The ICMR-NIN-led 'Let's Fix Our Food' (LFOF) Consortium has released a policy document titled 'Priority Policy Actions to Promote Healthier Diets and Food Environments for Children and Adolescents in India'. This document provides evidence-based recommendations to improve dietary behaviours and create healthier food environments for children and adolescents, aiming to prevent diet-related non-communicable diseases. Key recommendations include promoting healthy school food environments, nutrition literacy, front-of-pack nutrition labelling, regulating unhealthy food marketing, and taxing foods high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS). The initiative involves multiple national and international partners, with NITI Aayog endorsing the need for such multisectoral policy action.
The Government has launched several digital initiatives and enhanced welfare measures for Indian Haj pilgrims for Haj 2026, focusing on healthcare, accommodation, transportation, and emergency assistance. These efforts aim to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of pilgrims through improved digital governance and reforms. The information was provided by the Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, in Rajya Sabha.
The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, inaugurated the GKNM College of Nursing in Coimbatore, emphasizing the critical role of a skilled and compassionate healthcare workforce for achieving 'Viksit Bharat by 2047'. He highlighted the importance of quality healthcare and education as twin pillars of national development. The Vice-President commended the G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Charitable Trust for its contributions to healthcare and education. He also underscored the transformative impact of government initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat programme, specifically mentioning the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) for health insurance coverage and the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana for senior citizens' healthcare. He stressed the importance of preventive healthcare, including efforts to eliminate anaemia, ensure healthier pregnancies, improve nutrition, and promote organ/eye donation.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science and Technology implements various Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) based schemes and programs across India to promote socio-economic development and improve the quality of life and livelihoods of disadvantaged sections, including Scheduled Tribes. These initiatives, implemented in a competitive, merit-based manner, focus on strengthening human and institutional capacities and deploying technology to address local needs for sustainable development. The Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development (SEED) Division, through verticals like STRC, advances sustainable livelihoods, innovation, value addition, and community capacity building in tribal regions.
The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs announced the introduction of the Medha AI digital platform as a two-year program across all functional Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) starting June 22, 2026. This cloud-based platform aims to provide AI-enabled academic support for teachers, assisting with lesson plans, assessments, and teaching materials, while also offering personalized learning, practice exercises, doubt-solving tools, and language learning activities for students.
The article provides an update on Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), highlighting their operational status, staff recruitment, and student performance across India, particularly in Telangana. It emphasizes the academic achievements of EMRS students in competitive exams and extracurricular activities. A key focus is on the integral role of EMRS in preserving and promoting tribal culture, language, and traditional knowledge through initiatives like 'Tribal Corners', cultural programs, and recruitment of regional language teachers.
The article reviews the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), a flagship skill development scheme launched in 2015, highlighting its evolution through versions 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0. It emphasizes the scheme's shift towards demand-driven, industry-aligned, and outcome-oriented skilling, prioritizing new-age job roles and decentralized planning. Key initiatives like the Skill Impact Bond and the proposed Skills Outcomes Fund are discussed, focusing on sustained employment outcomes and mobilizing diverse capital. Evaluations by NITI Aayog, IIPA, and AJNIFM indicate positive impacts on employment, income, and skill confidence. The article also details the Ministry's collaboration with industries for curriculum design, on-the-job training, and establishing Centres of Excellence, along with the scheme's budget and expenditure.
The article details the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM), implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). It highlights the scheme's objective to equip youth with industry-relevant skills and its positive impact on employment and income outcomes, as evidenced by an independent evaluation of PMKVY 4.0 conducted by the Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM). The scheme incorporates robust monitoring, standardized processes, and technology-enabled mechanisms to enhance training quality and transparency, contributing to improved workforce readiness.
The article outlines major government initiatives to strengthen veterinary services, expand dairy cooperatives, and manage stray dogs. Key measures include 100% central assistance for livestock vaccination under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, operationalization of Mobile Veterinary Units, and support for diagnostic labs. The 'White Revolution 2.0' aims to significantly expand dairy cooperative coverage and strengthen existing societies, supported by the National Programme for Dairy Development and modernization efforts by NDDB. For stray dog management, the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, provide a statutory framework for sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination. The National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination, based on a 'One Health approach', aims to eliminate rabies by 2030, with states encouraged to establish animal shelters and ABC centres.
The article details various welfare measures implemented by the Government of India for the personnel of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and their families. These initiatives include financial assistance, educational support through the Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) with specific amounts for girls and boys, housing, and rehabilitation services. Additionally, it mentions benefits for Next of Kin (NoKs) such as travel fare concessions and allotment of Oil Product Agencies, along with the provision of a 'Casualty Certificate' similar to that for Armed Forces. These measures were stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Rajya Sabha.
The Government of India has reinforced its commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for students from Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT) through the PM-YASASVI (Prime Minister Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India) umbrella scheme. This scheme aims to alleviate financial hurdles and foster inclusive, equitable, and quality education for eligible students from these communities, comprising Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, Top Class Education in Schools, and Top Class Education in Colleges scholarship components.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Nalanda University (NU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on science-led sustainable development, technology deployment, rural transformation, skill enhancement, and scientific outreach. The partnership aims to leverage CSIR's indigenous technologies and Nalanda University's international academic ecosystem to create community-centric development models. Key focus areas include model village development, solid waste management, water quality improvement, and environmental sustainability, with an emphasis on scientific social responsibility and interdisciplinary approaches for societal benefit.
