Lakhanpur (Kathua, Jammu & Kashmir) has been selected among the first towns approved under the PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub Initiative.
Key Highlights
Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu & Kashmir, will develop a Street Food Hub across two clusters covering 1,754.25 sq. m.
Will promote Dogra cuisine and improve facilities for pilgrims, tourists, and local vendors.
The project aims to transform Lakhanpur into a culinary tourism destination.
About the Initiative
Implemented by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) under PM SVANidhi.
Plans to establish up to 50 Street Food Hubs across India.
Focuses on organized, hygienic food streets, tourism promotion, and sustainable livelihoods.
Preference to towns with:
Tourism and heritage significance.
Unique local cuisine.
Convergence with Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and UNESCO Creative Cities.
Financial Support
₹4 crore per project: 30% first instalment, 50% second instalment, and 20% after completion
Additional ₹25 lakh incentive for cities with a notified Street Vending Plan.
PM SVANidhi
Launched: 2020, Ministry: MoHUA
Objective: Provide collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors and promote financial inclusion through interest subsidy and digital payments.
Significance
Enhances livelihoods of street vendors.
Promotes local cuisine and tourism.
Improves food hygiene and visitor experience.
[2015] Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has been launched for
[A] providing housing loan to poor people at cheaper interest rates
[B] Promoting women’s Self-Help Groups in backward areas
[C] promoting financial inclusion in the country
[D] providing financial help to marginalised communities
The Union Food and Public Distribution Department has published a draft amendment to the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 converting the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) entitlement from a household-based to a per-capita formula. Tamil Nadu and Kerala have objected, arguing the change will cut monthly foodgrain allocations for smaller households even though it is framed as an equity correction. The dispute revives a food-politics fault line between the Centre and these two States that traces back to the NFSA’s 2013 enactment.
What has the Centre proposed, and what does it claim to fix?
Current rule: Every Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) household receives 35 kg of foodgrains per month, regardless of household size.
Proposed rule: Each person in an AAY household is entitled to 7 kg per month, subject to a ceiling of 35 kg per household.
Legal provision amended: The first provision to Section 3(1) of the NFSA, which governs the right to subsidised foodgrains for eligible households.
Stated rationale: The F&PD Department says the household-based system causes intra-category inequity. Smaller households get a higher per-capita share. Larger households get a lower per-capita share that can fall below what priority households receive.
Stated objective: The amendment aims to make allocation more rational and align entitlements with nutritional norms.
Consultation window: Public comments were invited till July 13, 2026.
Gap in the amendment: The draft does not address inclusion of ineligible persons as beneficiaries. This problem remains a State-level issue.
Why have Tamil Nadu and Kerala historically treated food policy as high-stakes politics?
Kerala’s PDS legacy: Kerala traces informal food distribution mechanisms to the erstwhile princely State of Travancore and launched a formal Public Distribution System (PDS) in 1962, three years before the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was established.
Tamil Nadu’s political precedent: Incumbent governments lost power in 1952 and 1967 over failure to manage rice shortages, making rice policy a lasting political sensitivity.
Kerala’s resistance to the 2013 NFSA: The Congress-led UDF government, despite the Congress-led UPA pushing the law at the Centre, resisted implementation. It argued the law would drop a large number of poor families and impose a heavy financial burden on the State.
Delayed Kerala rollout: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy committed to enforcing the NFSA, but the formal decision was taken only under his successor, Pinarayi Vijayan.
Tamil Nadu’s universal rice policy: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa opposed the NFSA after her government began distributing free rice to all ration cardholders in 2011, regardless of economic status.
Concession extracted in 2013: Tamil Nadu secured a Central guarantee that its then-existing allocation levels would be legally protected under the NFSA.
Delayed adoption: Both southern States joined the rest of the country in implementing the NFSA only in November 2016.
Why does a per-capita formula built on a household ceiling disadvantage southern States?
Mechanical effect of the formula: A household with fewer than five members receives less than 35 kg under the per-capita rule, since 7 kg multiplied by fewer than five persons falls short of the existing ceiling.
Kerala’s structural exposure: Kerala’s Food Minister has argued that States characterised by nuclear families will lose out, since Kerala took the position in 2013 that AAY cardholders deserved “special consideration,” a stance it maintains.
Tamil Nadu’s quantified loss: The State’s monthly allocation is projected to fall from 65,261 tonnes to 42,040 tonnes under the new formula.
Scale of exposure in Tamil Nadu: Of 18.64 lakh AAY households, 15.75 lakh have fewer than five members, covering 58.51 lakh of the State’s 69.27 lakh AAY beneficiaries.
Non-substitutability argument: Rice is a staple across all three daily meals for AAY cardholders and cannot be replaced with market purchases without significant out-of-pocket cost.
North-South divide argument: Right to Food Campaign functionary Anuradha Talwar has argued that northern States, with larger average family sizes, will receive higher allocations under the new formula while southern States lose out.
South’s collective stake: The five southern States and Puducherry together hold 52.51 lakh of India’s 250 lakh AAY household ceiling, about one-fifth of the national total, making the region’s exposure to the formula change substantial in absolute terms.
What is the way forward, and does it resolve the underlying tension?
Process concern: A change of this scale should have been subjected to wider public scrutiny before a consensus was sought, according to food policy commentary cited in the report.
Middle-path proposal: Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Centre president T. Sadagopan has suggested a flat allocation of 30 kg per household, irrespective of family size, as a compromise.
Fiscal rationale for the middle path: A flat 30 kg allocation would still let the Union government reduce its overall subsidy bill compared to the current 35 kg ceiling.
Implementation context: Current off-take and distribution data for the financial year up to May 2026 show uneven utilisation across southern States relative to their allocations, indicating that formula design alone will not resolve execution gaps in the PDS chain.
Unresolved gap: Neither the Centre’s draft nor the proposed middle path addresses the separate, State-level problem of ineligible persons remaining on beneficiary lists.
Conclusion
The NFSA amendment corrects a genuine per-capita inequity within the AAY category, but the household ceiling built into the new formula shifts the burden onto smaller-household southern States, reviving a federal food-politics conflict rooted in each State’s distinct PDS history. The amendment leaves the parallel problem of ineligible beneficiaries at the State level untouched, meaning one inequity is corrected while another persists. A flat per-household allocation remains a proposed middle path, but the Centre has not formally responded to it.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2013] What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?
Linkage: The PYQ examines the provisions and effectiveness of the NFSA as a rights-based framework for ensuring food and nutritional security. The proposed shift from a fixed 35 kg entitlement per AAY household to 7 kg per person, capped at 35 kg, enables a critical assessment of whether rationalising foodgrain allocation may weaken existing NFSA entitlements and affect vulnerable households unevenly.
The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Act, 2025 came into force across India on 1 July 2026, replacing and expanding the rural employment guarantee framework.
What is VB-G RAM G?
A statutory rural employment guarantee programme aimed at strengthening livelihoods and creating durable rural assets.
Guarantees 125 days of wage employment annually to eligible rural households, replacing the earlier 100-day guarantee.
Focuses on Rural livelihood security, Natural resource conservation, Agricultural productivity, Women-led development, and Creation of durable community assets
Key Features
Statutory guarantee: 125 days of wage employment.
Minimum daily wage: No notified wage below ₹300.
National average wage: Increased from ₹298.8 to ₹327.4 per day (over 10% increase).
Wage hikes of 15 to 25% in States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
Interim allocation: ₹95,692.31 crore released to States/UTs for implementation.
Objectives
Enhance rural employment security.
Promote sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Strengthen climate-resilient and productive rural assets.
Improve agricultural productivity through resource conservation.
Increase women’s participation and economic empowerment.
[2021] With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements: 1. All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund Coverage. 2. All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime payment. 3. The government can by a notification specify that an establishment or industry shall pay wages only through its bank account. Which of the above statement are correct?
The Government highlighted the progress of welfare initiatives implemented under the Antyodaya approach aimed at ensuring inclusive development of deprived communities.
Antyodaya
Means “rise of the last person”.
Inspired by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.
Focuses on bringing the poorest and most marginalised sections to the forefront of development.
Key Schemes and Initiatives
PM JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan)
Launched: November 2023
Targets 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across 18 States and 1 UT.
Budget Outlay: ₹24,104 crore.
Implemented through 11 interventions by 9 Ministries.
Interventions include: Housing, Road connectivity, Piped water supply, Mobile medical units, Anganwadi centres, Hostels, Electrification, Mobile towers, Multipurpose centres, Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, and Vocational skilling
Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs)
Promote value addition and marketing of forest produce.
Covers SCs, OBCs, EBCs, DNTs, sanitation workers and waste pickers.
Over 2.08 lakh beneficiaries trained.
VISVAS(Vanchit Ikai Samooh aur Vargon ko Aarthik Sahaita)Yojana
Provides interest subsidy up to 5% on loans.
Promotes entrepreneurship and self-employment.
SEED (Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs)
Launched in February 2022.
Components: Free coaching, Health insurance, Livelihood assistance, and Housing support.
Minority Welfare
PM VIKAS (Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan)
Launched in 2025.
Integrates five previous minority welfare schemes.
Focuses on skill development and entrepreneurship.
Sanitation Workers
NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem)Scheme
Launched in FY 2023-24.
Replaces hazardous manual cleaning with mechanised sanitation.
Since June 2024, also covers waste pickers.
Regional Development
Aspirational Districts Programme
Launched in 2018.
Covers 112 districts.
Focuses on: Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture, Financial Inclusion, and Basic Infrastructure
Aspirational Blocks Programme
Launched in 2023.
Covers 500 blocks across 329 districts.
[2019] Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: 1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory. 2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status. 3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far. 4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs. Which of the statements given above are correct?
The Ministry of MSME is promoting the products of Divyangjan Vishwakarma artisans through the One Station One Product (OSOP) initiative under the PM Vishwakarma (PMV) Scheme, providing dedicated retail spaces at railway stations to improve market access and livelihoods.
PM Vishwakarma (PMV) Scheme
A flagship scheme of the Government of India.
Launched to support traditional artisans and craftspeople.
Objectives
Recognition of artisans and craftspeople.
Issuance of PM Vishwakarma certificates and ID cards.
Dedicated retail outlets are established at selected high-footfall railway stations.
Designed specifically to promote products made by Divyangjan Vishwakarma artisans.
Objectives
Expand market reach.
Increase product visibility.
Enhance sales opportunities.
Promote sustainable livelihoods.
Foster economic inclusion and financial independence.
Achievements under OSOP
Total Beneficiaries: 28 Divyangjan artisans facilitated.
States Covered: 12 States/UTs
Total Stalls: 28 stalls
[2023] Consider the following statements with reference to India: 1. According to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006, the ‘medium enterprises are those with and machinery between is crore and 25 crore. 2. All bank loans to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises qualify under the priority sector. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
India’s flagship decentralised solar schemes, PM Surya Ghar Yojana and PM-KUSUM, have achieved only about 13 GW capacity against a target of 40 GW. This has prompted the Parliamentary Estimates Committee to examine implementation bottlenecks.
Background
Solar Dominance: Solar power now accounts for nearly 30% of India’s installed electricity generation capacity.
Rapid Capacity Addition: India added more than 50 GW of solar capacity during the last two years.
Global Position: India added more solar power in 2025 than any country except China.
Why is Decentralised Solar Power Becoming Central to India’s Energy Transition?
Decentralised solar power (DRE) generates electricity at or near the point of consumption rather than relying on large, centralized power plants. This approach eliminates long-distance transmission losses and empowers local communities by providing affordable, continuous, and reliable energy
Rising Electricity Demand: Increasing temperatures, urbanisation and economic growth are pushing electricity demand upwards.
Land Constraints: Availability of land for large utility-scale solar parks is becoming increasingly limited.
Climate Resilience: Distributed generation strengthens energy security during periods of high demand and climatic stress.
Peak Demand Management: Solar power significantly contributed to meeting daytime peak demand during April-May 2026.
Hydropower Constraints: Hydropower capacity expansion has stagnated, reducing its ability to meet incremental demand.
Stagnating Share: Hydropower’s share in India’s installed power capacity has declined from around 25% in the early 1990s to about 10% today, despite growth in overall electricity demand.
Limited Capacity Addition: India added only about 5 GW of large hydropower capacity between 2014 and 2024, compared to over 100 GW of solar capacity during the same period.
Current Capacity: India’s installed hydropower capacity stands at roughly 48-49 GW, while solar capacity has crossed 100 GW.
Climate Vulnerability: Erratic monsoons, changing river flows, environmental clearances, rehabilitation issues, and long gestation periods have slowed hydropower expansion.
Energy Transition Implication: With hydropower unable to expand rapidly enough to meet rising demand, solar, particularly decentralised solar, is increasingly expected to meet incremental electricity requirements.
What are the Key Features of PM Surya Ghar Yojana and PM-KUSUM?
PM Surya Ghar Yojana
Household Coverage: Targets rooftop solar installation in 1 crore households.
Free Electricity: Provides electricity benefits of up to 300 units per month.
Capital Subsidy: Offers direct subsidy support for rooftop solar equipment.
Decentralised Generation: Encourages household-level electricity production and grid integration.
Progress
Target
Achievement
1 crore households connected
40.52 lakh households
30 GW installed capacity
12 GW
PM-KUSUM
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) is an initiative by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It provides farmers with heavy subsidies for solar agricultural pumps and solar power plants, designed to generate income, provide daytime irrigation, and replace expensive diesel or grid power
Farmer-Centric Design: Supports farmers in establishing decentralised solar infrastructure.
Solar Plants on Unused Land: Enables installation of small solar plants on unused agricultural land.
Solar Water Pumps: Supports both standalone and grid-connected solar irrigation pumps.
Additional Income: Allows sale of surplus electricity to the grid.
Cost Reduction: Reduces diesel and conventional electricity expenses.
Progress
Target
Achievement
14 lakh solar water pumps
10.9 lakh
2.5 lakh solar irrigation pumps
15,000
30 GW decentralised solar capacity
1.2 GW
How Successful Have These Flagship Programmes Been?
Combined Budget: Approximately ₹95,000 crore.
Combined Capacity Created: About 13 GW as of 31 May 2026.
Target Capacity: 40 GW by the end of the current financial year.
Achievement Gap: Only around one-third of the targeted capacity achieved.
PM-KUSUM Delay: Initially targeted for completion by 2022 but extended until the end of the current financial year due to pandemic-related disruptions.
Best Performing Component: Standalone off-grid solar water pumps under PM-KUSUM.
How is Performance Highly Uneven Across States?
PM Surya Ghar Better Performers
State
Installations
Households Connected
Subsidy (₹ crore)
Gujarat
6,81,180
9,77,754
9,277
Maharashtra
6,04,522
9,42,378
23,149
Uttar Pradesh
5,62,656
5,77,103
19,095
Kerala
2,52,803
2,58,959
382
Rajasthan
2,15,842
2,23,066
30,597
PM Surya Ghar Underperformers
State
Installations
Households Connected
Subsidy (₹ crore)
West Bengal
1,695
1,758
1,868
Punjab
14,470
16,641
20,693
Karnataka
19,793
30,395
27,725
Bihar
20,272
20,905
15,405
Tamil Nadu
72,988
85,743
15,701
How Do Power Subsidies Affect Solar Adoption?
Distorted Economic Incentives: Free or highly subsidised electricity reduces the financial attractiveness of investing in rooftop solar systems.
Reduced Payback Benefits: Consumers receiving subsidised electricity perceive limited savings from solar installations, resulting in lower adoption rates.
High Upfront Cost Sensitivity: Households are less willing to incur substantial initial costs for solar systems when electricity is already available at little or no cost.
Subsidy-Driven Consumer Behaviour: Existing subsidy regimes encourage continued dependence on grid electricity rather than self-generation through rooftop solar.
Policy Contradiction: Simultaneous promotion of rooftop solar and provision of free electricity creates conflicting incentives for consumers.
Official Recognition: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy informed the Parliamentary Estimates Committee that free electricity schemes have emerged as a major constraint to PM Surya Ghar implementation.
Evidence from States
Punjab: Provides 300 free units to households and free electricity for agricultural tubewells; annual power subsidy expenditure exceeds ₹20,000 crore.
Karnataka: Electricity subsidy bill stands at approximately ₹27,000 crore.
Tamil Nadu: Electricity subsidy expenditure is around ₹15,700 crore.
Why Does the Upfront Cost Remain the Biggest Barrier?
High Initial Investment: Solar installations often require investment of several lakh rupees.
Delayed Returns: Benefits accrue gradually through reduced electricity bills and sale of surplus power.
Affordability Challenge: Many households and farmers struggle to mobilise upfront capital despite long-term savings.
Credit Constraints: Access to affordable financing remains limited.
Administrative Efficiency: Faster approvals and implementation improved adoption rates.
Evidence of Success: These states account for nearly 70% of the total rooftop solar installations achieved under PM Surya Ghar.
What are the Long-Term Economic Benefits of Decentralised Solar Power?
Subsidy Rationalisation: Reduces long-term dependence on recurring electricity subsidies.
Fiscal Savings: Full implementation of PM Surya Ghar could save approximately ₹75,000 crore annually in electricity-related expenditure.
Consumer Empowerment: Converts consumers into electricity producers.
Grid Stability: Reduces transmission losses and distribution burden.
Energy Security: Diversifies generation sources and reduces fuel dependence.
Climate Commitments: Supports India’s renewable energy and net-zero objectives.
What is the Growing Link Between Solar Power and Electricity Demand?
Demand Surge: Rising temperatures are increasing electricity consumption.
Climate Variability: Lower rainfall forecasts may reduce hydropower availability.
Summer Demand Peaks: Solar generation is increasingly meeting daytime peak loads.
Future Energy Mix: Solar is expected to become India’s second-largest source of electricity generation, overtaking hydropower.
Decentralisation Advantage: Distributed generation can cushion local supply-demand imbalances.
Conclusion
India’s clean energy transition increasingly depends on decentralised solar generation alongside utility-scale renewable projects. While PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM have demonstrated their transformative potential, persistent barriers such as high upfront costs and distortionary electricity subsidies continue to constrain adoption. Bridging this gap through targeted incentives, affordable financing and subsidy reforms will determine whether decentralised solar power can become a major pillar of India’s energy security and climate strategy.
PYQ Relevance
[UPSC 2020] Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from sunlight in contrast to the conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our Government for this purpose?
Linkage: The PYQ focuses on solar energy as a sustainable alternative to conventional power sources and government efforts to promote its adoption. PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM are among India’s flagship initiatives for promoting decentralised solar energy. The article evaluates their achievements, implementation challenges, and significance for India’s energy security and clean energy transition.
The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education launched applications for the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026 to attract global Indian talent into India’s research and innovation ecosystem.
Key Highlights
The scheme aims to connect:
Indian origin researchers and professionals working abroad with:
India’s higher education and research institutions.
Focus areas include:
Research
Innovation
Technology development.
Objectives of PMRC Scheme
Strengthen: India’s research ecosystem.
Promote: International academic collaboration.
Enhance: Innovation in strategic sectors.
Support: Mission oriented research in national priority areas.
Thematic Areas Covered
The scheme focuses on 13 national priority sectors including:
Artificial Intelligence
Quantum Computing
Semiconductors
Cybersecurity
Biotechnology
Healthcare and MedTech
Space and Defence
Advanced Materials
Blue Economy
Atomic Energy
Climate Change and Sustainability.
[2018] Consider the following statements : Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables 1. individuals of a country to accumulate more capital. 2. increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country. 3. accumulation of tangible wealth. 4. accumulation of intangible wealth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released updated Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 Guidelines, expanding screening and care for children across India.
About Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)
Launched: 2013
Under: National Rural Health Mission
Aim:
Improve child health outcomes
Provide early detection and free treatment
Target Group
Children from birth to 18 years
Core Focus: “4Ds”
Defects at birth
Diseases
Deficiencies
Developmental delays (including disabilities)
Coverage
Screens for 32 health conditions
Provides:
Free treatment
Surgical interventions (if required)
[2023] Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy: 1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women. 2. It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of child- birth. 3. It provides for periodic deworming to children and adolescents. 4. It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis. How many of the statements given above are correct? [A] Only one [B] Only two [C] Only three [D] All four
The Ministry of Mines has issued operational guidelines for a ₹5,000 crore incentive package under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) for FY 2026-27. This initiative aims to accelerate mineral production and improve governance across India.
What is the Scheme Component?
A dedicated financial incentive mechanism designed to reward States and UTs (with legislatures) for implementing structural reforms in the mining sector.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Mines.
Total Outlay: ₹5,000 crore.
Core Objective: Expedite mine operationalization, increase mineral production, and enhance state revenue through better governance.
A. Pre-embedded Clearances: Auctioning blocks with forest/env clearances already in place.B. Production Kickstart: Operationalizing at least 10% of blocks auctioned prior to March 2026.
A. ₹20 crore per block (Max ₹200cr/state).B. ₹250 crore per state.
III. SMRI-based Reforms
Rewarding top performers in the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) 2026-27 across three categories (A, B, and C).
1st: ₹100 crore2nd: ₹75 crore3rd: ₹50 crore
[2025] Consider the following statements: Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals even though such minerals are located in their territories. Statement II: In India, the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals under the relevant law. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? [A] Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I [B] Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I [C] Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct [D] Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct
The Union Cabinet has approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA) with an outlay of ₹33,660 crore to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks by 2032.
The National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) framework is the foundation for the BHAVYA (Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna) scheme. Approved on March 18, 2026, with a ₹33,660 crore outlay,
What is BHAVYA?
A government scheme to create future-ready industrial parks across India
Designed to provide:
Ready infrastructure
Seamless connectivity
Focus on: Manufacturing competitiveness and investment
Key Features
1. Scale and Timeline
Total parks: 100
Duration: 6 years (starting 2026–27)
First phase: 50 parks
2. Land Requirement
Minimum:
100 acres (general)
25 acres (hilly and North Eastern states)
Maximum: 1,000 acres
3. Funding Pattern
Central Government:
Up to ₹1 crore per acre
Implementation:
Joint effort of: Central government, State governments, and Private sector
4. Plug-and-Play Model
Industrial units get:
Pre-developed land
Power, water, roads
Logistics connectivity
5. Integration with National Infrastructure
Linked with: PM GatiShakti
Benefits:
Multimodal connectivity (road, rail, ports)
Efficient logistics
Last-mile connectivity
6. Ease of Doing Business
Features include:
Single-window clearance systems
Simplified approvals
Investor-friendly policies
State-led reforms
Primary beneficiaries: Manufacturing units, MSMEs, startups, and global investors seeking ready-to-use industrial infrastructure
[2016] Recently, India’s first ‘National Investment and Manufacturing Zone’ was proposed to be set up in: (a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Gujarat (c) Maharashtra (d) Uttar Pradesh
