Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE)
▪ Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launches SPREE 2025 to Expand Social Security
Coverage The scheme is active from 1st July to 31st December 2025.
▪ Purpose:
✓ To bring left-out establishments and workers under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme.
✓ Encourages self-registration of: Unregistered employers and Employers who haven’t registered all eligible employees
▪ Employers: Factories/establishments with 10 or more workers in ESI-implemented areas.
▪ Employees: Drawing wages up to ₹21,000/monthTamil Nadu’s.
▪ Key Features:
✓ One-time special initiative
✓ No penalties, no retrospective contribution demands
✓ No inspections for the previous unregistered period
✓ Aimed at regularizing workforce and expanding social security coverage
▪ Ranking: Tamil Nadu ranks second in the country after Maharashtra in the number of insured persons, with nearly 43.77 lakh individuals covered.
Ayush Ministry and FSSAI release a list of ‘Ayurveda Aahara’ food preparations
▪ The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in consultation with the Ayush Ministry, has released a list of Ayurvedic food preparations under the category of Ayurveda Aahara.
▪ It refers to foods developed according to Ayurvedic dietary guidelines, focusing on balance, seasonal suitability, and natural ingredients and herbs with therapeutic benefits.
