Category Policy Update

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National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) 1995 : Strengthening Social Security Protection for Vulnerable Families

Policy Update, Center for Work and Welfare, Gender, Pluralism and Social Inclusion, Insights, Livelihoods, Employment and Well-being, Social Sector

The National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) was introduced in 1995 as one of the original components of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). NSAP came into effect on 15 August 1995 in pursuance of Article 41 of the Constitution, which directs the State to provide public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, disablement and other situations of undeserved want, within the limits of its economic capacity and development.

IMPRI Desk
September 24, 2026

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Nikshay Poshan Yojana, 2018: Strengthening Nutritional Support for Tuberculosis Patients

Policy Update, Center for Work and Welfare, Economy and Infrastructure, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge in India, with its impact extending beyond infection and treatment to nutrition, household expenditure and overall well-being. Malnutrition is closely associated with TB and can adversely affect treatment and recovery. Recognising the importance of nutritional support during TB treatment, the Government of India introduced the Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) on 1 April 2018 under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).

IMPRI Desk
September 23, 2026

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District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) in India, 2026: Can Mining Revenues Deliver Development to Mining-Affected Communities?

Policy Update, Center for Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes

Mining imposes lasting social and environmental costs on the districts where it occurs including land acquisition, displacement, pollution, and depletion of forest and water resources yet for decades the revenue generated from mining flowed almost entirely to state and central exchequers, with no earmarked mechanism to compensate the communities bearing these costs.

IMPRI Desk
September 23, 2026

BRICS Ocean and Polar Science Cooperation: India’s 2026 Presidency and Strategic Policy Priorities

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

The 8th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Ocean and Polar Science and Technology (OPST) was held in Goa from 12–14 August 2026 under India’s BRICS Presidency, hosted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).The meeting focused on coastal resilience, joint polar and ocean research, the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), Antarctic expeditions and capacity building for young researchers. The discussions also highlighted the commitments for International Polar Year-5. Representatives from eight participating countries, namely Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa and the UAE, attended the meeting. The meeting reinforced the growing importance of scientific cooperation within the Global South in the fields of ocean and polar sciences. It broadened BRICS ocean cooperation beyond diplomatic commitments by advancing wider objectives of collaborative research, infrastructure development, and scientific mobility.

IMPRI Desk
September 23, 2026

Evaluating e-NAM Infrastructure and Price discovery across Mandis in India’s (2016)

Policy Update

The structural architecture of Indian agricultural marketing has historically been fragmented by localized monopolies. Prior to the federal intervention, the marketing mechanisms for agricultural produce were strictly governed by state-enacted Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) legislations.

IMPRI Desk
September 23, 2026

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Drone Shakti Initiative 2022 and India’s Drone Policy Ecosystem: Assessing Innovation, Employment and Commercial Drone Adoption (2021–2026)

Policy Update, Center for Human Dignity and Development, Center for ICT for Development, Economy and Infrastructure, Entrepreneurship, ICT and Innovation

In just one budget cycle India's drone industry went from the fringes of civil aviation policy to an official driver of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The turning point was the new liberalised Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021, by the Ministry of Civil Aviation notifying on 25 August 2021 which replaced the compliance-heavy Civil Aviation Requirements of 2018 with a lighter framework, where security clearance was not required, type certificates were not required, import clearances were not required, and several other approvals were eliminated, and where close to 90 per cent of Indian airspace was declared as ‘green zones'’ where drone flights up to 400 feet will be allowed without case-by-case permission.

IMPRI Desk
September 22, 2026

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Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund (IRGF), 2026

Center for Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Economy and Infrastructure, Policy Update

Infrastructure is a crucial foundation for India’s economic growth and social development, supporting industrial activity, employment generation, connectivity, and improved quality of life. Financing is therefore essential for ensuring a steady flow of funds for large infrastructure projects. Over the past decade, the Government has significantly increased public capital expenditure to support infrastructure-led growth and attract private investment. Public capital expenditure rose from ₹2 lakh crore in FY 2014–15 to ₹12.2 lakh crore in the Budget Estimate for FY 2026–27, highlighting the continued emphasis on infrastructure development.

IMPRI Desk
September 22, 2026