India taking steps for development of Small Modular Reactors (SMR), with up to 300 MW capacity

India taking steps for development of Small Modular Reactors (SMR), with up to 300 MW capacity

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today said, India is taking steps for development of Small Modular Reactors (SMR), with up to 300 MW capacities to fulfil its commitment to Clean Energy transition.
• In his address to a Workshop on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) organized by NITI Aayog and Department of Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the participation of private sector and Start-ups needs to be explored in development of this critical technology within India. He emphasized that technology sharing and availability of funding are the two crucial links for ensuring commercial availability of SMR technology.
• It must be noted that India, comprising 17% of the world population has seen its primary energy growing at rate of 4% during the last decade, almost double the global growth rate of 1.3%. However, by historical standards, our share in global emissions is less than 5%.

Rabi area coverage has increased by 24.13 lakh ha over last year

• The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar informed that Rabi area coverage has increased by 24.13 lakh ha over last year.
• Taking stock of the Rabi crops position with senior officials, Shri Tomar expressed satisfaction that so far, area coverage reported under Wheat is 152.88 lakh ha as compared to 138.35 lakh ha of the corresponding period of last year, as major Wheat growing states have reported increased area coverage as compared to last year. For Wheat, there is an increase in area coverage by 14.53 lakh ha over last year and this has been the highest ever since last four years.
• As on 25.11.2022, total area sown under Rabi crops reported was 358.59 lakh ha (which is 57% of the normal Rabi area) as compared to 334.46 lakh ha of the corresponding period of last year. Thus, Rabi area coverage has increased by 24.13 lakh ha over last year. (Details are given at Annexure).
• With favourable soil moisture condition, better live water storage position and comfortable availability of fertilisers across the country, Rabi crops area coverage is expected to accelerate further in the coming days and a good Rabi harvest can be expected.

Earth Observation Satellite-6 (EOS-6) was launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

• The third-generation Indian satellite for monitoring the oceans, formally named as Earth Observation Satellite-6 (EOS-6) was launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in partnership with Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) among others, from its First Launch Pad (FLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.
• This satellite will have the capability to make concurrent measurements of Ocean Colour, SST and Sea Surface Winds, and is expected to provide a great boost to the ocean observing capabilities of the global scientific and operational communities in addressing the Ocean Decade objectives and challenges.

UNESCO award for MumbaiMuseum restoration project

• The restoration of the 100 year old Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai has won the ‘Award of Excellence’ in this year's UNESCO Asia Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. 
• The museum is a part ofthe Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai’s world heritage property. It was established as the Prince of Wales Museum ofWestern India in 1922. 
• UNESCO Bangkok, in a statement, said the jury hailed it as a project that“sets a standard” for the conservation of heritage monuments. “The jury applauded the museum project for restoring ‘a major civic institution inthe historic city of Mumbai’,” it said.

Sanction mega powerloom cluster to Telangana as return gift for G20 logo

• Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who mentioned about a Telangana weaver who sent him a G20 logo woven with his own hands, Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao has said the best return gift to weavers of Siricilla will be to sanction a mega power loom cluster in the upcoming Union Budget.
• In his 95th Mann ki Baat broadcast, Modi hailed a “unique gift” from a weaver from Telangana, Hariprasad, who sent the PM a G20 logo woven by him The Telangana government had on several occasions written letters to the Centre urging to sanction a Mega Power loom Cluster (MPC) at Sircilla in the state under the Comprehensive Power loom Cluster Development Scheme (CPCDS).

Egyptian President Sisi to be chiefguest at Republic Day celebrations

• Egyptian President Abdel Fateh el Sisi will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in January2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Sunday.
• External Affairs MinisterS. Jaishankar visited Egyptin October when he referred to the “very good personal relationship” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Sisi.
• Egypt and India were founding members of the movement for nonalignment in international affairs during the 1950s and Egyptian leaders have traditionally maintained cordialities with New Delhi.
• Mr. Sisi attended the India Africa Forum Summit along with other heads ofstates and governments ofAfrica from October 26 to29 in 2015.
• The two countries are reinventing a trusted bilateral relationship through newer initiatives such as green energy. 
• In July thisyear, Egypt signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s Re New Power for $8 billion tobuild a clean hydrogen facility  in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
• The Indian entity, backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Goldman Sachs, is expected to produce 2, 20,000 tonnes of clean fuel annually at the Egyptian facility.