Category Economy and Infrastructure

Viksit Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) (2026): A Policy Initiative for Regional Air Connectivity

Policy Update, Center for Human Dignity and Development, Center for Work and Welfare, Economy and Infrastructure, Insights, Livelihoods, Employment and Well-being, Science and Technology

The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the Viksit UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 4 July 2026 for FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36, a modified form of UDAN, launched in October 2016 which has transformed regional connectivity by operationalising 669 routes and connecting 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes, benefitting over 1.66 crore passengers (PIB, 2026). This upgraded UDAN scheme emphasises on India’s development and self-sustainable air connectivity across the country.

IMPRI Desk
August 12, 2026

Andhra Pradesh RTGS: Reinventing Governance Through Data

Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for Human Dignity and Development, Economy and Infrastructure, Livelihoods, Employment and Well-being, Policy Update, Urbanization, Habitat, Transportation and Regional Development

After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the state faced major governance challenges in coordinating departments and delivering timely public services to over 49.5 million citizens (CAG, 2017) Isolated departmental systems and periodic reporting created data silos, delaying critical decisions in disaster response, welfare delivery, and grievance redress. Poor inter-departmental coordination hindered accountability, transparency, and performance tracking. Furthermore, the lack of integrated, real-time data severely limited predictive capacity, preventing proactive disaster management and evidence-based policymaking.

IMPRI Desk
August 12, 2026

Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework 3.0 (2022): Evaluating India’s Urban Resilience

Policy Update, Center for Human Dignity and Development, Economy and Infrastructure

Policy UpdateSaachi Saxena Background India’s rapid urbanization has made cities the engines of economic growth while simultaneously increasing their exposure to climate-related risks. According to the World Bank (2025), India’s urban population is projected to increase from 480 million in…

IMPRI Desk
August 11, 2026

Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme: Strengthening India’s Innovation Ecosystem

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

Innovation has become a major driver of economic growth and global competitiveness. Countries investing heavily in research and development (R&D), such as the United States, China, South Korea, and Germany, have established leadership in advanced technologies. However, India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) remains significantly below the global average, with limited private-sector participation.

IMPRI Desk
August 10, 2026

West Bengal Bhabishyat Credit Card Scheme (2023) : Assessing the State’s Flagship Youth Entrepreneurship Programme

Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Economy and Infrastructure, Policy Update, Public Finances and Macroeconomics

Youth unemployment and underemployment remain persistent concerns in India's labour market despite recent improvements. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2025 reports that India's youth (15-29 years) unemployment rate declined to 9.9% from 10.3% in 2024. However, significant disparities persist across states, educational levels and rural–urban areas, prompting governments to complement wage-employment strategies with self-employment and enterprise promotion.

IMPRI Desk
August 10, 2026

Dedicated Freight Corridor: What a Decade of Rail Investment Achieved

Center for Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Economy and Infrastructure, Policy Update, Urbanization, Habitat, Transportation and Regional Development

Rail transport has traditionally been a more cost-efficient mode of freight transportation than road. But in India, it has remained a problem due to the coexistence of freight and passenger services on the same rail routes, and this has constrained the efficiency and capacity of freight movement.

IMPRI Desk
August 9, 2026

Building India’s Credit Backbone: The National Financial Information Registry (2023)

Policy Update, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Economy and Infrastructure, Public Finances and Macroeconomics

Policy UpdateSruti Halder Background The National Financial Information Registry (NFIR) was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Union Budget 2023-24 speech as a proposed central repository of financial and ancillary information, intended to facilitate the efficient flow of…

IMPRI Desk
August 8, 2026