26 July 2024 : PIB Summary For UPSC
1. PM to visit kargil on the occasion of the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas
(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2036644 )
| Topic: GS3 – Defence |
| Context |
| PM to visit kargil on 26th july to pay homage and to carry out first blast of the strategic shinkun la tunnel project |
Analysis of the news:
- On the occasion of the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas on 26th July 2024, PM Modi will visit the Kargil War Memorial to pay homage to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
- After that PM will also carry out the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel Project, virtually
- Once completed, it will be the highest tunnel in the world.
About Shinkun La Tunnel Project:
- The 4.1-kilometre-long twin-tube tunnel will be constructed at an altitude of approximately 15,800 feet on the Nimu-Padum-Darcha road.
- It aims to provide all-weather connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh.
- The tunnel will be a vital link that connects the Zanskar Valley in Ladakh with the Lahaul Valley in Himachal Pradesh.
- The tunnel is equipped with firefighting, mechanical ventilation, communication, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
- The Shinkun La tunnel will not only ensure swift and efficient movement of the armed forces and equipment but also foster economic and social development in Ladakh.
2. India’s Installed Nuclear Power Capacity to Triple by 2031-32
(Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2037046)
| Topic: GS3 – Science and Technology |
| Context |
| In a written reply to an unstarred question in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that the present installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 8180 MW to 22480 MW by 2031-32. |
Analysis of the news:
Nuclear Power Capacity
- As India aims to achieve Net Zero target by 2070, the country’s installed nuclear power capacity is projected to nearly triple by 2031-32.
- The country’s nuclear power capacity has increased by more than 70% in the last 10 years, which has increased from 4,780 MW in 2013-14 to 8,180 MW at present across 24 nuclear power reactors.
Electricity Generation
- The annual electricity generation from nuclear power plants has also increased from 34,228 million units in 2013-14 to 47,971 million units in 2023-24.
Future Projects
- At present, 21 reactors with a total capacity of 15,300 MW are at various stages of implementation by the Nuclear Power Corporation India Ltd (NPCIL).
3. Discovery of Lithium Resources in Mandya and Yadgiri districts Karnataka
(Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2037050)
| Topic: GS3 – Economy |
| Context |
| That the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy, has found the presence of Lithium resources in the Mandya and Yadgiri districts, Karnataka. |
Analysis of the news:
Lithium Exploration and Resources
- AMD has established 1,600 tonnes (G3 stage) of Lithium resources in the Marlagalla area, Mandya district,
- Ongoing Exploration: Preliminary surveys and limited subsurface exploration have been carried out in the Yadgiri district to know about the deposits.
- Potential Exploration: AMD is also investigating potential lithium deposits in the Korba District of Chhattisgarh.
- Other Geological Domains: Other potential geological domains for lithium exploration include major mica belts in Rajasthan, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh, as well as pegmatite belts in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka.
Uranium Exploration
- Also, the preliminary survey carried out recently by AMD in Himachal Pradesh has led to the identification of surface uranium occurrence in Masanbal, Hamirpur district.
International Cooperation
- Government of India and Government of Russian Federation have expressed interest to expand the cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes including cooperation in the field of Small Modular Reactor.
