PIB Analysis : 5th April

PIB Analysis for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

1. Hindu New Year
2. National Seminar on Greenery and Landscaping
3. FAME 2

1 . Hindu New Year

Context : The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind in his message on the eve of Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba

States in which it is celebrated

• Ugadi – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka
• Gudi Padava – Maharashtra / Goa / Konkan
• Cheti Chand – Sindh
• Navreh – Kashmir
• Sajibu Cheiraoba – Manipur

2 . National Seminar on Greenery and Landscaping

Context : CPWD organizes National Seminar on “Greenery and Landscaping

Recommendations made during the Seminar

• Green Urban Areas play an important role in the social and natural sustainability and improve quality of life.
• Greenery and Dense plantation have a major impact on the conservation of energy, and reduce the energy requirement of the building.
• In order to maintain sustainable environment, pollution free clean air, it is essential to take up the plantation work.
• Cost of land has increased manifold and high rise buildings are coming up, people are getting hardly any area for the greenery. Keeping in view the same, plantation, greenery and other environment friendly applications should be planned around the building by way of dwarf trees, small shrubs, ground covers, hanging baskets, creepers, etc.
• There is need to adopt wood alternative in building construction. Use of alternate materials like Bamboo needs to be encouraged.
• Orientation and proper training should be imparted to the persons engaged in landscaping and Horticulture, for implementation of the new technologies in this field to save the labour and cost of the project in long run.
• Emphasis should be given for conserving and transplanting indigenous and grown up trees.
• Herbal and medicinal plants need to be encouraged. Herbal plants are useful for keeping the life healthy.
• Application of Organic Manure needs to be adopted for healthy and nutritious food.
• Water conserving irrigation method like drip irrigation, Sprinkler irrigation and pop up system needs to be adopted.
• Plants and greenery help in reducing adverse effects of climate change. Therefore every individual should adopt minimum one tree.
• Green initiative needs to be taken up on a mission mode by every nation, every city, every society and every individual so that future generations may lead happy and healthy life.

3 . FAME 2

Context : The NITI Aayog and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) released a report on opportunities for the automobile sector and government under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles II (FAME II) scheme.

About the Fame 2 Scheme

• The FAME II scheme, which was notified by the Union Cabinet in February 2019, aims to further accelerate the government of India’s commitment to a clean mobility future, sees the electrification of transportation as a primary focus area.
• FAME II intends to catalyze the market for faster adoption of EVs to ensure durable economic growth and global competitiveness for India’s automotive industry.

Key highlights from the report

• Effects of FAME II will go beyond the vehicles that are eligible under the FAME II
• There is considerable energy and CO₂ savings associated with the two, three, and four-wheeled vehicles and buses covered by FAME II over their lifetime, as well as the potential savings associated with greater adoption levels by 2030
• The electric buses covered under FAME II will account for 3.8 billion vehicle kilometers travelled (e-vkt) over their lifetime
• In order to capture the potential opportunity in 2030, batteries must remain a key focal point as they will continue to be the key cost driver of EVs.
• Vehicles eligible under FAME II scheme can cumulatively save 5.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent over their lifetime worth Rs 17.2 thousand crores.
• EVs sold through 2030 could cumulatively save 474 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) worth INR 15 lakh crore and generate net CO2 savings of 846 million tonnes over their operational lifetime.
• India needs auto industry’s active participation to ease electric mobility transition. The auto and battery industries could collaborate to enhance customer awareness, promote domestic manufacturing, promote new business models, conduct R&D for EVs and components, consider new business models to promote EVs
• Government should focus on a phased manufacturing plan to promote EVs, provide fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for phased manufacturing of EVs and batteries. Different government departments can consider a bouquet of potential policies, such as congestion pricing, ZEV credits, low emission/exclusion zones, parking policies, etc. to drive adoption of EVs.