Topic 1: India’s Space Sector Reforms & Gaganyaan Mission
- Indian Space Policy 2023:
- Aims to formalize the role of the Department of Space and enhance the participation of the private sector (Non-Governmental Entities - NGEs).
- ISRO will focus primarily on Research & Development (R&D) and high-end technology, transitioning routine production to the industry.
- Gaganyaan Mission Overview:
- Objective: To demonstrate human spaceflight capability by launching a 3-member crew to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and returning them safely to Earth.
- Launch Vehicle: LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) is being upgraded to human-rated standards (HLVM3).
- Key Modules:
- Crew Module: Pressurized habitat for the astronauts.
- Service Module: Provides power, propulsion, and life support systems.
- Safety Protocols:
- Crew Escape System (CES): Designed to pull the crew module away to a safe distance in case of a launch failure.
- TV-D1 Mission: Recent successful test demonstrating the separation of the crew module and the deployment of parachutes.
- Vyommitra: A female-looking humanoid robot developed by ISRO to fly on uncrewed missions to monitor system parameters and simulate human functions.
Topic 2: National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM)
- Primary Goals (Target 2030):
- Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) per annum.
- Addition of about 125 GW of renewable energy capacity.
- Reduction in fossil fuel imports worth over ₹1 lakh crore.
- Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.
- SIGHT Program:
- Stands for Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition.
- Provides financial incentives for the domestic manufacturing of electrolyzers.
- Offers performance-linked incentives for the production of green hydrogen.
- Hydrogen Categorization:
| Type | Production Method | Carbon Footprint |
|---|---|---|
| Green Hydrogen | Electrolysis of water using renewable energy (Solar/Wind). | Zero/Negligible |
| Blue Hydrogen | Derived from natural gas with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). | Low |
| Grey Hydrogen | Derived from natural gas (methane) without carbon capture. | High |
Topic 3: Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023
- Key Definitions:
- Data Principal: The individual to whom the personal data relates.
- Data Fiduciary: The entity (company or government) that determines the purpose and means of processing personal data.
- Consent Framework:
- Personal data can only be processed for a lawful purpose after obtaining the "free, specific, informed, and unambiguous" consent of the Data Principal.
- A notice must be provided in English or any language specified in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
- Rights of the Data Principal:
- Right to access information about their data.
- Right to correction and erasure of data.
- Right to grievance redressal.
- Right to nominate a person to exercise rights in case of death or incapacity.
- Data Protection Board of India:
- A specialized body to be established by the Central Government to monitor compliance and resolve disputes.
- Penalties:
- Financial penalties for data breaches can go up to ₹250 crore, depending on the severity of the violation.
Topic 4: RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Updates
- Current Stance: Focus on "Withdrawal of Accommodation" to ensure that inflation progressively aligns with the target while supporting growth.
- Inflation Targeting: The primary goal remains 4% CPI inflation with a tolerance band of +/- 2%.
- Key Policy Rates:
- Repo Rate: The rate at which RBI lends money to commercial banks (currently 6.50%).
- Reverse Repo Rate: The rate at which RBI borrows money from banks.
- MSF (Marginal Standing Facility): The rate for overnight emergency loans to banks.
- Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs): New guidelines issued to improve credit flow to priority sectors and enhance governance standards.