Category Archives: Amazing Feats

NATIONAL: FREEDOM FIGHTERS 1857: Rajasthan Govt to reach out to UK Govt to find names of 24 martyrs of 1857 Revolt

The Rajasthan Government is all set to highlight the contribution of the desert state in the 1857 Revolt and plans to reach out to the UK Government to find the names of 24 freedom fighters who were killed in Pali District’s Auwa Village and who remain unsung till date, said officials.

The state government also plans to declare the places associated with the martyrs who rebelled against the British, as heritage villages and install their statues there.

This work has been assigned to Rajasthan Heritage Conservation and Promotion Authority.

Omkar Lakhawat, Chairman of the Authority said that in the Auwa case, the British had imposed death penalty on 24 revolutionaries and conducted a court martial of rebel soldiers, but the names of the 24 freedom fighters were never made public.

“Now we will raise this demand from the UK Government to make these names public,” he added.

The state government is searching for the records of the 24 freedom fighters who were blown up by cannons in Auwa Village during the revolution.

All related documents are being scrutinised in the Archaeological Survey of India archives as well as in England, going beyond borders.

As the UK Government did not reveal the names of these martyrs hence no information is available about their descendants, said officials.

In 1857, when the revolution was spreading across the country, Auwa in Pali District, triggered panic among the British due to its war acumen.

The tale of Thakur Khushal Singh as the commander of the revolutionaries still echoes in every corner of Auwa Village.

In 1857, a military rebellion started in Erinpura in Rajasthan and the rebel soldiers marched towards Delhi via Auwa to participate in the freedom struggle.

Thakur Kushal Singh gave shelter to the rebel soldiers and angered by this, the British army along with the Jodhpur army attacked Auwa.

Thakur Kushal Singh beheaded Jodhpur Political Agent Captain Monck Mason and hung his head on the ramparts of Auwa Fort.

This enraged the British army and they destroyed the entire village with guns and cannons.

They even uprooted the statue of Sugali Mata and took it with them.

The state government will now rebuild the idol of Mata Sugali and install it, said officials.

The British also arrested many revolutionaries and rebel soldiers.

On January 24, 1858, a case of mutiny was registered against 120 soldiers but the 24 revolutionaries were kept in custody for one day.

The very next day, on January 25, 1858 the 24 freedom fighters were killed.

The history of the Auwa rebellion is quite inspiring as the army of Thakur Kushal Singh defeated the army of Maharaja Takht Singh of Jodhpur who fought along with the British and now the Rajasthan Government wants to honour these brave men by acknowledging their contribution and sacrifice.

source/content: daijiworld.com / IANS (headline edited)

NATIONAL: MANUFACTURING / AC: Voltas records highest-ever AC sales by any brand in a fiscal in India

HSBC is bullish on the stock. It has maintained a ‘buy’ rating on the stock expecting that the company’s unitary cooling products (UCP) division will witness a significant increase in profitability.

Voltas sold over 2 million air conditioners in FY24, which it said is the highest-ever sales of ACs by any brand in a financial year in India.


The Tata Group company recorded a 35 per cent sales growth to over two million units in FY24, on the back of consistent demand for cooling products during the year, coupled with a strong offline and online distribution network, and new innovative launches.

“The company achieved over 2 million AC units during this fiscal 2023-24, the highest ever sale of ACs by any brand in a financial year in India, with a volume growth of 35 per cent,” it added.

With these landmark sales, Voltas is “the first ever brand to achieve this extraordinary milestone in the Air Conditioning industry in India”, it said.

The Indian residential AC market is estimated to be around 10 million units in FY24 and is expected to grow to 11.5 million units this year. Even during the March quarter, when sales of compressor-based cooling products are low due to convenient temperatures: “Voltas registered a significant volume growth of 72 per cent in AC sales during Q4 FY24”.

The company claimed that with these sales numbers, “Voltas is the undisputed market leader and has maintained its number one position in the Room Air Conditioner category”. Its MD and CEO Pradeep Bakshi said: “We believe that our wide presence, focus on the emerging retail channels, excellent distribution network, strong brand equity and attractive consumer offers have helped us to achieve this significant milestone”.

HSBC is bullish on the stock. It has maintained a ‘buy’ rating on the stock expecting that the company’s unitary cooling products (UCP) division will witness a significant increase in profitability. The brokerage has increased target price to ₹1,350 per share from the previous target of ₹1,250. This a potential upside of 11% from the previous closing levels of ₹1,217 apiece on the BSE.

In its note, HSBC said the UCP segment of the Tata Group firm will experience a significant increase in profitability due to both, robust demand for the company’s products and a decrease in the costs of materials needed for production. The brokerage added that margin improvement for the UCP segment is likely to be a positive surprise for investors. 

source/content: businesstoday.in (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: INDIA WINS: The Indian Express wins Design Award for Parliament Infographic at 6th International Newspaper Design Competiion

The new Parliament building houses a larger Lok Sabha hall with a capacity of up to 888 seats, and a larger Rajya Sabha hall with a capacity of upto 384 seats.

The Indian Express has won the 6th International Newspaper Design Competition’s Best of Show honour under the Best of Infographics category.

The winning infographic, titled ‘The Parliament of India’, was an in-depth look at the country’s old Parliament building, weaving in important dates, numbers, photographs, and detailed sketches. It was published ahead of the opening of the new Parliament building, inaugurated on May 28, 2023.

The infographic was designed by Bivash Barua, illustrated by Suvajit Dey, and included text by Chakshu Roy, Damini Nath, and Divya A.

“This is a clean and elegant execution, easy to read and follow, and the colour palette does not take the attention away from the topic,” the judges said.

Other winners of the 6th International Newspaper Design Competition included German newspaper Die Zeit under the Best of Page One, The Hindu under the Best of Sports Page category, and Hindustan Times under the Best of Double Spread.

Here is the infographic:

You can download the poster here

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTUR: Shabana Azmi to be honoured with ‘Freedom of the City of London Award’ at the UK Asian Film Festival, May 2024

On Tuesday 7th May at Somerville College, Oxford will celebrate the actress’s industry milestone following a screening at Phoenix Picturehouse of her pioneering film, Fire (1996).

Veteran Indian actress Shabana Azmi, will be honoured with the Freedom of City of London Award by the City of London Corporation, in recognition of her prolific contribution to Indian cinema and as a campaigner for women’s rights. The award presentation will be a part of the celebrations to mark her 50 years in the industry at this year’s UK Asian Film Festival – the world’s longest-running South Asian film festival outside the Subcontinent. The ceremony will take place on Friday 10th May at Guildhall, City of London.

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade. As well as being nominated or applied for, the Freedom is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life or to celebrate a very significant achievement. Other recent high-profile recipients include theatre entrepreneurs, Dame Rosemary Squire, Sir Howard Panter and Sir Cameron Mackintosh; former England and Arsenal footballer, Ian Wright; double Olympic gold medallist Tom Dean, MBE; and the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty.

Boasting an illustrious career that spans over 160 films and stretches across independent, parallel and mainstream Hindi cinema as well as international projects, Azmi is the daughter of renowned poet, Kaifi Azmi, and stage actress. Shaukat Azmi. She graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in 1973 and made her debut with Shyam Benegal’s debut social drama Ankur in 1974, which won her the National Award for Best Actress.

Between 1983 and 1985 for three consecutive years, Azmi won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her performances in Arth, Khandhar and Paar. In subsequent years, she continued to soar to the heights of critical and commercial success, becoming one of the leading ladies of Indian parallel cinema, a new-wave movement of arthouse films recognised for their authentic and realistic storyline, treatment and sensibility.

Even when it came to mainstream films, Azmi dared to traverse beyond the glossy and stereotypical portrayals of women with impactful realistic performances in films like Masoom and Arth, pushing the boundaries further and inviting audiences to re-imagine the off-screen societal norms that dictated the on-screen representations of a housewife, mother and woman in an evolving Indian society.

Azmi is the winner of five National Film Awards and several international accolades and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1998 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012 by the Government of India for her outstanding contribution to cinema. Unlike many of her peers who confined themselves to on-screen activism, throughout much of her life, Azmi has remained committed to fighting injustices, lending her powerful voice and on-screen persona to critical issues such as AIDS ostracism and child mortality amongst other causes. She has worked extensively with slum dwellers in Mumbai and was the President of Nivara Hakk, a housing rights NGO that provided houses for free to 50,000 people in Mumbai who were evicted from their homes. She heads the NGO, Mijwan Welfare Society (MWS), founded by her father, which works for the upliftment of rural India with a focus on the girl child and women. She has fought relentlessly against religious fundamentalism of all hues and is highly respected as a moderate, liberal Muslim voice.

Azmi’s remarkable contributions have been recognised on numerous prestigious platforms. She was awarded the Gandhi International Peace Prize at the House of Lords by Vanessa Redgrave and honoured at the Bicentennial celebrations of International Human Rights in Paris, alongside Mother Theresa, by President Mitterand of France. Additionally, Azmi received the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum, with Mohammed Ali and Michael Douglas. She holds five Doctorates from renowned national and international universities and has been conferred with the prestigious Martin Luther King, Rosa Park, and Chavez Awards. Her recent nomination as Global Leadership Ambassador for Women in Public Service Project, initiated by Hillary Clinton, further underscores her global impact and commitment to fostering positive change. She has also been chosen by Time Magazine as one of 25 Asian heroes and is the only woman among four Indians who has made a difference.

Shabana Azmi says, “In anticipation of the esteemed Freedom of the City of London Award, I am deeply honoured. This recognition not only celebrates my contribution to cinema but also emphasises the intrinsic link between art and activism. I am humbled by this distinction and eagerly anticipate the chance to continue advocating for social causes through storytelling.”

UK Asian Film Festival Creative Director, Samir Bhamra says, “It is an honour to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of Shabana Azmi. From her pivotal role in inaugurating our festival in London to inspiring our celebration of her 50-year journey, Shabana Azmi epitomises resilience, advocacy and artistic brilliance. We stand proudly alongside her, recognising her unwavering dedication and support. Her upcoming recognition with the Freedom of the City of London award is a testament to her extraordinary achievements. UKAFF’s instrumental role in instigating this prestigious award underscores Shabana Azmi’s profound impact on the arts and society at large.”

As part of the festival programme, Celebrating The Golden Girl: Shabana Azmi on Tuesday 7th May at Somerville College, Oxford will celebrate the actress’s industry milestone following a screening at Phoenix Picturehouse of her pioneering film, Fire (India, 1996; Dir: Deepa Mehta; Language: English). The event and dinner will help raise funds to support the scholarship programme at The Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development. Continuing the festival celebrations, the actress will be in conversation onstage following screenings of some of her cult and contemporary classics: Ankur (India, 1974; Dir: Shyam Benegal; Language: Hindi with English subtitles) on Wednesday 8th May at Khalil Lecture Room, SOAS, London; Mandi (India, 1983; Dir: Shyam Benegal; Language: Hindi with English subtitles) on Thursday 9th May at Phoenix, Leicester; and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Idia, 2023; Dir: Karan Johar; Language: Hindi with English subtitles) on Thursday 9th May at Phoenix, Leicester.

Now in its 26th year, the UK Asian Film Festival, for which Azmi is a Patron, has historically championed South Asian female-centric cinema and women in film – both behind and in front of the camera.  Its programmes have annually sought to disrupt the patriarchal status quo and initiate challenging conversations in its mission to advocate and promote gender equality in cinema.

Running at venues across London, Leicester and Oxford from Thursday 2nd – Sunday 12th May, the UK Asian Film Festival is presented by Tongues on Fire and is supported by the BFI, awarding funds from the BFI Audience Projects Fund. UK Asian Film Festival is powered by broadcast partners, SONY TV and Lyca Radio. TV Partner for the UKAFF Short Film Competition is Shorts TV.

source/content: cineblitz.in (headline edited)

NATIONAL: PATENTS: Mahindra & Mahindra receives a record 674 patents in FY24

Mahindra & Mahindra has received a record 674 patents in FY24, the most of any Indian 4-wheeler automobile/farm equipment manufacturer. This is a 380% increase in the number of patents issued to M&M over FY23.

The company said, “M&M is constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation by investing in research and the use of cutting-edge technology. Our strategy of prioritizing R&D has helped us to come up with futuristic automotive brands with world-class features. We firmly believe that by staying at the forefront of technology, we can deliver the loftiest expectations of our customers.

So far, we have been conferred 1185 patents across multiple geographies, and we currently have 193 applications awaiting patent approval, as of 31st March 2024. Cumulatively, we have filed 2212 patent applications to date. The patent portfolio also includes fillings of M&M’s subsidiary, Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd. In addition to our patents, we have also got 115 designs registered and 178 new applications filed. This record-breaking achievement is a testament to our cutting-edge research prowess.”

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source/content: business-standard.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: INDIAN NAVY : WOMEN POWER IN SAILING: Indian Navy’s female duo completes historic transoceanic sortie ahead of solo circumnavigation

Two women officers are in the fray for the Navy’s ambitious voyage yet — the Sagar Parikrama IV, a circumnavigation mission.

Lieutenant commanders Dilna K and Roopa Alagirisamy, the two women officers handpicked as potential candidates for the upcoming Sagar Parikrama IV, the Navy’s most ambitious voyage yet, have successfully completed their ‘final examination’ on the seas.

The so-called test entailed undertaking a transoceanic sortie aboard INSV Tarini from Goa to Port Louis in Mauritius, and back. This nearly 5,000 nautical mile journey in double-handed mode was the first-of-its-kind by Indian women, thus marking a significant milestone for the Navy.

The women duo recorded ‘full marks’ when Tarini was flagged in by the who’s who of INS Mandovi at the boat pool in Goa on Sunday. It concluded a two-month expedition that began on February 28 and also involved a series of events to strengthen bilateral ties during the stopover in Mauritius.

“The expedition was particularly challenging as each leg of the journey was a continuous voyage of about 2,700 nautical miles without breaks. Besides demanding to settle into a rhythm at sea, the journey also threw various weather conditions,” says Cdr Abhilash Tomy (retd), the officers’ mentor and only Indian to circumnavigate the world twice.

Each leg of the journey took nearly three weeks and saw the two women officers battle heavy winds and rough seas. “The two officers are used to being on the water by now. They have been training for nearly three years, undertaking regular sorties,” a Navy source tells TNIE. 

Indeed, both Lt Cdr Dilna and Lt Cdr Roopa have over 25,000 nautical miles to their names. According to Cdr Abhilash, the two are “quite well prepared.”

In November 2023, the two officers had sailed from Goa to Port Blair and back — nearly the same distance as from Goa to Mauritius. “Though that voyage too was in double-handed mode, they were still sailing on Indian waters. This time, they crossed into the ocean,” the source elaborates.

Even crossing oceans isn’t new. This time last year, they embarked on an expedition to Rio De Janeiro and back on the same vessel with a six-member crew. However, the upcoming Sagar Parikrama mission will be unlike the voyages they’ve been on. It will see a woman officer sail around the world, solo and unassisted.

“Of the two officers, only one will make this journey. This transoceanic voyage was their final test. We will now evaluate and decide who will undertake the circumnavigation mission,” the source says. According to him, both of them have a good chance of qualifying.

Though India has eight circumnavigators, only two have done it solo — Captain Dilip Donde (retd) and Cdr Abhilash. Their voyages, in 2010 and 2013, respectively, were the first two iterations of the Sagar Parikrama series. Interestingly, the two are also the first Indian male pair to undertake a transoceanic sortie (in 2009).

The third Sagar Parikrama mission in 2017 saw Lt Cdr Joshi Vartika lead a six-member crew across the world’s oceans. To see an Indian woman sail around the world solo and unassisted was the longtime dream of the late VAdm M P Awati, considered the father of Indian circumnavigation missions.

Now, only months remain for this dream to be fulfilled. Sagar Parikrama IV is set to commence in September.

Lt Cdr Dilna K

  • Hails from Kozhikode, Kerala
  • Joined the Navy as a logistics officer in 2014
  • Is a renowned shooter; have won several medals in national competitions
  • Big enthusiast of cricket; have represented the Kerala state team
  • Won YAI’s Admiral Ramdas Trophy last year

Lt Cdr Roopa A

  • Hails from Puducherry
  • Joined the Navy into the naval armament inspection cadre in 2017
  • Is an aeronautical engineering graduate; had a stint with National Aerospace Laboratories
  • Her father, Alagirisamy G P, is a former Indian Air Force pilot
  • Won YAI’s Admiral Ramdas Trophy last year yearAdmiral Ramdas Trophy,

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: AVIATION / AIRPORTS: Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport among Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World. At no. 1 is…

Data shared by the ACI on Monday showed that the IGI airport in the capital handled 7.22 crore passengers annually.

The Airports Council International (ACI) World, a global organisation which measures and assesses airport standards– on Monday ranked Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport as the tenth busiest airport in the world in 2023.

The IGI Airport was ranked 9th in 2022, 13th in 2021, and as the 17th busiest airport in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.

Data shared by the ACI on Monday showed that the IGI airport in the capital handled 7.22 crore passengers annually. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States held the top rank with 10.46 crore passengers.

From the top 10 rankings for total passenger traffic, five of the airports are in the United States. The biggest jump in the rankings is recorded for Tokyo’s Haneda airport, which leaped from 16th position in 2022 to the 5th spot in 2023.

Top 10 airports in the world in 2023

RankingAirport
1Atlanta  (USA)
2Dubai (UAE)
3Dallas/Fort Worth (USA)
4London (UK)
5Tokyo (Japan)
6Denver (USA)
7Istanbul (Turkey)
8Los Angeles (USA)
9Chicago (USA)
10New Delhi (India)

According to the ACI report, the top 10 airports representing close to 10% of global traffic, witnessed a gain of 19.8% from 2022 or a gain of 0.7% from 2019.

The organisation said that the global total passenger forecast for 2023 stands close to 8.5 billion, reflecting a remarkable recovery of 93.8% from pre-pandemic levels.

“Global air travel in 2023 was chiefly fuelled by the international segment, propelled by several factors. Among these were the anticipated benefits from China’s reopening and a growing inclination towards travel despite macroeconomic conditions,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said.

He added,“While perennial leaders from the US continue to dominate the top 10 busiest airports for passengers, notably Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retaining its number one position, there are notable shifts. Dubai International Airport jumped to second rank for the first time, while Tokyo Haneda International Airport witnessed a remarkable ascent from 16th position in 2022 to 5th in 2023. Additionally, the unwavering strength of Istanbul and New Delhi airports keep them in top ranks, marking significant progress over 2019.”

The latest ACI’s airport rankings are based on data gathered from over 2,600 airports across more than 180 countries and territories globally.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headlines edited)

NATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICAL: RESEARCH: The Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in Lucknow, Develops Oral Pill to Cure Fractures

The Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in Lucknow has developed an oral pill that will help in healing fracture in lesser time.

The phase-1 clinical trials of CDRI-1,500 molecule will begin soon.

CDRI’s senior principal scientist Divya Singh, said, “As accident rate in India is among the highest in the world, which leads to significant morbidity and mortality, development of this medicine which gives quick relief, has no side-effects and can heal fractures at a faster rate is much needed.”

She further said, “CDRI is presently working on two novel bone healing entities CDRI-1500 and CDRI-399. We have received all the required approvals from drug regulatory bodies and are ready for the phase-1 clinical trial of CDRI-1500.”

The scientist said CDRI-1500 is a first-in-class orally active fracture healing synthetic molecule. Currently, there is no orally active fracture healing synthetic molecule available nationally or internationally.

So far BMP2 molecule has been approved for fractures suffered by children and adults by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the use of BMP2 is restricted as it leads to numerous clinical complications and involves a very high cost, she added.

On the other hand, CDRI-1500 will not only be safe and economical but intake of this tablet will provide a quicker relief from pain as it promotes the expression of genes involved in bone regeneration and repair.

The main advantage of CDRI-1500 is that even its low dose has been found to be effective in healing fractures, she said.

“In our experiments, we found that the molecule promoted fracture healing in Sprague Dawley rats and New Zealand white rabbits at a very low dose given orally to rats and rabbits. We have received an Indian and US patent for the CDRI 1500 molecule,” Divya Singh added.

source/content: bhaskarlive.in / IANS (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL : NATIONAL: Pin Code Mh-1718: Story Of A Post Office In Antarctica With Indian Address

India’s two research bases on Antarctica, Maitri and Bharati, are part of the Goa postal division.

Pin Code Mh-1718: India set up its first post office in Antarctica’s Dakshi Gangotri in the year 1984. Within a year more than 10,000 letters and mail had been posted and ‘cancelled’ at the post office. however, in 1988-89, Dakshin Gangotri submerged in ice and was subsequently decommissioned. Another branch was set up at Maitri research station in Antarctica on January 26, 1990.

Since then philatelists, collectors and hobbyists send letters and postcards in blank envelopes to the Maitri post office for ‘cancellation’ and this practice continued for over 35 years. Notably, stamp impression, “Maitri North Goa,” from the Antarctic research base, has become a renowned “collector’s item.”

Nearly 40 years later, the Department of Posts is opening the second branch of the post office and giving the letters a new pin code MH-1718. Officials noted that the code currently allocated is “experimental,” as is customary when a new branch commences operations.

Now India has two bases in Antarctica, Maitri and Bharati, and fall under the jurisdiction of the Goa postal division.

“In practice, the letters meant for the post office in Antarctica are sent to the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), the nodal agency for India’s polar expeditions, in Goa. When a scientific expedition to the continent leaves from the NCPOR, a researcher is usually tasked with carrying the consignment of letters. At the research base, the letters are ‘cancelled’, brought back, and returned via post,” said an official from the Department of Posts.

The authorities have clarified that the term ‘cancellation’ pertains to the mark placed on a stamp or postal stationery to render it useless for reuse. Usually, letters marked as ‘cancelled’ denote the location and date of the originating post office. These markings hold high value for enthusiasts, giving critical insights about the worth of the stamps.

M Sudhakar, an ex-scientist at NCPOR, further shed light on the unique role that the post office plays, especially recognising Antarctic’s governance under the Antarctic Treaty. This treaty neutralizes any territorial claims by nations, bans military operations and nuclear tests, and strongly advocates for the continent’s use exclusively for scientific discovery.

“Typically, an Indian post office can only be in the jurisdiction of Indian land. Antarctica gives a unique opportunity to have an Indian post office in a land which is foreign and does not belong to us. So, it serves a strategic purpose in terms of asserting presence on the continent,” he said.

On the occasion, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra circle, K K Sharma requested scientists in Antarctica to continue to post letters to their loved ones.

“There is always a lot of excitement about these post offices (in remote locations). Nowadays with WhatsApp and Twitter, all this (technology) has taken over. But, nothing can beat the written word. Particularly, when you are sitting so far from your family. I would request that you please make use of this fantastic opportunity, and write letters to your loved ones… You can create memories and they will stay with you in physical form. All these e-formats get erased fast, but you can look at a letter years later and it will take you back to those memories,” said Sharma.

In India, it’s typically philately enthusiasts and stamp collectors who mostly send mail to Antarctic post office branches.

R P Patil, Director, Postal Services, Goa region, said, “Collectors of postage stamps see it as a rare opportunity to collect the ‘impression’ of a stamp from a remote post-office location. There is always a high demand from philatelists for cancellation of letters.”

source/content: india.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: INDIAs FIRST : GREEN ENERGY: Adani Green Energy (AGEL) becomes India’s First to surpass 10,000 MW renewable energy; Gautam Adani says proud to be India’s first ‘das hazari’

AGEL’s 10,934 MW operational portfolio will power more than 5.8 million homes and avoid about 21 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, the company said.

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) on Wednesday announced that it has surpassed 10,000 megawatts (MW) of operational portfolio, delivering reliable, affordable, and clean power to the national grid. AGEL’s operational portfolio consists of 7,393 MW solar, 1,401 MW wind and 2,140 MW wind-solar hybrid capacity. “The milestone is a testament to AGEL and its development partners firmly moving towards the goal of 45,000 GW renewable energy by 2030,” the company said in a regulatory filing. 

AGEL’s 10,934 MW operational portfolio will power more than 5.8 million homes and avoid about 21 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, it said. 

“We are proud to be India’s first das hazari in the renewables space,” said Gautam Adani , Chairman of the Adani Group . “In less than a decade, Adani Green Engergy has not just envisioned a greener future but has actualised it, growing from a mere idea to explore clean energy to achieving a phenomenal 10,000 MW in installed capacity. This achievement is a demonstration of the rapidity and scale at which the Adani Group aims to facilitate India’s transition to clean, reliable and affordable energy. In our drive towards 45,000 MW by 2030, we are building the world’s largest renewable energy plant in Khavda — a 30,000 MW project unparalleled on the global stage. AGEL is not just setting benchmarks for the world but redefining them.”

Sumant Sinha-promoted ReNew has also crossed 10,000 MW of operational renewable energy capacity as of March 31 this year, according to sources in the company.

Tata Power Renewable Energy’s (TPREL) operational capacity is 4,471 MW, which includes 3,444 MW solar and 1,027 MW wind capacity. The total renewables capacity of TPREL has reached 9,018 MW (PPA capacity is 7,632 MW), including 4,547 MW projects under various stages of implementation, the company said recently.

AGEL’s operating portfolio is certified ‘single-use plastic free’, ‘zero waste-to-landfill’ and ‘water positive for plants with more than 200 MW capacity’.

In terms of its contribution to India’s renewable energy goals, AGEL is working on greenfield expansion in the sector, represents about 11 per cent of the country’s installed utility-scale solar and wind capacity, contributes to over 15 per cent of India’s utility-scale solar installations, and has created over 3,200 direct green jobs.

(With Inputs from Raghavendra Kamath, Financial Express)

source/content: financialexpress.com (headline edited)