The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved a 1% concession in stamp duty on property purchases worth up to ₹1 crore, provided the property is registered in the name of a woman. The decision, aimed at encouraging women’s ownership and financial empowerment, was taken during a Cabinet meeting held at Lok Bhavan in Lucknow, where 37 proposals were passed in total. Previously, this exemption was limited to property valued up to ₹10 lakh, with a maximum benefit of ₹10,000. The revised policy significantly expands the benefit, making it applicable to a wider range of…
Author: Aruna Sharma
As per the Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013, Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under Ministry of Steel earmark at least 2% of the average net profits made during the three immediately preceding financial years for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Unspent balance for the previous year, if any, is carried forward to the next year for utilization for the purpose for which it was allocated. The details of amount spent on CSR activities by the CPSEs under Ministry of Steel during the last three years are as under:- (Rs. in lakhs) Name of CPSE 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Steel Authority…
Marking a decade of transformative impact, the 10-year celebration of the Skill India Mission—Bharat SkillNxt 2025—was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event witnessed the unveiling of forward-looking skilling initiatives, global partnerships, and a bold vision for a Viksit Bharat powered by a skilled, tech-savvy youth. Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for MSDE and MoS for Education, highlighted the rise of India’s school-going population as global AI adopters through the new SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) initiative. “This is the future we are building—bold, tech-savvy, and ready to lead,” he stated. He emphasized that skilling is…
As per the guidelines of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, the initiative is being jointly implemented by three key ministries of the Government of India: the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF). Among them, the MoMSME acts as the nodal ministry responsible for the overall implementation and coordination of the scheme. The skilling component of the scheme is overseen by the MSDE, which has designated the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) as the Project Implementing Agency (PIA). To…
Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)—namely Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)—are actively undertaking ecological restoration of mined-out and barren lands across coal-bearing states in India. Through a mix of scientific, biological, and technical interventions, these PSUs are reclaiming degraded landscapes and promoting sustainable environmental management. Over the past five years, these PSUs have carried out extensive ecological restoration efforts. The state-wise and year-wise land reclaimed (in hectares) for ecological purposes between 2020–21 and 2024–25 is as follows: Assam: 3.74 ha Chhattisgarh: 1072.57 ha Jharkhand: 825.44 ha Madhya Pradesh: 1403.75 ha…
The Government of India is taking proactive steps to enhance the employability of the country’s youth, including women, through comprehensive skill development initiatives. Under the umbrella of the Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is delivering skill training, re-skilling, and up-skilling programs via an extensive network of training centers. These centers operate through key schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) implemented via Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The Skill India Mission is focused on equipping India’s…
The Government of India has implemented a series of comprehensive measures to reduce the country’s reliance on imported coal and strengthen domestic coal production. Coal is currently importable under the Open General License (OGL), allowing consumers to procure it at contractual prices upon paying the required duties. However, to encourage self-reliance, the government has been actively pursuing coal import substitution. To reduce dependency on imports, the Annual Contracted Quantity (ACQ) for power plants has been raised to 100% of normative requirements—reversing earlier reductions that limited supply to 70% or 90% depending on the plant’s location. This will ensure a more…
Apprenticeship training in India, governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961, remains a key pillar in the country’s skill development framework, offering industry-driven, on-the-job learning. The Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC), constituted under the Act, is instrumental in shaping national apprenticeship policy, ensuring alignment between vocational training and industry needs, and expanding apprenticeship opportunities across diverse economic sectors. The 38th meeting of the CAC, held on May 26, 2025, marked a major milestone in enhancing the apprenticeship system. One of the key decisions taken during the meeting was a 36% increase in apprentice stipends, with a provision for linking future revisions to…
India, home to the fifth-largest coal reserves globally, continues to rely heavily on coal for meeting its energy needs. Coal contributes around 55% of the country’s energy consumption and remains the dominant source of electricity generation. While the share of renewable energy sources like solar and wind is expanding rapidly, the Government of India is actively working to diversify its energy mix, reduce carbon emissions, and modernize the coal sector in line with sustainability goals. To ensure the long-term sustainability, environmental responsibility, and competitiveness of the coal industry, the Government has undertaken several strategic measures. Key Sustainability Initiatives Coal and…
The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), has trained/oriented over 1.6 crore candidates in the last decade. As of June 30, 2025, 1.29 crore candidates have been certified under the scheme. Additionally, around 1.74 crore candidates have received training through other NSDC programs. To date, over 2.32 lakh trainers have been certified by Awarding Bodies under NSDC. The trainer-to-trainee ratio varies depending on the nature and location of training. Key Measures for Quality Enhancement To improve training quality, the government has introduced…