India’s journey to be energy self-sufficient by 2047 has begun well.
India is now the world’s 3rd largest energy consumer, 3rd largest consumer of Oil, 3rd Largest LPG Consumer, 4th largest LNG importer, 4th largest refiner & 4th largest automobile market in the world.
India has taken concerted & focused steps to strengthen development of alternative fuels, including ethanol blending.
Blending of 10% ethanol was achieved 5 months in advance in June 2022.
Availability of E20 blended petrol to 2025 also advanced by 5 years from 2030.
In a historic moment for India’s Ethanol Blending Program! PM Sh Narendra Modi Ji launched 20% ethanol blended fuel E20 at India EnergyWeek 2023 in Bengaluru in Feb 2023.
Ethanol blending has also become a steady source of additional income for our farmers.
MPs from 18 opposition parties wanted to submit a memorandum to the honourable President of India, demanding a JPC probe into the Adani scam and raising our voice against the misuse of ED and CBI.
We are not being allowed to exercise our right.
MPs from 18 opposition parties wanted to submit a memorandum to the honourable President of India, demanding a JPC probe into the Adani scam and raising our voice against the misuse of ED and CBI. We are not being allowed to exercise our right.
In line with Government’s ‘Waste to Wealth’ mission and encouraging environmentally sustainable National Highways construction, trial use of ‘Steel Slag’ in road construction has been initiated by NHAI.
This initiative will help to address challenge of shortage of material used in development of the National Highways, and could replace natural aggregates such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone with the waste material from the steel industry.
To construct India’s first Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) with steel slag, NHAI started trials for its possible use in road construction.
The authority permitted Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) to construct one km long trial patch in Raigarh district for PQC of Panvel – Indapur section of NH 66 near Mumbai where 100% natural aggregates were replaced by steel slag derived aggregates.
The results from the trial have been encouraging.
NHAI has been encouraging the innovative use of new alternative material like use of plastic waste, building & construction waste etc. and the road constructed by use of steel slag is an example of converting waste into wealth.
Use of such material in road construction shall make construction more economical and will promote circular economy and resource efficiency.
To meet the requirement of forged wheels for the rolling stock, Indian Railways had floated a tender for setting up a manufacturing plant in the country with assured offtake of 80,000 wheels per annum for next 20 years so that the requirement is met from domestic sources.
It is an important initiative in the direction Make in India Initiative for Import Substitution.
The bidding process was very transparent and competitive. Tender was opened on 24th Jan’23.
Three Bids were received. Price Bids were opened on 14-03-2023. L1 is from M/s Ramakrishna Forgings Ltd., Kolkata. L2 is from M/s Bharat Forge, Pune, L3 is from SAIL.
SN
Firm
Rs. per tonne
1
M/s Ramakrishna Forgings, Kolkata
1,88,100
2
M/s Bharat Forge, Pune
2,75,000
3
M/s Steel Authority of India Ltd
2,89,500
The successful bidder to set up the manufacturing facility within 36 months from award date and to supply the wheels of various types at 80,000 p.a.
Considering the learning curve and economies of volume, the price applicable will be reduced by 2% every year upto 3 years and the 4th year onwards the applicable price will be 94% of the quoted price which is valid for the balance period of 20 years.
The pre-determined price variation clause is applicable for the price on quarterly basis.
Presently, SAIL is supplying at an average rate of Rs.1,87,000 per tonne. Existing Domestic Capacity isSAIL – 40,000 wheels, RINL- 80,000 wheels (yet to start regular commercial production)- Total- 1,20,000.
Indian Railways has been importing various types of forged wheels required for locomotives and coaching stock (LHB) since 1960s from UK, Czech Republic, Brazil, Romani, Japan, China, Ukraine and Russia.
In this year (2022-23), 80,000 wheels worth approx. 520 Crore are imported from China & Russia, with remaining 40,000 being sourced from SAIL.
Currently, due to Russia-Ukraine Crisis, all the import requirement of wheels is being met from China. Requirement of wheels is projected to increase upto 2 lac by 2026 onwards due to induction of more and more high speed trains.
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu will visit Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep from March 16 to 21, 2023.
On March 16, 2023, the President will visit INS Vikrant and present the President’s Colour to INS Dronacharya in Kochi.
On March 17, 2023, the President will visit Mata Amritanandamayi Math in Kollam. On the same day, she will attend a civic reception to be hosted in her honour in Thiruvananthapuram. At the civic reception function, the President will also inaugurate Kudumbashree@25 through Rachna: contemporary stories of women in Kerala; and ‘Unnathi’ for comprehensive development of Scheduled Tribe.
On March 18, 2023, the President will pay tributes at Vivekananda Smarak and statue of Thiruvalluvar and visit the Vivekananda Kendra in Kanniyakumari. On the same evening, she will attend a civic reception to be hosted in her honour at Kavaratti.
On March 19, 2023, the President will interact with members of Self Help Groups at Kavaratti.
Modi Govt is to hold G20 Meet in Kashmir while Modi govt is refusing to withdraw Nehru-1949 Petition begging UNSC to intervene in the Kashmir “dispute”(Nehru’s word!).
Which G20 country will attend when GoI’s (till today) position is Kashmir is disputed?
Petrol & diesel consumers in non-BJP states pay upto ₹15/ltr more than consumers in BJP states because these states reduced their VAT on petrol & diesel after PM Modi Ji reduced central excise on these products in Nov 2021 & May 2022 while non-BJP did not reduce their VAT.
Hardeep Puri – Union Minister
Petrol & diesel consumers in non-BJP states pay upto ₹15/ltr more than consumers in BJP states because these states reduced their VAT on petrol & diesel after PM Modi Ji reduced central excise on these products in Nov 2021 & May 2022 while non-BJP did not reduce their VAT. pic.twitter.com/4f0tMMZTsY
Desiring freedom from circumstances, situations or people is no freedom at all. Knowing that nobody can take away your freedom, that is strength!: Sri Sri
