Government Schemes & Policies

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)

Context: The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), stands among the world’s largest poverty alleviation and women-led livelihood programmes. It focuses on empowering rural households, particularly women, through collective organisation, financial inclusion, and sustainable livelihoods.

Background and Evolution

Launched in 2011, the mission was restructured from the earlier Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY). In 2016, it was renamed to honour Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Antyodaya philosophy — uplifting the poorest of the poor.

It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with a funding ratio of 75:25 between the Centre and States, and 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States.

Objectives of DAY-NRLM

Social Mobilisation and Inclusion: Organising rural poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and federations.
Financial Inclusion: Facilitating access to affordable credit and digital banking.
Sustainable Livelihoods: Promoting diversification in agriculture, livestock, and microenterprises.
Skill Development: Enhancing youth employability through training and placement.
Empowerment and Convergence: Strengthening women’s leadership and linking SHGs to government programmes and markets.

Achievements and Impact (as of 2025)

Focus Area	Achievements
Mass Mobilisation	Over 10 crore rural women organised into 90 lakh SHGs across India.
Financial Empowerment	SHGs accessed ₹11 lakh crore in collateral-free loans with >98% repayment rate (MoRD, 2025).
Community Workforce	3.5 lakh Krishi/Pashu Sakhis and 48,000 Bank Sakhis offering doorstep financial and livelihood services.
Livelihood Diversification	4.62 crore Mahila Kisans trained in sustainable agriculture; 3.7 lakh microenterprises supported through SVEP.
Skill Development	17.5 lakh youth trained and 11.48 lakh placed via DDU-GKY; 40.99 lakh youth settled in self-employment via RSETIs.
Market Integration	SHG products promoted through SARAS Aajeevika Melas, branding, and e-commerce partnerships.

Significance

Women-Led Development: Over 90% of SHG members are women, making DAY-NRLM a cornerstone of gender-inclusive growth.
Financial Resilience: SHGs have emerged as micro-banking hubs, improving credit access in rural areas.
Local Entrepreneurship: Encourages village-level enterprises in food processing, handicrafts, and services, promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat in rural India.
Skill Ecosystem: Integration with DDU-GKY and RSETIs ensures rural youth employability and entrepreneurship.

Conclusion

The DAY-NRLM reflects India’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and women-driven rural transformation. By combining collective action, skill development, and digital inclusion, it continues to serve as a model for community-led poverty eradication and self-reliance.

India’s Maritime Vision: Strengthening Sea Connectivity and Global Competitiveness

India’s maritime sector plays a pivotal role in its economic and strategic landscape. With 12 major ports and over 200 non-major ports along a 7,500 km coastline, the sector handles nearly 95% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value. Recognizing this significance, the government has launched two landmark roadmaps — Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 — aimed at transforming India into a global maritime power.

Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030

Launched in 2021, MIV 2030 is a comprehensive national strategy to position India among the world’s top 10 maritime nations by 2030. It outlines 150+ initiatives requiring investments of around ₹3–3.5 lakh crore across port modernization, coastal shipping, shipbuilding, and inland waterways.

The vision is guided by six key principles: challenge analysis, innovation, time-bound implementation, global benchmarking, human capital development, and Waste-to-Wealth recycling of maritime scrap and resources.

MIV 2030 builds upon existing initiatives such as Sagarmala, ensuring continuity in infrastructure, connectivity, and logistics reforms. The Maritime Development Fund (MDF) ensures long-term project financing, while the Financial Assistance Scheme encourages domestic shipbuilding. Digitization is being enhanced through platforms like the Sagarmanthan portal and the National Logistics Portal (Marine).

Key Focus Areas

The policy framework identifies ten thematic areas including shipbuilding, port governance, cruise tourism, inland waterways, and maritime safety.

Notably, 23 National Waterways have been prioritized to promote low-cost and eco-friendly cargo movement. Additionally, the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, aims to showcase India’s ancient maritime culture and trade networks.

Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047

Launched in 2023 at the Global Maritime India Summit, this long-term roadmap seeks to make India a global maritime leader by 2047, aligning with the centenary of independence.
It proposes 300+ initiatives with investments of ~₹80 lakh crore.

Key targets include:

Increasing port capacity to 10,000 MTPA
Positioning India among the top five shipbuilding nations
Creating over 1.5 crore employment opportunities
Building strong maritime skill and research clusters

The strategy rests on four pillars: Port-led Development, Shipping & Shipbuilding, Seamless Logistics, and Maritime Skill Development.

Growth Trends (2014–2025)

Inland Waterway cargo grew from 18 MMT to 146 MMT (710% rise)
Operational waterways increased from 3 to 29
Port capacity nearly doubled to 2,762 MMTPA
Vessel turnaround time reduced from 93 hours to 48 hours
Indian seafarers now form 12% of the global workforce

Conclusion

India’s maritime transformation is not only an economic strategy but also a strategic imperative. With sustained investment, skill development, and digital integration, India is steadily moving toward global maritime competitiveness and regional leadership.

9 Years of UDAN Scheme: Connecting India’s Skies

Context: The UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, launched on 21 October 2016 under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), has completed nine successful years of enhancing regional air connectivity and making air travel accessible to the common citizen.

About the UDAN Scheme

Launch & Objective:
Introduced under the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), 2016, UDAN aims to make air travel affordable and widespread, especially for residents of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and regions with poor or no air connectivity.
Implementing Agency:
Airports Authority of India (AAI) serves as the nodal agency.
Tenure:
Applicable for 10 years (2016–2026).
Recognition:
Recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2020) under the Innovation Category.
Funding Structure:
Supported through Viability Gap Funding (VGF) from the Regional Connectivity Fund, shared between:
- Centre: 80–90%
- State Governments: 10–20%
  Airlines receive incentives such as:
  - Fee waivers on parking and navigation
  - 50% seats at subsidised fares
  - State support for land, utilities & security

Key Achievements in 9 Years (as of 2025)

Category	Achievement
Routes Operationalised	649 Regional Routes
Passengers Served	1.56 crore
Flights Operated	3.23 lakh UDAN Flights
Infrastructure	93 Airports, 15 Heliports, 2 Water Aerodromes
Investment & Support	₹4,300 crore as VGF; ₹4,638 crore airline support
Employment Impact	1 lakh+ Direct & Indirect Jobs (MoCA Report, 2025)

Recent Developments

UDAN 5.5 (2025):
Introduced to focus on special bidding rounds for seaplanes and helicopters, addressing geographical barriers in hilly, island, and North-Eastern regions.
Expanded UDAN Framework (Post-2027):
The upcoming phase will focus on aspirational districts, border areas, and remote hilly terrains, aligning with the government’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision.

Significance

Democratized air travel by connecting underserved and unserved airports.
Strengthened regional economic activity, tourism, and employment generation.
Enhanced social inclusion and mobility in remote areas.

UDAN represents India’s model of inclusive infrastructure growth, balancing commercial viability with social responsibility.

UPSC DigiLocker & “My UPSC Interview” Portal

Context: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced that caste, income, and disability certificates of candidates will now be verified through DigiLocker to prevent forged submissions. As part of its centenary celebrations, UPSC has also launched the “My UPSC Interview” anecdote portal for serving and retired officers.

About DigiLocker

What is it?
A flagship initiative under the Digital India Mission offering citizens a secure, cloud-based platform for accessing and sharing authentic digital documents.
Launched by: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Aim: Digital empowerment, paperless governance, and faster service delivery through legally valid digital documents.

Key Features

Digital Document Wallet: Stores Aadhaar, PAN, driving license, caste, and educational certificates in digital format.
Legally Recognised: Equivalent to originals under Rule 9A of IT Rules, 2016.
Citizen-Centric: Anytime, anywhere access with user consent for sharing.
Real-Time Verification: Documents are fetched directly from issuing authorities, ensuring authenticity.
Eco-Friendly: Reduces paperwork and administrative burden.

UPSC’s “My UPSC Interview” Portal

What is it? A digital platform launched during UPSC’s centenary year (2026) inviting serving and retired civil servants to share their interview experiences.
Objective:
- Build a repository of real-life anecdotes for aspirants.
- Enhance transparency in recruitment.
- Preserve institutional memory.
Outcome: Selected entries will be compiled and published in 2026 as part of centenary celebrations.

Significance

For Candidates: Ensures authenticity of submitted documents and prevents fraudulent claims.
For UPSC: Improves efficiency, transparency, and trust in the recruitment process.
For Governance: Promotes paperless, sustainable practices in line with Digital India goals.

New Definition of Pandemic Emergency

Context: The amended International Health Regulations (IHR) came into effect in September 2025, introducing a new legal category — Pandemic Emergency. These amendments were adopted by consensus at the 77th World Health Assembly in June 2024 through Resolution WHA77.17.

What is a Pandemic Emergency?

A pandemic emergency is a newly defined sub-category of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). It applies when a communicable disease:

Spreads widely across regions and countries,
Overloads health systems,
Causes significant social and economic disruption, and
Requires rapid, coordinated international action.

Thus, it represents a higher threshold built upon the PHEIC framework.

Key Amendments under IHR (2024):

Decision-making: WHO Director-General can determine if a PHEIC amounts to a pandemic emergency (Article 12).
National IHR Authorities: Every country must designate an authority to coordinate across ministries.
Financial Mechanism: A global financing facility is introduced to support developing countries in pandemic preparedness.
States Parties Committee: A non-punitive oversight body to assist and guide implementation.

Features of Pandemic Emergency:

Tiered Alert System: Pandemic emergency is a higher tier beyond PHEIC.
Broader Triggers: Based on health overload, socioeconomic disruption, and whole-of-society response needs.
Equity & Solidarity: Focus on fair access to vaccines, medicines, and financial support.
Respect for Sovereignty: WHO cannot impose domestic measures such as lockdowns; national governments retain control.
Integration: Enriches the PHEIC mechanism, avoiding duplication of procedures.

Significance:

Legal Certainty: Establishes clear criteria for when a global pandemic can be declared.
Faster Response: Enables quicker mobilization of international resources and expertise.
Equity in Support: Developing nations gain access to dedicated financial and technical assistance.
Global Coordination: Reinforces international cooperation while respecting state sovereignty.

Conclusion

The creation of a pandemic emergency category strengthens global health governance by bridging the gap between national sovereignty and international solidarity. It ensures clarity, faster response, and fairer distribution of resources, making the world better prepared for future health crises.

RoDTEP Scheme Extended till March 2026

Context: The Government of India has extended the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme until March 31, 2026, ensuring continued support to exporters amidst global trade challenges.

About the RoDTEP Scheme

Launched: January 1, 2021 (through amendment in Foreign Trade Policy 2015–20).
Objective: To neutralize the impact of non-refundable taxes, duties, and levies embedded in exported goods.
Why Needed: Exporters incur costs such as state levies, power duties, mandi taxes, and embedded central taxes, which were not refunded earlier.
WTO-Compliant: Replaced the Merchandise Export Incentive Scheme (MEIS) after it was challenged by the US at WTO.
Administered By: Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

Key Features

Coverage:
- All sectors eligible.
- Priority given to labour-intensive sectors (textiles, agriculture, leather, etc.).
- Applies to manufacturer exporters, merchant exporters (traders), SEZ units, EOUs, and e-commerce exports.
Exclusions:
- Re-exported products not eligible.
Reimbursement Mechanism:
- Provided as a percentage of FOB (Freight on Board) value of exports.
- Issued in the form of transferable e-scrips (maintained in CBIC’s electronic credit ledger).
- e-scrips can be used for paying basic customs duty or transferred to other importers.
Digital Implementation:
- Entirely IT-driven to ensure transparency, speedy clearance, and minimal human intervention.
- Monitored via IT-based risk management system with audit provisions.

Significance

Reduces hidden tax burden on exporters.
Enhances global competitiveness of Indian goods.
Encourages manufacturing and promotes “Make in India” exports.
Helps India remain aligned with WTO norms while protecting domestic industry.

Way Forward

With the scheme extended till 2026, exporters now have policy certainty.
Government focus is likely to remain on simplification of refunds, expansion of product coverage, and ensuring quick digital disbursements to sustain India’s export momentum.

PM E-DRIVE Scheme: Boosting India’s EV Transition

Context: The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has released operational guidelines for the PM E-DRIVE (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) scheme, a flagship initiative to accelerate India’s electric mobility transition.

About PM E-DRIVE Scheme

Launched in October 2024, the scheme has a financial outlay of ₹10,900 crore and is effective till March 2026, with certain components extended till March 2028. It builds on earlier initiatives such as FAME-I and FAME-II, but with a larger budget and broader scope.

Objectives

Promote adoption of electric 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, ambulances, trucks, and buses.
Support public transport electrification to enhance mass mobility.
Establish a robust EV charging infrastructure across the country.
Encourage domestic EV manufacturing through a Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP).
Reduce vehicular emissions and improve air quality, aligning with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Key Components

Demand Incentives/Subsidies:
- Upfront subsidies for purchase of EVs.
- Capped at 15% of ex-factory price or fixed limits for eligible categories.
Grants for Capital Assets:
- Acquisition of e-buses and expansion of charging infrastructure.
- Upgradation of testing facilities under MHI.
Public Charging Stations:
- Nearly 72,300 charging stations to be deployed with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore.
- BHEL as the nodal agency for demand aggregation and a Unified EV Super App for real-time tracking and payments.
Governance Mechanism:
- Implementation through Project Implementation & Sanctioning Committee (PISC) chaired by Secretary, MHI.
- Periodic review of incentives, charging infrastructure, and EV uptake.
State-Level Incentives:
- Road tax waivers, toll exemptions, and reduced parking fees encouraged.

Significance

Strengthens EV supply chain and boosts domestic manufacturing.
Supports India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and enhances energy security.
Encourages private sector participation through Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

PM Mitra Scheme

Context: The Prime Minister of India laid the foundation for the country’s first PM-MITRA Park (PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel park) in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about PM-MITRA Scheme.

PM-MITRA Park:

The Union Ministry of Textiles has approved setting up seven PM MITRA parks.
These include the parks in: Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar; Tamil Nadu’s Virudhnagar; Telangana’s Warangal; Gujarat’s Navasari; Karnataka’s Kalaburagi; Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, and Maharashtra’s Amravati.

Based on the 5F theme: Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign, the initiative aims to boost India’s textile manufacturing and exports.

Note: Vision 2030- The Government is also aiming to achieve an economic value of $250 billion in the production and $100 billion in the export of textiles, apparel and related products by the year 2030.

About the Schemes mentioned in the news:

PM-MITRA Scheme- Mega Integrated Textile Region & Apparel Parks scheme.

The PM MITRA Scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2021-22. The scheme enables the textile industry to become globally competitive, attract large investments, boost employment generation and exports.

DETAILS ABOUT PM MITRA SCHEME Vision:

5F vision- The '5F' Formula encompasses - Farm to fibre; fibre to factory; factory to fashion; fashion to foreign.

Scope: Set up 7 PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks in Greenfield/Brownfield sites in partnership with the willing State Governments.

Nature of Incentives:

Incentives to MITRA Parks: Government to provide capital support of 30% of the project cost in Greenfield/Brownfield parks. The support would lead to creation of Core Infrastructure such as Developed Factory Sites, Plug & Play facility, Incubation Centre, Roads, Power, Water and Wastewater system etc.

Incentives to Industries: Up to 3% of the total sales turnover. This is only available to those manufacturing companies who are not availing benefits under Textile PLI scheme. Operational Model: Public Private Partnership (PPP) model based on Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) format.

Significance: Reduce Logistics Cost: The logistics cost accounts for 12-14% of the GDP, which is higher in comparison to global benchmarks. The PM MITRA Scheme will reduce logistics cost and strengthen the value chain of the textile sector making it globally competitive.

Himachal Pradesh declared a Fully Literate State

Context: In September 2025, Himachal Pradesh was declared ‘fully literate’. It became the fifth state/UT in India to achieve this milestone after Goa, Ladakh, Mizoram, and Tripura.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Government initiatives/schemes to promote literacy; State of literacy in India.

What does Fully Literate Mean?

The Ministry of Education defines literacy as the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension i.e., to identify, understand, interpret and create, along with critical life skills such as digital literacy, financial literacy etc.
A state/UT is considered “fully literate” once it achieves 95% literacy.
Himachal Pradesh has achieved a literacy rate of 99.3%, qualifying it for the tag.

The declaration is part of the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) programme launched in 2022 to achieve 100% literacy by 2030.

What is the ULLAS Programme?

ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) is a literacy programme for people over 15 years of age who may not have attended school.
It was launched in 2022 with the aim of achieving 100% literacy by 2030, which is one the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
The program is also in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which calls for adult education initiatives to achieve 100% literacy.

How does someone attain literacy?

Under the ULLAS program, adult learners are taught basic reading, writing, and math (arithmetic like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) that a child in school would learn up to class 3.
They are also taught how to read and measure time, make sense of calendars, use currency notes, write cheques, and safely make digital transactions.
This training is provided either through a mobile App or offline, by students or community volunteers.
After that, the Functional Literacy Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT), a 150-mark reading, writing and numeracy test, is administered in a person’s chosen language.
On passing the test, the learner is certified by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) as having acquired foundational literacy and numeracy

To learn who requires training under the ULLAS program, states conduct door-to-door surveys, or rely on other data. Those identified as not being literate are given requisite training and administered the FLNAT.

State of Literacy in India

Census 2011:
- In the 2011 Census, any person aged 7 years and above who could read and write with understanding in any language was considered literate.
- As per this Census, the literacy rate among women was 64.6%, while among men it was 80.9%.
- The Census also measured adult literacy, defined for those aged 15 years and above, and found the national figure to be 69.3%.
National Sample Survey (NSS) 71st round:
- The National Sample Survey (NSS) 71st round (January-June 2014) showed an adult literacy rate of 71% for India.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24:
- PLFS 2023-24 reported a national literacy rate of 77.5% for the population aged 7 years and above.
- As per PLFS, 22.3% of people in India aged 15 and above were not literate.
- Among the states and UTs, the highest proportion of illiterate adults was in Bihar (33.1%), followed by Andhra Pradesh (31.5%) and Madhya Pradesh.

Incentive Scheme for Critical Mineral Recycling

Context: Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 1500 crore Incentive Scheme to develop recycling capacity in the country for the separation and production of critical minerals from secondary sources.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Incentive Scheme for Critical Mineral Recycling.

Incentive Scheme for Critical Mineral Recycling

Aim: To develop capacity to recycle battery waste and e-waste for extraction of critical minerals.
This scheme is part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) which is aimed at building the domestic capacity of and supply chain resilience in critical minerals.
Tenure: 6 years from FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31.

Key Highlights of the Scheme:

Eligible feedstock: e-waste, Lithium Ion Battery (LIB) scrap, and scrap other than e-waste & LIB scrap (E.g., catalytic convertors in end-of-life vehicles).
Expected beneficiaries: Both large established recyclers and small new recyclers (including start-ups), for whom one-third of the scheme outlay has been earmarked.
The scheme will be applicable to investments in new units as well as expansion of capacity / modernisation and diversification of existing units.

Incentive Structure

Capex subsidy: 20% on plant, machinery, and utilities for units that start production within a set timeframe. Delays will attract lower subsidies.
Opex subsidy: Linked to incremental sales over the FY 2025-26 base year. Firms can claim 40% of eligible Opex in the second year, and 60% in the fifth year, subject to meeting sales thresholds.
Subsidy limits: Maximum Rs 50 crore per large entity and Rs 25 crore per small entity, with ceilings on Opex support at Rs 10 crore and Rs 5 crore respectively.

Expected Outcomes:

Expected to develop at least 270 kilo ton of annual recycling capacity resulting in around 40 kilo ton annual critical mineral production.
Bringing in about Rs 8000 crore of investment and creating close to 70,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Also Read: National Critical Mineral Mission

The scheme is a prudent way to ensure supply chain sustainability in the near term through the recycling of secondary sources.

Adi Karmayogi Initiative

Context: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the Adi Karmayogi Initiative under the Dharti Aba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan to improve last-mile scheme delivery in tribal villages.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key features for Adi Karmayogi initiative.

Adi Karmayogi Initiative

Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is a national movement to build a decentralised tribal leadership and governance ecosystem.
Nodal Ministry : Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Aim: To empower tribal communities, strengthen responsive governance, and create local leadership opportunities across the country.
The initiative emphasises Sewa (service), Sankalp (Resolve), and Samarpan (Dedication) reflecting the guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Saka Vikas, Saka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas.”

Objectives:

To promote responsive, people-centric governance at village and community levels.
To conduct multi-departmental Governance Lab Workshops / Process Labs from state to district, block, and village levels for capacity Building of state, District, and Block Master Trainers.
To co-create development plans where tribal communities and government officers jointly formulate the 1 Lakh Tribal Villages-Vision 2030, including detailed action plans and investment strategies.
To build a network of 20 lakh change leaders across 550 districts and 30 States/UTs to implement grassroots development initiatives.
To ensure 100% saturation of welfare schemes in tribal villages.

Key Features of Adi Karmayogi Initiative

The programme aims to build a cadre of 20 lakh trained grassroots change leaders across 550 districts in 30 States/UTs to foster responsive governance in tribal communities. Under this model, 240 state-level master trainers, 2750 district-level trainers, and 15,000 block-level trainers will be prepared, who will eventually train around 20 lakh tribal participants.
The initiative follows a cascade model of training, where knowledge flows from master trainers to district and block-level trainers and finally to village-level participants. The training methodology is participatory and activity-based.
- Activities such as candle-lighting, fishbowl discussions, knot-tying tasks, cognitive group exercises, and role-playing are used to deliver leadership and problem-solving lessons.
- Each village-level training session will include 15 volunteers, ensuring local participation and direct engagement with community members.
Villagers and officers will co-create the Tribal Village Vision 2030, aligned with national and international commitments towards sustainable development goals and inclusive development. These Village Vision documents will be displayed as public murals, serving both as community pledges and as aspirational blueprints for State machinery to follow.
The initiative actively involves community volunteers to strengthen outreach:
- Adi Sahyogis (teachers, doctors, and other professionals)
- Adi Saathis (SHG members, tribal elders, youth, and local leaders) — to strengthen outreach.
The Ministry plans to establish one lakh Adi Seva Kendras across tribal villages. These centres will function as single-window service hubs where villagers can access information and benefits of all welfare schemes.

Also Read: Tribal Welfare Outreach Campaign Launched Across 500+ Districts in India

Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025

Context: The President of India has given assent to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The Act encourages e-sports and online social games, while prohibiting harmful online money gaming services, advertisements, and financial transactions related to them.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Online Gaming in India, provisions of Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.

Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025

The Act imposes a complete ban on online money games which applies to games of chance, games of skill, and those that combine both. Advertising and promotion of such games is strictly prohibited. Financial transactions related to these platforms cannot be processed by banks or payment systems. Authorities will be empowered to block access to unlawful platforms under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Offences and Penalties:
- Offering or facilitating online money games can lead to imprisonment of up to 3 years and a fine of up to 1crore rupees. Financial transactions linked to these games are also punishable with similar penalties.
- Advertising such games can attract a jail term of up to 2 years and a fine of up to 50 lakh rupees.
- Repeat offenders face harsher punishments, including imprisonment of up to 5 years and fines of up to 2 crore rupees.
- Offences under key provisions will be cognisable and non-bailable (police can arrest without a warrant and bail is not a right). Central Government may authorise officers to investigate, search and seize both digital and physical property linked to offences.
- Corporate and Institutional Liability: Companies and their officers will be held accountable for offences.
Promotion and Recognition of E-Sports:
- E-sports have been recognised as a legitimate competitive sport in India. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will prepare guidelines and standards for tournaments.
- Training academies, research centres and technology platforms will be set up to advance the sector, along with providing incentive.
Establishment of Online Gaming Authority: A national-level regulatory authority will be established, or an existing one may be designated for oversight. Its functions will include categorising and registering online games, deciding whether a game qualifies as a money game, and addressing public grievances. The Authority will issue guidelines, codes of practice and directions to ensure compliance.

Online Gaming Sector in India

Online gaming has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments of India’s digital economy, driven by cheap data, smartphone penetration, and a young demographic.
India is among the largest online gaming markets by users, though the industry remains dominated by Real Money Gaming (RMG) platforms.

Market Size & Growth:

India had over 500 million gamers in 2023 expected to cross 650 million by 2025.
Online gaming revenue stood at around ₹16,000 crore in 2023, projected to grow rapidly.
Composition: RMG constitutes nearly 80-86% of gaming revenues (fantasy sports, rummy, poker, etc.). Non-monetary games (casual, educational, e-sports) form a smaller share but growing base.
The RMG sector currently contributes ₹20,000 crore in annual GST, alongside ₹25,000 crore in investments, 2 lakh jobs, and 400 companies are at stake.

Why is the Ban Imposed?

Addiction and Massive Financial Loss: Online money games encourage compulsive playing. It is estimated that roughly 45 crore Indians collectively lose about ₹20,000 crore each year on real-money gaming platforms.
Mental Health and Suicide: Rising Suicide cases linked to gambling debts. E.g., Karnataka police records attribute 32 suicides in just 31 months to online gambling debt spirals.
Distorted Industry Structure: In 2024, 86% of online gaming revenues came from Real Money Gaming (RMG) platforms, overshadowing creative and educational games.
Regulatory challenges: The “skill vs chance” legal loophole allowed quasi-gambling to flourish unchecked.
Fragile growth model: The 28% GST imposition in 2023 caused huge losses, layoffs, and investor exits. The business model relied on tax loopholes and user losses, not on real innovation.
Threat to National Security: Investigations have shown that some gaming platforms were being used for terror financing and illegal messaging, which compromise the country’s security.
Closing Legal Loopholes: Gambling and betting are already restricted under Indian laws such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and by various state legislations. But the online domain remained largely unregulated. The Bill ensures that the same standards apply in both physical and digital spaces.

Significance of the Ban:

Protects Vulnerable Populations: Prevents gambling addiction, debt spirals, and suicides linked to persistent small-value losses.
Correct Market Distortion: Shifts India’s gaming sector away from Real Money Gaming (86% revenues) towards building creative, export-oriented games instead of quasi-gambling apps.
Regulatory Clarity: A blanket ban ends the legal ambiguity of “skill vs chance” and simplifies enforcement.

Consumer Welfare and Social Stability: Safeguards household savings, reduces predatory advertising, and curbs associated crimes.
Encouraging Healthy Alternatives: E-sports will be promoted as a legitimate sport, while social and educational games that build skills and cultural values will receive government support.

Regulations for Online Gaming Sector in India

1. Information Technology Act, 2000 and Related Rules:

The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 laid down norms for online gaming platforms.

Online gaming intermediaries must ensure unlawful or illegal content is not shared on their networks.
Intermediaries offering money games are required to register with self-regulatory bodies (SRBs) which verify whether a game is permissible.
Section 69A of the IT Act empowers the Government to block access to illegal websites or links. E.g., Over 1500 betting and gambling websites and mobile apps have been blocked between 2022 and 2025 (till date).

2. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023:

Section 111 penalises unlawful economic activities and cybercrimes.
Section 112 prescribes punishment for unauthorised betting and gambling. Offenders face a minimum of one year imprisonment, extendable up to seven years and fine.

3. Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act 2017:

Illegal and offshore gaming platforms are regulated under the IGST Act.
Online money gaming suppliers must register under the Simplified Registration Scheme.
Directorate General of GST Intelligence is authorised to direct intermediaries to block access to unregistered or non-compliant gaming platforms. This ensures digital entities follow the same taxation rules as physical businesses.

4. Consumer Protection Act 2019:

Prohibits misleading and surrogate advertisements.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has powers to investigate, penalise and take criminal action against offenders. CCPA has issued advisories to prevent celebrities and influencers from endorsing betting platforms.

Global Lessons

Finland, despite its small population, has built a globally competitive gaming ecosystem. It hosts over 250 gaming studios, generates more than €3 billion in turnover, and has produced multiple global hits through companies like Supercell and Rovio.
Its ecosystem is export-led, talent-dense, resilient, and achieved entirely without money-based apps.

India should take inspiration from Finland’s experience. Rather than letting its industry be dominated by real-money apps that erode savings, it must shift towards a creative, export-oriented ecosystem that nurtures world-class intellectual property.