Induction of ICG Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Pratap
Event & Date
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) inducted its first in-built Pollution Control Vessel (PCV), Samudra Pratap (Yard 1267), on 23 December 2025.
Project & Shipbuilder
Built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) under the 02 PCV Project.
Incorporates over 60% indigenous content, aligning with Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
Strategic Significance
First indigenously designed and constructed pollution control vessel for the ICG.
Largest vessel in the Indian Coast Guard fleet, significantly enhancing operational reach, endurance, and response capability.
Strengthens India’s maritime environmental protection and disaster response preparedness.
Dimensions & Capacity
Length: 114.5 metres
Breadth: 16.5 metres
Displacement: 4,170 tonnes
Advanced Combat & Defensive Systems
30mm CRN-91 gun
Two 12.7mm stabilised remote-controlled guns with integrated fire-control systems
Indigenous & Modern Ship Systems
Integrated Bridge System (IBS)
Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS)
Automated Power Management System (APMS)
High-capacity external firefighting system
Unique Technical Capabilities
First ICG vessel fitted with Dynamic Positioning System (DP-1) for high-precision station-keeping.
Certified with FiFi-2 / FFV-2 notation, enabling advanced firefighting and fire-fighting vessel operations.
Pollution Detection & Response Features
Equipped with oil spill detection and analysis systems, including:
Oil fingerprinting machine
Gyro-stabilised standoff active chemical detector
Dedicated Pollution Control laboratory
Capable of:
Detecting and tracking oil spills
Recovering viscous oil pollutants
Analysing chemical contaminants
Separating oil from contaminated seawater
Operational Scope
Designed for comprehensive pollution response operations within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and beyond.
Supports environmental protection, maritime safety, and disaster response missions.
Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT)
Regulatory Approval
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) as a Public Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT).
This approval allows RIIT to raise funds from the public, including retail investors.
Strategic Objective
RIIT is a key component of NHAI’s asset monetization strategy, aimed at unlocking value from operational national highway assets.
It enables NHAI to recycle capital for new infrastructure development without increasing fiscal burden.
Public Participation
The Public InvIT structure significantly broadens public and domestic investor participation in India’s national highway infrastructure.
It provides retail investors access to a stable, long-term infrastructure investment backed by revenue-generating assets.
Investment Manager
NHAI has established Raajmarg Infra Investment Managers Pvt. Ltd. (RIIMPL) as the Investment Manager for RIIT.
RIIMPL is a collaborative venture with equity participation from major Indian banks and financial institutions, ensuring strong governance and financial credibility.
Key Institutional Partners
Equity participants include SBI, PNB, NaBFID, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv Ventures Ltd., HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Yes Bank.
Their involvement strengthens investor confidence and institutional oversight.
Leadership & Governance
Shri NRVVMK Rajendra Kumar, Member (Finance), NHAI, will serve as Managing Director and CEO (Additional Charge) of RIIMPL.
The senior management team is positioned to professionally manage assets and deliver long-term value.
Economic & Infrastructure Impact
RIIT is expected to accelerate the development of a robust national highway network by channeling private capital into infrastructure.
It supports sustainable infrastructure financing while maintaining asset quality and operational efficiency.
Broader Significance
The initiative represents an important milestone in India’s infrastructure financing ecosystem.
It aligns with government efforts to deepen capital markets, enhance asset monetization, and promote long-term investment opportunities for the public.
How investors are benefited from such investments?
Stable and Predictable Income
InvITs typically hold operational infrastructure assets (such as toll roads) that generate regular cash flows.
A significant portion of net cash flows is mandatorily distributed to investors, offering steady income similar to dividends.
Long-Term Wealth Creation
Infrastructure assets have long economic lives, making InvITs suitable for long-term investment.
Potential for capital appreciation as asset performance improves and traffic/revenue grows.
Lower Risk Profile
Revenues are often backed by long-term concession agreements or annuity-based models.
Compared to equities, InvITs generally exhibit lower volatility due to predictable cash flows.
Portfolio Diversification
InvITs provide exposure to infrastructure as a separate asset class, reducing dependence on traditional stocks and bonds.
They help balance risk in a diversified investment portfolio.
Strong Governance & Regulation
Public InvITs are regulated by SEBI, ensuring transparency, disclosures, and investor protection.
Institutional backing (banks, NHAI sponsorship) adds credibility and confidence.
Tax Efficiency (Subject to Tax Laws)
Certain components of InvIT distributions (such as interest or return of capital) may be tax-efficient compared to regular dividend income.
Tax treatment is often clearer and more predictable than direct infrastructure investments.
Access to Large Infrastructure Projects
Retail investors can participate in large national infrastructure assets that are otherwise inaccessible to individual investors.
Enables participation in India’s long-term infrastructure growth story with relatively small investments.
Liquidity
Units of public InvITs are listed on stock exchanges, allowing investors to buy or sell more easily than direct infrastructure assets.
Nation-Building with Returns
Investors not only seek financial returns but also contribute to national infrastructure development, aligning financial goals with public interest.
Note for Investors
Returns depend on traffic growth, policy environment, interest rates, and operational efficiency.
Like all market-linked products, InvITs are not risk-free, and investors should assess suitability based on their financial goals.
PM-SETU Scheme: Industry-Led Upgradation of ITIs
Initiating Ministry
The initiative is led by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in coordination with State/UT governments and the Directorate General of Training (DGT).
Core Objective
To modernize India’s vocational training ecosystem by making ITIs more relevant to current and future industry needs.
Marks a shift from government-led skilling to industry-led execution and governance.
PM-SETU Scheme Overview
Full form: Prime Minister Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU).
Approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2025.
Officially launched by the Prime Minister on October 4, 2025.
Total financial outlay: ₹60,000 crore.
Industry Participation Mechanism
MSDE has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) to invite Anchor Industry Partners (AIPs).
States/UTs are simultaneously issuing EOIs to upgrade select ITIs.
Early adopter States/UTs: Karnataka, Gujarat, Assam, and Chandigarh.
Scale of Upgradation
1,000 Government ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) to be upgraded nationwide.
Adoption of a hub-and-spoke model:
200 hub ITIs equipped with advanced technology.
Each hub supports around 4 spoke ITIs.
Upgradation of 5 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs):
Locations: Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana.
Aim: Develop them as global Centres of Excellence.
Governance Structure
Each upgraded ITI will be managed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
Ownership pattern:
Industry: 51%
Government: 49%
Reflects strong private sector leadership with public oversight.
Funding Model
Co-investment approach:
Government provides up to 83% co-funding.
Encourages large-scale private participation with reduced financial risk.
Role of Anchor Industry Partners (AIPs)
Design job-linked and industry-relevant curricula.
Establish advanced labs, digital classrooms, and innovation hubs.
Support faculty upskilling through industry exposure.
Enable apprenticeship and employment pathways.
Priority Sectors
Advanced manufacturing
Electronics
Mobility
Logistics
Other high-growth, technology-driven sectors
Benefits for Industry
Creation of a reliable and scalable skilled workforce pipeline.
Alignment of training with company-specific skill requirements.
Opportunities for CSR-linked investments.
Reduced skill mismatch and hiring costs.
Broader Significance
Addresses long-standing gaps in the ITI ecosystem.
Strengthens employability, productivity, and workforce readiness.
Positions skilling as a shared responsibility between government and industry.
Supports India’s ambition to become a global manufacturing and services hub.
Japan Clears Restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Reactors
1. Decision and Significance
The Governor of Niigata Prefecture, Hideyo Hanazumi, has formally granted local consent to restart two nuclear reactors (Units 6 and 7) at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant.
This decision clears the final major political and administrative hurdle for restarting the plant, which has remained idle for over a decade.
2. Background Context
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the same utility that managed the Fukushima Daiichi plant, where nuclear meltdowns occurred in 2011.
Following the Fukushima disaster, Japan suspended most nuclear operations and planned a gradual phase-out of atomic energy.
3. Reactors Involved
Reactor No. 6:
Restart preparations are already underway.
TEPCO is expected to apply for a final safety inspection by Japan’s Nuclear Safety Authority.
Possible resumption of operations is expected as early as January.
Reactor No. 7:
Will require several more years of work before restart.
4. Role of Local Government
The Niigata prefectural government’s consent was essential due to:
Safety concerns
Emergency preparedness
Public acceptance
The prefectural assembly passed a budget bill allocating funds necessary for the restart, reinforcing the governor’s approval.
5. Government Assurances
Governor Hanazumi conveyed approval after receiving assurances from the central government on:
Nuclear safety standards
Emergency response mechanisms
Efforts to secure understanding and trust of local residents
He described the decision as a “heavy and difficult” one, reflecting lingering public sensitivity post-Fukushima.
6. Political Engagement
Governor Hanazumi met with:
Economy and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a supporter of nuclear energy
He invited the Prime Minister to visit the plant to personally assess safety measures.
7. Shift in Japan’s Nuclear Policy
After 2011, Japan aimed to reduce or eliminate nuclear energy.
The policy has since reversed due to:
Global fuel shortages
Rising energy prices
Energy security concerns
Pressure to reduce carbon emissions and meet climate targets
Current strategy includes:
Restarting idle reactors
Extending reactor lifespans
Considering construction of new nuclear plants
8. Current Status of Japan’s Nuclear Fleet
Total commercial reactors: 57
13 reactors currently operating
20 reactors offline
24 reactors under decommissioning
9. Broader Implications
Restarting Kashiwazaki-Kariwa—one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants—could significantly boost Japan’s electricity supply.
Signals Japan’s long-term re-engagement with nuclear energy as part of its energy mix.
Highlights the balancing act between energy security, climate goals, safety concerns, and public trust.
10. Concluding Assessment
The decision marks a symbolic and practical turning point in Japan’s post-Fukushima nuclear policy.
While technically driven by energy needs and climate commitments, it remains politically sensitive due to safety, trust in TEPCO, and public memory of Fukushima.
The restart underscores nuclear energy’s renewed role in Japan’s pursuit of stable, low-carbon power.
