Puducherry is a Union Territory with a distinctive administrative geography. Unlike most states and Union Territories that form one continuous geographical unit, Puducherry consists of four separate regions—Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam—located along different parts of India's southern coastline.
Old-age pensions are one of the oldest tools of social protection anywhere. In India it sits at the crosshairs of elderly poverty relief and dignity. The Union government's main instrument is the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) which is run by the Ministry of Rural Development. It has operated since 1995 and today comprises five components - the largest is the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS). IGNOAPS was introduced in 2007 (NSAP, 1995). IGNOAPS offers Below Poverty Line citizens aged 60 and above a monthly pension of ₹200 and which further becomes ₹500 after the recipient turns 80 years old (NSAP, 1995).
Policy UpdatePragya Raghav Background Kerala’s welfare delivery operates in a state where geography, demography and social needs make reaching people effectively particularly important. Spread across 38,863 sq km and home to nearly 3.6 crore people, Kerala combines a densely populated…
Chhattisgarh, carved out of Madhya Pradesh in November 2000, covers 1,35,192 sq km, the 9th largest state in India, and had a 2011 Census population of 2.55 crore, of which 30.6 percent belong to Scheduled Tribes and 76.8 percent live in rural areas (Forest Survey of India, 2019). Nearly 44 percent of the state is under forest cover, concentrated in the Naxal-affected Bastar and Surguja divisions, which makes last-mile welfare delivery in scattered, forested, low-density habitations a central governance challenge.
Forensic evidence has become increasingly important in criminal investigation as India moves towards more scientific and technology-driven investigation. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 has further increased the importance of forensic examination by providing for forensic investigation of offences punishable with seven years or more of imprisonment, creating greater demand for forensic infrastructure and trained professionals (Press Information Bureau, 2024).
Uttarakhand, nestled in the Central Himalayas, is a land of timeless beauty. With a geographical area of 53,483 sq. km, extending between 28°43′ - 31°27′ N latitudes and 77°34′ - 81°02′ E longitudes, the state is marked by considerable diversity. Uttarakhand was established as a separate state on 9 November 2000, following its separation from Uttar Pradesh, and became the 27th state of the Indian Union. As per Uttarakhand's Economic Survey 2025 - 26, the state's GSDP has grown nearly 26-fold from ₹14,501 crore at the time of State formation to ₹3,81,889 crore in 2025-26, reflecting its growing significance in India’s growth story
The Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana (MMMSY), also referred to as Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana, is Jharkhand’s flagship women-focused cash-transfer scheme. It was launched on 18 August 2024 by the state government under Chief Minister Hemant Soren, with applications opening from 1 August 2024.