The Government of India launched the Bima Sakhi – Mahila Career Agent (MCA) Scheme on December 9, 2024, to empower women by offering them career opportunities in the life insurance sector. Under this initiative, the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has extended both financial support and career advancement prospects to women agents across the country. In FY 2024–25, LIC disbursed ₹62.36 crore as stipend to Bima Sakhis. For the ongoing financial year 2025–26, LIC has earmarked a budget of ₹520 crore, out of which ₹115.13 crore has already been paid as of July 14, 2025. Currently, there are 2,05,896 Bima Sakhis…
Author: Aruna Sharma
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched the Skill India Assistant (SIA) — an AI-powered chatbot designed to enhance access to skilling and employment-related services for citizens across the country. Developed in collaboration with Meta and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), SIA operates under the aegis of MSDE to promote digital inclusion and ensure seamless service delivery within India’s skilling ecosystem. Key Features of Skill India Assistant (SIA): Access Platforms: Available on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) and via WhatsApp for ease of use. AI Technology: Built on Meta’s open-source Large Language Model (LLaMA), enabling…
Bihar has become the first state in India to ensure that all polling stations (PS) cater to fewer than 1,200 electors, marking a significant step toward smoother voting experiences and reduced wait times. This follows the revision of the previous limit of 1,500 electors per polling station to 1,200, as per the Bihar SIR order dated June 24, 2025 (Page 2, Point 6/7 & Page 7, Point 2(a)). To meet this new criterion, 12,817 new polling stations have been added, increasing the total number from 77,895 to 90,712. Other states and Union Territories are expected to follow Bihar’s model. Collaborative…
In a strategic move towards cleaner energy and efficient coal utilization, the Government of India has launched a series of initiatives to promote coal and lignite gasification across both the public and private sectors. On January 24, 2024, the Cabinet approved a major financial incentive scheme with an outlay of ₹8,500 crore aimed at encouraging the establishment of coal and lignite gasification projects throughout the country. This initiative is part of the broader energy transition strategy and is designed to facilitate the use of syngas (synthetic gas) derived from coal. Under the scheme, public sector undertakings (PSUs) and private companies…
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), India’s largest public sector steel producer and Maharatna company, in collaboration with MyGov, today announced the results of the SAIL Story Writing Competition – 2025. The competition, organised on the theme “SAIL: Building a Culture of Happiness, Where Every Smile Matters” (सेल: खुशियों की संस्कृति का निर्माण, जहां हर मुस्कान मायने रखती है), saw an overwhelming response from public across the nation, with nearly 1,000 entries. This impressive participation significantly exceeded expectations, highlighting the deep connection the public feels with SAIL’s legacy and its substantial contributions to India’s progress and the well-being of its…
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the “Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana” for a six-year period starting from 2025-26. The scheme aims to transform agricultural and allied activities in 100 identified districts, drawing inspiration from the success of NITI Aayog’s Aspirational District Programme. It is the first initiative of its kind to focus exclusively on improving agriculture and allied sectors through targeted, district-specific interventions. The key objectives of the scheme include enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting crop diversification and sustainable practices, expanding post-harvest storage at panchayat and block levels, improving irrigation infrastructure, and increasing access…
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved enhanced delegation of financial powers to NTPC Limited, enabling the company to invest beyond the previously sanctioned limit of ₹7,500 crore—now extended up to ₹20,000 crore—for renewable energy development. This enhanced delegation applies to investments in its subsidiary NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), and subsequently through NGEL in NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NREL) and other joint ventures and subsidiaries. This strategic move is aimed at accelerating the country’s renewable energy growth and supporting NTPC’s target of achieving 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032.…
Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Haryana Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini, today inaugurated the India campus of the University of Southampton in Gurugram, Haryana. This landmark event commemorates five years of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and marks a major milestone in India’s push toward internationalisation of higher education. Also present were senior dignitaries, including Haryana’s Industries Minister Shri Rao Narbir Singh, Lord Patel OBE (Chancellor of the University), British High Commissioner Ms. Lindy Cameron, and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mark E. Smith. The University of Southampton—a QS Top 100 global university and founding member of…
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved a strategic exemption allowing NLC India Limited (NLCIL) to bypass existing investment restrictions applicable to Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). This enables NLCIL to invest ₹7,000 crore in its wholly owned subsidiary, NLC India Renewables Limited (NIRL), which will further invest in renewable energy projects directly or through joint ventures—without the need for prior government approval. This investment is also exempted from the Department of Public Enterprises’ 30% net worth cap on investments in subsidiaries and joint ventures, providing greater financial and operational autonomy. This decision…
As India aspires to become a $35 trillion economy by 2047, the foundation of this growth must be built on education, said Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Speaking at a seminar titled “School Education in India: Towards Equitable Access to Quality Education for All”, organised by the Council for Social Development, the Minister emphasised that inclusive, high-quality education is the cornerstone of nation-building and societal progress. Shri Puri highlighted that education is not just a policy issue but a national imperative. “As our country develops, education must remain the central focus,” he stated, stressing…