GOVERNMENT EV PROCUREMENT POLICY
Andhra Pradesh urges Walmart to expand sourcing from MSMEs, women-led SHGs, artisans
Andhra Pradesh's IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh met with Walmart's Paul Dyck to discuss local procurement expansion. The state is asking Walmart to source goods from MSMEs, women-led groups, and artisans. Recommendations include hosting an MSME sourcing event focused on seafood and textiles, which would connect local producers to global markets. Dyck acknowledged Walmart's existing purchases from Andhra Pradesh and expressed willingness to consider the state's proposals.
Ola Electric shares jump 7% ahead of Q2 results, extends EV-policy rally
Ola Electric shares have rallied 9% in two sessions, adding over Rs 1,400 crore to the company's market value after the Centre made EVs its preferred choice for government staff-car procurement. Investors are now awaiting the electric two-wheeler maker's Q2 results for signs of a recovery in its business.
Stubble Burning: BKS seeks MSP for crop residue, withdrawal of fines against farmers
The farmers' organisation has demanded the immediate withdrawal of fines imposed and FIRs registered against farmers over stubble burning
China’s army-linked university was served Nvidia chips despite US sanctions
A Chinese university with close links to the country's military has purchased two of Nvidia's powerful H200 AI chips despite being on the US export blacklist, according to procurement records reviewed by Reuters. The findings raise fresh concerns over gaps in Washington's export restrictions and China's access to advanced American technology through domestic suppliers. Other Chinese universities and research institutions have also reportedly obtained restricted Nvidia chips or rented computing capacity powered by them.
Clean energy gains fail to lift India's climate ranking
India's renewable energy initiatives have progressed, yet the country has dropped in the Climate Change Performance Index rankings. While India met its non-fossil fuel targets ahead of schedule, the challenge of generating electricity persists. The report highlights progress in solar and wind energy capacities and emphasizes the need for better storage solutions. Experts suggest that India should establish new, more ambitious goals for renewable energy.
India will need additional 25,000 EV fast chargers in next 3 years: Exicom CEO
India is projected to require an increased number of DC fast chargers to support electric vehicle sales growth. An estimate suggests that around 25,000 more chargers will be needed over the next three years. This requirement accounts for the expected growth in passenger vehicles, buses, and trucks. Exicom Tele-Systems has supplied a significant number of charging stations and aims for ongoing growth in this sector.

Centre's EV push puts electric mobility stocks in the fast lane; M&M, Ola Electric lead rally with gains of up to 5%
Electric mobility stocks rallied on Wednesday after the Centre made EVs the default choice for government staff-car procurement and doubled the price ceiling for electric cars to Rs 20 lakh. M&M led the gains, followed by Ola Electric, Hyundai Motor India and TVS Motor Company.

Indian IIT talent thrives in Japan's MIRAI-Setu programme as nations near 75th anniversary
As India and Japan approach 75 years of diplomatic ties in 2027, 40 IIT and IIIT students visited Japan under the "Foster System = MIRAI - Setu" programme. Immersed in Japanese universities and corporations, they developed strong industry insights, proposing innovative solutions for bilateral growth.

MSME Ministry reviews CPSE procurement from SC/ST enterprises to meet mandated target
A total of 30 public sector undertakings, including Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, NTPC, Airports Authority of India, BEML, and Coal India Limited, attended the consultations.

Honda to invest $3 billion in Ohio plant to make hybrid vehicles, create 2,000 jobs
Honda Motor will invest $3 billion to build a new hybrid vehicle plant in Ohio, creating 2,000 jobs and adding annual production capacity of 240,000 vehicles from 2029. The Japanese automaker also announced fresh investments in Canada, Ohio, Georgia and Alabama as it expands hybrid production and adjusts its electric vehicle strategy amid US tariffs.

Assam Cabinet approves Rs 200 crores for Ayushman Asom, enhances ex-gratia for Samagra Shiksha Employees
The Cabinet approved an enhancement of the one-time ex-gratia assistance payable to the families of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan employees in the event of their unfortunate death. The assistance has been increased from Rs 5 lakhs to Rs. 7.5 lakh, providing greater financial support to bereaved families.

NMDC in talks with Russia's Rosatom over lithium investments, sources say
Indian state-run miner NMDC Ltd is in talks with Russia's Rosatom to invest in lithium projects. These discussions are part of India's strategy to secure supplies for battery and EV industries. NMDC aims to enhance its global mineral diversification strategy and has formed a team for due diligence. The Indian government is investing in domestic processing of critical minerals to reduce import dependence.

Karnataka Minister Patil blames Centre's UDAN policy for Shivamogga flight suspension, says aviation policy set for Cabinet nod
Karnataka is preparing to present a new civil aviation policy aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and airport management. The policy suggests financial help and viability gap funding to bolster state-operated airports. Minister MB Patil criticized the Centre for inadequate support related to flight operations. He held the Union government accountable for the ethanol production crisis affecting local sugar mills.

Jaguar Land Rover to launch its first electric vehicles in key growth market India in 2027: MD
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will enter India's luxury electric vehicle market in 2027 with the Range Rover Electric and Range Rover Sport Electric. The company will also launch the new Jaguar GT next year. JLR India plans to initially import the EVs to test demand, expand its retail network to 40 outlets and capitalise on India's growing premium car market.

Suresh Gopi says Karnataka, Kerala free to test petrol for ethanol content, warns against politicising issue
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said Karnataka and Kerala were free to test petrol samples for ethanol content but cautioned against politicising the issue. His remarks followed Karnataka's claim of detecting higher ethanol levels in petrol and Kerala's decision to conduct similar tests.

India's three-wheeler market takes an electric turn, with one in two new sales now EVs
Electric three-wheelers are increasingly popular in India, with sales significantly rising and concerns about fossil fuels decreasing. Mahindra Last Mile Mobility now produces a large number of e-rickshaws to meet growing demand. Drivers like Afroz Alam have reported substantial savings after switching from gas-powered models to electric versions. Analysts attribute this shift to lower operational costs and government subsidies promoting EV adoption.

Vehicle registrations fall 24% in October on high base
Registrations of vehicles in October experienced a significant decline compared to the previous year's records. This drop was largely due to an earlier festive season that drove higher demand last year. Despite the decrease, certain vehicle segments like electric vehicles showed remarkable growth in registrations. The upcoming Dhanteras and Diwali festivities are expected to positively impact sales this month. Dealers remain cautiously optimistic about demand, especially in rural markets.

Delhi vehicle registrations hit 2026 high ahead of Diwali
Vehicle registrations in Delhi rose by 8.67% month-on-month to reach 91,153 in October 2023. Two-wheelers constituted a large percentage of the registrations, while car registrations saw a sharper month-on-month increase. The festive season, especially around Dhanteras and Diwali, influenced buying trends significantly this year. Electric vehicle registrations also grew substantially, indicating a shift towards sustainable transport. November's data will be critical in understanding ongoing vehicle purchase trends.

Entry norms for GPU bidders eased, but price pain remains
Bidders will not be required to submit a financial bid or commit to service level terms at the first stage, which will be for technical qualification. This is a significant change from the previous IndiaAI process. The minimum technical qualifying score has been reduced to 60 out of 100, compared with 75 under the IndiaAI framework.
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