Insights, a blog published by IMPRI.
The year 2026 marks three decades since the Indian Parliament enacted the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, popularly known as PESA Act. Passed on December 24, 1996, this landmark legislation was considered historic in Indian governance.
Recently the Supreme Court of India has recognized the Right to Walk on Footpaths as a Fundamental Right under Part III Article (19)(1)(d) along with Article 21 of the Constitution. The decision was delivered by a division bench composed of Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice A.S. Chandurkar. The apex court has urged the government to introduce a new law that declares this right. This ruling is considered a landmark judgement in India's existing urban policy space as it placed the pedestrian rights above the motorised vehicular traffic.
Back in August 1996, the government put two connected laws on the books: the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, and alongside it, the Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Cess Act.
Unpaid domestic work has long been the invisible backbone of Indian households, sustaining families and enabling the formal economy to function smoothly. Yet, despite its undeniable importance, the contributions of homemakers have historically been undervalued, often dismissed as “non-economic” activity.
The official Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) showed that India's headline retail inflation rose to 3.93% in May 2026, up from 3.48% in April 2026.
Policy UpdateLubina Dua Background Solar power is abundant but constrained by geography and time: electricity is generated only where and when sunlight is available, while demand continues around the clock. One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) seeks to address…
Policy UpdatePragya Raghav Background “The world is now in the middle of a new mobility revolution.” – Prime Minister Narendra Modi The Shoonya Campaign was launched by NITI Aayog in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), RMI India, and…