SIPVS Knowledge is Power
- Second MI Ministerial to be Held 7-8 June 2017 in Beijing
On 7–8 June 2017, the second Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-2) will take place in Beijing, China.
MI-2 will bring together energy ministers and other representatives from MI member countries to share knowledge and collaborate on priorities for clean energy innovation.
This event will include ministerial working sessions, opportunities for high-profile announcements, Innovation Challenge discussions, and a series of side events.
MI-2 will be co-located with the eighth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM8). While MI focuses on breakthrough research and development for the new technologies of tomorrow, the Clean Energy Ministerial focuses on scaling the deployment of clean energy technologies and solutions that are available today.
- Four Arab nations cut diplomatic ties with Qatar as Gulf rift deepens
Four Arab nations cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, further deepening a rift between these nations and that country for its support to Islamist groups.
Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all announced that they would withdraw their diplomatic staff from Qatar, a gas-rich nation that will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Later, Yemen’s internationally recognised government also cut ties with Qatar.
- Dr Jitendra Singh announces “Hill Area Development Programme” for Northeast
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh announced the launch of, “Hill Area Development Programme” (HADP) for Northeast in Imphal (Manipur).
Elaborating on the new scheme, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the hilly areas of Manipur, Tripura and Assam have a distinct geo-physical entity and are lagging in socio-economic development.
As a result of peculiar topography, he said, there is a wide gap between the hill and valley districts in terms of infrastructure, quality of roads, health and education etc.
The Hill Development Programme, he said, is inspired with a serious research and deliberation of all these factors.
- Government to implement India’s first Rural LED Street Lighting Project in Andhra Pradesh
Government of India, through the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) under the Ministry of Power, would be retrofitting 10 lakh conventional street lights with LED lights in Gram Panchayats of 7 districts in Andhra Pradesh.
This is the first project for rural LED street lighting in the country under the Government of India’s Street Lighting National Project (SLNP).
In the first phase, the replacement will be undertaken in gram panchayats of the districts of Guntur, Prakasham, Nellore, Kurnool, Kadapa, Ananthapur and Chittoor.
This replacement drive in rural areas will help the gram panchayats to cumulatively save approximately 147 million units of electricity annually and lead to reduction of 12 crore tonnes of CO2.
The entire upfront capital cost of this project is being funded by French Development Agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
As part of the project, EESL would be carrying out the entire annual maintenance and warranty replacement in these gram panchayats for a period of 10 years.
- India Signs Loan Agreement with the World Bank for USD 39.2 Million
An agreement for IBRD Credit of USD 39.2 Million from World Bank for the project “Assam Citizen Centric Service Delivery” was signed.
The programme size is USD 49 million, of which USD 39.2 million will be financed by the Bank, and the remaining amount will be funded-out of State Budget. The programme duration is 5 years.
The objective of the project is to improve access in the delivery of selected public services in Assam.
The Project seeks to enable citizens to access services under the RTPS Act in a timely, efficient, and accountable manner.
The Project adopts an integrated approach to improve access and accountability.
- India GDP growth to remain flat at 7.1% in 2017-18: HSBC
India’s economic growth is expected to remain flat at 7.1 per cent in current fiscal as investment is still weak and government spending might not be as high given the fiscal consolidation, says an HSBC report.
According to the global financial services major, the GDP growth momentum is slowing since mid-2016 and this trend is expected to continue going forward.
- World Bank keeps 2017 global growth forecast at 2.7%
World Bank maintained its forecast for global growth in 2017 and 2018 unchanged at 2.7 per cent and 2.9 per cent, respectively, as manufacturing and trade are picking up and confidence is improving.
However, it expected the advanced economic growth to slow to 1.8 per cent in 2018 and 1.7 per cent in 2019, in line with its forecasts in January.
- National Aviation University signs MoU with Bird Worldwide Flight Services (India)
The National Aviation University (NAU) signed a MoU with the Bird Worldwide Flight Services (India) Private Limited on 1st of June 2017, to develop professional aviation and aerospace education programmes and research for the benefit of the Indian civil aviation industry.
Internships and campus placements for eligible students have been incorporated in the provisions.
The focus of the skill development programmes would be on quality of skilling which is aligned to the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF).
- Sharad Jain new DG NWDA
Dr. Sharad Kumar Jain has assumed the additional charge of Director General, National Water Development Agency (NWDA) under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
Shri Jain is presently working as Scientist G with National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee.
Shri Jain succeeds Shri S. Masood Husain who has moved over as Member (WP&P), Central Water Commission.
Source:- Daily Current Affairs Capsule
