1. GRAM UJALA PROGRAMME
Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) has achieved a remarkable milestone of distributing 50 lakhs LED bulbs under Project Crore of their Gram Ujala programme.
About:
- Gram Ujala scheme is being implemented in rural households in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana.
- CESL is providing high quality 7-Watt and 12-Watt LED bulbs with 3 years guarantee at a cost of INR 10 per bulb in exchange of working incandescent bulbs. Every household can exchange a maximum of 5 bulbs.
- The distribution has resulted in energy savings of 71,99,68,373.28 units per year with cost savings of 250 crores per year in the rural areas of aforementioned states.
- The programme is active till March 31, 2022.
- CESL is supported by C-Quest Capital in the entire distribution journey under SHINE programme.
Source : PIB
2. KANPUR METRO RAIL PROJECT
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated the completed section of Kanpur Metro Rail Project.
About:
- This completed 9 Km long section is from IIT Kanpur to Moti Jheel. The entire length of the Metro Rail Project in Kanpur is 32 Km, having 2 corridors of which 13 km will be underground.
- Kanpur Metro Rail Project comprises of 2 corridors. First corridor from ‘IIT Kanpur to Naubasta’ is 23.8 km long while second corridor from ‘Chandrashekar Azad Agriculture University to Barra-8’ is 8.6 km long.
- All the 9 stations of the priority corridor have been certified with platinum rating of ‘Green Building Council’.
Source: PIB
3. EXTREME COLD WEATHER CLOTHING SYSTEM (ECWS)
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Dr G Satheesh Reddy handed over technology for indigenous extreme cold weather clothing system (ECWS) to 05 Indian companies in New Delhi on December 27, 2021.
About:
- The extreme ECWS is required by Indian Army for its sustained operations in glacier and Himalayan peaks.
- The Army, till recently has been importing extreme cold weather clothing and several Special Clothing and Mountaineering Equipment (SCME) items for the troops deployed in high altitude regions.
- The DRDO designed ECWCS is an ergonomically designed modular technical clothing with improved thermal insulation and physiological comfort based on the insulation required at various ambient climatic conditions in Himalayan regions during different levels of physical activity.
- The ECWCS embodies physiological concepts related to reduction in respiratory heat and water loss, unhindered range of motions and rapid absorption of sweat while providing water proof, wind proof features with adequate breathability and enhanced insulation as well as strength features required for high altitude operations.
Source: PIB
4. CLASS 70 140-FEET DOUBLE-LANE MODULAR BRIDGE
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh dedicated to the Nation 24 bridges and three roads, built by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in four States and two Union Territories.
About:
- Of the 24 bridges, nine are in Jammu & Kashmir; five each in Ladakh & Himachal Pradesh; three in Uttarakhand and one each in Sikkim & Arunachal Pradesh. Of the three roads, two are in Ladakh and one is in West Bengal.
- The main highlight was the inauguration of India’s first indigenous Class 70 140-feet Double-Lane Modular Bridge, built at the height of 11,000 feet at Flag Hill Dokala, Sikkim and Chisumle-Demchok road at Umling La Pass at over 19,000 feet in Ladakh which also holds the Guinness World Record of world’s highest motorable road.
Source : PIB
5. CONSUMER PROTECTION (DIRECT SELLING) RULES, 2021
Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (zg) of sub-section (2) of section 101 read with section 94 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 has notified the Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021.
About:
- These Rules shall apply to all goods and services bought or sold through direct selling, all models of direct selling, all direct selling entities offering goods and services to consumers in India, all forms of unfair trade practices across all models of direct selling.
- These Rules shall also apply to a direct selling entity which is not established in India, but offers goods or services to consumers in India.
- Existing direct selling entities need to comply of these rules within ninety days from the date of publication of these rules in the Official Gazette.
- The direct sellers as well as the direct selling entities using e-commerce platforms for sale shall comply with the requirements of the Consumer Protection (e-Commerce) Rules, 2020.
- Both direct selling entity and direct sellers are prohibited from promoting Pyramid Scheme or money circulation scheme.
- State Government must set up a mechanism to monitor or supervise the activities of direct sellers and direct selling entities.
- Direct selling entities will be liable for the grievances arising out of the sale of goods or services by its direct sellers.
Source : The Hindu
6. PRODUCTION LINKED INCENTIVE (PLI) SCHEME FOR TEXTILES
The Government of India released the operational guidelines for the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for textiles. Under this, companies can begin the registration process from January 1-31, 2022, on the government’s online portal.
About:
- In case of insufficient number of eligible applications, the application window for selecting new applicants will be reopened.
- In their application, companies will have to inform the ministry of textiles regarding their annual investment plan, expected sales, turnover, expected employment generation as well as exports during the tenure of the scheme, according to the guidelines.
- Incentives worth Rs 10,683 crore will be provided over five years for manufacturing man-made fabrics, garments — jerseys, overcoats, trousers, polyester suitings and shirtings, among others.
- It will also be provided for technical textiles, which is a new-age textile that can be used for the production of PPE kits, airbags and bulletproof vests. It can also be used in sectors such as aviation, defence and infrastructure.
- The scheme obtained Cabinet approval in September and is focused on expanding man-made fabrics and technical textiles value chain to help India regain its dominant status in the global textiles trade.
- The scheme is operational from September 24, 2021 to March 31, 2030.
- According to the guidelines, there are two types of investments possible with different sets of incentive structures. Under the first part, any company willing to invest a minimum Rs 300 crore in plant, machinery, equipment and civil works will be eligible.
- Under part 2, any company willing to invest a minimum Rs 100 crore in plant, machinery, equipment and civil works will be eligible.
Source : Business Standard
7. PROJECT TO UPSKILL THE CANE AND BAMBOO ARTISANS OF NAGALAND
Ministry of Skill Development launched a pilot project for upskilling the cane and bamboo artisans of Nagaland under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
About:
- The objective of this initiative is to upskill the local weavers and artisans to enhance their productivity through RPL assessment and certification in traditional handicrafts.
- The project targets to upskill over 4,000 craftsmen and artisans.
- The artisans and weavers will be aligned with the standardized National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).
- Under the initiative, each batch shall run for 12 days with 12 hours orientation and 60 hours Bridge Module. Further, after the orientation programme along with the Bridge Module, the artisans and weavers shall be certified with the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Type-1.
- The training delivery partners for the upskilling initiative are Cane Concept and Handloom Naga.
- National Skill Development Corporation, the nodal implementation agency for the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, supported by Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council (HCSSC) will monitor the day-to-day progress of the project.
Source : PIB
8. VEHICLE-MOUNTED DRAIN CLEANING SYSTEM
CSIR-CMERI handed over the Non-Exclusive rights for Technology Know-How of the indigenously developed ‘Vehicle mounted Drain Cleaning System’ to MANIAR & CO., Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
About:
- The Vehicle Mounted Drain Cleaning System is a Mechanized Scavenging System consisting of 3 modules namely (i) Recycled Slurry Water Unit (ii) Closed Loop Feed Back System (iii) Post Cleaning Inspection System.
- This CSIR-CMERI Municipal Solid Waste Management Technology holds the potential to be the ‘Game-Changer’ in the domain of Waste Management and help realise the Vision of the Prime Minister of India of a ‘Zero-Landfill India’.
Important Info :
- The Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI) is a public engineering research and development institution in Durgapur, West Bengal.
- It is a constituent laboratory of the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Source : PIB
9. COVID-19 VACCINATION
India has approved two more COVID-19 vaccines and the antiviral drug Molnupiravir under emergency use authorisation, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.
About:
- Currently, India uses Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V for vaccination.
- Corbevax, to be made by Hyderabad-based Biological E, is a protein subunit vaccine, and Covovax, to be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, Pune, is a nanoparticle-based vaccine.
- Corbevax has been co-developed by Biological E, the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, U.S., and the U.S. company Dynavax Technologies. Covovax is produced by the Serum Institute of India under licence from Novavax, a U.S.-based biotechnology company.
- The vaccine has been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) under its Emergency Use Listing and, therefore, will be available globally as part of the COVAX initiative to ensure that at least 40% of world is vaccinated on priority.
- Molnupiravir, which was approved this month by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (USFDA), close on the heels of Paxlovid by Pfizer Inc, is said to be a promising drug for those with mild and moderate disease and also easily administered as a pill. Thirteen companies in India are set to manufacture it.
Source : The Hindu