Table of Contents

 

GS-3                                             

• Tracking SDG progress the Bhopal way

Facts for Prelims

• Orang National Park
• Heat Wave
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

Context

The Union Cabinet Wednesday cleared a revised production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for IT hardware with an outlay of Rs 17,000 crore, more than doubling the budget for the scheme that was first cleared in 2021.

About Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme:

• The PLI scheme aims to promote domestic manufacturing, reduce imports, and generate employment.
• The government has allocated significant funds for the PLI scheme across various sectors, including solar PV modules.
• Initially targeted industries were mobile and allied component manufacturing, electrical component manufacturing, and medical devices.
• Sectors covered under the PLI scheme include mobile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, steel, textiles, and more.

Advantages of the PLI Scheme:

• Boosts domestic manufacturing and reduces reliance on imports.
• Encourages foreign companies to establish production units in India.
• Creates more job opportunities in the manufacturing sector.
• Boosts GDP growth and facilitates India\’s integration into global supply chains.
• Aligns with the vision of \’Aatmanirbhar Bharat\’ (self-reliant India).
• Enhances exports and connects India with global markets.

Challenges of the PLI Scheme:

• Meeting the targets set under the scheme has been a challenge for several sectors.
• Lack of standardized parameters to assess the value added by incentivized companies.
• Further incentives may be required to attract companies away from countries like China and Vietnam.
• Additional incentives are needed to ensure the effective implementation of the scheme and boost exports.

Way Forward:

• Addressing bottlenecks in the PLI scheme is crucial to establish India as a manufacturing hub and reduce dependency on other countries.
• The government is actively engaging with stakeholders to make necessary adjustments and updates to the PLI scheme.

Orang National Park

Context

Recently, one old age Rhino dies due to infighting in Orang National Park and tiger reserve.

About Orang National Park:

Location:

• Orang National Park is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India.
• It is situated in the Darrang and Sonitpur districts.

Establishment:

• The park was initially established as a sanctuary in 1985.
• It was later declared a National Park in April 1999.
• It covers an area of 78.80 square kilometers.

Tiger Reserve:

• Orang National Park is also recognized as a Tiger Reserve, which was notified in 2016.
• It is the 49th Tiger Reserve in the country.

Mini Kaziranga:

• The park is often referred to as the mini Kaziranga National Park.
• It shares similarities with Kaziranga National Park in terms of landscape, consisting of marshes, streams, and grasslands.
• Both parks are inhabited by the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros.

Fauna:                              

• Orang National Park is home to diverse wildlife, including the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, pigmy hog, elephants, wild buffalo, and tigers.
• The park boasts a variety of bird species, with 222 recorded so far. Some notable birds include the Spot-Billed Pelican, White Pelican, Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Brahminy Duck, and Bengal Florican.
• Reptiles found in the park include the Indian Rock Python, Black Krait, King Cobra, Cobra, and Monitor Lizard.

Flora:

• Orang National Park features natural forests comprising species such as Sterculia Villosa, Zizyphus Jujuba, Dalbergia Sissoo, Bombax Ceiba, and Litsaea Polyantha.

It also includes various non-aquatic plants within its ecosystem.

 

Heat Wave

Context

India Meteorological Department has issued a heat wave warning for Delhi and adjoining areas for May 22, 2023 after maximum temperatures in several parts of the capital were recorded above 45 degrees Celsius.

What is a heat wave?

Definition:

A heat wave is a period of unusually high temperatures that surpass the normal maximum temperature during the summer season, particularly in the North-Western parts of India.

Duration:

Heat waves typically occur between the months of March and June, and in rare cases, they can extend until July.

Criteria:

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a heat wave is declared when the actual maximum temperature reaches 45 degrees Celsius or higher, regardless of the normal maximum temperature.

Reasons for heat waves:

• Climate change has led to extreme weather conditions, including heat waves in summer, cold waves in winter, and unexpected heavy rainfall.
• In India, certain climatic factors contribute to the intensity of heat waves, particularly along the east coast.
• During May and June, the Bay of Bengal often experiences Anti-Cyclonic Circulations, which trap heat in the lower atmosphere, making heat waves more severe.

Health impacts:

• Heat waves have significant health impacts, including dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
• The physiological strain caused by heat wave conditions can be severe and may even lead to fatalities.

 

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency

Context

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) emphasized the need for avoided carbon emissions via reduced generation and utilization of power from conventional sources at CEO Round Table in Bangkok, Thailand.

About Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency

• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) is a government enterprise in India.
• IREDA is under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• It was established in 1987 as a Non-Banking Financial Institution.
• IREDA promotes and develops financial assistance for projects related to renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.

Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme:

• IREDA offers a credit enhancement guarantee scheme to support wind and solar energy project developers.
• The scheme provides unconditional and irrevocable partial credit guarantees for bonds issued by these developers.
• The guarantees aim to improve the credit rating of the bonds, making them more attractive to investors.
• This helps project developers access lower-cost and longer-term funding.
• The funds raised through these credit enhanced bonds are used to repay existing debt.
• IREDA\’s goal is to contribute to the development of a bond market for renewable energy projects in India.