n a major policy move, the Central government has renamed MGNREGA Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Yojana. Alongside the name change, the government has raised the minimum guaranteed employment under the scheme to 125 days, while revising the minimum wage to Rs 240 per day.
The scheme was first introduced in 2005 as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), before being renamed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). As one of India’s most significant social security initiatives, the programme is built on the principle of ensuring the “right to work.”
Its core objective is to enhance livelihood security for unskilled rural households. Under the existing framework, the scheme mandates providing at least 100 days of paid employment to adult members of rural families who volunteer to work—now expanded to 125 days under the latest revision.
The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved for the Policy for Auction of Coal Linkage for Seamless, Efficient & Transparent Utilisation (CoalSETU) by creation of new window named "CoalSETU window" in the NRS Linkage Policy to utilise coal for any industrial use and export.
The new policy adds to the series of coal sector reforms being undertaken by the Government.
The Policy will allow allocation of coal linkages on auction basis on long-term for any industrial use and export by adding a separate window named CoalSETU in the NRS (Non-Regulated Sector) Linkage Auction Policy of 2016,
wherein any domestic buyer requiring coal can participate in the linkage auction. The coking coal shall not be offered under this window.
The existing policy for auction of coal linkages for the NRS provides for allocation of all fresh coal linkages to NRS viz. Cement, Steel (Coking), Sponge Iron, Aluminium, and Others [excluding Fertilizer (Urea)],
including their Captive Power Plants (CPPs) to be auction based. As per the present policy of NRS Linkage, the sub-sectors are for specified end users only.
Looking at the current & future market dynamics and for the purpose of ease of doing business and for accelerated utilization of existing coal reserves and reduce dependence on imported coal for meeting country's energy requirement, there was a need to have a fresh look at the current arrangements of coal supplies to the NRS,
and extend the linkages in NRS to coal consumers without any end use restrictions. In line with the opening of the coal sector for commercial mining, which allowed allocation of coal blocks without any end use restrictions, this policy for auction of coal linkages for NRS has been modified for allocation of coal linkages on auction basis on long-term
for any industrial use and export by adding another window/sub-sector. Traders shall not be allowed to participate in the proposed window. The present auction of coal linkages for the specified end-user sub-sectors in NRS (Non-Regulated Sector) shall continue. The specified end-user (s), can also participate in this window.
The coal linkage obtained under this window shall be for own consumption, export of coal, or any other purpose (including coal washing) except resale in the country. Coal linkage holders will be eligible to export coal upto 50% of their coal linkage quantity. The coal linkage holders may flexibly utilize the coal obtained under this window as
per their requirement amongst its Group companies. Considering the demand for washed coal, which would increase in future, the coal linkages to the Washery operators will result in increased availability of washed coal in the country and consequently reduce imports. Further, the washed coal will also find takers outside the country and therefore,
the washed coal may also be used for the purpose of export.
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal for conducting Census of India 2027 at a cost of Rs.11,718.24 crore.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for copra for 2026 season.
In order to provide remunerative prices to the cultivators, Government had announced in the Union Budget of 2018-19, that MSP of all the mandated crops will be fixed at levels of at least 1.5 times of all India weighted average cost of production.
The MSP for Fair Average Quality of milling copra has been fixed at Rs.12,027/- per quintal and for ball copra at Rs.12,500/- per quintal for 2026 season. The MSP for 2026 season is an increase of Rs.445/- per quintal for milling copra and Rs.400/- per quintal for ball copra over the previous season.
The Government has increased MSP for milling copra and ball copra from Rs.5,250 per quintal and Rs.5,500 per quintal for the marketing season 2014 to Rs.12,027 per quintal and Rs.12,500 per quintal for the marketing season 2026, registering a growth of 129 percent and 127 percent, respectively.
A higher MSP will not only ensure better remunerative returns to the coconut growers but also incentivize farmers to expand copra production to meet the growing demand for coconut products both domestically and internationally.
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) will continue to act as Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) for procurement of copra under Price Support Scheme (PSS).
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is voluntary for the States as well as farmers. The scheme provides for comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage due to non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest for the crops/areas notified by the concerned State Government.
The losses to crops due to wild animals, being preventable in nature, were therefore not covered earlier. However, at the request of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and State Governments, States have been allowed to notify the losses by wild animals on individual assessment as add on cover at the cost of State Government.
Detailed protocol for such coverage has been given in the Operational Guidelines of the scheme.
Inundation as a risk cover is available to all notified crops under (PMFBY). However, for hydrophilic crops like paddy, jute, mesta, sugarcane, such cover is available except in case of localized claims.
However, a Committee constituted for “Defining Modalities of Crop Loss by Wild Animal Attack and Inundation for Paddy Crop under Localised Risk” has submitted its report alongwith recommendations and SOPs for coverage of these risks.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare- Shri Ramnath Thakur.
The first board meeting of the National Makhana Board, chaired by the Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, held today at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, initiated the implementation process for both the Board and the Central Sector Scheme.
The Board reviewed Annual Action Plans submitted by States and research institutions and allocated budgets for various components aimed at holistic sectoral development.
The Board meeting emphasized the need for consolidating seed requirement of states to be supplied by SAU Sabour and CAU Samastipur, Bihar for current and next year.
he State Agriculture University, Central Agriculture University, Bihar and NRC Makhana Dharbhanga will train the trainers, from various states, on latest technological aspects of makhana value chain to facilitate makhana cultivation in traditional and nontraditional areas.
The Board also stressed the requirement of need-based research, development of technologies for cultivation and processing, infrastructure for grading, drying, popping and packaging, promotion of modern cultivation practices, value addition, branding, market linkages and export readiness.
Background:
The Union Government has established the National Makhana Board, fulfilling the announcement made in the Union Budget 2025—26. The Board was officially launched by the Prime Minister in Bihar on 15th September 2025, marking a major step toward strengthening and modernizing India's Makhana sector.
To support this initiative, the Government has approved a Central Sector Scheme for Development of Makhana with an outlay of ₹476.03 crore for the period 2025-26 to 2030- 31. The scheme focuses on research and innovation, quality seed production, farmer capacity building, improved harvesting and post-harvest practices, value addition, branding and marketing etc.
Under the Startup India initiative, the Government is implementing three flagship Schemes, namely, Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) to support startups across categories and sectors at various stages of their business cycle.
In a major step towards strengthening financial inclusion and expanding access to investment products across the country, the Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, and BSE, Asia’s oldest stock exchange, signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 12 December 2025 in New Delhi.
The initiative is in line with the Budget 2025–26 announcement, which emphasized leveraging India Post’s vast postal network as a catalyst for economic activity in rural and semi-urban regions. With its extensive presence across the country, India Post continues to play a pivotal role in deepening financial access and enabling inclusive growth.
This strategic partnership enables India Post to act as a distributor of mutual fund products through its vast postal network, significantly benefiting citizens in rural, semi-urban, and underserved regions. By combining India Post’s unmatched last-mile presence with BSE Star MF, the country’s largest mutual fund distribution platform.
Under the agreement, selected postal employees will be trained and certified as mutual fund distributors, enabling them to provide investor services and facilitate mutual fund transactions through the BSE StAR MF platform. The MoU will remain valid for three years from 12.12.2025 to 11.12.2028, with provisions for renewal.
Vehicular emissions remain a major contributor for air pollution in Delhi-NCR, aggravating PM2.5, Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions. This poses serious public-health challenges in the region.
Keeping in view the urgent necessity to develop strategies for abatement of air pollution caused by vehicular emissions in Delhi-NCR, Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has constituted an Expert Committee.
Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a flagship scheme of the Government which provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 crore families constituting economically vulnerable bottom 40% of India’s population.
There is no cap on family size and all members of eligible families irrespective of age and gender are covered under the scheme. In October 2024, Government of India expanded AB-PMJAY to provide free health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per year to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
As on 05.12.2025, more than 93 lakh Ayushman Vay Vandana cards have been created across all States and UTs.
As on 31.10.2025, total 7.89 lakh hospital admissions amounting to Rs. 1741 crore were authorized under the Ayushman Vay Vandana category across the implementing States/ UTs.
Further, expansion in treatment is done by inclusion of new procedures, empanelment of new hospitals, inclusion of new beneficiaries and other improvements as per requirements from time to time. The scheme covers 6 crore senior citizens of age 70 years and above belonging to 4.5 crore families irrespective of their socio-economic status.
As per the World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2025, it has been estimated that the incidence rate of TB cases in India has shown 21% decline from 237/lakh population in 2015 to 187/lakh population in 2024.
On 2 February 2017, the UN General Assembly adopted without a vote resolution 71/275 — introduced by Turkmenistan, recognized by the UN as a permanently neutral state since 12 December 1995 — which noted the link between the preservation of peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and declared 12 December as the International Day of Neutrality.
The aforementioned GA resolution also proposes that UN Secretary-General continue to cooperate closely with the neutral states, with a view to implementing the principles of preventive diplomacy and utilizing them in the mediation activities.
On 12 December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution urging countries to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) – the idea that everyone, everywhere should have access to quality, affordable health care. On 12 December 2017, the United Nations proclaimed 12 December as International Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day).
International Universal Health Coverage Day aims to raise awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems and universal health coverage with multi-stakeholder partners. The COVID-19 pandemic has again shown us that UHC and health security are intertwined goals to protect everyone, everywhere, that we achieve through the same health system – in crisis and calm.
