Month of May-2018
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CURRENT AFFAIRS Month of May-2018 Plot-1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRP Square, Bhubaneswar Ph : 8093083555, 8984111101 Web : www.vanikias.com | E-mail : [email protected] www.facebook.com/vanikias CURRENT AFFAIRS – MAY–2018 DRAFT MISSION TO KICK-START RENEWABLE ENERGY STORAGE For instance, solar energy generation may be at its Why in News? peak at noon, but unless stored, it will not be available The draft National Energy Storage Mission when needed to light up homes at night. Moreover, expects to kick-start grid-connected energy storage in renewable sources are inherently intermittent: there are India, set up a regulatory framework, and encourage days when the wind doesn’t blow or the sky is cloudy. indigenous manufacture of batteries, according to a About National Solar Mission: member of the expert committee set up by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, also known as the National Solar Mission, is an initiative of the Important Points: Government of India and State Governments to promote The draft sets a “realistic target” of 15-20 solar power. The mission is one of the several initiatives gigawatt hours (GWh) of grid-connected that are part of the National Action Plan on Climate storage within the next 5 years. Change. The program was inaugurated by former Prime Power grids do not currently use storage Minister Manmohan Singh on 11 January 2010 with a options that would help in smoothly target of 20GW by 2022 which was later increased to 100 integrating renewable energy resources. GW by the Narendra Modi Government in the 2015 Union National Energy Storage Mission will focus budget of India. on seven verticals. The objective of the National Solar Mission is 1. indigenous manufacturing; to establish India as a global leader in solar energy, 2. assessment of technology and cost trends; by creating the policy conditions for its diffusion 3. a policy and regulatory framework; across the country as quickly as possible. Under 4. financing, business models and market creation; the original plan, the Government aimed to achieve a total installed solar capacity of 20 GW by 2022. 5. research and development; 6. standards and testing; PHDCCI, INDIAN YOGA ASSN SIGN MOU TO 7. grid planning for energy storage. PROMOTE TOURISM IN KRISHNA CIRCUIT Inherently intermittent: Renewable energy sources now make up almost Why in News? one-fifth of India’s total installed power capacity. The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry However, as power grids increase their share of solar and (PHDCCI) and the Indian Yoga Association (IYA) have wind energy, the problem remains that the peak supply of signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to renewable sources does not always meet peak deman facilitate interaction and cooperation between the two organisations to promote wellness, spiritual and cultural tourism in the Krishna Circuit. 1 CURRENT AFFAIRS – MAY–2018 Important Points: TEJAS CARRIES OUT SUCCESSFUL TEST FIRING OF BVR MISSILE A National Steering Committee (NSC) will be constituted with Minister in charge of M/O Why in News? Tourism as Chairman, to steer the mission Indigenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA) objectives and vision of the scheme. Tejas successfully fired Derby air-to-air beyond visual range missile (BVRM) off the Goa coast. The successful A Mission Directorate headed by the Member test demonstrated its overall capability as effective Secretary, NSC as a nodal officer will help in supersonic combat jet. It also expands firing envelope as identification of projects in consultation with the well demonstrated safe operation of Tejas during missile States/ UTs governments and other stake holders. plume ingestion into aircraft engine under worst case scenarios. It will also enable its developers state-run HAL PMC will be a national level consultant to be and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of the appointed by the Mission Directorate. Defence Research and Development Organisation The scheme is 100% centrally funded for the project (DRDO) inch closer to final operational clearance (FOC). components undertaken for public funding. Derby BVR missile: To leverage the voluntary funding available Derby is short to medium range BVR Air-to-Air for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) missile. It is a dual-use missile (air-to-air and surface-to- air).It is developed jointly by Israeli armament initiatives of Central Public Sector development agency Rafael and Israel Aircraft Industries Undertakings and corporate sector. MBT. It has maximum effective range of about 50 km. Funding of individual project will vary from The missile weighs around 118 kg light and is 3.8 state to state and will be finalised on the basis metres long. Its weight allows it to be adapted to various modern fighter aircraft. It is active radar air-to-air missile of detailed project reports prepared by PMC for fighter aircraft and has capability to be launched at (Programme Management Consultant). target day or night and in all weather conditions. It has Krishna Circuit: look-down and shoot-down capability, fire and forget mode and advanced Electronic counter countermeasures Krishna Circuit is among the thirteen (ECCM) tailored to customer’s operational requirements. thematic circuits identified for development Aeronautical Development Agency: under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. ADA, Department of Defence R&D is the nodal agency for Twelve destinations have been identified for the design & development of light combat aircraft (LCA). HAL is development under Krishna circuit namely Dwarka the principal partner in LCA Programme with participation of (Gujarat), Nathdwara, Jaipur & Sikar (Rajasthan), DRDO & CSIR Laboratories, Public & Private sector industries Kurukshetra (Haryana), Mathura, Vrindavan, and academic institutions. Nandgaon, Gokul, Barsana, & Govardhan (Uttar Pradesh) and Puri (Odisha). About Swadesh Darshan Scheme: The Tourism Ministry had launched ‘Swadesh Darshan’ scheme with an objective to develop theme-based tourist circuits in the country. These tourist circuits will be developed on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner. 2 CURRENT AFFAIRS – MAY–2018 PAKISTAN SET TO LAUNCH SPACE 3RD MAY : WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY PROGRAMME TO KEEP AN EYE ON Why in News? INDIAN SIDE World Press Freedom Day is being observed on Why in News? May 3, with the aim to pay tribute to the journalists Pakistan is set to launch an ambitious space around the world sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. programme during the next fiscal year with an aim to 2018 Theme: Keeping Power in Check: keep an eye on the Indian side and reduce its Media, Justice and The Rule of Law. dependence on foreign satellites for civil and military purposes. Several projects will be initiated to develop Important Points: self-reliance capacity and reduce dependence on The theme of 2018 World Press Freedom Day - ‘Keeping foreign satellites, mainly the US and French satellites Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law’, for civil and military communications. highlights the importance of an empowering legal environment for press freedom and focuses on the role of Important Points: an independent judiciary in ensuring legal The budget of the Space and Upper Atmosphere security for press freedom and the Research Organisation (Suparco) for the upcoming prosecution of crimes against journalists. fiscal year 2018-19 is Rs 4.70 billion which includes The theme also throws the light upon the role of the Rs 2.55 billion for three new projects. media in fostering the sustainable development. Suparco has been regularly conducting activities each year The day was established by the UN General to increase awareness of space technology and to promote Assembly in December 1993, following the its peaceful usage amongst students and the masses in recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Pakistan since 2005. The day marks the anniversary of the Windhoek The funding includes allocation of Rs 1.35 billion Declaration, a statement of press freedom for Pakistan Multi-Mission Satellite (PakSat- MM1) principles put together by African newspaper and the country is also planning to establish journalists, which was produced at a UNESCO Pakistan Space Centre in Karachi, Lahore and seminar that was held from 29 April to 3 May 1991. Islamabad with the allocation of Rs 1 billion. On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, The third project is establishment of Space UNESCO also held a ceremony to give away the 2018 Application Research Centre in Karachi with UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. the budget of Rs 200 million in 2018-19. The 2018 Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize went The total cost of PakSat-MM1 is Rs 27.57 billion and to jailed Egyptian photographer Mahmoud Abu Zeid, that of the space centres is Rs 26.91 billion. popularly known as Shawkan. Abu Zeid was arrested in Advanced space programme is the need of time not August 2013 for covering deadly demonstration between only due to growing demand from the civil the security forces and supporters of ousted Islamist communications, including the GPS, mobile president Mohammed Morsi at Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square telephony and the internet but due to in Cairo, Egypt. changing scenario in the region also. He is one among the 700 defendants facing Advanced space programme is the need of charges of killing police and vandalising time not only due to growing demand from property during the clashes. the civil communications, including the GPS, mobile telephony and the internet but due to changing scenario in the region also. 3 CURRENT AFFAIRS – MAY–2018 The index reflected the growing influence of political heads and rival models. It pointed out that Important Points: how more and more democratically-elected leaders In 2017, India’s military spending has increased no longer see media as a part of democracy, but as by five and a half percent, with this, India has left a rival.