IN A mega success for indigenous weapon systems, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the project to buy over Rs 10,000 crore worth of ammunition for the Indian Army’s Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems. The Indian Army project to buy the Rs 10,000 crore plus ammunition including the Area Denial Munitions and Pinaka Enhanced Range rockets was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security in a meeting held on Wednesday, defence sources told ANI. The project would be divided between the rocket manufacturer Solar Industries of Nagpur and the former Ordnance Factory Board company Munitions India Limited (MIL), they said. Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi in his annual press conference on January 13 had stated that the contract for Pinaka weapon systems munitions including the Rs 5,700 crore for high-explosive ammunition and Rs 4,500 crore area denial munitions were expected to be cleared soon by the Government.

 

 

THE Government on Wednesday approved a Rs 16,300-crore National Critical Mineral Mission, envisaging a total outlay of Rs 34,300 crore spread over seven years, with an aim to achieve self-reliance and accelerate India’s journey towards green energy transition. According a release by the mines ministry, public sector enterprises are expected to contribute Rs 18,000 crore to the mission which aims at promoting exploration of critical minerals within the country and at offshore locations. Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth are essential raw materials required to fuel the growth of rapidly-growing clean energy technologies and their expanding uses ranging from wind turbines and electricity. networks to electric vehicles and battery manufacturing. Demand for these minerals is growing with clean energy transitions gathering momentum worldwide. Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the mission aims to reduce the dependence on import of critical minerals and ensure self-reliance.

 

 

 UNION Cabinet on Wednesday approved a three per cent increase in the procurement price for ethanol made from C-heavy molasses to Rs 57.97 per litre for the 2024-25 supply year, while keeping rates unchanged for other feedstocks. The price increase, aimed at boosting ethanol production from sugar industry by-products, comes as India pushes to meet its accelerated target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26. Prices for ethanol produced from B-heavy molasses and sugarcane juice/ sugar/ sugar syrup remain unchanged at Rs 60.73 and Rs 65.61 per litre, respectively. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters that C-heavy molasses contains very little sugar content compared to other sugarcane feedstock. bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb