Contents
- Lilavati Award-2020
- EESL and DNRE Goa – Convergence Project
- Annual Bloomberg New Economy Forum
LILAVATI AWARD-2020
Focus: GS-II Social Justice
Why in news?
Union Minister of Education launched Lilavati Award-2020: AICTE’s Innovative education program to empower women.
Lilavati Award-2020
- The Lilavati award is an initiative of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) which are to be presented based on the theme of women empowerment.
- It aims to recognise the efforts of AICTE affiliated institutions in treating women.
- The main objective of the awards is to create awareness in the issues such as sanitation, hygiene, health and nutrition using traditional Indian values.
- Also, the awards aim to increase awareness in technology, literacy, employment, innovation, credit, skill development, natural resources utilisation, marketing and women rights.
Lilavati Book
- The award has been named after the 12th century book called “Lilavati”.
- The book was written by the mathematician Bhaskara II.
- Lilavati was the daughter of Indian Mathematician Bhaskara II.
- The prize was handed out for the first time at the International Congress of Mathematicians that was held in 2010.
Seven Categories that are included in the award:
- Literacy
- Self-Defence
- Women Entrepreneurship
- Legal Awareness
- Women Health
- Sanitation
- Hygiene.
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
- AICTE was set up in November 1945 as a national-level apex advisory body.
- Its purpose was to conduct a survey on the facilities available for technical education and to promote development in the country in a coordinated and integrated manner.
According to the National Policy of Education (1986), AICTE is vested with:
- Statutory authority for planning, formulation, and maintenance of norms & standards,
- Quality assurance through accreditation,
- Funding in priority areas, monitoring, and evaluation,
- Maintaining parity of certification & awards,
- The management of technical education in the country.
EESL AND DNRE GOA – CONVERGENCE PROJECT
Focus: GS-III Industry and Infrastructure
Why in news?
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power and Department of New & Renewable Energy (DNRE), Goa, have signed an MoU
Details of the Joint Venture
- EESL and DNRE will carry-out the feasibility studies and subsequent implementation of decentralized solar energy projects.
- EESL shall implement the solar energy projects, establishment of 100 MW of decentralized ground mounted Solar Power projects on government lands to be used for agricultural pumping, replace approximately 6,300 agricultural pumps with BEE star rated energy efficient pumps and distribute approximately 16 Lakh LED bulbs for rural domestic households.
- This model is expected to be adopted by other states as this will reduces losses in terms of expenditure on water for farm sector runs into tens of thousands crore rupees in several States.
- The projects will accelerate the usage of renewable energy sources, especially for agricultural and rural power consumption in the State.
- The projects will also contribute in reduction of peak energy demand through deployment of energy efficient pumping and lighting thus contributing to overall sustainability.
- In Goa, with the objective of providing clean power at affordable rates, EESL will install solar projects in a first of its kind large scale programme where vacant/unused land provided by the Gram Panchayats/electricity board will be utilized.
- Through its convergence initiative, EESL seeks to connect seemingly independent sectors like Solar Energy, Energy Storage and LED lights to provide solutions, which can enable in decarbonisation and affordable energy access.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)
- EESL is a joint venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, which was set up by the government to facilitate energy efficiency projects and to work as an Energy Service Company.
- Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is a Super-Energy Service Company (ESCO), which enables consumers, industries, and governments to effectively manage their energy needs through energy-efficient technologies.
- EESL is promoted by the Ministry of Power Government of India as a Joint Venture of four reputed public-sector undertakings – NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation Limited., REC Limited, and POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited and has a net worth of over INR 8.3 billion (As per Audited Financial Results for the year ended31.03.2019).
- EESL is the world’s largest energy service company (ESCO) that is driving numerous initiatives that are potential game-changers in building a conducive ecosystem for energy-efficient technologies, across geographies.
- EESL aims to create market innovations with a solutions-driven approach through its Zero-Subsidy, Zero-Capex, and Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) novel business model.
- EESL has taken its market transformation business model to the UK, Middle East, South Asia, and South-East Asia
ANNUAL BLOOMBERG NEW ECONOMY FORUM
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy
Why in news?
The Prime Minister delivered an address at the third Annual Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2020.
Annual Bloomberg New Economy Forum
- Established in 2018 by Michael Bloomberg, the Bloomberg New Economy Forum seeks to build a community of leaders to engage in discussions leading to actionable solutions about the critical challenges facing a world economy.
- This year, the forum will witness conversations centered on refueling the economy and charting a course for the future, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
