The Space Race
Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have launched policies to foster the growth of the space sector. While Gujarat’s Space Tech Policy 2025-2030 aims to position the state as a hub of high-tech manufacturing, create 25,000 new jobs and set up a centre for skill development, Tamil Nadu’s Space Industrial Policy focuses on promoting private sector engagement in the sector, including a capital subsidy for eligible businesses.
Additional facilities for satellite testing and skill development will also be set up in Chennai.
Steely Ambitions
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel has acquired land in Rajayapeta, Andhra Pradesh to set up a steel plant with an initial capacity of 7.3mn tonnes per annum. This is the first major greenfield steel plant in the country since 2016. The project is expected to support India’s goal of reaching 300mn tonnes per annum crude steel capacity by 2030 and strengthen domestic manufacturing.
AI Enters Schools
The Karnataka government has launched Shiksha Copilot, an AI-powered teaching assistant aimed to improve learning outcomes and help teachers with lesson planning. The tool is also designed to support teachers with real-time suggestions. In the first phase, 1,000 teachers will be trained to use the tool in four subjects.
Boost for Logistics
Rajasthan unveiled its new logistics policy with an eye on attracting private investment in the sector. The policy offers capital subsidies of up to 25% for developing infrastructure such as warehouses and cold storage units. Developers of logistics parks can also avail of interest subsidies, tax concessions and electricity-duty waivers. The state sees the policy as a key reform to achieve its goal of a Rs 350bn economy by 2030.
Women’s Welfare in Focus
The Assam government has launched its biggest initiative yet, the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan on April 1, to support women entrepreneurship. The scheme aims to empower nearly 30 lakh women across the state. Under the programme, the government will provide eligible women under the scheme with Rs 10,000 seed capital in the first year, which will increase to Rs 50,000 in the third year.
Compensation Deal
The Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), a central PSU, has released Rs 269.98 crore as land compensation for the Etalin hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley district. The company called it a step in honouring the rights of the local communities while pushing crucial infrastructure developments. The Etalin project is part of a larger plan that includes four other hydro projects in the district, adding up to 5,097MW in capacity. The projects were handed over to SJVN by the state government in August 2023 following a memorandum of understanding.
Solar Dreams
Tripura’s first solar village is coming up at Rangachhera in West Tripura district. All 600 households in the village will be powered by solar energy as part of the green energy transition. The Rs 1.22-crore project will generate 60kW of power and the village will be officially designated as a ‘solar gram’ upon completion.
Speeding Up Infra Work
The Odisha government has formed a 17-member high-level task force to ensure the quick implementation of mega investment proposals and pending infrastructure projects. The task force will review the progress of major industrial projects related to mining, industries, energy, water resources, highways and mobile connectivity. The state signed investments worth Rs 16.73 lakh crore at the recently concluded Utkarsh Odisha Conclave 2025.
Cutting Travel Time
The final stretch of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway has been completed and will be inaugurated on May 1, Maharashtra Day. This marks the culmination of the ambitious 701-km project that was proposed in 2014. The expressway will reduce the journey time between Mumbai and Nagpur from 16 to 8 hours. The final stretch is expected to reduce the current travel time of 3.5 hours to Nashik by up to an hour.
Shifting Gears
The MP government has granted lifetime tax exemption for new EVs under its new Electric Vehicle Policy, 2025. The 100% exemption will apply to electric cars and light commercial vehicles registered until March 2026, and electric buses and trucks registered until March 2027. The policy also hopes to stimulate EV adoption in the state.
(Compiled by Devabrata Dutta, Tarunya Sanjay and Vikash Tripathi)
