PM-KUSUM: No Subsidy Revision
There is no proposal under consideration for revision of subsidy amount under PMKUSUM scheme as the sunset date of the scheme is March 31, MoS for renewable energy Shripad Yesso Naik informed the Lok Sabha Wednesday.
As of November, 10,203 MW of solar pumps had been installed under all components of the scheme and as per demand received from the states, `7,106 crore has been released.
No RE Tender Cancellations
The renewable energy implementing agencies have issued letters of award for 67,554 MW renewable power procurement tenders issued since April 2023, with no cancellations since then, minister Pralhad Joshi informed the Lok Sabha Wednesday.
The minister also said that no list has been prepared to cancel any such project.
Renewable energy capacity is being added through multiple channels and not necessarily only through implementing agency-led bids.
Panel seeks coordinated system to speed up coal mining clearances
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Steel and Mines has recommended a coordinated system between the stakeholders—such as project proponents, state-level environment authorities, and the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Chang–to expedite clearances for coal mining projects.
In a report tabled in the Parliament on Wednesday on expediting and simplifying the environment and forest clearances for coal mining projects, the panel said the average time taken for environment approval for central public sector undertakings is around 15-18 months and for commercial coal blocks of private sector it is around 26 months. However, the average time taken for forest clearance approvals ranges from 24–30 months for central public sector undertakings and up to 34 months for commercial coal blocks of the private sector.The panel asked to be apprised of the reasons for this difference in average time taken and suggested that efforts be made to reduce the average time taken for environment and forest clearances for public and private sectors.
Early N-Power Expansion Hit by Tech, Resource Challenges
The slow expansion of nuclear power capacity in the “early days” was primarily due to the technology development phase amid international embargo and technology denial regime, along with limited availability of resources, MoS for personnel, public grievances and pensions and Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha Wednesday.
Although India operates the sixth largest nuclear reactor fleet in the world, the present installed capacity of nuclear power is 8.78 GW. With the deployment of indigenous 700 MW reactors and 1000 MW reactors with international cooperation, the capacity will increase to 22.38 GW by FY32.
Anti-bot for Rlys’ Online Tickets
The Indian Railways is using anti-bot solutions to safeguard online tickets. Responding to a query in the Lok Sabha, minister for railways, information technology and information broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said anti-bot tools such as AKAMAI are deployed to filter non-genuine users and ensure smooth booking for legitimate passengers. “Rigorous revalidation and verification of user accounts have been done. About 3.02 crore suspicious user IDs have been deactivated since January 2025,” he told the lower house.
NHAI Debt at ₹239,818 crore
The total outstanding debt of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is `239,818 crore, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha.
Responding to a query, the minister shared the repayment schedule of NHAI which will spill till 2049-50.
Gadkari said NHAI had raised ₹3,000 crore through rupeedenominated bonds in May 2017, which was listed on Singapore and London Stock Exchange. These bonds were redeemed in May 2022. There are no other foreign borrowings by NHAI, the minister added.
Fixed Costs for Urea Makers may Go Up by Year-end, Fertilisers Secretary
The government plans to increase fixed cost payments to 30 gas-based urea manufacturers by the end of this year, Fertilisers Secretary Rajat Kumar Mishra said Wednesday, addressing industry concerns over costs that have not been revised in nearly 25 years.
The fixed costs, which cover working capital requirements including salaries and plant maintenance, have remained unchanged since 2000 despite sharp inflation, he told reporters on the sidelines of a Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) event. “We are going to decide very soon… I expect very soon… So, let’s hope that before the end of the year, we will be able to do it,” Mishra said, adding that the decision would be taken at the ministry level without requiring cabinet approval. The government has not yet determined if the increased costs will take effect from April 1, 2025, or restore the `2,300 per tonne minimum fixed cost floor retrospectively from April 1, 2014.
47K Compliances Reduced: DPIIT
More than 47,000 compliances have been reduced till November, 2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said in its year-end review, adding that of these, 16,108 compliances have been simplified and 22,287 digitised.
The DPIIT said 4,458 have been decriminalised and 4,270 redundant compliances have been removed.
Under the National Single Window System, 11,568 approvals have been granted till November 20, out of a total of 26,504 applications received.
Labour Min, MS Ink Initial Pact
The Ministry of Labour & Employment on Wednesday inked an initial pact with Microsoft to strengthen job opportunities, artificial intelligence skilling, and workforce readiness in the country. It represents a major step in expanding employment linkages, scaling AI-led skilling
