WORLD GK

Diu : First & Only Union Territory in the Country to be Fully Run on Solar Energy

Diu has become the first and only Union Territory in the country to be fully run on solar energy.

The UT generates total of 13 megawatts (MW) of electricity from solar power generating facilities daily.

Of this, 3 MW is generated by rooftop solar plants and 10 MW by its other solar power plants.

Key Facts
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Diu’s peak-time demand for electricity goes up to 7 MW and now it daily generates about 10.5 MW of electricity from solar energy, making it electricity surplus.

Despite scarcity of land, solar power plants have been installed over more than 50 acres.

The solar power also has come as big relief for local residents as their monthly bill charges have fallen by around 12%.

It also has significantly reduced electricity loss.

Background
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Diu has an area of just 42 square kilometres and population of 56,000.

For water and electricity, the Union territory was solely dependent on Gujarat government.

The electricity supplied from power grid owned by Gujarat government was causing huge line losses.

To overcome this limitation, UT’s administration has decided to set up solar power plants.

India’s First Aviation Multi Skill Development Centre Launched in Chandigarh

Union Civil Aviation Minister, P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju inaugurated a one-of-its-kind aviation multi skill development centre in Chandigarh.

This aviation multi skill development centre in Chandigarh is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Airports Authority of India (AAI)

It has been set up by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council of India.

It is equipped with modern training infrastructure to supplement an industry-relevant course curriculum.

Over the next three years, the centre will train (free of cost) nearly 2300 students in eight aviation job roles.

Background
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Demand for aviation skilled personnel is rising commensurately in India with boom in civil aviation sector witnessed in last 3-4 years.

In the coming few years, more than 900 new aircraft are expected to be inducted by Indian scheduled airlines.

Air connectivity for both passenger transport and air freight is increasing with new air routes and operationalisation of unserved and underserved airports through UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).

With this, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and ground-handling demands for skilled personnel are also rising in tandem.

India Successfully Test-Fires Nuclear Capable Ballistic Agni II Missile

Indian Army successfully test-fired nuclear-capable Agni-II ballistic missile from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.

The missile test was conducted by the Indian Army’s Strategic Forces Command with logistic support from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

User Trials of Agni Series Missiles
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This was third successful trial of an Agni series missile in the last one month.

Earlier, a 5000-km range Agni-V was successfully test fired on January 18, 2018 and a user trial of 700-km range Agni-I was also conducted on February 6, 2018.

The first prototype of an operational variant of the Agni-II was tested on April 11, 1999.

About Agni-II Missile
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• Agni-II is a medium-range ballistic missile with two solid fuel stages.

• It is 20 metres long, weighs 17 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1000 kg.

• It has a strike range of more than 2000 km.

• It is equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system guided by a novel scheme of state of the earth command.

• The missile can be fitted with 150 kilo ton of yield nuclear warheads in addition to chemical and high explosive versions.

• It can be fired from both rail and road mobile launchers and it takes only 15 minutes for the missile to be readied for firing.

Western Command Conducts Tri-Service Maritime Exercise 'Paschim Lehar'

Tri-service maritime exercise ‘Paschim Lehar’ was held off India’s western coast with an aim to build interoperability between Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard.

This exercise includes participation of large number of ships, submarines and aircraft from Western Naval Command of Indian Navy and units from Eastern Naval Command, Indian Army, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Key Facts
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Over 40 ships and submarines and similar number of maritime surveillance, fighter aircraft, helicopters and Remotely Piloted Aircraft of Indian Navy and IAF are participating in the exercise.

It will test operational tasking and amphibious capabilities of armed forces, along with elements of Army Amphibious Brigade.

The exercise also includes number of weapon firings, including missile, gun and torpedo firings during initial phase.

The second phase of the exercise is structured to validate and refine the operational plans of Western Naval Command.

India to Host First Summit of International Solar Alliance

India is to host the first International Solar Alliance (ISA) Summit on 11th March 2018, in Delhi.

French President Emanuel Macron will participate in the First International Solar Alliance Summit.

Leaders of African countries, Presidents of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, leaders of South American co untries and Pacific Islands are expected to attend the summit.

Heads of World Bank, ADB (Asian Development Bank), BRICS Bank and European Investment Bank are also expected to participate in the summit.

The International Solar Alliance is a treaty based inter-governmental alliance.

It comprises of 121 solar energy abundant nations located between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.

The aim of ISA is to make solar energy affordable, develop solar grids and solar credit mechanism.