Key Developments in Tourism and Space Infrastructure:

  • Tourism Infrastructure:
    • Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD):
      • Objective: Focuses on developing tourism infrastructure at identified pilgrimage destinations and heritage cities.
      • Progress: Various projects sanctioned and completed to enhance religious and heritage tourism as of December 2024.
  • Swadesh Darshan Scheme:
    • Objective: Integrated development of tourism destinations, including theme-based tourist circuits.
    • Revamped: In 2022 to Swadesh Darshan 2.0, focusing on sustainable and responsible tourism.
    • Approved Projects: 34 projects with a total funding of ₹793.2 crore.
  • Interest-Free Loans for Capital Investment:
    • Approved: 40 projects across 23 states for interest-free loans (50 years) amounting to ₹3,295.8 crore.
    • Aim: Create iconic tourist centres of global standards.

INDIA’S SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Current Space Assets:
    • Total: 56 active space assets.
    • Breakdown:
      • Communication Satellites: 19.
      • Navigation Satellites: 9.
      • Scientific Satellites: 4.
      • Earth Observation Satellites: 24.
  • Enhanced Capabilities: Addition of a small satellite launch vehicle to India’s fleet and successful launch contracts with OneWeb and SpaceX.
  • ISRO’s Infrastructure Monitoring Platforms:
      • Bhuvan Platform: Supports infrastructure monitoring for various development schemes such as MGNREGA and PMKSY.
      • Electrical Infrastructure: Manages electrical infrastructure in Maharashtra and Telangana.
      • Nyaya Vikas Portal: Monitors 2,840 judicial infrastructure projects using Web GIS and mobile geotagging.
      • Urban Geospatial Databases: Created for 238 AMRUT cities to assist in urban planning using GIS-based master plans.

INDIA’S SPACE VISION

  • Approved: Four key projects to advance India’s space exploration:
    • Gaganyaan Follow-on Mission: India’s human spaceflight program.
    • Chandrayaan-4 Lunar Sample Return Mission.
    • Venus Orbiter Mission.
    • Next Generation Launch Vehicle Development.