All you need to know about changes proposed to Waqf Bill by JPC, now cleared by Cabinet

• The Union Cabinet on Thursday (February 27) cleared all 14 amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 proposed by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) last month.
• It is likely to be tabled in the  Parliament in the second half of the Budget session, which starts on March 10.
• The Bill was introduced in August last year to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, which governs the management of waqf properties in India. It proposed sweeping changes which give the government a foot in the door in regulating waqf properties, and settling disputes regarding such properties.
• The Union Cabinet recently approved amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, paving the way for its introduction in the second half of the Budget Session of Parliament. This legislative move has sparked debates due to its significant implications for the management and regulation of Waqf properties in India.

Key Features of the Revised Waqf Bill

• Empowerment of Women and Minorities:
• Two Muslim women shall henceforth become mandatory members of State Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council.
• Representation from the Muslim OBC shall henceforth become mandatory on State Waqf Boards.
• Streamlining Registration and Management:
• The Bill attempts to better facilitate registration of Waqf properties through use of technology.
• It aims to promote transparency and governance mechanisms to prevent the misuse of Waqf properties. 
• Special Provisions for Communities:
• Separate Waqf Boards may be set up for specific communities like Aghakhani and Bohra Muslims.
• Women shall now protect under family waqfs (Waqf Alal-Aulad) their inheritance rights, ensuring equal distribution of property for all heirs.
• Inclusion of Non-Muslim Members:
• At least two non-Muslim members shall be appointed to the State Waqf Boards.
• Government officers can determine whether any property comes under Waqf. 
• Renaming of the Act:
• Renamed as the UMEED Bill, the proposed new name embodies the broader ideas that the Bill wishes to address.

Legislative Journey and Controversies

• Opposition Criticism: Opposition parties have strongly opposed the amendments, arguing that they undermine the autonomy of Waqf Boards and interfere in religious matters. They have labeled parts of the Bill as “unconstitutional” and an attempt to centralize control over Muslim charitable properties.
• Amendments Rejected: Of the 44 amendments proposed by various members, only 14—primarily from BJP and NDA lawmakers—were accepted. All amendments suggested by opposition MPs were rejected during clause-by-clause discussions in the JPC.
• Protests in Parliament: The JPC report was tabled amid uproar and walkouts by opposition members on February 13, 2025. Allegations were also made regarding removal of dissent notes submitted by opposition MPs without their consent.

Implications of the Revised Waqf Bill

• Enhanced Governance: The proposed reforms aim to address inefficiencies in managing Waqf properties by introducing stricter regulations and modernized processes.
• Empowerment of Women: By mandating female representation on Waqf Boards, the Bill promotes gender inclusivity within an otherwise male-dominated framework.
• Potential Centralization: Critics argue that provisions allowing government officials to determine property status could lead to excessive centralization and undermine community autonomy.
• Community-Specific Provisions: Special provisions for Aghakhani and Bohra communities reflect an effort to accommodate diversity within Muslim subgroups.

Conclusion

• The revised Waqf (Amendment) Bill represents a significant step toward reforming laws governing Muslim charitable properties in India.
• While it seeks to enhance transparency and inclusivity, concerns over government interference highlight potential challenges in its implementation. As Parliament prepares to deliberate on this contentious legislation, its impact on minority rights and property governance will remain under close scrutiny.

Cotton crisis in Punjab: How regulatory hurdles might be making things worse

• In recent years, whiteflies and pink bollworms have wreaked havoc on the cotton crop in North India. Cotton yields are down, as is the area under cotton cultivation — the crop was cultivated in only one lakh hectares in Punjab in 2024, down from nearly eight lakh hectares three decades back.
•  The drop in acreage has in turn harmed the ginning industry — only 22 ginning units remain operational in Punjab today, down from 422 in 2004.
• Ahead of the cotton sowing season, farmers are thus calling for the swift approval of Bollgard-3, a new pest-resistant genetically-modified (GM) cotton variety developed by Monsanto.
• Can this be a game-changer? The short answer is that it can be. But Indians won’t have access to it any time soon.

Bollgard-3, a Bt cotton variety

• Bollgard-3 was developed by Monsanto more than a decade ago, and shows remarkable resistance to pests. It contains three Bt proteins Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab and Vip3A that cause insect death by disrupting their normal gut function. This in turn allows for the growth of a healthier cotton crop, and increases yield.
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a soil-dwelling bacterium with potent insecticidal properties. In the past few decades, researchers have successfully inserted certain genes from Bt in various crops, like cotton, providing these with insect-repellent properties.
• A Bollgard-1 was a Monsanto-developed Bt cotton introduced in India in 2002, followed by Bollgard-2 in 2006. The latter remains prevalent today. And although these do have some pest-repellent properties, they are not effective against the whitefly and the pink bollworm, which arrived in Punjab in 2015-16 and 2018-19 respectively.
• This is why farmers are demanding the introduction of Bollgard-3, which is particularly effective against lepidopteran pests like pink bollworm.

BG-2RRF, a more likely option

• However, Bollgard-3 is not available in India at the moment, although it is being used in other cotton-growing countries around the world. What is the closer to being available is the Bollgard-2 Roundup Ready Flex (BG-2RRF) herbicide tolerant variety, although even this is pending final regulatory approval.
• G-2RRF is an advanced seed technology that makes the cotton crop more tolerant to herbicides. This allows for farmers to better control weeds without harming the cotton plant, ultimately leading to better yields.
• BG-2RRF could serve as a potential “gateway” for the development of next-generation seed technologies.
• “However, the approval of the technology has been significantly delayed due to regulatory hurdles, which have hindered the introduction of next-generation seed technologies,” 

Immediate solutions, long-term problem

• At the end of the day, even as farmers express their frustration regarding the pace of regulatory approvals, the fact of the matter is that farmers will have to make do with what they have, at least for the time being.
• Dr Prasad said that adopting proper agronomic practices, such as proper seeding and mulching, can help increase cotton yields. Dr Bhagirath, on the other hand, pointed to methods such as high-density planting (sowing more plants in a unit area), and drip fertigation (which optimises water and fertiliser use). That said, pest management remains a challenge.
• President of the Punjab Ginners’ Association, said that without high-yielding, pest-resistant varieties like Bollgard-3, the future of Punjab’s cotton industry remains uncertain. Many countries in the world are already adopting these (and even more advanced technologies) and reaping the rewards.
• Atul Ganatra, president of the Cotton Association of India (CAI), said that Brazil is using Bollgard-5, a variety which protects against multiple pests, weeds, and insects. This has led to the South American country achieving astronomical yields of 2400 kg per hectare, compared to only 450 kg in India.

What is Extra-long Staple cotton?

• Cotton is classified, based on the length of its fibres, as long, medium, or short staple. Gossypium hirsutum, which constitutes roughly 96% of the cotton grown in India, falls in the medium staple category, with fibre lengths ranging from 25 to 28.6 mm.
• On the other hand, ELS varieties boast fibre lengths of 30 mm and above. Most ELS cotton comes from the species Gossypium barbadense, commonly known as Egyptian or Pima cotton. Having originated in South America, ELS cotton today is mainly grown in China, Egypt, Australia, and Peru.
• In India, some ELS cotton is grown along rain fed parts of Atpadi taluka in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, and around Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu,

Why is ELS cotton not grown in India?

• For the 2024-25 season, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of medium staple cotton was Rs 7,121 (per quintal) while that of long staple cotton was Rs 7,521.
• Nonetheless, cotton farmers in India have thus far been reluctant to adopt ELS cotton. This is mainly due to lower than average per acre yields, experts say. While the medium staple variety yields between 10 and 12 quintals per acre, ELS cotton has a yield of only 7-8 quintals.
• Additionally, farmers growing ELS cotton are often unable to market their premium produce at premium prices. “The market linkages necessary are not available easily,” said one trader.
• Currently, India’s per acre yields are significantly lower than other countries. For instance, Brazil boasts an average yield of 20 quintals per acre, while China boasts a yield of 15 quintals. Better seeds, timely agronomic advice, and adoption of technology would help India improve in this regard, and grow premium varieties such as ELS cotton.

 What does Navratna status for IRCTC and IRFC mean?

• The Centre on Monday (March 3) approved the upgradation of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) as the country’s 25th and 26th Navratna companies respectively.
• All seven listed Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) of the Indian Railways now have Navratna status. The Indian Railways have a total 12 CPSEs.

When and how does a company get Navratna status?

• Navratnas are the second category of the central government-owned ‘Ratna’ companies, placed between the Maharatnas and the Miniratnas, based on criteria including profitability, net worth, earning, inter-sectoral performance, etc.
• The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) of the Ministry of Finance picks the CPSEs for Navratna status. Six indicators are considered: (i) ratio of net profit to net worth, (ii) ratio of manpower cost to total cost of production or services, (iii) ratio of profit before depreciation, interest, and tax (PBDIT) to capital employed or return on capital employed, (iv) ratio of profit before interest and taxes (PBIT) to turnover, (v) earning per share, and (vi) inter-sectoral performance of the company.
• A he six indicators carry weights from 10 (for earning per share) to 25 (for ratio of net profit to net worth).
• If a CPSE has a composite score of 60 or higher for all six indicators, and has obtained an Excellent or Very Good MOU rating in three of the last five years, it is eligible to be considered for Navratna status.

What is the financial status of IRCTC and IRFC?

• In announcing the Navratna status of the two companies, the DPE said IRCTC’s annual turnover was Rs 4,270.18 crore, profit after tax (PAT) Rs 1,111.26 crore, and net worth Rs 3,229.97 crore in FY 2023-24.
• For IRFC, these figures were Rs 26,644 crore, Rs 6,412 crore, and Rs 49,178 crore respectively, DPE said on X.
• IRCTC is an extended arm of the Indian Railways, and the only entity selling train tickets online. The Ministry of Railways holds a 62.40% share in IRCTC. As of March 2024, its turnover was Rs 4,270 crore and profit Rs 1,111 crore. It had a net worth of Rs 3,230 crore and a market capitalisation of Rs 74,376 crore.
• IRFC’s main function is to secure the Indian Railways’ extra budgetary resources (EBR) requirements through market borrowings at the most competitive rates and terms.
• The Ministry of Railways holds 86.36% of IRFC, officials said. As of March 2024, the company had a market cap of Rs 1,86,030 crore.

How does securing Navratna status help a company?

• In several ways, from achieving greater financial autonomy to making global expansion easier to acquiring a better market position.
• “Having got Navratna status, IRCTC and IRFC can invest up to Rs 1,000 crore or 15% of their net worth in a single project without government approval. It makes them more financially autonomous,” a senior ministry official said.
• “The companies can form joint ventures and subsidiaries, and enter into mergers or acquisitions without direct government intervention. They can also make independent business and investment decisions to compete with private sector companies,” the official said.
• According to the official, these companies will also be able to enter the international market. “They can form strategic alliances and expand globally without strict bureaucratic hurdles. Navratna companies are considered financially stable, which helps them attract more investors and provide better returns to shareholders,” 

 What are the other Navratnas of the Indian Railways?

• Five other Indian Railways companies had Navratna status before IRCTC and IRFC – Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), RITES Ltd, IRCON International Ltd, and RailTel Corporation of India Ltd.
• CONCOR became the first Railways Navratna in July 2014. RVNL, IRCON, RITES followed in 2023, and RailTel in August 2024.
• CONCOR is a multimodal logistics company for freight transport, and RailTel provides connectivity services such as IP-based video surveillance systems at stations and NIC ‘e-Office’ services. IRCON specialises in building railways and highways projects in India and abroad.
• RITES is a multidisciplinary transport infrastructure consultancy organisation, and RVNL implements projects relating to creation and augmentation of capacities of rail infrastructure on a fast-track basis.

India’s river dolphin population stands at 6,327, survey finds

• India’s first-ever riverine dolphin estimation report has recorded 6,327 dolphins across 28 rivers in eight states. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number, followed by Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the report during his visit to Gir National Park in Gujarat, where he chaired the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife.
• The dolphin population survey, conducted under Project Dolphin, spanned 8,500 kilometers across the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus river systems over two years.
• In India, Ganges river dolphins inhabit the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system and its tributaries, while a small population of Indus river dolphins resides in the Indus River system.
• During the meeting, PM Modi emphasized the importance of raising awareness about dolphin conservation by involving the local population and villagers in the affected areas. He also recommended organizing exposure visits for schoolchildren to dolphin habitats.
• The survey, conducted from 2021 to 2023, was a joint effort by the Wildlife Institute of India, state forest departments of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan, and non-profit organizations including Aaranyak, World Wildlife Fund, Turtle Survival Alliance, and Wildlife Trust of India.
• India has 6,324 Gangetic dolphins across the Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins and three Indus river dolphins in the Beas river basin in Punjab, the country’s first-ever detailed dolphin population survey has found.
• — Conducted between 2021 and 2023, the survey covered 8,406 km long stretches of Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins, inclusive of its tributaries, and a 101 km long stretch of the Beas river.
• Of the 6,324 Gangetic dolphins, 3,275 were found on the river’s main stem, 2,414 were found in Ganga’s tributaries while 584 were found in Brahmaputra’s main stem. A total of 28 rivers were surveyed by boat for the estimation exercise and 30 river stretches were mapped by road.
• — Among range states, 2,397 dolphins were counted in UP, 2,220 in Bihar, 162 in Jharkhand, 95 in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, 815 in West Bengal, 635 in Assam and three in Punjab.
• Both the Indus and Ganges dolphins have been listed as ‘Endangered’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since the 1990s. This classification indicates that the species has “a very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild”. After the launch of Ganga Action Plan in 1985, the government in 1986 included Gangetic dolphins in the First Schedule of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Blue Ghost mission? Firefly''s ''Blue Ghost'' mission successfully lands on Moon''s surface

• Blue Ghost, roughly the size of a compact car, launched on January 15 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The lander tightened its lunar orbit on Sunday before executing its uncrewed touchdown near an ancient volcanic vent on Mare Crisium, a basin on the Moon’s Earth-facing side. 
• Firefly’s mission was one of three active lunar missions, with Japan’s ispace and Houston-based Intuitive Machines also making advancements in the new space race.
• Ahead of the landing, Firefly Aerospace had provided an update on the final descent phase, stating, “T-2 hours until #BlueGhost performs a Descent Orbit Insertion and begins her trajectory towards our final destination: the Moon''s Mare Crisium.
• This 19-second burn will be performed on the far side of the Moon in a planned comms blackout. Once we regain signal about 20 minutes after the burn, our #GhostRiders will conduct a health check to confirm the road to Mare Crisium is clear.”

Scientific objective

• The lander is carrying 10 scientific instruments, including a lunar soil analyser, a radiation-tolerant computer, and an experiment testing the feasibility of using global satellite navigation for Moon travel.
• Blue Ghost will also capture a lunar sunset, helping scientists understand how dust levitates under solar influence, an effect first observed by Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan.
• The mission aligns with Nasa’s strategy of using private companies for lunar exploration under the Artemis programme. Firefly has secured a $101 million Nasa contract for this mission. The lander will operate for 14 days before the frigid lunar night renders it inactive.
• These private space missions have been facilitated by NASA, which is trying to build a larger ecosystem of space transportation companies in preparation for frequent travels to the Moon, for humans as well as cargo, in the coming years.
• The first rounds of the private space missions are carrying a variety of scientific instruments, mostly those of NASA, to further our understanding of the Moon’s surface and its surroundings.
• Blue Ghost has taken instruments that will test robotic drilling technology, carry out studies of the surface and sub-surface characteristics and composition, and explore dust mitigation methods, among others. There are 10 payloads in all.
• The spacecraft has landed about 20 degrees north of the Moon’s equator on the nearside, the side of the Moon that always faces the Earth. The site is known to have been impacted by a large asteroid about three billion years ago.
• The payloads would be operational for one lunar day, or about 14 Earth days. The lander is equipped with some additional supplies of battery power, which will enable the functioning of the payloads for some time during the lunar night too. Lunar nights are very cold, making it difficult for most machines to survive. On March 14, the mission is hoping to capture high-definition images of a solar eclipse on the Moon, with the Earth slated to come in between.
• The Blue Ghost mission does not have a rover to walk over the Moon’s surface. The payloads will be deployed from the lander and remain static.
• The entry of private operators ensures a greater frequency of trips to the Moon, and the deployment of a larger number of scientific instruments.
• Even as Blue Ghost landed on Sunday, the next CLPS mission is already on its way. Intuitive Missions launched its second mission, this one called Athena, or just IM-2, on February 26, and is supposed to land on March 6.
• Using a spacecraft similar to the first mission, IM-2 is scheduled to land in the relatively less-explored southern pole region of the Moon.
•  The Chandrayaan-3 mission was India’s third lunar mission and second attempt to make a soft landing on the surface of the Moon. It was launched by Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3).
• The propulsion module carried the lander and rover configuration to a 100 km lunar orbit. The propulsion module had a Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and Polari metric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

Why are India, China, US racing to secure supplies of copper?

• On February 27, the government announced the securing of a 9,000-sq-km block to explore copper and cobalt in a region in Zambia known for high-grade deposits. With production in domestic mines faltering, the project is a crucial step for India to establish overseas mining operations.
• On February 25, the White House warned in a fact sheet on “threat to national security from imports of copper” that the “overreliance on foreign copper” could “jeopardize U.S. defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation”.
• On February 17, Bloomberg reported that with supply of copper ore tightening, China is moving to rein in smelting overcapacity – companies looking to build new smelters must secure long-term contracts with copper mines, many of which are in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chile, and Peru. China controls half of the world’s smelting and refining capacity.

Why copper mining matters

• With the demand for copper, led by electric vehicle (EV) batteries and clean energy technologies, projected to outstrip supply from mines by 2035, countries such as India, China, and the United States are scrambling to secure supply chains and strengthen domestic capabilities. The race for copper will only intensify over the next decade.
• In the copper value chain, ore is processed into concentrate, smelted into anode, and refined into cathode – this is essential to produce rods, sheets, wires, and other industrial inputs.
• While more recycling and alternative battery chemistries could ease pressure on primary supply, mining remains critical to meeting global demand.

India’s overseas focus

• Copper is listed as a critical mineral in India. Domestic ore production in 2023-24 was 3.78 million tonnes (mt), 8% lower than in 2018-19.
• Between April and January in the current financial year, ore production by government-owned Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL), the sole domestic copper miner, was 6% lower year-on-year.
• Due to stagnant domestic ore production, India’s copper concentrate imports have doubled in value terms to Rs 26,000 crore in 2023-24 from 2018-19.
• While India has large copper deposits, they require extensive exploration before mining can commence. Globally it takes up to 17 years on average to operationalise a copper mine.
• To meet demand in the short term, India has been looking to secure both greenfield and brownfield mineral assets in copper-rich countries such as Zambia, Chile, and the DRC.
• Deposits in these countries are typically of higher grade than in India – and because of their extensive focus on mining, projects could develop faster. However, investments in overseas mineral assets carry significant geopolitical risks.

Spotlight on Africa

• The share of Africa in the production of critical minerals such as copper, lithium, and natural graphite is rising.
• “The continent already accounts for 70% of global cobalt production and 16% of global copper production… The DRC is on course to become the world’s second-largest copper supplier by 2030,” the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report last year.
• India has got the 9,000-sq-km block in Zambia’s Northwestern province on a government-to-government basis. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) will explore the land, which is roughly six times the size of Delhi. In the neighbouring Copperbelt province, the Vedanta Group owns a large copper mine.
• Zambia is the seventh largest producer of copper in the world. (Chile, Peru and DRC are numbers 1, 2, and 3 respectively.) Canada-based First Quantum Minerals and China’s state-owned Nonferrous Metal Mining are among the largest producers of copper in the country.
• India’s Ministry of Mines is working through nodal officers in the DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Rwanda to acquire more critical mineral assets for exploration, but competition from other countries will remain fierce.

China and Trump

• On February 25, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to launch an investigation into “how copper imports threaten America’s national security and economic stability”.
• The White House fact sheet noted that “Copper plays a vital role in defense applications, infrastructure, and emerging technologies like clean energy, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics”, and is the “Defense Department’s second-most utilized material”.
• Despite ample copper reserves, however, “America’s smelting and refining capacity lags behind global competitors like China, which controls over 50% of global smelting”, and the US does not figure in the top five countries in copper smelting capacity, the fact sheet said.
• The investigation, it said, would identify the “vulnerabilities in the [US] copper supply chain”, and make recommendations on potential tariffs, export controls, and incentives to increase production and “enhance the resilience of America’s domestic copper industry”.
• China’s steps to control overcapacity, on the other hand, reflect the twin trends of falling treatment and refining charges (TCRCs), and the widening gap between demand and primary supply.
• TCRCs have declined in part due to excess capacity, which has squeezed smelter margins and hit the viability of operations in several places, including China. At the same time, the outlook for copper concentrate availability remains weak.
• With significant overcapacity, utilisation rates will inevitably fall as custom smelters struggle to secure concentrate supplies. …Overcapacity has to be reduced in order to bring the custom concentrate market back into balance. This year is…likely to see some smelters suspended or closed as well as delays to the start-up of new projects,” energy data analytics provider Wood Mackenzie noted in its outlook for copper in 2025.

Additional Information:

• The Ministry of Mines launched India’s first-ever auction of offshore mineral blocks , including seven seabed blocks in the Andaman Sea near Great Nicobar Island, in 2024 ,where a massive Rs 72,000 crore infrastructure project is also planned. These blocks are rich in critical minerals like copper, nickel, and cobalt, all essential for clean energy manufacturing .
• In addition, the ministry has put three blocks off Gujarat’s coast containing lime mud and three off Kerala’s coast with construction sand up for auction, marking a significant step in tapping the country’s offshore mineral reserves.
• At the auction launch, Mines Secretary VL Kantha Rao stated that the 13 blocks were chosen after the Geological Survey of India (GSI) explored half of around 6 lakh square kilometers it identified as potential seabed mining areas.
• “After the data that we have generated and the exploration work that we have done, it is now most important that we bring the private industry into the mining of these metals,” .
• These blocks lie within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), extending 200 nautical miles into the sea. Of the 13 blocks, three are off the Gujarat coast near Porbandar, while three off Kerala are located near Kollam.
• The remaining seven, in the Andaman Sea, are situated on the West Sewell Ridge east of Great Nicobar Island, where the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) recently completed exploratory mining trials using an indigenously developed sea mining system. Rich in polymetallic nodules and crusts containing manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper, these blocks hold minerals critical for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicle batteries and wind turbines.
• The Great Nicobar Island is also the site of the central government’s Rs 72,000 crore mega infrastructure project, which includes a transshipment port, an airport, a gas and solar power plant, and two greenfield coastal cities. The project was initially conceived by the government’s apex think tank, NITI Aayog.

Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Pralhad Joshi flag off hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck trials

“In a significant move toward India’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday launched the trial run of the country’s first fleet of hydrogen-powered trucks, developed by Tata Motors. This milestone represents a major advancement in India’s green energy transition, particularly in the transportation sector.

• A In a landmark development towards India’s vision of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, Tata Motors, the country’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has launched the first-ever trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks.
• The trial phase will span up to 24 months and involves the deployment of 16 advanced hydrogen-powered vehicles with varying configurations and payload capacities. These trucks, equipped with new-age hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE) and fuel cell (H2-FCEV) technologies, will be tested on India’s most prominent freight routes, including those around Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Surat, Vadodara, Jamshedpur, and Kalinganagar.
• "Hydrogen is the fuel of the future with immense potential to transform India’s transportation sector by reducing emissions and enhancing energy self-reliance. Such initiatives will accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility in heavy-duty trucking and move us closer to an efficient, low-carbon future.
• Tata Motors was awarded the tender for this trial, which is funded by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• It marks a significant step forward in assessing the real-world commercial viability of using hydrogen-powered vehicles for long-distance haulage as well as setting up the requisite enabling infrastructure for their seamless operation.
• “Today, with the commencement of these hydrogen truck trials, we are proud to further this legacy by pioneering the transition to clean, zero-emission energy for long-haul transportation.
• We are grateful to the government of India for its visionary leadership in making this possible, and we remain committed to playing our part in building sustainable, future-ready mobility solutions that will deliver better performance and efficiency
• Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, underscored hydrogen’s transformative potential in reducing emissions and boosting India’s energy self-reliance. He praised Tata Motors for leading the initiative, stating, “Hydrogen is the fuel of the future, accelerating the shift to sustainable heavy-duty trucking and driving us towards a low-carbon future.”
• Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, hailed the initiative as a key component of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), emphasizing its importance in achieving energy independence and reducing carbon emissions. “This trial is a crucial step in demonstrating the role of green hydrogen in decarbonizing our transport sector,” he said.
• The trials, which will span 24 months, will test 16 hydrogen-powered trucks equipped with Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines (H2-ICE) and Fuel Cells (H2-FCEV) on major freight routes, including Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, and Surat. The aim is to assess the commercial viability of hydrogen-powered long-distance transportation. The fleet will be supported by hydrogen refuelling stations established by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
• The National Green Hydrogen Mission, with an allocation of Rs.19,744 crore, positions India as a key player in hydrogen production, storage, and application.
• He noted significant progress, including the award of 4,12,000 TPA of Green Hydrogen production and 3 GW of electrolyser manufacturing capacity annually. Additionally, seven pilot projects have been launched across various sectors, along with the publication of 88 standards for safety and scalability.
• Looking ahead, India’s 2030 targets include producing 5 million metric tons of Green Hydrogen annually, installing 60-100 GW of electrolyser capacity, and adding 125 GW of renewable energy dedicated to hydrogen production. These efforts are expected to cut 50 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually, save Rs.1 lakh crore in imports, and attract Rs.8 lakh crore in investments.

What is green hydrogen?

• Although hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe, it is rarely found in nature in its elemental form and always must be extracted from other hydrogen-containing compounds. It also means that how well hydrogen contributes to decarbonisation depends on how clean and green the method of production is.
• Based on the sources and processes, hydrogen can be classified into various colours:
• i) Black/Brown/Grey hydrogen is produced by coal or lignite gasification (black or brown), or via a process called steam methane reformation (SMR) of natural gas or methane (grey). These tend to be mostly carbon-intensive processes.
• ii) Blue hydrogen is produced by natural gas or coal gasification combined with carbon capture storage (CCS) or carbon capture use (CCU) technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
• iii) Green hydrogen is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy. The carbon intensity ultimately depends on the carbon neutrality of the source of electricity. Which means, the more renewable energy there is in the electricity fuel mix, the “greener” the hydrogen produced.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

• In January 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore.
• The Mission is expected to attract Rs 8 lakh crore of investment in the green hydrogen chain. 
• India aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen per annum in the next five years and the incentives would help bring down the cost.

Significance of this Mission

• India has a unique opportunity to become a global leader in the hydrogen energy ecosystem. With proper policy support, industry action, market generation and acceptance, and increased investor interest, India can position itself as a low-cost, zero-carbon manufacturing hub, at the same time fulfilling its goal of economic development, job creation, and improved public health.
• The current impetus surrounding the hydrogen transition fits well within the context of a low-carbon economy, energy security, and the larger economic development ambition of the nation. 
•  Hydrogen demand in India could grow more than four-fold by 2050, representing almost 10 per cent of global hydrogen demand. Initial demand growth is expected from mature markets like refinery, ammonia, and methanol, which are already using hydrogen as industrial feedstock and in chemical processes. 
• The cumulative value of the green hydrogen market in India could be $8 billion by 2030 and $340 billion by 2050. 

The Mission will have benefits:

• i) Creation of export opportunities for green hydrogen and its derivatives.
• ii) Decarbonisation of industrial, mobility and energy sectors.
• iii) Reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock.
• iv) Development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
• v) Creation of employment opportunities.
• vi) Development of cutting-edge technologies.
• The Mission will facilitate demand creation, production, utilisation and export of green hydrogen. 
• Under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT), two distinct financial incentive mechanisms — targeting domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and production of green hydrogen — will be provided under the Mission.
• The Mission will also support pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways. 
• Regions capable of supporting large scale production and/or utilisation of hydrogen will be identified and developed as Green Hydrogen Hubs.
• An enabling policy framework will be developed to support establishment of the green hydrogen ecosystem. A robust standards and regulations framework will be also developed.
•  A public-private partnership framework for R&D (Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership — SHIP) will be facilitated under the Mission. 

Hydrogen-powered fuel cells successfully demonstrated as backup for telecom towers

• In a significant step toward cleaner energy in India’s telecom sector, hydrogen-powered fuel cells have been successfully demonstrated as a reliable backup power solution for telecom towers, according to the Ministry of Science & Technology. 
• Developed by the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology (CFCT) at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system was deployed at a telecom tower within the Pune Municipal Corporation limits. 
• A key feature of this project is its plug-and-play model, designed for easy transport and handling, which also eliminates security concerns. This makes the solution both practical and adaptable for broader deployment across the sector. 
• The system can be shared among multiple towers, addressing backup power challenges in remote and hard-to-reach areas where traditional diesel generators are difficult to deploy and maintain. 
• The demonstration, conducted with Nashik-based Resicorre Technologies as the industrial partner, was part of the Department of Science and Technology’s Advanced Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Call – 2021 initiative. 
• The project aimed to establish a reliable, fuel cell-based backup solution that ensures a steady hydrogen supply and power resilience during outages. 
• PEM fuel cells provide a clean, efficient substitute for traditional generators, which are expensive and contribute to high carbon emissions. By generating electricity with only water vapour as a by-product, PEM fuel cells offer an eco-friendlier solution.
• They feature quick start-up times, operate at relatively low temperatures, and have a compact design, making them ideal for telecom tower applications. 
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have been actively promoting green energy solutions for the telecom sector.
•  TRAI’s directive to transition 50% of rural and 33% of urban telecom towers to renewable energy aligns with the adoption of PEM fuel cells, furthering national efforts to minimise the telecom sector’s environmental impact.