Important Daily Facts of the Day

India approves installation of 10 new nuclear reactors in five states (GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)

Why in news?

• Recently, the Centre has approved the installation of 10 nuclear reactors in five states across India. The information was given by Atomic Energy Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in Parliament.
• The government has roped in public sector undertaking for the installation of the reactors.

 

Key Highlights:

• The Center has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for 10 indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors of 700 MW each in fleet mode.
•  The 10 reactors will come up in Karnataka, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
• Two nuclear reactors will each be installed in Kaiga, Chutka, and Gorakhpur nuclear power plants, while the Mahi Banswara nuclear power plant in Rajasthan will get four nuclear reactors.

 

Fleet mode:

• The Government has amended the Atomic Energy Act in 2015 to enable the Joint Ventures of NPCIL with Public Sector Enterprises to set up nuclear power projects.
• These reactors are planned to be set up in ‘fleet mode’ progressively by the year 2031 at a cost of Rs. 1,05,000 crores.

 

Installed nuclear power capacity:

• During 2021-22 the nuclear power reactors generated 47,112 million units of electricity, which comprises about 3.15 per cent of the total electricity generated in the country.
• The present installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 6780 MW to 22480 MW by 2031 on progressive completion of projects under construction and accorded sanction.

 

India elected to UN statistical body for 4-yr term

(GS Paper 2, International Organisation)

Why in news?

• India has been elected to the highest statistical body of the United Nations for a four-year term beginning January 1, 2024.

Details:

• India won handsomely in the UN Statistical Commission election securing 46 out of 53 votes, leaving rivals Republic of Korea (23) China(19) and the United Arab Emirates (15) far behind.
• India's expertise in the field of statistics, diversity and demography has earned it the seat on the UN Statistical Commission.

 

About UNSC:

• The United Nations Statistical Commission is a Functional Commission of the UN Economic and Social Council established in 1946.
• Since July 1999 the Commission meets every year, as set forth by the Economic and Social Council.
• It oversees the work of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

 

India, Japan agree to diversify defence cooperation in emerging domains

(GS Paper 2, International Relation)

Why in news?

• Recently, the seventh edition of India-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue took place in Delhi.
•  India and Japan agreed to diversify their defence cooperation in new and emerging domains like space and cyber as part of an aim to consolidate the overall strategic engagement.

 

Key Highlights:

• India invited Japanese defence industries to look at investment opportunities in India under the 'Make in India' initiative.
• A wide range of issues, including service-level exercises and engagements, regional security issues and cooperation in defence equipment and technology, were discussed during the meeting.
• The Japan presented policy updates from their recently released National Security Strategy and National Defence Strategy.
• Japan emphasised that both the countries should aim to deepen collaboration between the respective defence industries.
• They welcomed the conduct of the inaugural fighter exercise 'Veer Guardian' between the Indian Air Force and Japanese Air Self Defence Force in January 2023 in Japan.

 

Defence Policy Dialogue:

• The Defence Policy Dialogue is an institutional mechanism between India and Japan to discuss bilateral defence cooperation.

 

India Grid commissions its first battery energy storage system project

(GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)

Why in news?

• Recently, India Grid Trust commissioned its first battery energy storage system (BESS) project coupled with its solar panels at the Dhule substation in Maharashtra.

Details:

• The project will meet the substation's auxiliary consumption requirement.
• This facility will also act as a test bed for augmenting IndiGrid's capabilities to participate in energy transition opportunities in solar and BESS space.

 

About IndiGrid:

• IndiGrid is the first infrastructure investment trust in the Indian power sector.
• It owns 17 power projects, consisting of 46 transmission lines with more than 8,416 ckms (circuit kilometers) length, 13 substations with 17,550 MVA transformation capacity and 100 MW (AC) of solar generation capacity.
• IndiGrid has assets under management (AUM) of over Rs 22,700 crore (USD 2.7 billion). The investment manager of IndiGrid is wholly owned by KKR.