STAR C
- International Solar Alliance has recently approved Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR C) project in its first assembly.
- The aim of the project is to set up 121 centres, one in each presently eligible member-country.
- Under the STAR-C, 500 personnel from 121 member countries would be trained in India on solar infrastructure.
- ISA has also provisionally approved the Work Plan 2019, under which agricultural pumps, finance mobilisation, mini grid, rooftop solar, and solar e-mobility and storage.
Click here to know about International Solar Alliance
Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy
- The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) countries has adopted "Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy in the Indian Ocean Region" in its 2nd Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting.
- It calls for collaboration among IORA member states in
- Meeting the growing demand for renewable energy in the Indian Ocean littorals,
- Development of a common renewable energy agenda for the Indian Ocean region and
- Promote regional capacity building
- As per the declaration, IORA member nations will collaborate with the ISA member nations to exchange knowledge and share potential interests in the renewable energy sector.
- Global Renewable Energy Atlas is the world’s largest-ever joint renewable resource data project.
- IORA countries will undertake the expansion of Atlas which will be coordinated by International Renewable Energy Agency(IRENA).
Click here to know more about IORA
Sahyag HOP TAC
- It is a naval joint exercise between India and Vietnam.
- It was recently conducted off the Coast of Chennai.
- It was aimed at enabling the Coast Guard units to acquaint themselves with each other’s capabilities, strengthening the working-level relationship to rescue lives at sea and refining joint operation procedures.
Status of Ambient Noise Level in India 2017
- It is a report published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
- According to the report, Delhi is ranked as the noisiest metro followed by Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai.
- As per the National Environment Policy (NEP)-2006, ambient noise is included as an environmental quality parameter and has to be monitored in specified urban areas regularly.
- Thus, CPCB has developed National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network Programme which includes installation of Noise Monitoring Stations all over India.
- The cities include Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai.
Ancient City of Sabratha
- It is located west of Tripoli in Libya's Mediterranean Coastal area.
- It is one of three former cities that constituted Roman Tripolitania.
- It was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
- In 2016, UNESCO classified it as an "Endangered" site along with four other Libyan sites on its World Heritage list.
- The listing is because of great damage caused by armed groups and excavation and smuggling of antiquities due to lack of security.
Swachh Survekshan Grameen Awards
- Swachh Survekshan Grameen - 2018 was commissioned by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
- Under it, an independent survey agency develop ranking of all districts on the basis of sanitation parameters.
- As per the ranking, Haryana was ranked as the best State while Satara District of Maharashtra was ranked as the best district.
- Uttar Pradesh was rewarded for maximum citizens’ participation and Nashik was ranked first in maximum citizens' participation in district wise.
- The awards were recently given at the concluding session of Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention organised by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Source: PIB, The Hindu, BusinessLine
