In an era of fast technological change, startups now play an important role in the growth of the Indian economy and job creation, innovation, and digital inclusion. The Indian startup ecosystem, however, has traditionally been marred by the lack of geographical inclusivity in terms of access to VC funding, mentorship, incubation spaces, technological resources, and network of businesses in big cities.
Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) is a multilingual, AI-powered Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) platform for agriculture, announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 with an allocation of ₹150 crore (Press Information Bureau [PIB], 2026c). The Government describes it as a nationwide, voice-first system designed to provide farmers with reliable, real-time and location-specific advisories on crops, weather, markets, pests and diseases, soil health, and access to allied services and government schemes (PIB, 2026c).
Setu Bharatam was launched by the Government of India on 4 March 2016 to address the safety risks and traffic bottlenecks created by railway level crossings on national highways. Before the programme was introduced, road vehicles frequently had to stop at railway crossings to allow trains to pass, leading to traffic congestion, longer travel times and inconvenience for commuters and freight operators. These crossings also posed serious safety concerns, as collisions between trains and road vehicles could result in loss of life and damage to property. At the same time, several existing bridges on national highways required repair, rehabilitation or replacement to ensure safe and uninterrupted transportation.
The Extreme Poverty Eradication Project, also known as the Athidaridrya Nirmarjana Project, was launched by the Government of Kerala in 2021 under the Local Self Government Department (LSGD). Its goal was to find people living in extreme poverty who had fallen outside existing support systems and help them exit that condition within five years (LSGD). Sources provide different launch months, ranging from May to July 2021, so the exact date still needs to be verified with the government order.
India and Brazil have had diplomatic relations since 1948, and their relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2006. Since then, cooperation has expanded into areas such as trade, science and technology, energy and digital development. Building on this broader relationship, the two countries have now strengthened cooperation in telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies, or ICTs.
The rapid expansion of digital payments, online services, social media and connected technologies has created increasingly complex forms of cybercrime. Investigating such offences requires specialised capabilities in digital evidence collection, cyber forensics, electronic device examination, online financial trails and emerging technologies. However, cybercrime investigation also faces capacity-related challenges, including uneven access to specialised training, the need to keep investigative skills aligned with rapidly evolving criminal methods, and the requirement for coordinated capacity-building across State and Union Territory law-enforcement agencies. The Ministry of Home Affairs has recognised these needs through initiatives supporting cyber-forensic laboratories, specialised training and technical assistance to investigating officers (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2022; Ministry of Home Affairs, 2024).
The Tamil Nadu FinTech Policy 2021 is the state government's dedicated framework to position Tamil Nadu as a leading national and global hub for financial technology. It was formally released by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2021 in Coimbatore on November 23, 2021, under the Industries Department (Government of Tamil Nadu, 2021; STPI Chennai, 2021). The policy builds on Chennai's long-standing credentials as a financial centre, the city was home to the Madras Bank in 1682 (later merged into SBI), India's first cooperative bank in 1906, and the country's first private mutual fund in 1993, and it was designed to convert that historical advantage into a modern, technology-driven financial services ecosystem (Government of Tamil Nadu, 2021).