Page 2 - Pralhad Joshi

Pralhad Joshi announces ₹100 cr support for green hydrogen start-ups

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi announced Rs 100 crore funding for green hydrogen R&D start-ups with up to Rs 5 crore per project, and launched a safety panel under NGHM

Govt plans swadeshi solar cells, ingots and, polysilicon: Pralhad Joshi

India has crossed 100 GW of solar module capacity with ALMM, which is now extended to solar cells and will soon cover ingots and polysilicon, said Pralhad Joshi

India to add record 43 GW renewable energy capacity in 2025: Pralhad Joshi

India has added 30 GW of renewable energy capacity so far in 2025 and is on track to reach 43 GW by December, with projects aligning to the 500 GW target by 2030

Bidding for battery storage PLI in final stages, says Pralhad Joshi

Says nuclear energy laws being tweaked to attract pvt players

Food Ministry raises gunny bag usage charges by 40% to ₹10.22 per bag

The Centre on Friday increased usage charges for gunny bags by 40 per cent to Rs 10.22 per used bag, a move aimed at providing financial relief to States and Union Territories as well as improving procurement operations. In an official statement, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, the "Government of India has increased usage charges for gunny bags by nearly 40 per cent, bringing financial relief to State Governments and Union Territories in the country." The decision is aimed at ensuring smooth procurement operations and supporting sustainable packaging practices, he said, adding that the Centre-State cooperation would also improve in foodgrain procurement and distribution. The Centre received requests from various states and UTs for the revision. The Department of Food and Public Distribution, under the Food and Consumer Affairs, constituted a committee to look into this issue. The committee comprised members from State Governments/UTs and the Food ...

All roads lead to first Business Standard Infrastructure Summit today

The day-long event will range from funding models for Viksit Bharat to the future of energy, aviation, and logistics

India's solar module capacity has hit 100 GW mark: Pralhad Joshi

India's solar module manufacturing capacity has hit the 100 GW mark from just 2.3 GW in 2014, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. The progress brings India close to its vision of having 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030, the Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said in a post on X. "India has achieved a historic milestone -- 100 GW solar PV module manufacturing capacity under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), a remarkable rise from just 2.3 GW in 2014!" Joshi said. The achievement, he said, "strengthens our path towards #AtmanirbharBharat and the target of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030." In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the achievement another milestone towards self-reliance. "This is yet another milestone towards self-reliance! It depicts the success of India's manufacturing capabilities and our efforts towards popularising clean energy," Modi said. The MNRE, in a statement, said the ALMM order was is

Rooftop solar plant to be installed in 10 mn households by 2026-27: Govt

Rooftop solar plants will be installed in one crore households across the country by 2026-27 under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY), Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Joshi also said that the central government has taken several initiatives and has been implementing various schemes and programmes for promotion and development of renewable energy in the country. "The government launched PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY) in February, 2024 for installing rooftop solar for one crore households by 2026-27 across all states and UTs in the country," he said during the Question House. The minister said the government has also been implementing Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme across all states and UTs of the country. Under the scheme, capacities are allocated based on demand received and progress shown by the states and UTs, he said. Joshi said as per study on ...

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