Policy UpdateBavleen Background The Government e‑Marketplace (GeM) portal is India’s flagship digital platform for government procurement of goods and services, launched on 9 August 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI) to drive greater efficiency, transparency, and inclusiveness in…
India's forests provide the first line of defence against agricultural and industrial pollution. Hence, intense policy interventions are needed to conserve and expand the forest cover of the country in view of fast-tracking climate change.
India’s agriculture sector has long faced the challenge of ensuring fair prices for farmers while keeping essential food affordable for consumers. For decades, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system served as a safety net, but its coverage was mostly limited to rice and wheat. To address this, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) in September 2018 to provide price support for farmers growing pulses, oilseeds, and crops important for nutritional security and reducing import dependence.
The proposed 6000 MW Mithi Virdi Nuclear Power Project, once seen as a crown jewel of India-US energy cooperation, promised much on paper: clean energy, strategic diplomacy, and economic growth. But for the people of Jaspara, Mithi Virdi, Khadpar, Mandva, and Sosiya, it asked for too much in return for their land, their livelihoods, their way of life.
With a vision of expanding irrigation coverage, as reflected in the motto ‘Har Khet ko pani,’ and improving water use efficiency, ‘More crop per drop,’ the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) on July 1, 2015.
Marketing a crucial milestone in India’s mission to transform its agricultural sector, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister launched Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, a scheme launched in 2020-21 to strengthen post harvest and farm gate infrastructure. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund aims to boost farmer income through value addition and efficient logistics.
India’s developmental journey over the past decade has brought into sharp focus the need for better coordination between central and state schemes. While numerous programs are launched at national and state levels, their actual impact ultimately depends on district administration and local governance. It was in recognition of this reality that the Ministry of Rural Development constituted the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) in June 2016 to ensure better coordination and effective implementation of central government schemes at the district level. They replaced the earlier District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee. The core purpose of DISHA is to bridge the institutional and administrative gaps that often emerge as flagship schemes travel from conception to implementation.