Current Affairs - National

Tata Power has announced a major step toward strengthening India’s renewable energy manufacturing ecosystem by planning a 10 GW solar wafers and ingots plant. This facility will complete the company’s solar manufacturing chain, as it already operates around 4.9 GW of integrated cell and module production capacity. By moving into upstream components such as ingots and wafers, the company aims to reduce the nation’s reliance on imports and support the Make-in-India initiative. The project also aligns with government incentives promoting domestic manufacturing and clean energy. Once operational, it will significantly enhance India’s capability to build a self-reliant solar supply chain.

Bhopal has been chosen as the venue for the 22nd All India Annual TDS Conference, an important national gathering organised by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). The event brings together senior tax administrators, including Principal Chief Commissioners, Chief Commissioners, Directors General, and other top officials responsible for shaping TDS policies. The conference will focus on recent amendments made to the Income Tax Act, 2025, promote voluntary tax compliance, and highlight new digital tools for monitoring and data-driven enforcement. By hosting this conference, Bhopal becomes a key center for discussions aimed at improving transparency, simplifying regulations, and strengthening India’s TDS administration system.

Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched two major digital platforms — Sahakar Digi Pay and Sahakar Digi Loan — to modernise urban cooperative banks (UCBs). These initiatives focus on integrating digital payment and lending systems to help UCBs remain competitive in India’s evolving cashless economy. The plan includes onboarding 1,500 banks within two years and ensuring at least one UCB operates in every town with a population exceeding two lakh within five years. The move also supports financial inclusion, youth entrepreneurship, and sectoral revival while reinforcing cooperative banking reforms to strengthen the sector’s financial health and governance standards.

Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), a public sector shipyard located in Visakhapatnam, has been granted Mini Ratna (Category-I) status by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The recognition was presented to HSL’s CMD, Cmde Girideep Singh, during the DPSU Annual Review Meeting held in New Delhi. Established originally as the Scindia Shipyard by industrialist Walchand Hirachand under The Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd, HSL has played a pivotal role in shipbuilding and naval support operations, significantly contributing to India’s maritime and defence capabilities over the decades.

The 2nd WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit is scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from December 17 to 19, 2025. Co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and India’s Ministry of AYUSH, the summit will bring together around 7,000 participants, including global health leaders, researchers, and traditional medicine practitioners. The event, themed “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being,” aims to promote evidence-based traditional medicine, strengthen universal health coverage, and foster collaboration between science, innovation, and indigenous wisdom for sustainable healthcare development worldwide.