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By admin: July 27, 2024

Indian Navy and IOCL Signed MoU to Promote Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology for E-Mobility

Tags: Defence

The Indian Navy (IN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), also known as Indian Oil, to promote and expand hydrogen and fuel cell technology for heavy-duty e-mobility.

An Overview of the News

• The Indian Navy will pioneer the evaluation of this technology in partnership with IOCL.

• The MoU was signed by Vice Admiral Deepak Kapoor, Controller of Logistics, IN, and Dr. Kannan Chandrasekaran, Executive Director (ED), IOCL.

• The signing ceremony was attended by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), and Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman of IOCL, at the Nau Sena Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.

State-of-the-Art Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus

• As part of the MoU, IOCL handed over a state-of-the-art green hydrogen fuel cell bus to the Indian Navy.

• The bus will bear the motto 'Indian Navy Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Ready Force'.

IOCL Operations and Mileage

• IOCL currently operates 15 fuel cell buses across Gujarat and the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), achieving a total mileage of 300,000 kilometers, with each bus expected to run a minimum of 20,000 kilometers.

Performance Assessment

• This initiative aims to assess the performance of fuel cell electric buses in the challenging conditions of the Delhi-NCR region.

• The assessment will include an analysis of the impact of local fuel and air quality on fuel-cell systems and vehicles.

• The evaluation will focus on the effectiveness, longevity, and operational dependability of fuel cell buses designed for public fleet use.

About Indian Navy

• Founded: 26 January 1950

• Headquarters: New Delhi

• Indian Navy: Maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces

• Supreme Commander: President of India

• Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): General Anil Chauhan

• Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi

• Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS): Krishna Swaminathan

• Notable Commanders: Admiral S. M. Nanda, Admiral Sourendra Nath Kohli, Admiral Ram Dass Katari

Tata and Airbus to Establish India's First Private H125 Helicopter Assembly Line

Tags: National News

On July 23, 2024, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus Helicopters (based in Marignane, France) signed an agreement at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) 2024 in Farnborough, England.

An Overview of the News

• The agreement establishes a Final Assembly Line (FAL) in India for single-engine H125 choppers.

• The announcement for this agreement was made on January 26, 2024, by Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran.

Details and Key Points:

• This FAL marks the first private sector helicopter assembly facility in India, producing H125 choppers for India and neighboring countries.

• Deliveries of the first 'Made in India' H125s are expected to start in 2026.

• The FAL will handle the integration of major component assemblies, avionics, mission systems, electrical harnesses, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel system, and the engine.

• The facility will also conduct testing and qualification of the helicopters.

H125:

• The H125 is the world's best-selling single-engine helicopter and the only helicopter to have landed on Mount Everest.

• It is part of Airbus' Ecureuil family and has accumulated over 40 million flight hours worldwide.

• It can operate in high-and-hot and extreme environments and can be reconfigured for various missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, and passenger transport.

Zimbabwe Joins UN Water Conventions

Tags: International News

Zimbabwe, a Southern African country, has joined the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UN Water Convention).

An Overview of the News

• This accession showcases Zimbabwe's political will for cross-border water cooperation.

• Zimbabwe became the 54th Party to the UN Water Convention and the 11th African nation to join the treaty.

Details and Additional Information

• The Convention provides a global legal and intergovernmental framework for sustainable transboundary water management, supported by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

• Along with Zimbabwe, Namibia (which became the first Party in the Southern African region in 2023), Zambia, Botswana, and Tanzania are in the accession process.

• Zimbabwe's accession will be celebrated at the 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Water Convention in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from October 23-25, 2024, further promoting global water cooperation.

• The UN Water Convention was adopted in Helsinki, Finland, in 1992 and came into force in 1996.

About Zimbabwe:

• President - Emmerson Mnangagwa

• Capital - Harare

• Currency - Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)

India's Passport Rank Drops to 82nd in Henley Index July 2024

Tags: INDEX

According to the Henley Passport Index 2024 July Global Ranking, India's rank has dropped from the 80th position (in January 2024) to the 82nd position.

An Overview of the News

• India provides visa-free or visas-on-arrival access to 58 countries.

• India is placed at the 82nd position along with Senegal and Tajikistan.

• Singapore has again topped the global rankings with the most powerful passport, offering visa-free entry to 195 countries.

• Five countries share the 2nd spot: France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Japan, with visa-free access to 192 countries.

• For the first time, seven countries share the 3rd position on the index: Austria, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden, each with visa-free access to 191 countries.

Henley & Partners:

• CEO:Dr. Juerg Steffen

• Headquarters: London, UK

• Established: 1997

South Africa Enacts First Climate Change Act

Tags: International News

South Africa has enacted its first Climate Change Act, marking a significant step in its climate response strategy.

An Overview of the News

• The law is aimed at limiting greenhouse gas emissions and requires towns and cities to create adaptation plans to meet carbon reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Key Provisions

• National Climate Response: Establishes a comprehensive national approach for both mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

• Sector-Specific Emissions Targets: Sets emissions targets for high-emitting sectors such as transportation, agriculture, and industry.

• Carbon Budget: Requires the environment minister to define carbon budgets for large companies and set emission caps for specific periods.

Implementation

• Local Assessments: Provinces and municipalities must assess climate risks and develop response plans.

• Carbon Tax: Companies exceeding their carbon budget will likely face higher carbon taxes.

Objectives

• Mitigation and Adaptation: Addresses climate change impacts on water resources, agriculture, health, energy, and other sectors.

• Economic and Social Impact: Aims to reduce job losses, promote green economy opportunities, and ensure a just transition for vulnerable communities.

Call to Action

• Public Engagement: Encourages citizens, businesses, and civil society to actively engage with the law and advocate for urgent climate action.

• Principles of Equity: Emphasizes the need to prioritize the needs of vulnerable communities in climate responses.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy Launches Vriksharopan Abhiyan

Tags: National News

Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, has launched the Vriksharopan Abhiyan 2024 in Dhanbad.

An Overview of the News

• This initiative is part of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• The event was held concurrently at around 300 locations across 47 districts in 11 coal/lignite-bearing states.

Environmental Goals and Achievements:

• The Vriksharopan Abhiyan 2024 aims to plant trees on 15,350 hectares of land in the next five years.

• Over the past five years, Coal/Lignite PSUs have successfully planted 24 million saplings on 10,942 hectares.

Current Targets and Innovative Techniques:

• The target for the current fiscal year is to cover 2,600 hectares.

• Innovative reforestation techniques being employed include the Miyawaki method, seed balls, and drone technology to improve planting efficiency.

Additional Information 

• Assam Unveils Amrit Brikshya Andolan 2.0 App to Boost 3 Crore Tree Planting Campaign 

• The Yogi Adityanath government announced the launch of 'Mitra Van' under the Tree Plantation Jan Abhiyan-2024.