ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company has launched India’s first Swasthya Pension Scheme, which is being tested in the regulatory sandbox of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. This is a new type of pension scheme, which gives flexibility for medical expenses along with retirement savings. In this scheme, subscribers can withdraw up to 25% of their contribution multiple times for medical needs. There is also a facility for premature closure for more than 70% of the corpus in serious emergency, and payment can be made directly to the hospital. Apollo Hospitals is associated as a healthcare partner, which makes digital payments and services easier. This scheme is not a replacement for health insurance but a supplement. Can this become a new model for future retirement planning? Complete information in this video.

On 11 February 2026, UP Finance Minister Suresh Khanna presented the final budget for the second term of Yogi government. This budget of ₹9.12 lakh crore is being considered as a strong step towards making UP a one trillion dollar economy. Focus is on development, governance and public welfare. GSDP has grown by 13% to reach ₹30.25 lakh crore. Sugarcane payments for farmers, employment mission for youth and higher support for women have been announced. The overall message is clear—growth as well as welfare.

Budget Highlights: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for the financial year 2026-27 in Parliament today. This was his ninth consecutive budget speech, in which he presented the blueprint of ‘Developed India’ to the country, focusing on ‘reforms, investment and youth power’. With revolutionary changes in capital expenditure and infrastructure, this budget has brought many new hopes for the middle class, youth and farmers.

10 biggest and important announcements of Budget 2026:

1. Historic spending on infrastructure

The government has set a budget of ₹12.2 lakh crore, the largest ever allocation for infrastructure development. This is about 9% more than last year. Its main objective is to create new employment opportunities by accelerating the work of roads, bridges and power projects across the country.

2. Network of 7 new high-speed railway corridors

This budget is going to prove revolutionary for the railway sector. The Finance Minister has announced the construction of 7 new high-speed railway corridors in the country. This includes major routes like Delhi-Varanasi, Mumbai-Pune and Pune-Hyderabad. Besides, emphasis has also been laid on expansion of ‘Kavach’ system for the safety of trains.

3. Emphasis on ‘girl hostel’ and education in every district

To ease the path of women empowerment and education, the government has set a big target of building at least one girls hostel in every district of the country. Additionally, ‘Destination Digital Knowledge Grid’ will be established for students, which will provide high quality education in digital form.

4. Health: Cancer-sugar medicines cheaper and 3 new AIIMS

Giving relief to the common man, the government has proposed to reduce import duty and other taxes on medicines for serious diseases like cancer and diabetes, which will make these medicines cheaper. Also, 5 new Regional Medical Centers will be opened in collaboration with the private sector. Apart from this, three new AIIMS will also be built in the country.

5. Launch of India Semiconductor Mission 2.0

‘Semiconductor Mission 2.0’ has been launched with an investment of ₹40,000 crore to make India a global chip manufacturing hub. This will not only increase domestic electronics production but will also strengthen Indian Intellectual Property (IP) in chip designing.

6. ‘Bharat Vistar’: The magic of AI for farmers

To digitalize the agriculture sector, the government has announced the launch of a multilingual AI tool named ‘Bharat Vistar’. It will provide farmers with accurate information about crop health, weather forecast and market prices in their own language.

7. Relief to middle class in TCS, no change in income tax

There is a big relief news for taxpayers. TCS (Tax Collected at Source) on study, treatment and tour packages abroad has been reduced from 5% to 2%. Apart from this, the deadline for filing revised ITR has been extended from December 31 to March 31, giving taxpayers an additional 3 months to correct their mistakes. However, no change has been made in the income tax slab.

8. ₹10,000 crore ‘growth fund’ for MSMEs

A special ‘SME Growth Fund’ of ₹10,000 crore has been created to promote Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). Also, a special fund of ₹40,000 crore has been allocated for electronics manufacturing so that small entrepreneurs can also become part of the global supply chain.

9. Climate action and ‘green’ connectivity

₹20,000 crore has been allocated for ‘Carbon Absorption and Utilization Scheme’ towards environmental protection. 20 new national waterways will be started in the next 5 years to increase connectivity, which will make freight transportation cheaper and pollution free.

10. 7% GDP growth target and 16th Finance Commission

The government has set a target of GDP growth of 7% for the financial year 2026-27. The Finance Minister also mentioned the report of the 16th Finance Commission, which will make the revenue sharing between the Center and the states more transparent and equitable.

Budget 2026 clearly seems to strike a balance between new technology (AI and semiconductors) and healing old wounds (expensive medicines and lack of infrastructure). It has been prepared keeping in mind both the pockets of the middle class and the pace of the country.

Budget 2026: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 today in the newly constructed ‘Kartavya Bhawan’. In this budget presented amid global uncertainties, the government has indicated a major strategic change in governance and economic planning. In his address, the Finance Minister outlined the ‘Three Duties’ (Kartavya), which will be the basis of the government’s roadmap for the upcoming financial year.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that the government will focus on three goals to realize the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.

What are these three duties of government?

Economic Sovereignty and Development: The first duty is to accelerate and sustain economic growth by enhancing productivity and competitiveness, so that India’s economy remains resilient amid global fluctuations.

Fulfillment of people’s aspirations: The second duty is to fulfill the aspirations of the citizens and build their capacity, so that they can become strong partners in the prosperity of the country.

Equitable Distribution of Resources: The third duty is to ensure that every family, community and region has access to resources and opportunities, so that the goal of inclusive development can be achieved.

This time’s budget is also being considered special because it is his ninth consecutive budget. With this achievement, she has become one of the few finance ministers who have presented the budget the most number of times.

The importance of the budget increased from political and economic point of view

People’s expectations from this budget have also increased a lot. The possibility of new announcements for farmers, students and middle class is being expressed. Apart from this, indications from the Economic Survey have shown that in this time’s budget the government can focus more on areas like employment, development and social security. Apart from this, big announcements can also be made for some election states, due to which the importance of the budget has increased from both political and economic point of view.

Experts believe that these goals announced from ‘Kartavya Bhawan’ will not only bring economic stability but will also strengthen the social infrastructure. This budget is being considered as a decisive step towards making India a ‘developed India’ by 2047.

All the countries in the world give special importance to education because everyone knows that only an educated citizen builds a country and creates the future of the country. All over the world, education is considered the foundation of developed countries and that is why different nations create a huge network of schools and colleges at their own level. However, an interesting question always remains in discussion, after all, which country has the highest number of schools and colleges in the world? And where does India rank in this list?

India’s population and education needs

India comes seventh in the world and number 1 in the world in terms of population. According to the survey, 46.9% of the total population of India is below 25 years of age, which makes India a young country. With such a large population receiving education, is the network or number of educational institutions in our country big enough to provide education to such a huge population?

Highest educational institute in India

You will be proud to know that India has the largest number of educational institutions (schools, colleges, universities) in the world. After India comes the United States and China. It is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records that the number of secondary schools in India is the highest in the whole world, where 139,539 educational institutions are available for children or students from class 9th to 12th, which shows that India is completely aware of education.

Total number of schools in India

There are approximately 15 lakh schools in India, which include schools at all levels of primary, upper primary, secondary and higher secondary, which are providing education to the vast population of India.

Higher education institutions of India

India also has a large number of institutions of higher education (colleges and universities) that are responsible for the future of India’s students, among which IITs, IIMs, NITs and IISC Bengaluru are elite and known throughout the world for their quality of education. There are more than 12,700 higher education institutions in the country, including more than 4,000 recognized universities. In some sources this number is also stated to be 5,000 to 8,000 universities.

America’s educational institutions

The number of higher educational institutions in the United States is approximately 4000, but according to the 2023 24 report, the number of higher educational institutions in America, which include higher degrees like Bachelor’s Degree and sometimes Master’s and Doctorate (PhD), is approximately 5,819. America is the first choice of every student in the world for higher education. There are world famous educational institutions here, which include world famous universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, Columbia.

China’s higher educational institutions

China ranks third in the world in the number of higher educational institutions. According to China’s Ministry of Education, there are 3,117 universities, colleges and other institutions of higher education, including 1,308 universities and colleges and 1,560 vocational and technical colleges, including major educational institutions such as Tsinghua University and Peking University.

Also read: Demonetization: Who takes the decision to demonetize old notes and introduce new notes in India, what is the process?

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Amidst the assembly elections in Bihar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president J.P. While addressing a public meeting in Bhojpur on Tuesday (November 4), Nadda made a scathing attack on the opposition and praised the development of Bihar under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. Nadda said that jungle raj, goonda raj and kidnapping are the identity of RJD, whereas today’s Bihar is running on the track of development.

He said, “20 years ago, Bihar was immersed in darkness, there was no electricity, law and order was in bad shape, but today due to the hard work of Nitish Kumar ji, the state is creating a new identity of development. This is the golden period of Bihar and the beginning of a bright future.”

JP Nadda made this appeal to the people

Nadda appealed to the people to consider this election as an election of development and stability. He said, “Today the vehicle of development of Bihar is back on track and is now moving forward rapidly. It should not be stopped but should be strengthened. We have traveled in Bihar from lantern to LED and today this is the era of LED.”

The BJP president further said, “20 years ago, people used to go to generator vendors to get their mobile phones charged and pay Rs 10, because there was no electricity in their homes, but now there is electricity for 23 to 24 hours in every village.” He also added that today YouTubers are being prepared in the villages of Bihar, because the Modi government has connected more than 5,000 panchayats to the internet.

Emphasis on women empowerment

Referring to the schemes of Modi government and the state government, Nadda said that under the Women Employment Scheme, an assistance amount of Rs 10,000 has been given to the women of Bihar. He said that after the formation of the NDA government, Rs 2 lakh will be sent to the accounts of the women of Bihar, so that they can become self-reliant and get involved in self-employment.

targeted the opposition

Nadda said that during the RJD government, Bihar was known for fear, corruption and kidnapping. Today’s government is a symbol of development, good governance and stability. He said that the opposition only does politics of caste and familyism, whereas BJP believes in politics of public service and development.

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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar fiercely targeted BJP MP Tejashwi Surya. Responding to Tejashwi’s allegations, DK Shivakumar has asked him to show his contribution for Bengaluru. The BJP MP has accused the Congress government of Karnataka of neglecting the development of the state in the last two years.

Talking to journalists, DK Shivakumar said how much money has this MP received for Karnataka? How many times has he met the Prime Minister to ask for funds for the development of Bengaluru? He further said that I am asking about special grant. The people of Bengaluru have voted for him. He should show his contribution for Bengaluru.

Tejashwi Surya had raised questions regarding potholes in Bengaluru

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya had criticized the Karnataka Congress government over potholes on the roads of Bengaluru and appealed to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to give priority to improving the condition of the roads. DK Shivakumar said on Friday that the state government has asked the Andhra Pradesh government to conduct a high-level inquiry into the Kurnool bus fire tragedy.

What did DK Shivakumar say on Kurnool bus accident?

Speaking to reporters, he said, “The Kurnool bus accident is sad and unfortunate. Recently, there was another similar incident involving a Green Line bus. The 20 medical students on board the bus were saved after our Raichur Congress President informed the driver. The Andhra Pradesh Police did not take any action then. We are asking the Home Minister and the Transport Minister to take necessary precautions in Karnataka as well.”

He said, “The negligence in this case is clearly visible, hence it is necessary to investigate it. This is not a small incident and we have to ensure that such incidents do not happen in future.”

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anita said on Friday that 19 people, including 2 minors, were burnt to death when a bus going from Hyderabad to Bengaluru collided with a motorcycle and caught fire.

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Richest Village: Whenever we think of Indian villages, lush green fields, simple houses and a simple lifestyle come to our mind. But today we are going to tell you about a village which has become the richest village not only in India but in the entire Asian continent. Let us know complete information about this village.

a unique village

We are talking about Madhapur, a small village situated near Bhuj in Kutch district of Gujarat. This village with a population of about 32000 is very famous because of its grand bungalows, wide roads and modern infrastructure. The residents here have a total fixed deposit amount of more than Rs 7000 crore deposited in different banks. There would be no harm in saying that the people here really live like kings.

Here you will not find dusty roads or rural huts, but you will also find big houses, lakes, schools, colleges, health centers and temples. There are 17 big banks in this village including SBI, HDFC, ICICI and PNB.

NRI dominance

The secret of this village’s prosperity lies in its people. In fact, about 65% of the population of this village lives abroad. These people are settled in America, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and African countries. Many of them work in the construction and business sectors in African countries. Every year, crores of rupees of money comes to Madhapur, due to which the development and prosperity here is getting a lot of boost.

What is the connection with London?

This village also has a big connection with London. Actually, Madhapur Gram Sangh located in London connects the global NRI community. This organization plays a big role in money making efforts and supporting development projects in the country. Along with this, the special thing about the people of this village is that the money here is used not only for personal luxuries but also in community development projects. This village offers a wonderful blend of tradition and modernity. Here you will get to see deep cultural roots as well as the sparkle of modernity. Looking at this village it becomes clear that if the people of the village work together for development and progress then how a small village can achieve global recognition.

The defense cooperation between India and the United States is about to achieve a new dimension amidst the tariff threats of US President Donald Trump. The deal of 6 additional P-8i Maritime Petrol Aircraft for the Indian Navy between the two countries is almost fixed. This deal is about 4 billion dollars. For this, a delegation of America will reach Delhi from September 16 to 19.

Important role of US delegation
This delegation will include officers of US Department of Defense and Boeing. In addition, officials of the Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Navy International Program Office (NIPO), Maritime Petrol and Recognition Aircraft Program Office (PMA 290) and Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) will also participate in it. NIPO handles global maritime partnerships while PMA is helpful in 290 aircraft acquisition and support.

Indian Navy’s growing requirements
The Indian Navy currently has 12 P-8i aircraft. In view of China’s growing military influence in the Indian Ocean Region, the Navy needs 6 more aircraft to strengthen its surveillance and anti-Sabarine capacity. Apart from this, the Navy is also using MQ-9B drone, which will provide a total of 31 drones by 2029.

Technical characteristics and strategic importance
According to India Today report, P-8i aircraft are capable of long distance monitoring and detection of submarines. It can fly from a height of 41,000 feet and can cover a distance of up to 8,300 kilometers. It can also carry anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, light torpedo and anti-sabmerine warfare charge. The MQ-9B drone will be helpful in the real-time surveillance of the Indian Ocean Region.

Indo-US relations are not affected
Recently, the high tariff imposed by the US on India for buying oil from Russia has not affected this defense agreement. In February, a joint statement released during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to America was clear that the deal is in the final stages.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a 2 -day Gujarat tour from today (August 25, 2025). During this time, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of development schemes worth more than Rs 5400 crore in the state including Ahmedabad. PM Modi will hold a public meeting at Khodaldham Maidan in Ahmedabad at 6 pm on Monday evening. On August 26, Suzuki Motor Plant in Hansalpur will reach the local production of hybrid battery electrodes here.

PM Modi will introduce exports to more than 100 countries of Suzuki’s first global electric car E-Vitara, including many countries in Europe and Japan. In the railway area, PM Modi will inaugurate projects worth more than Rs 1400 crore, including doubling of Mahesana-Palanpur railroad, Kalol-Kadi-Katosan Road (37 km) and Bichraji-Runuj (40 km) rail lines.

Inauguration of electricity distribution projects worth more than 1000 crores

To improve road connectivity, PM Modi will inaugurate Viramgam-Khudad-Rampura Road widening. Along with this, the foundation stone of the six-lane underpass on Ahmedabad-Mahesana-Palanpur Road and the foundation stone of the railway overbridge on Ahmedabad-Virmagam Road will also be laid. In the energy sector, PM Modi will inaugurate the power distribution projects of more than Rs 1000 crore of North Gujarat Electricity Company Limited (UGVCL). These projects will modernize power supply and reduce the problem of disrupting electricity in bad weather.

Redevelopment of slums

In PM Modi’s visit, urban development will also get big gifts. Under the PM Awas Yojana (Urban) in Ahmedabad, the slums of Ramapir No Tekri area will be redeveloped. Along with this, the foundation of Sardar Patel Ring Road widening, projects related to water and sewer management of the city, new stamps and registration building in Ahmedabad West and State Level Data Storage Center in Gandhinagar will be laid. These projects will not only strengthen civil services but will also give a new direction to digital governance.

The program of Hansalpur is considered to be an important link for this visit, as PM Modi will not only start the global export of Suzuki’s electric car E-Vitara but will also launch local production of hybrid battery electrode in TDS Lithium-ion battery plant (Toshiba, Deno and Suzuki’s joint project).

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