Recently, Asian Development Bank (ADB) approves support for Rooftop Solar Systems in India.

• The financing will support Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF) Solar Rooftop Investment Programme.
• ADB will provide funds from its Clean Technology Fund and from Ordinary capital resources.
• Loans will be made available through the State Bank of India and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

CURRENT STATUS OF ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER IN INDIA

• Rooftop solar installed capacity in India is around 08 GW as of December 2023, of which only 2.7 GW is in the residential sector.
• Gujarat tops the list with 2.8 GW, followed by Maharashtra by 1.7 GW.
• Potential: Over 25 crore households across India have potential to deploy 637 GW on rooftops (as per Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)).

SIGNIFICANCE OF ROOFTOP SOLAR SCHEMES

• Reducing technical and operational burden: As electricity is generated close to where it is consumed, reducing the need for long-distance power supply and resultant system losses.
• Achieve Panchamrit targets: Help to achieve the target of meeting 50% of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030.
• Energy Security: IEA’s World Energy Outlook predicts India is going to witness the largest energy demand growth over the next 30 years.

Magji Ladoo (Odisha’s Dhenkanal district), one of the ‘chappan bhog’ prasad at Shree Jagannath Temple got Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.

ABOUT SHREE JAGANNATH TEMPLE :

• The Jagannath Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, or Lord Vishnu in Puri, Odisha.
• It is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites in India. The other three Dham are Badrinath, Dwarka, and Rameswaram.
• Architecture style: Kalinga Architecture
• The temple stands in the center of an inner courtyard on a high-raised platform. It has four components:
  • Vimana or Deula (Garbhagriha): Built in style of nagara type Rekha deula characterized by curvilinear tower known as sikhar.
  • Jagamohana: It is in form of Pidha deula, in which sikhara has tiers of diminishing pidhas or platforms.
  • Natamandapa: Audience/Dancing Hall
  • Bhogamandapa: Hall for residuary offerings.
• On both sides of outer wall of main temple, figures of Vishnu, four on either side are carved which altogether depict 24 forms of Vishnus, like Keshava, Madhava, Damodara and Narayana etc.

The world’s first commercial passenger ferry powered by 100% hydrogen fuel, the MV Sea Change, was launched recently at the San Francisco Ferry Building.

ABOUT MV SEA CHANGE:

• It is entirely based on zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells.
• Built by All American Marine Shipyardfor the compatriot shipowner SWITCH Maritime.
• The vessel, designed by Incat Crowther, is fitted with hydrogen-powered fuel cellsproducing electricity to power electric motors, enabling the vessel to operate for about 16 hours, traveling around 300 nautical miles, between refueling sessions.
• It can reach speeds up to 20 knots, and its services speed will be about 8-12 knots.
• It uses H2 fuel cells to generate electricity throughthe combination of H2 from storage tanks and oxygen from the ambient air.
• Unlike current diesel-powered ferries that emit pollutants, the hydrogen-powered Sea Change produces only heat and water vapor as by products. Passengers can even drink the emissions from an onboard water fountain.

Observed every year on 24 July.

• Aim : to raise awareness about thermal engineers and their contribution to the electronics and engineering industry.
• The day was established by Advanced Thermal Solutions, Inc. (ATS) in July 2014.
• The day recognise the innovation and commitment of the motivated and dedicated electronics and engineering industry.

Current Context : Recently, a 14-year-old boy from Kerala’s Malappuram, who had tested positive for the Nipah virus, died.

About Nipah Virus

• It is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans).
• The organism that causes Nipah Virus encephalitis is an RNA or Ribonucleic.
• Acid virus of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus, and is closely related to Hendra virus.
• Hendra virus (HeV) infection is a rare emerging zoonosis that causes severe and often fatal diseases in both infected horses and humans.
• It first broke out in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999.
• The disease is named after a village in Malaysia, Sungai Nipah, where it was first detected.
• It first appeared in domestic pigs and has been found among several species of domestic animals including dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep.
• Transmission: The disease spreads through fruit bats or ‘flying foxes,’ of the genus Pteropus, who are natural reservoir hosts of the Nipah and Hendra viruses.
• The virus is present in bat urine and potentially, bat faeces, saliva, and birthing fluids.
• Symptoms: fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma, and potentially death.

Prevention: Currently, there are no vaccines for both humans and animals. Intensive supportive care is given to humans infected by the Nipah virus.

Current Context : Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh presented  a book on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “leadership legacy”

• Written by noted Intellectual, author Dr R Balasubramaniam (former Rhodes Professor at Cornell University USA) presently serving as Member HR at the Capacity Building Commission, Government of India.
• The book, “Power Within “: The Leadership Legacy of Narendra Modi captures Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership journey and interprets it through Western and Indic lenses, amalgamating them to provide a roadmap for those who aspire to a life of public service.

Current Context : Recently, The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu received first copies of four books namely, ‘Wings to Our Hopes’; ‘Aashaon Ki Udaan’; ‘Kahani Rashtrapati Bhavan Ki’; and ‘Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• The books ‘Wings to Our Hopes’ and ‘Aashaon Ki Udaan’ are a collection of selected speeches of President Droupadi Murmu during the first year of her Presidency.
• ‘Kahani Rashtrapati Bhavan Ki’ is a book for children which includes information about Rashtrapati Bhavan and President Droupadi Murmu in an interesting manner and simple language.
• ‘Rashtrapati Bhavan: Heritage Meets the Present’ is a pictorial representation of the history and architecture of Rashtrapati Bhavan and contains information about all the former Presidents.
• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the e-book in the presence of Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
• Published by ; Directorate of Publications Division
• Language : Hindi and English.

Current Context : Inland Waterways Authority of India and Transport Department of Government of Nagaland to conduct detailed feasibility study for development of Tizu and Zungki River (National Waterways 101).

ABOUT TIZU AND ZUNGKI RIVER

• Tizu originates near Longkhim, Tuensang district, of Nagaland and falls into Chinwin River (one of the largest Tributary of river Irrawaddy river).
• It is also known as Ningthi river in Myanmar.
• Main tributaries of Tizu River are river Zungki, Lanye and Likimro.
• Zungki is biggest tributary of Tizu in

Current Context : The 2024 World Heritage Young Professionals Forum was hosted by India.

• It was held in New Delhi.
• Aim : focuses on enhancing youth skills in preserving global and local heritage amid challenges like climate change.
• 50 Young professionals from across the globe (20 from India and 30 from outside India) will make presentations.
• This event would enhance the expertise, skills and capacities of young professionals in protecting, preserving, and promoting our natural and cultural World Heritage.

ABOUT THE WORLD HERITAGE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL FORUM

• The Forum serves as a platform by bringing young people and heritage experts together to foster intercultural learning and exchange.
• It also provides an opportunity for the youth to meet and learn about each other’s heritage, discuss common concerns in preservation and discover new roles for themselves in heritage conservation.

Current Context : Manoj Soni, chairman of UPSC, has resigned before his term ends in May 2029.

• Manoj Soni became a member of the UPSC on 28 June, 2017, and was appointed its chairperson on 16 May, 2023.
• His term was supposed to end in 2029.

ABOUT UPSC

• The Union Public Service Commission is a constitutional body in India.
• It conducts direct recruitment of officers to the All India Services and the Central Civil Services through examinations.
• Besides the chairman, there are 10 members in the UPSC who are either retired bureaucrats or academicians or from the armed forces, among others.
• Established in 1926.
• Articles 315 to 323 of Part XIV of the constitution deals with UPSC.
• 316, the Chairman and other members of Union Public Service Commission shall be appointed by the President.