Alternative fuels will propel India to top position in automobile sector: Gadkari
"In the coming days, due to ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, LNG, CNG, electric, and hydrogen, a new change in the world will be witnessed because of us," Gadkari said while addressing a function to mark the 10th anniversary of World Biofuel Day in India, organised by Praj Industries.
The Union minister said India is currently at the third position in the automobile sector, "but with the way our research and innovation in alternative fuel is progressing, the day is not far when we will become number one".
The minister said achieving the top spot would have far-reaching socio-economic benefits.
"It will positively impact the economy, generate employment, and reduce pollution. At present, 85 per cent of our energy is imported, but I am confident that we will transform from being an importer of energy to an exporter," he added.
Gadkari said that India's current fossil fuel imports are worth ₹22 lakh crore, which is not only economically challenging but also a major source of pollution.
"To address both these issues, we must focus on alternative fuels and biofuels," he said.
Gadkari said the condition of the agriculture sector is continuously deteriorating. In terms of GDP contribution, the industrial sector accounts for 22–24 per cent, the service sector 52 per cent, while agriculture contributes only 12–14 per cent.
Yet, 60–65 per cent of our population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, he added.
"If we want to become Aatmanirbhar and the world's third-largest economy of USD 5 trillion, the share of agriculture in GDP must increase to 22 to 24 per cent. To realise this goal, our government has adopted an important policy of diversifying agriculture towards the energy and power sectors," the Union minister added.
He said a debate over food and fuel began with the start of ethanol production.
"Today, we have a surplus of sugar, rice, wheat, and corn, and are unable to provide remunerative prices for these crops. For instance, the MSP of corn was ₹1,800 per quintal, but its market price has fallen to ₹1,200 per quintal. After the ethanol policy, in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, corn prices have risen to ₹2,600 to ₹2,800 per quintal. Corn is now yielding good returns to farmers," Gadkari said.
He recalled the days when sugarcane cultivators had to wait two to three years for their payments.
"After the ethanol policy, they are getting their money on time now. In Western Maharashtra alone, nearly 70 per cent of the sugar industry would have faced closure if ethanol production had not started," he added.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
E20 petrol is safe, says govt, amid engine damage, mileage concerns
New Delhi: The government on Tuesday sought to allay concerns over the 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20) hurting mileage and damaging vehicle engines, saying that the fuel in fact gave better acceleration and improved ride quality. In a statement, the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas said that vehicle owners do not find any issue related to drivability, metal compatibility and plastic compatibility while using E20 petrol. The ministry also rejected suggestions that E20 causes a 'drastic' reduction in fuel efficiency as "misplaced". "The use of E20 gives better acceleration, better ride quality and most importantly, lowered carbon emissions by approximately 30% as compared to E10 fuel. Ethanol's higher-octane number (108.5 compared to petrol's 84.4) makes Ethanol-blended fuels a valuable alternative for higher-octane requirements that is crucial for modern high-compression engines. Vehicles tuned for E20 deliver better acceleration, which is a very important factor in city driving conditions," the ministry said. Citing Brazil's experience with ethanol-blended fuel, it said that the south American nation has been successfully running on E27 for years with zero issues. The same automakers such as Toyota, Honda, Hyundai among others produce vehicles there too, the ministry said, adding that safety standards for E20 are well established through Bureau of Indian Standards specifications and Automotive Industry Standards. "In most parameters including drivability, startability, metal compatibility, plastic compatibility, there are no issues. Only in case of certain older vehicles, some rubber parts and gaskets may require replacement earlier than in case non-blended fuel was used. This replacement is inexpensive and can be easily managed during routine servicing. It may need to be done once in the lifetime of vehicle and is a simple process to be carried out at any authorized workshop," it said. Users have also complained, citing a NITI Aayog report, that ethanol-blended petrol should be cheaper than non-blended fuel, and that this cost advantage has not been passed on to the customers. The ministry said that in 2020-21, when the report of NITI Aayog was prepared, ethanol was cheaper than petrol. Over time, procurement price of ethanol has increased and now the weighted average price of ethanol is higher than the cost of refined petrol, the ministry said. "Currently, the average procurement cost of ethanol for Ethanol Supply Year 2024-25, as on 31.07.2025, is ₹ 71.32 per litre, inclusive of transportation and GST. For producing E20, OMCs (oil marketing companies) blend 20% of this procured ethanol with Motor Spirit (MS). Price of C-heavy molasses-based ethanol increased from ₹ 46.66 (ESY 2021-22) to ₹ 57.97 (ESY 2024-25)," the ministry said. "Price of Maize-based ethanol increased from ₹ 52.92 to ₹ 71.86 over the same period. Despite the increase in price of ethanol in comparison to petrol, the oil companies have not gone back on the ethanol blending mandate because the programme delivers on energy security, boosts farmers' incomes and environmental sustainability," it added. Describing the concerns as "totally baseless", the ministry said that usage of E20 fuel has no impact on the validity of insurance of vehicles in India. Automobile manufacturers continue to engage with vehicle owners to provide them any support that may be warranted to ensure optimum performance of vehicles, the ministry said. "For a vehicle owner, who believes that his/her vehicle may require further tuning or parts replacement, the entire network of authorized service stations are available to respond to such requests." Regarding moving beyond 20% ethanol blending, the ministry said that it would require careful calibration, for which extensive consultation are underway. This process has involved the same vehicle manufacturers that are already in Brazil as well as other manufacturers, entities involved in supply of feedstocks, R&D agencies, oil companies and ethanol producers. This process is yet to reach conclusion, it said. As per the current plan, the government is committed to using E20 petrol till October 2026. "Decisions for beyond 31.10.2026 will involve submission of the Report of the Inter Ministerial Committee, evaluation of its recommendations, stakeholder consultations and a considered decision of the government in this regard. That decision is yet to be taken," it said.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Centre approves two semiconductor units for Odisha
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said the Union Cabinet's approval for the establishment of two semiconductor units in Odisha will accelerate the state's growth in the CM expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the Centre's approval of the two semiconductor units in Odisha. Opposition BJD, which had announced the Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy 2023, said: "While other states were only announcing semiconductor units in 2024, the decision by the Union Cabinet to approve two such units in Odisha today is truly commendable." BJD senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra at a press conference here, expressed confidence that the state government will take proactive steps to develop the required supporting ecosystem for these units within the stipulated in the day, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four more semiconductor projects under India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), two of which will come to Odisha and one each for Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. After the Union Cabinet meeting, Vaishnaw said that a silicon carbide semiconductor plant will be set up in Bhubaneswar with an investment of Rs 2,066 crore by SiCsem. "Silicon carbide is a very robust material and can sustain at high temperatures. Silicon carbide is used in our missiles, satellites, telecom towers, rockets, railway engines, etc," Vaishnaw said. The minister said that the plant will have a capacity to produce 9.6 crore chips per Cabinet also approved US chip major Intel-backed 3D Glass semiconductor manufacturing unit in Odisha with an investment of Rs 1,943 crore. The plant will be set up by Heterogenous Integration Packaging Solutions Pvt Ltd with an annual production capacity of 5 crore units."I sincerely express my gratitude to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji and Hon'ble Union Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw ji for the Central Cabinet's approval of the establishment of two semiconductor manufacturing units in Odisha," Majhi said in a post on chief minister said the recent amendment of the Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy, aimed at enhancing investment viability, competitiveness, and sustainability, together with this significant Cabinet approval, marks a major milestone in the state's industrial and technological advancement."This collaborative effort will accelerate innovation, generate employment, and strengthen Odisha's position as a vital contributor towards the vision of #AtmanirbharBharat. I look forward to continued partnership between the state and Central governments to further this strategic initiative for the comprehensive development of Odisha and the nation. #doubleengine," Majhi Private Limited is collaborating with Clas-SiC Wafer Fab Ltd, UK, to establish an integrated facility of Silicon Carbide (SiC) based Compound Semiconductors in Info Valley, Bhubaneshwar, project proposes to manufacture Silicon Carbide devices. This compound semiconductor fab will have an annual capacity of 60,000 wafers and packaging capacity of 96 million units. The proposed products will have applications in missiles, defence equipment, electric vehicles (EVs), railway, fast chargers, data centre racks, consumer appliances, and solar power inverters, an official statement said.3D Glass Solutions Inc (3DGS) will be setting up a vertically integrated advanced packaging and embedded glass substrate unit in Info Valley, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. This unit will bring the world's most advanced packaging technology to India. Advanced packaging brings the next generation of efficiency to semiconductor industry, the statement facility will have a large variety of advanced technologies, including glass interposers with passives and silicon bridges, and 3D Heterogeneous Integration (3DHI) capacity of this unit will be approximately 69,600 glass panel substrates, 50 million assembled units, and 13,200 3DHI modules per annum. The proposed products will have significant applications in defence, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, RF and automotive, photonics and co-packaged optics and leader Mishra said the process of setting up semiconductor units in Odisha was initiated under the leadership of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during the BJD government. "The recent decision by the Union Cabinet to establish two semiconductor units in Odisha is rooted in the initiatives undertaken during the BJD regime," he said that investors interested in establishing a semiconductor industry in the state was cultivated during the 2nd edition of the Make in Odisha conclave held in December 2022, where several proposals were received. Accordingly, a dedicated policy for the semiconductor sector and its supporting ecosystem was formulated in 2023, he said. The BJD leader said that discussions were held with multiple international investors to attract investment in this sector, and efforts began to establish the necessary ecosystem to develop Odisha as a cutting-edge electronics manufacturing hub. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. As 50% US tariff looms, 6 key steps that can safeguard Indian economy As big fat Indian wedding slims to budget, Manyavar loses lustre Why are mid-cap stocks fizzling out? It's not just about Trump tariffs. The airport lounge war has begun — and DreamFolks is losing Stock Radar: UNO Minda eyeing fresh 52-week high in next few weeks; check target and stop loss for long positions Buy, Sell or Hold: Antique recommends buy on Siemens; Avendus upgrades SBI to Buy post June quarter results Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 25% Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Centre approves two semiconductor units for Odisha
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said the Union Cabinet 's approval for the establishment of two semiconductor units in Odisha will accelerate the state's growth in the CM expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the Centre's approval of the two semiconductor units in BJD, which had announced the Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy 2023, said: "While other states were only announcing semiconductor units in 2024, the decision by the Union Cabinet to approve two such units in Odisha today is truly commendable."BJD senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra at a press conference here, expressed confidence that the state government will take proactive steps to develop the required supporting ecosystem for these units within the stipulated in the day, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four more semiconductor projects under India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), two of which will come to Odisha and one each for Punjab and Andhra the Union Cabinet meeting, Vaishnaw said that a silicon carbide semiconductor plant will be set up in Bhubaneswar with an investment of Rs 2,066 crore by SiCsem. Silicon carbide is a very robust material and can sustain at high temperatures. Silicon carbide is used in our missiles, satellites, telecom towers, rockets, railway engines, etc," Vaishnaw minister said that the plant will have a capacity to produce 9.6 crore chips per Cabinet also approved US chip major Intel-backed 3D Glass semiconductor manufacturing unit in Odisha with an investment of Rs 1,943 crore. The plant will be set up by Heterogenous Integration Packaging Solutions Pvt Ltd with an annual production capacity of 5 crore units."I sincerely express my gratitude to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji and Hon'ble Union Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw ji for the Central Cabinet's approval of the establishment of two semiconductor manufacturing units in Odisha," Majhi said in a post on chief minister said the recent amendment of the Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy, aimed at enhancing investment viability, competitiveness, and sustainability, together with this significant Cabinet approval, marks a major milestone in the state's industrial and technological advancement."This collaborative effort will accelerate innovation, generate employment, and strengthen Odisha's position as a vital contributor towards the vision of #AtmanirbharBharat. I look forward to continued partnership between the state and Central governments to further this strategic initiative for the comprehensive development of Odisha and the nation. #doubleengine," Majhi Private Limited is collaborating with Clas-SiC Wafer Fab Ltd, UK, to establish an integrated facility of Silicon Carbide (SiC) based Compound Semiconductors in Info Valley, Bhubaneshwar, project proposes to manufacture Silicon Carbide devices. This compound semiconductor fab will have an annual capacity of 60,000 wafers and packaging capacity of 96 million units. The proposed products will have applications in missiles, defence equipment, electric vehicles (EVs), railway, fast chargers, data centre racks, consumer appliances, and solar power inverters, an official statement said.3D Glass Solutions Inc (3DGS) will be setting up a vertically integrated advanced packaging and embedded glass substrate unit in Info Valley, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. This unit will bring the world's most advanced packaging technology to India. Advanced packaging brings the next generation of efficiency to semiconductor industry, the statement facility will have a large variety of advanced technologies, including glass interposers with passives and silicon bridges, and 3D Heterogeneous Integration (3DHI) capacity of this unit will be approximately 69,600 glass panel substrates, 50 million assembled units, and 13,200 3DHI modules per annum. The proposed products will have significant applications in defence, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, RF and automotive, photonics and co-packaged optics and leader Mishra said the process of setting up semiconductor units in Odisha was initiated under the leadership of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during the BJD government. "The recent decision by the Union Cabinet to establish two semiconductor units in Odisha is rooted in the initiatives undertaken during the BJD regime," he said that investors interested in establishing a semiconductor industry in the state was cultivated during the 2nd edition of the Make in Odisha conclave held in December 2022, where several proposals were received. Accordingly, a dedicated policy for the semiconductor sector and its supporting ecosystem was formulated in 2023, he BJD leader said that discussions were held with multiple international investors to attract investment in this sector, and efforts began to establish the necessary ecosystem to develop Odisha as a cutting-edge electronics manufacturing hub.
