Union Minister Chairs 4th GoM Meet on Power Utility Reforms

23 Apr 2025 CW Team

Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, chaired the fourth meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) formed to address the financial and operational viability of electricity distribution utilities (DISCOMs). The meeting was held in Vijayawada on April 22, 2025, with energy ministers and senior officials from member states and central institutions in attendance.

The minister underscored the urgent need for regulatory reforms and cost-reflective tariffs, along with collaborative efforts between state governments and regulatory commissions to ensure the sector’s sustainability. He also highlighted progress made in previous meetings and called for actionable steps to improve utility efficiency.

Representatives from the All India DISCOM Association (AIDA), attending as special invitees, advocated for a comprehensive review of the existing tariff policy to align it with current sector challenges. A key concern raised was the mismatch between utilities’ revenue increases and their rising debt levels.

Joint Secretary (Distribution), Ministry of Power, presented an overview of the current financial status of DISCOMs, highlighting significant regulatory disallowances, subsidy delays, and outstanding dues from government departments.

Key discussions focused on reducing power purchase costs, expediting smart metering projects under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, and leveraging Artificial Intelligence and data analytics for better demand forecasting and power purchase optimisation.

States also requested continued GoI support for reforms including distribution franchise models, privatization, and the introduction of parallel licensees. The GoM reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing dialogue and proposed rotational brainstorming sessions among states to tackle broader sectoral issues

Infrastructure Transport

13 Oct 2025

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..