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Context: Recently, the Union Finance Minister approved the elevation of four Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to ‘Navratna’ status.
The move brings the total number of Navratna CPSEs in India to 25, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening key public sector enterprises and enhancing their operational autonomy.
The Navratna status is a recognition given to select CPSEs that demonstrate significant performance and potential.
The status grants these enterprises enhanced autonomy in financial and operational matters, enabling them to make independent decisions in areas such as capital expenditure, investments in joint ventures or subsidiaries, mergers and acquisitions, and human resources management.
This autonomy allows Navratna companies to operate with agility and respond swiftly to market opportunities, positioning them to become global giants.
To be eligible for Navratna status, a CPSE must meet several stringent criteria. These include:
Miniratna I Classification: The enterprise must already hold the Miniratna I status, indicating a proven track record of profitability and operational efficiency.
Schedule ‘A’ Status: The CPSE must be classified as Schedule ‘A,’ denoting its significance and size within the public sector.
Performance Ratings: The enterprise must have obtained ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ratings in three of the last five years, indicating consistent performance and adherence to agreed objectives.
Composite Score: The CPSE must achieve a composite score of 60 or above in six selected performance indicators, reflecting its operational strength and financial health.
Railtel Corporation of India, a key CPSE under the Ministry of Railways, has demonstrated robust financial performance.
For the financial year 2023-24, Railtel reported an annual turnover of Rs 2,622 crore and a net profit of Rs 246 crore.
As the 23rd Navratna, Railtel’s new status will enable it to enhance its capabilities and expand its service offerings, particularly in the field of telecommunications and network infrastructure, where it plays a vital role.
SECI, under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has been a driving force in India’s renewable energy sector.
With a cumulative awarded capacity of 69.25 gigawatts (GW) and an annual power trading volume exceeding 42 billion units, SECI is at the forefront of India’s efforts to increase renewable energy capacity and meet climate goals.
In the financial year 2023-24, SECI achieved a consolidated annual turnover of Rs 13,118.68 crore, a 20.85 percent increase from the previous year, and a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 510.92 crore, reflecting a 34.89 percent growth.
The Navratna status will provide SECI with greater flexibility to expand its operations, adopt advanced technologies, and enhance its geographical presence.
NHPC, a prominent player in the hydropower sector, operates under the Ministry of Power.
The company reported an annual turnover of Rs 8,405 crore and a net profit of Rs 3,744 crore for the financial year 2023-24.
With Navratna status, NHPC will gain increased operational freedom, enabling it to optimize its project execution capabilities and explore new opportunities in the renewable energy domain.
SJVN, also under the Ministry of Power, focuses on the development of hydroelectric power projects.
For FY 2023-24, SJVN reported an annual turnover of Rs 2,833 crore and a net profit of Rs 908 crore.
As a newly designated Navratna, SJVN will benefit from enhanced autonomy, allowing it to accelerate its growth trajectory, explore new markets, and enhance its project management capabilities.
The Navratna status is designed to empower CPSEs with greater autonomy, allowing them to operate more like private sector companies in terms of decision-making and operational efficiency.
This autonomy enables these enterprises to undertake large-scale investments, enter into joint ventures, and pursue mergers and acquisitions without requiring prior government approval, thereby expediting growth and expansion.
The increased flexibility also allows Navratna CPSEs to attract and retain top talent, improve their financial management practices, and enhance their technological capabilities.
Navratna CPSEs are considered strategic assets for the country, given their role in critical sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and telecommunications.
By elevating these enterprises to Navratna status, the government aims to boost their competitiveness, ensure their long-term sustainability, and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
These companies are expected to lead by example, demonstrating the potential of public sector enterprises to operate efficiently and profitably.
Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in India are government-owned corporations where the government holds at least 51% of the equity.
They are crucial for the Indian economy, contributing to various sectors, including heavy engineering, defense, and energy.
CPSEs are classified into three main categories based on their financial performance and operational autonomy:
This is the highest status, allowing companies to make significant investments without government approval. To qualify, a company must have:
Navratna status
An average annual net profit of over Rs 5,000 crore in the last three years
An average annual turnover of Rs 25,000 crore or a net worth of Rs 15,000 crore over the same period
This status grants companies the autonomy to invest up to Rs 1,000 crore in a single project without prior government approval. To achieve Navratna status, a company must:
Be a Miniratna Category-I company
Have received ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’ ratings in Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for at least three out of the last five years
This category is divided into two subcategories:
Category I: These companies must have made a profit in the last three consecutive years, with at least one year’s pre-tax profit of Rs 30 crore or more.
Category II: These companies must also show consistent profitability but have a lower threshold for capital expenditure autonomy, allowing them to incur capital expenditures of up to Rs 300 crore or 50% of their net worth, whichever is lower, without government approval
Context: Recently, The Union Cabinet has approved the Rs 2,817-crore Digital Agriculture Mission for the creation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the farm sector.
By bringing technology to the fields, the mission helps farmers access real-time information on weather, crop health, and market prices, allowing them to make better decisions.
The goal is to modernize agriculture, increase yields, and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the country.
Objective: The Digital Agri Mission is designed to promote and expedite the adoption of digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, remote sensing, robotics, and drones in agriculture.
Purpose: Establishment of a nationwide registry that assigns a unique ID to every farmer.
Current Implementation: States like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have already initiated the generation of these IDs.
Significance: The unique farmer ID will enable access to various government schemes, such as PM-Kisan and Fasal Bima Yojana, as well as financial services like farm loans and insurance.
Purpose: Development of a registry documenting the crops sown by farmers on their land.
Significance: This registry will facilitate improved planning and crop production estimation.
Framework: The Department is finalising the creation of an “Agristack,” a digital foundation for developing innovative agri-focused solutions.
Purpose: Creation of a unified platform offering farmers access to services such as weather updates, market prices, and agro-advisory.
Implementation: Financial assistance provided to states and union territories for projects integrating advanced technologies like AI, blockchain, IoT, and robotics.
Objective: Enhancement of crop forecasting capabilities through technological advancements.
Objective: Utilisation of digital tools to evaluate soil health and fertility.
The Mission will be implemented over the next two years, concluding in 2025-26.
Pilot initiatives have been launched in six districts: Farrukhabad (Uttar Pradesh), Beed (Maharashtra), Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjab), and Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu).
Inclusivity and Accessibility: The Aadhaar system has provided a unique identity to over 1.3 billion Indians, enabling them to access various government services and subsidies efficiently.
Economic Growth: The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system has transformed financial transactions in India, simplifying digital payments for small businesses and individuals, thus boosting economic growth.
Efficiency and Transparency: The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has significantly minimised leakages in welfare schemes by directly ensuring that subsidies reach the intended beneficiaries, enhancing transparency.
Limited Digital Literacy: A significant number of farmers lack the necessary skills and access to effectively utilise agri-tech solutions.
High Upfront Costs: The substantial initial investment required for agri-tech solutions poses a barrier, particularly for small-scale farmers.
Fragmented Land Holdings: The prevalence of small and fragmented land holdings complicates the implementation of large-scale mechanisation.
Limited Infrastructure: Inadequate access to essential infrastructure such as electricity and internet services hampers the widespread adoption of agri-tech.
Inadequate Government Policies: Inconsistencies and poor implementation of government policies reduce the effectiveness of agri-tech initiatives.
Lack of Collaboration: Limited cooperation among farmers, the private sector, and the government restricts the development of effective agri-tech solutions.
Limited Market Access: Challenges in accessing markets and obtaining market information hinder the adoption of agri-tech innovations.
Drone Regulation Issues: Privacy concerns arise due to the advanced sensors and cameras equipped on drones, affecting their regulation and usage in agriculture.
Objective: The Digital Agriculture Mission seeks to establish a comprehensive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the agriculture sector, analogous to successful e-governance initiatives in India like Aadhaar, DigiLocker, UPI, and electronic health records.
Foundation: AgriStack forms the basic IT infrastructure under the Mission, consisting of three primary agri-sector registries or databases:
Farmers’ Registry: Farmers will be assigned a digital identity, termed ‘Farmer ID,’ akin to Aadhaar, linked to records such as land ownership, livestock, crops, demographics, and benefits availed.
Target: The government plans to issue digital identities to 11 crore farmers, with coverage expected to reach 6 crore by 2024-25, 3 crore by 2025-26, and the remaining 2 crore by 2026-27.
Crop Sown Registry: This registry will document the crops sown by farmers, leveraging data from Digital Crop Surveys conducted each season.
Geo-referenced Village Maps: These maps will connect geographic land records with their physical locations.
Functionality: Krishi DSS is a geospatial platform that integrates remote sensing data on crops, soil, weather, and water resources, enabling crop mapping, drought and flood monitoring, yield assessments, and crop insurance claim processing.
Scope: The Mission aims to prepare detailed Soil Profile Maps (on a 1:10,000 scale) for approximately 142 million hectares of agricultural land, with 29 million hectares already completed.
Context: Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister approved the proposal of Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd to setup a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat, with the objective to develop a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem. The proposed unit will be setup with an investment of Rs 3,300 crore.
This is the fifth semiconductor unit, and the fourth assembly unit, to receive Cabinet approval.
The proposal was approved under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
The capacity of this unit will be 60 lakh chips per day.
The chips produced in this unit will cater to a wide variety of applications which include segments such as industrial, automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, mobile phones, etc.
In June 2023, the Union Cabinet approved the first semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat.
In February, 2024, three more semiconductor units were approved. Tata Electronics is setting up a semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat and one semiconductor unit in Morigaon, Assam. CG Power is setting up one semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat.
Semiconductors and displays are the foundation of modern electronics industry.
These are critical components that power electronics - from computers and smartphones to the brake sensors in cars.
As India does not produce any semiconductors, the country’s demands are met with imports.
The demand for semiconductors in India will reportedly reach around USD 100 billion by 2025, up from the current demand of USD 24 billion.
The absence of local manufacturing affected India the most during the lockdown imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the current geopolitical scenario, trusted sources of semiconductors and displays hold strategic importance.
These are key to the security of critical information infrastructure.
E.g., The Department of Telecommunications has in the past raised concerns over possible bugs in the telecom equipment sold by the Chinese company.
India is striving to become a major semiconductor hub, similar to the United States, Taiwan, and South Korea, by attracting foreign companies to establish operations within the country.
Notably, India has approved an $11 billion fabrication plant by Tata Electronics in partnership with Taiwan’s Powerchip and three chip assembly plants by Tatas, US-based Micron Technology, and Murugappa Group’s CG Power with Japan’s Renesas.
Additional proposals include a Rs 78,000-crore fabrication plant by Israel’s Tower Semiconductor and a Rs 4,000-crore assembly plant by Zoho, highlighting the country's growing ambitions in the semiconductor industry.
Semiconductors are essential components in various modern technologies, from smartphones to medical devices and vehicles.
Surge in semiconductor demand due to widespread 5G adoption, rising cryptocurrency mining, and government digitization efforts.
Currently, about 70% of the world’s semiconductor manufacturing is concentrated in South Korea, Taiwan, China, the United States, and Japan.
There is a global shift away from China’s dominance due to geopolitical pressures and supply chain vulnerabilities.
India relies on imports to meet its semiconductor device needs due to the lack of domestic fabrication facilities.
In 2022, the Indian semiconductor market was valued at US$ 26.3 billion and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 26.3% to US$ 271.9 billion by 2032.
India is starting to establish itself in the international semiconductor market and could become a significant hub for semiconductor manufacturing in the future.
India has a significant advantage in semiconductor design and intellectual labor.
Many global semiconductor design engineers are of Indian origin, and companies like Intel and NVIDIA have large facilities in India.
The semiconductor industry in India is advancing rapidly, with companies like Tata Group projecting that commercial production from their Gujarat and Assam plants will commence by 2026.
This comes in response to the global chip shortages experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the strategic importance of self-reliant semiconductor manufacturing.
India faces challenges in becoming a semiconductor superpower due to high costs of land, power, and labor, which have previously discouraged investors.
Unavailability of trained workers
Another major challenge is the creation of an ecosystem for ancillary industries.
Lack of ancillary industry becomes a disability for companies which want to set up units in India.
India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) : It is a specialized and independent Business Division within the Digital India Corporation. It aims to build a vibrant semiconductor and display ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.
The ‘Make in India’ initiative (2014) aims to enhance manufacturing and establish India as a global manufacturing hub.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Offers incentive packages to companies setting up semiconductor manufacturing facilities in India. Aims to boost semiconductor production and create direct and indirect job opportunities.
Additional Schemes: Design Linked Incentive (DLI): Supports semiconductor design efforts.
Chips to Startup (C2S): Promotes semiconductor startups.
Scheme for Promotion of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS): Supports electronic components and semiconductor manufacturing.
The government plans to increase the funding outlay for the second phase of its chip manufacturing incentive policy to $15 billion from the $10 billion it had committed for the first phase.
The Union Cabinet was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2023 between the Government of Republic of India and the European Commission on Working Arrangements on Semiconductors Ecosystems, its supply chain and innovation under the framework of EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC).
India is set for significant growth in the semiconductor industry due to strategic initiatives and partnerships.
To become a major player, India needs to focus on manufacturing precision at the atomic level, learning from leaders like Taiwan, Korea, and Japan.
As the Prime Minister emphasized, “India will soon start commercial production of semiconductors and related products and become a global power in this sector,” signaling the nation’s ambitious drive towards technological self-sufficiency under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
With sustained efforts and a proactive stance, India is on course to solidify its position as a leading semiconductor manufacturing hub, contributing majorly to technological advancement and economic growth.
Context: Recently, the government of India is planning to launch the “Agri Fund for Startups & Rural Entrepreneurs” (AgriSure), a Category-II alternative investment fund with an initial corpus of Rs 750 crore. This initiative aims to support innovation in agriculture and address key challenges in the sector.
The Government launched the AgriSURE to support start-ups and agripreneurs through investments in sector-specific, sector-agnostic, and debt Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), as well as direct equity support to start-ups working in Agriculture and allied sectors
This initiative aims to foster innovation and sustainability in India’s agricultural sector through the establishment of a Rs 750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
The fund will offer both equity and debt support, specifically targeting high-risk, high- impact activities in the agriculture value chain.
Objective: To provide comprehensive support to agripreneurs by establishing a financing ecosystem that offers both equity and debt options, enhances the farm produce value chain, creates rural infrastructure, generates employment, and supports farmers’ producer organizations.
Funding Pattern: The initial corpus of Rs 750 crore, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, NABARD, and other financial institutions, is managed by NABVENTURES, a wholly owned subsidiary of NABARD.
Vulnerability to Climate Change: India’s agriculture is increasingly susceptible to climate change impacts and severe weather conditions
Ecological Stress: The ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations) paper highlights ecological stress in Punjab and Haryana from surplus paddy production, resulting in soil degradation, water depletion, and methane emissions from flooded rice fields contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Low Productivity: Agriculture is India’s largest source of employment but has the lowest labor productivity of any sector.
Financing Challenges: Securing funding for agri-startups is still challenging despite past government efforts.
Lack of Technology Development: Despite having over 40 universities focused on agriculture and related fields, there is a lack of indigenous technology to tackle critical agricultural challenges.
Using information technology in agriculture will boost labor productivity and increase income and profits for small and marginal farmers, who constitute 85% of the farming population.
As food prices have been a major factor in inflation, boosting agricultural productivity will enhance food availability at affordable prices and ease pressure in macroeconomic management.
Priority Areas for Funding: The fund should prioritize startups that develop crop varieties resilient to extreme weather, such as drought and heavy rain, and promote agricultural practices that improve water and nutrient efficiency.
Water-Efficient Crop Development:There is a need to develop water-efficient crop varieties, especially paddy and wheat, with shorter growth cycles to improve agricultural outcomes.
Context: In a bid to catch wolves that are targeting children and villagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich, the forest department has initiated an innovative effort ‘Project Bhediya’ to catch the wolves.
The Bahraich region has been plagued by a series of attacks by man-eating wolves, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to launch ‘Project Bhediya’ to catch the wolves roaming free in Mahsi Tehsil area.
The operation, aimed at capturing the man-eating wolves responsible for several attacks, has successfully caught four wolves, but the community remains frustrated due to the continued threat.
Use colourful teddy dolls soaked in children’s urine as bait to capture them.
Life-size dolls in colourful attire, sprinkled with the urine of children placed strategically in the now-identified path generally taken by the wolves, will now help catch the elusive animals linked to the killing of nine people in Bahraich.
The cages have been given a look to give the wolf an impression as if a child is sitting or sleeping there. As soon as the animal closes in, we will catch it.
Wolves have a tendency to return to their den in the evening and prey at night. “We are working on a strategy keeping this habit of the wolves in mind and with human effort on the ground the thermal drones in the sky round-the-clock.
Scientific Name: Canis lupus pallipes
Description: Intermediate in size, positioned between the Tibetan and Arabian wolf.
Habitat: Found in areas with scrub, grasslands, and semi-arid pastoral agro-ecosystems.
Distribution: Widely distributed from the Indian subcontinent to Israel.
Conservation Status:-
IUCN: Least Concern
Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I
CITES : Appendix 1
Minister of New and Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi said that India will host the second edition of International Conference on Green Hydrogen from 11th to 13th September at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
World champion Sachin Sarjerao Khilari of India won the silver medal in the men’s shot put F46 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on Wednesday( 4 September 2024)
Union Minister chaired interactive sessions on various themes of significance such as Viksit Bharat 2047, Seva Se Seekhen, Youth in public life, FIT India Clubs and Swachh Bharat Mission – Naya Sankalp with officials of Department of Youth Affairs and MY Bharat coming from all over the country.
The National Convention is being organised by the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports on 4th and 5th September 2024 at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
Youth Officers from across the country are attending the convention to share insights on various themes, including Health, Urban Governance, Cyber Security, Entrepreneurship, Youth Exchange, and Science Mela.
The discussions will also focus on leveraging the MY Bharat technology platform to enhance youth outreach and engagement.
The Uttar Pradesh government will construct a Vedic-3D museum in Varanasi. This museum will be dedicated to Indian astrology, astronomy, and Vedic literature. The chief minister of UP, Yogi Adityanath, made this announcement during his maiden visit to the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Kashi.
Teenage Jaipur girl Anuya Prasad clinched the women’s air pistol gold in a thrilling fashion with a 10.3 last shot to beat Sofia Olenych of Ukraine by 0.1 point in the second World Deaf Shooting Championship in Hannover, Germany on Sunday ( 1 September 2024)
Leading French cosmetic maker L'Oreal Paris on Tuesday ( 3 September ) roped in Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt as its new global brand ambassador.
With this, Bhatt joins the brand's diverse roster of L'Oreal brand ambassadors like Viola Davis, Jane Fonda, Eva Longoria, Kendall Jenner, Elle Fanning, Camila Cabello, and many others. She will star in the French beauty brand's campaigns, starting in September 2024, said a L'Oreal statement.
The Bihar Government has officially appointed Amrit Lal Meena, former Coal Secretary, as the new Chief Secretary of Bihar. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has sanctioned Meena’s repatriation to his parent cadre following the retirement of Brijesh Mehrotra, the previous Chief Secretary.
Pranjali Dhumal secured a bronze medal in the Women’s 25m Pistol event at the World Deaf Shooting Championship in Hanover, Germany.
Pranjali qualified for the finals with a deaf world record and championship record score of 571.
In the finals, Dhumal clinched the bronze by hitting three out of five shots in the eighth series, edging out Croatia’s Lana Skeledzija by a single point.
She finished with a score of 29, trailing the Ukrainian duo Sofiia Olenych and Halyna Mosina, who claimed gold and silver, respectively.
Veteran Sharath Kamal and star female player Manika Batra were named in the India squad for the 27th Asian Table Tennis Championships, scheduled to be held in Astana, from October 7 to 13.
Reliance Industries has won a bid under an incentives program which supports EV battery production, a statement from the Indian government said on Wednesday ( 4 September 2024).
Earlier this year, seven companies submitted bids to set up local manufacturing units for the production of advanced chemistry cells, or ACCs, under the government's production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.
Reliance can make upto 10 gigawatts of ACCs, the statement said.
The oil-to-telecom conglomerate beat six other competitors, which included units of battery maker Amara Raja Energy and Mobility and power producer JSW Energy
Former Team India Head Coach Rahul Dravid is set to return to Rajasthan Royals as their head coach for the 2025 IPL season.
His tenure as the Indian cricket team coach is ending in June where he helped the Men in Blue win the 2024 T20 World Cup, their first ICC title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Dravid has recently signed a deal with his former franchise Rajasthan Royals, for whom he was captain in IPL 2012 and 2013 and then was the team director and mentor for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
According to the report, Rajasthan Royals are also set to sign Vikram Rathour as an assistant coach .
Striker Luis Suarez will play his last game for Uruguay on Friday( 5 September 2024). Suarez was emotional as he announced he’s ending a 17-year international career after the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay at Centenario Stadium.
President Droupadi Murmu will present the National Teachers' Award 2024 today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, in honour of 82 exceptional teachers.
Why in News?
Key Points:
=> Land Surveys in Bihar: Ongoing in 45,000 villages to digitize land data and resolve land disputes, with a one-year timeframe for completion.
Objective:
Implementation:
Access to prime resources