01-06-23 Daily-Gujarat-GPSC Current Affairs

Gujarat, the state that led the way in solar power adoption in India, has secured the third position in terms of cumulative large-scalesolar installationsin the country.

Notably, Gujarat experienced an impressive 85% increase in such installations during the first quarter of 2023, while solar installations across India declined by 30% during the same period, according to the India Solar Market Update 2023 report by Mercom India.

Between January and March 2023, Gujarat witnessed 261 megawatts (MW) of solar installations, compared to 141MW in the previous quarter. Since Q1 2022, Gujarat has consistently ranked as the third-highest state for large-scale solar capacity addition, with an impressive quarter-over-quarter increase of nearly 85% in Q1 2023.

Gujarat has one of the finest policies to enable quick rooftop installation. Having pioneered solar adoption, the government here has rolled out a policy that not just incentivises people for large-scale as well as rooftop installations but also ensures expedited execution. Moreover, several solar park projects and large-scale installations are already in pipeline by the government.

On the other hand, pan-India solar installations declined due to commissioning deadlines for several large-scale projects being postponed to the following year. Out of the total 1.9GW of solar installations in India during the January to March 2023 quarter, Gujarat accounted for 19% of new installations, trailing behind Karnataka (21%) andRajasthan(42%).
Gujarat’s position improved to third place in the January to March 2023 period, surpassingAndhra Pradeshin Q1 2022. Priyadarshini Sanjay said, Rajasthan’s solar irradiation and the largest solar park in Bhadla have made it the most preferred state, while Karnataka benefits from the Pavagada Solar Park, which contributes to its large-scale installations.

An agreement has been made with theUniversal Postal Union (UPU)to establish a regional office inNew Delhi, which will provide development cooperation and technical assistance to the region.This decision was approved by theUnion Cabinet, led by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, and will allow India to play a more active role in the postal sector, with a focus on South-South and Triangular cooperation.

India will provide staff, an office setup, and a project expert for field work, to implement training and capacity building projects, E-Commerce and trade promotion, and enhance postal technology in coordination withUPU.

This initiative will strengthen diplomatic ties and enhance Indias presence in the global postal forum, with particular emphasis on theAsia-Pacific region.

Indias defense exportshave achieved a record-breaking milestone, skyrocketing from 686 crore rupees in 2013-14 to nearly 16 thousand crore rupees in 2022-23. This impressive Growth of 23 times demonstrates Indias advancement in theglobal defense manufacturing .

With exports reaching more than 85 countries, Indias defense sector has demonstrated its ability to design and develop high-quality products to the international community.

Currently, 100 companies are engaged in exporting defense goods.

The government has implemented several policy initiatives and reforms in the past nine years to bolster defense exports.

TheAtmanirbhar Bharatinitiatives have greatly benefitted India by promoting indigenous design, development, and manufacturing of defense equipment within the country.

This strategy aims to reduce dependence on imports in the long run.

The scheme has been extended beyond March 31, 2021, with additional features such as lawyers halls, toilet complexes, and digital computer rooms to enhance convenience for lawyers and litigants, in addition to court halls and residential units.

TheNyaya Vikas Portalprovides stakeholders with convenient access to information regarding funding, documentation, project monitoring, and approval. It offers four efficient methods for logging into the portal, empowering users with seamless accessibility.

Dubai has surpassed other cities worldwide to become the preferred FDI destination for Indian investors. In 2022, India accounted for 12 percent of the announced FDI projects in Dubai, placing it third behind the United States (20 percent) and the United Kingdom (13 percent). With a significant increase in FDI projects from 78 in 2021 to 142 in 2022, Indias confidence in Dubais potential is evident.