New technology for converting CO2 to CO holds potential for carbon in the steel sector (GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- A new energy-efficient carbon dioxide capture technology that converts carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide under electro catalytic conditions under ambient temperatures in the presence of water has been developed with potential for application in the steel sector.
Details:
- In efforts to support India’s goal for net-zero emissions by 2070, the National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCoE-CCU) at IIT Bombay is actively working towards developing novel, scalable and affordable pathways on capturing CO2 from various emission sources, and converting it into usable chemicals or permanent storage, representing a crucial pathway for greenhouse gas mitigation.
- In a significant development, it has been granted a patent for CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO) conversion technology.
CO in steel industry:
- Carbon monoxide (CO) is a widely used chemical in the industry especially in the form of syn gas.
- In the steel industry, CO is an essential ingredient for converting iron ores to metallic iron in blast furnaces. Currently, CO is generated by partial oxidation of coke/coal, which leads to a significant production of CO2 as an end product of this process.
- If this emitted CO2 can be captured and converted into CO, it can lead to a circular economy in this process while reducing the carbon footprint and associated costs.
Conversion technology:
- The process for CO2 to CO conversion that is widely in use currently occurs at elevated temperatures (400-750 °C), and the presence of the equivalent amount of H2 is necessary for driving this reaction forward making it an energy-intensive process.
- The newly developed process by IIT Bombay’s NCoE-CCU requires only minimal energy as it can proceed under ambient temperatures (25-40 °C) in the presence of water.
- The energy required for this electrocatalysis reaction can be harnessed directly from a renewable energy source (in the form of a solar panel or windmill), which ensures a carbon-neutral operating scenario for a facile CO2 to CO conversion.
Applications:
- This technology holds promise for various industrial applications and is being actively pursued for scaling up through the recently incubated start-up UrjanovaC Private Limited for potential application in the steel sector.
- In addition, another aqueous-based CO2 capture and conversion to calcium carbonate technology emerging from the activities of the DST-supported NCoE-CCU is also licensed to UrjanovaC Private Limited incubated through SINE at IIT Bombay.
Major action to curb film piracy as industry faces losses of Rs. 20,000 crore annually due to piracy
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- In a stringent measure aimed at checking film piracy, the government has appointed nodal officers to order taking down pirated content from digital platforms.
- The decision coming in the wake of the Cinematograph Amendment Bill 2023 passed in Parliament recently was announced by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Why it matters?
- As of now there is no institutional mechanism to directly take action on pirated filmic content except legal action under Copyright Act and IPC.
- With the proliferation of internet and almost everyone interested to watch filmic content for free, there has seen a boom in piracy. The above action would allow instant action by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in case of piracy and will provide relief to the industry.
Key Highlights:
- These officers have been appointed in the Ministry of I&B and offices of Central Board of Film Certification headquarter in Mumbai and its regional offices in major film produtction centres.
- The Act aimed to curb film piracy, a measure which has been a long-standing demand of the film industry and the appointment of nodal officers is a major step in that direction.
- The Act has been amended after 40 years to incorporate provisions against film piracy, including digital piracy after the last significant amendments were made in 1984.
- The amendment includes strict punishment of minimum 3 months imprisonment and fine of Rs. 3 lakh which can be extended up to 3 years imprisonment and fine upto 5% of the audited gross production cost.
Who can apply?
- An original copyright holder or any person authorised by them for this purpose can apply to the Nodal Officer to take down pirated content.
- If a complaint is raised by a person who does not hold the copyright or is not authorised by the copyright holder, the Nodal Officer can hold hearings on a case to case basis to decide the genuineness of the complaint before issuing the directions.
- After receiving directions from the Nodal Officer under the law, the digital platform will be obliged to remove such internet links hosting pirated content within a period of 48 hours.
Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023:
- The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 (12 of 2023) passed by the Parliament in the Monsoon Session of 2023 addressed the issues relating to film certification, including the issue of unauthorized recording and exhibition of films and film piracy by transmission of unauthorized copies on the internet and imposes strict penalties for piracy.
- These amendments are in harmony with the existing laws that address the issue of film piracy, viz. the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Information Technology Act (IT) 2000.
- The newly inserted section 6AB of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 provides that no person shall use or abet the use of an infringing copy of any film to exhibit to the public for profit at a place of exhibition which has not been licensed under this Act or the rules made thereunder; or in a manner that amounts to the infringement of copyright under the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1957 or any other law for the time being in force.
- Further, the newly inserted section 7(1B)(ii) in the Cinematograph Act provides that the Government may take suitable action for removing/disabling access to such an infringing copy exhibited/hosted on an intermediary platform in a manner in contravention to the section 6AB referred to above.
