Context: India’s forests, long considered the lungs of the nation, are under increasing pressure. Between 2001 and 2023, the country lost a staggering 2.33 million hectares of forest cover due to deforestation. Mineral-rich states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha are most affected due to mining-driven deforestation. Key Initiative: Seed Ball Plantation Role of PRADAN Impact & Progress Collaborative Model Significance: BL
India’s Apparel Export Growth Challenge
Current Status and Challenges Significance of the Textile and Apparel Sector Key Government Initiatives Structural Bottlenecks Policy Recommendations – The Way Forward:
RBI Launches Scheme to Promote Original Hindi Books on Economics, Banking, and Finance
Context: To encourage original Hindi-language writing and research in the fields of economics, banking, and finance by Indian academicians. Key Features of the Scheme Evaluation Process Significance Related Development: This scheme not only supports language diversity in financial education but also fosters an environment for academic innovation i
Banks’ Proposal for Tax Relief on NPA Interest Under Review
Context: The Indian government is reviewing a proposal from banks to amend the Income Tax Act and align the definition and treatment of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) regulatory norms. This move aims to provide relief from taxation on unrealised interest income. Key Regulatory Divergence Proposed Changes Under Consideration Government Review Process: Current Status of NPAs: Implications if Accepted: BS
RBI Frontloads Monetary Support Amid Uncertainty – Is This the Terminal Rate?
Context: In an effort to anchor economic confidence amid global uncertainties, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), through its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), delivered a bigger-than-expected policy stimulus in June 2025. Key Policy Announcements (June 2025) RBI’s Recent Liquidity Measures Has the RBI Reached the Terminal Rate? Key Arguments Growth Outlook:
RBI’s 2025 Gold and Silver Lending Guidelines
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified the Lending Against Gold and Silver Collateral Directions, 2025, introducing comprehensive reforms to regulate and standardize gold and silver-backed lending across financial institutions. Key Features of the Directions Implications for India’s Lending Ecosystem BS
India Reaffirms Global Leadership in Climate-Resilient Infrastructure at ICDRI 2025
Event Overview About the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) Funding and Support Core Functions of CDRI India’s 5 Global Priorities at ICDRI 2025
DRUM App
About the DRUM App: Core Objective: Key Features of DRUM: Why DRUM Matters:
MGNREGS Job Demand Rises in May–June 2025
Context: Demand for unskilled jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) surged in May and early June 2025, but economists emphasize this is not necessarily a sign of rural distress. Rather, it reflects a seasonal pattern before the monsoon-led sowing begins. What is MGNREGA ? About Legal Right to Work Demand Driven Scheme Decentralized Planning
The World Bank Revised Global Poverty Line
Context: The World Bank revised the global poverty line to $3/day (PPP 2021) from $2.15/day (PPP 2017). Key Findings: Sharp Decline in Poverty (2011–2023) Why This Matters Revised Poverty Benchmark India’s Poverty Rate in 2024 Trend Summary (Poverty Reduction in India) Year Metric Poverty Rate (%) Benchmark Line 2011–12 Extreme Poverty 27.1 $2.15/day 2011–12 Lower-Middle Income Poverty ~39.7 (est.) $3.65/day 2022–23 Extreme Poverty 2.3 $2.15/day 2022–23 Extreme Poverty 5.3 $3/day (revised) 2024 Population under $3/day 5.44 $3/day (PPP-adjusted) What is Poverty Line? The poverty line represents the minimum income level needed to meet basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. It’s a benchmark used to identify individuals and households struggling to afford these necessities and are thus eligible for government assistance. Implications and Insights TH & Mint
