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BIS Mobile App ‘BIS-Care’ & Standardization, Conformity Assessment and Training Portals
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution launched the Bureau of Indian Standard’s Mobile App ‘BIS-Care’ and three portals – the Standardization, Conformity Assessment and Training Portals of e-BIS on www.manakonline.in for consumers. The mobile app BIS-Care can be operated on any Android phone and can be downloaded free from Google play store. Consumers can check the authenticity of the ISI-marked and hallmarked products and lodge complaints using this app. The Minister said that the government has taken several steps to protect the interests of consumers.
Centre launches Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework 2.0 for climate-sensitive cities
A framework that would help cities follow a climate-sensitive approach in urban planning and development was launched. The objective of the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0 is to provide a roadmap for cities for combating climate change while planning and implementing their actions, including investments. The framework has 28 indicators across energy and green buildings, urban planning, green cover and biodiversity, mobility and air quality, water management and waste management.
India sees narrowing gap between clean energy, coal power
India has achieved an unexpected benefit on the energy front during this Covid-19 pandemic phase. The gap between the share of renewables and coal-fired power in India’s electricity generation sector has narrowed more than ever before. The share of renewables increased from 17 % just before the pandemic to almost 24 % and coal-fired power declined from 76 % to 66 %,” said energy analysts of International Energy Agency (IEA) in their note on India’s energy sector. IEA is of the view that the clean energy transition is good, both for the economy and the environment of India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer.
India-EU renew agreement on Science & Technology cooperation
India and the European Union have renewed their agreement to expand scientific and technological cooperation aimed at strengthening their collaboration in this area in the next five years. Last week, the two sides agreed to renew the agreement on scientific cooperation till 2025 at the 15th India-EU Summit, which was led by Prime Minister from the Indian side.
The European Union delegation was headed by European Council President Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. The agreement was initially signed on Nov 23, 2001 and renewed in 2007 and 2015.