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Flex fuel policy of government to curb pollution worries automakers

India can soon expect a policy on flexible-fuel cars, cars that can run on bio-ethanol and petrol, or a blend of both. The move to flex-fuels will decrease pollution and encourage a diversion in the sugar industry’s output away from sugar and towards ethanol. Biofuel production would help farmers by supporting the diversification of agriculture into energy, power and bio-plastics. Flexible-fuel vehicle: A  flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV)  or  dual-fuel vehicle  (called a  flex-fuel vehicle )  is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel, and both fuels are stored in the same common tank. Flex-fuel vehicles are distinguished from bi-fuel vehicles, where two fuels are stored in separate tanks and the engine runs on one fuel at a time, for example, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or hydrogen. The most ...
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What the odd-even Formula Achieved

Peak  pollution  controlled despite fog and adverse weather   Load of particulates and nitrous oxides from cars reduced by about 40%   Areas with higher car density recorded more improvement in air quality   Decongestion of roads, leading to better utilisation of vehicles and reduced travel time OTHER POSSIBLE TEMPORARY MEASURES Extending odd-even rule to two-wheelers   Shutting power plants and industries   Declaring school holidays LASTING MEASURES THAT  DELHI  NEEDS Congestion charges on the basis of time and location of travel   Tax benefits for CNG and electric vehicles   Phase out old vehicles   Timely completion of phase-III of Delhi Metro   Remove entry taxes for cabs, autos and buses within NCR cities   Rationalise taxes on buses   Substantially hike car parking charges   Expand bus fleet to 11,000 from around 6,000 at present   Build dedicated lanes for cyclists and pede...
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The government has constituted a committee headed by noted film-maker Shyam Benegal to look into revamp of Censor Board. The Committee has been requested to submit its recommendations within two months. Why Committee? The move is meant to eliminate any kind of arbitrariness and discretion in the censorship process. The CBFC(Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has found itself at the centre of several controversies over censorship and cuts made to films ever since Pahlaj Nihalani took over as its chairperson. It was criticised for making several “cuts” in the film Spectre, “blurring some visuals” in the movie Angry Indian Goddesses, and removing curses and certain expressions from other films. That many CBFC members opposed Nihalani’s decisions openly did not help matters Expectations from the committee: The recommendations of this committee are expected to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities keeping in view this framework. The committee would be expected to take note of the best practices in various parts of the world, especially where the film industry is given sufficient and adequate space for creative and aesthetic expression. The Committee would recommend broad guidelines under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act for the benefit of the chairperson and other members of the Screening Committee. The committee will also look into the “staffing pattern of CBFC” in an effort to recommend a framework which would provide efficient, transparent and user-friendly services . Who is shyam benegal? Shyam Benegal is an Indian director and screenwriter. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991. On 8 August 2007, Benegal was awarded the highest award in Indian cinema for lifetime achievement, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2005. He has won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi seven times. Benegal also lead Samvidhaan, a 10-part mini-series revolving around the making of Indian Constitution aired on Rajya Sabha TV . Who are the other members of the committee ? The other Members of the Committee include Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Piyush Pandey, Bhawana Somaaya , Nina Lath Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films) as Member Convenor. What is Central Board of Film Certification ? The Central Board of Film Certification (often referred to as the Censor Board) is a statutory censorship and classification body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. It is tasked with “regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952”. It assigns certifications to films, television shows, television ads, and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in India. Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after they are certified by the Board. The Board consist of 25 other non-official members and a Chairperson (all of whom are appointed by Central Government). What is a statutory body? It is a non-constitutional body. This body is created by statute i.e. act of parliament. A cabinet resolution can be passed to establish this body. It has to rely upon its statute to derive power. Ex: Planning commission, National commission for OBCs, SEBI etc.

In a bid to curb vehicular pollution, the government on Wednesday decided to implement stricter emission norms of Bharat Stage (BS) VI from April 1, 2020 by skipping BS-V altogether. The development comes at a time when air pollution, especially in the Capital, has become a major issue. While Delhi is currently observing odd-even scheme, Supreme Court has cracked down on diesel vehicles by banning registration of diesel cars and SUVs with engines above 2,000 cc.  By April 1, 2017, the whole of India is scheduled to come under BS-IV norm. BS-IV fuels contain 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur, while BS-V and BS-VI grade fuel will have 10 ppm sulphur. What is the then plan and the present ? Previously, the fuels meeting Euro-IV or Bharat Stage-IV specifications were to be supplied throughout the country by April 2017, and BS-V or Euro-V grade fuel by April 1, 2020. But now instead of a step-wise upgrade from BS-IV to BS-V and then from BS-V to BS-VI, the government plans ...
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