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- Why in News?
- A recent report by the India Energy & Climate Centre stresses the urgent need to expand energy storage to meet clean energy targets, including installing 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity by 2030.
- Key Provisions:-
- The study estimates that India will require 61 GW of energy storage by 2030 and 97 GW by 2032, a sharp increase from the current 6 GW, largely from pumped hydro. With battery costs falling rapidly, battery storage is expected to dominate the energy storage mix.
- Energy Storage Systems (ESS) store renewable energy for use during peak demand, enabling greater integration of variable renewable energy into the grid, supporting electric mobility, and ensuring grid stability. The report recommends measures such as co-locating storage with new renewable projects, extending Viability Gap Funding to hybrid solar-plus-storage projects, promoting domestic manufacturing of advanced battery technologies, and making strategic investments in supply chains for critical minerals like lithium and rare earths.
- Why in News?
- The Voluntary National Review (VNR) is a mechanism through which nations evaluate and present their progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). India’s upcoming 2025 VNR will be its third submission, following earlier reports in 2017 and 2020.
- Key Provisions:-
- According to the report, India has adopted a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach, integrating SDGs across all administrative levels while ensuring active participation from civil society. A notable feature is the promotion of cooperative and competitive federalism, exemplified by the SDG India Index, which encourages states to perform better through ranking and benchmarking. The country has also developed an SDG Localization Model, empowering districts, blocks, and villages to align development strategies with the SDG framework.
India’s progress is further supported by digital innovation, with Digital Public Infrastructure tools such as Aadhaar and UPI facilitating efficient delivery of public services, financial inclusion, and improved governance, thereby accelerating SDG achievement.
- Why in News?
- India recently hosted the first-ever 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) RAN Meetings focused on 6G standardization, marking a milestone in the country’s telecom innovation journey. The event was organized by the Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI), the nation’s recognized Standards Development Organization (SDO).
- Key Provisions:-
- TSDSI plays a key role in creating standards for access, backhaul, and infrastructure systems, ensuring telecom and ICT solutions meet India-specific requirements. Its work supports the development of technologies that are globally competitive while addressing local challenges.
- The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), established in 1998, is the world’s leading standards body for mobile communications. It develops global specifications for technologies from 3G to the latest 5G and upcoming 6G networks. 3GPP’s frameworks form the backbone of mobile networks worldwide, enabling seamless connectivity and interoperability.
- India’s hosting of this meeting reflects its growing role in shaping the future of next-generation telecom standards.