iGOT Karmayogi: Digital Capacity Building for Civil Servants and Its Future
India’s civil services are a key aspect of its public administration and serve as its backbone, which helps in executing planned policies into real-life actions.
Category Policy Update
Six Years of NEP 2020: The Gap Between Policy Design and Classroom Reality
Policy UpdateManvik Background In July 2020, the Union Cabinet approved the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, replacing a framework that had stood for 34 years. It promised a complete overhaul: a new 5+3+3+4 curricular structure, mother tongue instruction in early…
Nari Adalat (2023): Strengthening Community-Based Justice
Policy UpdateShivali Yadav Background The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched Nari Adalat in 2023 under the Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti (2021–26) to improve women’s access to justice through community-based dispute resolution. Inspired by the Parivarik Mahila Lok…
SPARROW (Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window) 2013: Digitising Bureaucratic Performance
Nayanshi Jain Introduction India’s governance architecture is undergoing a paradigm shift from paper-based administration to digitally enabled public management, driven by initiatives such as Digital India Programme and broader civil service reforms. The Digital India programme was launched in 2015,…
Project Mausam (2014): Reimagining Cultural Diplomacy as Strategic Statecraft
Nayanshi Jain Introduction In an increasingly interconnected world, cultural diplomacy has become an important instrument of foreign policy, enabling countries to strengthen international partnerships through shared heritage, values, and people-to-people exchanges. For India, with its rich civilisational legacy and centuries-old…
SNA-SPARSH: Reforming India’s Fund Flow for Centrally Sponsored Schemes
Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) form the backbone of India's welfare and infrastructure delivery, jointly funded by the Centre and states but implemented through state-level agencies. For years, the fund flow architecture behind these schemes suffered from a structural inefficiency: money was released in advance rather than as spending actually occurred, leaving large sums idle across thousands of implementing-agency bank accounts.
PALNA SCHEME: CHILDCARE FOR WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (2022)
The Palna scheme was started by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on 1 April 2022. This is part of the Samarthya component of Mission Shakti. It replaced the National Creche Scheme. The Ministry of Women and Child Development gave guidelines for the Palna scheme on 14 July 2022. The Palna scheme is based on two schemes. The Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme and the National Creche Scheme. The Palna scheme provides childcare for children aged 6 months to 6 years. The main reason for the Palna scheme is to help women work by taking care of their children.