Cabinet Approves Rs 19,744 Cr for National Green Hydrogen Mission

Cabinet Approves Rs 19,744 Cr for National Green Hydrogen Mission

• Addressing the nation on its 75th Independence Day in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a national mission for green fuels in line with the Centre’s stated target of making India energy-independent before completing 100 years of Independence. 
• The mission will have four components that aim at enhancing domestic production of green hydrogen and promote the manufacturing of electrolysers — a key constituent for making green hydrogen.
• The initial outlay for the mission will include Rs 17,490 crore for strategic interventions for green hydrogen transition (SIGHT) programme, Rs 1,466 crore for pilot projects, Rs 400 crore for research and development (R&D), and Rs 388 crore towards other mission components.
• The Ministry of Power notified the green hydrogen/ammonia policy at a production of 5 million tons of green hydrogen by 2030. The same target remains in the final mission as well.
• Green hydrogen is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic and highly combustible gaseous substance. It is produced through electrolysis using renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind or hydel power.

Cabinet panel clears scheme to upgrade Prasar Bharati

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND)” scheme with an outlay of ₹2,539.61 crore up to 2025­26, paving the way for upgrade and expansion of the public service broadcasting infrastructure across the country.
• As a result, FM broadcasting of All India Radio (AIR) is expected to cover over 80% of the country’s population, while eight lakh Doordarshan Free Dish DTH set­top boxes will be distributed to people living in remote, tribal and border areas, aspirational districts and zones affected by Left Wing Extremism. 
• Currently, Doordarshan operates 36 TV channels, including 28 regional ones, and AIR operates over 500 broadcasting centres.

98.7 per cent decline in Kala-azar cases since 2007 in India: Health Ministry

• There has been a 98.7 per cent decline in cases of Kala-azar from 44,533 in 2007 to 834 in 2022 in India. India is committed to eliminating Kalaa-azar from the country by 2023.
• Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of Kala-azar disease in the four endemic states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, said 632 (99.8 percent) endemic blocks have already achieved elimination status (less than one case per 10,000).
• Kala-azar is considered the second deadliest parasitic killer in the world after Malaria.
• Health Minister Mandaviya appreciated the efforts of the state governments towards meeting the elimination target.

Silent Valley bird species’ number goes up to 175

• A bird survey conducted at the Silent Valley National Park in Kerala in the last week of December identified 141 species, of which 17 were new. So far, 175 species of birds have been spotted in Silent Valley.
• The survey held on December 27, 28 and 29 marked the 30th anniversary of the first bird survey in Silent Valley. The survey was held in association with the Kerala Natural History Society.
• Brown wood owl, Banded bay cuckoo, Malabar woodshrike, White­throated kingfisher, Indian nightjar, Jungle nightjar, and Large cuckooshrike were among the 17 species newly identified in the Silent Valley.
• The first survey was held in the last week of December 1990, the anniversary could not be celebrated in 2020 December because of COVID­19 restrictions.

Declare Gangasagar Mela as a national festival, says Mamata

• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded that the Centre accord national status for the annual Gangasagar Mela which will be held next week here in the state’s South 24 Parganas district.
• Every year during Gangasagar mela, devotees from all over the country gather at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal to take a sacred dip during Makar Sankranti (mid-January). Gangasagar is an island in the Ganges delta located on the continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal roughly 100 kilometres (54 nautical miles) south of Kolkata, according to West Bengal Tourism.
• The mela is said to be India's second largest pilgrimage gathering after the Kumbh Mela. This year, the mela will be held from January 8 to 17, with Makar Sankranti falling on January 15, and approximately three million people are expected to attend the mela to take the holy dip.