4 September 2026 Current Affairs: Geothermal Energy

The release records that ISRO carried out the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, and that the Prime Minister praised the space agency for the achievement.

The distinction claimed for EOS-05 in this release is precisely this: it is India's first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit.

The release was issued by the Prime Minister's Office and records that Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the launch as yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for the nation.

The release states that the virtual bilateral meeting between Dr Jitendra Singh and Prof Philippe Baptiste took place ahead of the International Space Summit, which is scheduled in Paris on 9 and 10 September 2026.

The release says clearly that this office holder has been invited to deliver the opening keynote, and that the subject of the keynote is India's future human spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit.

The release recalls that India and France have shared a close space partnership spanning nearly six decades, and that cooperation between ISRO and CNES has included the joint satellite missions Megha-Tropiques and SARAL.

The release records that Indian student delegates delivered their best-ever performance at the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad, held under the aegis of the International Geoscience Organisation in Turin, Italy, from 20 to 27 August 2026.

The medals were won across the Written and Practical examinations, the International Team Field Investigation and the Earth Science Project categories.

The release explains that the Earth Science Olympiad journey begins with an all-India test facilitated by this body, in which roughly 17,800 students appeared across 500 centres nationwide.

The release records that the Union Home Minister extended his best wishes to the 108 athletes from 19 countries participating in the World Archery Para Series, and that the participating nations include Bhutan, the United Kingdom, China, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Indonesia and the United States.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Union Home Minister said that the 2030 Commonwealth Games will mark the centenary edition of those Games, and that it is a matter of great joy that Ahmedabad will host the event.

The release states plainly that the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation inaugurated the Archery Association of India's World Archery Para Series through video conferencing.

The release states that SAIL achieved double digit year-on-year growth in overall sales volumes in August 2026, with total sales at this level, registering a rise of 13 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

The release records that during August 2026 SAIL further strengthened its financial position by reducing borrowings by this amount from the level of 31.03.2026.

The correct answer is that crude steel production grew by 8 per cent to 1.68 MT, against 1.55 MT in the corresponding period last year.

Addressing the India-Belgium High-Level Dialogue in Mumbai, the Commerce and Industry Minister said the India-EU Free Trade Agreement brings together 2 billion people, representing a quarter of global GDP, a third of world trade and a market of USD 24 trillion.

Shri Goyal said that Belgium stands at the gateway of the opportunity created by the India-EU FTA, and noted that the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is Europe's second-largest seaport.

The Commerce and Industry Minister said India's trade with the European Union had already doubled over the last decade to nearly this figure, which is why the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement matters so much to both sides.

The backgrounder records that the ONGC Energy Centre commissioned the country's first two geothermal wells there in July 2026. The valley lies at over 14,000 feet above sea level, is known for its hot springs and underground heat reserves, and is among India's most promising geothermal sites.

The backgrounder states that the Geological Survey of India has mapped 381 hot springs and identified 10 geothermal provinces across the country, and that India's theoretical geothermal prospect stands at nearly 10.6 GW, of which 42 sites have been recognised as promising for power generation and direct heat use.

The backgrounder states that the Government notified the National Policy on Geothermal Energy in September 2025 and that this ministry is the nodal ministry for its implementation.

The release states that the coordinated efforts of forty ministries and departments culminated in the successful resolution of this many cases, and that the redressal rate works out to seventy-two per cent.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare started Special Campaign 3 on the earlier of those dates, for the timely and qualitative redressal of long-pending pension grievances, claims and issues, and the campaign concluded on the later one.

The release records that, besides the target cases identified by ministries, grievance cases pending on the CPENGRAMS portal for more than one month were also taken up for redressal during the preparatory phase.