Current Affairs - National

NITI Aayog launched the report “Unlocking a $200 Billion Opportunity: Electric Vehicles in India” on 4th August 2025 in New Delhi, marking a significant step in accelerating India’s electric vehicle (EV) transition. The report presents a detailed roadmap to boost EV adoption, identifies key challenges, and recommends strategic actions for achieving India's ambitious target of 30% EV sales by 2030. It was developed through extensive stakeholder consultations involving government officials, industry leaders, and researchers. By providing actionable insights and highlighting India’s progress compared to global trends, the report aims to shape a sustainable and competitive EV ecosystem in the country.

The ‘Apna Ghar’ initiative, launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, is primarily aimed at improving the well-being of truck drivers across the country. By July 1, 2025, a total of 368 rest units with 4,611 beds were established at highway fuel outlets. These facilities provide clean and safe environments for rest, equipped with essential amenities like sanitation and bedding. Truck drivers, who often face fatigue and lack proper resting spaces during long journeys, are the main beneficiaries. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance logistics infrastructure and improve working conditions in the road transport sector.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta initiated a month-long door-to-door cleanliness campaign in New Delhi, beginning at ISBT Kashmiri Gate. The campaign is designed to improve hygiene standards in residential areas, government offices, and public transport hubs. Civic bodies and citizens are both playing an active role in ensuring the success of this initiative. The Chief Minister also drew attention to the poor conditions of existing government offices, underlining the necessity for a new Secretariat. This reflects a broader push to not only clean public spaces but also upgrade the infrastructure that supports government functioning in the capital city.

The Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project, with a capacity of 1,856 MW, has been revived by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in response to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan. Located on the Chenab River in Jammu & Kashmir’s Ramban district, it is a run-of-river project aiming to optimise India's use of the western rivers allocated to Pakistan under the IWT. The project, conceived decades ago, is of strategic and national importance. With in-principle clearance for forest land diversion and a planned investment of over ₹22,700 crore, it is expected to boost energy capacity and regional development.

The Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) has triggered a serious inter-state water-sharing conflict between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The project proposes diverting 200 TMC of surplus Godavari floodwaters to the Krishna and Penna basins to address water scarcity in Andhra Pradesh’s Rayalaseema region. Telangana opposes the project, citing violations of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, lack of clearances from bodies like the Apex Council and Central Water Commission, and environmental concerns. Additionally, it disputes the claim of “surplus” water and objects to the unauthorised inter-basin transfer. The high-level committee aims to address these complex legal, environmental, and federal issues through cooperative dialogue.