Category Center for Work and Welfare

National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), 2013: Standardising Skills for a Future-Ready Workforce

Policy Update, Center for Human Dignity and Development, Center for Work and Welfare, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes

The National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) was launched by the Government of India in December 2013 to address a basic problem: the country had no common way to compare a diploma, an ITI certificate, and skills picked up informally on the job. As an outcome and competency-based framework, NSQF organizes qualifications across a series of levels defined by learning outcomes, the knowledge, skills, and aptitude a person must demonstrate, regardless of whether that learning happened through formal education, non-formal training, or informal experience. This let millions of Indians who had gained skills outside the classroom get that learning formally recognized through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

IMPRI Desk
August 15, 2026

A Grain for Thought: Reflecting on the monitoring system under PM POSHAN

Insights, Agriculture, Food, Nutrition Security and Rural Development, Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for Work and Welfare

Health has been considered an important parameter of development and the states have
worked relentlessly towards achieving the end of it. One of these policies is the PM
POSHAN or the Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme, initially known as the National Programme for Mid-Day Meals in Schools.

IMPRI Desk
August 15, 2026

Industrial policy and Technological transformation: Assessing the Rajasthan Semiconductor Policy And the making of a regional semiconductor hub 2026

Policy Update, Center for Work and Welfare, Livelihoods, Employment and Well-being

On 18 March 2026, the Government of Rajasthan approved the Rajasthan Semiconductor Policy 2026, formally released as a policy document by the state government on 24 March 2026. The policy was introduced against the backdrop of India's broader semiconductor push under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and reflects a deliberate attempt by the state to move away from its traditional industrial base of textiles, mining, and handicrafts toward a technology-driven growth model aligned with the state government's "Viksit Rajasthan-2047" vision.

IMPRI Desk
August 13, 2026

Viksit Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) (2026): A Policy Initiative for Regional Air Connectivity

Policy Update, Center for Human Dignity and Development, Center for Work and Welfare, Economy and Infrastructure, Insights, Livelihoods, Employment and Well-being, Science and Technology

The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the Viksit UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 4 July 2026 for FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36, a modified form of UDAN, launched in October 2016 which has transformed regional connectivity by operationalising 669 routes and connecting 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes, benefitting over 1.66 crore passengers (PIB, 2026). This upgraded UDAN scheme emphasises on India’s development and self-sustainable air connectivity across the country.

IMPRI Desk
August 12, 2026

India’s Parliamentary Diplomacy with North Macedonia: Significance of the Presidential Visit (2026)

Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Center for Work and Welfare, International Relations and Strategic Studies, Policy Update

India isn’t just looking at the usual big players in Europe anymore. Lately, it’s turning more eyes toward Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans. Why? Because New Delhi wants to shake up its diplomatic strategy and spread its influence , build more varied partnerships in a Europe that keeps changing shape. North Macedonia, for instance, has started to matter more. It sits in a key spot in the Balkans, has solid democratic foundations, and opens new doors for India in trade, technology, education, research, and sustainable growth.

IMPRI Desk
August 12, 2026

Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023

Policy Update, Center for Work and Welfare, Science and Technology

For over ten years, India maintained a law aimed at allowing mineral development of its seabed, yet for the same period, very little occurred. The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act was enacted in 2002 and took effect in 2010, providing the government with a legal structure for mining in territorial waters, the continental shelf, and the Exclusive Economic Zone. However, when the Ministry of Mines was questioned about this in Parliament, their response was straightforward: no mining operation had ever started under the previous system. The Ministry was direct about the reason as well. It stated clearly that the distribution process allowed excessive discretion and failed to provide a fair, transparent method for assigning operating rights.

IMPRI Desk
August 11, 2026

National Credit Framework (NCrF) 2023: Implementation and Way Forward

Policy Update, Center for Work and Welfare, Society, Literature, Arts, Sports and Culture

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 called for removing the 'hard separation' between school, higher and vocational education. It proposed an Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) to facilitate the accumulation and mobility of credits (Ministry of Education, 2020). To operationalise this vision, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship constituted a High-Level Committee in November 2021 to develop a common credit framework for general and vocational education (Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2021; University Grants Commission, 2023).

IMPRI Desk
August 11, 2026