The 2025-26 Budget speech of Nirmala Sitharaman Ji included budgetary support for the execution of Western Kosi Canal ERM (extension renovation and modification) Project. Fund support from the budget will enable the Western Kosi Canal ERM (extension, renovation, and modification) Project to deliver benefits to multiple farmers cultivating more than 50000 hectares of land.
World TB Day, observed on March 24, has once again brought renewed focus to this deadly disease with the theme “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.” India must truly commit to ending the disease by 2025, invest in overall TB treatment, and deliver on its promise of providing the fundamental right to health to its citizens.
The ‘National Manufacturing Mission’ introduced in the Union Budget 2025-2026 by the Finance and Ccorporate Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, is an extension to the ‘Make in India’ Project launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. Despite progressive results from “Make in India”, several structural challenges persist- such as inadequate infrastructure, complex regulations, and reliance on imports for critical components.
The ASEAN-India Science and Technology Cooperation is a very important framework which fosters innovation and research collaboration in the region. A strategic and well-implemented approach is essential to maximise the impact of the cooperation. By strengthening the funding mechanism in which the contributions from ASEAN member states will be increased so that the cooperation equally impacts all the concerned states. The contribution will depend on their GDP and their technological capacity. This will provide better financial support for large-scale projects, thus leading to technological advancements and regional integration.
The concept of Purvodaya was first introduced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 during the inauguration of an Indian Oil Corporation refinery in Paradip, Odisha. The initiative stepped up in Union Budget 2024-25 with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman allocating significant funds for infrastructure, industrial and skill development programs in the region. This policy aims to position India as a global economic powerhouse by leveraging the potential of all regions under the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The word geospatial simply means associating data with specific geographic locations. The process of rapid urbanization calls for actions to unlock the transformative potential that geospatial technology withhold. Traditional ways of keeping land records and planning urban development have proven to be inefficient, thereby leading to land disputes and delays in project executions. To address these challenges, the government initiated the National Geospatial Mission to operationalize the National Geospatial Policy (2022), to make land reforms and management more efficient and transparent.
The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched on 15th August, 2019, was to design a provision of functional household tap connections (FHTCs) to every rural household by 2024. This ambitious program addresses a crying need for potable water, which is estimated to cover around 19 crore rural families. Prior to JJM, more than 80% of rural households did not have piped water supply, thus exposing health hazards, economic burdens, and a greater share of responsibilities for women, with children joining in later to carry water for hours every day.