General Awareness

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES - January 2020

Jan 2020

Nov 09, 2026

Bihar Becomes First State to Introduce Silt Management Policy

In 2026, Bihar became the first Indian state to introduce a comprehensive Silt Management Policy, announced by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. The Bihar Water Sources Restoration and Silt Management Policy, 2026, aims to improve river water flow, reduce flood risks and promote scientific removal of accumulated silt. The excavated silt will be utilized in highway construction and other infrastructure projects. On 3 November 2026, the Bihar government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under the Nadi Sanjivani initiative. The initiative plans to use 243 lakh cubic metres of silt in 16 ongoing National Highway projects, promoting flood management and sustainable infrastructure development.

Policy name: Bihar Water Sources Restoration and Silt Management Policy, 2026.
MoU date: 3 November 2026 with MoRTH under Nadi Sanjivani.
Target: 243 lakh cubic metres of silt in 16 NH projects.
Purpose: improve river flow and flood mitigation; sustainable construction.
Status: first state-level policy on silt management in India.

Ministry of Railways Wins PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026

On 5 November 2026, Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan presented the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026 to the Ministry of Railways during the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The ministry secured first place in the category 'Maximum Buildings Solarized by Central Ministries/Departments' under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Indian Railways has installed rooftop solar systems on 12,495 buildings, achieving a total capacity of 351 megawatts. The award recognises leadership in expanding solar power across central government offices, contributing to cleaner energy and energy security. The Railways plan to continue rolling out solar installations on its buildings nationwide.

Date and event: 5 November 2026, Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026, New Delhi.
Award: PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award 2026, category for maximum solarized central buildings.
Railways solar footprint: 12,495 rooftops, 351 MW capacity.
Implication: recognition of government energy efficiency efforts.
Future: continued expansion of rooftop solar installations.

Nov 08, 2026

Kerala Announces NORKA Private Industrial Estate Scheme 2026

In November 2026, the Government of Kerala announced the NORKA Private Industrial Estate Scheme (NPIE) 2026 to encourage industrial investment by Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs), expatriates and returning expatriates. The scheme aims to establish private industrial estates, address land shortages, create employment and promote technology transfer. Eligible applicants may develop industrial facilities on land owned or leased in Kerala, with a minimum lease period of 30 years. The government provides financial assistance of up to ₹3 crore for infrastructure development, including roads, electricity, water supply and drainage. The scheme aligns with Kerala's diaspora engagement and industrial land policy, seeking to channel private land into productive industry.

Scheme name: NORKA Private Industrial Estate Scheme (NPIE) 2026
Purpose: Attract NRKs/expatriates/returnees investments in Kerala
Land lease requirement: minimum 30 years
Land area: 3–7 acres (SDF) or 7–15 acres (Industrial Estate)
Financial assistance: Up to ₹3 crore for infrastructure

MANAGE Hyderabad recognised as Centre of Excellence-Skills in Agriculture

The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, was recognised on 2 November 2026 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) as a Centre of Excellence-Skills (CoE-Skills) in the agriculture sector. The award ceremony at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi, was led by MSDE Secretary Debashree Mukherjee. MANAGE, established in 1987, operates as an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The CoE-Skills status aims to strengthen agricultural skill development, training and entrepreneurship nationwide. The recognition is valid for three years. MANAGE is part of a broader set of 19 CoE-Skills institutions under the Green Channel mechanism, reflecting a national skilling push.

Date of recognition: 2 November 2026
Recognised by: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
Presented by: Debashree Mukherjee, MSDE Secretary
Location of ceremony: Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi
Validity: 3 years; MANAGE established in 1987

Nov 06, 2026

Nirmala Sitharaman Releases ₹250 Commemorative Coin

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released a ₹250 commemorative coin in November 2026 to mark the 250th birth anniversary of Carnatic music composer Muthuswami Dikshitar. The ceremony took place at Swatantrata Bhawan, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, under the Centre of Excellence for Indian Knowledge Systems at IIT-BHU. The coin honours Dikshitar's contributions to Indian classical music and cultural heritage. The release aligns with government efforts to promote traditional arts and revive classical music education through modern commemoratives.

₹250 commemorative coin issued in November 2026
Marking 250th birth anniversary of Dikshitar
Ceremony held at Swatantrata Bhawan, BHU, Varanasi
Under Centre of Excellence for Indian Knowledge Systems (IIT-BHU)
Coin promotes Indian classical music heritage

Nov 05, 2026

Tamil Nadu unveils Battery Energy Storage Systems policy 2026

Tamil Nadu announced the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Policy, 2026, on 3 November 2026 in Chennai. The policy, coordinated by Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited as the State Nodal Agency, targets 2.5 GW/10 GWh of storage across three years. It mandates storage for new solar or solar-hybrid projects of 1 MW or more at 10% of capacity, with four-hour discharge, and requires standalone storage of at least 10% of sanctioned capacity for new substations. Existing substations must add 5% by FY2028 and a further 5% by FY2029. Projects eligible for a 100% waiver of transmission and wheeling charges for 10 years if discharged energy is used within Tamil Nadu. Procurement plans include 2,500 MW/10,000 MWh in phase one.

Policy target: 2.5 GW/10 GWh storage in 3 years.
New solar/hybrid projects: 10% storage, 4-hour discharge.
Substation storage: 10% for new; 5% each by FY2028 and FY2029 for existing.
100% charges waiver for 10 years for eligible projects within TN.
TN Green Energy Corporation Limited to coordinate implementation.

Nov 04, 2026

DIBD operates under Digital India Corporation

DIBD functions as an independent division under the Digital India Corporation, a Section 8 not‑for‑profit company established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The division works to promote digital inclusion and language-based services, supporting access to information and government services across India. DIBD’s activities complement broader digital public infrastructure initiatives and align with national objectives to expand citizen and business access to digital tools and information. Its work helps bridge linguistic and regional gaps in public service delivery.

DIBD is part of Digital India Corporation
operates to expand digital inclusion and language services
supports access to information and government services
aligns with India’s digital public infrastructure goals
strengthens regional and linguistic accessibility

SEBI signs MoU with BHASHINI to expand regional-language services

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) on 3 November 2026 in New Delhi. The agreement aims to make SEBI’s services and financial information accessible in regional Indian languages. SEBI Whole-Time Member Sandip Pradhan and DIBD’s Amitabh Nag signed the MoU, which will leverage BHASHINI’s translation APIs, Automatic Speech Recognition, Text-to-Speech and OCR capabilities. The collaboration will support securities-market terminology in multiple languages and enhance multilingual services. The MoU takes effect immediately, though timelines for public rollout have not yet been announced.

MoU signed on 3 November 2026 in New Delhi
SEBI and BHASHINI to expand regional-language services
uses ASR, TTS, OCR and translation APIs
focuses on securities-market terminology
implementation timeline to be announced

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