Archive

1. India has identified 24 critical minerals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements. These minerals are important for electric mobility, battery storage, electronics, telecommunications, defence and clean energy technologies. India’s dependence on imported refined minerals and high-purity materials creates supply-chain risks due to geographically concentrated global processing capacity.

2. The CAPEX Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing was approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 November 2026. It has a total financial outlay of ₹2,814 crore and will operate for five years, from FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31. The scheme is fully funded through budgetary support from the Government of India and aims to strengthen domestic lithium and nickel processing capabilities.

1. India’s manufacturing sector contributes approximately 16–17% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs over 27 million workers. The National Manufacturing Mission aims to increase manufacturing’s share of GDP to 25% by 2035. Medium- and high-technology industries account for 46.3% of manufacturing value addition, reflecting the growing importance of technology-intensive manufacturing.

2. Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) was approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026 and notified on 10 April 2026, with a total financial outlay of ₹33,660 crore. The scheme aims to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India to expand manufacturing capacity, attract investment, support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), strengthen supply chains, generate employment and improve ease of doing business.

1. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women aged 15 years and above increased from 23.3% in 2017–18 to 40.0% in 2025, while the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) rose from 22.0% to 38.8%. Approximately 20 crore women aged 15 years and above were employed in India in 2025. LFPR measures the proportion of people working or seeking or available for work, while WPR measures the proportion actually employed.

2. As of October 2026, approximately 3.69 crore registered Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were women-owned, accounting for nearly 38% of total MSME registrations. By March 2026, more than 1.07 lakh recognised startups had at least one woman director or partner, representing approximately 48% of all recognised startups.

Sub-National Financial Discipline and Freebie Politics
Sub-national financial discipline and freebie politics are important issues in India’s fiscal governance. The central concern is balancing the constitutional commitment to social welfare with long-term fiscal sustainability and macroeconomic stability.

PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy (NLP) function as “double engines” driving India’s structural transformation in infrastructure and supply chain efficiency. While PM Gati Shakti serves as the National Master Plan for physical, multi-modal infrastructure planning, the National Logistics Policy provides the soft infrastructure, policy framework, and digital ecosystem required to optimize operations and slash costs.

1. The Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) was approved on 18 April 2026 and formally launched on 12 May 2026.

2. BMIP is India’s first domestic maritime insurance pool, with an underwriting capacity of ₹13,906.50 crore (USD 1.5 billion).

1. Make in India was launched on 25 September 2014 to develop India as a global hub for manufacturing, design and innovation.

2. Make in India 2.0 now focuses on 27 sectors, including 15 manufacturing sectors and 12 service sectors.

1. The National Single Window System (NSWS) was launched on 22 September 2021.

2. NSWS is implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

1. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) was launched in 2020 to transform India’s fisheries sector.

2. PMMSY is built on the objectives of the Blue Revolution and focuses on production, infrastructure, livelihoods and sustainability.

1. The Government approved the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 on 5 May 2026 to support businesses affected by external economic disruptions.

2. ECLGS 5.0 is implemented by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC).