Category Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies

Scholarship Scheme: National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)

A scholarship program initiated by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, offers 100,000 scholarships to outstanding or high-achieving students whose family income does not exceed ₹3,50,000/- annually from all sources at the time of selecting recipients for the scholarship. Each State or Union Territory has a designated allocation of scholarships for the relevant age demographic of students in classes 7 and 8.

Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM), 2017

SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds), is India's flagship program aimed at increasing access to education using Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) launched by the Ministry of Education on 9th July, 2017. Inspired by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, SWAYAM aims to level up the field for learners from varied socio-economic backgrounds, geographic locations, and languages.

Special Urban Housing Refinance Plan (2012) for Low-Income Families

To support the financial needs of urban households, the National Housing Bank introduced a new refinance scheme to extend credit to this sector. The scheme aims to increase the available funds and support credit facilities for economically weaker sections of income groups residing in urban households.

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), 2017

The Government of India introduced the "Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)" in 2017. This initiative focuses on boosting digital literacy in rural regions. Around 7. 35 crore people signed up for the program, with 6. 39 crore receiving training, leading to 4. 78 crore earning certification. Comprehensive statistics categorized by States/UTs are presented at the end. 

Ministry of Panchayati Raj: Strengthening Grassroots Democracy Since 2004

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj was established in 2004 under the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, to monitor all matters related to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and District Planning Committees. The Panchayati Raj plays a crucial role in strengthening India's democratic framework by encouraging political participation at the grassroots level. Currently, there are approximately 2.6 lakh Panchayats across the country, which have 31.5 lakh elected representatives, with almost 46% being women. The system also encourages the inclusion of marginalised communities such as Scheduled Tribes (STs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Other Backwards Classes (OBCs) through provisions for reservation mentioned in the constitutional provision. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment mentioned that Panchayats were recognised as the third tier of governance, reinforcing the country’s commitment to decentralised and participatory democracy.

IFSCA and GIFT City: Shaping India’s Place in Global Finance

This vision materialized through the creation of the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and the establishment of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). Together, they represent India's commitment to offering a financial hub that is competitive, forward-looking, and aligned with global standards. But beyond competition, there is a deeper ambition: to redefine what a financial centre can be—rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and excellence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words capture this intent clearly when he described GIFT City as a zone designed to serve not just India, but the world.

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