11 September 2024

Q1. Take into consideration the following statements about LT-LEDS:

1. Every member to the Paris Agreement (2015) is required to make this commitment document by the year 2022.
2. It includes that nation’s short-term development and emission reduction plans.

3. India’s approach is mostly built on boosting nuclear power capacity, creating green hydrogen, and raising the percentage of ethanol in gasoline.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

C – Explanation

• The first statement is true.

• Every signatory to the Paris Agreement (2015) is required to submit the LT-LEDS by the year 2022.

• Only 57 nations, including India, have so far filed their documents.

• The second claim is untrue.

• The Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategy is known as LT-LEDS.

• India revealed its long-term plan to go to a “low emissions” pathway at the present COP27.

• The third statement is true.

• In addition to becoming a global centre for the production of green hydrogen and raising the percentage of ethanol in gasoline, India’s goal primarily centres on increasing its nuclear power capacity by at least three times over the course of the next ten years.

• This approach is in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge at Glasgow, UK, where the 26th COP was held last year, for India to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070.

Q2. Take into account the following statements on Sea Vigil-22:

1. The Indian Coast Guard is conducting a “Pan-India” coastal defence exercise.

2. The whole 7,516 kilometres of India’s coastline and exclusive economic zone would be used for the exercise.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

1 Only

2 Only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

B – Explanation

• The first claim is untrue.

• The third iteration of the pan-Indian coastal defence exercise is called Sea Vigil-22.

• The Indian Navy is coordinating the exercise with the Coast Guard and other departments tasked with overseeing marine operations.

• The second claim is true.

• All of the Coastal States and Union territories will participate in the exercise, together with other marine stakeholders like fishing and coastal communities, throughout India’s full 7516 km of coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone.

• In order to validate the many steps taken since “26/11” to improve marine security, this national-level coastal defence exercise was conceptualised in 2018.

• The idea behind “Sea Vigil” is to activate the coastal security system throughout India and evaluate the main Coastal Defence system.

Q3. Take into account the following statements regarding the Net Zero Emissions target:

1. By 2040, India wants to be net-zero.

2. Net zero refers to the total cessation of atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

1 Only

2 Only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

D – Explanation

• Both of the statements are untrue.

• By 2070, India wants to be net-zero.

• India’s net zero goal was stated by the Prime Minister during an address at COP26 (Ministry of External Affairs, 2021).

• Carbon neutrality, often known as net zero emissions, does not imply that a nation will reduce its emissions to zero.

• Instead, it refers to a situation when a nation’s emissions are balanced out by the removal and absorption of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

• Net zero, in its simplest form, refers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as feasible, with any leftover emissions being reabsorbed from the atmosphere, for instance by oceans and forests.

• The science is very clear that the increase in global temperature must be kept to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in order to prevent the worst effects of climate change and maintain a livable planet. The Earth has already warmed by 1.1°C since the late 1800s, and emissions are still rising. Emissions must be cut by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 if the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C is to be met.

Q4. Take into account the following statements about the “In Our LIFEtime” campaign:

1. At the COP 27, it was jointly introduced by UNEP and the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH).

2. Its goal is to inspire young people between the ages of 18 and 23 to spread the word about sustainable living.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

1 Only

2 Only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

B – Explanation

• The first claim is untrue.

• The “In Our LIFEtime” Campaign was jointly launched by the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), the Ministry of the Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

• At COP 27, Sharm El-Sheikh, this was introduced in a side event at the India Pavilion.

• The second claim is true.

• The goal of the campaign is to persuade young people between the ages of 18 and 23 to promote sustainable lifestyles. The goal of this campaign is to honour young people pursuing climate action around the world who share the idea of LiFE.

• Youth from all around the world who are passionate about leading environmentally conscious lives are invited to submit ideas as part of the campaign. The young will be urged to submit their climate initiatives that support environmentally friendly lifestyles within their means, which are scalable and sustainable, and which serve as best practises that may be disseminated internationally.

Q5. Take into account the following statements made about Grid Controller of India Limited:

1. It is a fully owned subsidiary of the central government and is governed by the Ministry of Power.

2. Currently, it serves as the focal point for significant power sector reforms.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

1 Only

2 Only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

C – Explanation

• Both of the statements are true.

• Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO), India’s national grid operator, was renamed Grid Controller of India Limited.

• Under the direction of the Ministry of Power, The Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India) is a fully owned central government corporation.

• It used to be a completely owned subsidiary of the central public sector enterprise (PSU) operated by the Union Power Ministry, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (Powergrid).

• It was established in March 2009 to handle the PGCIL’s power management duties.

• Later, it became an independent business, with PGCIL merely helping to set up the changeover link.

• The load despatch responsibilities were assigned to Grid-India as a distinct corporation. The National Load Despatch Center (NLDC) and five regional load despatch centres are under its control (RLDCs). The NLDC is the supreme body responsible for ensuring the seamless running of the country’s power system.

• The Power System Development Fund (PSDF), the Green Energy Open Access Portal, the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Mechanism, transmission pricing, short-term open access in transmission, the Deviation Settlement Mechanism, and other significant power sector reforms are currently coordinated by Grid-India.