Core sector output tanks for the first time in 42 months

Output levels in India's core sectors slipped to a nine-month low in August, even as year-on-year growth slipped 1.8%, marking the first contraction in three and a half years. 

Six of eight infrastructure segments witnessed a year-on-year contraction in production, while fertilizers and steel output grew at a milder pace than in July when core sectors' output rose 6.1%. The 4.5% uptick in steel production was the slowest in 26 months.

In absolute terms, electricity generation was at a five-month low in August, while refinery products were at a six-month low. Coal and electricity output recorded their first contraction in at least 13 months. 

Vaishnaw undertakes three-day Japan tour to clear bullet train hurdles ahead of Modi's visit

Senior officials led by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw undertook a three-day trip to Japan in September to resolve several problems that have resulted in a deadlock between India and Japan over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project - Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train. 

Sources said, among the problems they discussed were Japan's insistence on Japanese vendors for the trains and signalling systems, and costing and timing estimates for project completion.

Officials said that while the entire land acquisition in Gujarat and Maharashtra had been completed, and 215 km of viaduct of the total 508 km distance was completed, the deadlock over costs for supplying rolling stock or train sets and signalling systems persists. 

Having private participation in India's nuclear energy

The Government of India, while presenting the Union Budget for FY 2024-25, inter alia, made announcements on the expansion of India's nuclear energy sector, proposing partnerships with the private sector for research and developing Bharat Small Reactors (BSR), Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMR) as well as newer nuclear energy technologies. 

Presumably, this announcement is aimed at India's ambitious pursuit of the decarbonisation of energy generation and achieving 500 Gigawatts of non-fossil fuel-based energy generation in India by 2030, as pledged at the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, in 2021.

The Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (AEA), it was amended as the Atomic Energy (Amendment) Act, 1987 (No. 29 of 1987), is the primary governing statute at the helm of the development and operation of the nuclear energy sector. 

Pertinently, Section 3(a) of the AEA, 1962 empowers only the central government "to produce, develop, use and dispose of atomic energy". 

Steady but slow

NASA cancelled its Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission to the moon after the development was beset by delays and costs had ballooned. 

By this time its engineers had fully assembled it and completed some tests, but NASA held its ground. The sudden decision dismayed scientists. 

VIPER was designed to map the distribution of water ice in the moon's south pole region and the soils in which it occurred, over three months. 

In all, the golf-cart-sized rover was to be launched by a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket and deployed using Astrobotic's 'Griffin' lander, all managed through NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services programme. 

India's silver dividend, a challenge to opportunity

While the rising quantum and share of the elderly population is a global concern, India and China, the two population giants in the world, have a disproportionate share of the elderly given their large population size. 

And rising longevity is intensifying this concern every day. Therefore, it is pertinent to transform this challenge into an opportunity that involves suitable reforms to cater to the evolving needs of this population. 

In this regard, evidence indicates that it is not merely the quantum of this population but also its quality that needs attention and intervention. 

Manipur government extends AFSPA in hill districts for 6 months

The Manipur government has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the hill districts of the State for another six months, a September 26 notification said. 

Effective October 1, the provisions of the Act will be extended to the whole State, except 19 police station limits in seven valley districts, thus maintaining the status quo, since three such notifications were passed since March 2023. 

Centre to Digitise More Municipal Services 

The National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM), which aims to digitise municipal services across the country, would have new modules such as online booking of community centres and registration of properties, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister. 

The NUDM, launched in 2021 aimed to institutionalise a citizen-centric and ecosystem-driven approach to urban governance and service delivery across all cities and towns in India by 2024. 

Contrary to criticism, the industrial sector is growing at a fast pace: NITI Aayog CEO

India's industrial sector is growing at a fast pace, NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam said while releasing the Annual Survey of Industries. 

The report was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation for the financial year 2022-23. 

Mr Subrahmanyam said contrary to the criticism against the Centre, the manufacturing sector was growing at a fast pace and providing jobs. "We have added 22 lakh jobs in 2022-23," he said. 

The report said the Gross Value Added (GVA) grew by 7.3% in current prices in 2022-23 over 2021- 22. 

Trade deficit widens India's Q1FY25 CAD to $9.7 billion

India's current account deficit (CAD) widened marginally to $9.7 billion (1.1% of GDP) in Q1 FY25 from $8.9 billion (1% of GDP) in the year-earlier period and a surplus of $4.6 billion (0.5% of GDP) in Q4FY24, as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data. 

"The widening of CAD on a year-on-year basis was primarily due to a rise in merchandise trade deficit to $65.1 billion in Q12024- 25 from $56.7 billion in Q12023-24," the RBI said. 

Net services receipts rose to $39.7 billion in Q12024-25 from $35.1 billion.