PIB Summary- 18th March, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)

Why in News?

The world’s most advanced technology, the Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Toyota Mirai, was recently launched by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways.

Significance of this Achievement:

• This is a first-of-its-kind project in India, with the goal of establishing a Green Hydrogen-based ecosystem in the country by raising awareness of the technology’s unique value. Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd and the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) also agreed to collaborate on a pilot project to assess the vehicle’s performance on Indian roads and in different climates.
• Under the supervision of NATRiP (National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project), the Government of India, ICAT is a prominent world-class automotive testing, certification, and R&D service provider.

Assist India in being self-sufficient by 2047:

• It will promote clean energy and environmental protection by lowering reliance on fossil fuels, allowing India to become “energy self-sufficient” by 2047.

The Most Efficient Zero-Emission Solutions:

• A hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is one of the best zero-emission solutions. It is fully environmentally friendly, with no emissions other than water from the exhaust.
• Green hydrogen may be produced using renewable energy and abundant biomass.
• The introduction and adoption of technology to tap into the potential of green hydrogen would be critical in ensuring India’s future energy security.

About Electric Vehicles:

• The earlier guidelines and standards were issued by the Ministry of Power in December 2018 and will be superseded by the new guidelines.
• Lack of charging infrastructure is one of the main reasons behind poor adoption of electric mobility in India.
• According to a survey by the Economic Times in May 2019, with appropriate infrastructure is in place, 90% car owners in India are willing to switch to EVs.
• Under the NEMMP 2020, there is an ambitious target to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric vehicles by the year 2020.
• At present, EV market penetration is only 1% of total vehicle sales in India, and of that, 95% of sales are electric two-wheelers.

National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020:

• It is a National Mission document by Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises providing the vision and the roadmap for the faster adoption of electric vehicles and their manufacturing in the country.
• As part of the NEMMP 2020, Scheme named Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) was launched in the year 2015 to promote manufacturing of electric and hybrid vehicle technology and to ensure sustainable growth of the same.
• The Phase-I of this Scheme (FAME I) was initially launched for a period of 2 years and was implemented through four focus areas:
  (i) Demand Creation,
  (ii) Technology Platform,
  (iii) Pilot Project
  (iv) Charging Infrastructure.
• FAME II
  (i) It was launched in March 2019 for a period of 3 years.
  (ii) The main objective of the scheme is to encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicle by way of offering upfront incentive on purchase of electric vehicles and also by establishing the necessary charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

India’s Arctic policy

Why in News?

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space released India’s Arctic policy.

About India’s Arctic policy:

• India’s Arctic policy titled ‘India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development’ lays down six pillars:
  (i) strengthening India’s scientific research and cooperation,
  (ii) climate and environmental protection,
  (iii) economic and human development,
  (iv) transportation and connectivity,
  (v) governance and international cooperation,
  (vi) national capacity building in the Arctic region.
• Implementing India’s Arctic policy will involve multiple stakeholders, including academia, the research community, business, and industry.
• It shall define timelines, prioritise activities and allocate requisite resources.
• The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is the nodal institution for India’s Polar research programme, which includes Arctic studies.

India’s Arctic policy aims to promote the following agenda:

• Strengthening national capabilities and competencies in science and exploration, climate and environmental protection, maritime and economic cooperation with the Arctic region. Institutional and human resource capacities will be strengthened within Government and academic, research and business institutions.
• Inter-ministerial coordination in pursuit of India’s interests in the Arctic.
• Enhancing understanding of the impact of climate change in the Arctic on India’s climate, economic, and energy security.
• Contributing better analysis, prediction, and coordinated policymaking on the implications of ice melting in the Arctic on India’s economic, military and strategic interests related to global shipping routes, energy security, and exploitation of mineral wealth.
• Studying linkages between polar regions and the Himalayas.
• Deepen cooperation between India and countries of the Arctic region under various Arctic forums, drawing expertise from scientific and traditional knowledge.
• Increase India’s participation in the Arctic Council and improve understanding of the complex governance structures in the Arctic, relevant international laws, and geopolitics of the region.