National
2nd India Energy Week 2024
⇒ The 2nd edition of India Energy Week 2024 was held from 6 – 9 February, 2024 at the IPSHEM-ONGC Training Institute in Goa.
Organized by:
India Energy Week 2024 was organized by the Federation of Indian Petroleum (FIPI) Industry under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.
Significance:
- India Energy Week 2024 was India’s largest and only all-encompassing energy exhibition and conference, bringing together the entire energy value chain to catalyze India’s energy transition goals.
- Encouraging and fostering startups and integrating them into the energy value chain was an important focus for India Energy Week 2024.
- India Energy Week 2024 served as a catalyst for meaningful discussions, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among industry experts, policy makers, academia and entrepreneurs.
- IEW provided an opportunity for the world to learn from India’s dynamic decision making in the face of volatility to ensure accessible, affordable and clean energy to its citizens.
Participation:
- It witnessed participation of around 17 Energy ministers from different countries, 35,000+ attendees and more than 900 exhibitors.
Pavilions:
- It had six dedicated country pavilions – Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, UK and USA.
- A special Make in India Pavilion was also organised to showcase innovative solutions which Indian MSMEs are spearheading in the energy sector.
Highlights of India Energy Week 2024:
Day 1, February 6:
» The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated India Energy Week 2024 in Goa on 06 February 2024. The Prime Minister also held a roundtable with Global oil & gas CEOs and experts.
» Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated the integrated Sea Survival Training Centre, ONGC Institute in Goa.
- PM Modi also witnessed a briefing on underwater escape exercises and a demonstration of the training center.
- ONGC Sea Survival Centre has been developed as a one-of-a-kind Integrated Sea Survival Training Centre to advance the Indian sea survival training ecosystem to global standards. It is expected to train 10,000-15,000 personnel annually.
- Exercises in simulated and controlled harsh weather conditions shall enhance Sea Survival skills of trainees and thus potentially increase the chances of safe escape from real life disasters.
Panel discussions:
- Ensuring energy security for nations and industry in a VUCA world
- The industry’s role in securing affordable energy access – balancing growing demand and sustainable supply
» NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands released report titled ‘LNG as a Transportation Fuel in Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle’ on February 6 2024, at India Energy Week.
- NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have been actively collaborating in the field of energy transition under the Statement of Intent (SoI) partnership since 2020. The report was released as the first outcome of the cooperation.
- The report explores different challenges and barriers for LNG adoption in India and recommends a roadmap of actionable solutions.
- The report further highlights the need for the development of a transparent implementation framework for these recommendations, driven by near-term goals of demand creation and market seeding.
Day 2, February 7:
» The International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report ‘Indian Oil Market Outlook to 2030’ stating India will become the largest source of global oil demand growth between 2024 and 2030.
Leadership Panel:
- Developing LNG markets and infrastructure
Ministerial Panel:
- South-South Cooperation: Energy for Inclusive Growth
Day 3, February 8:
» Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that India has achieved 12% ethanol blending with petrol five months ahead of the estimated target and this has led the government to revise the target of 20% ethanol blending by five years to 2025.
Spotlight Session:
- India – a blueprint of energy transition for emerging economies
» Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) announced the launch of ‘Pure for Sure’.
- The initiative, inaugurated by the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri aims to eradicate last-mile delivery inefficiencies and elevate customer satisfaction to unprecedented levels.
Start-up Awards:
» The Energy Startup Challenge was also awarded at the closing ceremony of IEW, 2024.
- The first prize went to Iron Technologies, while Vasitara Private Limited bagged the runner-up trophy. The third place was awarded to Aloe Ecell.
- The two honourable mentions included Biofuels Junction and VDT Pipeline Integrity Solutions.
Next India Energy Week:
- The third edition of India Energy Week in 2025 will be held between February 11th and 14th at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre), India’s largest convention and exhibition centre, located in Dwarka, New Delhi.
- Further, India Energy Week 2026 will come back to Goa and will be held at IPSHEM-ONGC Training Institute located in the southern part of the state.
Government declares ‘Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)’ as an 'Unlawful Association'
⇒ Government of India has declared ‘Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)’ as an ‘Unlawful Association’ for a further period of five years under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967 on 29 January 2024.
- The last ban on SIMI was imposed, vide Gazette Notification Number S.O. 564(E), dated the 31st January, 2019.
Reason:
- SIMI is continuing to be involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony in the country which are prejudicial to the sovereignty, security and integrity of India.
- Many criminal cases have been registered against SIMI and its members under various sections of law including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Important Day
World Press Freedom Day 2024
⇒ World Press Freedom Day is celebrated every year on 3 May.
Theme:
The Theme of World Press Freedom Day 2024 was “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis“.
- In 2024, World Press Freedom Day was dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.
Significance:
- This occasion celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom and is an opportunity to evaluate press freedom worldwide, to defend the media from attacks on their independence, and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
- The day holds significance for press freedom and its independence. It is a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.
History:
- World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the 26th Session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration.
- The Windhoek Declaration is a benchmark for ensuring press freedom around the world. It began at a seminar in Windhoek in 1991, but the ideas exchanged by the African journalists and media professionals acted as a catalyst to encourage press freedom, independence, and pluralism in Africa and other parts of the world.