydrogen.

12. TATA GROUP IS INDIA’S MOST VALUABLE BRAND: REPORT –

• Tata Group has maintained its position as India’s most valuable brand with a value of US$ 28.6 billion, marking a 9% increase from last year. Infosys ranks second, and HDFC Group has surged to third place following its merger with HDFC Ltd. Tata Group is on the verge of becoming the first Indian brand to reach the US$ 30 billion mark.
• Taj remains India’s strongest brand, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 92.9 out of 100 and an AAA+ rating. The telecom sector experienced a 61% growth in brand value, driven by Jio, Airtel, and Vi, while the banking sector reported a 26% increase, with SBI as India’s second most valuable bank.
• Westside is the fastest-growing Indian brand, with a 122% increase in brand value, followed by Motherson at 86% and Sonata Software at 83%. Hexaware is the fastest-growing brand in the IT services sector, with a 20% increase in brand value. The mining, iron, and steel sectors saw a 16% growth due to infrastructure and manufacturing investments.