Government Schemes & Policies

Divyang Sahara Yojana and Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana

Context: During a post-Budget webinar following the Union Budget 2026–27, the Prime Minister highlighted two new initiatives aimed at strengthening support for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan): Divyang Sahara Yojana and Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana. Both schemes are introduced under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) to promote accessibility, dignity, and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities.

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Divyang Sahara Yojana

The Divyang Sahara Yojana focuses on improving access to modern assistive technologies for Divyangjan so that they can live independently and participate actively in society.

Key Features

  • Affordable Assistive Devices: The scheme aims to provide advanced assistive devices such as prosthetics, mobility aids, hearing devices, and other adaptive technologies at affordable prices.
  • Support to ALIMCO: It will strengthen the capacity of the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) to expand manufacturing and adopt AI-enabled and advanced technologies for better assistive products.
  • Assistive Marts: Retail-style centres will be established where beneficiaries can see, test, and select suitable devices based on their specific needs.
  • Service Hubs: Existing Pradhan Mantri Divyasha–Vayoshri Kendras (PMDVKs) will be upgraded into service hubs to provide assessment, customisation, repairs, and maintenance of assistive devices.

Through these measures, the scheme aims to improve accessibility, mobility, and the quality of life of persons with disabilities.

Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana

The Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana aims to strengthen the employability of Divyangjan by providing industry-relevant skill training aligned with emerging sectors of the economy.

Key Features

  • Skill Development: The scheme focuses on equipping Divyangjan with job-oriented skills to enable dignified livelihood opportunities.
  • Target Sectors: Training will be provided in high-growth sectors such as Information Technology (IT), Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC), Hospitality, and Food & Beverage services.
  • Digital Integration: Skill training registration will be integrated with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) through the PM-DAKSH Portal, ensuring transparency and improved monitoring.
  • Industry Linkages: The programme aims to connect trained candidates with employers, thereby promoting inclusive workforce participation.

Significance

Together, these two schemes represent a holistic approach toward disability empowerment:

  • Accessibility: Provision of modern assistive devices improves independence and mobility.
  • Economic Empowerment: Skill training enhances employability and financial independence.
  • Technology Integration: Use of AI and digital platforms strengthens delivery and monitoring of welfare schemes.
  • Inclusive Development: Aligns with the government’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.”

By combining technological support with skill development, these initiatives aim to ensure that Divyangjan can participate more fully in India’s socio-economic growth.

Refurbished Medical Devices: Access–Safety Dilemma in India’s Health Sector

India is framing a policy to regulate refurbished medical devices to resolve conflicts between environmental and health regulators. Refurbished devices—previously used equipment restored to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standards—can expand affordable diagnostics but raise safety and domestic industry concerns.

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About Refurbished Medical Devices

  • Refurbished medical devices are used equipment restored to certified safety and performance standards.
  • High-value examples include MRI scanners, CT scanners, PET-CT systems, and robotic surgery platforms.
  • They cost nearly 50–60% less than new equipment, improving affordability for hospitals in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
  • Refurbishing extends device life cycles and supports the circular economy by reducing e-waste.

Current Regulatory Framework in India

  • The Medical Devices Rules (MDR), 2017 do not define or regulate refurbished devices.
  • Imports fall under Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016 (MoEFCC).
  • Import permitted for 38 items if residual life ≥7 years and warranty provided.
  • Regulatory conflict: MoEFCC allows imports but CDSCO often blocks approvals citing safety gaps.

Arguments Supporting Regulated Imports

  • Healthcare Access: Lower capital costs improve diagnostic availability in underserved regions.
  • Global Practice: Refurbished device regulation exists in the EU and USA under certified reprocessing norms.
  • Medical Training: Enables affordable acquisition of advanced equipment by medical colleges.
  • Sustainability: Reduces electronic waste and supports resource efficiency.

Concerns Against Refurbished Imports

  • Safety Risks: Unknown usage history and calibration inconsistencies may affect clinical reliability.
  • Industry Impact: Cheaper imports may undermine domestic manufacturing and PLI incentives.
  • Dumping Risk: India may become a destination for obsolete medical equipment.
  • Regulatory Gap: Lack of traceability and lifecycle data weakens post-market surveillance.

Policy Significance

A dedicated regulatory pathway under MDR can harmonise health safety standards (CDSCO) with environmental import rules (MoEFCC). Standardised refurbishment certification, device traceability, and performance validation can enable safe adoption while supporting domestic industry growth.

Way Forward

  • Define refurbished devices and create a separate approval pathway under MDR.
  • Mandate OEM-certified refurbishment and lifecycle tracking.
  • Establish performance testing and post-market surveillance protocols.
  • Align import policy with “Make in India” and PLI objectives.

Powering Viksit Bharat: Draft National Electricity Policy 2026

Context: The Ministry of Power has released the Draft National Electricity Policy (NEP) 2026 for public consultation, proposing to replace the National Electricity Policy, 2005. The draft seeks to realign India’s power sector with the long-term vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, while supporting climate commitments under India’s Net Zero target for 2070.

Vision and Climate Transition

The Draft NEP 2026 aims to transform India from a power-deficient country into a reliable, competitive, and low-carbon electricity economy. Key long-term targets include:

  • Per Capita Electricity Consumption:
    • 2,000 kWh by 2030
    • Over 4,000 kWh by 2047
  • Clean Energy Expansion:
    • 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030
    • 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047
  • Climate Commitments:
    • 45% reduction in emission intensity from 2005 levels by 2030
    • Alignment with Net Zero emissions by 2070
  • Efficiency Goal:
    • Reduction of Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses to single digits across all states.

Key Structural Reforms Proposed

1. Tariff and Financial Reforms

To restore the financial health of distribution companies (DISCOMs), the draft mandates:

  • Automatic annual tariff revisions by State Electricity Regulatory Commissions.
  • If tariff orders are delayed, indexation-based automatic revisions will apply.

This marks a shift away from politically delayed tariff decisions, a major cause of DISCOM losses.

2. Rationalising Cross-Subsidies

The policy proposes a progressive reduction in cross-subsidies, particularly for:

  • manufacturing sector, and
  • Indian Railways,

to enhance industrial competitiveness and support export-led growth.

3. Universal Service Obligation (USO) Flexibility

Regulators may exempt DISCOMs from USO for consumers with connected loads of 1 MW and above, allowing large consumers to source power competitively without burdening utilities.

Grid Planning and Market Design

  • Resource Adequacy Planning: Mandatory 24×7 power planning at national, state, and utility levels to prevent shortages.
  • Competition in Distribution: Multiple distribution licensees permitted in the same supply area.
  • Distribution System Operators (DSOs): Introduced to manage rooftop solar, electric vehicles, and other distributed energy resources.
  • Energy Storage: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and pumped storage recognised as critical grid infrastructure.

Governance, Data, and Consumer Rights

  • Data Sovereignty: All operational power-sector data must be stored within India.
  • Grid Governance Reform: State Load Despatch Centres (SLDCs) to be functionally unbundled from State Transmission Utilities.
  • Consumer Empowerment: Recognition of prosumers and imposition of penalties on DISCOMs for unjustified load-shedding.

Significance

The Draft NEP 2026 represents a decisive shift from capacity addition alone to efficiency, competition, and consumer-centric governance, positioning electricity as the backbone of India’s energy transition and economic growth.

Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (VB G RAM G Bill, 2025])

Context: The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (VB–G RAM G Bill) was introduced in the Lok Sabha to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The Bill seeks to realign rural employment policy with India’s post-poverty-transition phase, fiscal sustainability concerns, and an infrastructure-led growth strategy under the broader vision of Viksit Bharat.

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Core Objectives

The proposed law aims to move beyond a pure distress-relief framework towards productivity-oriented, asset-linked rural employment, while retaining a statutory employment guarantee. It emphasises durable asset creation, fiscal discipline, technological monitoring, and integration with national infrastructure planning.

Key Structural Changes

1. Employment Guarantee

  • Annual guaranteed wage employment is increased from 100 to 125 days per rural household, enhancing income security.
  • Wage payments must follow a weekly cycle, with a statutory upper limit of 15 days for settlement.

2. Funding Architecture

  • The scheme shifts from 100% Central funding to a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) model:
    • 60:40 Centre–State ratio for most States
    • 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States
    • 100% Central funding for Union Territories
  • The existing demand-driven Labour Budget is replaced by a centrally fixed normative funding system.
  • State-wise allocations will be based on parameters notified by the Central Government; any excess expenditure must be borne entirely by States.

3. Project Planning and Asset Creation

  • All works must originate from approved Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, limiting ad-hoc project selection.
  • Asset creation is restricted to priority domains:
    • Water security
    • Rural infrastructure
    • Livelihood generation
    • Climate and weather resilience
  • Village-level assets will be digitised and integrated into a national asset stack linked with PM Gati Shakti, ensuring convergence and long-term utility.

4. Seasonal Labour Management

  • States are empowered to pause the scheme for up to 60 days during peak sowing and harvesting periods to prevent labour diversion from agriculture and protect food security.

5. Beneficiary Identification

  • Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards replace traditional job cards, with validity reduced from five to three years.
  • Special-coloured cards are mandated for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), PVTGs, and transgender beneficiaries to improve inclusion and tracking.

6. Monitoring and Compliance

  • Mandatory biometric authentication, AI-based anomaly detection, GPS-based worksite tracking, and biannual social audits.
  • Penalties for violations are enhanced from ₹1,000 to ₹10,000, signalling stricter accountability.

Rationale for the Reform

  • Socioeconomic shift: Poverty declined from 25.7% (2011–12) to 4.86% (2023–24), reducing the need for open-ended distress employment.
  • Implementation concerns: Monitoring reports flagged substandard assets and fund misappropriation under MGNREGA; only 7.61% of households completed 100 days of work post-pandemic.
  • Fiscal prudence: Demand-based funding created budget volatility, necessitating predictable, parameter-based allocations.
  • Agricultural balance: Labour diversion during peak seasons disrupted farm operations, justifying the seasonal pause provision.

Significance and Concerns

The Bill promises higher guaranteed employment, durable infrastructure, fiscal predictability, and greater transparency. However, higher State cost-sharing, constrained flexibility during droughts, digital exclusion risks, and reduced Gram Sabha autonomy remain key challenges.

Environmental Impact of Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme

Context: During Question Hour in Parliament, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways highlighted the environmental and economic gains achieved under India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, particularly after achieving the 20% blending target in 2025, five years ahead of schedule.

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What is the EBP Programme?

The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme is a Central Sector scheme under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) aimed at blending ethanol with petrol to reduce fossil fuel dependence, cut emissions, and enhance farmer incomes.

Launched in 2003, the programme initially struggled due to supply constraints but gained momentum after policy reforms post-2014. Ethanol is sourced from sugarcane juice, B-heavy molasses, FCI surplus rice, maize, and damaged food grains, with production overseen by the Department of Food and Public Distribution.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

  • Emission Reduction: Achieving 20% ethanol blending has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 736 lakh metric tonnes, supporting India’s climate commitments.
  • Energy Security: Ethanol blending substituted over 260 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil between 2014 and 2025, lowering vulnerability to global oil price shocks.
  • Forex Savings: Reduced crude imports resulted in foreign exchange savings of over ₹1.55 lakh crore.
  • Investment Mobilisation: Expansion of distillery capacity attracted investments exceeding ₹40,000 crore, strengthening biofuel infrastructure.
  • Rural Income Support: Ethanol feedstock procurement has transferred over ₹1.36 lakh crore to farmers, boosting rural livelihoods.

Emerging Environmental and Economic Challenges

Despite its gains, ethanol blending poses significant sustainability concerns:

  • Water Stress: Producing one litre of ethanol from sugarcane consumes nearly 2,860 litres of freshwater, raising concerns in water-stressed regions.
  • Industrial Pollution: Ethanol distilleries generate spent wash, a toxic and highly polluting effluent requiring strict treatment.
  • Import Dependence: Rising ethanol demand has shifted India from a maize exporter to an importer, with ~1 million tonnes imported in 2024–25.
  • Food Inflation: Increased demand for maize led to 65–70% price rise, impacting food and feed markets.
  • Air Toxicity: Ethanol combustion emits acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, posing public health risks.
  • Vehicle Efficiency Loss: Lower energy density results in 5–20% mileage reduction.
  • Material Corrosion: Ethanol’s hygroscopic nature can damage fuel lines and seals over prolonged use.

Way Forward

Balancing climate benefits with sustainability requires water-efficient feedstocks, stricter effluent standards, vehicle compatibility upgrades, and region-specific blending strategies.

Digital Addressing System DHRUVA

Context: The Department of Posts has notified an amendment under the Post Office Act, 2023 to introduce DHRUVA (Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address). The initiative aims to modernise India’s addressing framework by creating a standardised digital address system, similar in ease and scale to UPI in digital payments.

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What is DHRUVA?

DHRUVA is a proposed national digital addressing system that replaces long, inconsistent physical addresses with simple, standardised virtual labels.

These virtual labels (for example, name@entity) function as precise digital proxies for physical locations.

The core objective is to establish a nationwide, interoperable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) that enables seamless and accurate service delivery across government and private platforms such as logistics, banking, e-commerce, and governance services.

Design Architecture

DHRUVA is built on a two-layer structure:

  1. Foundational Layer – DIGIPIN
    • DIGIPIN (Digital Postal Index Number) is a 10-character alphanumeric code generated using latitude and longitude coordinates.
    • Each DIGIPIN maps an area of approximately 14 square metres, offering high spatial precision.
    • This is particularly useful in rural, informal, or newly developed areas that lack formal street names or house numbers.
  2. Digital Address Layer
    • On top of DIGIPIN, users can create a personalised, easy-to-remember virtual address label.
    • This label links directly to the underlying DIGIPIN and descriptive address information, ensuring both simplicity and accuracy.

Governance Framework

The proposed framework envisages a central Network Administrator, similar in role to National Payments Corporation of India, to regulate standards, ensure interoperability, and oversee ecosystem participants. This model ensures neutrality, scalability, and trust across stakeholders.

Key Features

  • Interoperability:
    DHRUVA is designed to work seamlessly across sectors—e-commerce deliveries, logistics, banking and KYC processes, emergency services, and government schemes.
  • User Control & Privacy:
    The system follows a consent-based architecture, allowing users to decide who can access their address, for what purpose, and for how long. Access automatically expires unless renewed, strengthening privacy protection.
  • Operational Efficiency:
    A single digital identifier reduces manual errors, eliminates repetitive form-filling, improves delivery accuracy, and accelerates service timelines.

Significance

DHRUVA addresses long-standing challenges in India’s address ecosystem—non-standard formats, duplication, and ambiguity.

By enabling precise geolocation, privacy-by-design, and platform interoperability, it can significantly enhance last-mile service delivery and support India’s expanding digital economy.

NITI Aayog’s Quantum Technology Push

India has unveiled an ambitious quantum technology roadmap aimed at positioning the country among the top three global quantum economies by 2047. The roadmap, released jointly by NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub and IBM, reflects India’s intent to transition from a quantum research ecosystem to a full-spectrum quantum economy encompassing hardware, applications, skills, and trusted digital infrastructure.

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India’s Quantum Roadmap 2047

The roadmap adopts a hardware-first and application-driven approach:

  • Indigenous Quantum Hardware: Development of superconducting, photonic, and ion-trap quantum chips at scale to reduce import dependence.
  • Startup Ecosystem: Creation of 10 globally competitive quantum startups through co-development platforms, venture funding, and public–private partnerships.
  • Applied Quantum Use-Cases: Deployment of quantum solutions in defence systems, energy grids, logistics optimisation, financial modelling, and healthcare diagnostics.
  • Skilled Workforce: Training of one lakh quantum professionals across IITs, IISERs, and national research laboratories to build a sustainable talent base.
  • Trusted Quantum Standards: Establishment of quantum-secure encryption and verification networks for critical infrastructure protection.

Together, these pillars aim to move India beyond theoretical research into real-world quantum deployment.

Challenges in India’s Quantum Journey

Despite clear intent, structural bottlenecks remain:

  • Low R&D Investment: India spends only 0.65% of GDP on R&D, far below China (2.2%) and the U.S. (2.8%), limiting long-term innovation capacity.
  • Patent Deficit: Fewer than 50 quantum patents (2018–24) were filed by India, compared to 300+ by South Korea and 450+ by Japan.
  • Hardware Import Dependence: Over 90% of quantum hardware components—such as cryogenic systems and quantum-grade lasers—are imported.
  • Talent Scarcity: India has fewer than 2,000 specialised quantum researchers, while the EU employs over 15,000, creating academic and industrial gaps.
  • Weak Industry Depth: Only 6–8 Indian startups actively build quantum products, compared to 100+ venture-funded firms in the U.S., including IonQ and PsiQuantum.

Way Forward

  • Quantum Fabrication Clusters: Establish shared-access national quantum labs covering cryogenics, ion-trap, and photonic foundries.
  • Mission-Mode Procurement: Mandate adoption of quantum-secure networks in defence and power grids, building on DRDO–QNu Labs QKD pilots.
  • State-Level Incentives: Extend capital grants and tax rebates under state deep-tech policies, such as Karnataka’s Semiconductor & Deep Tech Policy (2022).
  • Skills Pipeline: Set up five National Quantum Skill Centres integrated with IIT–IISER curricula.
  • Patent Acceleration: Fast-track quantum IP examination and royalty support, drawing from Japan’s Patent Highway Scheme.

National Beekeeping and Honey Mission: Accelerating India’s Sweet Revolution

Context: India has doubled honey production from 76,000 MT to over 1.5 lakh MT in the last decade and has tripled honey exports, signalling the success of the government’s “Sweet Revolution”. Much of this growth is attributed to the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), a central initiative focused on scientific beekeeping, crop pollination, and value-added honey production.

About the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)

NBHM is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
The mission was launched under Atmanirbhar Bharat (FY 2020–21 to 2022–23) and later extended to FY 2025–26 to scale honey production and beekeeper incomes.

Objectives

  • Enhance honey and hive-product production
  • Improve agricultural productivity through scientific pollination
  • Increase incomes of beekeepers, farmers, and FPOs
  • Promote quality assurance and reduce adulteration

Implementing Agency

The mission is implemented by the National Bee Board (NBB).

Mission Structure (Three Mini-Missions)

1. Mini Mission–I: Production Enhancement

  • Promotes scientific beekeeping, modern hive boxes, and bee-friendly flora
  • Supports adoption of improved apiary equipment and quality queen bees

2. Mini Mission–II: Post-Harvest & Market Infrastructure

  • Establishes honey testing labs, processing units, storage facilities, and value-addition clusters
  • Builds organised market linkages for domestic and export markets

3. Mini Mission–III: Research & Innovation

  • Funds region-specific R&D to adapt bees to diverse agro-climatic conditions
  • Supports studies on pollination efficiency, disease management, and advanced beekeeping technologies

Key Initiatives under NBHM

1. Digital Monitoring: Madhukranti Portal

  • Provides honey traceability, registration of beekeepers, and supply-chain transparency
  • Reduces adulteration and builds consumer trust

2. Institutional Strengthening

  • Formation of beekeeper FPOs, SHGs, cooperatives
  • Special focus on women-led enterprises and skill building

3. Skills & Value Addition

  • Hands-on training, exposure visits, and technology dissemination
  • Promotion of high-value hive products such as royal jelly, propolis, and beeswax

4. Research Facility

  • Establishment of the National Centre of Excellence in Beekeeping (NCOE), IIT Roorkee
  • Supports advanced training, innovation, and industry-academia linkages

Other Government Initiatives Supporting Honey Production

1. KVIC’s Honey Mission

  • Provides bee boxes, toolkits, and training to rural youth
  • Enhances self-employment and ecological sustainability

2. Export Support

  • APEDA strengthens compliance through quality certification, laboratory testing, and a Minimum Export Price system

3. GI-Tag-Based Branding

  • GI tags for regional honeys—e.g., Ramban Sulai (J&K), Sundarban Mouban (West Bengal)—promote niche markets and export potential

Conclusion

The NBHM has emerged as a critical driver of India’s “Sweet Revolution,” enhancing honey production, improving farmer incomes, and expanding the export footprint.

With digital traceability, scientific research, and strong institutional support, India is poised to become a global hub for high-quality honey and pollination services.

PM Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK): Strengthening Inclusive Area Development

Context: The Ministry of Minority Affairs recently conducted a nationwide review of the PM Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) to enhance last-mile delivery and accelerate development outcomes in Minority Concentration Areas (MCAs) across India. The review aims to improve fund utilisation, quality of assets, and convergence with other social sector schemes.

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About PM Jan Vikas Karyakram

PMJVK is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme designed to bridge development deficits in areas with significant minority populations.
Key features:

  • Targets 700+ Minority Concentration Areas where the minority population exceeds 25%, and socio-economic indicators fall below national averages.
  • Covers both urban and rural clusters identified through backwardness criteria.
  • Funding pattern:
    • 90:10 for North Eastern and Hill states
    • 60:40 for other states
    • 100% funding for Union Territories

The scheme focuses on area development rather than individual beneficiary support.

Objectives of PMJVK

  • Reduce regional development imbalances in education, health, skill development, and civic infrastructure.
  • Ensure equitable access to public services for minority communities.
  • Promote women-focused facilities, youth skill centres, and community empowerment.
  • Strengthen social inclusion through modern, accessible public amenities.

Key Achievements (as reported in the review)

1. Social Infrastructure Creation

  • 12,000+ infrastructure projects sanctioned since inception.
  • Development of education facilities including 800+ smart classrooms and modern schools.

2. Health Infrastructure Expansion

  • 500+ Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and maternal healthcare facilities upgraded or established.

3. Gender-Focused Development

  • Women’s hostels, training centres, and safety infrastructure form 15–20% of total projects.

4. Community & Civic Infrastructure

  • 2,000+ community assets developed, such as Sadbhav Mandaps, skill centres, and multipurpose halls.

5. Digital Governance Strengthening

  • 100% fund flow through the PMJVK Portal and SNA–SPARSH platform since 2025.
  • Enhanced transparency through digital geo-tagging and online monitoring.

Issues and Implementation Challenges

  • Low Fund Utilisation: Only 62–65% of annual allocations utilised in time.
  • Capacity Deficit: About 40% of MCAs lack adequate project planning capacity.
  • Land & Clearance Delays: 25–30% of projects stalled due to land availability or permission hurdles.
  • State-Level Variations: Some states achieve over 90% utilisation, while others remain below 50%, slowing national progress.

Way Forward

1. Digital Strengthening

Upgrade the PMJVK Portal with automated alerts, public dashboards, and real-time tracking similar to Geo-MGNREGA.

2. Community Ownership & Social Audits

Integrate social audits, community consultations, and grievance mechanisms, adopting models from the Aspirational Districts Programme.

3. Quality Assurance Measures

Mandate third-party audits, digital photo evidence, and QR-tagging of all created assets—similar to practices in the National Health Mission (NHM).

4. Scheme Convergence

Link PMJVK projects with PM-SHRI schools, PM-KVK skill hubs, NHM facilities, and Smart Cities infrastructure to maximise developmental impact.

Conclusion

PMJVK plays a crucial role in advancing inclusive area development, reducing regional disparities, and improving access to essential public services for minority communities.

Strengthening digital systems, community participation, and inter-scheme convergence will be key to achieving long-term socio-economic transformation in MCAs.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN): Latest Updates and Achievements

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released the 21st instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme during an event in Tamil Nadu. The instalment continues the government’s ongoing effort to ensure direct income support to farming households across India.

About the PM-KISAN Scheme

Launched in 2019 (with retrospective effect from December 2018), PM-KISAN is a central sector scheme providing income support to landholding farmer families across the country.

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Objectives

  • To provide unconditional financial assistance to farmers.
  • To support farmers in meeting agricultural input costs and household needs.
  • To help reduce dependence on informal credit and moneylenders.

Nodal Ministry

The scheme is implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

Financial Benefits

  • ₹6,000 per year per eligible farmer family.
  • Transferred in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 every four months.
  • Delivered through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to ensure transparency and leakage-free delivery.

Eligibility and Exclusions

Eligible:

  • All landholding farmer families, irrespective of land size.

Excluded categories:

  • Institutional landholders
  • Active or former Ministers, MPs/MLAs, government officers
  • Income-tax payers
  • Professionals such as doctors, architects, engineers (if filing IT returns)

Beneficiary identification is done by the State/UT governments based on land records.

Technology Integration

PM-KISAN is one of India’s most digitally streamlined welfare schemes:

  • Aadhaar-based e-KYC for authentication
  • PM-KISAN Portal & Mobile App for real-time tracking
  • AI Chatbot—Kisan-eMitra for queries, registration support, and grievance redressal
  • Analytics for detecting duplicate or ineligible beneficiaries

Key Achievements

1. Financial Scale

  • Over ₹3.70 lakh crore disbursed directly into farmers’ bank accounts.
  • More than 11 crore farming families covered to date.

2. Inclusive Outreach

  • 85%+ small and marginal farmers are enrolled.
  • Women constitute over 25% of beneficiaries.

3. Coverage Expansion

Under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, saturation campaigns added
1 crore new eligible farmer households to the scheme.

4. Governance Impact

  • Strengthened financial inclusion in rural areas.
  • Improved income stability for smallholders.
  • Enhanced transparency through DBT & digital verification.

Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP): India’s Push Toward Zero Dumpsites

Context: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0). The programme aims to fast-track the remediation of legacy waste dumpsites, aligning with India’s vision of ‘Lakshya Zero Dumpsites’ and the broader national developmental agenda of Viksit Bharat 2047.

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Legacy waste dumpsites represent one of the largest urban environmental and public-health challenges. They release methane, contaminate groundwater, attract disease vectors, and occupy scarce urban land. DRAP aims to address these issues systematically through scientific remediation, institutional strengthening, financing, and technological integration.

Current Status of Dumpsite Remediation in India

Scale of Legacy Waste

According to MoHUA:

  • India has 1,428 active legacy dumpsites
  • Holding ~23 crore metric tonnes (MT) of waste
  • 80% of this waste is concentrated in 214 high-impact dumpsites across 202 major Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)

Progress Achieved So Far

  • 1,048 dumpsites have already undergone remediation
  • 14.33 crore MT of waste processed through biomining and bioremediation
  • 7,580 acres of valuable urban land reclaimed — roughly 50% of the total remediable land
  • India now ranks among the fastest countries globally in landfill reclamation scale

Financial Support

  • Centre offers ₹550 per tonne for legacy waste remediation
  • ₹4,181 crore of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) sanctioned
  • Total project cost: ₹10,228 crore across all states and UTs
  • Additional support through the 15th Finance Commission grants for sanitation

Objectives and Features of DRAP

1. Accelerated Remediation Model

DRAP establishes a fast-track approach for:

  • Biomining
  • Bioremediation
  • Scientific capping
  • Real-time monitoring
    Its primary goal is to complete all legacy waste remediation by 2026, ahead of urban population growth pressures.

2. Urban Land Reclamation and Reuse

Reclaimed land will be repurposed for:

  • Urban forests
  • Green buffers
  • Parks and public spaces
  • Utility corridors
  • Solar parks
    This reduces the need for fresh land acquisition.

3. Reduction of Urban Pollution

Remediation aims to:

  • Lower landfill methane emissions
  • Prevent groundwater contamination through leachate
  • Reduce fire hazards at dump sites
  • Improve local air quality

4. Institutional Strengthening

MoHUA has set up the SBM Knowledge Management Unit (KMU) at the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) to:

  • Build ULB capacities
  • Standardise biomining protocols
  • Facilitate peer-learning and best practices
  • Develop training modules for municipal officials

5. Financing through Private Sector Participation

HUDCO has launched the Urban Invest Window (UiWIN) to:

  • Mobilise private investment
  • Enable PPP-based remediation projects
  • Support green infrastructure and circular economy initiatives

Challenges in Dumpsite Remediation

Despite progress, several bottlenecks remain:

1. Technical Capacity Gaps

  • Only 30% of cities currently have functional waste treatment facilities (CPCB 2024).
  • Many ULBs lack trained staff, biomining contractors, and scientific landfill management experience.

2. Funding and Project Cost Gaps

  • Achieving 100% remediation requires investments much higher than available CFAs.
  • States must mobilise their own capital and attract private players — often a challenge for smaller municipalities.

3. New Waste Accumulation

  • 60% segregation at source (CPCB 2024) means unsegregated waste still reaches landfills daily.
  • Without fresh waste diversion, legacy dumps could reappear.

4. Regulatory Compliance

  • Only 68% of ULBs have notified by-laws under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
  • Less than 45% have achieved complete source segregation
    This weakens enforcement and slows remediation.

5. Data and Monitoring Issues

  • Only 35% of ULBs submit timely progress data
  • Delays in dashboard reporting slow the release of CFA funds
  • Weak digital tracking systems prevent accountability

Way Forward

1. Integrated Waste Governance

States should establish Urban Waste Management Cells to coordinate:

  • Recycling policies
  • Remediation work
  • Waste-to-energy integration
    Maharashtra’s State Swachh Mission model is a good template.

2. Promote Circular Economy Models

Leverage UiWIN to attract private investment in:

  • Plastics recycling
  • Bio-CNG plants
  • Waste-to-energy
  • Composting clusters

Indore’s model of 100% landfill-free operations can be replicated.

3. Technology Integration

MoHUA should create a National Digital Dashboard mapping:

  • Dumpsite remediation progress
  • Methane reduction estimates
  • Land reuse potential

Japan’s Smart Waste Portal can be a benchmark.

4. Scientific Land Reuse

Reclaimed land must follow MoEFCC’s 2022 guidelines, enabling:

  • Urban forests
  • Solar energy installations
  • Logistics parks
  • Affordable housing

5. Community Inclusion

Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy (2010) successfully integrates waste-picker cooperatives, enabling:

  • Social security
  • Inclusion in recycling supply chains
  • Over 90% aluminium can recycling
    India can adopt a similar model to create green jobs.

Conclusion

The Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme marks a transformative shift in urban waste governance in India.

By combining technology, policy reform, financing innovation, and intergovernmental coordination, DRAP aims to eliminate legacy dumps, improve environmental quality, reclaim valuable land, and embed circular economy principles in urban planning.

The success of DRAP will be central to achieving clean, resilient, and future-ready Indian cities under Viksit Bharat 2047.

New Guidelines for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG), 2025

Context: The Ministry of Coal (MoC) has issued the Draft Guidelines for Mining and Mine Closure Plan for Underground Coal and Lignite Gasification (UCG) Blocks, 2025.
The framework aims to facilitate cleaner energy production from India’s deep coal reserves while ensuring environmental and financial accountability.

image 3

About Underground Coal Gasification (UCG)

  • Definition: UCG is an in-situ process that converts coal into syngas (a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, and CO₂) by injecting oxidants underground.
  • Objective: To utilise unmineable coal seams lying too deep for conventional mining through a cleaner and controlled process.
  • By-products: Syngas can be used for power generation, chemical synthesis, and hydrogen production, reducing import dependence on fossil fuels.

Key Provisions of the Draft Guidelines

1. Pre-Project Feasibility

  • A pilot feasibility study by an accredited technical institution is mandatory before project approval.
  • The study will assess geological suitability, resource viability, risk parameters, and environmental impact.

2. Environmental Safeguards

  • Only coal seams below 300 metres and in low-permeability strata will be eligible.
  • Projects are prohibited in seismic or eco-sensitive zones to prevent groundwater contamination and land subsidence.
  • Emphasis on optimal syngas yield, minimal waste, and sustainable land use.

3. Financial Accountability

  • A Mine Closure Fund must be established in an escrow account prior to operations.
    • Base contribution: ₹50,000 per hectare, indexed to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
    • Fund release: Up to 75% permitted after verified progressive closure.
    • Penalty: Non-compliance may lead to licence forfeiture or revocation.

4. Institutional Oversight

  • The Coal Controller Organisation will evaluate and approve projects.
  • A Technical Committee comprising experts from the MoC, DGMS, and Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas will advise on standards and compliance.
  • The Secretary (Coal) will serve as the appellate authority for grievance redressal.

Significance

  • Promotes energy self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat by tapping domestic reserves sustainably.
  • Reduces carbon intensity compared to open-cast coal mining.
  • Encourages technological innovation and supports India’s National Hydrogen Mission through syngas utilisation.

Challenges Ahead

  • High upfront costs for pilot studies and closure funds.
  • Regulatory complexity across ministries.
  • Need for real-time monitoring of subsurface gasification reactions to avoid ecological hazards.

Way Forward

  • Establish model UCG pilot projects in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
  • Adopt public-private partnerships (PPPs) for technology transfer.
  • Integrate AI-based monitoring for real-time environmental assessment.

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