Digital Governance
LIC-Sahaj Insurance Partnership
LIC partnered with Sahaj Insurance Services to expand life insurance penetration in rural and semi-urban areas through assisted digital services. This collaboration aims to bridge the insurance gap in underserved regions with low literacy rates.
Business & Economy
BSE BANKEX Reconstitution
Four banks were added to BSE BANKEX: Canara Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, Punjab National Bank, and Union Bank of India. The revised weighting caps the top three stocks at 45% and top five at 60% to reduce concentration risk.
Energy & Infrastructure
India’s Fuel Retail Network
India became the world’s third-largest fuel retail market after the US and China, crossing 1 lakh outlets. State-owned OMCs, led by IOCL, drove expansion into rural and remote areas.
Environment & Wildlife
Gujarat Reinstated as Tiger State
Gujarat was reinstated as a tiger-bearing state based on sustained camera-trap and CCTV evidence of a nearly four-year-old tiger’s stable presence in Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, indicating permanent habitation.
Labour & Social Security
EPFO Modernisation Initiative
The government plans to modernise EPFO offices on the lines of Passport Seva Kendras, creating technology-enabled, citizen-friendly single-window service centres for provident fund services.
Culture & Heritage
Odisha’s Dhanu Yatra Festival
Dhanu Yatra is unique because the entire town of Bargarh transforms into Mathura, with streets and public spaces becoming live performance stages for episodes from Krishna’s life. It’s one of the world’s largest open-air theatrical events.
Defence & Security
National Firearms Database
India’s first national database for lost, looted and recovered government firearms is hosted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). It enables real-time tracking of weapon origin, movement, and recovery history.
Science & Biodiversity
New Species Discovery in Sikkim
ZSI discovered Neelus sikkimensis, a soil-dwelling micro-arthropod in high-altitude Sikkim. This marks the first record of genus Neelus in India and adds to global species diversity of this ancient lineage.
Financial Inclusion
Last-Mile Insurance Access
The LIC-Sahaj partnership exemplifies assisted digital models for financial inclusion, helping underserved populations with low literacy access insurance services through last-mile connectivity networks.
Public Administration
Service Delivery Reforms
The EPFO modernisation reflects broader public service delivery reforms aimed at creating technology-driven, user-friendly government offices that reduce bureaucratic hassles and improve citizen experience.