National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cells Battery Storage, 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Napa Cabbage and Kimchi

• The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has selected Reliance Industries Ltd. as the successful bidder under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage.
• It has been awarded a 10 GWh ACC manufacturing capacity based on the QCBS (Quality and Cost Based Selection) mechanism.
• The National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage, approved in May 2021, aims to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities in ACC and battery storage.
• The scheme focuses on setting up Giga-scale ACC manufacturing facilities with an emphasis on maximum domestic value addition.
• Beneficiary firms must achieve 25% domestic value addition initially, increasing to 60% within five years.
• The scheme includes a two-year gestation period (2023-2024) and a five-year performance period (2025-2029).
• The first round of ACC PLI bidding concluded in 2022. Three firms have been allocated 30 GWh capacity earlier.

Dig Deeper: Read about the PLI scheme in the context of Make in India.

• Inequality is rising globally as labour income stagnates and a large portion of youth remain out of employment, education, or training, according to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) ‘World Employment and Social Outlook: September 2024 Update.’
• A key factor behind this decline is the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), which has not evenly distributed the benefits of technological progress.
• Global labour income as a share of total income earned by workers, fell by 0.6 % points from 2019 to 2022, remaining flat since.
• The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to nearly 40% of the reduction in labour income during 2020-2022.
• The report also noted slow progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the 2030 deadline nears.
• It warned that without stronger policy responses, automation-based technological innovations, despite increasing productivity, may continue to lower the labour income share.

Dig Deeper: Read about the FutureSkills PRIME initiative of NASSCOM and MeitY.

• The Union Labour Ministry has approved the Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS) for pensioners under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995.
• It allows pension disbursement through any bank or branch across India, eliminating the need to transfer Pension Payment Orders when pensioners move or change banks.
• A key milestone as it will bring relief to pensioners, especially those relocating after retirement.
• As part of the IT modernization project (CITES 2.01), CPPS will launch on January 1, 2025.
• In its next phase, CPPS will transition to an Aadhaar-based payment system, eliminating the need for pensioners to visit branches for verification.
• Pensions will be credited immediately upon release, further reducing costs associated with disbursement.

Dig Deeper: Read about the Unified Pension Scheme.

• China pledged $51 billion to African countries at the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.
• Amid economic challenges, China seeks to shift its investment focus from large-scale projects to smaller, advanced green technologies, as African nations request more lending.
• Forum on China-Africa Cooperation: Established in 2000, FOCAC formalizes strategic partnerships between China and 53 African nations, excluding Eswatini.
• It meets every three years to strengthen political and economic ties under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• The 2024 summit, the largest diplomatic event hosted by China with UN Secretary-General António Guterres attending as a special guest.

Dig Deeper: Read about the India-Africa Forum Summit.

• South Korea’s iconic kimchi (a side dish of salted and fermented vegetables) is facing challenges due to climate change, as rising temperatures are impacting the quality and quantity of napa cabbage, the key ingredient.
• Napa cabbage, which thrives in cooler climates between 18-21°C, is struggling with warmer weather.
• Napa cabbage becoming mushy and prone to fungal infections.
• The farmed area of highland cabbage is projected to nearly disappear by 2090 due to rising temperatures, unpredictable rains, and pests.
• The government is using climate-controlled storage and scientists are working on developing climate-resilient cabbage varieties to address these issues.

Dig Deeper: Read about the impact of climate change on Darjeeling tea production.