Current Affairs 5th December

National Affairs

1. India’s Emission Intensity Reduced by 33% between 2005 and 2019

 

India reduced its GDP emission intensity by 33% between 2005 and 2019, according to a government report titled “The Third National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.” The target was 11 years behind this.

 

From 2014 to 2016, India’s average annual rate of emission reduction increased from 1.5% to 3% between 2016 and 2019. This is the quickest reduction rate ever recorded for any nation.

 

India made an extra carbon sink of 1.97 Billion tons of CO2 comparable during this period.

2. Mercom India Report: Rooftop Solar Installations Rise 34.7% to 431 MW in JulySep 2023 

As per ‘Q3 2023 Mercom India Housetop Sun oriented Report’ delivered by Mercom India Research, the housetop sun powered establishments in India enlisted a 34.7% year-on-year (YoY) leap to 431 MegaWatt (MW) in the second from last quarter (Q3-July-September) of schedule year (CY) 2023. At the end of September 2023, India’s rooftop solar capacity reached 10.1 GigaWatts (GW).

 

Key Results:

 

Roof sun based establishments saw a huge expansion in the initial nine months (January – September) of 2023, coming to 1.3 GW, contrasted with 1.2 GW in a similar time of 2022.

 

Taking everything into account, the establishment limit was at 320 MW. The decrease in the cost of modules is to blame for the rise in rooftop installations.

 

The cost of an average rooftop solar system decreased by 13.4% year over year and by approximately 5% quarter over quarter (q-o-q).

 

Rooftop solar installation was most popular in the residential market, followed by the commercial and industrial (C&I) market segments.

 

The number of rooftop solar tender announcements in Q3 2023 fell by 61.6 percent, from 310.6 MW in Q3 2022 to 119 MW.

 

Central issues:

 

Gujarat held its top situation in housetop sun based establishments, contributing 26.7% to the aggregate establishments, trailed by Maharashtra (13.5%) and Rajasthan (8.3%).

 

As of September 2023, the main 10 states on the whole represented ~77% of the combined roof sun powered establishments.

 

Between Q3 2022 and Q3 2023, Kerala recorded the most noteworthy intensified development of 15%, trailed by Gujarat(7.3%) and Maharashtra (5.1%).

 

During the quarter, government buildings in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, and other states accounted for approximately 62% of the total tender capacity.

3. World’s First Portable Hospital ‘Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube’ Unveiled in Gurugram

The “Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube,” the first portable hospital in the world, was unveiled in Gurugram, Haryana, to treat injured patients within an hour of arriving at the emergency location.

 

It was planned natively under Venture BHISHM (Bharat Wellbeing Drive for Sahyog Hita and Maitri).

 

Each of the 72 detachable minicubes in the modular trauma management and aid system serves as a specialized station for emergency response and humanitarian efforts.

 

It can be used to treat up to 200 patients who have suffered from a variety of injuries, such as burns, bullet wounds, injuries to the head, spine, and chest, minor surgeries, fractures, and major bleeding.

International Affairs

1. India Ranks 49th in IMD’s “World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2023”

In the seventh edition of the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR) 2023 published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), India is ranked 49th. 

 

Based on three broad categories, the report evaluates 64 economies’ readiness and capacity:

 

Preparation for the future, technology, and knowledge The U.S.A recovered its top position (Rank 1) which performs well in every one of the three classes – Information, Innovation and Future Status.

 

According to the report, India performed poorly in the areas of technology and readiness for the future, despite making modest progress in the knowledge of cyber security (Rank 45).

Banking and Finance

1. ADB provided USD 200mn loan for U’khand’s Climate-Resilient Power System Development Project

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 200 million loan for the Uttarakhand Climate Resilient Power System Development Project on December 4, 2023. This loan will help the state achieve 24 hours a day, 7 days a week power for its residents and transition to clean energy.

 

Additionally, the Government of Japan’s ADB-funded Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific will provide a USD 2 million grant to support this project’s livelihood enhancement, training, and awareness-raising efforts.

 

ADB has launched a program to address climate and disaster risks in the crucial Hindu Kush Himalaya region, which provides over a billion people in Asia with essential water.

2. Godrej Capital Nirmaan partners with DBS Bank India, Visa and Amazon to aid MSME growth

As part of its Nirmaan digital platform initiative, Godrej Capital, the Godrej Group’s Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) arm, has teamed up with DBS Bank India, Visa, and Amazon to offer a wide range of services to MSMEs.

 

This is in accordance with Nirmaan’s obligation to help MSMEs through assorted esteem added administrations (VAS) to improve market reach, monetary help, legitimate and consistency improvement, worker government assistance, and others.

 

NirmaanIt now has more than 13 partners in its collaborative model iii. Amazon will offer a three-month subscription to Amazon Global Selling, its e-commerce exports program, and list MSME products on their website as part of this partnership.

 

Through the Nirmaan platform, Visa will offer MSMEs extensive payment options. A customized current account and a comprehensive VAS suite will be available to customers of DBS Bank India.

Economy and Business

1. Kerala Startup Mission Inks MoU with Business Finland to Boost Start-Up Ecosystem

Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and Business Finland have signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) to boost the startup ecosystems in India and Finland. 

 

A KSUM volunteer exchanged the MoU with Business Finland Senior Director Laura Lindeman, during the Slush 2023 held in Helsinki, Finland, from 30th November 2023 to 1st December 2023.

 

Note:

 

Business Finland is a part of the Talent Boost program of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy in Finland.

 

SLUSH is an annual event held in Helsinki, Finland which brings together entrepreneurs, investors, corporate professionals, policymakers, and venture capital firms on a common platform. It is organized by the students at Aalto University, Helsinki.

 

About MoU:

 

The MoU seeks to support and maintain regular contact for mutual exchange of information and knowledge related to the start-up ecosystems in both countries.

 

Under the MoU, a collaboration platform – Kerala Finland Innovation Corridor will be established. This will function as a bridge to accomplish the various initiatives by both organisations.

 

There will be research co-operation, joint events, visits, communication and marketing by both sides.

 

The MoU will serve as a vital link fostering mutual innovation and market access within the ecosystems.

 

About KSUM

 

Established in 2006, KSUM is Kerala Government’s agency for promoting entrepreneurship in Kerala.

 

It implements the Kerala Technology Startup Policy and supports the startup ecosystem through schemes and programs.

 

It fosters technology-based entrepreneurship and builds the necessary infrastructure for high-end startup businesses.