Daily Current Affairs 18 October 2023 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 18 October 2023 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
Green Energy Corridor Phase-II
Source: PIB
GS III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II
Why in the News?
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the project on Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II – Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) for 13 GW Renewable Energy Project in Ladakh.
News in Brief
- The Prime Minister, during his Independence Day Speech, announced the setting up of a 7.5 GW Solar Park in Ladakh.
- After an extensive field survey, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) prepared a plan to set up a 13 GW Renewable Energy (RE) generation capacity along with a 12 GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Pang, Ladakh.
- To evacuate this huge quantum of power, it will be necessary to create an inter-state transmission infrastructure.
About Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II
- The project is targeted to be set up by FY 2029-30.
- The total estimated cost of Rs.20,773.70 crore and Central Financial Assistance (CFA) at 40 per cent of the project cost i.e. Rs.8,309.48 crore.
- Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) will be the Implementing Agency for this project.
- The project will contribute to achieving the target of 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuels by year 2030.
- The project will also help in developing the long-term energy security of the country and promote ecologically sustainable growth by reducing carbon footprint.
- It will generate large direct & indirect employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled personnel in power and other related sectors, especially in the Ladakh region.
- This project is in addition to Intra-State Transmission System Green Energy Corridor Phase-II (InSTS GEC-II), which is already under implementation in the States of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
- It is expected to be completed by 2026.
- The InSTS GEC-II scheme targets the addition of 10753 ckm of transmission lines and 27546 MVA capacity of substations having an estimated project cost of Rs.12,031.33 crore and CFA @33%, i.e. Rs.3970.34 crore.
Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)
Source: PIB
GS III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc
Overview
- What is a RRTS?
- About Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor
Why in the News?
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor at Sahibabad RapidX Station, Uttar Pradesh.
What is a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)?
- In line with the vision to transform regional connectivity in the country through the construction of new world-class transport infrastructure, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project is being developed.
- RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system.
- With a design speed of 180 Kmph, RRTS is a transformational, regional development initiative.
- It is designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes, which can go up to a frequency of every 5 minutes as per requirement.
- A total of eight RRTS corridors have been identified to be to be developed in NCR.
- Three corridors have been prioritised to be implemented in Phase I including
- Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Corridor
- Delhi – Gurugram – SNB – Alwar Corridor
- Delhi – Panipat Corridor
- RRTS being developed in the country, is a state-of-the-art regional mobility solution.
- It is comparable to the best in the world.
- It will provide safe, reliable and modern intercity commuting solutions in the country.
- In line with PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the RRTS network will have extensive multi-modal integration with Railway stations, Metro stations, Bus services etc.
How Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) will Help?
- Such transformative regional mobility solutions will boost economic activity in the region
- Provide improved access to employment, education & healthcare opportunities
- Help in a significant reduction of vehicular congestion & air pollution.
About Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor
- The 17 Km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor will connect Sahibabad to Duhai Depot with stations at Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai on the way.
- The foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid on 8th March 2019.
- The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS being developed at a cost of more than Rs 30,000 crore
- It will connect Delhi to Meerut in less than an hour of travel time going through the urban centres of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar.
Operation Nanhe Faristey
Source: PIB
GS III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
Overview
- News in Brief
- Operation Nanhe Faristey
- Other Operations
Why in the News?
During September 2023, RPF rescued 895 Children (Boys-573 & Girl-322) under Operation ‘Nanhe Faristey’
News in Brief
- The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is entrusted with the responsibility of security of railway property, passenger areas and passengers.
- The force has been working round the clock to provide a safe, secure and comfortable travel experience to the passengers.
- It helps Indian Railways in providing safe freight transport service to its customers.
- RPF has ably discharged the responsibility of protecting of huge assets of railways spread throughout the country by taking preventive security measures and making efforts to detect crimes against railway property as and when they occur.
Operation Nanhe Faristey
- RPF plays an important role in reuniting the children lost/separated due to several reasons from their families.
- In this regard, operation Nanhe Faristey was launched on Indian Railways.
- Under this drive, more than 895 Children (Boys-573 & Girls) in need of care & protection who came in contact with Indian Railways in the month of September 2023 were rescued.
- They are handed over to concerned authorities before being restored to their families.
Other Operations
Operation AAHT
- To act against Human traffickers, Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTU) of RPF are operational at the Post level (Thana level) over the Indian Railways.
- AHTUs are in regular touch with agencies and NGOs involved in preventing human trafficking.
- They have assisted them in the rescue of children being trafficked.
- During the month of September 2023, 29 persons were rescued from the clutches of traffickers with the arrest of 14 traffickers.
Jeevan Raksha
- Alerting and swift action by RPF, the lives of 265 passengers were saved by Team RPF.
- These rescued people had come close to getting run over by trains, at platforms and railway tracks.
Operation Uplabdh
- 405 nos. of the touts were arrested.
- Legal action was taken against them as per law and future tickets valued at Rs. 36.43 lacs were seized.
Yatri Suraksha
- Redress security-related complaints of passengers in distress and for immediate assistance, passengers can make complaints on the Rail Madad Portal or through helpline No. 139
India implemented International Conventions on Trafficking
- UN Convention: India has ratified the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime (UNCTOC) which has as one of its Protocols the Prevention, Suppression and Punishment of Trafficking in Persons, particularly Women and Children.
- SAARC Convention: India has ratified the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution.
Prelims
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
News: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s 206th birth anniversary was observed recently by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
- Syed Ahmed bin Muttaqi Khan was an Indian Muslim pragmatist, social reformist, historian, and philosopher of the nineteenth century.
- Born on October 17, 1817, in Delhi.
- Also known as Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, he started his career as a civil servant.
- He laid the foundation of modern scientific education in undivided India.
- He recognized the critical role of education in the empowerment of the poor and backward Muslim community.
- He is credited as the father of the two-nation theory
- Considered formed the basis of the Pakistan movement.
- Started a journal named Tehzibul Akhlaq, which was named as Mohammedan Social Reformer in English.
- Established Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (MAO) college in Aligarh during 1875, which became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920.
- He was knighted by the British government in the 1888 New Year Honours as a “Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India” (KCSI).
Republic of the Marshall Islands
News: The United States recently signed a 20-year agreement in order to provide economic assistance to the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) worth $2.3 billion to the strategic Pacific Island nation.
- In the centre of the Pacific Ocean is a nation called the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
- Wake Island to the north, Kiribati to the south, Nauru to the south, and the Federated States of Micronesia to the west all share a marine boundary with it. It is made up of a few of Micronesia’s easternmost islands.
- It is located north of the equator and west of the International Date Line.
- The Marshall Islands and the United States have signed the Compacts of Free Associations (COFAs)
- The United States pays for its defence, offers economic support, and has exclusive military access to its ocean.
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