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India targetting 500 GW renewable energy mark

New Delhi (NVI): India is targetting 500 GW of renewable energy capacity mark in the coming years, a top official of the government told an international meet.

Anand Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, was speaking at a conference organised by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, where decision-makers from 150 countries participated.

“In 2015, India set a target of 175 GW of renewables by 2022. We now target 500 GW,” he told the conference.

In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set the target of generating 175 GW (giga watt) of renewable energy by 2022.

At the climate change summit held in December last year, the Prime Minister told the world leaders that India was inching towards its goal of 175 GW RE by 2022. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) was reported to have initiated drafting plans and policies to meet the new escalated target.

The thrust on increasing the renewable element of the energy is part of India’s efforts to fight climate change.

Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. NDCs are also part of the Paris Agreement which requests each country to outline and communicate their post-2020 climate actions.

Presently, the issues hampering growth of renewables in India are lack of interest of financial institution to fund renewable energy projects, safeguard duty on imported solar panels, ambiguity over goods and services tax (GST) on solar equipment and low investor sentiment due to delayed or non-payment by discoms to clean energy developers.

Vitara Brezza crosses 5 lakh mark in 47 months: Company

New Delhi (NVI): Within just four years of its launch, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza has crossed five lakh unit sales, the company said today.

Designed in India and premiered at Auto Expo 2016, Vitara Brezza is the most selling compact SUV in the country, a company statement said.

Vitara Brezza, with its glamorous styling, introduced a new design language, replacing the conventional bulky design synonymous with an SUV.

Maruti Suzuki Executive Director (Marketing & Sales) Shashank Srivastava said offering a complete package of class leading features, stylish design, and outstanding fuel efficiency, the most awarded compact SUV, Vitara Brezza gained immense popularity within months of its launch.

“Designed and developed by the team at Maruti Suzuki using Suzuki core technology, Vitara Brezza struck the right chord with Indian customers. The 5 lakh unit sales in just 47 months is testimony of the customer’s increasing preference for stylish and feature packed compact SUV,” he said.

“We extend our gratitude to our customers for their constant support. We are confident that Vitara Brezza will continue to win hearts of customers across India,” he added.

Vitara Brezza has consistently featured in the top ten highest selling cars since its launch. Apart from introducing the concept of a bold and sporty character, it is also the first to bring the concept of dual colour scheme, floating roof and SMARTPLAY infotainment system to compact SUVs.

 The bold design, gloss black alloys, dual tone color, projector headlights complemented by the sporty all black interiors makes Vitara Brezza an ideal choice for customers.

It complies with advanced safety regulations, including pedestrian safety.

The compact SUV comes loaded with new safety features comprising dual front air bags, ABS with EBD, high speed warning alert, ISOFIX child restraint system, reverse parking sensors and front seat belt pre-tensioners and force limiters.

These features are standard across all variants of Vitara Brezza.

 

Railways sign MoU with RailTel for phase 2 of e-office execution

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Railways has signed an MoU with  RailTel, a miniratna PSU under the rail ministry, for the phase 2 of e office execution, aimed at digitising rail operations throughout the country.

The phase-1 of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) e-office execution, project has already been completed.

The Railways has adopted an innovative e-office system that will facilitate a paperless, more efficient, effective and transparent inter-government and intra-government transactions and processes.

E-office implementation is a Mission Mode Project (MMP) under the National e-Governance Programme of the Government of India.

In phase 2, RailTel will register 39000 users over 34 Railway divisions on NIC e office platform by June 30, 2020.

The phase 1 of NIC e-office execution started with a mandate to complete the work by March 2020.

But with a lightning speed of execution RailTel completed the work way ahead of time and successfully created 50000+ users in 58 units of Indian Railways and trained the executives to handle the platform in a span of mere 6 months’ time.

There is an absolute transparency as anything once written on the file is archived. There is also a monitoring mechanism to check as to where the files are held up.

This would enable quick disposal of files and systematic, timely monitoring of pending files.

With the above-mentioned advantages, Indian Railways will be changing the work culture for providing better services to public. e-Office fosters paper-less culture which will not only save operational cost but also reduce the carbon foot-print.

PM congratulates Sayyid Haitham  

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated HM Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq al Said on taking over as the new Sultan of Oman. While congratulating Sayyid, the prime minister hoped for the further strengthening of strategic partnership between the two countries.

On Sunday, PM Modi tweeted, “I heartily congratulate HM Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq al Said on taking over as Sultan of Oman. I am confident that under his leadership, Oman will continue to progress and prosper and contribute to global peace.”

“India has millennia old relations with Oman. We look forward to working hand in hand with HM Sayyid Haitham to further strengthen our strategic partnership.” he tweeted.

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said (65), was sworn in as the next sultan. He succeeds the late Sultan Qaboos as ruler of Oman. Qaboos had died last week.

UP: Nod to police commissioner system

Lucknow (NVI): In a step towards police reform in Uttar Pradesh, the state government today approved a proposal to set up Commissionerate system in Lucknow and Noida.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made an announcement in this regard today. Depending on the success of the system, it will be gradually implemented in other districts as well.

1995 batch IPS officer, Alok Singh, has been appointed as Noida’s first Police Commissioner. Sujeet Pandey (1994 batch IPS officer) will helm the Lucknow’s commissionerate.

Under the new system, more powers, including magisterial, will be given to police officers of the Inspector General of Police (IG) rank posted as commissioners.

Slight rise in temperature in Delhi

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi today saw a slight increase in minimum temperature to 8.0 degrees celsius from 7.1 degrees celsius recorded yesterday.
The maximum temperature  today is expected to be around 23.4 degrees celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The weatherman has forecast partly cloudy skies for the day.
‘Cold day’ conditions are declared when the day’s maximum temperature is below normal by more than 4.4°C.  A ‘severe cold day’ is when mercury remains more than 6.4°C below normal through the day.
Meanwhile,  the overall air quality in the national capital today remained in the “very poor” category.
According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR),the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at  356 which falls in the “very poor” category.
The worst affected areas are Dhirpur, Delhi University, Chandni Chowk, Pusa, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, IGI Terminal 3 and the neighbouring Noida.

Three militants killed in Kashmir gunfight

Representative image

Mubashir Bukhari

Tral (Kashmir) NVI: Three militants were killed today in an encounter with security forces in Tral area of south Kashmir.

Acting on specific inputs, security forces launched  a cordon and search operation in Gulshanpora area of Tral on Sunday morning.

During search operations, the militants fired at forces triggering encounter in which two militants were killed, police said.

The identity of the killed militants is yet to be ascertained as exchange of fire was going on when this report was filed.

CAA will not harm anyone: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Howrah (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the newly amended Citizenship law (CAA) is not about taking away citizenship but granting it.

He was addressing a gathering of students and youths at Belur Math in Howrah on the occasion of birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

The prime minister is on a two day visit to West Bengal. He also met Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday.

While addressing students today he said that some political parties deliberately don’t want to understand the new law.

Military delegation’s China visit paves way for collaboration: Army

Udhampur (NVI): The five-day visit to China by Indian military delegation, led by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, is expected to enhance cooperation in defence sector and furtherance of peace at borders, the Army said today.

Army spokesperson here said the visit was successful and paves way for future collaboration.

The delegation arrived in China on January 7 and carried out extensive interaction with the top officers and troops of Peoples Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) Western Theatre Command which oversees the Northern Borders along Line of Actual Control (LAC), the spokesperson said.

On January 7, Lt Gen Singh met the Commander of Peoples Liberation Army, General Han Weiguo in Beijing.

The five-day visit to China by Indian military delegation, led by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, is expected to enhance cooperation in defence sector and furtherance of peace at borders, the Army said today.

Army spokesperson here said the visit was successful and paves way for future collaboration.

The delegation arrived in China on January 7 and carried out extensive interaction with the top officers and troops of Peoples Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) Western Theatre Command which oversees the Northern Borders along Line of Actual Control (LAC), the spokesperson said.

On January 7, Lt Gen Singh met the Commander of Peoples Liberation Army, General Han Weiguo in Beijing.

The Northern Army Commander proceeded to China’s Western Theatre Command at Chengdu on Januray 8, where ceremonial welcome was accorded to the general by a guard of honour.

Later he visited PLA’s Western Theatre Command Headquarters and held talks with General Zhao Zongqi, the Commander of Western Theatre Command on key issues concerning Indian Northern Borders.

Lt Gen Singh, along with his delegation, also visited a special Operations Brigade at Chengdu where they witnessed a counter-terrorism drill.

On January 9, he visited the Combined  Brigade under 77 Group Army and later interacted with Lt General Liu Wanglong, Commander Xinjiang Military Command. Lt Gen Singh visited 9 Engineer Regiment of Xinjiang Military Command and interacted with Chinese troops, on January 10.

During talks with the Chinese Military officials, the delegation discussed a host of issues including border area management, improved bilateral military ties and defence cooperation activities as part of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and China.

The visit is considered significant as the composition of the delegation, schedule of the visit and interactions carried out were orchestrated in a progressive manner to achieve better understanding and build up of positive perceptions about key concerns faced at operational and functional levels, the spokesperson said.

This was the first high-level military-to-military engagement in 2020 between India and China. It comes just after the joint military exercise, ‘Hand in Hand 2019’ held between the two armies in Meghalaya in December 2019.

WATCH | Maiden landing of naval version of Tejas on aircraft carrier

New Delhi (NVI): In a significant step towards India developing its own deck-based fighter jets, a naval variant of light combat aircraft Tejas landed successfully on the country’s only aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, on January 11.

The aircraft, developed by DRDO did a successful ‘arrested landing’ on INS Vikramaditya at around 10 am Saturday. This is the second successful arrested landing of an LCA after a similar operation at a shore-based test facility in Goa last September.

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