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The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE), Govt. of India has declared the 20th August, the birthday of Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as “National Renewable Energy Day”. To celebrate this memorable day throughout the state; the MNRE, Govt. of India had introduced a programme namely “Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas”(RGAUD) which is celebrated in every year since 2004. The objective of this programme is to generate mass awareness and popularisation of need, benefits and uses of renewable energy devices and systems in all sphere of life.
The very first event relating to Akshay Urja Diwas was organized by honourable Ex-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. In 2004, the Prime Minister released a commemorative stamp, and 12,000 school childrens formed a human chain to promote renewable energy.
Indian Akshay Urja Day 2022- History
India celebrates Akshay Urja Diwas every year on 20 August, to create awareness about the importance of renewable resources of energy and to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He advocated taking the country into the 21st century through the application of modern technology and science. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to implement his ideas, because he was assassinated in 1991.
This day is celebrated to raise awareness campaigns on the development of renewable energy in the country. India is running one of the largest and most ambitious renewable capacity expansion programs in the world.
Renewable Energy Day or Indian Akshay Urja Day was established in 2004 to support renewable energy development programs and promote its use instead of traditional sources of energy. In New Delhi, the very first event linked to Akshay Urja Diwas was conducted. In 2004, the Prime Minister released a commemorative stamp, and 12,000 schoolchildren formed a human chain to promote renewable energy. Later on, during the upcoming years, the events were organized in Nagpur, Hyderabad, Panchkula, Haryana.
The 20th of August wasn’t chosen at random to be the date of the observance. This day marks the birthday of Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India.
Renewable Energy Day
Renewable Energy Day is also known as Indian Akashay Urja Diwas. Renewable Energy Day is a campaign that is celebrated since 2004, to raise mass awareness about the importance of renewable energy among the people who do not know much about it. The 20th of August wasn’t chosen at random to be the date of the observance. The energy such as Solar Energy, Wind energy, hydroelectrical power are few example of Akshay Urja. It is essential to develop way to use akshay urja or renewable energy more efficiently.
What is Renewable Energy?
Most of us would have studied in high school that energy and energy sources can be broadly classified into renewable and non-renewable energy. The energy derived from sources and getting exhausted over time is called “non-renewable energy.” Example: power generated using coal as fuel. On the other hand, the energy generated from sources that remains non-exhaustible and, hence, is not depleted with usage is called “renewable energy.” Example: power made using sunlight. The sun does not drain with usage, but the coal does. Renewable means “renewed” or “replenished.”
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What is the Importance of Renewable Energy?
Renewable sources have the advantage of being renewable forever. Hence, they can be used without the fear of depletion. Moreover, increased dependence on renewables would mean decreased dependence on exhaustible sources like coal and oil. This, in turn, will not only result in the preservation of natural resources but also minimize political, economic conflicts and wars that are fought over owning the exhaustible sources.
Another significant advantage of using renewable sources is the reduction of air and water pollution and the optimal usage of naturally available resources with minimal side effects.
Benefits of Renewable Energy
Tackle Global Warming
Human activity is burdening our atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that increase global warming. These GHG emissions act like a blanket around the earth, trapping heat. The results are highly detrimental with a web of significant and harmful impacts, from storms, drought, sea-level rise to extinction. Renewable energy sources produce little to no emissions that cause global warming. “Life cycle” emissions of clean energy (in the process of manufacturing, installation, operation, decommissioning) are minimal.
Burning coal emits 1.4 and 3.6 pounds of CO2E/kWh. On the other hand, wind as an energy source can emit only 0.02 to 0.04 pounds of CO2E/kWh in its life cycle. Increasing renewable energy supply would help replace carbon-intensive energy sources and reduce US global warming emissions.
Healthier Energy Resources
Renewable energy sources cause little to no air pollution. Air pollution is a critical issue in many developing countries, where more than 2.9 billion people still rely on wood, coal and charcoal for cooking and heating. Most negative health impacts arise from air and water pollution that renewable energy technologies don’t produce.
Resilience
Renewable energy technologies are employed in a distributed manner, making them less prone to large-scale failure. Beneficial during severe weather events or emergencies, these technologies can be deployed wherever required, providing electricity to people without complicated and time-consuming infrastructure development.
Stable Source of energy
Improved reliability, falling technology costs and policies have made renewable energy solutions affordable for 80% of people without access to electricity in rural areas or small developing states.
Employment
Renewable energy creates a significant and growing number of jobs worldwide annually. According to IRENA’s estimates, the renewable energy sector recorded 10.3 million people worldwide in 2017, driven by increasing investments.
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India’s efforts towards renewable energy
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy: India is the first country in the world to set up a ministry of non-conventional energy resources (now Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Its public sector undertakings the Solar Energy Corporation of India is responsible for the development of the solar energy industry in India.
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC): In the Paris, Agreement India has committed to an Intended Nationally Determined Contributions target of achieving 40% of its total electricity generation from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. 175 GW interim target is 100 GW of solar, 60 GW of wind, 10 GW of biomass, and 5 GW of small hydro.
Central Electricity Authority’s strategy blueprint: The country is aiming for an ambitious target of 57% of the total electricity capacity from renewable sources by 2027 in the Central Electricity Authority’s strategy blueprint. According to the 2027 blueprint, India aims to have 275 GW of renewable energy, 72 GW of hydroelectricity, 15 GW of nuclear energy, and nearly 100 GW from other zero-emission sources.
Commission for Additional Sources of Energy: Realizing the need for concentrated efforts in this sector, The Government of India established a Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (CASE) in the Department of Science and Technology. The mandate of CASE is to promote research and development activities in the field of renewable energy.
Solar mini-grids project: As part of the government’s initiatives to take renewable energy to remote places, the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, launched the solar mini-grids project. The Solar Mini-Grids project has the objective of taking advantage of the available solutions to promote universal energy access by 2025 and reduce electricity costs and tariffs.
India has taken the lead in the renewable energy sector in the world. On 31 March 2020, India’s 35.86% of electricity generation capacity is from renewable sources. By 2030 India has committed to an Intended Nationally Determined Contributions target of achieving 40% of its total electricity generation from non-fossil fuel sources.
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Akshay Urja Diwas
India celebrates Akshay Urja Diwas every year on 20 August, to create awareness about the importance of renewable resources of energy and to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The main objective or aim behind celebrating this day is to make people aware of the use of natural sources of energy like hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind energy, and biogas because the earth’s resources are depleting at a dangerous rate every day.
The Akshay Urja Diwas has been observed and celebrated every year on this day since 2004. Apart from being an important day, it is also an awareness campaign which is aimed at educating and informing the masses about the benefits of renewable energy resources for our planet.
Indian Akshay Urja Day 2022- Facts
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
- Indian Akshay Urja Day 2021 theme was an awareness campaign aimed at enlightening the masses about the benefits of renewable energy resources in their lives as well as that of our blue planet. The earth’s resources are depleting at a dangerous rate.
- The Ministry for New & Renewable Energy Sources, Govt. of India promotes innovation to adopt renewable energy sources to produce power for the electricity grid and for several standalone applications and decentralised power production.
- The energy such as Biogas, Solar Energy, Wind energy, hydroelectric power are few example of Akshay Urja. It is essential to develop way to use akshay urja or renewable energy more efficiently.
- The main motive of Akshay urja Diwas is to make people aware that they have to think about the renewable energy (Akshay Urja) apart from tradition energy, The energy which we are getting naturally doesn’t have any side effect on environment, and by using this energy we can use the traditional energy for more long time.
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Indian Akshay Urja Day 2022- Significance
The Akshay Urja Diwas is celebrated every year to create awareness among people to consider renewable energy (Akshay Urja) other than the traditional form of energy, as the energy that we get naturally has no side effect on the environment and the renewable energy (Akshay Urja) helps us in using the traditional energy for a much longer time.
While the Government of India’s Ministry for New and Renewable Energy Sources promotes innovations to adopt renewable energy sources so as to produce power for the electricity grid and for many other standalone applications and decentralized power production.
Indian Akshay Urja Day 2022- Quiz
Q.1. Which date of August is celebrated as Akshay Urja Diwas?
[A] August 1 [B] August 20 [C] August 18 [D] August 23Answer: [B] August 20
Q.2. In which year Akshay Urja Day was initiated as on August 20?
[A] 2002 [B] 2012 [C] 2004 [D] 2009Answer: [C] 2004
Q.3. Whose birthday is celebrated as ‘Akshay Urja Day’ ?
[A] Rajiv Gandhi [B] Mahatma Gandhi [C] Jawaharlal Nehru [D] Lal Bahadur ShastriAnswer: [A] Rajiv Gandhi
Q.4. Who started Akshay Urja Diwas?
[A] Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi [B] Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh [C] Prime Minister Narendra Modi [D] None of theseAnswer: [B]Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
Q.5. In India, Akshay Urja Day is celebrated on 20th August to raise awareness about what?
[A] Tiger Conservation [B] Goodness of consuming vegetarian food [C] Renewable resources of energy [D] Importance of mid-day mealsAnswer. [C] Renewable resources of energy
Q.6. What is India’s renewable energy target for 2022?
[A] 130 GW [B] 175 GW [C] 70 GW [D] 180 GWAnswer: [B] 175 GW
Q.7. Which state in India is the largest producer of solar energy?
[A] Rajasthan [B] Andhra Pradesh [C] Haryana [D] KarnatakaAnswer: [D] Karnataka
Q.8. Which state is first in solar energy?
[A] Rajasthan [B] Punjab [C] Hyderabad [D] WarangalAnswer: [A] Rajasthan
Q.9. Where is the largest solar plant in India?
[A] Mandsaur Solar Park [B] India’s Bhadla Solar Park [C] Rewa Ultra Mega Solar [D] Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar ParkAnswer: [B] India’s Bhadla Solar Park
Q.10. Which country is the largest producer of renewable energy?
[A] China [B] India [C] Germany [D] IndonesiaAnswer: [C] Germany
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Q.11. Where is India’s largest solar park?
[A] Mandsaur Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh [B] Shakti Sthal Solar Project, Karnataka [C] Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka [D] Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, Andhra PradeshAnswer: [B] Shakti Sthal Solar Project, Karnataka
Q.12. What are the Examples of Akshay Urja?
[A] Biogas, Solar Energy, Wind energy, hydroelectrical power [B] Biogas, Solar Energy, [C] Wind energy, hydroelectrical power [D] Solar Energy, Wind energy,Answer. [A] Biogas, Solar Energy, Wind energy, hydroelectrical power
Q.13. The first event relating to Akshay Urja Diwas was organized in ___________?
[A] Hyderabad [B] New Delhi [C] Haryana [D] NagpurAnswer: [B] New Delhi
Q.14. In which year was Rajiv Gandhi assassinated?
[A] 1990 [B] 1989 [C] 1991 [D] 1992Answer: [C] 1991
Q.15. Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India from ______________?
[A] October 31, 1984, to December 2, 1989 [B] August 21, 1985, to December 2, 1988 [C] October 31, 1989, to December 2, 1989 [D] October 31, 1984, to July 2, 1989Answer: October 31, 1984, to December 2, 1989
Q.16. Renewable Energy Day is also known as ___________.
[A] National Science day [B] Indian Akshay Urja Diwas [C] Rajiv Gandhi’s birthday [D] Central Excise DayAnswer: [B] Indian Akshay Urja Diwas
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