Indian Tourism Sector

In News The Centre has approved ₹3,295 crore in interest-free loans for tourism infrastructure development across states. These funds are part of the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, with a focus on developing tourism infrastructure in the country. The loans are long-term, interest-free, and will be repaid over 50 years, aiming to boost local economies, create

Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP)

The Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP) is a significant initiative by the Union Government of India in collaboration with the World Bank. This project aims to promote sustainable highway construction while enhancing connectivity across several states. Key Details Project Length: The GNHCP encompasses a total length of 781 km, covering the states of Himachal Pradesh, Rajastha

Modal Solar Village Initiative

Overview: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued guidelines for the Model Solar Village component under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, approved in February 2024. This initiative aims to enhance solar rooftop capacity and empower residential households to generate their own electricity. Financial Commitment: The overall scheme has an outlay of ₹75,021 crore, with the Mode

Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project

Overview: SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), a subsidiary of SJVN, has commissioned a 90 MW floating solar project at the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park, situated on the River Narmada in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. This park is recognized as the largest floating solar park in India. Investment: The project was developed at a cost of ₹646.20 crores. Energy Generation: First-Year Generation:

Collision Avoidance System (CAS)

The Collision Avoidance System (CAS) is an advanced technology designed to enhance safety in transportation, particularly in rail systems. In India, the implementation of Kavach, a homegrown CAS, has gained attention due to recent train accidents highlighting the need for better safety measures. Key Features of CAS Real-Time Data: CAS systems rely on real-time information regarding the po

Transshipment Port

Why in the News? India recently inaugurated its first cargo ship at the Vizhinjam International Transshipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala, marking a significant milestone in India's port infrastructure development. More on the News Ownership: The port is owned by the Government of Kerala. Functionality: Designed primarily for container transshipment as well as multi-

Coal Sector in India

Why in the News? Recent data from the Ministry of Coal highlights a significant decrease in the share of imported coal in India, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of -2.29% from 2014-15 to 2023-24, compared to 13.94% from 2004-05 to 2013-14. Key Reforms/Initiatives in Coal Sector Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 (CMSP Act): Permitted auctioning of coal mines for comm

Indian Railways

Indian Railways has been facing increased scrutiny due to a series of train derailments and collisions in recent months. These incidents have highlighted significant safety concerns, prompting calls for improved measures to ensure the safety of passengers and operations. Key Reasons for the Increased Focus on Safety: Recent Incidents: Multiple derailments and collisions have occurred, dra

Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana

Recently, Prime Minister announced Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana under which 1 crore households will get rooftop solar power systems.  India’s Status of Current Solar Capacity India currently stands at 4th place globally in solar power capacity. As per Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), solar power insta

Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) program

Rs 17,490 crore has been set aside for the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme, to bolster domestic electrolyser manufacturing, green hydrogen production. About Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme It is a subcomponent of National Green Hydrogen Mission. Aim: To bolster domestic electrolyser manufacturing and

Logistics costs in India

Context: Accurate data is the first step in bringing down logistics costs in India. Accurate data is crucial for reducing logistics costs in India for several reasons: Improved decision-making: Accurate data enables logistics managers to make informed decisions based on real-time information, leading to more efficient supply chain management and reduced costs Optimized routes: By analyzing

Internet cable project in Lakshadweep

Context: recently Kochi–Lakshadweep submarine optical fibre cable project was inaugurated , implemented at a cost of ₹1,072 crore, which will connect the islands to high-speed internet for the first time, after years of relying on limited satellite bandwidth. About the project: Objective   The KLI project involves extending submarine cable connectivity from Kochi to eleve

Gulf of Aden

Context: The Indian Navy has deployed ships and aircraft to maintain enhanced surveillance and maritime security operations in the North/Central Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden.  News: The Navy is actively observing the situation in collaboration with national maritime agencies and is dedicated to guaranteeing the well-being of merchant shipping and seafarers in the area. Cu

Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC)

Harit Nauka guidelines and the River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047 were launched at the recently held inaugural Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) in Kolkata. IWDC – It is hosted by the Inland Waterways Authority of India. Establishment in – 2023 Objectives – For comprehensive development of inland waterways and associated ecosyst

Sanjauli-Dhalli Tunnel

Context: Recently, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh inaugurated the newly-constructed Sanjauli-Dhalli tunnel. About  Sanjauli-Dhalli Tunnel: Description: A double-lane tunnel spanning approximately 150 meters, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 47 crore. Existing Dhalli Tunnel: Originally built in 1852 as a single-lane passage, the older Dhalli tunnel had exceed

Mountain Green Cover Index (MGCI)

Recently National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed a 3-year MoU with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to develop & report a Green Cover Index for National highways. MGCI is a metric that measures the amount of green vegetation in mountain areas (forest, shrubs, trees, pasture land, crop land, etc.) in order to monitor progress towards the mountain targe

South Coast Railway Zone

The South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone is India's 18th railway zone, and its headquarters are in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It was announced in 2019 and still not started yet.

Indian Railways in 2023 – Year Review

The Performance of Indian Railways in 2023 showed significant strides in infrastructure but reveals underwhelming freight loading and financial performance. How Indian Railways performed in 2023? Near completion of DFC – Dedicated Freight Corridors are nearing completion with more than 200 freight trains already running on the corridors.  De

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA)

RGIA in Hyderabad was ranked 2nd among the top 20 global airports with the highest On-Time Performance (OTP), according to Cirium’s annual report released recently. On-time performance (OTP) is a measure of how punctual an airline's flights are compared to their scheduled times. A flight is considered on-time if it arrives or departs within 15 minutes of its sche

Infrastructure investments and the slowing job creation

Infrastructure investments and the slowing job creation     Unemployment in India: India is the fastest-growing large economy in the world, but the unemployment rate has also increased. More than 50% of India’s population is <25 years and more than 65% is >35 years of age. The unemployment rate of India stands at 8% as per the data of Centre for Mon

Recalibrating India’s clean-cooking strategy

Rationale behind introduction of PMUY scheme: LPG connections are concentrated in Urban and Semi-urban areas mostly to middle class and upper middle-class households. Low-income households depend on use of fossil fuels such as Kerosene, coal and wood for regular cooking usage. The burning of fossil fuels in a closed or partially closed environments can cause acute respiratory illnesses,