The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development recently highlighted expanded measures for women and child protection. A key announcement confirmed that Jammu & Kashmir will continue to receive 90:10 funding under Mission Vatsalya. This means the Central Government will contribute 90% of the funds, while the Union Territory will contribute 10%. This special funding pattern is usually reserved for Himalayan states and Union Territories, as well as North-Eastern states. Mission Vatsalya is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at securing a healthy and happy childhood for every child in India. It supports states and UTs in implementing services for child protection and welfare. The scheme focuses on institutional and non-institutional care, rehabilitation, and protection of vulnerable children. The continuation of this funding pattern for Jammu & Kashmir underscores the government's focus on child welfare in the region.

Mission Vatsalya: J&K Gets 90:10 Funding for Child Protection

The Mission Vatsalya portal has been strengthened to improve the tracking and recovery of missing children in India. This digital platform aims to streamline the process of reporting, monitoring, and reuniting children with their families. It integrates data from various sources, including police departments, child care institutions, and other stakeholders, to create a comprehensive database. The enhanced Mission Vatsalya portal provides real-time updates on missing children cases, making it easier for authorities to coordinate efforts. This initiative is part of the broader Mission Vatsalya scheme, which focuses on child protection services and child welfare. The portal's upgrade is expected to significantly reduce the time taken to trace missing children and ensure their safety and well-being.

Mission Vatsalya Portal Strengthens Tracking of Missing Children

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently informed Parliament about a new policy for retired Agniveers. They will receive a 50% reservation in recruitment for Constable (General Duty) and Rifleman posts within the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles. This move aims to provide employment opportunities for individuals who have completed their service under the Agnipath scheme. Additionally, these ex-Agniveers will be exempted from several stages of the recruitment process. They will not need to appear for the written examination, physical standard test (PST), or physical efficiency test (PET). This exemption streamlines their entry into these forces. The policy highlights the government's commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and second career options for Agniveers after their four-year tenure in the armed forces. The MHA's announcement underscores the broader implications of the Agnipath scheme on future employment in paramilitary forces.

Ex-Agniveers Get 50% Reservation in CAPF, Assam Rifles

The Indian government announced that more than 31.78 crore unorganised workers have successfully registered on the e-Shram portal. This digital platform was launched to create a comprehensive national database of unorganised workers, including migrant workers, construction labourers, street vendors, and domestic workers. The e-Shram portal aims to facilitate the delivery of social security benefits and welfare schemes directly to these workers. Registration on the e-Shram portal is free and voluntary, allowing workers to obtain an e-Shram card with a unique 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN). This initiative helps in identifying and providing targeted support to the vast unorganised workforce across India, ensuring their inclusion in government welfare programmes.

e-Shram Portal Registers Over 31.78 Crore Unorganised Workers

The Indian government has eased the norms for its Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery storage. This move aims to attract more players to the battery manufacturing sector. The new 10 GWh tender, which is the final part of the larger 50 GWh initiative, was floated on July 15. This tender is part of the ₹18,100-crore PLI scheme for ACCs. The policy shift includes lowering subsidies, which is expected to make the scheme more accessible to a wider range of manufacturers. The government's goal is to boost domestic production of advanced batteries, reducing reliance on imports and supporting India's electric vehicle and renewable energy targets. The changes reflect a strategic adjustment to ensure the PLI scheme achieves its objectives effectively.

Govt Eases Battery PLI Norms for Advanced Chemistry Cells

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is currently evaluating the performance and impact of the existing Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. This review aims to gather insights and lessons learned from the current phase of the PLI programme. The ministry is actively consulting with various industry stakeholders to understand their needs and perspectives. Discussions have also been held with companies that have already benefited from the PLI scheme. The goal is to identify specific segments within the food processing sector that require additional policy support and incentives. This exercise will help in finalizing a new framework for the next phase of the PLI scheme, ensuring it effectively boosts growth and competitiveness in India's food processing industry.

PLI Scheme for Food Processing: Centre Plans Next Phase

The Government of India is set to launch a pilot project for distributing food subsidies using Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in Puducherry. This innovative project will operate under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The main goal is to streamline the subsidy distribution process, making it more efficient and transparent. By leveraging CBDC, the government expects to reduce leakages and ensure that benefits reach the intended beneficiaries directly and quickly. This move represents a significant step towards modernizing India's public distribution system and exploring the practical applications of digital currency in welfare programs. The pilot in Puducherry will provide valuable insights into the operational challenges and benefits of using CBDC for large-scale government disbursements.

CBDC-based Food Subsidy Pilot Launched in Puducherry under PMGKAY

India has successfully brought more than one billion citizens under its Social Protection Framework. This achievement was highlighted by Akashvani News, emphasizing the government's commitment to welfare policies. The framework includes various schemes aimed at providing financial security, healthcare, and other essential services to vulnerable populations. This extensive coverage demonstrates India's progress in creating a robust social safety net. The initiative focuses on ensuring that a large segment of the population, including those in unorganized sectors, has access to crucial support systems. This milestone is a result of the combined efforts of different government programs designed to uplift and protect citizens across the country.

India Covers 1 Billion Citizens Under Social Protection

The Central government has launched a new Biomedical Research Programme with an investment of ₹1,500 crore. This significant initiative aims to accelerate healthcare innovation and research within India. The programme will focus on developing advanced medical technologies, new diagnostic tools, and effective treatments for various diseases. It seeks to foster collaboration between research institutions, universities, and the private sector to create a robust ecosystem for biomedical advancements. The ₹1,500-crore Biomedical Research Programme is expected to address critical health challenges and reduce India's reliance on imported medical solutions. This strategic investment by the Centre underscores its commitment to strengthening the nation's healthcare infrastructure and promoting self-reliance in medical science.

Centre Launches ₹1,500-Crore Biomedical Research Programme

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta officially launched the Electric Vehicle (EV) Subsidy Portal on October 26, 2026. This portal is a key part of the Delhi EV Policy 2026. The main goal is to make it easier for people to get subsidies when buying electric vehicles. The Delhi government wants to encourage more residents to switch to EVs. This move will help reduce air pollution in the city. The portal will simplify the application process for subsidies. It will also ensure transparency in how these benefits are given out. CM Rekha Gupta stated that the Delhi EV Policy 2026 aims for 25% of all new vehicle registrations to be electric by 2030. The portal is expected to play a crucial role in achieving this target. It will cover various types of electric vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers. The Delhi government is committed to making Delhi a leading city in electric mobility.

Delhi EV Subsidy Portal Launched by CM Rekha Gupta

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, launched new skilling initiatives and an outcomes fund worth ₹530 crore on World Youth Skills Day. The announcement aims to enhance skill development and employment opportunities for India's youth. These initiatives are designed to align with the evolving demands of the job market and promote industry-relevant skills. Jayant Chaudhary emphasized the government's commitment to empowering young people through vocational training and skill enhancement programs. The outcomes fund will likely incentivize training providers to achieve specific employment and skill-related targets, ensuring better results from the skilling ecosystem. Jayant Chaudhary highlighted the importance of a skilled workforce for India's economic growth and global competitiveness.

Jayant Chaudhary Launches Skilling Initiatives, ₹530-Crore Fund

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a cashless health scheme for over 12 lakh teachers and employees of the state's education department. The scheme, named 'Chief Minister Jan Arogya Yojana', will benefit teachers and staff from basic, secondary, higher, and technical education departments. It also covers employees from aided madrasas and Sanskrit schools. Under this scheme, beneficiaries will receive a health card. This card will allow them to avail cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per year at empanelled private hospitals. The state government will bear the cost of treatment. This initiative is a significant step towards ensuring healthcare security for a large segment of the state's workforce in the education sector.

UP Cashless Health Scheme for 12 Lakh Teachers, Staff

Union Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi announced that approximately 100,000 households are now installing rooftop solar systems every week under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. This flagship Central government scheme aims to provide free electricity through solar power. The government is confident about achieving its target of covering 10 million homes by March 2027. The PM Surya Ghar scheme focuses on promoting solar energy adoption among residential consumers, reducing their electricity bills, and contributing to India's renewable energy goals. The rapid pace of installations highlights the scheme's growing popularity and effective implementation across the country.

PM Surya Ghar Scheme: 100,000 Solar Systems Installed Weekly

In 2025, approximately 679,000 children in India were identified as 'zero-dose' children. This means they did not receive a single dose of routine vaccines in their first year of life. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 13.5 million children were 'zero-dose' in the same year. India accounted for a substantial portion of this global figure. The WHO report highlights ongoing challenges in achieving universal immunization coverage, especially in certain regions. These 'zero-dose' children are highly vulnerable to preventable diseases like measles, polio, and diphtheria. The data underscores the need for stronger public health interventions and improved access to vaccination services across India.

679,000 Indian Children Missed Vaccines in 2025: WHO Report

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Union Cabinet's recent decisions on several important policy matters. The Cabinet approved new initiatives aimed at boosting semiconductor manufacturing in India. This move is part of the government's broader 'Make in India' push to reduce reliance on imports and create jobs. Additionally, policies to enhance mobile phone manufacturing within the country received Cabinet approval. These steps are expected to further strengthen India's position as a global manufacturing hub for electronics. The Cabinet also cleared a new policy related to urea, a critical fertilizer for the agricultural sector. This policy aims to ensure stable supply and affordability of urea for farmers across India. These decisions reflect the government's focus on economic growth, self-reliance, and support for key sectors like technology and agriculture.

Cabinet Approves Semiconductor, Phone Manufacturing, Urea Policies

The Government of India has introduced the 'Niryat Disha' Global Outreach Initiative. This program aims to build a unified 'Brand India' image in international markets. The main goal of Niryat Disha is to improve the branding, labelling, and packaging of Indian export products. This initiative will help Indian goods stand out globally. It seeks to create a consistent and high-quality perception of products made in India. By standardizing these aspects, Niryat Disha will make Indian exports more competitive and appealing to global consumers. This move is part of a broader strategy to boost India's presence in international trade and increase export volumes.

Niryat Disha Initiative Launched to Boost India's Export Branding

The Indian government has officially banned the use of Paraquat Dichloride, a highly toxic herbicide. This decision comes after the chemical was linked to thousands of deaths, including those from self-harm, homicide, and accidental poisoning. Paraquat Dichloride is known for its severe toxicity and the lack of an effective antidote, making poisoning cases often fatal. India's move aligns it with more than 70 other countries worldwide that have already prohibited or severely restricted the use of this dangerous substance. The ban aims to protect public health and reduce the incidence of deaths associated with the herbicide's exposure and ingestion. This action reflects a growing global concern over the environmental and health impacts of certain agricultural chemicals.

India Bans Paraquat Dichloride Herbicide: Joins 70+ Nations

The Assam government has made the SAMARTH e-Gov portal mandatory for all student transfers in higher education institutions across the state. This new digital system aims to streamline the transfer process and ensure transparency. The SAMARTH portal will manage transfers for students moving between colleges and universities within Assam. This initiative is a key step towards implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes flexibility and credit transfer for students. The Department of Higher Education, Assam, issued a notification making the SAMARTH portal compulsory from the current academic session. This digital platform will help maintain a centralized database of student records and transfer requests. It is expected to reduce paperwork and make the transfer process more efficient for both students and educational institutions in Assam.

Government Schemes