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Special Topic: EVs and India’s growth

WHO: 14 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India

UMoEFCC: transportation sector emitted about 188 MT of CO2 till 2010 & road transport alone contributed to 87% of the emissions.

Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell: diesel and petrol contribute to about 40% and 13% of oil consumption, respectively. In 2014, 70% of diesel and 100% of petrol demand was from transportation.

India’s current oil import dependency is about 80%.

EVs are at least 3 to 3.5 times more energy efficient than the traditional internal combustion engine-based vehicles for routine operations.
- Many countries have rallied towards the EV30@30 campaign, which aims for 30% sales share of EVs by 2030.
- The Netherlands, Ireland and Norway are leading the way, aiming to achieve 100% EV sales in passenger light duty vehicles and buses by 2030.
- In India, initiatives such as the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) and Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) are concerted efforts towards building an EV market.
- The procurement of over 500 electric buses by various state transport utilities is a testament to India’s commitment.
- India is also taking steps towards building a sustainable EV ecosystem.
- The department of heavy industry, Bureau of Indian Standards, and the Automotive Research Association of India are working towards establishing various technical standards for design and manufacturing of EVs and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) or charging infrastructure.
- Enabling this ecosystem also requires policies that encourage domestic manufacturing of vehicles, batteries and EVSE.
- India still has several systemic, technological and material vulnerabilities.
- Our electricity distribution grid assets are currently unable to handle large-scale EV energy requirements.
- India has very little known reserves of lithium
- We also import nickel, cobalt and battery-grade graphite, which are crucial components in battery manufacturing.
- Unavailability of rare earth materials used for making magnets for EV motors is another constraint.
- India should consider signing a memorandum of understanding with appropriate countries for a continuous supply of raw materials.
- Organizations like the International Solar Alliance (ISA), initiated by India and France, can play a significant role in facilitating such trade.
- For example, ISA member countries like Australia, Chile, Brazil, Ghana and Tanzania are rich in lithium reserves.
- Similarly, nations such as Congo, Madagascar, and Cuba can partner for supply of cobalt; Burundi, Brazil, and Australia are rich in nickel reserves.
- Indian Space Research Organisation has expressed willingness to transfer its in-house technology non–exclusively to qualified production agencies.

PMO

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused the previous Congress-led UPA governments of leaving a large number of villages un-electrified despite remaining in power most of the time after Independence.

He was interacting with the beneficiaries of Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana and Saubhagya Yojana through video conferencing.

Mr Modi said it was unfortunate that over 18,000 villages in the country were not electrified in the last 70 years.

The Prime Minister said the 28th of April this year was a historic day for India’s development story as Leisang village of Manipur became the last village in the country to be connected to a power grid.

He said under Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Gram Jyoti Yojana the government strove to reach all dark corners of India.

HM

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the government has asked States to take strict action against those involved in incidents of lynching in several parts of the country.

HM said many such incidents have occurred due to fake news on social media.

He said the Centre has given instructions to states and social media service providers in this regard while calling for regulation of social media sites.

Its the responsibility of State governments to take effective action to check such incidents

IT Ministry

The government today issued another notice to WhatsApp asking it to come out with effective solutions to curb fake news.

It also warned the company that mediums used for propagation of rumours are liable to be treated as abettors and can face legal consequences if they remain mute spectators.

In a statement, the IT Ministry said it has approached WhatsApp to bring more effective solutions, ensure greater accountability and facilitate enforcement of law.

Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today informed the Rajya Sabha that he will hold discussion with stakeholders, including political parties, to evolve a policy to deal with the misuse of social

Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 by a voice vote.

The bill seeks to make giving bribe to a public servant a punishable

However, a person who is compelled to give a bribe will not be charged with the offence if he reports the matter to law enforcement authorities within seven days.

Replying to a debate on the bill in the House, Minister for Personnel and Public Grievances Dr Jitendra Singh said, the legislation against corruption has been made wide-based.

Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha today passed the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill

It will replace the Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance which was promulgated by President Ram Nath Kovind in April.

The bill gives authorities power to attach and confiscate the proceeds of crime and properties of fraudsters and loan defaulters who flee the country.

He said, the Government wants to bring back big defaulters to face the law.

Mr Goyal said, cases where the total value involved in such offences is 100 crore rupees or more, will come under its purview. He said, till 2014 nothing was done on this front.

Goyal said the law takes its cue from the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. We have more on this bill.

The bill deters fugitives from remaining out of bounds of Indian law. It also seeks to establish a Special Court under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 to declare a person as a Fugitive Economic Offender.

The government had earlier said that the absence of such offenders from Indian courts hampers investigation and undermines the rule of law. Clearly once the bill becomes a law it will be difficult for fugitives like Nirav Modi to go scot free.r

Special Investigation Team

The Special Investigation Team, SIT, on black money has recommended to the Centre to raise the cash holding limit from twenty lakh rupees to one crore.

Justice (retired) M B Shah, who heads the SIT formed on the directions of the Supreme Court, told PTI in Ahmedabad that they had recommended that the amount above the cash holding limit of one crore rupees should go to the government.

As per the existing rules, an offender can retrieve the seized cash by paying 40 per cent income tax and penalty.

The SIT’s recommendations have come after a huge amount of cash was seized in recent search operations by tax authorities.

MEA

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said, ASEAN is one of the focal points of India’s foreign policy, strategic concerns and economic interests.

Addressing the ministerial session at the Delhi Dialogue in New Delhi, Ms Swaraj said, the government is committed to bringing India-ASEAN relations to its full potential through India’s Act East Policy, with ASEAN at the core.

She said, India’s interests in the Indo-Pacific are vast and its engagement is deep. She said, India’s vision, in one word, is SAGAR which stands for – Security And Growth for All in the Region.