India’s Soaring Skies with Inclusive and Booming Aviation

Introduction:

• India’s aviation sector is experiencing a meteoric rise, fuelled by soaring demand and the government’s unwavering commitment to its growth through supportive policies.
• The industry has undergone a remarkable transformation, shedding its previous limitations and evolving into a vibrant and competitive sector.
• This dynamic shift has propelled India to the forefront of the global aviation ecosystem, becoming the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world, after the USA and China.

2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation:

• It was concluded recently, with the formal adoption of the landmark Delhi Declaration.
• Delhi Declaration sets a framework for enhancing regional cooperation, addressing aviation challenges, and fostering sustainable growth.

India’s aviation industry:

• Initially aviation might have been limited to a select group or used primarily by elites in big cities with good air connectivity, but over time, it has become more accessible and inclusive, allowing more people from various socio-economic backgrounds to participate in air travel due to various initiatives and policy changes introduced and implemented by the government.
• The sector has gone from serving a small, privileged section of society to being more widespread and affordable, benefiting the general population especially from Tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
• India’s aviation industry has experienced significant growth in the past 10 years.
• The number of operational airports in the country has doubled from 74 in 2014 to 157 in 2024 and the aim is to increase this number to 350-400 by 2047.
• The domestic air passengers have more than doubled in the past decade, with Indian airlines significantly expanding their fleets.
• The springboard for this growth has been the government’s policies and initiatives.
• One such initiative is the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) launched in 2016, which aims to provide connectivity to unserved and underserved airports of the country through the revival of the existing airstrips and airports.
• The Indian government is also placing a strong emphasis on sustainability.
• This is evident in the achievements of Delhi and Mumbai airports, both of which have been awarded the prestigious Level 4+ Carbon Accreditation.
• This recognition highlights their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and promoting responsible aviation practices.

Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik):

• The scheme has undergone several successful iterations over the past seven years, focusing on connecting underserved and unserved regions of India.
• By reviving existing airstrips and airports, UDAN aims to bring essential air travel access to previously isolated communities and boost regional economic development.
• With a ten-year operational plan, UDAN intends to ensure equitable access to air travel for all Indians.
• RCS-UDAN is contributing to the growth of the civil aviation industry as four new & successful airlines have come up in the last 7 years.
• The scheme has helped airline operators to begin operations and develop a sustainable business model.
• Additionally, it’s providing opportunities to small regional airlines to scale up their businesses and their successful run is evidence of the fact that the scheme is creating an amiable ecosystem conducive to airline business.
• The announcement of launch of the UDAN 5.3 was made at the inauguration of Wings India 2024, the largest event in the Civil Aviation sector in Asia.

Carbon Neutrality Initiatives:

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has taken initiatives to work towards Carbon neutrality and achieving net zero carbon emissions at airports in the country by way of standardizing the Carbon Accounting and Reporting framework of Indian Airports.
• For this purpose, airport operators with scheduled operations have been advised to map the carbon emission at their respective airports and to work towards carbon neutrality and net zero emission in a phased manner.
• MoCA is encouraging developers of new Greenfield airports, in collaboration with respective state governments, to prioritize carbon neutrality and net zero emissions in their development plans.
• With the efforts of the Government of India, Airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru have achieved Level 4+ as well as higher Airports International Council (ACI) Accreditation and have become Carbon neutral.
• The airport operators including Airports Authority of India (AAI) have installed solar power plants at various locations/Airports for generation and self-consumption of green and renewable energy to encourage green energy usage at the airports.
• In addition, few airports are also procuring green energy through open access.
• Since 2014, a total of 73 airports have switched over to 100% green energy usage.

Conclusion:

• India’s aviation sector is on a transformative path, with significant strides in infrastructure development, regional connectivity, and sustainability efforts.
• The success of initiatives like RCS-UDAN has enhanced access to air travel, promoting economic growth and connectivity in underserved regions.
• With an impressive rise in both domestic and international passenger numbers, India is poised to further strengthen its position as a global aviation hub.
• As the sector embraces greener practices, such as carbon-neutral airports and solar energy adoption, the future of aviation in India promises not only continued growth but also a commitment to sustainability, ensuring long-term benefits for the nation and the environment.

DPIIT to launch BHASKAR: A Revolutionary Platform for India’s Startup Ecosystem

Introduction:

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is set to launch a groundbreaking digital platform aimed at strengthening India’s startup ecosystem.
• The Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) initiative, under the Startup India program, is a platform designed to centralize, streamline, and enhance collaboration among key stakeholders within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including startups, investors, mentors, service providers, and government bodies.
• This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s vision to transform India into a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, reinforcing the country’s commitment to the startup movement.

Empowering Innovation through a Centralized Platform:

• India, home to over 1,46,000 DPIIT-recognized startups, has rapidly become one of the world’s most dynamic startup hubs.
• BHASKAR seeks to leverage this potential by providing an all-encompassing, one-stop digital platform that addresses the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and investors alike.
• By serving as a centralized registry, BHASKAR will enable seamless access to a wide array of resources, tools, and knowledge that will help fuel the entrepreneurial journey from ideation to execution.
• BHASKAR is designed to foster a conducive environment for networking, collaboration, and growth within the startup ecosystem.
• By providing personalized BHASKAR IDs for each stakeholder, the platform will facilitate easier interaction, enhance searchability, and allow for efficient discovery of relevant opportunities and partnerships.

Key Features of BHASKAR:

• The primary goal of BHASKAR is to build the world’s largest digital registry for stakeholders within the startup ecosystem. To achieve this, the platform will offer several key features:
• Networking and Collaboration: BHASKAR will bridge the gap between startups, investors, mentors, and other stakeholders, allowing for seamless interaction across sectors.
• Providing Centralized Access to Resources: By consolidating resources, the platform will provide startups with immediate access to critical tools and knowledge, enabling faster decision-making and more efficient scaling.
• Creating Personalized Identification: Every stakeholder will be assigned a unique BHASKAR ID, ensuring personalized interactions and tailored experiences across the platform.
• Enhancing Discoverability: Through powerful search features, users can easily locate relevant resources, collaborators, and opportunities, ensuring faster decision-making and action.
• Supporting India’s Global Brand: BHASKAR will serve as a vehicle for promoting India’s global reputation as a hub for innovation, making cross-border collaborations more accessible to startups and investors alike.

Driving Forward India’s Startup Ecosystem:

• The launch of BHASKAR marks a significant step forward in the government’s ongoing efforts to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation.
• It will serve as a central hub where startups, investors, service providers, and government bodies can come together to collaborate, exchange ideas, and accelerate growth.
• By facilitating easy access to knowledge and resources, BHASKAR will help unlock the full potential of India’s startup ecosystem, driving the country’s emergence as a global leader in entrepreneurship.
• The platform will be pivotal in creating a more resilient, inclusive, and innovation-driven economy, laying the foundation for a prosperous future.
• The Government of India invites all stakeholders to become part of this transformative initiative.
• BHASKAR is poised to redefine India’s startup landscape and create a more connected, efficient, and collaborative environment for entrepreneurship.
• The platform promises to be a game-changer for India’s innovation ecosystem.

BHASKAR: Shaping the Future of India’s Startups

• As India’s startup ecosystem continues to grow, BHASKAR will play a critical role in enhancing the country’s global standing in entrepreneurship.
• By fostering a culture of collaboration, the platform will help startups overcome challenges and build innovative solutions that address the needs of tomorrow.
• With the launch of BHASKAR, the Government of India is reinforcing its commitment to making India a leader in global innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.

The golden fibre

About Jute:

• One of the most important natural fibre and cash crops in India, jute is a biodegradable and environment-friendly alternative to plastic when it comes to packaging needs.
• Jute, known as the golden fibre, is the second most important cash crop in India after cotton in terms of cultivation and usage.
• India is the largest producer of jute in the world.
• West Bengal, Assam and Bihar are the major jute-growing States in the country, and raw jute farming and trade make up the livelihood of about 14 million people.

Assam:

• Jute is mainly cultivated by marginal and small farmers of Assam.
• The State is the second largest producer of jute in India.
• The main jute-producing districts are Nagaon, Goalpara, Barpeta, and Darrang.
• Jute is a labour-intensive crop and provides huge employment opportunities and benefits to local farmers.
• The agro-based and export-oriented industry has played an important role in the economy of Assam.

Other facts:

• The bast fibre crop can be harvested at any stage after a certain period of vegetative growth, usually between 100 and 150 days.
• Harvesting of jute crop at pre-bud or bud stage gives the best quality fibre, however, the yields are low.
• Older crop yields more quantity but the fibre becomes coarse and the stem does not ret properly.
• Hence, as a compromise between quality and quantity, the early pod formation stage has been found best for harvesting.
• Retting is one of the important operations governing the quality of fibre.
• The bundles are kept in water, and later placed side by side, usually in layers and tied together.
• They are covered with water hyacinth or any other weed that does not release tannin and iron.
• The float is then weighed down with seasoned logs or with concrete blocks or are kept submerged with bamboo-crating.
• Retting is best done in slow-moving clean water.
• The optimum temperature is around 34 degrees Celsius.
• Once the fibre comes out easily from the wood, retting is considered complete.
• Many countries are now trying to reduce the use of plastic commodities, especially plastic bags.
• Jute bags are biodegradable and environment-friendly alternatives to plastic bags.
• Here lies the economic prospect of jute.
• Along with the traditional usage, jute can contribute in the production of value-added products such as paper, pulp, composites, textiles and other materials.

English Channel

News:

• At least eight people died during a failed attempt to cross the English Channel from northern France.
• Europe’s increasingly strict asylum rules, growing xenophobia and hostile treatment of migrants have been pushing them north.
• Before Saturday’s accident, at least 43 migrants had died or gone missing while trying to cross to the U.K. this year, according to the International Organization for Migration.

About English Channel:

• It is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France.
• It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end.
• It is the busiest shipping area in the world.
• It is the smallest of the shallow seas covering the continental shelf of Europe.
• The Channel aided the United Kingdom in becoming a naval superpower, serving as a natural defence to halt attempted invasions, such as in the Napoleonic Wars and in the Second World War.
• The Strait of Dover, at the Channel’s eastern end, is its narrowest point.
• There is significant public concern in the UK about illegal immigrants coming on small boats from France.
• Since 2018, the English Channel has seen a major increase in number of crossing.

Ashtamudi Lake

News:

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has informed the National Green Tribunal that the water quality levels at four locations in the Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam district of Kerala were not complying with the norms prescribed under the Primary Water Quality Criteria for Bathing notified under The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
• As per the primary water quality criteria for bathing, the faecal coli form count has to be less than 2,500 MPN/100 mL; faecal streptococci less than 500 MPN/100 mL; pH between 6.5 and 8.5; dissolved oxygen greater than 5mg/l; and biological oxygen demand less than 3 mg/l.

About Ashtamudi Lake:

• It is called as the gateway to Kerala backwaters.
• It is situated in Kollam district of Southern Kerala.
• Kallada River is the major source of water for Ashtamdui Lake.
• The lake has an opening to the Arabian Sea in the west.
• It is also the deepest and second largest estuary in Kerala.
• The word Ashtamudi means ‘eight braids’ in Malayalam which can be explained by the palm-shaped topography of the lake with multiple branches.
• The Ashtamudi wetlands are included as one of the 85 Ramsar sites of international importance in India.
• Historical records of the Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta highlights Quilon (Kollam) city, in the banks of Ashtamudi Lake as one of the major trading centers in the ancient period.
• Presently it is facing the threat of environmental degradation.