Dec 20th 2024 Current Affairs

Index:

1. Eklavya Schools Struggle to Meet PVTG Sub-Quota

Context

  • Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Established for tribal students, these schools aim to provide quality education and promote social upliftment.
  • 5% Sub-Quota for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs): Introduced by the Centre in 2019 to ensure representation of PVTGs in EMRS admissions.

Key Issues

  1. Underrepresentation of PVTGs:
    • Only 3.4% of students in EMRS are from PVTG communities, against the mandated 5% sub-quota.
    • Of the total 1.3 lakh students in 407 EMRS, only 4,480 belong to PVTG communities.
  2. State-Wise Data:
    • Madhya Pradesh: PVTG students constitute 3.8% of total students.
    • Chhattisgarh: Only 2.74%.
    • Odisha & Gujarat: Perform poorly; Gujarat has just 21 PVTG students out of 10,688 total enrolments.
  3. Rising Dropout Rates:
    • Increasing dropout numbers over three consecutive years.
    • Dropouts among PVTG students rose from 10 in 2021-22 to 18 in 2023.
  4. Challenges Highlighted:
    • Infrastructure gaps.
    • Shortage of qualified teachers.
    • Pressure on students to work for earnings.
    • Quality of education.

Government Initiatives

  • Administration by NESTS (National Education Society for Tribal Students): Took charge in 2019.
  • Reservation Guidelines (2020): Incorporated the 5% sub-quota for PVTGs in EMRS.

Recommendations

  1. Strengthen Infrastructure: Improve facilities to encourage enrollment and retention.
  2. Address Teacher Shortages: Recruit and train more teachers for these schools.
  3. Ensure Quality Education: Enhance curriculum and learning outcomes to meet PVTG needs.

Provide Financial Support: Reduce the pressure on students to work by offering scholarships and incentives.

2. Centre Sets June 2026 Deadline for Solar Firms to Use India-Made Solar Cells

Context: Policy Initiative by MNRE: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) aims to promote domestic manufacturing in the solar sector by mandating the use of India-made solar photovoltaic (PV) cells in government procurement programs starting June 2026.

Key Highlights

  1. Implementation Plan:
    • A List-II of solar PV cells under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) will be effective from June 1, 2026.
    • Solar companies must use only India-made PV cells to qualify for government procurement.

 

  1. Domestic Solar Capacity:
    • India has installed 92 GW of solar capacity, including 63 GW of solar-module manufacturing capacity and 5.8 GW of solar-cell manufacturing capacity.
    • Projected expansion:
      • 80 GW of module capacity by 2027.
      • 60 GW of cell manufacturing capacity by FY27, with ₹30,000 crore investment.

 

  1. Impact on Costs:
    • Indian solar cells are costlier: Prices are 1.5 times higher than Chinese cells due to tariffs like the Basic Customs Duty.
    • This increases solar project costs by ₹5–10 million per MW, raising tariffs by 40–50 paise per unit.

 

  1. Government Schemes to Support Solar Adoption:
    • ₹75,000 crore PM-KUSUM program subsidizes solar panels for farmers.
    • Rooftop solar programs cover installation costs for urban and rural consumers.

 

  1. Dependency on Imports:
    • Indian firms currently rely on solar components from China and Southeast Asia.
    • Critical components like wafers and cells are still imported, indicating limited domestic capacity.

 

  1. Approved List of Manufacturers:
    • Earlier this year, MNRE issued a list requiring government-subsidized solar installations to source modules only from approved domestic manufacturers.

 

Challenges

  • High Costs: Domestic production increases overall project expenses.
  • Capacity Constraints: Limited production of essential components like wafers and cells.
  • Import Dependence: Continued reliance on China and Southeast Asia.

 

Significance

  • Promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat: Reduces dependence on imports and strengthens local manufacturing.
  • Boost to Renewable Energy Goals: Supports India’s target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

 

Recommendations

  1. Boost Domestic Manufacturing: Provide incentives for cell and wafer production.
  2. Reduce Costs: Encourage innovation and economies of scale to make Indian solar cells competitive.

Invest in Technology: Enhance R&D for high-efficiency solar modules.

3. Survival-at-Sea Training in India

Context: The Mumbai boat tragedy highlights the lack of preparedness and awareness about marine safety, emphasizing the need for better training and infrastructure.

Key Issues

  1. Congested Marine Areas:
    • The Gateway of India area is congested with:
      • Merchant ships, naval vessels, and fishing boats.
      • Tourist boats and vessels undergoing sea trials.
    • This creates a hazardous environment for navigation and safety.

 

  1. Nature of Sea Trials:
    • Sea trials test vessels under stringent operating conditions.
    • Naval speed boats often undergo testing in shallow waters, increasing risks due to limited maneuvering space.

 

  1. Boat Vulnerability: Neelkamal, a V-shaped wooden boat, is prone to capsizing when water is taken onboard, though it does not sink.

 

  1. Fatalities and Survival:
    • Passengers without life jackets or unable to hold onto the capsized boat succumbed to drowning.
    • Rescue efforts saved approximately 100 passengers, most of whom wore life jackets.

 

  1. Inquiry and Lessons:
    • Focus on whether the boat was overloaded and had adequate life jackets.
    • Highlight the necessity for better safety measures, including:
      • Readily accessible and easy-to-use life jackets.
      • Capacity adherence and operational guidelines.

 

Broader Lessons from Past Incidents

  • Thekkady Boat Disaster (2009):
    • Increased awareness about life jacket use in Kerala.
    • Reiterated the unique risks associated with water transport compared to road and rail travel.

 

International Practices

  • Scandinavian Countries:
    • Teach survival-at-sea skills as part of basic education and workplace training.
    • Incorporate water safety awareness as an integral part of life in marine-based economies.

 

Recommendations for India

  1. Mandatory Survival-at-Sea Training:
    • Include water survival skills in school curricula and workplace safety programs.
    • Similar to first aid training, teach:
      • Wearing and using life jackets.
      • Basic water survival techniques.
      • Rescue operations for emergencies.

 

  1. Improved Infrastructure and Guidelines:
    • Enforce stricter guidelines for passenger capacity on boats.
    • Make life jackets affordable, accessible, and easy to use.

 

  1. Enhanced Awareness Campaigns:
    • Promote safety measures for water travel through public campaigns.
    • Raise awareness of risks like drowning and hypothermia.

 

  1. Testing Protocols:
    • Conduct sea trials in open waters to avoid congested areas.

Develop testing areas specifically for naval and commercial vessels.

4. The Ongoing Transition in Syria

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments