The Times of India · 1 Oct, 12:31 · Technology briefing

Nitin Gadkari-led ministry backs IIT technology of using waste plastic in bitumen for national highways;

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, led by Nitin Gadkari, has endorsed an innovative IIT-developed technology that incorporates waste plastic into bitumen for national highway construction. This initiative aims to address two critical challenges simultaneously: reducing plastic pollution and enhancing road durability. The government’s backing signals a potential shift towards sustainable infrastructure practices on a national scale. For professionals, this represents a tangible integration of academic research into public policy, highlighting a growing demand for sustainable engineering solutions within the civil sector and waste management industries across the country.

Employer demand for Engineering skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

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This policy shift elevates the value of skills in sustainable materials engineering and waste management compliance. If you work in civil engineering, procurement, or environmental policy, you must now understand plastic-bitumen integration standards. Professionals in waste management should pivot towards industrial recycling partnerships with infrastructure firms. A smart professional would immediately upskill in sustainable construction methodologies and regulatory frameworks for circular economy initiatives. Monitor government tenders for these specific technologies, as early expertise will differentiate you in a market moving towards green infrastructure. Networking with IIT research teams could also provide competitive intelligence on emerging material standards.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Engineering, Sustainability management, Compliance And Governance and Project Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
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