This Week in Explainers: How India has taken a big leap to meet its semiconductor goals

The world has already leapt from February and into March. We saw some big developments this week as India took a step forward in becoming a major semiconductor hub. The country also got something else to cheer about as Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed the names of four astronauts chosen for the Gaganyaan mission – India’s first crewed space mission.

The Centre also announced the formation of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), an initiative aimed at ensuring cooperation for the conservation of seven big cats.

All this and more in our weekly roundup of all the big stories that made headlines in the country.

1. The Union Cabinet has approved three semiconductor-making projects worth Rs 1.26 lakh crore under the ‘Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem’ scheme. With this, India intends to become self-reliant in the field of semiconductors as well as reduce the country’s dependence on other countries for chips. According to PM Modi, the move will “ensure India emerges as a global hub in semiconductor manufacturing”.

Currently, India imports around 80 per cent of its semiconductors. Thus, the green light to set up three semiconductor units in the country gains all the more importance. Read our explainer here to know more.

2. India is ready to take giant leaps not just on Earth but also beyond! PM Modi announced the names of the four astronauts-designate – Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (47), Angad Pratap (41), Ajit Krishnan (41) and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla (38) – who have been chosen for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission.

“They are not just four names or individuals, they are four ‘Shakti’… carrying the aspirations of 140 crore Indians into space,” the Indian leader said while introducing them at a function at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre this week. All four candidates are officers of the Indian Air Force (IAF) who have been undergoing rigorous training for the last four years. Their extensive experience as test pilots makes them the ideal picks for the Gaganyaan mission. Here’s our report on who these astronauts are.

3. The Ambanis are holding grand three-day pre-wedding festivities for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Gujarat’s Jamnagar. From celebrities to business tycoons and sports personalities, dozens of A-listers have descended on the township to celebrate the couple.

The decision to choose Jamnagar was personal for the Ambanis who have a deep and meaningful connection to the place. The city is not only the birthplace of Anant’s grandmother Kokilaben Ambani, but it is also where Dhirubhai Ambani founded Reliance Industries. Moreover, PM Modi’s call for couples to ‘Wed in India’ has also played a role in picking the venue. We delve into the significance of Jamnagar for the Ambanis in our story here .

4. Pakistan is not happy. India has completely stopped the flow of water from the Ravi river into its rival neighbour. This comes as the construction of the Shahpurkandi dam on river Ravi in Punjab is finally complete after long, long delays.

Reports say the move will help New Delhi to retain 1,150 cusecs of water, which previously flowed to Pakistan. The dam will benefit not just Punjab but also Jammu and Kashmir. We explain in this story what’s behind India’s move.

5. The Union Cabinet formally announced setting up the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with a one-time budgetary support of Rs 150 crore from the Centre until 2028. The secretariat of the IBCA, which was launched by PM Modi last April, will be in India.

The alliance intends to ensure global cooperation for the conservation of seven big cats – lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, snow leopard, jaguar and puma. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists six of these felines in vulnerable or endangered categories. Read our explainer to know how India is taking a pole position in the conservation of big cats.

6. Trinamool Congress strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, who was accused of land grab and sexual harassment by multiple women in Sandeshkhali, was finally arrested by West Bengal Police after being on the run for 55 days. A major political row erupted in Sandeshkhali island of North 24 Parganas district earlier this month after local women levelled allegations of sexual atrocities against the TMC leader and his two aides.

The Bengal Police found and arrested Shahjahan from a house in Minakhah in North 24 Parganas district. He had been on the run since 5 January when a team of Enforcement Directorate officials raided his house in Sandeshkhali in an alleged rations scam. We explain in our story about Shahjahan’s arrest and his ‘reign of terror’ in Sandeshkhali.

7. Mumbai’s luxury real estate market is booming. The megacity has made it to the top 10 luxury residential markets in the world. Knight Frank’s The Wealth Report 2024 has ranked India’s financial capital at eighth place, while Delhi and Bengaluru occupy the 37th and 59th ranks, respectively.

The report says that one needs $1 million (Rs 8.24 crore) to acquire 1,108 square feet of prime residential space in Mumbai. Well, if only we needed more evidence to know how expensive the city is! Here’s our explainer on what is fuelling the growth of Mumbai’s luxury real estate market.

You are all caught up with India stories for this week. If you like our work and want to read more of our explainers, we recommend you bookmark this page .