Page 4 - Gujarat

Morbi ceramic hub to be showcased as special zone at VGRC Kutch-Saurashtra

Morbi district has emerged as a key pillar of India's ceramic economy, accounting for nearly 90% of Gujarat's total ceramic production and ranking second globally

Amit Shah orders 'war-footing' response to typhoid outbreak in Gandhinagar

Survey teams from the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation have surveyed more than 20,800 households, covering a population of over 90,000

NIA takes over Gujarat ricin terror plot case from ATS for further probe

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has handed over the probe into the alleged ricin poison terror plot to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), said a senior Gujarat ATS official on Saturday. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had arrested Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed, Azad Suleman Sheikh, and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem on November 9 last year for their alleged role in a plan to carry out a major terrorist attack with weapons and chemicals. The agency had booked the three under the stringent UAPA, or Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, besides invoking the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. The MHA has ordered to hand over the UAPA case concerning the ricin chemical plot to the NIA, Superintendent of Police (ATS) K Siddharth told PTI. Ricin is a highly poisonous substance that can be made from the waste material left over from processing castor beans. Gujarat ATS, which was probing the case, arrested Dr Saiyed, originally from Hyderabad, near Adalaj in Gandhinag

Gujarat Kidney ends debut session at 8% discount after listing at a premium

Gujarat Kidney and Super Speciality listed at a 5.2% premium but ended the debut session 8% below issue price amid profit-booking, even as IPO activity stayed strong in 2025

Gujarat 2025: Plane crash, tragedies cast gloom; Games rights brings cheer

Gujarat witnessed a slew of tragedies during the year, which saw a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India plunge to the ground and erupt into a massive fireball, claiming 260 lives, the Gambhira bridge collapse in Vadodara district and a deadly inferno at a firecracker godown in Banaskantha. While the Bhupendra Patel-led government's decision to set up a panel to implement the Uniform Civil Code drew criticism from the Opposition, Gujarat also had its moments of celebration with the state's selection as the host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the encouraging number of Asiatic lions. Nearly 40 seconds after Air India's flight AI 171 to London Gatwick took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, the Boeing plane crashed into a medical hostel complex, in what was among the worst aviation disasters in recent history. The accident killed 241 persons, including former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, on board the plane and 19

Gujarat leads rooftop solar race, reaches 1,879 MW installed capacity

Gujarat remains the top state in rooftop solar installations and has already achieved 50 per cent of its goal to install 1 million residential rooftop solar systems by March 2027

Easing of liquor policy for GIFT City to boost hospitality, investments

Gujarat has eased liquor rules in GIFT City by removing temporary permits for visitors and allowing licensed hotels and restaurants to serve across premises, while prohibition stays statewide

Gujarat eases liquor rules at GIFT City; permit requirement scrapped

Any person from outside Gujarat or India can now consume liquor at designated hotels or restaurants inside GIFT City, a global finance centre in Gandhinagar, by just showing photo ID card, as per changes made in alcohol rules at the hub by the state government. The government has introduced major changes to liquor rules at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and done away with the norm of obtaining a permit for alcohol consumption. The state home department has announced the changes through a gazette notification. Through the December 20 notification, the department has further eased liquor consumption rules at GIFT City. Gujarat is a "dry" state where manufacture, sale, and consumption of liquor are prohibited. However, the government made an exemption for GIFT City in 2023 by allowing sale and consumption of alcohol inside the central business district with some conditions. As per the latest notification, any "external person", who is not from Gujarat, or a foreig

Voters' count in Gujarat drops by 7.3 million to 43 million after SIR

As many as 73.73 lakh voters were removed following the special intensive revision (SIR) drive in Gujarat, reducing the number of registered voters in draft electoral rolls to 4.34 crore from the earlier 5.08 crore, officials said. The draft electoral rolls were published by the Election Commission on Friday. The names of 73,73,327 voters were omitted after the SIR undertaken by the Election Commission to clean up voter lists, said state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Harit Shukla. Before the SIR, a total of 5,08,43,436 voters were registered in the state. After the publication of the draft electoral rolls, the number is 4,34,70,109, he said. The names of 73,73,327 voters were removed for various reasons. Of these, 18,07,278 voters are deceased, 9,69,662 voters were absent, 40,25,553 persons have migrated outside the state, while 3,81,470 voters were registered in two places. Besides, 1,89,364 voters were removed for other reasons, the release from CEO's office said. The SIR was .

No exemption to Muslim Waqf institutions from paying court fees: Gujarat HC

In a significant judgment, the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday rejected nearly 150 petitions from Muslim Waqf institutions seeking exemption from payment of fees to the State Waqf Tribunal to access a court of law. Justice JC Doshi dismissed the petitions, many of which involved contested rent claims, possession disputes, and rights of occupancy over key properties across the state. Waqf trusts such as Sunni Muslim Idgah Masjid Trust, the Vadodara Saher Masjid Sabha Trust, and the Sarkhej Roza Committee in Ahmedabad, had challenged orders of the Gujarat State Waqf Tribunal requiring payment of court fees before their disputes could be heard. The court observed that they had sought reliefs before the tribunal which were adversarial in character wherein rights and obligations of contesting parties are required to be judicially determined. "An application instituted under section 83 of the Waqf Act, forming part of the judicial proceedings contemplated under Chapter VIII thereof, ...

10 schools in Ahmedabad get bomb threat, turns out to be hoax after search

As many as 10 private schools in Ahmedabad received an email on Wednesday threatening bomb blasts, which later turned out to be a hoax as nothing suspicious was found during searches, police said. As a precautionary measure, these schools declared a holiday for the afternoon shift as the morning shift was already over when they received the emails, having a common text, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1, Harshad Patel said. After being alerted, police, along with the bomb detection and disposal squad, dog squad and anti-sabotage teams, reached the schools and conducted a thorough search, Patel told reporters. "In the email sent to the schools, it was claimed that bomb blasts will be carried out in these establishments during the afternoon. As a precautionary measure, these schools declared a holiday for the afternoon shift as the morning shift was already over," he said. "Our teams reached the schools and conducted a thorough search. However, nothing suspicious was found. ...

Gujarat leads in FY25 loan growth, Karnataka in deposits, shows data

RBI data shows state-wise credit trends; Maharashtra leads in outstanding credit and deposits, while Gujarat records highest growth

Gujarat 'sinking' amid rising drugs, illegal liquor menace: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday flagged the issues of "rising menace of drugs and illegal liquor" and the plight of farmers in Gujarat, and claimed that the state is "sinking" despite a double-engine government being in place. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that during the Congress party's ongoing 'Jan Aakrosh Yatra' in Gujarat, people, especially women, have repeatedly stated that the "rising menace of drugs, illegal liquor, and crime" has deepened the sense of insecurity in their lives. "Gujarat is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, where traditions of truth, morality, and justice have prevailed, but over the past few years, the future of the state's youth is being pushed toward the dark world of drugs and crime," Gandhi said in a post on X in Hindi. Women are taking to the streets in large numbers because criminals are receiving protection from those in power, while they themselves are met only with neglect, he claimed. "Gujarat is asking why i

A large part of India's capital needs to be met via GIFT City: Ifsca Chair

K Rajaraman, chairman of the IFSCA, outlines how the IFSC is emerging as a hub for India Inc's foreign-currency needs

Cabinet approves ₹2,781 cr railway projects for Gujarat, Maharashtra

The Cabinet has approved ₹2,781 crore worth of railway projects in Gujarat and Maharashtra; these will add new tracks, improve train services, and boost connectivity

Tata Chemicals okays ₹910 cr investment to expand capacities in Gujarat, TN

Tata Chemicals on Friday said its board has approved an investment of Rs 910 crore for expansions of manufacturing capacities of its plants at Mithapur in Gujarat and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. The board of directors of the company have, in a meeting held on Friday, approved an investment of Rs 135 crore towards the expansion of dense soda ash manufacturing capacity at its plant located at Mithapur, Tata Chemicals said in a regulatory filing. Further, the company stated that the board also approved an investment of Rs 775 crore to expand precipitated silica manufacturing capacity at its plant in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. Shares of the company closed at Rs 809.95 on Friday, down 1.09 per cent on BSE.

ACME Solar commissions additional 16 MW of Gujarat wind power project

ACME Solar Holdings on Thursday said it has commissioned an additional 16 MW of its 100 MW wind power project, located in Surendaranagar, Gujarat. This follows the first phase commissioning of 28 MW in October, 2025, a company statement said. The current commissioning takes the project's operational capacity to 44 MW out of the 100 MW to be commissioned in phases. It has enhanced ACME Solar's total operational capacity to 2,934 MW. Recently, the project was granted an extension to its Scheduled Commercial Operation Date (SCOD) by the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC). The revised SCOD date is March 5, 2026 and the project has been early commissioned with part capacity of 44 MW in first two phases. This wind power project has been financed through Power Finance Corporation (PFC). The power generated from the project will be sold through the 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed between ACME Eco Clean and Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. The commissioning was .

KPI Green wins ₹696 cr contract for 200 MW solar project in Gujarat

KPI Green Energy on Monday said it has inked contract agreements with state-owned SJVN Ltd for an order worth Rs 696.50 crore to develop a 200 MW (AC) solar power project at the GIPCL Renewable Energy Park in Khavda, Gujarat. This development represents a major advancement in KPI Green's expanding portfolio of utility-scale renewable energy projects, a company statement said. KPI Green Energy Ltd has signed contract agreements with SJVN Ltd, a Government of India enterprise, for the execution of a 200 MW (AC) solar power project at the GIPCL Renewable Energy Park in Khavda, Gujarat, according to the statement. The contract, valued at Rs 696.50 crore (excluding GST), reinforces KPI Green's position as a credible and trusted EPC partner for large-scale renewable projects, it stated. Under the executed agreements, KPI Green will supply all plant and equipment required for the 200 MW (AC) solar project, in accordance with approved specifications and quality assurance plans. It is also

Moving India: So near yet so far for Gujarat's transport infrastructure

The fourth of a six-part series examines why daily commute in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and GIFT City remains a challenge despite better bus and metro services, and new infrastructure

Al Qaida Gujarat terror conspiracy case: NIA conducts searches in 5 states

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has conducted searches at 10 locations across five states in an Al Qaida Gujarat terror conspiracy case allegedly involving illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, officials said on Thursday. NIA teams conducted searches at premises on Wednesday linked with various suspects and their associates in West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Haryana and Gujarat, an agency spokesperson said in a statement. The official said several digital devices and documents were seized that have been sent for forensic analysis. The case was registered in 2023 and centres around four Bangladeshi nationals -- Mohd. Sojibmiyan, Munna Khalid Ansari, Azarul Islam, and Abdul Latif -- had illegally infiltrated into India from Bangladesh using forged Indian identity documents, the NIA alleged. "They were found to be connected with the proscribed Al-Qaida terrorist organisation. The men were involved in collection and transfer of funds to Al Qaida operatives in Bangladesh, and were al