National Electric Mobility Mission Plan Launched

The Hon'ble Prime Minister has unveiled the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020.

The Plan seeks to support the creation of necessary eco system for promoting electric mobility, a frontier technology, so as to make it a self-sustaining business in the future. The National Electric Mobility Mission Plan envisages new sales of 6-7 million units of a range of electric vehicles, which would result in liquid fuel savings of 2.2 – 2.5 million tonnes by 2020. This will also result in substantial lowering of vehicular emissions and decrease in carbon di-oxide emissions by 1.3% to 1.5% in 2020 as compared to a status quo scenario.

However with respect to the barriers in this sector government is aiming to adopt following measures which include - providing initial impetus through demand support measures that facilitate faster consumer acceptance of these expensive newer vehicles. In addition, the government will also facilitate automotive R&D and put in place charging infrastructure.

NMEM is amongst the most significant interventions of the Government that promises to transform the automotive paradigm of the future by lessening the dependence on fossil fuels, increasing energy efficiency of vehicles and by providing the means to achieve ultimate objective of cleaner transportation that is compatible with sustainable renewable energy generation. This Intervention will also help encourage the Indian Automotive Industry to shift to newer, cleaner technologies so that it builds its future competitive advantage around environmentally sustainable products, high end technologies, innovation and knowledge.

The implementation and roll out of the NEMMP 2020 will be done through various specific schemes, interventions, policies that are currently under formulation and will be considered by the Government in the near future.

National Mission of Food Processing

To facilitate the entrepreneurs and domestic agro-processing industries in setting up/modernisation of FPIs, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) had launched a Centrally Sponsored Scheme - National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) during 2012-13 of 12th Five Year Plan. Under the mission, State Governments receive the applications, sanction and release the grants-in-aid to the eligible beneficiaries. NMFP also provides flexibility to States / UTs in the selection of beneficiaries, location of projects etc. for the development of food processing sector. This initiative of the Ministry would give an impetus to food processing industries in the country. The Major Programmes/Schemes covered under NMFP during 2012-13 are:

(i). Scheme for Technology Up-gradation / Establishment / Modernisation of Food Processing Industries.

(ii). Scheme for Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure for Non Horticultural Products.

(iii). Scheme for Human Resource Development (HRD):

(a). Creation of Infrastructure Facilities for Running Degree/Diploma/Certificate Courses in Food Processing Technology.

(b). Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP)

(c) . Food Processing Training Centre (FPTC)

(iv). Scheme for Promotional Activities:

a) Organizing Seminar/Workshops

b) Conducting Studies/Surveys

c) Support to Exhibitions/Fairs

d) Advertisement & Publicity

During the 12th Plan (2012-13), the scheme of Technology Up-gradation / Establishment / Modernization of Food Processing Industries has been subsumed in National Mission on Food Processing (Centrally Sponsored Scheme) implemented by States / UTs w.e.f. 01.04.2012. Accordingly, all the State Governments have been empowered to receive the applications, sanction and release the grants-in-aid to the eligible beneficiaries under various components of the Mission.

National Mission on Monsoon

The aims and objectives of the National Monsoon Mission are 

i. To set up a state-of-the-art dynamical prediction system for (a) improved prediction of monsoon rainfall on extended range to seasonal time scale (16 days to one season) and (b) improved prediction of temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events on short to medium range time scale (up to 15 days). 

ii. To build a working partnership between the academic and research organizations, both national and international and the operational agencies in the country to improve the skill of operational monsoon forecasts over the country. 

The proposed program after its implementation will lead to more accurate prediction of monsoon weather and climate in all time scales, short range to seasonal time scale at appropriate spatial scales. The forecasts based on this dynamical prediction system will cater to the needs of various sectors like agriculture, water resources management, power generation, disaster management, tourism, and transport. 

At present operational extended range to seasonal forecasts are prepared using statistical methods which have constraints and limitations. The monsoon mission will help us to implement a state-of-the-art dynamical prediction system with more accuracy and fidelity for extended range to seasonal forecasts in the country. 

Concerted effort is being made by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM - ESSO), Pune to improve the adopted coupled ocean-atmospheric Climate Forecast System (CFS) model in collaboration with USA towards improving extended range and seasonal scale monsoon forecasts. The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF - ESSO), NOIDA is putting efforts to improve the adopted unified model in collaboration with UK for medium range scale monsoon rainfall forecasts including extreme weather phenomena. Identified national and international academic and R& D groups will be involved to address associated scientific issues in the overall pursuit. Government has approved the scheme with an allocation of Rs. 400.00crores.