05 December 2015 Current Affairs
South Western Railways Zone introduces Biodiesel
The South Western Railways (SWR) Zone with headquarters in Hubli, Karnataka has introduced biodiesel for trains, operating under its zone. SWR’s first train Hubballi-Bengaluru Janshatabdi Express powered by five per cent biodiesel blended with High Speed Diesel was flagged off from Hubli. The main aim of the initiative is to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission and carbon footprint and also to make fuel consumption more efficient. SWR zone has set up Biodiesel filling centres at Hubli, Bengaluru and Hospet.
Guinness world record for ‘Pahal’
The Guinness Book of World Records certificate recognising India’s direct LPG subsidy transfer as the world’s largest cash transfer programme was on Saturday handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Union Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The government launched the `PAHAL’ scheme in 54 districts of the country on November 15, 2014, and in remaining districts of the country on January, 2015. LPG consumers who join the PAHAL scheme get LPG cylinders at market price and receive LPG subsidy directly into their bank accounts.
World Bank launches Transformative Carbon Asset Facility
The World Bank has launched a $500 million dollars Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF) to help developing countries pay for emission reductions and combat climate change. The scheme will reward countries for reducing emissions by paying a fee for each tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduced. Of the total 500 million dollars, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland have jointly pledged an initial 250 million dollars investment.