The Ministry of Rural Development will begin new training batches for the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 2.0 from October 2026. This initiative aims to enhance the skills of rural youth and provide them with employment opportunities. The DDU-GKY program focuses on transforming rural poor youth into an economically independent and globally relevant workforce. The training will be conducted in various sectors, aligning with industry demands. The Ministry of Rural Development is committed to expanding the reach of DDU-GKY, ensuring that more young people in rural areas benefit from skill development and job placement. This phase, DDU-GKY 2.0, introduces updated modules and focuses on sustainable livelihoods.

DDU-GKY 2.0 Training Batches to Start in October 2026

The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) has been extended to central government employees residing in areas not currently covered by CGHS facilities. This new option allows these employees to access healthcare benefits similar to those in CGHS-covered cities. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced this significant expansion, aiming to ensure comprehensive medical care for all central government personnel. Employees can now choose to enroll in CGHS, which provides medical services through a network of dispensaries, polyclinics, and empanelled hospitals. This initiative addresses a long-standing demand from employees in non-CGHS areas, ensuring they are not disadvantaged in terms of healthcare access. The CGHS expansion is expected to benefit thousands of central government employees and their dependent family members across India.

CGHS Extended to Employees Outside CGHS Areas: New Option for Central Government Staff

The Mahtari Vandan Yojana, launched by the Chhattisgarh government, aims to empower women by providing financial assistance. Under this scheme, eligible married women receive Rs 1,000 per month directly into their bank accounts. This initiative is designed to improve the economic status of women, enhance their self-reliance, and support their journey towards becoming 'Lakhpati Didis' – a term for women who have accumulated savings of at least one lakh rupees. The scheme targets women aged 21 years and above, providing a total of Rs 12,000 annually. The Mahtari Vandan Yojana is a significant step towards women's welfare and financial inclusion in the state, contributing to their overall development and participation in the economy.

Mahtari Vandan Yojana Boosts Chhattisgarh Women's Empowerment

The Indian government recently launched the Net Zero Portal, a new digital platform designed to facilitate voluntary climate disclosures by businesses and other entities. This portal aims to provide a centralized system for organizations to report their efforts and progress towards achieving net-zero emissions. The initiative encourages transparency and accountability in climate action across various sectors. By offering a standardized reporting mechanism, the Net Zero Portal will help track India's collective journey towards its climate goals. It is expected to streamline data collection and analysis, making it easier for both the government and the public to monitor environmental commitments. The portal underscores India's commitment to combating climate change and promoting sustainable practices within its economy.

Government Launches Net Zero Portal for Climate Disclosures

The Ministry of Steel launched Special Campaign 6.0 on October 2, 2024, focusing on effective collection, segregation, and disposal of e-waste. This campaign is part of a broader government initiative to ensure cleanliness and proper waste management across various ministries and departments. The Ministry of Steel aims to lead by example in managing electronic waste generated within its offices and public sector undertakings (PSUs) under its administrative control. The campaign emphasizes the importance of reducing environmental pollution caused by improper e-waste handling. It also seeks to raise awareness among employees about sustainable waste practices. This initiative aligns with national goals for a cleaner and greener India, promoting a circular economy approach for electronic goods.

Ministry of Steel Launches Special Campaign 6.0 for E-Waste Management

The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, is set to host a National Workshop. This event focuses on promoting deep-sea fishing and will include interactions with Access Pass and Letter of Authorization (LoA) holders. The workshop aims to discuss challenges and opportunities in the deep-sea fishing sector. It will also explore ways to enhance sustainable fishing practices and improve the livelihoods of fishing communities. Key stakeholders, including government officials, industry representatives, and fishers, will participate. The Department of Fisheries is committed to developing the blue economy and ensuring responsible management of marine resources. This initiative aligns with the government's vision for a robust and sustainable fisheries sector in India.

Deep-Sea Fishing Workshop by Fisheries Dept: Promoting Sustainable Practices

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a flagship scheme for the fisheries sector, recently completed six years since its launch. Introduced by the Government of India in May 2020, the PMMSY aims to bring about a Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector. The scheme focuses on enhancing fish production, improving aquaculture productivity, modernizing infrastructure, and increasing fishermen's income. Over the past six years, PMMSY has supported various initiatives, including the establishment of new fishing harbours, cold chains, and fish processing units. It also promotes the adoption of new technologies and sustainable fishing practices. The PMMSY is a crucial step towards making India a global leader in fish production and ensuring food security.

PMMSY Completes Six Years: Boosting India's Fisheries Economy

The Defence Accounts Department (DAD) has announced the normalisation of all discrepant pension cases for Indian Air Force and Indian Navy personnel. This significant achievement was made possible through the System for Pension Administration (Raksha) or SPARSH platform. SPARSH is an integrated system designed to automate the sanction and disbursement of defence pensions. The DAD has been actively working to migrate all defence pensioners to this new system to ensure timely and accurate pension payments. This normalisation means that any issues or errors in pension calculations or disbursements for Air Force and Navy veterans have now been rectified, providing relief to thousands of former service members. The DAD's efforts aim to streamline the pension process and enhance the ease of living for defence pensioners across the country.

DAD Normalises Air Force, Navy Pension Cases on SPARSH

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh is set to launch a dedicated web-portal for Special Campaign 6 on September 16, 2026. This initiative is part of a broader government effort to improve cleanliness, reduce pendency, and enhance overall efficiency in government offices. The Special Campaign 6 web-portal will serve as a central platform for monitoring the progress of the campaign across various ministries and departments. It will allow for real-time tracking of targets achieved, such as the disposal of old files, cleaning of office spaces, and resolution of public grievances. Dr. Jitendra Singh has consistently emphasized the importance of these campaigns in fostering a culture of good governance and accountability within the administration. The launch of the Special Campaign 6 web-portal is expected to bring greater transparency and streamline the reporting process for all participating entities.

Dr. Jitendra Singh to Launch Special Campaign 6 Web-Portal

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY) has successfully completed seven years since its launch. This scheme, introduced by the Government of India, aims to provide social security to small and marginal farmers (SMFs) in their old age. Under PM-KMY, eligible farmers receive a minimum assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month after reaching 60 years of age. It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme. Farmers contribute a small amount monthly, which is matched by the Central Government. The scheme helps protect farmers from financial uncertainties in their later years, ensuring a stable income. The PM-KMY is a significant step towards farmer welfare and financial inclusion.

PM-KMY Completes Seven Years: Pension Scheme for Farmers

The 647 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) across India are transitioning from paper-based assessments to digital platforms. This significant reform aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in the training and certification process. By adopting digital tools, RSETIs will better link skills development with certification and access to credit. This initiative is designed to help rural youth convert their training into sustainable livelihood opportunities. The move to digital platforms is expected to streamline operations, reduce administrative burdens, and provide a more robust system for tracking trainee progress and outcomes. This modernization effort by the Rural Self Employment Training Institutes will support the government's broader agenda of skill development and financial inclusion in rural areas.

Rural Self Employment Training Institutes Go Digital

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has released a report detailing discrepancies and reporting flaws in the data related to the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Gujarat. The audit found issues with the accuracy of information submitted by the state regarding household tap connections. Specifically, the CAG report pointed out that the number of functional household tap connections (FHTCs) reported by Gujarat did not always match the ground reality. This raises concerns about the reliability of progress tracking for the Jal Jeevan Mission in the state. The report emphasizes the need for better data management and verification processes to ensure the mission's goals are accurately reflected and achieved. The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all rural households in India.

CAG Finds Discrepancies in Gujarat's Jal Jeevan Mission Data

Around 25 lakh farmers have enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY). This scheme is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for small and marginal farmers (SMFs) in India. It aims to provide social security to farmers in their old age. Under PM-KMY, beneficiaries receive a minimum assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month after reaching 60 years of age. The scheme was launched in September 2019. Farmers between 18 and 40 years of age can join the PM-KMY. They need to make monthly contributions ranging from Rs 55 to Rs 200, depending on their age of entry. The Central Government also makes an equal contribution to the pension fund. The PM-KMY is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

PM-KMY: 25 Lakh Farmers Enrol Under Pension Scheme

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved an addition of 13,186 MBBS seats for the academic year 2026. This increase brings the total number of MBBS seats in India to 1,40,214. Karnataka received the highest number of new seats, with an addition of 1,650 seats. This expansion aims to address the growing demand for medical education and improve the doctor-patient ratio in the country. The NMC's decision impacts medical colleges nationwide, allowing more students to pursue a career in medicine through NEET UG admissions. This move is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen India's healthcare infrastructure and human resources.

NMC Adds 13,186 MBBS Seats, Total Reaches 1,40,214 in 2026

The Karnataka government is planning to introduce a 15% reservation for students from rural areas in government seats for professional courses. This move aims to provide more opportunities for students who have studied in rural parts of the state. The proposed quota will apply to various professional courses, including engineering, medicine, and other allied fields. The government has released draft rules for this reservation policy and has invited public feedback. Citizens have a 15-day window to submit their suggestions and objections regarding the proposed quota. This initiative by the Karnataka government seeks to address regional disparities in access to higher education and promote inclusive growth across the state. The final policy will be shaped after considering the public's input.

Karnataka Plans 15% Rural Quota in Professional Courses

The Indian government has restored the CRCS-Sahara Refund Portal to expedite the processing of legitimate claims from depositors of four Sahara Group cooperative societies. This portal was initially launched on July 18, 2023, by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah. The restoration follows a Supreme Court directive on March 29, 2023, which ordered the transfer of Rs 5,000 crore from the 'Sahara-SEBI Refund Account' to the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS). This fund is specifically for disbursing dues to genuine depositors of the Sahara Group's cooperative societies. The portal allows depositors to submit their claims online, ensuring a transparent and efficient refund process. The CRCS-Sahara Refund Portal is a crucial step towards resolving the long-standing issue of Sahara depositors' unpaid dues, providing relief to millions of small investors.

CRCS-Sahara Refund Portal Restored to Speed Up Claims

The Pradhan Mantri – Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM-Vikas) Yojana, also known as PM-VBRY, recently completed one year since its launch. This scheme aims to provide social security benefits to first-time employees in the formal sector. In its first year, PM-VBRY successfully brought over 72 lakh first-time workers into the formal workforce. These workers now receive benefits like Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees' State Insurance (ESI). The scheme was launched to boost employment generation and formalisation of the workforce, especially after the economic impact of the pandemic. PM-VBRY incentivizes employers to hire new employees by contributing a portion of their provident fund and employee state insurance contributions. This initiative plays a crucial role in expanding social security coverage across the country.

PM-VBRY Completes One Year: 72 Lakh First-Time Workers Join Formal Workforce

The Central government recently launched a new portal aimed at data harmonisation across its various ministries and departments. This initiative seeks to create a unified platform for data exchange, reducing duplication and improving the accuracy of government data. The portal will help in integrating information from different sources, making it easier for ministries to access and share relevant data for policy-making and implementation. This move is part of the government's broader digital India vision, focusing on efficient governance and data-driven decision-making. The data harmonisation portal is expected to enhance inter-ministerial coordination and provide a more comprehensive view of government operations and citizen services. This will lead to better service delivery and more informed policy formulation across the Centre's functions.

Government Schemes