Morning Brief: India-US Semiconductor Plant To Make Chips For Military Uses; Mumbai's Rs 58,000-Crore Ring Road Masterplan Approved; Shanti Homam In Tirumala After Laddu Row

Dear Reader, start your day informed with our quick roundup of key news and updates.

India-US Semiconductor Plant To Make Chips For Military Uses

India and the US will set up a new semiconductor fabrication plant focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for military and other national security applications. This initiative, supported by the India Semiconductor Mission, marks the first-ever India-US semiconductor fab cooperation of its kind. It will be a partnership involving Bharat Semiconductors, 3rdiTech, and the US Space Force. Sources say this partnership is a watershed moment, comparable to the historic civil nuclear deal, as it's the first time the US military has agreed to share such critical technologies with India.

Named 'Shakti,' the fab will be one of the world's first multi-material fabs dedicated to national security. The facility, likely to come up in UP's Jewar, will focus on three key areas essential for modern warfare: advanced sensing, communication, and high-voltage power electronics. These technologies are not only vital for defense but also have significant commercial applications, including railways, telecom infrastructure, data centers, and green energy. With India's annual semiconductor import bill for national security applications alone amounting to around $1 billion, this development is expected to reduce dependence on foreign imports while boosting India's self-reliance.

Mumbai’s Rs 58,000 Crore Ring Road Masterplan Rolled Out

Mumbai’s Ring Road Masterplan aims to tackle congestion across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region by 2029. The plan, prepared by MMRDA, includes an extensive network of roads, flyovers, bridges, and underwater tunnels from Vadodara in the north to Alibaug in the south. The project will add 90.18 kilometres of new roads, costing Rs 58,517 crore, providing seamless North-South and East-West connectivity. The inner and outer Ring Roads will support the urban expansion of Mumbai and Thane, easing traffic flow. Alongside the road network, the total infrastructure investment in the MMR, including metro and slum redevelopment, is estimated at Rs 3 lakh crore.

Naidu Orders Santhi Homam Panchagavya Prokshana At Tirupati

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu accused former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of permitting non-sacred activities at the Tirupati Temple during his tenure. Naidu claimed that devotees had protested against various actions taken in Tirumala over the past five years. The Chief Minister has announced that a Santhi Homam Panchagavya Prokshana (ritualistic sanitisation) would take place on Monday at the temple. The ritual is scheduled from 6 am to 10 am at the Bangaru Bavi (golden well) Yagashala. Additionally, he criticised Jagan Mohan Reddy for appointing individuals close to him to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board.

Other Developments

India Makes History by Winning Double Gold at Chess Olympiad 2024

India achieved a historic milestone on Sunday as both its men's and women's teams secured their first gold medals in the 45th Chess Olympiad. The men's team triumphed over Slovenia, with D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R. Praggnanandhaa winning their matches in the final round. Meanwhile, the women's team dominated Azerbaijan with a score of 3.5-0.5 to claim the title. Prior to this, the Indian men had won two bronze medals in 2014 and 2022, while the women secured bronze in 2022. World Championship contender Gukesh and Erigaisi once again delivered crucial performances, leading India to its first-ever title in the open category.

China Slashes Rates Again As Economic Slowdown Deepens

China’s central bank cut rate to 1.85 per cent from 1.95 per cent, injecting $10.6 billion into the banking system ahead of the National Day Holiday. This follows a similar 10-basis-point cut in the seven-day reverse repo rate in July, reflecting the ongoing response to the country’s worsening economic slowdown.

Modi Sends Thinly Veiled Message To China At Quad Summit

During the sixth Quad leaders’ summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that the Quad — comprising India, the US, Japan, and Australia — supports a rules-based international order, respect for sovereignty, and peaceful resolutions, stating that the "Quad is here to stay" and that it is “not against anyone.” His comments subtly referenced China’s actions in the Indo-Pacific, while US President Joe Biden, in a hot mic moment, openly said China was “testing” them. The Quad declaration addressed militarisation and intimidation in the South China Sea, along with conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. It also highlighted the global impacts of the war in Ukraine on food and energy security.

From The States

Punjab: Mann Prepares For Fourth Cabinet Reshuffle In Two Years

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is set to reshuffle his Cabinet on Monday, introducing five new faces while four ministers are expected to be dropped. The Mann government has requested Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to administer the oath of office to the new inductees. Although there has been no official announcement, sources within the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) indicate that several ministers have submitted their resignation letters. This reshuffle marks the fourth within the two-and-a-half-year tenure of Mann’s government in Punjab, following a similar exercise conducted recently in Delhi after AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail.

Bihar: Nitish Government In A Spot Over First Land Survey In 114 Years

The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government has been conducting its first land survey since 1910, but the initiative, launched on August 20, has faced backlash. Complaints of corruption and issues with the survey's implementation have emerged within just a month. In response to the mounting criticism, the government has relaxed its initial July 2025 deadline, with land revenue minister Dilip Jaiswal announcing a three-month suspension of the survey to allow residents to complete their paperwork.

The survey aims to update land records across 45,000 villages. With an estimated 70-80 per cent of murder cases in Bihar arising from land disputes, the government sees the survey as a long-term solution to reducing crime.

Maharashtra: Mahayuti Faces Quota Tensions Ahead Of Elections

As Maharashtra Assembly polls approach, tensions between the Maratha and OBC communities over quota issues have resurfaced. OBC rights activist Laxman Hake has accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of prioritizing the Maratha community at the expense of OBC interests. Hake questioned the basis on which Shinde claims that Marathas are socially oppressed, asserting that the CM neglects OBC concerns. This criticism follows Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil's latest hunger strike demanding reservation for Marathas under the OBC category. OBC activists warn that granting Maratha reservations from their quota would diminish their share significantly.

Stay tuned for more insights through the day.