General Awareness

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES - September 2024

Sep 2024

Mar 11, 2026

Nagauri Paan Methi Registered as Community Farmers’ Variety

Nagauri Paan Methi has been registered as a Community Farmers’ Variety by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA). The registration appeared in the February 2026 Plant Variety Journal and grants statutory ownership and protection to farmers in Nagaur district, Rajasthan. The crop is Trigonella corniculata L., grown in arid agro‑ecology, and has been conserved by families for generations. The recognition highlights the importance of regionally adapted crops and supports farmers’ rights under the PPV&FR Act, 2001. The award enables local seed preservation and potential commercial exploitation under plant‑variety protections while promoting biodiversity and traditional farming knowledge.

Nagauri Paan Methi registered as Community Farmers’ Variety by PPVFRA.
Registration appeared in February 2026 Plant Variety Journal.
Crop identified as Trigonella corniculata L., grown in arid agro‑ecology.
Protection granted under PPV&FR Act, 2001 to Nagaur farmers.
Promotes biodiversity and traditional farming knowledge.

Kerala Cyber Safety Protocol 2026 Aims to Protect Students in AI Era

Kerala has introduced the Cyber Safety Protocol 2026, a comprehensive framework to protect students in the AI era. Developed by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) and the General Education Department, the protocol aims to create a safe digital learning environment in public schools. It addresses cyber threats such as AI‑generated misinformation, deepfakes, digital grooming, and cyber fraud, combining cyber security awareness with digital literacy. The protocol seeks to empower students to navigate online spaces safely, while schools implement guidelines for data privacy and responsible use of AI tools. The plan emphasizes collaboration among educators, families, and government agencies.

Cyber Safety Protocol 2026 introduced by KITE and Education Department.
Aims to protect students in AI era in public schools.
Addresses misinformation, deepfakes, digital grooming, cyber fraud.
Combines cyber security awareness with digital literacy.
Encourages data privacy guidelines and responsible AI use.

Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme Continues Across Delhi Colleges

Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme (VBYCP) is continuing in Delhi colleges, with over 900 students participating. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through Mera Yuva Bharat, is expanding youth engagement under the vision Viksit Bharat@2047. In the second phase, more than 10,000 young people in 35 colleges will participate through interactive sessions and youth‑led activities. On the second day, youth icons Ramandeep Singh, Lavisha Arora, Sneha Bhardwaj, Ankit Kumar, and Sakshi Shah spoke with students at institutions such as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi and JIMS. The program aims to empower youth and strengthen India's future workforce.

VBYCP continues across Delhi colleges with 900+ participants.
Part of Mera Yuva Bharat under the Viksit Bharat@2047 agenda.
Second phase targets 10,000 youths in 35 colleges.
Interactive sessions and youth‑led activities are planned.
Program aims to empower youth and build a future workforce.

Mar 10, 2026

UP launches Project GANGA to connect 20 lakh rural homes with high-speed internet

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched Project GANGA to provide high-speed internet to more than 20 lakh rural households over the next two to three years. The effort aims to expand digital connectivity in villages and semi-urban areas, creating new employment opportunities and enabling online services. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the State Transformation Commission (STC) and One OTT Entertainment Limited, a subsidiary of the Hinduja Group, to implement the project. The plan targets broadband access in areas with limited infrastructure, supporting e-governance, education, health, and business activities in rural communities.

Initiative: Project GANGA by Uttar Pradesh government
Target: 20 lakh rural households over 2–3 years
MoU: STC and One OTT Entertainment Limited (Hinduja Group)
Focus areas: broadband, e-governance, education, health
Impact: improved digital inclusion in rural areas

NABARD launches National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), in collaboration with the Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors, has launched the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s climate resilience framework for rural regions by building foundational technological layers of a National Climate Stack that can integrate diverse climate datasets and enable better climate intelligence for agriculture, rural finance, and public planning. It addresses risks from heatwaves, floods, droughts, and cyclones and seeks to bridge data gaps across platforms. The program will support interoperable data systems and informed decision-making for rural communities.

Collaborators: NABARD, Gates Foundation, Dalberg Advisors
Goal: National Climate Stack for rural climate resilience
Applications: agriculture, rural finance, public planning
Focus areas: interoperable climate data systems
Impact: improved forecasting, risk management, policy planning

Mar 09, 2026

Dipali Das becomes Assam’s first citizenship certificate recipient under CAA

Dipali Das of Cachar district, Assam, became the state’s first recipient of Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). She received her citizenship certificate on 6 March 2026, after years of documentary scrutiny and legal proceedings. Das had entered India with her husband on 7 February 1988, fleeing persecution in what is now Bangladesh. She faced early detention for alleged illegal entry, but a 2020 Supreme Court direction led to her release. The Assam case highlights the practical application of CAA provisions in resolving long-standing nationality questions for eligible individuals.

First citizenship certificate under CAA in Assam
Recipient: Dipali Das, Cachar district
Certificate issued on 6 March 2026
Entered India with husband on 7 February 1988
Case illustrates CAA implementation at state level

India to build first riverine lighthouses on Brahmaputra to boost navigation

India laid foundation stones for four riverine lighthouses along the Brahmaputra River, a first for inland waterways. The sites at Bogibeel, Pandu, Silghat, and Biswanath Ghat will support National Waterway 2. Each lighthouse will rise about 20 metres, offer 14 nautical miles of geographical range, and 8–10 nautical miles of luminous range. Solar-powered and equipped with weather sensors, the lighthouses will double as tourism venues with museums and amenities. The project, part of IWAI-DGLL collaboration, involves around ₹84 crore in investment. Completion is expected within 24 months of contract awards.

Four riverine lighthouses on Brahmaputra (Bogibeel, Pandu, Silghat, Biswanath Ghat)
First inland riverine lighthouse project in India
Each lighthouse: ~20 metres tall; 14 nautical miles range
Solar-powered; weather sensors for 24/7 navigation
Investment: ₹84 crore; completion within 24 months

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

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