UPSC Daily Current Affairs – Prelims [10th February 2023]
India Energy Week 2023 concludes
Source: PIB
In News
The India Energy Week has come to a close, and we have compiled a list of the major initiatives that were introduced during the event.
- Global International Biofuel Alliance (GIBA): India launched this initiative to create a supportive environment for the promotion of biofuels, with significant stakeholders such as the US, Brazil, EU, and IEA participating as clean mobility solutions during India’s G20 Presidency.
- “Unbottled” by Indian Oil: This initiative aims to create sustainable garments made from recycled PET bottles. IndianOil has implemented this by adopting uniforms for its retail customer attendants and LPG delivery personnel, made from a combination of recycled polyester and cotton.
- Net-Zero Target: The Budget 2023-24 has allocated a sum of Rs 35,000 crore to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to achieve the net-zero target.
- Launch of E20 Ethanol Blend Petrol: The event marked the launch of 20% ethanol blend petrol, also known as E20.
Four key pillars of the energy sector
The Prime Minister of India has announced the four key pillars of the energy sector strategy in India, which are as follows:
- Boosting Domestic Exploration and Production: India holds a notable position as the fourth largest country in terms of its refining capacity.
- Diversifying the Energy Supply: The strategy aims to diversify the country’s energy supply sources to ensure a stable and reliable energy system.
- Promoting Clean Energy Sources: The strategy focuses on expanding clean energy sources such as biofuels, ethanol, compressed biogas, and solar power. This was demonstrated last year with the launch of Asia’s first 2G Ethanol Bio-Refinery by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) in Panipat, Haryana.
- Decarbonization through Electric Vehicles and Hydrogen: The strategy seeks to achieve de-carbonization through the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and hydrogen as clean energy sources.
Targets
The following targets have been emphasized as part of the energy sector strategy in India:
- Increase in Natural Gas Consumption: Under the “One Nation One Grid” initiative, India aims to increase the consumption of natural gas in the country’s energy mix from 6% to 15% by 2030.
- National Green Hydrogen Mission: India has set a target of producing 5 million metric tons per annum of green hydrogen by 2030 through the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
- Increased Share of Green Hydrogen: The strategy aims to increase the share of green hydrogen to 25% by substituting grey hydrogen.
- Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity: India aims to have 50% of its energy capacity generated from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
- Renewable Energy Capacity: The current total renewable energy capacity in India stands at 170 gigawatts, with the country ranking fourth in wind power capacity.
CAR T-cell therapy
Source: TH
Methods of Treating Cancer
- Surgical Intervention: Involves removal of the cancerous growth.
- Radiation Therapy: Uses high-energy rays to target and destroy the tumor.
- Systemic Treatment: Administers medication that affects the entire body and the cancer cells within it.
- Chemotherapy: A powerful medication used to kill cancer cells, but it can come with adverse side effects.
- Immunotherapy: Works by utilizing drugs that bind to specific targets on cancer and destroy it, but it is limited to cancers that have these targets.
- CAR T-Cell Therapy: An advanced form of immunotherapy that involves using modified T cells to target and attack cancer cells.
Quaoar
Source: TH
In News
The European Space Agency’s Cheops telescope has detected a ring around the celestial object Quaoar, reminiscent of Saturn’s iconic ring system.
About Quaoar
- Quaoar is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt, which is a region beyond Neptune filled with icy planetesimals.
- First discovered in 2002, Quaoar has a diameter of approximately 700 miles, making it a third the size of Earth’s moon and half the size of dwarf planet Pluto.
- It is also known to have a small satellite, named Weywot.
Unusual ring around Quaoar
- A ring around Quaoar is considered unusual because Quaoar is located outside the Roche limit, which is the distance from a celestial body where the gravitational forces are strong enough to cause particles to come together and form a moon.
- Beyond the Roche limit, the gravitational forces are not strong enough to hold the particles together, making it unexpected to find a ring in this area.
- The detection of a ring around Quaoar challenges current understandings of the formation and stability of rings in our solar system.
Dickinsonia
Source: TOI
In News
Recently, a previously discovered fossil thought to be the 550 million-year-old Dickinsonia has now been reclassified as the impression of a decayed beehive.
- In 2021, the fossils were initially believed to be the earliest known evidence of animal life and were found on the roof of the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters located approximately 40 km from Bhopal.
About Dickinsonia
- An extinct genus of basal animal that is considered one of Earth’s oldest known animals.
- With its unique place in the history of life on our planet, Dickinsonia is seen as a link between the early, simple organisms and the explosion of life that took place during the Cambrian Period.
- The fossils of Dickinsonia have been discovered in several locations including Australia, Russia, Ukraine, and China.
- The creature is characterized by its radial symmetry, making it a fascinating and important subject of study for scientists and researchers alike.
About Bhimbetka Caves
- The Bhimbetka Rock Shelters are a group of caves that hold significant historical and cultural value.
- They are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and have evidence of human habitation that dates back over 100,000 years.
- Spanning the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and historic periods, the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters are considered one of the earliest sites of human life in India, with evidence of the Stone Age beginning at the site in the Acheulian era.
- These caves serve as a unique window into the rich cultural heritage of India, and continue to captivate researchers, archaeologists, and visitors from all over the world.
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