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29. Union Cabinet gave its approval for moving a Resolution in the first Assembly of International Solar Alliance to amend the Framework Agreement of the Alliance to open up its Membership to all the UN Countries.
SALIENT POINTS

This decision is taken to put solar energy on the global agenda with the universal appeal for developing and deploying solar energy.
ISA is the first Treaty-based International Inter-governmental Organization to be based in India.
This happened exactly one month after Guinea became 15th Country to ratify it.
The Interim Secretariat is situated in Gurugram.

It aims to address obstacles to deployment at scale of Solar Energy through
better harmonization and aggregation of demand from solar rich countries.


WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY TREATY BASED INTER-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION?

Inter-Governmental Organization is an organization composed of sovereign states or other Inter-Governmental Organizations.
The Solar Alliance is Treaty based, the meaning is, there is an established Treaty that acts as a charter creating the group.
Treaties are formed, when the Sovereign Governments of several Countries go through a ratification process.
It gives the Inter-Governmental Organization, the status of international juridical personality.

International Solar Alliance and the Ministry of External Affairs signed Host Country Agreement in New Delhi.
SALIENT POINTS
The Agreement gives ISA juridical personality, an power to contract, acquire and dispose off movable and immovable properties and also to institute and defend legal proceedings.
Under this Agreement, ISA will enjoy such privileges, applicable tax concessions and immunities that are necessary for ISA’s Headquarter to independently discharge its function and programmes.

INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE
There are no targets or legal obligations imposed on member-countries.
Members take coordinated actions through Programmes and activities launched on a voluntary basis.
They are aimed at better harmonizing and aggregating demand for solar finance, solar technologies, innovation, R&D etc.
UN member countries which are located beyond the Tropics can join the ISA as “Partner Countries”, but now Union Cabinet decided to extend membership to all the UN countries.

PARTNER ORGANISATIONS
Organizations that have potential to help ISA achieve its objectives including regional inter-governmental economic integration organizations constituted by sovereign states at least one of which is a member of the ISA can join the ISA as a “Partner Organization”.

STRATEGIC PARTNERS
United Nations, including its organs can join the ISA as “Strategic Partners”.

THREE MAIN COMPONENTS UNVEILED BY ISA
Scaling solar applications for agricultural use.
Affordable finance at scale.
Scaling Solar Mini Grids.
It is also with an aim to mobilize more than $ 1 trillion of investments by 2030. The Alliance also introduced a Common Risk Mitigation Mechanism (CRMM) feasibility study to mitigate financial risks in Global Solar Markets. The instrument will help diversify and pool risks on mutualized public resources and unlock significant investments.
COMMON RISK MITIGATION MECHANISM
The objective of CRMM is de-risking and reducing the financial cost of solar projects in ISA-member countries.
CRMM will act as a pooled insurance with limited liability.
Banks and multi-lateral institutions can contribute to the fund for a marginal premium.
This will lower the cost of capital for developing renewable energy projects.

The Common Risk Mitigation Mechanism (CRMM) under the International Solar Alliance (ISA) has been taken over by the World Bank and it has mobilised $1 million for preparatory work.
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND  BY MINI GRID?
It is defined as a system, having a renewable energy based electricity generator, with capacity of 10 KW and above. It supplies electricity to a target set of consumers, that means, residents for households usage, commercial, productive, industrial and institutional setups etc.
It is through a Public Distribution Network (PDN).
A Micro Grid is a system similar to a Mini Grid, but have a RE based generation capacity of below 10 KW.
Micro and Mini Grids generally operate in isolation to the electricity networks of the DISCOM Grid, but can also interconnect with the Grid to exchange power.

WHAT ABOUT FINANCES?
India offered to meet ISA Secretariat expenses for initial 5 years.
Ministry of External Affairs set aside $ 2 billion for solar projects in Africa, out of the Government of India’s $ 10 billion concessional LOC for Africa.
Government of France earmarked € 300 million of loan for solar related projects in ISA member countries.

30. Uttar Pradesh Government changed the name of Allahabad as Prayagraj.
SALIENT POINTS
Nehru Family Home, Anand Bhavan is situated here.
It is at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Mythical Saraswathi.
Allahabad High Court was established in 1866, it is the fourth after Madras, Bombay and Calcutta.
At present, Allahabad High Court is the Country’s largest High Court with 160 judges.

MORE ON ALLAHABAD

Ashoka established pillar in 3rd Century BC, it stands at the entrance of the Allahabad Fort.
The Emperor Akbar built the fort in 1583.
Allahabad remained the provincial capital of Mughal Empire for several years around the turn of 16th Century.
The fort is under the control of Indian Army.
Under the British, Allahabad was the Capital of the United Provinces from 1904 to 1949.

31. Barefoot College in village of Tilonia in Ajmer district of Rajasthan is in the news.
SALIENT POINTS

The Barefoot College was started by the visionary social worker Bunker Roy, 43 years ago.
It is now home to women solar engineers, popularly called “Solar Mamas”.
The students stay in the college for six months, attending classes.
Solar Mamas are quite experts in solar home-lighting system fabrication, assembling of solar panels and trouble-shooting.

32. The Cabinet approved the merger of the existing institutions in the skills sector, i.e., National Council for Vocational Training and the National Skill Development Agency to create common body i.e., National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)
National Council for Vocational Training
+
National Skill Development Agency
=
National Council for Vocational Education and Training

BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT NCVT AND NSDA
In the past, most of the country's skill training needs were met through the courses offered by the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and under the Modular Employable Scheme (MES), regulated by NCVT.
At present, 20 Ministries / Departments implementing skill development programmes mostly using private sector training providers.
Accordingly, National Skill Development Agency was established in 2013. This is to coordinate and harmonize the skill development efforts of the Government and the private sector.
The primary role of NSDA has been to anchor and operationalize the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) to ensure that quality and standards meet sector specific requirements.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN  IN FUTURE?
This will act as Single Regulatory Authority.
It will regulate the functioning of entities engaged in vocational education and training, both long-term and short-term.
It will perform the regulatory functions, so far vested in NCVT and NSDA.
Regulatory functions currently being carried out by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) through the Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) will also be housed in the NCVET.

33. Shri A. M. Naik was appointed Chairman of National Skill Development Corporation by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
SALIENT POINTS
At present, he is the Group Executive Chairman of L&T Ltd.
He is one of the respected management professionals in the Country.
Shri Naik was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s 3rd highest civilian award in 2009.
NSDC is a unique Public-Private-Partnership model, working under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
 

NATIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (NSDC)
It is a not-for-profit public limited company incorporated on July 31, 2008 under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (corresponding to section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013).
It was set up by the Ministry of Finance as Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The Government of India through Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) holds 49% of the share capital of NSDC, while the private sector has the balance 51% of the share capital.
NSDC aims to promote skill development by catalyzing creation of large, quality and for-profit vocational institutions.
NSDC supports short-term skill training through a wide network of training providers and district nodal skill centres called Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras.

The Government launched Road Show for Phase-II of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves opportunity for Public Private Partnership in Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Programme.
SALIENT POINTS
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) is a SPV under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas.
To further improve strategic reserves, the Union Cabinet recently approved for establishing additional 6.5 MMT of strategic petroleum reserves and it will be able to provide extra 12 days of supply.
In addition to the 10 days of reserves achieved in Phase-I, the two locations Chandikhol in Odisha and Padur in Karnataka are selected as the optimum locations for these SPRs.


MORE ON CRUDE STORAGE
As per IEA, 90 days of storage is mandated for the member Countries.
India maintains 65 days of Crude storage.
10 days of reserves are being kept at three places under ISPRL.
Now, additional 12 days are planned, with this it goes up to 87 days.

The Headquarters of IEA is in Paris, France.
These are underground storage caverns through PPP in the Hydrocarbon Sector.



35. Shahi Litchi from Bihar received GI tag from Geographical Indication Registry and Intellectual Property India. 
SALIENT POINTS
Bihar produces 40% of the Litchis grown in India.
This is the fourth agricultural product from Bihar after Katarni rice, Jardalu mango and Magahi Paan (betel vine).
Other products from Bihar which got GI tag include Madhubani paintings, Sikki Grass Work, Sujini Embroidery Work, Bhagalpuri silk.


WHO IS A PRODUCER?
The persons dealing with three categories of goods are covered under the term Producer :
Agricultural Goods includes the production, processing, trading or dealing.
Natural Goods includes exploiting, trading or dealing.
Handicrafts or Industrial goods includes making, manufacturing, trading or dealing.
For the first time in the arecanut sector, ‘Sirsi Supari’ grown in Uttara Kannada has received the Geographic Indication (GI) tag.
GI TAGS
It is a collective right but not an individual right.
It is used to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods.
Any association of persons, producers, organisation or authority established by or under the law can be a registered proprietor.
It enables those who have the right to use the indication to prevent its use by a third party whose product does not conform to the applicable standards.
Paris Convention covers GI as an element of IPRs.
They are also covered under Article 22 to 24 of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, which was part of the Agreements concluding the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations.
The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years.


36.  India’s longest river bridge, with a total length of 19.3 Kms, will be built on Brahmaputra River in Assam.
SALIENT POINTS
This will connect Dhubri in Assam and Phulbari in Meghalaya.
At present, India’s longest river bridge is Dhola-Sadiya, with a length of around      9 kms.
The project will be completed by 2026-27.
Japanese funding agency JICA approved the loan for this project as part of the infrastructure improvement in Northeastern part of the Country.



37. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development and Lady Irwin College signed Memorandum of Understanding for establishing ROSHNI.
SALIENT POINTS
ROSHNI stands for Centre of Women Collective led Social Action.
It is technically and financially supported by UNICEF India.
It is dedicated to spread awareness among women, especially on aspects of health and nutrition.

WHAT IS THE MAIN GOAL OF DAY-NRLM?
It aims to reach out to 8-10 Cr rural poor households (based on SECC 2011 Census) in a time bound manner and stay engaged till they come out of abject poverty.
It is to break the self-perpetuating cycle of malnutrition-illness-out-of-pocket expenditure for treatment-poverty through its savings and enterprise approach.
It is layering of Food, Health, Nutrition and WASH (FHNW) interventions through the Self-Help Groups (SHG) and their federations.

38. The Cabinet gave its approval for setting up of Indian Institute of Skills at different locations across the Country.
SALIENT POINTS
The IISs will be set up in Public Private Partnership mode.
It will help augment the global competitiveness of key sectors of Indian economy by providing high quality skill training, applied research education.
It will ensure linkage with industry and global competitiveness across the sectors.

39. The Prime Minister’s dream project of Ghogha-Dahej Ro-Pax Ferry service is ready to start under the Sagarmala programme of Ministry of Shipping.
SALIENT POINTS
In a successful trial run, 12 loaded trucks were transported by the Ro-Pax ferry from Dahej to Ghogha across the Gulf of Cambay, via the sea route.
The land route is 294 km, where as Ro-Pax services reduces the distance to just 31 km.
It connects Saurashtra and South Gujarat.
The total cost of the project is Rs. 615 Cr, of which Rs. 117 Cr is funded by Central Govt. under the Sagarmala Programme.


SAGARMALA PROJECT

The projects approved will be taken up by the respective ports, State Govts. or Maritime Boards and Central Ministries, mainly through private funding or PPP mode.
Sagarmala Development Company Ltd. has been set up by the Ministry of Shipping to provide equity support to the projects, SPVs and funding support to residual projects under Sagarmala.




40. Union Government agreed to set up India’s first Mega Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ) at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Maharashtra.
SALIENT POINTS
This is the first of its kind Mega CEZ.
CEZs are spacial economic regions comprising group of coastal districts.
In the present case, the stretch will be spread across Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, and Raigarh.
Union Cabinet in 2016, has approved setting up of 14 Mega CEZs under National Perspective Plan of Sagarmala Programme.
COASTAL SHIPPING AND INLAND WATER NAVIGATION
Increasing the share of Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation in the transport modal mix is one of the key objectives of the Sagarmala Project.
Sagarmala Programme envisages to double current share of Coastal Shipping in India’s overall modal mix from 6% to 12% by 2025.



COASTAL SHIPPING
Coastal Shipping is within 20 nautical miles of the coastline.
The requirements for movement of vessels in this part of the sea are different from standard requirements of deep sea shipping.
Coastal ship movements require smaller vessels, lesser draft and involve lesser costs.

41. Indian Railways has named the indigenously manufactured semi-high speed Train 18 as “Vande Bharat Express”.
SALIENT POINTS
This will ply from National Capital to Varanasi.
It is manufactured by Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory.
It is 16-coach train, built in 18 months at a cost of Rs. 97 Cr under Make in India Programme.
It is regarded as a successor to 30-year-old Shatabdi Express and It can reach a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
It is also the first locomotive-less long-distance train in the Country i.e., It is self-propelled trainset.
It is built completely by Indian Engineers.
It will be fully air conditioned and will stop at Kanpur and Allahabad.



42. “The Statue of Unity”, the World’s tallest statue at 182 metres was built at a cost of Rs. 2,979 Cr on Sadhu Bet Island in Narmada River.
SALIENT POINTS
The Statue of Unity is set against the glistening basalt rocks of Vindhya and Satpura hills of the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.
The State Government chose Ram V.Sutar for the Statue project.
L&T executed the project.
American giant Turner Construction Company, which built the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, was the consultant. 

Tourists can see the natural scenery from an altitude of 153 mts. There will be Valley of Flowers, Tent City with 250 tents, Tribal Museum and Handicraft Market.

There is a Museum of Sardar Patel’s life and Bharat Bhavan Exhibition Hall


PRE INDEPENDENCE ERA


POST INDEPENDENCE ERA



43. A ship carrying snacks and other food items manufactured by Pepsi travelled from Haldia to Varanasi through the water transport i.e., National Waterway-1 and the Prime Minister received the Vessel on November 12th.
SALIENT POINTS
The name of the vessel is MVRN Tagore.
It is the Country’s first container cargo transported on inland waterways.
The Prime Minister dedicated this multi-modal freight terminal in Varanasi to the Nation.
It is designed mainly for construction materials, food grains, cement, fertilizers etc.
India has 111 National Waterways.
This is the first of the four multi-modal terminals being constructed on NW-1.
This is part of the World Bank-aided Jal Marg Vikas of Inland Waterways Authority of India.
The total cost of the project is Rs 5,369 Cr, equally shared between the Govt. of India and the World Bank.