The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals on 5th January 2024,
i.Cabinet approves overarching scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” of the Ministry of Earth Sciences
ii.Cabinet approves MoU between ISRO and MRIC concerning cooperation on the development of a Joint Small Satellite
iii.Cabinet approves signing of a MoU between USAID/India for supporting Indian Railways to achieve Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission
iv.Cabinet approves Ayodhya Airport as an International Airport & naming it as “Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham”
v.Cabinet approves signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Guyana on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector
Cabinet Approves Overarching Scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” of the Ministry of Earth Sciences
The union cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the overarching scheme “PRITHvi Vigyan (PRITHVI)” of MoES with a total outlay of Rs 4,797 crore. The scheme will be implemented during the period from 2021 to 2026.
PRITHVI Scheme:
PRITHvi is an acronym for Promoting Research in Earth Systems Science, Technology, & Human Resource Development.
The scheme will address the 5 components of the Earth system(atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere) to improve the understating of the Earth System Sciences and to provide reliable services
Objective:
i.Long-term observations across the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere, and solid earth
ii.Development of modelling systems to understand and predict weather, ocean and climate hazards
iii.Explore polar and high seas regions of the Earth
iv.Development of technology for exploration and sustainable harnessing of oceanic resources for societal applications
v.Translation of knowledge into services for societal, environmental and economic benefit.
About PRITHVI scheme:
PRITHVI encompasses 5 ongoing sub-schemes which are undertaken to translate Science to Services for the Society.
i.Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)
ii.Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART)
iii.Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER)
iv.Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE)
v.Research, Education, Training and Outreach (REACHOUT)
Key Points
i.The scheme will enable the development of integrated multi-disciplinary earth science research and innovative programs across different MoES institutes.
ii.The R&D efforts will address the challenges of weather and climate, ocean, cryosphere, seismological science and services and explore the living and non-living resources for their sustainable harnessing.
iii.The oceanographic and coastal research vessels of the MoES provides the required research support for the scheme.
R&D institutes:
The Research & development (R&D) and operational (services) activities of MoES are carried out by 10 institutes of MoES:
- India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF)
- Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE)
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR)
- National Centre for Seismology (NCS)
- National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT)
- Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service (INCOIS), Hyderabad
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa
- Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune
- National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS)
Cabinet Approves MoU Between ISRO and MRIC Concerning Cooperation on the Development of a Joint Small Satellite
The Union Cabinet appraised the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) for cooperation on the development of a Joint Small Satellite.
- The MoU was signed on 1st November 2023 at Port Louis, Mauritius during the visit of V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA), to Mauritius for the ‘Aapravasi Diwas’ event.
Note: MRIC is a corporate body under the aegis of the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication, and Innovation of the Republic of Mauritius.
Features of the MoU:
i.The MoU will enable the establishment of a framework for cooperation between ISRO and MRIC on the development of a joint satellite and cooperation on the use of the MRIC’s Ground Station.
ii.This will also enable the joint realisation of small satellites between ISRO and MRIC.
iii.The satellite realisation will be completed in 15 months with an estimated cost of Rs 20 crores which will be funded by the Government of India
iv.The use of MRIC’s Ground Station for ISRO’s small satellite mission in future while ensuring continuous support from the Mauritius Government has also been covered in the MoU.
Background
i.A country-level agreement on space cooperation between India and Mauritius was first signed in 1986.
- Under this, ISRO established a ground station in Mauritius for tracking and telemetry support for ISRO’s launch vehicle and satellite missions.
ii.At present, the space cooperation between India and Mauritius is governed by the agreement signed on 29th July 2009.
Cabinet Approves Signing of a MoU between USAID/India for Supporting Indian Railways to Achieve Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission
The Union Cabinet approved the MoU signed between Indian Railways(IR), the Government of India and the United States Agency for International Development / India (USAID/India) on 14th June 2023 to support IR to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030.
About the MoU:
- The MoU will be effective for 5 years or until the effective end of the South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) whichever period is shorter.
ii.Technical assistance for the services under this MoU is intended to be provided by USAID under the SAREP initiative.
iii.The MoU does not involve any financial commitment from Indian Railways.
iv.The focus area:
- Long-term energy planning including clean energy for Indian Railways.
- Develop an Energy Efficiency Policy and Action Plan for Indian Railway Buildings
- Planning for clean energy procurement to achieve Indian Railway’s net-zero vision
- Technical support for addressing regulatory and implementation barriers
- Bid design and bid management support for system-friendly, large-scale renewable procurement.
- Supporting Indian Railways in the promotion of e-mobility.
- Collaboratively host events, conferences, and capacity-building programs in the identified areas.
Note: SAREP is the flagship regional energy program of USAID India. This five-year initiative (2021-26) improves access to affordable, secure, reliable, and sustainable energy across 6 South Asian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) in line with these countries’ climate and clean energy priorities.
Cabinet Approves Ayodhya Airport as an International Airport & Naming it as “Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham”
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the proposal to declare Ayodhya Airport as an International Airport and name it “Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham”.
The airport’s name pays homage to Maharishi Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, an epic poem of India.
Note: Other noted works of Maharishi Valmiki are Valmiki Samhita, and Vasishta Yoga Samhita.
Cabinet Approves Signing of Memorandum of Understanding Between India and Guyana on Cooperation in the Hydrocarbon Sector
The Union Cabinet approved the MoU signed between the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas(MoPNG), Government of India and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Republic of Guyana on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.
The MoU is signed for 5 years and can be automatically renewed on a quinquennium basis.
Features:
i.The MoU was signed to increase bilateral trade and help diversify the source of crude oil and improve the energy & supply security of India.
ii.It will also provide an opportunity for Indian companies to participate in the Exploration and Production (E&P) sector of Guyana, gaining experience by working with global oil & gas companies in upstream projects.
iii.MoU covers the following:
- Complete value chain of the hydrocarbon sector including sourcing of crude oil from Guyana
- Participation of Indian companies in (E&P) sector of Guyana
- Cooperation in the areas of crude Oil refining
- Collaboration in the natural gas sector
- Collaboration in developing regulatory policy framework in the oil & gas sector in Guyana
- Cooperation in the area of clean energy including biofuels and renewables sector including solar energy etc.
Key Points:
i.Guyana has become the world’s newest oil producer. The new discoveries of 11.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent, amounts to 18% of total global Oil & Gas discoveries and 32% of discovered oil.
ii.As per OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) World Oil Outlook 2022, liquids supply of Guyana is expected to grow from 0.1 mb/d in 2021 to 0.9 mb/d in 2027.
iii.According to BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022, India is the world’s 3rd largest energy consumer, 3rd largest consumer of oil and 4th largest refiner and the fastest-growing major economy with rising energy needs.
About Mauritius:
Capital– Port Louis
Currency– Mauritian rupee
President– Prithvirajsing Roopun
About Guyana:
Capital– Georgetown
Currency– Guyanese dollar
President– Irfaan Ali
