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.
Launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on June 1, 2020, as part of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) aimed at empowering and improving the economic conditions of the street vendors that were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for this scheme arises as India’s street vendor forms an integral part of the urban economy.
Tonnage tax schemes, a unique form of taxation primarily found in the maritime industry, provide shipowners and operators with an alternative to traditional corporate taxation. Instead of taxing profits, these schemes assess taxes based on a fixed rate per net ton of a vessel. This approach, unique to the maritime sector, aims to establish a more predictable and stable taxation structure, thereby promoting investment and competitiveness.