National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM) 2024: A Framework for Integrated Urban Governance
NUDM was launched as a new scheme in 2024, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs along with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology,
Category Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies
Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Satellite Towns (UIDSST), 2009
According to the census 2011, nearly 78 million individuals migrated from rural to urban areas. This increase was due to the availability of better opportunities, higher wages, better education and healthcare in the urban areas. This migration along with the naturally increasing population growth and expansion of borders accelerated urbanization.
Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016: A Critical Appraisal of Reform and Implementation
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), represents a landmark legislative intervention by the Indian Parliament, designed to bring about accountability, transparency, and efficiency in the real estate sector. Prior to RERA’s enactment, the sector suffered from systemic irregularities such as project delays, diversion of funds, and the absence of a dedicated dispute resolution mechanism.
Social Security Scheme for Welfare of Online Platform Workers, 2025-26
According to the Niti Aayog report on India's booming gig and platform economy, by 2030, gig workers will constitute approximately 4.1% of India's total workforce, or around 23.5 crore people. Gig workers will now be eligible for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which is the world’s largest health insurance scheme. Under the AB-PMJAY, the gig workers will be entitled to receive healthcare coverage which is not provided by their employer.
Urban Challenge Fund 2025: Real Solution or Just Another Challenge?
Policy Update Deepankshi Agnihotry Introduction India is rapidly urbanizing. From 2011 till 2025, the urban population has been growing significantly: from about 377 million people (31.16%) counted in 2011, it is predicted there will be about 542.7 billion people, or…
A Closer Look at Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U)
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) is a flagship Mission of the Government of India implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Finance Minister Arun Jaitley launched the scheme on 25th June 2015, while presenting The Budget 2014-15, announcing the set up of a Mission on low-cost affordable housing to be anchored by the National Housing Bank (NHB). The Mission tried to address the urban housing shortage among the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG) including the slum dwellers by ensuring a pucca house to all eligible urban households by the year 2022 when the Nation completes 75 years of its Independence.
Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDKY)
The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDKY) was introduced in the Union Budget 2025-26 to revitalize India’s agricultural sector, particularly in 100 underdeveloped agricultural districts. These districts were selected based on low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and below-average credit flow. The policy aims to enhance agricultural yields, improve rural infrastructure, increase financial access for farmers, and promote sustainable farming practices. By integrating modern agricultural techniques with institutional credit and storage facilities, PMDKY is expected to benefit approximately 1.7 crore farmers (Press Information Bureau, 2025).