Policy Watch: Two Projects In UP, EV Mfg Portal, Dhanbad Coal Rehab

It has also launched a portal to facilitate applications for investors in EV manufacturing, while also approving the Revised Jharia Master Plan to address burning issues affecting the coal fields of Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district.

Agra Centre To Push Potato Cultivation

Agra will soon get the CIP-South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) of the International Potato Centre (CIP). A proposal in this regard was approved by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week.  

The decision to invest in this sector was made with the objective to raise food and nutrition security, enhance farmers’ income, and create jobs, by increasing potato and sweet potato productivity, post-harvest management, and value addition.

The government feels India's potato production has the potential to generate significant employment opportunities across the value chain, including production, processing, packaging, marketing, and transportation. 

The CSARC, which is coming up in one of India's main potato-producing belts, will help tap and explore the huge potential in the sector. High-yielding, nutrient-rich and climate-resilient varieties of potato and sweet potato developed by CSARC will significantly accelerate the sustainable development of the sector, not only in India but across South Asia through world-class science and innovation.

Electronics Mfg Cluster At Gautam Buddha Nagar

Besides Agra, Gautam Buddha Nagar — another UP district — has received a monetary infusion from the Centre. It has been allotted Rs 417 crore to establish an Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) to boost local production and innovation.

This was announced by the Union Information Technology (IT) Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after a review meeting on Thursday. At the meeting, participating Union Ministry officials were instructed to work closely with state officials to ensure faster execution of the project, as the state government will have a significant role in implementing it.

The EMC 2.0 project will be developed in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA). The cluster will be spread over 200 acres and is expected to attract investments worth Rs 2,500 crore. 

Announcing the decision, Vaishnaw said, “The project will lead to the creation of world-class infrastructure, and generate 15,000 jobs. It is in line with PM Modi’s vision of promoting manufacturing in India, and reflects the government’s focus on job creation and building Viksit Bharat.”

This cluster will support manufacturing across key areas like consumer electronics, automotive and industrial electronics, medical devices, computer hardware, and communication equipment. Startups and MSMEs are being promised world-class plug-and-play infrastructure and shared facilities.

The site is also close to transport hubs like Dadri railway station and the under-construction Jewar International Airport. It is surrounded by important industrial zones like the medical device park, MSME & apparel park, and an aviation hub.

Plug-and-play infrastructure will include standard factory sheds, electricity, water, sewage treatment, hostels, skill development centres, and health centres. This will also help reduce infrastructure and logistics costs.

Portal For Investors To Apply For EV Mfg

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has launched a portal for the application process under the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI).

The scheme was notified on March 15, 2024, and the detailed Scheme Guidelines were issued on June 2, 2025. Both are available on the Ministry’s website. 

The Ministry has now invited applications from those eligible under the scheme. The application portal will remain open till 6 pm, October 21, 2025.

This is a forward-looking scheme to promote the domestic manufacture of passenger cars, with a special focus on EVs. It is designed to establish India as a premier global destination for automotive manufacturing and innovation. The scheme is also expected to generate employment and achieve the goal of “Make in India”.

During the launch, Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy said: “Guided by the visionary leadership of PM Modi, this initiative marks a defining moment in India’s journey towards clean, self-reliant, and future-ready mobility.”

The launch of the portal under the SPMEPCI scheme opens new avenues for global EV manufacturers to invest in India, he said, adding that it not only supports our national commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2070, but also reinforces our resolve to build a sustainable, innovation-driven economy. 

Approved applicants would have to make a minimum investment of Rs 4,150 crore, in line with the provisions of the scheme. It provides an enabling policy environment for leading global and domestic players to establish long-term manufacturing footprints in the country. 

Through calibrated customs duty concessions and clearly defined domestic value addition (DVA) milestones, the scheme strikes a balance between introducing cutting-edge EV technologies and nurturing indigenous capabilities.

By mandating domestic value addition targets, the scheme will further boost the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, while empowering both global and domestic companies to become active partners in India’s green mobility revolution.

Jharia Master Plan To Address Coal Fire, Rehab

The government has approved the Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP) for addressing issues related to fire, land subsidence, and the rehabilitation of affected families in the coal fields of Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district. 

The total financial outlay for the revised plan is Rs 5,940.47 crore. The phase-wise approach is expected to ensure that handling of fire, subsidence, and rehabilitation of affected families will be done on a priority basis at the most vulnerable sites.

The revised JMP has also laid a strong emphasis on sustainable livelihood generation for families resettled under the plan. Targeted skill development programmes are to be undertaken, and income-generating opportunities will be created to ensure economic self-reliance of rehabilitated families.

Furthermore, a livelihood grant of Rs 1 lakh and access to credit support of up to Rs 3 lakh, through an institutional credit pipeline, will be extended to both legal titleholder families and non-legal titleholder families.

In addition, comprehensive infrastructure and essential amenities — roads, electricity, water supply, sewerage, schools, hospitals, skill development centres, community halls, and other common facilities — are to be developed at the resettlement sites. 

These provisions will be implemented as per the recommendations of the committee for the implementation of the revised JMP, ensuring a holistic and humane rehabilitation approach.

As part of the livelihood support measures, a dedicated Jharia Alternative Livelihoods Rehabilitation Fund will be established to promote livelihood-related activities. Skill-development initiatives will also be implemented in collaboration with multi-skill development institutes operating in the region.