PIB ANALYSIS FOR UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAM
TOPICS COVERED
- INSPIRE 2018 – About INSPIRE, EESL, Energy efficiency revolving fund, Innovate to inspire challenge
- Indian War Memorial
1 . INSPIRE 2018
Power Minister inaugurates INSPIRE 2018
About International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy Efficiency 2018 (INSPIRE)
- Second edition of INSPIRE is being organised by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and World Bank along with the collaborations of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI), Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI)
- Focused on the theme of Innovation, INSPIRE 2018 will be a unique platform for learning and collaboration to bring together key policy-makers, influencers, innovators, thought leaders, researchers, leading energy-efficiency companies, government agencies, business leaders and stakeholders from diverse sectors in India and abroad to discuss energy policies, market transformation strategies, and technology and business-model led transformations.
- The three-day symposium will focus on enhancing grid management, e-Mobility, financial instruments and technologies for energy efficiency in India.
About EESL
- Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the administration of Ministry of Power, Government of India, is working towards mainstreaming energy efficiency and is implementing the world’s largest energy efficiency portfolio in the country.
- Driven by the mission of Enabling More – more transparency, more transformation, and more innovation, EESL aims to create market access for efficient and future-ready transformative solutions that create a win-win situation for every stakeholder.
Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund (EERF)
- To support investments in new, innovative and scalable business models, EESL and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement for a Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant of USD 13 million to establish an Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund (EERF).
- EERF aims to expand and sustain investments in the energy efficiency market in India, build market diversification, and scale up existing technologies
Innovate to Inspire Challenge
- The #InnovateToINSPIRE challenge was organized by EESL and World resources Institute (WRI) between 21 August, 2018 and 12 October, 2018 in the run-up to INSPIRE 2018.
- The challenge invited participants to submit sustainable and scalable solutions to seven specific challenges spanning grid management, e-Mobility, energy efficient technologies and financial instruments.
- From 94 entries, four winners were selected by an eminent jury comprised of Indian and international experts in the field of energy.
- The winning entries received an award of Rs. 5 lakhs, each, along with mentoring and guidance from EESL to help them bring their solutions to market.
2. Indian War Memorial
Vice President inaugurates Indian War Memorial at Villers Guislain in France
Background
- Two new memorials in France honour role of Indian soldiers in World War I. A new statue commemorating the role of Indian soldiers in World War I was unveiled in the town of Laventie on Sunday to mark Armistice Day when the war ended in 1918.
- Another memorial was innaugurated by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu at Villers Guislain in France on Saturday.
- Nearly 1.3 Million Indian soldiers fought with valour and distinction during World War I.
- A designated Indian Expeditionary Force ‘A’, the Indian Corps that served in France and Belgium from Sep 1914 consisted of two Infantry and two Cavalry Divisions. Nearly 1,40,000 Indian Soldiers took part in World War 1 in France and Belgium.
- 9300 of them made supreme sacrifice and are buried in 168 cemeteries in France and Belgium.
About Indian War Memorial
- The land was donated by the French government to the Government of India for constructing a memorial recognising the sacrifices of Indian soldiers during during the Battle of Cambrai in 1917.
- This is the first national memorial for the Indian soldiers who died in France during the First World War and features the Ashoka emblem
- The memorial, constructed by the Government of India through the USI, is distinct from the Indian memorial at Neuve Chapple, which was built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The common flower seen across India, the Marigold, is set to join the poppy as a uniquely Indian symbol of remembrance.