THE Government has approved six semiconductor manufacturing projects so far with a cumulative investment of around Rs 1,55,000 crore, which are expected to generate more than 27,000 direct job opportunities, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday. The Government introduced the ‘Semicon India Programme’, with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore for the development of the semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. Semiconductor manufacturing is a highly specialised industry requiring a complex manufacturing process. Therefore, most of the jobs created in this industry are skilled jobs.

 

Further, as the semiconductor industry is a foundational industry, these units are expected to have a cascading effect on employment generation in the other sectors and the supply chain down the line. “Under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, the fiscal support is provided to the approved startups and MSMEs. Out of 22 design companies approved under the scheme so far, 3 companies are in the State of Telangana,” the Minister informed. Apart from the above, design infrastructure support has also been approved for 11 companies in Telangana. Moreover, under the Chips to Startup (C2S) programme, 22 institutes from Telangana are being supported with design tools, and 6 institutes are being provided financial support, Prasada said.

 

 

THE pace of National Highways construction in India slowed to 29 km/day in the last fiscal. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said the pace of National Highways construction during 2023-24 stood at 34 km/day. The highest-ever pace was recorded in 2020-21, when it reached 37 km per day. The Ministry had constructed 10,660 km length of national highways in 2024-25, 12,349 km length of national highways in 2023-24 and 10,331 km length of national highways in 2022-23. Gadkari said all the NHs development projects, including development of access-controlled High Speed Corridors (HSC) / Expressways, are planned in line with PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP) Principles.

 

 

THE Centre said that in the past five years, over 2.22 crore students availed scholarships under the Modi Government’s Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) Scheme and Top-Class Education Scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) Students for pursuing higher education. The PMS schemes are scholarships provided by the Centre to support students from specific social categories, such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and minorities, who are pursuing higher education after Class 10. The Government, through these schemes, aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education by providing financial assistance to students from economically weaker sections. 

 

 

THE Gujarat portion of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project between Vapi and Sabarmati is planned to be completed by December 2027, while the entire 508 km project is expected to be completed by December 2029, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed. However, the bullet train project is a very complex and technology-intensive and the exact timelines for its completion can only be reasonably ascertained after the completion of all associated works of civil structures, track, electrical, signalling &; telecommunication and supply of trainsets, the Minister added. MAHSR is under execution with technical and financial assistance from the Japanese Government. The project is passing through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli with 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati, the Minister said. A cumulative financial expenditure of Rs 78,839 crore has been incurred on the project till June 30, 2025, he said.