Category Thematic Areas

1000046674

Annapurna Yojana in West Bengal: Income Support and the Changing Nature of Welfare

West Bengal has a long tradition of state-sponsored welfare programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and reducing socio-economic inequality. In 2021, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee introduced the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme, a monthly cash transfer programme targeting women from economically weaker households. The scheme quickly became a flagship welfare initiative, enrolling approximately 2.21 crore (22.1 million) women across West Bengal before being replaced by the Annapurna Bhandar scheme in mid-2026. (West Bengal Government)

QUAD

Outcomes of the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2026

QUAD is the diplomatic partnership group of four countries - Japan, India, Australia and the United States, which is also identified as “Quadrilateral Security Dialogue”. This group works with the agenda of keeping the world at peace and keeping the Indo-Pacific open, free, prosperous, and inclusive. QUAD focuses on the fields of health security, climate change, critical and emerging technologies, infrastructure and debt sustainability, cyber security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and strengthening the maritime domain awareness of regional countries. The regular engagements of the QUAD occur through Leaders, Foreign Ministers, QUAD Sherpas, senior officials, and experts (Ministry of External Affairs, 2023).

PUposting2.01 1

India and South Korea Strategic Vision and Trade Upgrade

India and South Korea have historically shared a nuanced relationship throughout the years. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which came into effect in 2010, committed both countries to lowering or eliminating import tariffs on a wide range of goods over the next 10 years and expand opportunities for investments and exchanging services.

PUposting2.01

Reduction in Subsidised LPG Refills under PMUY: Assessing Affordability and Sustainability of India’s Clean Cooking Transition

Policy UpdateMadhesh Raj P R Background The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was introduced by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on May 1 2016, as a welfare scheme aiming…

Talk to Us