Contents:
- GRAP reviews air quality scenario of Delhi-NCR
- Sangam Initiative
GRAP Reviews Air Quality Scenario of Delhi-NCR
Focus: GS III: Environment and Ecology
Why in News?
Delhi-NCR has been witnessing increase in the average air quality of Delhi-NCR over past few days.
- Taking note of the situation, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) accordingly met today to take stock of the current air quality scenario of Delhi-NCR and also assess technical as well as expert inputs related to forecasts for overall air quality of the region.
What is the Graded Response Action Plan?
- GRAP is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold.
- Stage 1 of GRAP is activated when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300), for instance, the AQI in Delhi was 211.
- The second, third and fourth stages will be activated three days ahead of the AQI reaching the ‘very poor’ category (301 to 400), ‘severe’ category (401 to 450) and ‘severe +’ category (above 450) respectively.
- For this, the CAQM is relying on air quality and meteorological forecasts by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
- Measures being imposed under the previous categories will continue even when the subsequent category is activated, that is, if measures under Stage-2 are activated, measures under Stage-1 will continue to remain in place.
Other Details:
- The CAQM revised the Graded Response Action Plan earlier this year.
- The GRAP was first notified in January 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- This was based on a plan that was submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in November 2016. According to the notification, the task of implementing the GRAP fell on the now dissolved Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for the NCR.
- From 2021 onwards, the GRAP is being implemented by the CAQM.
Sangam Initiative
Focus: GS II: Government policies and Interventions
Why in News?
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently announced the selected participants for Stage 1 of the ground-breaking ‘Sangam: Digital Twin with AI-Driven Insights Initiative’.
Sangam: Digital Twin Initiative Overview
Proof of Concept (PoC):
- The initiative unfolds in two stages, beginning with an exploratory phase focused on creative exploration and clarity of vision, followed by a practical demonstration stage highlighting specific use cases.
- The ultimate goal is to create a future blueprint that can guide collaborative efforts in scaling and replicating successful strategies across future infrastructure projects.
Aim and Objectives:
- Sangam aims to showcase the practical implementation of innovative infrastructure planning solutions.
- The initiative seeks to establish a model framework fostering efficient collaboration and intends to provide a roadmap for scaling and replicating successful strategies in forthcoming infrastructure ventures.
Digital Twin Technology:
- Employing Digital Twin technology, Sangam creates virtual replicas of physical assets.
- This enables real-time monitoring, simulation, and analysis, facilitating experimental iterations and feedback loops to adapt dynamically for optimal outcomes.
Technological Integration:
- In the backdrop of technological breakthroughs in communication, computation, and sensing, Sangam integrates 5G, IoT, AI, AR/VR, AI-native 6G, Digital Twin, and next-gen computational technologies.
- This collaborative effort harnesses the collective intelligence of diverse entities, including public bodies, infrastructure planners, tech companies, startups, and academia.
Vision 2047:
- Aligned with the techade era’s vision for 2047, Sangam represents a collaborative leap in reshaping infrastructure planning and design.
- Breaking silos, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between conceptualization and realization, providing a platform for stakeholders to transform innovative ideas into tangible solutions and contribute to groundbreaking advancements in infrastructure.
