Maharashtra Switch to Hindi
Maharashtra Unveils Bamboo Industry Policy 2025
Why in News?
The Maharashtra Government has approved the Bamboo Industry Policy 2025, aimed at positioning the state as a national leader in the bamboo-based industry and sustainable farming.
Key Points
- About: The policy envisions an investment of ₹50,000 crore and the creation of over five lakh jobs in the next decade.
- It seeks to promote bamboo as an eco-friendly and sustainable income source for farmers, comparable to traditional cash crops, while aligning with the National Bamboo Mission and Maharashtra Mission 2023.
- Key Initiatives and Targets: Over the next five years, 15 dedicated bamboo clusters will be established across the state, with major production centres in Amravati and Bhandara, both known for their strong bamboo base.
- Vidarbha, with its vast tracts of cultivable wasteland and favourable climate, is expected to play a pivotal role in the policy’s implementation.
- Current Status: Currently, Maharashtra ranks third in India in bamboo cultivation area, covering 1.35 million hectares. In 2022, the state produced 9.47 lakh tonnes of bamboo, primarily from clusters in Amravati, Bhandara, and Sindhudurg. Experts project that with improved use of fallow land, annual production could rise to 157 lakh tonnes.
- Globally, the bamboo market is projected to reach USD 88.43 billion by 2030, and Maharashtra’s new policy aims to secure a significant share of this expanding green economy, with Vidarbha at its core.
- Financial Outlay: ₹1,534 crore has been allocated for implementing the Maharashtra Bamboo Policy 2025–30.
- ₹11,797 crore is earmarked for bamboo development over the next 20 years.
- An initial ₹50 crore fund has been sanctioned for FY 2025–26 to kickstart implementation.
- Infrastructure: The government will establish:
- Anchor units and Common Facility Centres (CFCs) to support bamboo-based enterprises and artisans.
- Micro-CFCs in remote areas to empower local craftsmen.
- Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) will receive support for training, quality seedling production, and subsidies under a ₹4,271 crore bamboo development project funded by the Asian Development Bank.
- Incentives and Innovation: The policy offers a range of incentives, including:
- Interest and power subsidies
- Stamp duty concessions
- A ₹300 crore venture capital fund for startups and MSMEs engaged in bamboo innovation.
- It also encourages research collaborations with agricultural universities and international institutions to enhance the bamboo value chain through GIS mapping, drone applications, blockchain technology, and tissue culture laboratories.
- Sustainability and Market Integration: To diversify bamboo usage, the government plans to integrate 5–7% bamboo biomass into thermal power projects. Additionally, large-scale bamboo plantation drives will be undertaken through MNREGA and public land initiatives.
National Current Affairs Switch to Hindi
Defence Minister Releases Book on Future-Ready Armed Forces
Why in News?
On 14th October 2025, Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh released a book titled “Ready, Relevant and Resurgent II: Shaping a Future Ready Force”, authored by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.
Key Points
- The book presents a comprehensive and forward-looking blueprint for shaping India’s Armed Forces to meet the challenges of the future.
- It provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving nature of warfare, tracing the evolution of conflict and examining emerging domains such as cyberspace, space-enabled operations, and cognitive warfare—highlighting their increasing significance for the Indian Armed Forces.
- Emphasizing the importance of strong military leadership and institutional resilience, the author envisions a bold reimagination of India’s military future—one that draws from historical insight, harnesses technological innovation, and is anchored in the vision of a ready, reliable, and resurgent India.
Chief of Defence Staff
- The post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was created in 2019. The CDS acts as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on all tri-services matters.
- As the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, the CDS is supported by the Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff in performing assigned functions.
- The Department of Military Affairs is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff, who holds the rank of a four-star General, with salary and perquisites at par with a Service Chief.