Category Economy and Infrastructure

Atal Pension Yojana (2015-2026): Assessing a Decade of India’s Pension Push

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

The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) was introduced in 2015 as a voluntary pension scheme to address a pressing gap in India's social security system. It was originally launched as the Swavalamban Yojana under the UPA government before being relaunched and renamed Atal Pension Yojana in 2015 and thus, giving the scheme a stronger and wider reach. This shift was necessary because most Indian workers exist outside formal employment. As a result, they do not receive employer-linked pension benefits, which leaves them with limited financial security after retirement. To address this, Atal Pension Yojana was designed to encourage retirement savings among this segment in order for subscribers to become entitled to a guaranteed monthly pension once they turn sixty.

IMPRI Desk
August 23, 2026

Transforming India’s Credit Ecosystem through the Unified Lending Interface (ULI)(2025)

Policy Update, Center for Work and Welfare, Economy and Infrastructure, Public Finances and Macroeconomics

India's financial inclusion landscape has witnessed significant transformations over the last decade, primarily driven by the expansion of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). While the combination of Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) accounts and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) successfully democratized the payments ecosystem, a critical structural challenge remained unsolved: the formal credit gap.

IMPRI Desk
August 22, 2026

Major Port Authorities Act, 2021

Policy Update, Economy and Infrastructure, Governance and Law

Policy UpdateShivali Yadav Background For almost sixty years, India operated its Major Ports based on the Major Port Trusts Act of 1963. That system relied significantly on Boards of Trustees, while tariffs were mostly determined by another entity, the Tariff…

IMPRI Desk
August 16, 2026

Liberalised FDI Norms In India’s Space Sector (2024): A New Era Of Global Investments And Strategic Autonomy

Policy Update, Economy and Infrastructure, Science and Technology

Policy UpdateVibha Sethi Background and Evolution The structural paradigm of India’s space economy has historically been governed by a centralized, public-sector-driven architecture under the exclusive aegis of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). For decades, private participation was restricted to…

IMPRI Desk
August 16, 2026

Mainstreaming ESG in India’s Industrial Policy: Transitioning from Compliance to Strategic Growth

Insights, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Economy and Infrastructure

As India pursues its vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy while fulfilling its Net Zero commitment by 2070, integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into national industrial policy is no longer optional—it is a strategic necessity. While regulatory bodies like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have mandated Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR), ESG adoption remains largely siloed from broader industrial initiatives, including Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. This policy article examines the imperative to shift from "compliance-driven" to "strategy-driven" ESG adoption. It highlights key bottlenecks faced by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), explores global carbon-trade pressures, and proposes a data-driven policy roadmap to embed sustainability into the core of India’s industrial framework

IMPRI Desk
August 14, 2026

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