National News (AM PLUS 3rd ed)- Vertika Saxena

1. 2024 Lok Sabha elections to be held in 7 phases from April 19, results on
June 4, 2024 (source: thehindu.com)

Poll campaigns are underway throughout India as various political parties gear up for the
Lok Sabha election of 2024. The first phase of the seven-phase election is scheduled to
take place on April 19. The Lok Sabha poll dates are April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13,
May 20, May 25, and June 1. The census will be conducted on June 4. The BJP unveiled
its manifesto for the Lok Sabha election 2024 in the presence of Prime Minister Modi on
Sunday. Later in the day, PM Modi is set to address public meetings in Madhya Pradesh
and Karnataka. In the Lok Sabha election 2024, voting will be held to elect
representatives to the 543-member lower house of the Indian Parliament. The results are
expected to be announced on or around June 4, 2024. A minimum of 272 MPs in the Lok
Sabha is required to form the government at the center.

The focus is on two major political alliances, the INDIA bloc, and the NDA, which are
the primary contenders in the 2024 Lok Sabha Election. The INDIA bloc includes parties
such as the Congress, the AAP, and the TMC, while the NDA is comprised of the BJP,
the PMK, and the JDU, among others. The current NDA government is seeking to obtain
the authority to form the government for a third consecutive term and is aiming to secure
over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha.

(Image source: https://y20india.in/lok-sabha-elections-2024-schedule/)

2. Adani Green Energy Constructs the World’s Largest Renewable
Energy Park in Kutch, Gujarat

Kutch, Gujarat: Adani Green Strength Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Group, is a

frontrunner in developing the world's largest renewable power park at Kawada in the
Kutch region of Gujarat. The park covers 538 square kilometers, five times the overall
area of Paris, France. The Adani organization has invested 150 billion rupees, and the
park has become a global leader in renewable electricity manufacturing. Khavda would
produce 81 billion units and provide energy to the entire country, including Belgium,
Chile and Switzerland. AGEL's current portfolio includes 7,393 MW of solar energy,
1,401 MW of wind and 2,140 MW of hybrid wind and solar energy production capacity.

The new power plant will be introduced in March 2025. Upon completion, it will produce
81 billion kilowatt hours of energy. This amount will be sufficient to meet the power
needs of various countries, like Belgium, Chile, and Switzerland. The project aligns with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of reducing carbon emissions and promoting
sustainable development amidst challenging hurricane conditions. Despite obstacles such
as wet weather, salty seawater, and variable weather conditions due to its proximity to the
Pakistani border, the project persevered. Challenges included a lack of infrastructure and
security issues. However, significant progress is expected by December 2024, with
completion scheduled for December 2026, marking a new phase in India's electrical
transition.

Source: Adani Green Energy

3. India’s dedicated freight corridor nears completion, scales up ambition
making India into a global industrial hub

Source: businesstoday.in

In April 2022, when some of the country's largest power companies faced problems that
caused havoc in parts of the country, one of the government's new initiatives, Dedicated
Freight Corridors (DFCs), came to the rescue. The government solved this problem by
using the DFC to transport coal from mines in the east to the north and west.
Among other things, this strengthens the government's decision to accelerate the
construction of DFK. The government is reviewing proposals to build a corridor network
because most FSA projects are planned before the end of the year. However,
infrastructure projects with too many roads also face serious problems. The scheme was
launched in 2006 and, after several failures, has been extended five times, most recently
in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022. 12,400 crores.
Dedicated Freight Corridors Corporation of India (DFCCIL) director Ravindra Kumar
Jain recently said that "about 90 percent of the construction of the western zone and the
eastern portion of cargo transportation will be completed by December 2023." Pollution,
delayed environmental cleanup, crime, and conflicts affecting land acquisition were
blamed for the slow progress. Despite these problems, Jain and his team say the project is
safe.
As India tries to diversify its economy and aims to become a country, Jain said, "Apart
from road layout, road construction, parking and food stalls are also improving. The road
is connected to major ports, central station, and private transport through flyovers and
underpasses." As a global manufacturing hub, Indian businesses are looking for ways to
increase efficiency and reduce costs by saving a lot of time required to deliver goods and
products. - DFC is not only an alternative to Indian Railways but also a complement to
the existing transport model. Rampraveen Swaminathan, Chairman and CEO, of
Mahindra Logistics, said: "The National Logistics Policy, launched in September 2022,
aims to reform India's domestic and international transportation costs, with effective use
of this corridor helping to reduce transportation costs and stimulate the growth of new
markets." Dividing them in half will help.
In India, the logistics cost is 16% and in China it is 10%. Rail solutions are also a form
of public transportation. - Compared to road transportation costs, rail is approximately 12
times more expensive, and passenger transportation is approximately 3 times more
expensive. "Mobility will play an important role as the Indian economy moves towards
the dual goals of economic growth and security," said JB Singh, director, of B2B logistics
company MOVIN Express, who also consults. DFCCIL. - Propose DFC transparency to
help build trust between service providers and suppliers. This may include sharing
information about train schedules, fares, and travel times. Since 1951, trucking's share
has fallen from 86.2% to the current 27%. DFCCIL proposes to recover freight by
running faster, heavier, larger, and longer trains on the upcoming route. Meanwhile,
India's private railway agency DFCCIL is working on a detailed plan to build 4,300
kilometers of railway from sea to coast in India. people. Fast delivery to anywhere in the
country will soon become a reality.