General Awareness

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES - November 2021

Nov 2021

May 19, 2026

IAS Officer Saurabh Vijay Takes Charge as UIDAI CEO

Senior IAS officer Saurabh Vijay of the 1998 Maharashtra cadre officially took charge as Chief Executive Officer of UIDAI on 18 May 2026. He brings extensive administrative experience from state and central government roles. UIDAI manages the Aadhaar program, which is the world’s largest biometric identity system. In his new role, Vijay will oversee UIDAI’s governance and digital governance initiatives across India. He previously held senior positions in multiple departments, and his appointment comes as the agency expands its mandate and faces privacy and data security considerations amid rapid digitization.

Appointment date: 18 May 2026
Office: UIDAI CEO
Background: 1998 Maharashtra cadre IAS
Role: oversee Aadhaar and digital governance
Context: expansion of UIDAI mandate and privacy considerations

West Bengal Introduces Free Bus Travel for Women and Annapurna Yojana

West Bengal approved free bus travel for women on state-run buses and launched the Annapurna Yojana on 18 May 2026. Free travel begins on 1 June 2026 and applies to all state buses, benefiting students and working professionals in rural and urban areas. The Annapurna Yojana provides ₹3,000 per month to eligible women beneficiaries from 1 June 2026 via direct benefit transfer. Automatic inclusion of Lakshmir Bhandar recipients is planned, with a new portal to verify eligibility and remove ineligible entries. The scheme aims to improve mobility and household finances for women across the state.

Approval date: 18 May 2026
Free bus travel starts: 1 June 2026
Annapurna Yojana: ₹3,000 monthly to beneficiaries
Automatic inclusion: Lakshmir Bhandar recipients
New portal: eligibility verification and cleanup

Andhra Pradesh Announces Incentives for Third and Fourth Child Under New Policy

On 17 May 2026, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced a new policy in Srikakulam district to encourage larger families. The state will provide ₹30,000 for the birth of a third child and ₹40,000 for a fourth child as direct financial support. Officials say the policy responds to declining fertility rates and rising incomes that influence family size. The move marks a shift from earlier population-control norms in several states. Analysts caution about potential social implications, but supporters view the policy as a measure to address long-term demographic and economic planning. The policy is under review for implementation details and governance mechanisms.

Policy announced: 17 May 2026
Beneficiaries: families having a third or fourth child
Financial support: ₹30,000 (third child) and ₹40,000 (fourth child)
Rationale: declining fertility rates and changing family patterns
Considerations: potential social implications and governance needs

May 18, 2026

Kalpasar Project: India and Netherlands sign LOI for technical cooperation

India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Netherlands’ Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management signed a Letter of Intent on 17 May 2026 to pursue technical cooperation for Gujarat’s Kalpasar Project. The plan envisages a freshwater reservoir created by a dam across the Gulf of Khambhat, combining water storage with tidal power generation, irrigation facilities and enhanced transport links between Saurashtra and South Gujarat. The Netherlands will share water-management expertise drawn from the Afsluitdijk Dam experience, under the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership on Water. The project targets freshwater from seven rivers, benefiting about 10 lakh hectares across 42 talukas in nine districts and could reduce travel distance from 240 km to about 60 km.

LOI signed on 17 May 2026 between India and the Netherlands.
Project location: Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat; aims to build a dam and reservoir.
Components: freshwater storage, tidal power, irrigation, transport connectivity.
Dutch expertise linked to Afsluitdijk Dam; part of the India-Netherlands Water Partnership.
Irrigation target: ~10 lakh hectares across 42 talukas in nine districts.
Travel distance between South Gujarat and Saurashtra could drop from ~240 km to ~60 km.

May 17, 2026

PMAY-G Beneficiary Conference and Maha Awaas Abhiyan Awards in Maharashtra

India's Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana (PMAY-G) beneficiary conference and the Maha Awaas Abhiyan state awards ceremony were scheduled to be held in Satara, Maharashtra. Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Sunetra Pawar were to attend. Under PMAY-G, five lakh houses would be handed over to beneficiaries during the event. So far, the scheme has constructed around three crore houses nationwide. On the occasion, central assistance worth 8,368 crore and 50 lakh rupees for Maharashtra for 2026-27 were expected, along with approval of 35 PMGSY road projects worth 122 crore 98 lakh rupees benefiting rural habitations.

PMAY-G beneficiary conference and Maha Awaas Abhiyan awards to be held in Satara, Maharashtra.
Attendees include Chouhan, Fadnavis, Shinde, and Sunetra Pawar.
Five lakh houses to be handed over; nationwide total around three crore.
Central assistance of 8,368 crore and 50 lakh rupees expected for Maharashtra (2026-27).
Approval of 35 PMGSY road projects worth 122 crore 98 lakh rupees.

FACT Begins Di-Ammonium Phosphate Production at Udyogamandal Plant

FACT, Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited, a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, commenced production of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) at its Udyogamandal plant in Kochi, Kerala on 15 May 2026. The permission for DAP manufacturing at the Kochi facility was granted on 24 April 2026 under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme, which provides financial support to fertilizer manufacturers for specified nutrients. DAP is a complex fertiliser supplying nitrogen and phosphorus, widely used in Indian agriculture. FACT, established in 1943 and headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, produces a range of fertilisers including complex, straight, organic, bio-fertilisers, and imported products. The Udyogamandal plant strengthens supply under NBS, helping farmers with affordable nutrients.

15 May 2026 marked the start of DAP production at FACT's Udyogamandal plant, Kochi.
Permission for DAP manufacturing granted on 24 April 2026 under the Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme.
FACT is a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, established in 1943.
DAP supplies nitrogen and phosphorus as a complex fertiliser for Indian agriculture.
The Udyogamandal facility supports affordable nutrient supply under NBS.
FACT's product range includes complex, straight, organic, bio-fertilisers and imported fertilisers.

May 16, 2026

Uttar Pradesh expands river rejuvenation under Namami Gange and One District-One River

Uttar Pradesh expanded river rejuvenation work under the Namami Gange mission and the One District-One River initiative. The campaign, launched to restore disappearing rivers, supports rural sustainability and ecological resilience. By 13 May 2026, the program generated 1.53 lakh human-days of work and encouraged over 500 farmers to adopt natural farming. District-level projects include the Gomti river in Pilibhit (47 km), Neem river in Bulandshahr (29 km) and Tamsa river in Azamgarh (89 km). Activities include channel widening and deepening, desiltation, pond revival, encroachment removal, and tree planting, linked to water conservation and groundwater recharge.

Campaign: One District-One River under Namami Gange.
Impact: 1.53 lakh human-days of work by 13 May 2026.
Farmer adoption: 500+ natural farming participants.
Projects: Gomti (Pilibhit), Neem (Bulandshahr), Tamsa (Azamgarh).
Activities: Channel work, desiltation, ponds, encroachment removal, plantation.

May 15, 2026

Tripura Becomes First State to Complete Deregulation Phase-II Priority Areas

Tripura has become the first Indian state to complete all Priority Areas under both Deregulation Phase-I and Phase-II of the national Compliance Reduction and Deregulation initiative. The state completed 51 priority reform areas, including 23 in Phase-I and 28 in Phase-II, during 14-15 May 2026. The initiative, led by the Cabinet Secretariat, aims to simplify regulations, digitise approvals, and reduce procedural requirements across states and sectors. Key reforms in Tripura include self-certification for Change of Land Use, a strengthened Single Window Approval Agency, streamlined No Objection Certificates, and automated low-risk approvals for up to three years in certain categories. The deregulatory push supports business ease and governance efficiency.

Tripura completes 51 priority reforms; dates 14-15 May 2026.
Part of national Compliance Reduction and Deregulation initiative.
Includes self-certification for Change of Land Use and stronger single-window system.
No Objection Certificates streamlined; low-risk approvals auto for up to 3 years.
Aims to improve ease of doing business and governance efficiency.

PMFME Mahotsav inaugurated in Leh by Chirag Paswan

Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan inaugurated an exhibition under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme in Leh, Ladakh. The event showcased products from PMFME beneficiaries, highlighting local entrepreneurship, and strengthening market linkages. Organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and the Ladakh UT Department of Industries and Commerce, the Leh exhibition aimed to raise scheme awareness and promote value creation in the region’s micro food processing sector. Paswan interacted with beneficiaries, praising their resilience and urging continued efforts to mainstream Ladakh’s food processing, aligning with rural development goals.

PMFME exhibition held in Leh, Ladakh under the PMFME scheme.
Showcased PMFME beneficiaries and local entrepreneurship.
Organized by MOFPI and Ladakh UT Dept of Industries and Commerce.
Aims to raise awareness and strengthen market linkages.
Minister Paswan urged value creation and mainstreaming Ladakh’s processing sector.

National Conclave on Minorities Welfare discusses AI for Viksit Bharat

The Ministry of Minority Affairs convened a National Conclave on Minorities Welfare under the theme 'Inclusive Development through AI for Viksit Bharat' as part of Bhagidari Se Bhagyoday. Senior officials from States and UTs participated to chart a roadmap for leveraging frontier technologies to improve public service delivery for minority communities. The conclave highlighted sustained institutional engagement and coordinated action to translate policy into ground-level outcomes, with emphasis on policy dialogue, stakeholder consultations, and scalable AI-enabled public services for minority welfare.

National Conclave under Bhagidari Se Bhagyoday theme.
Officials from States/UTs discussed AI for minority welfare.
Focus on inclusive development through frontier tech.
Stressed sustained institutional engagement and coordination.
Emphasis on scalable AI-enabled services.

LEADS 2025 report release; four-tier framework introduced

Union Minister Piyush Goyal released the LEADS 2025 Report in New Delhi, presenting India’s annual Logistics Ease Across Different States benchmarking tool. LEADS 2025, the seventh edition, introduces a four-tier performance structure and aligns with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy. The framework assesses policy, infrastructure, service reliability, and operating environment, with about 59 percent of the score based on objective indicators and the remainder on measurable and perceptual inputs. The report strengthens integration of logistics reforms across states and UTs, supporting improved efficiency in trade and supply chains.

LEADS 2025 released in New Delhi by Piyush Goyal.
Seventh edition introduces a four-tier structure.
Aligned with PM GatiShakti and National Logistics Policy.
Around 59% weight to objective indicators.
Assesses policy, infrastructure, reliability, and environment.

MoT and ICRIER sign MoU for textile policy research

The Ministry of Textiles and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations formalized an MoU to strengthen evidence-based policy research for India's Textile and Apparel sector. The signing ceremony in New Delhi was led by Akhilesh Kumar, Deputy Director General (MoT), and Dr. Shekhar Aiyar, Director & Chief Executive (ICRIER). The agreement aims to enhance textile data capabilities, support policy formulation, and drive data-driven analysis to boost manufacturing, exports, and employment in the Textile & Apparel sector.

MoT and ICRIER sign MoU in New Delhi.
Focus on evidence-based policy research for T&A sector.
Akhilesh Kumar and Dr. Shekhar Aiyar signed the pact.
Aims to strengthen textile data and policy analysis.
Supports manufacturing, exports, and jobs.

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