Category Public Policies, Programs and Schemes

Overseas Citizenship of India: Navigating the Indian Diaspora

The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Scheme was introduced through an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955 in August 2005. OCI is an immigration status authorising a foreign citizen of Indian origin to live and work in India indefinitely. However, it does not grant the same rights and privileges as those of Indian citizens. The Indian Constitution does not provide for dual citizenship, i.e. holding citizenship of two or more countries at the same time. Therefore, OCI acts as an alternative for many foreign citizens of Indian origin.

Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban: A critical analysis

The Swachh Bharat Mission is one of the largest sanitation missions led by the Government of India. It was launched by PM Modi on October 2, 2014, to honour Mahatma Gandhi on his 145th birth anniversary. The mission's goal was to provide basic sanitation facilities to every family, such as the construction of toilets, solid and liquid waste disposal, and ensuring a safe and adequate drinking water supply across the country. The Swachh Bharat Mission comprises two missions- Swachh Bharat Mission- Gramin (SBM-G) and Urban (SBM-U). This essay will focus on the Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban (SBM-U).

National Safe Motherhood Day: 11 April

National Safe Motherhood Day must, therefore, be more than a symbolic gesture. It must act as a catalyst for deeper reforms, pushing for improved last-mile delivery of services, cultural sensitization, and robust monitoring of maternal health schemes.

National Action Plan for Toys (NAPT), 2020

Toys bring society's culture, values and ethos to life. Toys hold a significant place in Indian culture in nurturing the lives of children, being used for both entertainment and educational purposes. To revive this cultural tradition and legacy, efforts are being made to bring back and promote traditional Indian toys as symbols of Indian cultural and educational values, highlighting the traditional artisanal skills. 

National Urban Livelihoods Mission 2013: Creating a safe haven for the urban poor

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) is known for its multifaceted approach to address the different needs of the urban poor and their upliftment. The NULM believes that economic development and urbanisation are closely linked to each other. Data points towards the contribution of urban cities to be more than 60 per cent to India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The Report on Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in the Unorganized Sector by the National Commission on Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector, brought out in August 2007 (NCEUS, 2007) reveals that in 2004-05, out of India’s total workforce, 92 percent were a part of the informal economy.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs: Empowering India’s Diverse Fabric 

The Ministry of Minority Affairs isn’t just a bureaucracy, it’s a lifeline for India’s 300 million minorities, stitching them into the nation’s growth story. From scholarships lifting dropout kids to PMJVK building schools, it’s made strides—literacy’s up, jobs are sprouting. Yet, state delays, thin funds, and political noise hobble its pace.

Unlocking Public Assets – Evaluating India’s Asset Monetization Plan 2025-30

In the Union Budget 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced India's Asset Monetization Plan 2025-30, a strategic approach to leverage the existing public infrastructure assets and create non-tax revenue to reinvest in new infrastructure projects. This new initiative is based on the earlier National Monetization Pipeline (NMP) 2021-25, which plans to generate ₹10 lakh crore through monetizing these functioning brownfield assets across sectors, including Highways, Railways, Power, Telecom, and Aviation. This is also consistent with the government’s broader goal of fiscal discipline and sustainable infrastructure development.

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