During the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Namibia, the two countries entered an agreement that involved a license to adopt the UPI system of making real-time digital payments. This transforms Namibia to become the first African leading nation to use Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as an indication of promoting India Digital payment ecosystem internationally.

Key Details:

What is UPI (Unified Payments Interface)?

• UPI was introduced in 2016 by NPCI, which enables having access to multiple accounts in one bank using only a single application, routing funds and making payments to merchants extremely convenient.

International proliferation of UPI:

• The globalization of UPI would be in tandem with the plan of RBI to make UPI operational in 20 nations by 2028-29.

• Other states that have UPI in operation are Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka and UAE.

Internationalization of UPI significance:

• International market growth: Enables international payments, a factor that will enhance the flow of goods between India and the rest of the world.

• Interoperability & Standardization: Facilitates cooperation between payment systems in different parts of the world and establishes more harmonious relations in the field of financial technologies.

• Digital Diplomacy: Amplifies India image, goodwill and international presence due to collaborations with technology.

Internationalization of UPI activities:

• In 2020 NIPL (NPCI International Payments Ltd.) was established in order to market RuPay to international customers and UPI.

• UPI One World: A prepaid payment tool which is pegged to UPI, issued to foreign nationals and NRIs using G20 countries.

The G20 initiatives of India:

• Creating a Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Repository.

• Establishing a Gracious Social Impact Fund to promote Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), especially in the Global South.

Conclusion:

The use of UPI in Namibia is a milestone in relations between India and that country in its mission to digitalize payments. It is an initiative that will not only strengthen trade across borders but it will also promote India in matters of diplomacy and technology. India will continue its lead in the field of global financial technology with UPI in the center of the Global Digital Public Infrastructure.

Uttarakhand has given the go-ahead to Geo-Thermal Energy Policy 2025 to reduce the cost of energy resources and achieve greener solutions by organizing the energy sources of geothermal character. The policy targets at prompting researches, innovations, and advancements of geothermal technologies. Geo-thermal energy depends on the heat inside the earth including leftover heat during the formation of the planets and heat decay of radioactive compounds. It has application potential as heating, cooling, electricity generation, as well as energy storage. This step classifies Uttarakhand as a trendsetter in harnessing clean energy in a long-term environmental and economic interest.

Context

• Uttarakhand Geo-thermal Energy Policy 2025 has been endorsed by Uttarakhand Cabinet, which seeks to encourage research and development activities in geo-thermal energy since it holds promise regarding economically and environmentally viable power sources.

Key Details:

• Geo-Thermal Energy Geo-thermal energy is the energy that is gained through the earth.

• The geothermal energy comes to be as a byproduct of the heat beneath the Earth consisting of the remaining heat that was present since the world was formed and the radioactive heat.

• It may be applied in heating, cooling, power generation and storage.

Technologies:

• The Conventional Geothermal Technologies utilize hydrothermal repositories in which the heat is transmitted through naturally occurring fluids.

• The Next-Generation Technologies such as Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) or Closed-Loop Geothermal Systems (CLGSs) are capable of extracting heat at increased depths; they are also not connected to the hydrothermal reservoirs.

Potential of Geothermal Energy in India:

• India is estimated to have potential capacity of 10,600 MW (Geothermal Atlas of India 2022).

• The most prospective ones in Ladakh are Puga and Chumathang in Ladakh.

Benefits:

• round-the-clock electric power production with substantial utilization rate (more than 75 % in 2023).

• Low emission relative to the conventional sources of energy.

India’s Initiatives:

• The Indian Geothermal Atlas identifies geothermal prospects in the nation.

• A Task Force has been set to tap the geothermal energy in India.

• Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD) is based on development of geothermal energy.

International Cooperation:

• In Geothermal energy research and development India has formed partnerships with Iceland, Saudi Arabia and Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) in the USA.

Conclusion:

The process of approving the Uttarakhand Geo-Thermal Energy Policy 2025 will help a long way to access the decade long Geothermal Energy by utilizing its thermal properties to generate power sustainably and with no impact on the environment. This policy will develop the research in geothermal technologies in India, cut down on emissions, bring in a green future of energy and thereby Uttarakhand will be an instrumental figure and take forward the renewable energy sector in India.