Category Economy and Infrastructure

Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy(2016): Assessing Investment, Implementation and Policy Outcomes

Insights, Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Economy and Infrastructure, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes

Industrial Context of Bihar Before 2016

Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (BIIPP), 2016 emerged from the need to increase the role of industry in Bihar's economic development. The original policy described Bihar as primarily agrarian while arguing that a stronger secondary sector was necessary for inclusive economic development. The policy document recorded that Bihar's GSDP at constant prices had grown by an average of 10.5 per cent annually between 2005–06 and 2014–15, but industrialisation remained an important policy concern. It identified Bihar's location near the markets of eastern and northern India, access to ports such as Kolkata and Haldia, agricultural resources and availability of labour as potential advantages for industrial development.

IMPRI Desk
October 4, 2026

Construction & Infrastructure Equipment Manufacturing Initiative (2026)

Policy Update, Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for Work and Welfare, Economy and Infrastructure, Entrepreneurship, ICT and Innovation, Insights, Urbanization, Habitat, Transportation and Regional Development

India’s growing investment in infrastructure has increased the need for modern and technologically advanced construction equipment. Machinery used in buildings, metro projects, roads and other large infrastructure works forms an important part of the country’s capital goods sector. As infrastructure development expands, strengthening India’s ability to manufacture such equipment domestically has become increasingly important. The Union Budget 2026–27 proposed public capital expenditure of ₹12.2 lakh crore, reflecting the government’s continued focus on infrastructure-led growth.

IMPRI Desk
October 3, 2026

MSME Development (Amendment) Act, 2026: Strengthening India’s MSME Ecosystem and Tackling Delayed Payments.

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

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are a central component of India's productive economy, contributing significantly to output, manufacturing, exports and employment. They span a diverse range of enterprises across rural, semi-urban and urban areas and play an important role in generating livelihoods and integrating smaller firms into formal supply chains. According to the Economic Survey 2025–26, MSMEs account for 31.1% of GDP, 35.4% of manufacturing output and 48.58% of exports. As of August 2026, 9.16 crore enterprises were registered on the Udyam platform, employing more than 40 crore people across rural, semi-urban and urban India.

IMPRI Desk
October 3, 2026

Ease of Living Index (2018): Assessing Urban Governance and Quality of Life in Indian Cities

Policy Update, Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for Human Dignity and Development, Center for ICT for Development, Economy and Infrastructure, Insights

The Ease of Living Index (EoLI) is a Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) assessment tool designed to help Indian cities evaluate themselves against global and national benchmarks and to encourage a shift toward outcome-based urban planning and management. MoHUA launched the first edition on August 13, 2018, describing it at the time as more than just a ranking exercise, an open and participatory assessment combining self-reported data with physical audits of urban metrics, intended to create a baseline for evidence-based urban policy debate (PIB, 2018).

IMPRI Desk
October 1, 2026

BRICS Tourism Cooperation under India’s 2026 Chairship: Priorities and the Jaipur Declaration, August 2026

Insights, Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Economy and Infrastructure, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, International Relations and Strategic Studies, Policy Update

The BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting under India’s 2026 Chairship concluded on 21 August 2026 with the adoption of the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Communiqué 2026, known as the Jaipur Declaration, following Tourism Working Group meetings in May and August. Nine BRICS member states participated in the ministerial meeting, with four represented at the ministerial level and four by the Heads of Delegation, alongside India. The Declaration’s 15 clauses combine more specific areas of cooperation on travel facilitation, connectivity and digital technologies with broader commitments on artificial intelligence, sustainability, skilling, qualifications recognition and tourism exchanges (BRICS Tourism Ministers, 2026). The central challenge is implementation. Tourism is delivered largely through businesses, local communities and workers, while the Declaration relies substantially on voluntary cooperation, national priorities and available resources. The key task for India is therefore to convert the more concrete commitments into working arrangements while giving its broader priorities enough institutional structure to survive the transition to China's chairship in 2027.

IMPRI Desk
October 1, 2026

Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Development Initiatives and Quick Impact Projects (2023–24): Elevating India–Pacific Partnerships

Insights, Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Economy and Infrastructure, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, International Relations and Strategic Studies, Policy Update, South Asia Studies Center

The Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) was established in November 2014 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Fiji, marking a transformative shift in India's diplomatic and economic engagement with the South Pacific. Comprising India and 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs): Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, FIPIC was created to address the unique development priorities of these island nations through structured, action-oriented plurilateral cooperation.

IMPRI Desk
September 30, 2026

Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS), 2026

Insights, Center for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies, Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies, Economy and Infrastructure, International Relations and Strategic Studies, Policy Update, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes

Shipping containers are an essential part of modern trade because they allow goods to move smoothly between ships, trains and trucks without being repeatedly unloaded and repacked. As India’s manufacturing and international trade have expanded, its requirement for these containers has also increased. However, India remains significantly dependent on imported empty containers, with nearly two million units being imported annually (Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, 2026). This dependence can create problems when global shipping routes are disrupted or freight costs rise, making a stronger domestic container manufacturing industry increasingly important.

IMPRI Desk
September 28, 2026