CEA Nageswaran Cautions on Rising GCC Costs & Global Competition; Shift from Cost to Capability Needed

MNRE Proposes Polysilicon Incentive; Solar Cell Capacity to Triple to 100 GW

India is planning a support scheme to incentivize domestic polysilicon manufacturing, a key raw material for solar panels currently 100% imported. This move aims to deepen the solar value chain, with solar cell capacity expected to triple to 100 GW within a year. Additionally, renewable energy is helping reduce DISCOM power purchase costs, with RE-RTC tariffs matching nuclear power at Rs 5.25/unit.

RBI Dy Governor: CBDC and ULI Adoption Rising, 12 States Digitise Land Records for Faster Loans

RBI Deputy Governor Rohit Jain announced that CBDC (Digital Rupee) and ULI (Unified Lending Interface) are moving beyond pilot stages into real-world usage, with 12 states already digitising land records. This signals a major push for financial inclusion, faster credit delivery, and digital public infrastructure, making it a high-priority topic for banking and economy sections in exams.

Kudankulam Nuclear Reactor Costs Surge 55%: Impact on India's Nuclear Expansion Plans

Cost of four under-construction nuclear reactors at Kudankulam has risen by 55% to ₹1,38,330 crore, driven by Russia-Ukraine war. This poses a challenge to India's ambitious nuclear expansion plans and could increase electricity tariffs, especially as the government opens the sector to private participation.

Madhepura Loco Factory: 30% of Alstom's Global Engineering from India, 90% Localisation Achieved

The Madhepura Electric Locomotive Joint Venture (MELPL) between Indian Railways and Alstom has become a flagship Make in India success. With 650 locomotives supplied and 90% localisation, it now contributes 30% of Alstom's global engineering work from India, showcasing FDI-driven technology transfer and skill development in the railway sector.

UPI Completes 10 Years: 66 Cr Daily Transactions, 49% Global Volume, Challenges of Monetisation & Next Frontiers

UPI's 10th anniversary highlights its dominance in global real-time payment volume (49%) but not in value, as low-value retail payments dominate. The key challenges ahead are monetisation of the zero-MDR model, expanding into high-value transactions, and integrating with tax compliance to drive digital economy growth.

E20 Ethanol Fuel Used in 4 Crore Vehicles; Flex-Fuel Engines to End ₹22 Lakh Cr Fuel Imports

E20 ethanol-blended petrol is being used in 4 crore four-wheelers and 20 million two-wheelers without harming vehicles and with improved mileage. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that automobile companies will produce flex-fuel engines capable of running on 100% ethanol, potentially saving ₹22 lakh crore in fuel imports and boosting farmers' income through higher maize prices.

Google's $15B AI Data Centre: AP's Agrivoltaics Model for Farmers' Income & Energy Security

Google commits $15 billion to build Asia's largest AI data centre (1 GW) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, requiring 24 GWh daily. To avoid power conflicts with agriculture, the article proposes an agrivoltaics model where farmers co-own solar farms on their land, supplying clean energy to the data centre via the state's new Deemed Distribution Licence (DDL). This model can multiply farmer incomes 8-10 times and secure social licence for the project.

World Bank Report: Only 4.5% Jobs in Low-Income Countries Exposed to AI vs 14.2% in Rich Nations

A World Bank report reveals that AI poses a smaller threat to jobs in developing economies like India (4.5% exposure) compared to rich nations (14.2%). However, sectors reliant on outsourcing (call centers, back-office) face job losses. The report advises focusing on small language models (SLMs) for agriculture, education, and healthcare to avoid over-dependence on the US or China.