India unveiled the UPI-UPU Integration project at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai, marking a significant step towards transforming global remittances and increasing financial inclusion. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, launched the program, describing it as a step towards making cross-border transactions faster, more secure, and affordable. The project was created through a partnership between the Department of Posts, NPCI International Payments Limited, and the Universal Postal Union. It connects India's Un
According to Mercom data, India installed 3.8 GW of solar open access capacity in the first half of 2025, slightly lower than the 3.9 GW added in the same period in 2024. The second quarter of 2025 alone contributed 2.7 GW, helping offset a slower first quarter affected by connectivity approval delays and limited transmission infrastructure. According to Mercom's report, developers rushed to complete projects before the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers was reimplemented, which resulted in unusually high installations in H1 2024. Developers gained traction in Q2 of 2025, partly com
Saudi Arabia has one of the world's lowest battery storage costs, with the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) awarding contracts for two large-scale battery energy storage systems totalling 4.9 GWh. The projects, which cost between USD 73 and USD 75 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), represent a significant shift in global energy storage economics, particularly outside China. The contracts were granted to the Chinese manufacturer HiTHIUM and the Saudi EPC contractor Alfanar Projects. The northern provinces of Tabuk and Hail hold each project, which has a 500 MW capacity and four hours of storage. Toget
Gaganyaan, India's human spaceflight mission, has reached a major safety milestone by completing rocket-sled trials at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility in Chandigarh. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) tested the drogue parachutes that will stabilise and slow the crew module upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. Several scenarios, including partial and complete deployments, were tested, and all results confirmed the system's reliability. The trial comes after another successful demonstration in Sriharikota, where a 4.8-tonne crew module simulator was dropped from an Indian A
Four-wheeler electric vehicle registrations in India increased by 11% in August, as the festive season began with the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, according to Vahan data released on September 5. Registrations increased to 17,029 units in August from 15,389 in July, indicating consistent consumer demand in the market. Tata Motors maintained its dominance in the electric four-wheeler market, followed by JSW MG and Mahindra Electric Automobile. Hyundai and BYD India were placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Tata Motors and Mahindra experienced favourable growth, while other manufacture
Japan has unveiled groundbreaking development in clean energy, presenting solar panels with a potential capacity equivalent to 20 nuclear reactors. The breakthrough comes more than a decade after the 2011 Fukushima tragedy, which prompted the country to reassess its reliance on nuclear power and accelerate the search for safer alternatives. Since then, solar energy has continuously risen, contributing nearly 10% of Japan's electricity in 2024. One of Japan's long-standing issues has been a scarcity of sufficient land for conventional solar farms. With mountainous terrain and a high populat
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, the Centre and States' joint decision-making body, has announced a significant change in energy tax rates. Starting September 22, 2025, the GST on renewable energy components such as solar panels, cookers, lamps, windmills, biogas plants, waste-to-energy systems, and tidal or wave energy devices will be cut from 12% to 5%. In contrast, the GST on coal and lignite will rise dramatically, from 5% to 18%. Officials said the decision is intended to make renewable energy more competitive, lower project costs, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The Cen
India has reached a landmark in its semiconductor journey with the introduction of the country’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, called ‘Vikram.’ ISRO's Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) created the processor, which was formally presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw at the beginning of the 'Semicon India 2025' event. The Vikram chip has been specifically built to withstand the severe conditions of space launch vehicles, increasing India's space capabilities while also reducing dependency on foreign-made chips. T
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India will secure a major role in the global semiconductor industry, which is expected to exceed one trillion dollars in the coming years. Addressing the third edition of 'Semicon India 2025', he announced that 10 semiconductor projects totalling more than eighteen billion dollars, or more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore, are now underway across the country. The Prime Minister remarked that the global semiconductor market has already crossed $600 billion, and India's growing presence would ensure that it secures a large piece of this expanding sector. During
Namibia has been invited to access $250 million in funding for green hydrogen projects, a significant step towards the country's renewable energy transition. The Namibian Government made the statement in partnership with the global investment firm Ninety One. The investment aims to encourage large-scale commercial enterprises that are consistent with the country's decarbonisation agenda and its broader vision of green industrialisation. The finance is planned to be reinforced further by matching contributions from global development banks and other financial institutions. The program is pa