General Awareness

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES - May 2024

May 2024

Mar 08, 2026

L&T Finance Launches Spoorthi Programme for Women Entrepreneurs

L&T Finance has launched the Spoorthi programme to support women entrepreneurs in India. The scheme offers flexible loans with repayment tenors up to 25 years for buying property or using Loan Against Property for business expansion and working capital needs. The NBFC aims to improve access to credit for women-led businesses and strengthen financial inclusion. Spoorthi will roll out in major metropolitan cities including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad. The programme seeks to ease borrowing terms, enabling women to scale operations, hire staff, and create local employment opportunities.

Spoorthi programme launched by L&T Finance.
Loans with tenors up to 25 years for property/ LAP use.
Targets women entrepreneurs; aims to improve access to credit.
Roll-out in Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad.
Focus on financial inclusion and business expansion.

Mar 07, 2026

First Riverine Lighthouses to Rise on Brahmaputra River

On 6 March 2026, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stones for India’s first riverine lighthouses on the Brahmaputra River. The project will establish four solar‑powered navigation lighthouses along National Waterway 2 at Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat and Biswanath Ghat. With an investment of ₹84 crore, the lighthouses aim to improve 24×7 safe navigation, cargo movement and tourism in Northeast India. The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) is implementing the project in collaboration with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. This marks a new era for inland navigation infrastructure.

Foundation stones laid: 6 March 2026
Four riverine lighthouses on Brahmaputra (NW-2)
Locations: Pandu, Bogibeel, Silghat, Biswanath Ghat
Investment: ₹84 crore; solar-powered
Implementing agencies: DGLL and IWAI
Significance: first inland lighthouse infrastructure on Indian waterways

Governor Reshuffle Approved Across States (6 March 2026)

On 6 March 2026, President Droupadi Murmu approved a major governor reshuffle across Indian states and union territories. The move brought several new appointments and administrative changes to refresh governance at the state level. The reshuffle followed consultations with the central government and reflects ongoing administrative reforms to strengthen coordination between central and state authorities on development programs, security and public welfare. Officials indicated that the changes introduce fresh leadership while maintaining policy continuity where appropriate.

Date: 6 March 2026
Decision announced by President Droupadi Murmu
Result: broad governor reshuffle across states/UTs
Purpose: refresh governance and leadership
Focus areas: development programs, security, public welfare

NITI Aayog, UNICEF Sign Pact to Transform Aspirational Districts

On 6 March 2026, NITI Aayog and UNICEF India signed a Statement of Intent to improve nutrition and health outcomes in Aspirational Districts and Blocks. The partnership focuses on strengthening maternal and child nutrition services in underserved regions and addresses broader health system gaps. Rohit Kumar, Mission Director of the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme at NITI Aayog, and Arjan de Wagt, Deputy Representative of UNICEF India, signed the agreement. The collaboration aims to enhance health systems, raise nutrition awareness and promote multi‑stakeholder engagement among government, private sector and communities.

Date: 6 March 2026
Parties: NITI Aayog and UNICEF India
Focus: nutrition and health in Aspirational Districts/Blocks
Signatories: Rohit Kumar and Arjan de Wagt
Approach: multi‑stakeholder collaboration
Goal: strengthen health systems and awareness

India–Finland Upgrade to Strategic Partnership in Digitalization and Sustainability

In March 2026, during visits by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, India and Finland upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership focused on digitalization and sustainability. The framework aims to deepen collaboration on digital public services, green energy and technology transfer. Leaders highlighted shared interests in innovation ecosystems and people‑to‑people ties, with plans for expanded trade, investment and joint research. The agreement seeks ongoing high‑level engagement and dialogues to advance mutual goals in a rapidly evolving tech landscape and support joint efforts in smart‑city and sustainable development initiatives.

Date: March 2026 (visits by Finnish President Stubb)
Upgraded to Strategic Partnership
Key focus: digitalization and sustainability
Areas: digital public services, green tech, investments
Emphasis on joint research and smart‑city projects

Mar 06, 2026

Census 2027 mascots Pragati and Vikas unveiled; digital census comes alive

Union Home Minister Amit Shah soft-launched four digital tools and unveiled mascots Pragati (female enumerator) and Vikas (male enumerator) for Census 2027 in New Delhi on 5–6 March 2026. The census will be India's first fully digital exercise, offering Self Enumeration for online data submission. With more than 30 lakh enumerators and officials, the two mascots symbolize gender equality and broad public participation in development. The initiative marks a major technology upgrade of the population census and aligns with India’s Vision 2047 for inclusive growth and governance.

Mascots Pragati and Vikas revealed for Census 2027.
Census to be fully digital with Self Enumeration.
Over 30 lakh enumerators to conduct data collection.
Supports Vision 2047 through inclusive governance.

Mar 04, 2026

President Murmu launches four major women welfare schemes in Delhi

President Droupadi Murmu launched four women-centric welfare schemes in Delhi on 2 March 2026 during the Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi programme. Highlights included the Pink National Common Mobility Card, enabling free bus travel and multi-modal transport access for eligible women and transgender residents. A second scheme provides two free LPG cylinders annually to ration card-holding families during Holi and Diwali. Officials noted other announced schemes supporting women’s empowerment, education and healthcare as part of broader social-inclusion goals. The measures align Delhi’s policy with national aims to improve mobility, safety and financial support for women.

Launch date: 2 March 2026; event: Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi
Key items: Pink NCMC for mobility; two free LPG cylinders annually
Target group: Women and transgender residents (Delhi)
Other schemes: Focus on empowerment, education and health
Objective: Enhance mobility, safety and financial inclusion

Madurai Airport gains international status; cabinet approves 10 March 2026

On 10 March 2026, the Union Cabinet approved declaring Madurai Airport in Tamil Nadu as an international airport, with formal orders issued by the Airports Authority of India in the days that followed. The upgrade will enable international flights and immigration facilities, broadening connectivity for southern Tamil Nadu. Officials say the status boost could attract foreign tourists, boost trade and generate local employment. Madurai, a major pilgrimage and commercial hub, could gain direct links to West Asia and other regions as bilateral slots are allocated. The move aligns with India’s broader aviation expansion plan and strengthens Madurai’s role as a regional gateway. Sources: PMIndia.gov.in; Economic Times; New Indian Express; Times of India; NDTV.

Approval date: 10 March 2026
Benefits: International flights; customs/immigration; wider connectivity
Expected impact: Tourism, trade and employment growth
Next steps: Notification by AAI and allocation of bilateral slots
Context: Part of national aviation expansion strategy

Mar 03, 2026

Maharashtra launches Divyang Sahayak Portal for disability welfare

Maharashtra state government launched the Divyang Sahayak Portal, described as India's first fully integrated online platform for disability welfare schemes. Announced in February 2026, the portal removes paperwork and in-person visits for persons with disabilities. It enables online applications, real-time progress tracking, automatic approvals for eligible schemes, and AI-based grievance redressal. The initiative aims to strengthen the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and to deliver benefits faster and more transparently. The Divyang Sahayak Portal serves as a one-stop digital platform for persons with disabilities in Maharashtra, allowing citizens to search, apply for, and track welfare schemes without remembering scheme names. Demographic data are used to suggest eligible options.

Maharashtra launched Divyang Sahayak Portal; India’s first integrated online disability-welfare platform.
Announced in February 2026; eliminates paperwork and mandatory in-person visits.
Features online applications, real-time tracking, automatic scheme approvals, AI grievances.
Aims to strengthen implementation of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Uses demographic data to suggest eligible schemes.

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