THE Asia University Rankings 2022

 On 1^st June 2022, the latest edition of the Asia University Rankings was released by the Times Higher Education (THE). The 2022 edition of the rankings comprises 616 universities from 31 countries and territories across Asia. India is the third most-represented country in this 2022 rankings with 71 institutions making this list. In 2021, 62 Indian institutions made it to the rankings list.

Which is the top-ranking university on this list?

The only institute that has made it to the top 50 on the list is the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore with a rank of 42. The JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research has made its debut on this list with a rank of 65. It is followed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar with a rank of 68 and IIT Indore with a rank of 87. Compared to the positions achieved in 2021, all the Indian institutes that were placed in the top-100 have slipped down. Among the top 200, there are 17 Indian universities in this year’s rankings whereas in 2021 there were 18. Of the 14 that have made it to the ranking in both years, eight have risen.

What are the ranks of the Indian universities?

• Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore- 42
• JSS Academy- 65
• Indian Institute of Technology Ropar- 68
• Indian Institute of Technology Indore- 78
• Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar- 120
• Alagappa University- 122
• Thapar Institute – 127
• Saveetha University- 131
• Mahatma Gandhi University- 139
• Delhi Technological University- 149
• Banaras Hindu University- 153
• Institute of Chemical Technology- 158
• Jamia Millia Islamia- 160
• Jawaharlal Nehru University- 167
• International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad- 174
• Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology- 177
• Panjab University- 197

Which is the most represented country on this list?

Japan is the most-represented nation on this list, with 118 institutions making it this year, up from 116 in 2021. The top two universities on this list are from China for the third consecutive year. They are Tsinghua and Peking universities holding the first and second places, respectively. In this list, there are 97 mainland Chinese universities, while in 2021 it was 91, making it the second most-represented nation. A university from Palestine has been ranked for the first time and the representations from Saudi Arabia increased in the top 100 from four to six.

August 9: Nagasaki Day

 

On August 9, Japan is commemorating the Nagasaki Day. On this day in 1945, the United States had dropped “Fat Man- atomic bomb” on Japanese city, Nagasaki. The atomic bomb was named so, due to wide, round shape of the bomb. Fat man was dropped from US B-29 bomber. It took the life of over 20,000 people.

Highlights:

• This year, Japan is commemorating the 77th anniversary of the bombing.
• This day is significant for remembering the survivors of bombing.
• On this day, country pay tribute to people who lost their lives in the attack or died slowly in horrible nuclear radiation. Many people were left with cancer or radiation sickness.
• Now, Japan continues to help others in learning from the incident and prevent future deaths due to nuclear weapons.
• This day is observed to make people aware of the devastating power of atomic or nuclear bombs.

History of the day:

Nagasaki Day is observed to commemorate the atomic bombings that happened in Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Nagasaki was attacked three days after the attack on Hiroshima city of Japan. US bomber had dropped atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Both of these incidents forced Japan to surrender unconditionally on World War, on August 15 1945. Thus, to commemorate the incident and honour the survivals, Nagasaki Day is observed every year.

NITI Aayog Report: ‘Harnessing Green Hydrogen’

 

key Findings of the report

• In its report, NITI Aayog has recommended to reduce or exempt the GST & Custom duties on production of green hydrogen, in order to boost the production in India.
• It also proposed to set up green hydrogen corridors as well as offer grants to start-ups that are working on green hydrogen solutions domestically.
• According to it, government should focus on bringing a cost reduction pathway for green hydrogen production in country.

Present Green Hydrogen Policy

As per report, present Green Hydrogen policy provides for adequate measures, which focuses on inter-state transmission (ISTS) charges waiver as well as open access for green ammonia and green hydrogen production. Its production can be further improved by reducing or exempting tax and duties.

What is Green Hydrogen?

Green hydrogen is hydrogen gas, which is produced through electrolysis of water. Electrolysis is an energy intensive process to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Hydrogen demand in India

As per report, Hydrogen demand in India will grow over four-times by 2050, accounting for 10% of global hydrogen demand. Thus, it suggests to facilitate investment by means of demand aggregation and dollar-based bidding for green hydrogen. Majority of the demand growth will come for steel and heavy-duty trucking, in long run, by 2050. Both will account for 52 per cent of total demand.

Hydrogen Corridors

Report further recommended to set up green hydrogen corridors in association with states. In initial phase, three hydrogen corridors should be developed, on the basis of state grand challenge. Governments can provide loans and grants to start-ups & projects as well as support entrepreneurs through investment networks and incubators.

Background

Central government has notified the green hydrogen and green ammonia policy, in February 2022 with the aim of increasing domestic production of green hydrogen to 5 million tonnes by 2030.

What are NITI Aayog proposals for regulation of Digital Banks?

 

On July 20, 2022, NITI Aayog released a report on digital banks titled “A proposal for Digital Banks in India: Licensing and Regulatory Regime’’ In the report, government’s think tank has provided template and roadmap for licensing and regulatory regime for India.  NITI Aayog prepared this report on the basis of inter-ministerial consultations

Important features of the report include:

1. NITI Aayog report seeks to avoid regulatory or policy arbitrage and provide a level playing field to incumbents and competitors.
2. It studies the gaps and niches which remain underserved as well as the best practices of licensing digital banks, considering the need of supporting technology in an effective way. This move seeks to cater the needs of banking in India.
3. It also maps prevalent business models in the digital domain and highlights challenges faced by ‘partnership model’ of neo-banking.

The NITI Aayog report presents following recommendations:

1. Report recommends to issue a restricted digital bank licence (to a given applicant). License will be restricted with respect to volume/value of customers serviced.
2. It also recommends to enlist the licensee in a regulatory sandbox framework, provided by the RBI.
3. It asks to Issue full-scale digital bank licence.

In the report, the methodology used to provide licensing and regulatory template is based on ‘digital bank regulatory index’. It comprises four factors viz., entry barriers, competition, business restrictions and technological neutrality.

About Digital Bank

The digital bank would be a bank defined in accordance with the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. It will have its own balance sheet and legal existence. Digital banks are different from 75 Digital Banking Units (DBUs). DBUs were announced in Union Budget 2022-23.

What is outcome of the NITI Aayog Study on India’s R&D expenditures?

 

As per NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index 2021,  gross expenditure on research and development (R&D) in India is lowest in the world. India spends USD 43 per capita on R&D. India Innovation Index was recently released by NITI Aayog, providing ranks to states and union territories based on their innovation performance.

NITI Aayog says,

• India needs to increase this expenditure, in order to be on a par with the BRICS or ASEAN countries.
• Russia spends USD 285 per capita, Brazil spends USD 173 while Malaysia spends USD 293, on the R&D.
• Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) in India, as a percentage of GDP has remained consistent on 0.7% for about a decade.
• India’s expenditure is lower as compared to Brazil (1.16%) and South Africa (0.83%).
• Only Mexico (0.31%) had a lower share of GERD as percentage of GDP, than India.
• Despite low expenditure on R&D, India has published more research papers as compared to countries like Russia, Brazil, and South Korea.

According to Government’s think tank, government spends more than 55% on R&D which needs to be changed. It needs to find an inflexion point after which private sector can to the task. Though, businesses or private sector led R&D has been increasing rapidly from 2005-06. But it is not fast enough to overtake government led R&D. In order for India to be on a par with developed countries; it needs to encourage R&D by businesses, so that, it could intersect the government led R&D and rise.

What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)?

 

Recently, member of NITI Aayog V K Saraswat suggested the government to focus on setting up small modular reactors (SMRs). This move will help in meeting India’s energy needs and replace the thermal power plants.

Highlights of the suggestion:

• V K Saraswat also suggested to accelerate nuclear power plant projects, set up under fleet mode production, in order to meet India’s base load requirements at the earliest.
• Small modular reactors will help in meeting requirements in distributed manner.

About Small modular reactors (SMRs):

Small modular reactors are advanced nuclear reactors, with the power capacity of 300 MW(e) per unit. This equals to 1/3^rd of generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors.  The nuclear plant is likely to be built in a period of 5 years, under fleet mode. An important aspect of the advanced nuclear reactor is that, it is factory fabricated. It can be operated by any agency. Thus, it would attract larger participation of private sector.

Nuclear Power energy in India:

Currently, 22 reactors are operational in India, with a total capacity of 6,780 MW.  Out of these, 18 reactors are Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors while 4 are Light Water Reactors. Share of nuclear power in overall electricity generation in India was 3.1% in 2020-21. India has planned to enhance the current capacity of 6,780 MW to 22,480 MW by 2031, in line with the net-zero targets.