Table of Contents
Green push?
The new biofuels(जैव ईंधन) policy is high on ambition, but success will depend on the details
Rising oil prices are putting increasing pressure on the economy,
Even small steps to encourage the use of biofuels are welcome
Cabinet this month approved a National Policy on Biofuels, which encourages the generation
and use of biofuels.
Ethanol that is blended with petrol
Until now, only ethanol produced from sugarcane
Under the new policy, feedstock for biofuels includes sugar beet, corn, damaged food
grain, potatoes, even municipal solid waste.
Centre hopes the new policy will also benefit farmers, who will be able to sell various types
of agricultural waste to industry at remunerative prices
Reduce the cost of producing biofuels and improve affordability for consumers,
Particularly during times when oil prices reach discomforting levels
Government estimates that ethanol supply of around 150 crore litres in 2017-18
could save foreign exchange worth over ₹4•000 crore.
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Hoped, will also help curb atmospheric pollution by giving farmers an incentive not to burn it
, as is happening in large parts of northern India.
But policy should not get ahead of technological and financial feasibility
It cannot make a significant difference to biofuel production as long as the supply-chain
infrastructure that is required to deliver biofuels to the final consumer remains inadequate.
The government should also take steps to remove policy barriers that have discouraged
private investment in building supply chains.
Until that happens, India’s huge biofuel potential will continue to remain largely untapped.
A maritime stretch
PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Southeast Asia this week has the potential to spark a new
period of maritime cooperation between India and Indonesia
China, the common concern
Indonesian government to grant India access to its Sabang port for the development of the
port and an economic zone.
Located at the mouth of the strategically important Strait of Malacca, Sabang is only 100
nautical miles from the southern tip of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
China’s growing maritime footprint in the eastern Indian Ocean.
Sabang, with its naval base, naval air station, and maintenance and repair facilities, has the
potential to serve as focal point of a budding strategic partnership between two countries.
Sabang will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s ability to maintain a forward presence
and monitor movements in the Straits of Malacca.
Indonesia too has started recognising the benefits of a closer strategic partnership with India.
Like many other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Jakarta remains
apprehensive of Chinese intentions in the wider maritime theatre.
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The territorial dispute between China and Indonesia in the Natuna Sea
India will help Jakarta balance some of the security concerns emanating from Beijing’s
aggressive stance in the South China Sea.
A strategic confluence between New Delhi and Jakarta needs an economic direction
The development of the port and economic zone in Sabang can serve as blueprint
for a connectivity partnership between the two nations
India needs to supplement efforts in Jakarta and leverage its existing strategic relations with
Singapore and other like-minded regional states if it is to cement its position as a
‘net security provider’ in the Indian Ocean.
The time has come for India to realise the potential of a strategic alignment
THE WEDNESDAY INTERVIEW | P.J. KURIEN
P.J. Kurien retires as Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha at the end of June.
‘Stress and disorder are increasing in Parliament’
The Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha on why backchannel communication between the
government and the Opposition is urgentl of the Budget sessiony needed month long
washout of Parliament, lack of dialogue between the government and the Opposition, the significance of the Rajya Sabha, and the urgent need for a change in rules in the way
Parliament functions.
Deputy Chairman is a neutral position
The Deputy Chairman has to provide equal opportunity to both sides.
Parliament is not for shouting or misbehaving; it is for debate, discussions and taking decisions.
What happened was nothing but an undermining of democracy.- collective failure of government and Opposition.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-1- Centre’s offer of talks not clear, say J&K separatists
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-1- High Court bans homework for students of Class I & II
Schools across Boards to follow ruling
The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to instruct the State governments
and Union Territories to make sure that no school in the country, irrespective of the educational board it was affiliated to, prescribed homework for students in Classes I & II, in accordance with the National Council of Educational Research and training (NCERT) recommendations.
Also said no school should force upon children any subject other than language and
mathematics in Classes I and II.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-2- HR functions simplified, enhanced
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are redefining the profile of the human
resource manager.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-2-Akhilesh Yadav reiterates demand for paper ballot
A day after bypolls, SP chief says the common man no longer trusts EVMs.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Bengal’s Chau mask acquires GI fame
Five rural crafts from the State secure Geographical Indication protection
The Chau mask of Purulia, the wooden mask of Kushmandi, the Patachitra,
the Dokras of Bengal, and Madhurkathi (a kind of mat) have been presented with
the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indication Registry and
Intellectual Property India.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
In 2016, 5/20 norm was replaced with 0/20
The 5/20 norm was brought in 2004 by the then Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel
to allow Indian private carriers to fly overseas. The rule entailed that an airline
based in India will need to have at least five years of experience of flying within the
country and 20 aircraft on its fleet before it qualifies to fly overseas.
Map Practice
Last Day- Q’s- Answers…
National institute of oceanography
situated at- Goa
Established- 1 January 1966
Regional center-Mumbai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam
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