The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved enhanced delegation of financial powers to NTPC Limited, enabling the company to invest beyond the previously sanctioned limit of ₹7,500 crore—now extended up to ₹20,000 crore—for renewable energy development. This enhanced delegation applies to investments in its subsidiary NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), and subsequently through NGEL in NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NREL) and other joint ventures and subsidiaries. This strategic move is aimed at accelerating the country’s renewable energy growth and supporting NTPC’s target of achieving 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032.…
Author: Aruna Sharma
Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Haryana Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini, today inaugurated the India campus of the University of Southampton in Gurugram, Haryana. This landmark event commemorates five years of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and marks a major milestone in India’s push toward internationalisation of higher education. Also present were senior dignitaries, including Haryana’s Industries Minister Shri Rao Narbir Singh, Lord Patel OBE (Chancellor of the University), British High Commissioner Ms. Lindy Cameron, and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mark E. Smith. The University of Southampton—a QS Top 100 global university and founding member of…
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved a strategic exemption allowing NLC India Limited (NLCIL) to bypass existing investment restrictions applicable to Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). This enables NLCIL to invest ₹7,000 crore in its wholly owned subsidiary, NLC India Renewables Limited (NIRL), which will further invest in renewable energy projects directly or through joint ventures—without the need for prior government approval. This investment is also exempted from the Department of Public Enterprises’ 30% net worth cap on investments in subsidiaries and joint ventures, providing greater financial and operational autonomy. This decision…
As India aspires to become a $35 trillion economy by 2047, the foundation of this growth must be built on education, said Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Speaking at a seminar titled “School Education in India: Towards Equitable Access to Quality Education for All”, organised by the Council for Social Development, the Minister emphasised that inclusive, high-quality education is the cornerstone of nation-building and societal progress. Shri Puri highlighted that education is not just a policy issue but a national imperative. “As our country develops, education must remain the central focus,” he stated, stressing…
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Pralhad Joshi, recently visited the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) at IIT Bombay. During his visit, he held an interactive session with NCPRE’s Investigators and Advisory Board Members and toured advanced research laboratories, including the Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell Lab, the Silicon Fab Laboratory, and the Medium Voltage Laboratory. A highlight of the visit was the presentation of a significant technological breakthrough by an IIT Bombay-incubated startup, Advanced Renewable Tandem-Photovoltaics India (ART-PV India). The startup has developed a 4-terminal Silicon/CdTe-Perovskite tandem solar…
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, will present the prestigious Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards at a national ceremony organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on 17th July 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event will also be graced by Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal and Minister of State Shri Tokhan Sahu. This marks the 9th edition of the Swachh Survekshan (SS), the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey, conducted under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U). Since its inception in 2016 with just 73 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), the initiative has grown exponentially, covering over 4,500…
The Department of Financial Services (DFS), under the Ministry of Finance, launched a comprehensive three-month nationwide saturation campaign from 1st July to 30th September 2025 to expand the reach of key financial inclusion initiatives. The campaign focuses on promoting flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY). With a vision to ensure last-mile connectivity, the campaign aims to achieve 100% coverage across all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the country. In just two weeks since…
Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a key subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), has taken a bold stride toward gender equality and institutional innovation with two landmark women-led initiatives in Dhanbad. These efforts underscore the company’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and empowering women across all levels of operation. In a historic move, BCCL’s Koyla Nagar Hospital conducted its first fully women-staffed general shift. From doctors and nurses to support personnel, the entire shift was managed by women, marking a milestone in public sector healthcare. This initiative, guided by the Ministry of Coal and CIL’s broader vision for inclusivity, reflects…
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has officially opened applications for the fifth edition of the National Startup Awards (NSA)—a prestigious initiative under the Startup India program. Launched in 2016, Startup India has significantly reshaped India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, encouraging innovation and empowering a new generation of youth, women, students, and first-time founders. The initiative has been especially effective in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, bringing opportunities and recognition to startups across the country. To date, over 1.75 lakh startups have been recognized by DPIIT, representing nearly every district…
The Income Tax Department today launched a major verification drive across multiple locations in India, targeting individuals and entities involved in fraudulent claims of deductions and exemptions in Income Tax Returns (ITRs). This action stems from a detailed investigation into the misuse of tax provisions under the Income-tax Act, 1961, often orchestrated with the help of professional intermediaries. The department has uncovered organized rackets operated by certain ITR preparers and intermediaries who have been submitting false returns with fictitious deductions and exemptions. These schemes exploit beneficial provisions and, in some cases, involve the filing of fraudulent TDS returns to claim…