Zojila tunnel breakthrough: Why the project is crucial for India's defence
Distilled Policy Brief
- The Indian government has made a significant breakthrough in the Zojila tunnel project, connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country by providing an all-weather road link through the treacherous Himalayan mountains.
- The project is expected to cost around 6,800 crore rupees and is set to reduce the current travel time of approximately 3.5 hours to just 15 minutes.
- The tunnel is expected to be completed by 2026 and will provide a strategic route for the Indian army to access the Siachen glacier and other high-altitude areas, enhancing the country's defence capabilities.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the bilateral research and industrial cooperation engagements between India and Germany, consider the following statements: 1. Roundtables held with German research organizations, such as the Fraunhofer Institutes, prioritized key fields including microelectronics, power electronics, and smart manufacturing. 2. Expanding industry-academia innovation networks and collaboration in battery technologies form key components of the enhanced strategic cooperation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Both statements are correct. High-level roundtables with German research institutes, including Fraunhofer Institutes, focused on microelectronics, power electronics, smart manufacturing, battery technologies, and logistics. Furthermore, the engagement emphasized strengthening industry-academia innovation networks, science and technology cooperation, and advanced manufacturing capabilities between India and Germany.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.