PIB Summary- 6th January, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

National Green Hydrogen Mission

Why in News?
Recently, The Union Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

What is the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

• The intent of the mission is to incentivise the commercial production of green hydrogen and make India a net exporter of the fuel.
•  The mission has laid out a target to develop green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum.
• This is alongside adding renewable energy capacity of about 125 GW (gigawatt) in the country.
  • This will entail the decarbonisation of the industrial, mobility and energy sectors; reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock; developing indigenous manufacturing capabilities; creating employment opportunities; and developing new technologies such as efficient fuel cells.
• By 2030, the Centre hopes its investments will bring in investments worth ₹8 trillion and create over six lakh jobs. Moreover, about 50 MMT per annum of CO2 emissions are expected to be averted by 2030.
• As per its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement, India has committed to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030, from 2005 levels.

Advantages

• The National Green Hydrogen Mission will make India a leading producer and supplier of Green Hydrogen in the world.
• It would result in attractive investment and business opportunities for the industry.
• Will contribute significantly to India’s efforts for decarbonization and energy independence.
• Will create opportunities for employment and economic development.
• The Mission will drive the development of the Green Hydrogen ecosystem in the country.
• The targeted production capacity will bring over ₹8 lakh crore in total investments and will result in creation of over 6 lakh clean jobs.
• The Mission will support pilot projects in other hard-to-abate sectors.
• The Mission will also support R&D projects.

What is green hydrogen?

• A colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic and highly combustible gaseous substance, hydrogen is the lightest, simplest and most abundant member of the family of chemical elements in the universe.
• But a colour — green — prefixed to it makes hydrogen the “fuel of the future”.
• The ‘green’ depends on how the electricity is generated to obtain the hydrogen, which does not emit greenhouse gas when burned.
• Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis using renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind or hydel power.
• Hydrogen can be ‘grey’ and ‘blue’ too.
  • Grey hydrogen is generated through fossil fuels such as coal and gas and currently accounts for 95% of the total production in South Asia.
  • Blue hydrogen, too, is produced using electricity generated by burning fossil fuels but with technologies to prevent the carbon released in the process from entering the atmosphere.

Green Hydrogen Importance

• Hydrogen is being used across the United States, Russia, China, France and Germany. Countries like Japan desire to become a hydrogen economy in future.
• Green hydrogen can in future be used for
  • Electricity and drinking water generation, energy storage, transportation etc. 
  • Green hydrogen can be used to provide water to the crew members in space stations.
  • Energy storage- Compressed hydrogen tanks can store the energy longer and are easier to handle than lithium-ion batteries as they are lighter.
  • Transport and mobility- Hydrogen can be used in heavy transport, aviation and maritime transport.

Honey Mission Programme

Why in News?
Chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Government of India Manoj Kumar said that beekeeping is the medium of sweet revolution, more income can be earned by joining this work and distributed boxes to beekeepers under Honey Mission in village Devra.

Honey Mission

• The Honey Mission was launched by KVIC in 2017 which aimed at creating employment for the Adivasis, farmers, unemployed youth, and women by roping them in beekeeping while also increasing India’s honey production.
• Western Uttar Pradesh has been chosen as one of the most favourable markets for honey production as the entire region has an abundance of flora that also includes a variety of crops.
• KVIC acts liaison as an income-generating tool for the beekeepers and beekeeping.
• KVIC ensures better food and medicine with the value of honey production and other hive products and supports cross-pollination that pays the way for agriculture crops.
• KVIC would provide loans for setting up processing units, packaging units and labelling units for honey.
• The significance of the mission lies in the fact that Production of healthy honey and wax, and bee-keeping would open many job opportunities for unemployed youths and also for aspiring young entrepreneurs.

National Bee Board (NBB)

• Research and Development of honey processing units
• To sketch schemes and establish training through research institutions
• Production of quality honey: The innovation of Phyto-Sanitary standards in terms of Bee-Product quality
• Migration of honeybee colonies: Enabling the longer and safe migration of honeybees
• Creating awareness and organising training: Research and training on the disease-prone and its medication.

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body formed in 1957 by the Government of India, under ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956’.
• It is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with regard to khadi and village industries within India
• Aim of KVIC is: plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary.

Purple Fest 2023

Why in News?
The first-of-its-kind inclusive festival in India, ‘Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity’ is set to begin in Goa.

About Purple fest

• This festival aims to showcase how we can come together to create a welcoming and inclusive world for everyone.
• Aimed at furthering the spirit of inclusion, the Purple Fest will feature a variety of exciting live performances, sporting events, grand exhibitions, immersive experience zones, accessible movie screenings, & discussions on vital subjects like inclusive education, tourism, employment, & independent living.
• As part of the festival, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in association with Office of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) is organising a two days Sensitization Workshop in Goa.
  • The workshop will feature best practices in the field of disability with a focus on improving accessibility addressing implementation related issues of various schemes and programmes for Persons with Disabilities, and innovations and action plan in the field of accessibility.