Category Economy and Infrastructure

WhatsApp Image 2026 11 14 at 18.41.34

Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry Initiative (BHASKAR), 2024

The Indian government recognizes the opportunities that India’s startup ecosystem presents for entrepreneurship and employment. In 2023 the Indian government published a regulatory impact assessment on startups (PIB, 2023) to evaluate the effects of the Startup India action plan (2016). The assessment noted that the plan had accomplished 93% of its targets and far exceeded expectations on employment and investment. Some of the limitations in the Indian startup ecosystem were noted to be gaps and imbalances in the availability of financial, mentorship and other institutional networks, and market linkages, which often resulted in entrepreneurs being unable to identify the right professionals and other support systems. The Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) was launched on September 16, 2024 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to address the aforementioned challenges (PIB, 2024a, 2024b). BHASKAR is an online collaborative platform to build a common digital space for startups, investors, mentors, service providers, and government officials and foster enhanced digital collaboration within the ecosystem of entrepreneurship.

WhatsApp Image 2026 11 13 at 19.36.00

57th GST Council Recommendations, 2026: Process Reforms in Registration, Refunds and Dispute Resolution

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, chaired by the Union Finance Minister and made up of finance ministers of the Centre and the states, recommends changes to the tax’s rates, rules and procedures. Its 56th meeting dealt mainly with rates and recommended simplifying the four-tier structure into two main rates of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, with a special rate of 40 per cent for select goods and services (Press Information Bureau, 2026a). The 57th meeting, held in New Delhi on 8 October 2026 under Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, turned to how the tax is administered. According to the release issued after it, the meeting focused mainly on process reforms, clarifications and compliance simplification (Press Information Bureau, 2026b).

WhatsApp Image 2026 11 13 at 16.32.39

Special Campaign 6.0, Ministry of Mines, for E-Waste and Circular Economy 2026

Special Campaign 6.0 is a government-wide cleanliness, e-waste management and public grievance redressal drive organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) [1]. It has evolved from an exercise centred on cleanliness and administrative efficiency into a broader initiative encompassing resource management and environmental sustainability. The campaign seeks to institutionalise Swachhata (cleanliness), reduce the problem of administrative pendency, improve record management and ensure that government resources are efficiently utilised.

WhatsApp Image 2026 11 10 at 19.04.56

Meeting the Agenda 2030: Digital Public Infrastructure for the acceleration of Sustainable Development Goals 

Digital public infrastructure is referred to a collection of common digital systems that must be secure and compatible, and can be developed on open standards and specifications to provide and ensure fair access to public or private services on a societal level and are managed by proper legal structures to promote growth, inclusivity, creativity, while honouring human rights and liberties.

arjya

National and District Mental Health Programmes (1982 and 1996): Expanding Community Based Mental Healthcare in India

The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) was launched by the Government of India in 1982 to address the heavy burden of mental disorders and the severe inadequacy of specialised mental health infrastructure and professionals in the country. At the time, an estimated 6–7% of the population suffered from mental disorders, with most remaining untreated due to limited services concentrated in a few institutions, widespread stigma, myths, and poor awareness (National Health Mission, 1982 onwards). The programme marked a deliberate shift from custodial, hospital centric care toward community based mental healthcare integrated with the general health system.

WhatsApp Image 2026 11 08 at 10.34.05 1

Digital Postal Index Number Initiative (DIGIPIN), 2024

Traditional postal addresses often do not adequately represent exact geographic locations, and can be especially problematic in areas such as rural settlements, rapidly urbanizing areas, and locations with unstructured numbering. To find solutions for addressing limitations, the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications (Department of Posts, n.d.), developed the Digital Postal Index Number (DIGIPIN) system. Spanning the entire country, the system divides geographical space into a precise grid of approximately 4×4 square meters. Furthermore, this initiative aligns closely with India’s broader national geospatial data policies and guidelines aimed at democratizing location data. DIGIPIN is a geo-referenced digital address system that aims to provide a standard geographic reference for all locations in India.

WhatsApp Image 2026 11 07 at 21.05.26

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE), 2025: 2026 Implementation and Export Credit Support

Exporters finance shipments before they are paid, so access to working capital shapes how much they can produce and sell abroad. The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) was approved by the Union Cabinet on 12 November 2025 to provide collateral-free credit support to exporters, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Its stated aims are to strengthen liquidity, support diversification into new and emerging markets and improve global competitiveness. The Department of Financial Services (DFS) in the Ministry of Finance implements it through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC), which gives a 100 per cent guarantee to member lending institutions (MLIs) on additional credit of up to Rs 20,000 crore (Press Information Bureau, 2025a).

Talk to Us