Page 2 - Pralhad Joshi

Sugar sector grown into ₹1 trillion industry: Food Minister Pralhad Joshi

India's sugar sector has grown to become a Rs 1.3 lakh crore industry, and it is driving rural prosperity and energy security, Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday. The minister was addressing the 'Cooperative Sugar Industry Conclave 2025' & 'National Efficiency Award Ceremony'. "Under the PM Shri @narendramodi ji's leadership, India's sugar sector has grown into a Rs 1.3 lakh crore industry (annually), driving rural prosperity, energy security and green power through reforms like record ethanol blending and Atmanirbharta in fuel," Joshi said on a social media post. It is inspiring to see how the sector's evolution is shaping a sustainable, self-reliant future for India, he added. The event was organised by National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited. It was established in 1960 to build a strong and vibrant co-operative sugar sector in India. All cooperative sugar factories and state cooperative sugar federations across the country are its ...

Govt to shortly notify rules for mandatory use of IST: Pralhad Joshi

The government has decided to make mandatory the use of Indian Standard Time for all legal, commercial, digital and administrative activities, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. This initiative will translate into more secure digital transactions, accurate billing in utilities, reduced cybercrime risks and synchronized timekeeping in transportation and communication. Presently, several systems rely on foreign sources of time. To make Indian Standard Time (IST) mandatory, the government will shortly notify Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025. The draft rules were issued in January 2025 for stakeholders' feedback. On Wednesday, the Department of Consumer Affairs organized a round table conference on Time Dissemination here. Joshi emphasized on the strategic significance of the Time Dissemination Project being implemented by the department in collaboration with CSIR-NPL and ISRO. He said the upcoming rules will mandate synchronization

India's renewable energy capacity rises 17% to 227 CW in May: Joshi

India's total renewable energy capacity grew 17.13 per cent year-on-year to 226.74 gigawatts (GW) in May, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. "India's #RenewableEnergy sector has witnessed unprecedented growth under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji. From solar to wind energy, our nation is paving the way for a brighter and more sustainable future!," the Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said in a post on X. The renewable energy capacity has surged 17.13 per cent year-on-year to 226.74 GW in May from 193.58 GW in the same month last year, as per the data shared by the minister in his post. Of the total, solar power capacity expanded 31.49 per cent to 110.83 GW from 84.28 GW in May 2024. Wind capacity witnessed a rise of 10.49 per cent to 51.29 GW against 46.42 GW last year. In a separate post, Joshi said clean energy is shaping India's journey of progress and pride. "Guided by @narendramodi ji's leadership, it has become a powerfu

Uber gets CCPA notice for asking users to tip in advance for quicker rides

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi slammed Uber's practice as unethical and exploitative, while the consumer protection body issued a notice to the cab aggregator over the move

Govt procures over 29 mn tonnes of wheat so far this year: Pralhad Joshi

Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday said the government has procured more than 290 lakh tonnes of wheat so far this year and the figure may reach 320-325 lakh tonnes on record production. Total wheat purchase stood at 265.9 lakh tonnes in the 2024-25 marketing year (April-March). Bulk of procurement takes place during April-June period. "We have procured more than 290 lakh tonnes of wheat so far. Procurement operations are still undergoing. We may reach the figure of 320-325 lakh tonnes," Joshi told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here. The government has set a wheat procurement target of 312 lakh tonnes for 2025-26 marketing year. India is estimated to have harvested a record wheat crop of 115.3 million tonnes in 2024-25 crop year (July-June). Asked about allowing wheat exports, Joshi said he will consult other ministries on the issue after assessing the stock situation once the procurement season ends. State-owned Food Corporation of Ind

India follows its defence and diplomatic strategy, says Pralhad Joshi

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday said that India, its defence, and diplomacy follow their strategy, and that the government, after discussions with the armed forces, reached an understanding with Pakistan to stop all firing and military action. However, before reaching this understanding, the Government decided that India would treat any future act of terror on its soil as an "act of war" and respond accordingly, he said. "India has its strength. Earlier, even after major terror attacks, our response was mild. But this time, on the very first day, our soldiers attacked about nine terror bases or launch pads in Pakistan. A large number of terrorists were killed. So, I don't want to respond to those criticising the ceasefire announcement," Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said in response to a question. Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, Joshi said that ever since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, terrorist activities, which earlier occurred

Op Sindoor: Govt cracks down on online sales of unlicensed walkie-talkie

The government is ramping up public preparedness with drills and siren tests while cracking down on unlicensed walkie-talkie sales seen as a national security concern

India's solar PV module capacity to reach 125 GW by 2030: Pralhad Joshi

India's solar PV module manufacturing capacity will increase to 125 gigawatt (GW) by 2030 from the current 80 GW, and its installed solar cell manufacturing capacity will soon touch 40 GW from 25 GW at present, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said in Gujarat's Navsari district on Saturday. In 2014, solar PV module manufacturing was nearly absent in the country, he said after inaugurating a state-of-the-art 5.4 GW solar cell manufacturing facility of Waaree Energies Limited at Degam here. "Today, companies like Waaree are producing 80 GW solar PV modules. By 2030, our total solar PV manufacturing capacity will be 125 GW. Similarly, solar cell manufacturing was nil in 2014. But today we are manufacturing 25 GW, and very soon we will reach a target of 40 GW. We are moving ahead with the thinking of integrated solar, right from polysilicon to module, to be manufactured in India," he said. India has emerged as the world's third largest producer of renewable ...

PM Modi providing free foodgrains to 800 million people: Pralhad Joshi

The UPA government introduced a food security law in 2013 haphazardly eying next year's general elections, but it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who took the initiative to provide free foodgrains to 80 crore people in a systematic way, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. The Union food minister made the remark in the Lok Sabha when Congress member Praniti Shinde said the National Food Security Act, 2013, which aimed to provide subsidised foodgrains to the poor, was the brainchild of her party's leader Sonia Gandhi. "The Congress brought the food security act in 2013 only because of the election. It was introduced in a haphazard manner. Even rules under the act were not framed," Joshi said. He said when the NDA government assumed charge after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the initiative to ensure free foodgrains to the poor as he understands their pain. "Now Prime Minister Modi is providing free foodgrains to 80 crore people in the country

Agri min Shivraj Chouhan may join central team meeting protesting farmers

A fresh round of talks between protesting farmers and the Centre will be held here on Saturday evening centred around the legal guarantee of minimum support price on crops, among other demands. The meeting between the central team and farmer leaders will take place at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh at 6 pm. In the last meeting held on February 14, Union minister Pralhad Joshi had said that Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan would lead the central team for the February 22 meeting with the protesting farmers. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday said a delegation of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha will take part in the meeting with a positive mind. Farmers expect from the government to resolve their issues at the earliest, he said. Farmers had earlier asked for the next meeting be held in Delhi but the government scheduled it in Chandigarh. Pandher said, "Today the sixth round of talks with th

Next meeting with protesting farmers on February 22: Pralhad Joshi

This comes after Joshi met the farm leaders who are pressing on the demands of the protesting farmers sitting at the Khanauri border in the Sangrur district of Punjab

Pralhad Joshi to head central team in meeting with farmer leaders

Union minister Pralhad Joshi will lead the central team that will hold a meeting with farmers' representatives to discuss their various demands, including a legal guarantee for crop MSP, on Friday, sources said. A 28-member delegation of farmers will participate in the meeting. Joshi -- the Union minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution -- will lead the central team, the sources said. Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian will also be present, they added. The meeting will be held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab, in Chandigarh. It comes after a year-long protest by farmers over a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops, among other demands. A 28-member delegation of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which are spearheading the ongoing stir, will participate in the meeting, according to farmers. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on an indefinite fa

Modi govt's growth track record, reforms grab global attention: Joshi

Union minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's track record of growth and structural reforms over the last 10 years have attracted international attention. The Union Budget, presented on February 1, has been prepared keeping in mind the vision of a developed India by 2047 and it will prove to be the roadmap to achieving this goal, he said. The Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution minister was addressing a press conference on the budget in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur. We are the fifth largest economy in the world and very soon we will reach the third position. The track record of development and structural reforms of the Modi government in the last 10 years have attracted international attention, he said. Development measures have been taken in various sectors focusing on youth, farmers, the poor and women, he said. Empowerment of the middle class and working class has begun. The middle class provides strength in ...

India aiming for 1,800 GW RE by 2047, 500 GW by 2030: Pralhad Joshi

India is eyeing a long-term target of 1,800 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2047 under 'Viksit Bharat@2047' vision when the nation will celebrate 100 years of independence, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. Addressing the India Energy Transit Summit here, Joshi, who has the portfolio of 'Ministry of New & Renewable Energy', said, "Overall, things are very fast. Now we are not thinking about 2030 (when 500 GW of renewable energy capacity will be achieved), we are thinking about 2047." He said whatever is planned for 2030 will be done but we are also thinking about 2047 (target of 1,800 GW). "We have a long-term vision and roadmap under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for 2047... We will definitely achieve 500 GW capacity by 2030, that is for sure. We are even working for 1,800 GW installed non-fossil capacity by 2047." The minister said 500 GW by 2030 is a short-term plan and the government is focusing on a long-term goal for 2047. He said, "We have ...

Pralhad Joshi urges DGCA to reduce high airfares to Prayagraj for Kumbh

Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has written to aviation regulator DGCA seeking reduction in "exorbitant" airfares to Prayagraj, which is hosting the Maha Kumbh Mela till February 26. The minister expressed concerns over high airfares, making it difficult for devotees to travel to the religious gathering. "The prices of airfares being exorbitantly high has made it difficult for people to make travel plans to attend Maha Kumbh," Joshi said in a social media post. Earlier this month, travel portal ixigo said bookings as well as airfares for flights to Prayagraj have jumped multi-fold as more people travel for the Maha Kumbh, with the air ticket prices rising up to 21 per cent for the Delhi-Prayagraj flights. The civil aviation ministry on Monday said steps are being taken to rationalise airfares. DGCA officials held a meeting with airline representatives last week, urging them to add more flights and rationalise ticket prices. Currently, 132 flights are operating with about .

Govt to soon take decision on increasing MSP for sugar: Pralhad Joshi

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said the government will soon take a decision on increasing the minimum support price (MSP) of sugar. The MSP of sugar remains unchanged at Rs 31 per kg, a rate established in February 2019. However, industry bodies have demanded for an increase due to rising production costs and economic pressures faced by sugar mills. "There is a demand. The department is seized of the matter. We will take a decision whether to increase or not shortly," Joshi told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) are pushing for an increase in the MSP to Rs 39.14 per kg or even Rs 42 per kg to better reflect production costs and support the financial health of sugar mills in India.

India ahead of other nations in green hydrogen sector: Union minister Joshi

Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Saturday said India is ahead of other countries in the field of green hydrogen. The Union government has floated a tender for the world's largest green ammonia demonstration project, he said during a visit to a floating solar plant in the Omkareshwar Dam in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district. Further, the work of offshore wind power projects is underway and tenders have been invited in Gujarat, the minister told reporters. "When we talk about offshore wind power, it means installing windmills in the sea, which requires development and upgradation of ports and transmission infrastructure. Along with this, work on geothermal (power) is also underway, though it is at the primary stage," Joshi said. A revolution is taking place in the field of solar energy, and India is becoming the world leader in renewable energy, he said. "India is ahead in the field of green hydrogen, compared to other countries. We have floated a tender .

Sad that govt stooped to this level: Manickam Tagore over cremation of MMS

A war of words has broken out between BJP and Congress leaders over the cremation of Manmohan Singh at Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat

India's RE capacity addition doubled to 15 GW in Apr-Nov: Pralhad Joshi

India's renewable energy capacity addition almost doubled to 15GW during the April-November period of this fiscal compared a year ago, indicating India's commitment towards the target of 500GW non-fossil capacity by 2030, Union New & Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday. Addressing at CII International Energy Conference & Exhibition 2024 here, Joshi said, "In fact, over the past decade, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has charted an extraordinary path in the renewable energy sector. Today, India is one of the world's most promising nations in the clean energy space." Between April-November of the current financial year, India added almost 15 GW of renewable energy capacity, nearly double the 7.54 GW added during the same period last year, he said. At present, India's total installed capacity of the non-fossil fuel sector has touched 214 GW, over 14 per cent increase compared to the same month last year. The government is

Cong should understand blaming EVMs won't help, says Pralhad Joshi

The Congress should understand that blaming Electronic Voting Machines will not help as its allies are now speaking about it, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Monday, seizing on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's rejection of doubts on EVMs. In an exclusive interview with PTI, the National Conference leader dismissed the objections to EVMs, saying it cannot be that the Congress celebrates its win in polls held through the machines and then raises questions on their reliability when it loses. Abdullah had said, "When you get hundred-plus members of Parliament using the same EVMs and you celebrate that as sort of a victory for your party, you can't then a few months later turn around and say... we don't like these EVMs because now the election results aren't going the way we would like them to." Asked about Abdullah's remarks, Joshi said, "The Congress should understand when INDI alliance members are saying it... Mamata ji, Sharad Pawar ji, Akhilesh ji are also sayin