In Paikmal block of Odisha’s Bargarh district, a quiet renovation is underway. Anganwadi centres — the community childcare that anchor India’s early childhood system — are being repainted with alphabet murals, fitted with interactive number walls, and stocked with teaching-learning materials, NITI Aayog said in a July 18 update on the initiative. The upgrade sits…
On 17 July 2026, NITI Aayog launched the ‘Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)’, a key measure to consolidate India’s federal structure. Instituted on directions of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, at the 9th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in July 2024, this Index was also announced by the Union Budget 2025-26 and aims at establishing…
With the 2030 deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fast approaching, India finds itself in a complicated position. Looking closely at the country’s progress shows a mix of massive success in infrastructure alongside deep inequalities between different states and a huge funding problem. The latest UN Sustainable Development Report 2026 places India at the…
Οn a sweltering July afternoon in 2022, as India prepared to take over the G20 presidency, its newly appointed Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, stood at the center of New Delhi’s diplomatic storm. For the seasoned bureaucrat, it was less an initiation than a continuation of another milestone in a career defined by ambitious programs, high-stakes negotiations,…
India’s Aspirational Blocks Programme has achieved a major milestone, with 150+ blocks reaching 100% saturation in key welfare indicators, marking a shift from intent to measurable outcomes.The data-driven model, backed by strong governance and partnerships, is now emerging as a scalable blueprint for nationwide development. India’s flagship grassroots governance initiative is producing its most concrete…
NITI Aayog and UNICEF India have partnered to improve maternal and child nutrition in Aspirational Districts through strengthened Anganwadi centres, frontline worker training, and CSR-supported initiatives. The collaboration aims to boost health outcomes and create scalable models for underserved regions. India’s policy think tank NITI Aayog has signed a Statement of Intent with UNICEF India…
NITI Aayog and UNICEF have partnered to improve maternal and child nutrition in India’s Aspirational Districts and Blocks through better healthcare delivery, awareness campaigns, and CSR-funded nutrition initiatives. The collaboration will also strengthen Anganwadi infrastructure, enhance ICDS services, and build the capacity of frontline workers to improve nutrition outcomes in underserved regions. India has taken…
PHASE 1: EARLY LIFE, FOUNDATIONS AND ENTRY INTO PUBLIC SERVICE The journey of Parameswaran Iyer in to public administration began much earlier than when he became one of the most widely recognised reformers in India’s sanitation and water sector. Born on 16 April 1959 in Srinagar, he grew up in an environment shaped by discipline…
On a sweltering July afternoon in 2022, as India prepared to take over the G20 presidency, its newly appointed Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, stood at the center of New Delhi’s diplomatic storm. For the seasonedbureaucrat, it was less an initiation than a continuation – another milestone in a career defined by ambitious programs, high-stakes negotiations, and…
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced the appointment of Archna Vyas as its new Country Director for India, marking a significant leadership transition for one of the world’s most influential philanthropic organisations. Vyas will succeed Hari Menon, who has led the Gates Foundation’s India Country Office since 2019 and will move into a…
