Current Affairs - National

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has received Stage-I approval from its Board of Directors to construct a greenfield marketing terminal in Bihta, Patna, Bihar. This project involves relocating the existing marketing terminal and pipeline pump station in Patna and is estimated to cost Rs 1,698.67 crore. The new terminal will be situated on the Barauni-Kanpur and Patna-Motihari-Baitalpur Pipelines, enhancing the infrastructure in Patna.

India has become the 2nd largest aluminium producer globally, achieving a 1.2% growth in production to 10.43 lakh tons in Q1 FY 2024-25. This accomplishment highlights India's significant advancement in the aluminium industry, trailing only behind China, which remains the largest aluminium producer in the world. Other key minerals, such as iron ore and limestone, also saw substantial growth in production, with iron ore reaching 79 MMT and limestone 116 MMT.

Goa's 'Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan' scheme, launched by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, focuses on enhancing solar rooftop installations for residential users. This initiative aims to enable households that consume 400 or fewer units of electricity annually to generate their own electricity, thereby reducing their reliance on traditional power sources. The scheme aligns with the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and includes significant financial support to cover the cost of installations, promoting sustainable energy practices within the state.

The Government of India is investing ₹2,516 Crore to computerize Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) across 27 states and Union Territories. This initiative aims to integrate PACS with ERP-based national software, enhancing their operational efficiency and enabling them to diversify their business activities. The project will cover various modules such as financial services, procurement operations, and warehousing, thereby improving transparency, and accountability, and providing additional income sources for farmers.

The Indian Coast Guard launched the 'Suvidha Software Version 1.0' during its inaugural Annual Operational Sea Training Conference held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on July 30, 2024. The software aims to enhance training protocols and ensure consistency across ICG platforms. The event underscored the ICG’s commitment to innovation, excellence in operational training, and improving maritime security capabilities.