• 27 Sep 2025

India’s Largest Battery Storage Project

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for India’s largest battery energy storage project in Bikaner, Rajasthan, alongside a 1,560 MW solar power plant, a key milestone in enhancing renewable energy and energy security.

• The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Avaada Group’s 282 MWp solar power project at a different site in Bikaner, further advancing the region's solar energy infrastructure.

Key Points

• About: The Avaada Group's project integrates a 2,500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a 1,560 MW-peak (MWp) solar power plant, which is located in Pugal, Bikaner. The combined investment for these initiatives exceeds ₹9,200 crore.
  • The solar power plant and BESS occupy 4,000 acres of land and will be equipped with cutting-edge technology, including Avaada Electro’s ALMM-certified, Made-in-India TOPCon N-Type bifacial solar PV modules, designed to maximise energy efficiency and stabilise the grid.
  • The 1,560 MWp solar plant will provide electricity even outside typical solar hours, further enhancing its contribution to grid stability.
• Shri Dungargarh Solar Project: The 200 MW Shri Dungargarh Solar Project, covering 777 acres in Bikaner, will supply power to Rajasthan Discoms. This initiative ensures a cleaner and more cost-effective energy supply to the state.
• State’s Support: The project's rapid execution—operational in under a year—was made possible by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the Rising Rajasthan event, reflecting the state's commitment to advancing renewable energy.
• Significance: The project will ensure continuous green power, enhance grid resilience, and set new standards for India's energy security.
  • Together, the projects will generate over 1,600 green jobs in Rajasthan, cut CO₂ emissions by 20 lakh tons annually, and conserve 600 lakh litres of water each year through robotic cleaning techniques.

World’s Largest Tiger Census

Why in News?

Preparations for the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 have officially started in central India, with a regional training workshop held at Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, marking the launch of the survey.

• The 2022 census reported India’s tiger population at a minimum of 3,167, constituting over 70% of the global wild tiger population.

Key Points

• Organisation: The workshop was a collaborative effort between the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
• Scope: The survey will cover tiger habitats across India, using standardised protocols to ensure reliable and robust estimates of the country’s big cat population.
  • The workshop brought together 150 forest officials and field staff from multiple states, including Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • The sessions trained various officials, including field directors, divisional forest officers, and range officers, on standardised tiger survey methods. 
• Technological Integration: Training included protocols for tiger monitoring, co-predator and prey assessments, and habitat evaluation.  Participants received training on using advanced tools like the STrIPES App, GPS devices, compasses, map reading, binoculars, and scat-based genetic sampling protocols.
• Methodologies: Participants were familiarised with methods for herbivore counts, vegetation and habitat assessment, and disturbance studies, emphasising the link between herbivore distribution and carnivore presence.

Tiger Census in India

• The national tiger census is done every four years by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in partnership with state forest departments, conservation NGOs, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). 
• The census uses a double sampling method based on ground-based surveys and images from camera-traps.

6th Nadi Utsav

Why in the News?

Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, inaugurated the 6th Nadi Utsav, stressing the collective responsibility of citizens to protect and conserve rivers. 

• He emphasised the Namami Gange project, which focuses on maintaining river cleanliness, preventing encroachments, and preserving sacred rivers that hold religious and cultural value.

Key Points

• Objective: The Nadi Utsav, organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture, highlighted the importance of rivers as essential lifelines and cultural reservoirs. 
  • The festival brought together various aspects of rivers, including ecological, cultural, and artistic perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding of their significance.
• Event Duration: The event took place from 25th to 27th September 2025 in Delhi, offering an extensive program that included seminars, film screenings, performances, and exhibitions.
• Seminar: The seminar titled Riverscape Dynamics: Changes and Continuity delved into traditional riverine knowledge, river gods and folk narratives, and the role of rivers in art, craft practices, and science.
• My River Story: This festival segment showcased documentaries focusing on ecological issues and human connections to rivers. Featured films include Gotakhors: Disappearing Diving Communities, River Man of India, Arth Ganga, Molai – Man Behind the Forest, Cauvery – River of Life, and Ladakh – Life along the Indus.
• Nadi Anubhav: Curated by Anuj Agarwal, this exhibition features contemporary artworks, Kalighat paintings, photographs, and poetry, all centred around rivers, blending artistic imagination with ecological awareness.

Record Women's Participation in MNREGS in UP

Why in News?

Women's participation in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) in Uttar Pradesh reached a record high of 42.31%, signalling a shift in rural economic dynamics and gender roles, despite challenges in sustaining employment.

Key Points

• About: Women's participation in MNREGS in Uttar Pradesh reached a historic 42.31% in the 2025-26 fiscal year, slightly surpassing the previous high of 42.26% in 2023-24, after a dip to 41.87% in 2024-25.
• National Average: Despite the record increase, women’s participation in MNREGS in Uttar Pradesh remains below the national average of 53%. Experts attribute this disparity to:
  • Systemic Constraints: Heavy manual work, lack of crèche facilities, and wage gaps.
  • Seasonal Employment Fluctuations: Delays in wage payments and job instability have discouraged sustained participation.
• Factors Leading to Rise:
  • Economic Necessity: Rising household expenses, inflation, and limited job opportunities have driven more women to seek employment under MNREGS.
  • Shift in Rural Attitudes: There is a growing acceptance of women working in wage labour, which was once traditionally reserved for men.
  • Government Support: The UP government has been actively promoting women’s inclusion in self-help groups (SHGs) and rural livelihood missions, boosting women’s confidence to participate in MNREGS.
  • Post-Pandemic Migration: With more men migrating to urban areas for work post-Covid-19, women have increasingly filled the employment gap in rural areas.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

• About:  The MGNREGA is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for social security aimed at providing guaranteed rural employment in India. 
  • It was enacted in 2005 under the Ministry of Rural Development as nodal ministry. 
• Purpose: To provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to registered adult rural households willing to undertake unskilled manual work. 
• Coverage:  The scheme extends across the entire country, excluding districts with 100% urban populations. 
• Demand-Driven Framework: Employment is provided on demand; if not granted within 15 days, workers are entitled to an unemployment allowance, which is one-fourth of the minimum wage for the first 30 days and half of the minimum wage thereafter. 
• Decentralized Planning: The scheme emphasizes grassroots planning, with at least 50% of work executed by Gram Panchayats based on Gram Sabha recommendations. 
• Fund Sharing: The Central Government covers 100% of unskilled labor costs and 75% of material costs, while State Governments contribute 25% of material costs, ensuring cooperative federalism in implementation. 
• Wage Payment Mechanism: Wages are linked to state-specific Minimum Wage rates and paid directly to workers' bank or Aadhaar-linked accounts for transparency.  
  • Compensation for delayed payments is provided at 0.05% of unpaid wages per day, starting from the 16th day after the muster roll closure.