National
Study report on ‘Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) Policy Framework and its Deployment Mechanism in India’
⇒ NITI Aayog released a study report, titled ‘Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) Policy Framework and its Deployment Mechanism in India’ on 29 November 2022.
About Report:
- The report explores the importance of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage as an emission reduction strategy to achieve deep decarbonization from the hard-to-abate sectors.
- The report outlines broad level policy interventions needed across various sectors for its application.
- The report indicates that CCUS can provide a wide variety of opportunities to convert the captured CO2 to different value-added products like green urea, food and beverage form application, building materials (concrete and aggregates), chemicals (methanol and ethanol), polymers (including bio-plastics) and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) with wide market opportunities in India, thus contributing substantially to a circular economy.
Key Points:
- As, India has updated its NDC targets for achieving 50% of its total installed capacity from non-fossil-based energy sources, 45% reduction in emission intensity by 2030 and taking steps towards achieving Net Zero by 2070, the role of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) becomes important as reduction strategy to achieve decarbonization from the hard-to abate sectors.
- CCUS is key to ensuring sustainable development and growth in India, particularly for the production of clean products and energy, leading to an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Implementation of CCUS technology certainly be an important step to decarbonise the hard-to-abate sector.
- CCUS projects will also lead to a significant employment generation. It estimates that about 750 mtpa of carbon capture by 2050 can create employment opportunities of about 8-10 million on full time equivalent (FTE) basis in a phased manner.
CCUS Policy Framework and its Deployment Mechanism in India Report (Official Link)
Manipur Sangai Festival 2022
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Manipur Sangai Festival via video message on 30 November 2022.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said:
- Manipur Sangai Festival highlights the spirit and passion of the people of Manipur.
- The Prime Minister underlined that India in its Amrit Kaal is moving forward with the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. Shedding light on the theme of the Sangai Festival which was the ‘Festival of One-ness’ the Prime Minister remarked that the successful organisation of this festival will act as a source of energy and inspiration for the nation in the days to come.
- Sangai is not only the state animal of Manipur but also has a special place in India’s faith and beliefs. The Sangai Festival also celebrates the biodiversity of India.
Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the ‘Manipur Sangai Festival 2022’ at the Sangai Ethnic Park, Moirang Khunou in Bishnupur district on 21 November 2022.
- The 10-day long festival was organized at 13 places in six districts of the northeastern state till 30 November.
- Labelled as the grandest festival in the state, the Manipur Sangai Festival helps in promoting Manipur as a world-class tourism destination.
Theme:
The theme of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 was the ‘Festival of One-ness’.
About Manipur Sangai Festival:
- Every year the State of Manipur celebrates the “Manipur Sangai Festival” from 21st to 30th November.
- Sangai festival is a cultural festival organized by the Manipur State Tourism Department..
- The festival is named after the state animal, Sangai, the brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur. The only floating National Park in the world, the Keibul Lamjao National Park located on the Loktak Lake is the last natural habitat of the “Sangai” (Rucervus eldii eldii), the dancing deer of Manipur.
- It started in the year 2010 and has grown over the years into a big platform for Manipur to showcase its rich tradition and culture to the world.
Activities:
- Every edition of the festival showcases the tourism potential of the state in the field of Arts & Culture, Handloom, Handicrafts, Indigenous Sports, Cuisine, Music and Adventure sports of the state etc.
- The festival is an opportunity for artisans and weavers to showcase their creativity and talent through the indigenous forms of handicrafts and handlooms.
- One can also have insights about the living-style of various tribes through the themed huts display at the heritage park.
- Locals exhibit their skills in the native sports which includes the famous martial art of Manipur – Thang Ta (a combination of Spear & Sword skills) along with other sports.
- Sagol Kangjei is the indigenous form of polo that is extensively played here. Apart from these sports, one may also enjoy and indulge in adventure sports like trekking, white water rafting and parasailing at various locations.
International
Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise 'Samanvay 2022'
⇒ The Indian Air Force conducted the Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’ from 28 November to 30 November, 2022 at Air Force Station, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
With an aim to assess the efficacy of institutional Disaster Management structures and contingency measures; the exercise comprised a seminar on Disaster Management, a ‘Multi Agency Exercise’ involving static and flying displays of various HADR assets and a ‘Table Top Exercise’.
Participants:
» Samanvay 2022 promoted a synergistic approach towards HADR by various national and regional stakeholders involved in Disaster Management.
- Representatives from ASEAN nations and various national and regional stakeholders involved in Disaster Management including Civil Administration, Armed Forces, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) attended the exercise.
Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh was the Chief Guest for the Multi Agency Exercise dedicated to Capability Demonstration conducted on 29 November 2022.
- During the exercise, the capability demonstration events included an aerial display featuring SU-30 aircraft, transport aircraft and helicopters.
- India has emerged as a regional power and net security provider in the Indo-Pacific as its capacity to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to its citizens as well as regional partners has grown in recent years. This was stated by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at the multi-agency HADR exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’.
- Raksha Mantri also visited the static display of HADR assets of various organisations, which showcased India’s growing disaster management capabilities.
Significance:
- Samanvay 2022 tested the efficacy of all available HADR resources.
- This multi-agency engagement contributed in the evolution of institutional frameworks for effective communication, interoperability, cooperation and their application for successful conduct of HADR.
- It emerged as a significant step towards achieving synergy between various stakeholders and facilitated exchange of knowledge, experience and best practices with the participants including those representing the ASEAN member countries.