BS-VI fuel norms from April 1, 2018 in Delhi instead of 2020

Recently Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has announced a 2-year advancement of the introduction of Bharat Stage (BS)-VI fuel norms from April 1, 2018 in Delhi to fight air pollution.BS-VI norms are scheduled to be implemented across India in April 2020.BS-VI fuel will bring down sulphur by 5 times from the current BS-IV levels—a whopping 80 percent reduction and would make fuel extremely clean.

Bharat stage emission standards

Bharat stage emission standards (BSES) are emission standards instituted by the Government of India to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engines and Spark-ignition engines equipment, including motor vehicles.The standards and the timeline for implementation are set by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment & Forests and climate change.The standards, based on European regulations were first introduced in 2000.Bharat Stage IV emission norms have been enforced for entire country since April 2017.In 2016, the Indian government announced that the country would skip the BS-V norms altogether and adopt BS-VI norms by 2020.

Topic- GS-3- Environment

Source- downtoearth + Wiki

India’s sulphur dioxide emissions among highest in world

India’s emissions of the air pollutant sulphur dioxide increased by 50 per cent since 2007, while China’s fell by 75 per cent.The study led by researchers at University of Maryland in the US suggests that India is becoming the world’s top sulphur dioxide emitter.Most of the two countries’ sulphur dioxide emissions come from coal-fired power plants and coal-burning factories.

Sulphur dioxide

Sulphur dioxide is an air pollutant that causes acid rain, haze and many health-related problems.It is produced predominantly when coal is burned to generate electricity.

Topic- GS-3- Environment

Source- Indian Express

China Launches World's First All-Electric Ship

China has launched world's first all-electric ship that can travel up to 80 km with 2000-tonnes cargo after a two-hour charge.The 70.5-metre-long ship, which weighs about 600 tonnes, was launched in Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong Province.It can cruise at the top speed of 12.8 km per hour.As the ship do not use fossil fuels, it has zero emission, including carbon, sulphur and PM2.5 and it could be used as a passenger liner or a working ship.

Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

Source- NDTV

First Space nation Asgardia ready to launch itself into orbit

Last year, Russian scientist Igor Ashurbeyli announced the formation of Asgardia -- a new virtual nation that will ultimately exist entirely in space.Since its debut, Asgardia has attracted over 300,000 registrants, created a constitution and, recently launched itself into space.A small satellite called Asgardia-1 was loaded on board the Cygnus spacecraft and launched by the Orbital ATK Antares rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility.The satellite contains Asgardia's constitution, its national symbols and personally selected data from each of the nation's citizens.

Topic- GS-3- Awareness in the fields of Space.

Source- CNET + Engadget

India's first wave-powered navigational buoy launched

A wave-powered navigational buoy, developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), to guide ships in and out of ports, was launched in Chennai.The buoy, deployed at Ennore Kamarajar Port.The buoy’s beacon, for guiding ships, is powered by wave energy while conventional ones use solar power.The buoy stores energy generated by waves in a battery.Also, the buoy would be able to record data on wind speed and direction various other aspects, which would be relayed to port authorities.

Ocean Energy Systems Technology Collaboration Programme

It is an intergovernmental collaboration between countries.India became a member of the forum in April 2017.With the membership, India would have access to advanced research and development teams, technologies and data in the area of ocean energy across the world.It operates under the framework established by the International Energy Agency.

International Energy Agency

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a Paris-basedautonomous intergovernmental organization.It was established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.IEA member countries are required to maintain total oil stock levels equivalent to at least 90 days of the previous year's net imports.Currently there are 29 states are part of it.India is not a member of it.

Topic- GS-3- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology

Source- Business Standards

Hot Air Balloon Festival In Andhra’s Araku Valley

First edition of the Hot Air Balloon Festival is all set to kick off at Araku valley near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.The three-daylong event will experience participation of 13 countries that include the US, Switzerland, Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan.Araku Valley is Known for its coffee plantations, rich cultural heritage and stunning waterfalls.

Topic- GS-1- Indian Culture

Source- The Hindu

National Power Portal (NPP)

Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched the National Power Portal (NPP).NPP is a centralised system for Indian Power Sector which facilitates online data from generation, transmission and distribution utilities in the country and disseminate Power Sector Information.The Dashboard would also act as the single point interface for all Power Sector Apps launched previously by the Ministry, likeTARANG, UJALA, VIDYUT PRAVAH, GARV, URJA, MERIT.

Topic- GS-2- E-governance

Source- PIB

Country’s longest expressway 

India’s longest expressway is 302-km stretch from Agra to Lucknow.Recently government announced free Wi-Fi for entire 302- km expressway.

Topic- GS-1- Indian Geography

Source- Economic Times