Aatmanirbhar Panchayat Scheme
- Background: To strengthen the financial independence of Panchayats by encouraging them to undertake sustainable and income-generating projects, the Ministry of Panchayat Raj has launched the ‘Aatmanirbhar Panchayat Scheme’.
About the Scheme
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- The Atmanirbhar Panchayat Scheme is a national level challenge initiative launched by the Ministry of Panchayat Raj.
- The scheme supports eligible Gram Panchayats and Block Panchayats in planning and implementing financially sustainable projects that are self-revenue generating.
- The scheme is implemented as part of the ‘Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan’.
Key Features
- Eligibility
- A Gram Panchayat should have a minimum own revenue of ₹50 lakhs.
- A Block Panchayat should have a minimum own revenue of ₹1 crore.
- The participating Panchayats should have at least three years remaining in their term.
- Approval of Gram Sabha
- Project proposals should include documentary evidence of approval of Gram Sabha.Proposals are not allowed to be submitted without the written approval of Gram Sabha.
- Project Allocation:
- First Year: Up to 50 project proposals will be selected from across the country.
- Years 2, 3 and 4: Up to 100 proposals will be accepted each year.
- Each state can submit a maximum of 10 proposals in the first year and 20 proposals annually from years 2 to 4.
- Support for winners:
- Selected Panchayats will be provided with comprehensive technical support including planning, design and implementation to ensure successful operation and long-term financial sustainability of the project.
NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem)
- Context: The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment celebrated the 3rd ‘NAMASTE’ Day on July 14, 2023, to mark the completion of three years since the launch of the ‘National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem’ scheme.
About NAMASTE Scheme
- NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) is a government scheme aimed at improving the safety, health and dignity of sewer and septic tank cleaning workers.
- The scheme seeks to make the job safer and more dignified by introducing mechanized cleaning methods instead of manual sanitation work.
Key Features
- Ministries concerned:
- The scheme is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
- Implementing Agency:
- It is implemented by the ‘National Sanitation Workers Fund and Development Corporation’ under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- Duration:
- The scheme is being implemented for three years from the financial years 2023–24 to 2025–26.
Objectives of the scheme
- To completely eliminate deaths during sanitation activities.
- To eliminate manual handling of human waste.
- To ensure that sewage and septic tank cleaning work is carried out by trained workers using machinery and proper protective equipment.
- To strengthen ‘Emergency Sanitation Units’ to respond quickly to health emergencies.
- To promote economic empowerment of sanitation workers through self-help groups, skill development and support for self-employment or entrepreneurship.
Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) 2026
- Context:Under Make in India, electronics manufacturing has grown 7 times and exports 11 times since FY 2014–15.
- India is the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer by volume. 99.2% of mobile phones used in India are manufactured domestically.
- Smartphones became India’s largest export product in 2025, surpassing diesel fuel and cut diamonds.
- The PLI Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (PLI-LSEM) played a key role in boosting mobile manufacturing and exports; its tenure ended on 31 March 2026.
About MPMS
- Union Cabinet approved Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with a ₹62,500 crore outlay.
- Scheme duration: 5 years (FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31).
- Objective:
- Scale up mobile phone production.
- Increase domestic value addition.
- Strengthen supply chains.
- Enhance global competitiveness.
- Build Indian brands, promote design, R&D, patents, and technological sovereignty.
- Incentives:
- 2.25%–5% on eligible mobile phone sales.
- Up to 1.5% additional incentive for domestic sourcing of key components/sub-assemblies.
- 3% additional incentive for Indian brands investing in design and R&D.
