General Awareness

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES - December 2025

Dec 2025

Dec 05, 2025

Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to raise tobacco duties

Parliament passed the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to raise excise duties and cesses on tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, hookah tobacco, chewing tobacco, zarda and scented tobacco. The bill aims to provide fiscal space to increase central excise rates as cess revenue ends. Finance Minister Pankaj Chaudhary moved the bill in the Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha approved and sent back for final passage. The proposed duties range from Rs 2,700 to Rs 11,000 per thousand cigarettes, with higher rates for manufactured and other tobacco products. The measure is expected to impact prices and government revenue in the upcoming financial year.

Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 passed
Tobacco duties to be increased
Duties range: Rs 2,700 to Rs 11,000 per thousand cigarettes

Andhra Pradesh renames Raj Bhavan as Lok Bhavan

The Andhra Pradesh government renamed Raj Bhavan as Lok Bhavan after Governor S. Abdul Nazeer approved the change. The Special Chief Secretary to the Governor, G. Anantha Ramu, issued a notification, making Lok Bhavan the Governor’s official residence in the state. The move aligns with branding to reflect public accessibility and transparency. Officials said the change does not alter governance protocols but updates nomenclature across government documentation and signage. The rename is part of a broader push to standardise government premises naming; local media reported no immediate impact on ceremonies, while historians noted the term Lok Bhavan aligns with national usage for official residences.

Raj Bhavan renamed Lok Bhavan
Approval by Governor S. Abdul Nazeer
Administrative change; no governance impact
Part of standardising government premises naming

Dec 04, 2025

J&K Approves Quota Revamp to Expand General Category Seats

Srinagar, 4 December 2025: The Jammu and Kashmir government approved a new reservation policy revamping quotas to increase general category representation. The cabinet, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has sent the decision to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for final approval. Under the policy, 50 percent of government job openings would be filled from open merit or general category applicants. Previously, the general category had a smaller share in recruitments, while the population in the union territory is predominantly general category. The policy reflects political and administrative balancing as formal orders are issued.

New quota policy increases general category representation.
Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Decision forwarded to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for approval.
Open merit/general category to occupy 50% of jobs.
Policymaking reflects demographic considerations.

UP to Teach Six Regional Languages in Vocational Education

Lucknow, 4 December 2025: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Marathi, and Bengali would be added to the state’s vocational education curriculum. The program aims to widen language choices for students and is funded by the state government. Students will select one language and training will be provided without extra cost. The move aligns with a broader push toward linguistic diversification and employability in UP. The announcement was made during the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 event in Varanasi and reflects PM Modi’s language inclusion vision for education.

Six regional languages added to UP vocational curriculum.
Languages: Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali.
State bears the cost of language training.
Announced at Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0.
Supports diversification and employability in UP.

NHAI and Reliance Jio to Launch Mobile Safety Alerts on Highways

New Delhi, 4 December 2025: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed an MoU with Reliance Jio to introduce a mobile-based safety alert system for highway travellers. The system will leverage 4G and 5G networks to warn drivers about risky spots in real time. Alerts will reach users via SMS, WhatsApp messages, and high-priority calls as they approach danger zones. The aim is to reduce accidents and improve highway safety nationwide. Officials expect a phased rollout after pilot testing, with scale‑up contingent on performance in initial corridors and interoperability with existing traffic management systems.

MoU between NHAI and Reliance Jio signed for safety alerts.
Utilizes 4G/5G networks for real-time warnings.
Alerts delivered via SMS, WhatsApp, and calls.
Aims to reduce accidents on national highways.
Nationwide rollout after pilot testing.

Parliament Clears Central Excise Amendment Bill 2025

New Delhi, 3 December 2025: Parliament approved the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill 2025, introducing higher taxes on cigarettes and certain luxury goods. The reform moves to a value-based tax structure ranging from ₹2,700 to ₹11,000 per thousand sticks, depending on size, alongside a 40 percent Goods and Services Tax. Proponents argue the changes will reduce tobacco use and boost health revenues, while opponents warn of higher prices for consumers. Finance Ministry officials emphasized that the reform aligns with broader health and fiscal objectives and will be implemented with transitional provisions for industry players.

Central Excise (Amendment) Bill 2025 passed.
Higher taxes on cigarettes and luxury items.
Value-based levy: ₹2,700–₹11,000 per thousand sticks.
GST at 40 percent alongside excise changes.
Policy aims to curb consumption and raise revenue.

Dec 03, 2025

Karnataka Introduces e-Swathu 2.0 for Rural Property Digitalisation

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has launched the upgraded e-Swathu 2.0, a digital platform aimed at regularising rural properties in Karnataka. The system is expected to generate up to Rs. 2,000 crore in revenue by bringing 95 lakh properties in gram panchayats under the tax net.

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