Technology

New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) India’s textile industry has expanded to nearly $190 billion in 2025-26 and is poised to achieve the target of $350 billion by 2030, Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh said on Thursday.

The domestic textile market has grown from about Rs 6 lakh crore in 2014-15 to over Rs 16 lakh crore, reflecting the sector’s robust expansion and increasing contribution to the national economy.

He further noted that the textile and apparel sector currently provides direct employment to more than 5.3 crore people and is expected to generate nearly 2 crore additional jobs over the next three years.

Highlighting the achievements of the Ministry of Textiles over the past 12 years, he said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s textile and apparel sector has undergone a remarkable transformation.

The minister said that guided by the Prime Minister’s 5F vision — Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion and Fashion to Foreign — the sector has evolved into a strong and integrated value chain connecting farmers, manufacturers, weavers, artisans and exporters.

Singh emphasised that the government has implemented a series of landmark reforms and flagship initiatives to strengthen the entire textile ecosystem.

These include PM MITRA Parks, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), the Textiles Export Promotion Mission (TEEM), the National Fibre Mission and the Raw Material Support Scheme (RMSS), which are driving investments, technological advancement, sustainability and export competitiveness.

To support cotton farmers and ensure adequate raw material availability for industry, the government launched the Cotton Productivity Mission and removed import duty on cotton.

Export competitiveness has been strengthened through schemes such as RoSCTL and RoDTEP, while India’s network of Free Trade Agreements has expanded from 10 FTAs covering 19 countries in 2014 to 18 FTAs covering 56 countries, creating new opportunities for exports and investments.

Despite global trade challenges, India has diversified its export destinations and registered export growth in 135 countries. The Minister further noted that India has emerged as a major force in technical textiles, with the market expanding from about $6 billion to $25 billion under the National Technical Textiles Mission.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on Thursday announced that it has rolled out a nationwide deployment of advanced Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) equipped with 3D laser-based technology, marking a major step towards data-driven and proactive maintenance of India's National Highway network.

The high-tech vehicles, fitted with laser profilers, GPS systems, high-resolution cameras and advanced 3D laser sensors, are designed to scan highway stretches and generate detailed digital maps of road conditions.

The system can identify defects such as potholes, cracks, patches and surface unevenness, enabling authorities to take timely corrective action.

According to the ministry, the initiative is aimed at improving the riding experience and enhancing road safety across the country's highway network.

The NSVs have already been deployed across several National Highway corridors and are expected to transform the way road assets are monitored and maintained.

Unlike conventional survey methods that covered only 20 to 80 kilometres per day, the new-generation vehicles can survey up to 300 kilometres daily.

This significant increase in efficiency is expected to accelerate the detection of road defects and reduce the time required for maintenance interventions, the ministry stated.

The ministry said the technology also brings a major improvement in data processing and reporting. Raw survey data collected by the vehicles is encrypted and transmitted to a centralised NSV centre within 48 hours.

Expert teams stationed across five zones then analyse the information and prepare reports. The entire process, which previously took four to six months, can now be completed within 10 days.

To ensure accuracy, every report undergoes a rigorous quality assurance process before being approved.

Once validated, notices are automatically issued to stakeholders through digital platforms, eliminating manual intervention and improving transparency in communication.

A key feature of the new framework is its integration with the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI) AI-based Data Lake portal.

All survey findings are uploaded directly to the platform, allowing experts to analyse road conditions in real time and undertake evidence-based maintenance and repair measures.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) India's listed auto ancillary sector has nearly tripled its revenues to about Rs 5 lakh crore over the past decade, an 11 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during FY16-26, a report said on Thursday.

The report from Equirus Securities forecasted the sector to remain on a strong growth trajectory, with a 21 per cent profit CAGR during FY26-28, supported by rising vehicle content, premiumisation trends, export opportunities and growing adoption of electric vehicles.

Among various segments, Body & Glass emerged as one of the most attractive opportunities for the coming years, with the report estimating a 30 per cent profit CAGR over FY26-28.

Electricals & Lighting and Suspension & Chassis were also highlighted as preferred segments due to their exposure to long-term structural growth drivers.

The report noted that while the industry delivered strong overall growth over the last decade, performance varied considerably across segments.

Electricals & Lighting emerged as the fastest-growing category with a 17 per cent revenue CAGR, while batteries lagged the broader industry with 8 per cent growth. Body & Glass recorded a 12 per cent CAGR during the period.

The report found that 28 of the 52 companies under coverage outperformed the sector's average revenue growth during FY16-26.

Companies that outperformed the industry average had diversification as their defining characteristic. Businesses that expanded through acquisitions, product additions, new customers and geographical expansion consistently generated stronger growth than peers dependent on a single growth lever.

The brokerage firm highlighted the increasing content value per vehicle. Premiumisation, electrification and rising electronics content created structural growth opportunities for component manufacturers, while growth linked primarily to regulatory changes tended to normalise after implementation.

Exports also emerged as a key contributor to the sector's expansion over the decade, alongside increasing localisation and value addition across the automotive supply chain.

The report said the industry enters FY27 with its strongest balance sheet position in a decade. Net debt-to-EBITDA improved to 0.18 times in FY26 from 0.49 times in FY22, reflecting stronger cash flows, lower leverage and better working capital management.

—IANS

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New Delhi, June 10 (IANS) A two-day workshop on defence procurement, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Technology Perspective Capability Roadmap (TPCR) and testing procedures for MSMEs and start-ups will be held here on June 11 and 12, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.

The event is being jointly organised by the Indigenisation Directorate, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) to enhance awareness and encourage greater participation of MSMEs and start-ups in India’s defence ecosystem, the Ministry of Defence said.

It added that the workshop will provide an interactive platform for industry representatives to gain insights into defence procurement procedures, indigenisation initiatives, the iDEX framework, testing and certification processes and the TPCR framework.

Senior officers and experts from HQ IDS, Service Headquarters, Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), iDEX–Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) and other stakeholder organisations will interact with participants during various sessions.

The inaugural session will feature addresses by Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy Planning & Force Development) Air Marshal Praveen Keshav Vohra and Director General, CENJOWS Maj Gen (Dr) Ashok Kumar (Retd).

On the first day, sessions will focus on the Defence Acquisition Procedure, procurement categories, revenue procurement parameters, indigenisation reforms, the SRIJAN portal, import substitution mapping and intellectual property rights.

On the second day, focus will be on iDEX initiatives, prototype development, testing and evaluation procedures, certification systems, user trials, environmental testing, the role of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in R&D and technology readiness levels.

A dedicated session on TPCR and a panel discussion with venture capitalists are also scheduled.

The ministry stated that the workshop is designed to address practical issues faced by industry participants through interactive discussions and question-and-answer sessions.

The initiative is expected to further strengthen efforts towards Atmanirbharta in defence manufacturing and promote closer collaboration between the armed forces and Indian industry, it added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 9 (IANS) The government on Tuesday launched the guidelines for the Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, aiming to accelerate the development of small hydro projects across the country and tap India's vast untapped hydropower potential.

The guidelines were unveiled during a national workshop organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The event brought together representatives from state governments, public sector undertakings, developers, technical institutions and industry stakeholders associated with the small hydro power sector.

The newly launched scheme seeks to support the installation of around 1,500 MW of new small hydro power capacity and has been allocated a total financial outlay of Rs 2,584.60 crore.

The scheme provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for project development, support for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), assistance to technical institutions and funding for capacity building, awareness programmes, international cooperation and project monitoring.

Addressing the gathering, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, MNRE said India's clean energy transition requires diversification of renewable energy sources and greater focus on region-specific solutions.

He described small hydro power as a mature, reliable and environmentally sustainable technology that can strengthen energy security, promote rural development and support balanced regional growth.

He noted that India has an estimated small hydro power potential of about 21 GW, but only a limited portion has been harnessed so far, leaving substantial scope for future development.

He urged states to proactively identify viable project sites, facilitate statutory clearances and create an enabling environment for faster implementation of projects.

Earlier, MNRE Joint Secretary Rajesh Kulhari highlighted the importance of the new scheme in unlocking untapped hydro resources, particularly in hilly, remote and border regions.

He said small hydro power can play a significant role in improving energy access, supporting local economic development and enhancing grid stability.

Akash Tripathi, Managing Director of Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited, underscored the role of small hydro power in India's renewable energy transition and stressed the need for close coordination among implementing agencies, developers and state governments.

He reiterated SECI's commitment to efficient implementation of the scheme as its National Programme Implementing Agency.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 9 (IANS) The CBI arrested two key accused in connection with an ongoing investigation into a human trafficking network that lured Indian job seekers to scam compounds for cyber slavery in Myanmar and Cambodia, an official said on Tuesday.

One of the arrested accused worked on behalf of a scam compound operator and played a critical role in arranging logistics for Indian nationals trafficked to Myanmar through Thailand, said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The victims were transported from Bangkok to Mae Sot before being illegally moved across the Thailand-Myanmar border into scam compounds operating in Myanmar. The accused is alleged to have coordinated transportation and logistical support for the trafficking network.

The second arrested accused played a central role in managing a network of sub-agents across India on behalf of scam compound operators, said the CBI.

The CBI investigations indicate that he operated from an office located within a scam compound near the Thailand–Myanmar border and received payments in cryptocurrency from operators of the illegal establishments, it said.

The federal probe agency is investigating a criminal network of agents and facilitators who recruited Indian citizens by promising attractive jobs in countries across Southeast Asia.

Victims were subsequently transported to scam compounds, primarily located in Myanmar and Cambodia, where they were subjected to conditions described as “cyber slavery.”

These scam compounds are operated by transnational cybercrime syndicates and serve as hubs for large-scale cyber-enabled financial fraud targeting victims across multiple countries, according to an official statement.

Indian nationals trafficked to these facilities were allegedly coerced into participating in illegal cybercrime activities. Their freedom of movement was restricted, passports were confiscated, and several victims reportedly faced physical and psychological abuse, according to the CBI.

In many cases, families were compelled to pay substantial sums of money to secure the release of their relatives, it said.

Earlier in May, the CBI conducted coordinated searches at eight locations across four states as part of the same investigation and arrested an accused involved in the trafficking network.

The CBI urged citizens to exercise extreme caution while responding to overseas job offers circulated through social media platforms, messaging applications, or informal contacts.

Individuals are advised to verify the authenticity of employment opportunities through official channels, as such fraudulent offers can lead not only to financial loss and exploitation but also to serious legal, physical, and psychological consequences, it said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Friday registered an FIR following a complaint by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) over a series of coordinated cyberattacks targeting its post-result services portal.

The complaint was filed with the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) Unit of Delhi Police, flagging multiple sophisticated attempts to disrupt the Board's Post-Result Services Portal, a key platform used by students nationwide for verification and re-evaluation applications.

The FIR has been lodged under relevant provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

Authorities, however, confirmed that there has been no breach or compromise of CBSE's data or systems.

The Board said the portal, which caters to lakhs of students, is critical for post-result services, and any disruption could lead to large-scale inconvenience, affect stakeholders across the country, and potentially trigger dissatisfaction among students.

The CBSE formally approached the police on Thursday after detecting repeated and coordinated attempts to interfere with the portal's operations.

The platform had come under attack on June 2, coinciding with the launch of the verification and re-evaluation application process.

According to the Board, the portal became operational at 7 a.m. on June 2 and remained fully functional despite multiple cyberattack attempts on the first day.

Services continued without disruption, ensuring uninterrupted access for users.

Preliminary assessment indicates that the attackers sought to destabilise the platform, block legitimate access, and attempt unauthorised extraction of information.

The Board termed the attacks as 'potentially inimical to national interest'.

In view of the scale and coordinated nature of the attacks, CBSE sought a detailed investigation by the IFSO Unit and legal action against those responsible.

It reiterated that its systems and databases remain secure, with no evidence of unauthorised access or data leakage.

The attempted breaches were effectively mitigated through round-the-clock monitoring and response mechanisms.

The CBSE said the effort was supported by cybersecurity teams from IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, the Digital India Corporation, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), CERT-In, and other central government agencies.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) State-owned Maharatna company Oil India Limited on Friday announced a fresh discovery of natural gas in its third exploratory well in the Andaman shallow offshore block, marking another significant indication of hydrocarbon presence in the region.

The company said the Vijayapuram-3 (Loc. OAEB) well, drilled under the Offshore Andaman Block AN-OSHP-2018/1 as part of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), is located around 15 kilometres off the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water depth of 355 metres.

The drilling was carried out at a depth of over 1,900 metres in the Eocene formation.

In a regulatory filing to the exchanges, the company stated that initial production testing of the well confirmed the presence of natural gas, with continuous flaring observed after perforation.

The well also showed immediate pressure build-up, followed by production of gas.

“Oil India Limited is pleased to announce the presence of natural gas in its 3rd exploratory well Vijayapuram-3 (Loc. OAEB), drilled 15 km oƯ the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water depth of 355 meters in the OƯshore Andaman Block AN-OSHP-2018/1 under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP),” it said in its filing.

Oil India Limited said that gas sampling is currently underway to assess the composition and calorific value of the discovery, along with isotope studies to understand the origin of the hydrocarbons.

This marks the second confirmed hydrocarbon presence in the Andaman offshore block, after gas was earlier discovered in the second exploratory well, Vijayapuram-2 (Loc. OAEA), in September 2025.

Out of the three exploratory wells drilled so far in the block, two have now indicated hydrocarbon presence.

The company described the latest find as a “leading indicator” of a possible source, migration pathway, or accumulation of hydrocarbons in the area, which is expected to help refine its future exploration strategy.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) On the occasion of World Environment Day on Friday, Maruti Suzuki India Limited announced two major biogas projects involving a total investment of Rs 150 crore, as the country's largest carmaker strengthens its commitment to sustainable manufacturing and clean energy adoption.

The company said it will establish a new biogas plant with a capacity of 10 tonnes per day (TPD) at its Kharkhoda facility in Haryana.

The project is expected to be commissioned during the current financial year. In addition, Maruti Suzuki has expanded the capacity of its existing biogas plant at the Manesar facility from 0.2 TPD to 0.7 TPD.

The automaker said the initiatives are aligned with the government's 'Waste-to-Wealth' mission and are aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels while promoting renewable energy solutions across its operations.

According to the company, the upcoming Kharkhoda biogas plant will help mitigate around 9,490 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually at full capacity.

The plant is also expected to meet nearly 20 per cent of the facility's total gas requirement.

Commenting on the initiatives, Managing Director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said the company has been consistently pursuing measures to reduce fossil fuel consumption and dependence on imported oil.

“At a time when the world is navigating an increasingly uncertain energy landscape, such initiatives assume greater significance,” he stated.

“As the Prime Minister of India has called for reducing dependence on fossil fuels, the commissioning of our biogas project comes at an appropriate time. It enables us to contribute, in a modest but meaningful way, to the current national priority alongside several other ongoing efforts,” Takeuchi mentioned.

Meanwhile, the expanded biogas plant at Manesar is projected to generate about 3.6 lakh standard cubic metres of biogas every year.

The company estimates that the project will help avoid approximately 664 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

The Manesar plant uses food waste, Napier grass and paddy straw as feedstock and can further increase output through the use of cattle dung.

The facility employs anaerobic digestion technology to convert agricultural and organic waste into biogas, which is used in paint shop heating processes and canteen operations.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) IndiGo on Thursday announced temporary adjustments to a limited segment of its international network, citing softer demand in the upcoming quarter and a challenging cost environment, with services to several Southeast and East Asian destinations set to be suspended from July 2026.

The airline said it will temporarily suspend operations to Langkawi, Krabi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Shanghai starting July 1, 2026, while flights to Siem Reap will be suspended from July 3, 2026.

These suspensions will remain in place until September 30, 2026, after which bookings for all affected routes are expected to resume from October 1, 2026.

However, the airline noted that it remains open to reinstating services earlier if market conditions improve, subject to operational feasibility and advance planning timelines.

“IndiGo will resume bookings for all the impacted services starting 1 October 2026; however, should the environment become favourable, IndiGo stands prepared to reinstate these services earlier than scheduled, in appropriate lead time,” the low-cost carrier said.

IndiGo said that despite the temporary realignment, it has managed to retain the majority of its international operations, operating over 1,800 weekly international flights.

The airline described the changes as a measured step aimed at aligning capacity with prevailing demand trends while maintaining network reliability and operational integrity across its global destinations.

The airline added that it will continue to monitor market conditions closely amid elevated operating costs and ongoing airspace restrictions.

It said the decision reflects a proactive approach to capacity management designed to minimise disruptions for passengers while ensuring operational efficiency during a period of volatility in the aviation sector.

IndiGo further stated that affected customers will be proactively informed about changes to their bookings and advised passengers to check the latest flight schedules before planning their travel.

--IANS

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