10 October 2024 : PIB Summary For UPSC

1. EXERCISE MALABAR 2024 – OPENING CEREMONY

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2063584&reg=3&lang=1 )

Context

The 28th edition of Exercise MALABAR, a major maritime drill involving India, the USA, Japan, and Australia, commenced on 08 October 2024. This exercise strengthens regional security cooperation and aligns with India’s SAGAR vision for the Indo-Pacific.

Exercise MALABAR:

• Inception: Started in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the Indian and U.S. navies.
• Expanded Participation: Japan became a permanent member in 2015, and Australia joined in 2020, making it a quadrilateral maritime exercise involving India, the USA, Japan, and Australia.
• Current Edition: The 28th edition, hosted by India’s Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam.
• Main Objective: Strengthen naval cooperation, interoperability, and coordination among participating nations to address common maritime challenges.
• Strategic Significance: Promotes regional security in the Indo-Pacific, aligned with India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
• Importance: Enhances understanding, cooperation, and synergy between participating navies, improving their ability to operate jointly for maintaining regional maritime security.
• Multilateral Focus: Reflects the growing defence cooperation among Quad nations, addressing evolving geopolitical and security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.

2. PM E-DRIVE Scheme: Driving Towards a Greener Future

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2063515&reg=3&lang=1 )

Context

The PM E-DRIVE Scheme, launched in October 2024, focuses on promoting electric vehicle adoption through incentives and robust charging infrastructure. It supports India’s sustainable transportation goals while enhancing domestic EV manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

PM E-DRIVE Scheme Overview

Feature	Details
Duration	October 1, 2024 – March 31, 2026
Objective	Accelerate EV adoption, establish charging infrastructure, boost EV manufacturing
Financial Outlay	Rs. 10,900 crore
Target Vehicles	E-2 wheelers (24.79 lakh), e-3 wheelers (3.2 lakh), e-ambulances, e-trucks, e-buses
Subsidies	Demand incentives for EVs with advanced batteries; excludes government-owned EVs
Charging Infrastructure	Rs. 2,000 crore allocated for 72,300 charging stations, including fast chargers
Impact	Reduces pollution, promotes green mobility, enhances EV manufacturing, creates employment opportunities

PYQ: The adoption of electric vehicles is rapidly growing worldwide. How do electric vehicles contribute to reducing carbon emissions and what are the key benefits they offer compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles? (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2023)