In a significant boost to manufacturing, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the development of 12 new industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) with an estimated investment of Rs. 28,602 crore.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced that the projects, worth ₹28,602 crore, aim to transform India’s industrial landscape.

This move is set to transform the industrial landscape of the country creating a robust network of industrial nodes and cities that will significantly boost economic growth and global competitiveness.

Spanning across 10 states and strategically planned along 6 major corridors, these projects represent a significant leap forward in India’s quest to enhance its manufacturing capabilities and economic growth.

These industrial areas will be located in Khurpia in Uttrakhand; Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab; Dighi Port in Maharashtra; Palakkad in Kerela; Agra and Prayagraj in UP; Gaya in Bihar; Zaheerabad in Telangana; Orvakal and Kopparthy in AP and Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan.

Vaishnaw disclosed only 11 of the 12 city names, citing the model code of conduct due to upcoming Assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir as the reason for withholding the final name.

The NICDP is designed to foster a vibrant industrial ecosystem by facilitating investments from both large anchor industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

These industrial nodes will act as catalysts for achieving $2 trillion in exports by 2030, reflecting the government’s vision of a self-reliant and globally competitive India.

According to government data, the new industrial cities will be developed as greenfield smart cities of global standards, built “ahead of demand” on the ‘plug-n-play’ and ‘walk-to-work’ concepts. This approach ensures that the cities are equipped with advanced infrastructure that supports sustainable and efficient industrial operations.

Aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the projects will feature multi-modal connectivity infrastructure, ensuring seamless movement of people, goods, and services. The industrial cities are envisioned to be growth centers for transformation of whole region, as per the information.

The NICDP is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, with an estimated 1 million direct jobs and up to 3 million indirect jobs being created through planned industrialisation. This will provide livelihood opportunities and contribute to the socio-economic upliftment of the regions where these projects are being implemented.

The projects under the NICDP are designed with a focus on sustainability, incorporating ICT-enabled utilities and green technologies to minimize environmental impact. By providing quality, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure, the government aims to create industrial cities that are not just hubs of economic activity but also models of environmental stewardship.

Declaring that enough is enough, President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said it is time for India to wake up to the perversion of crimes against women and counter the mindset that sees women as less powerful, less capable, and less intelligent.

Murmu further said that those who share such views then go further and see the female as an object. “We owe it to our daughters to remove the hurdles from their path of winning the freedom from fear,” Murmu said in a signed statement shared with news agency PTI.

Referring to the August 9 rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal’s Kolkata, a dismayed and horrified President Murmu said what is even more depressing is that it is part of a series of crimes against women.

Murmu said no civilised society could allow daughters and sisters to be subjected to such atrocities. “The nation is bound to be outraged, and so am I,” she wrote.

The impactful and personalised piece, titled “Women’s Safety: Enough is Enough,” marks President Murmu’s first public expression of her stance on the tragic August 9 Kolkata incident, which has once again stirred the nation’s conscience and sparked widespread and ongoing protests.

In the midst of protests in Kolkata, President Murmu highlighted the concerning fact that criminals were free to commit offenses in other locations, even targeting young girls such as those in kindergarten.

Recalling a recent encounter with schoolchildren during Raksha Bandhan, Murmu shared their innocent inquiry about the likelihood of preventing future incidents akin to the tragic Nirbhaya case in Delhi back in December 2012.

She reflected on the past 12 years since that incident, acknowledging that despite initial outrage and planning, many similar tragedies have occurred, with only a few receiving widespread attention, questioning whether the lessons have truly been learned.

President Murmu emphasised the constant struggle women face in securing their rights due to deep-rooted social prejudices and opposing customs, which perpetuate the detrimental view of women as inferior beings.

She pointed out that the objectification of women by a segment of society is a significant factor contributing to crimes against women, calling for a joint effort from both the State and society to counter this mindset.

While recognising the existence of laws and social initiatives, Murmu highlighted a persistent obstacle hindering progress in addressing crimes against women.

Addressing the tendency for societies to ignore painful history through collective amnesia, Murmu passionately urged for a thorough exploration of the underlying issues of crimes against women, stressing the importance of collective remembrance and learning from past failures to foster a more vigilant future.

She called for honest and unbiased self-reflection within society to identify errors and rectify them, underlining the necessity of addressing these challenges to ensure the equitable rights and freedoms of all individuals.

With the announcement of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha senior leader and former Chief Minister Champai Soren that he is joining the BJP on August 30, the BJP state chief Babulal Marandi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Tuesday.

According to reports, the Jharkhand BJP chief and former Chief Minister Marandi was upset with the decision of induction of Champai Soren into the party. Reportedly, he also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah too.

After meeting with the Prime Minister in the national capital, the Jharkhand BJP chief shared a post on X. He said in Hindi: “Today I had a courtesy meeting with the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The company and guidance of the respected Prime Minister always provide new energy and inspiration for public service.”

Prior to his departure, Marandi informed reporters that Soren would be welcomed into the BJP, stating, “If he is joining the party, we will welcome him. There’s no doubt about it.”

Assam Chief Minister and the party’s Jharkhand in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 26 announced that Champai Soren will join the BJP on August 30. Sarma had earlier also invited Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to join the BJP.

Ending all the speculation, Soren on Tuesday stated that he along with his son Babu Lal Soren is going to join the BJP on August 30.

In a post on X, Soren said: “I have decided to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, expressing faith in the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Your cooperation is expected in this new chapter of struggle for the issues and rights of the tribals, natives, Dalits, backward classes, poor, laborers, farmers, women, youth and common people of Jharkhand. “

Speaking to a reporter today on Champai joining the saffron party, the BJP leader Sita Soren said: “Earlier all the leaders in the JMM party were connected but today the situation is not such that every leader is respected. If he was given respect or made the Chief Minister, he should have been allowed to remain the Chief Minister.”

She said that he was insulted and that could not be tolerated by him. Champai Soren did not say anything against the party and rather he was with the party in every situation but such a situation arose that he took this decision, the BJP leader added.