Today's Brief 6/10/2025

1 .Bio-Gas: India's first cooperative-based Compressed Bio-Gas (CNG) and Spray Dryer Potash Granule Project has been established at the Sahakar Maharshi Shankarrao Kolhe Cooperative Sugar Factory located in Kopargaon, in the Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra.

This pioneering initiative marks a significant step towards a circular economy in the cooperative sector, as it utilizes by-products like press mud and spent wash from sugar production to generate both Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG), a clean fuel substitute for CNG, and Potash Granules, an essential fertilizer.

2 .The 2nd National Conference and Exhibition on Corporate Social Responsibility (NCCSR) is being hosted by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

The two-day event, scheduled for October 6th and 7th, 2025, is taking place in New Delhi at The Ashoka Hotel. The central theme of this year's conference is "Leveraging CSR Excellence for Tribal Development," with the aim of fostering collaboration between government bodies, corporate entities, and civil society to accelerate inclusive and sustainable growth, particularly for tribal communities.

The NCCSR provides a national platform for dialogue, featuring high-level expert panels, a live social innovation lab, a tribal cultural showcase, and an exhibition showcasing best practices in tribal-focused CSR initiatives.

3 .Critical Minerals:

The Ministry of Mines has officially issued detailed guidelines for the ₹1,500 crore Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme, a key component of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which aims to reduce import dependency and strengthen the domestic critical mineral supply chain.

The scheme, which runs for six years from FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31, is designed to boost India's recycling capacity for the separation and production of critical minerals from secondary sources.

Eligible feedstock includes e-waste, spent Lithium-ion Batteries (LiB), and other scrap materials, with incentives applicable only to the actual extraction of critical minerals, and not just the production of black mass.

The financial incentives include a 20% Capital Expenditure (Capex) subsidy on eligible plant and machinery, along with an Operational Expenditure (Opex) subsidy linked to incremental sales.

The scheme is open for applications for a six-month period, targeting both large, established recyclers and small, new entities, including start-ups, with expected outcomes of developing at least 270 kilo tonnes of annual recycling capacity and attracting around ₹8,000 crore in investment.