New Delhi, September 30,2026: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Rs 1.86 lakh crore Green Energy Corridor Phase-III scheme to build transmission infrastructure for evacuation of up to 135 GW of renewable power and deploy 50 GWh of battery storage, as India prepares its grid for a sharp expansion in non-fossil energy capacity.Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, said adequate transmission capacity would be critical as renewable generation rises, with the government seeking to ensure that grid infrastructure comes up ahead of new renewable projects.A presentation made during the briefing said that without adequate transmission infrastructure, renewable power could face curtailment, and stressed that transmission capacity needed to precede renewable-energy capacity addition.
The scheme, targeted for completion by FY 2032-33, has a total project outlay of Rs 1,86,405 crore.Of this, Rs 1,36,378 crore will go towards strengthening intra-state transmission systems, while Rs 50,000 crore has been earmarked for deployment of 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems.The Centre will provide financial assistance of Rs 54,082 crore.The scale of the scheme reflects the growing challenge of integrating larger volumes of solar and wind power into the grid. Unlike conventional generation, renewable output varies with sunlight and wind conditions, requiring stronger transmission networks as well as storage to balance supply and demand.The battery systems can be installed at renewable-energy generation sites or other locations considered important for grid flexibility. According to the Cabinet release, they are intended to address intermittency, transmission congestion, peak-hour curtailment and demand during non-solar hours.The government said the corridor will enable evacuation of up to 135 GW of renewable power across states and Union Territories.Vaishnaw’s presentation said India is targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and is planning for around 786 GW by 2035-36. The Cabinet release separately said the scheme would contribute towards the longer-term target of 900 GW of installed non-fossil capacity by 2035.India’s rapidly expanding solar capacity is already increasing the need for supporting grid infrastructure. According to an official PIB backgrounder, India’s installed solar capacity had reached 162.15 GW by June 30, 2026, up from around 3 GW in 2014. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”0″}Under GEC-III, all new or greenfield intra-state transmission projects will be awarded through tariff-based competitive bidding.Transmission service providers selected through the bidding process will build, own, operate and maintain the assets, while State Transmission Utilities will act as the overall implementing agencies.Upgradation and strengthening of existing, or brownfield, transmission networks will be carried out on a cost-plus basis.The government said the central assistance would help offset intra-state transmission charges and limit their impact on electricity costs for consumers.The scheme also marks a significant expansion of India’s Green Energy Corridor programme, which was originally designed to strengthen transmission networks in states with high renewable-energy potential.With renewable generation expanding faster, the focus is increasingly shifting from merely creating generation capacity to ensuring that electricity can be transmitted, stored and supplied when it is needed.
LOS ANGELES, March 16,2026: The darkly comic thriller “One Battle After Another” won best picture at the Academy Awards, leading a haul of six trophies on a Sunday night when Hollywood handed its top movie honors to unconventional stories.
Before this year Paul Thomas Anderson,the director of this had 11 career Oscar nominations and no wins. In addition to best picture, he won best director and best adapted screenplay on Sunday.
“Sinners” had entered the ceremony with 16 nominations, more than any other film in the nearly 100-year-old history of the Oscars. The movie finished with four awards including a best actor trophy for Michael B. Jordan, who played the dual roles of twin brothers Smoke and Stack. Set in the Segregation-era U.S. South, the movie was a celebration of blues and Black culture told with a supernatural twist.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman and first Black cinematographer to win the cinematography honor for “Sinners.”
Irish actor Jessie Buckley landed the best actress accolade for playing William Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes Hathaway, in “Hamnet.” The movie explores how the couple navigates the death of their 11-year-old son “Hamnet.”
‘KPOP DEMON HUNTERS’ TAKES BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
“KPop Demon Hunters,” a Netflix movie that became a global phenomenon, was named best animated feature. Its catchy song, “Golden,” won the award for best original song.
“Sentimental Value,” directed by Joachim Trier, won for best international feature film on Sunday, the first Norwegian film to win in this category after six previous nominations.