Explainers

The 24th instalment of PM-KISAN was released on 30 October 2026. A total of Rs 18,690 crore was transferred to 9.34 crore farmers by Direct Benefit Transfer, at Rs 2,000 each. With this, total payouts under the scheme have crossed Rs 4.64 lakh crore over 24 instalments. Key facts Instalment 24th Release date 30 October … Read more

The Constitution gives citizens rights, and it also asks them to carry certain duties. The Fundamental Duties, in Article 51A, remind every citizen to respect the Constitution, protect the country’s unity and environment, and help build a better society. They were not in the original Constitution. This explainer lists all eleven, with their history and … Read more

The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is one of the largest cash transfer schemes for women run by any state. Launched by the Maharashtra government in 2024, it pays eligible women Rs 1,500 every month directly into their bank accounts. With more than two crore women enrolled at its peak and a large verification drive … Read more

The Preamble is the opening statement of the Constitution of India. In a single sentence, it tells us where the Constitution’s authority comes from, what kind of state India is, and what it aims to achieve for its people. Constitutional expert N.A. Palkhivala called it the identity card of the Constitution. This explainer gives the … Read more

For two decades, central government employees who joined after 1 January 2004 were covered only by the market-linked National Pension System (NPS). Many demanded a return to the old pension scheme with its assured payout. The Unified Pension Scheme is the government’s middle path: employees still contribute, but the pension is assured. It was approved … Read more

For retirees who want a regular, safe income, the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme is hard to beat. It pays one of the highest rates among government schemes, the money is backed by the Government of India, and interest arrives every quarter. This guide explains who can invest, how much, and the rules on tax and … Read more

The Public Provident Fund is one of the safest long-term savings options in India. It is backed by the Government of India, the interest is tax-free, and the 15-year lock-in forces discipline. It suits people who want a risk-free part in their portfolio, parents saving for children, and self-employed people who do not have EPF. … Read more

Budget 2026-27 left personal income tax slabs unchanged, so the rates introduced in Budget 2025 continue for the financial year 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. What did change is the law itself. The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the Income-tax Act, 1961 from 1 April 2026, and it uses a single ‘tax year’ in … Read more

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) is the third national education policy since independence, after those of 1968 and 1986 (updated in 1992). It was drafted by a committee led by former ISRO chairman K. Kasturirangan and approved by the Union Cabinet on 29 July 2020. Many people search for a National Education Policy … Read more

India’s labour law used to be spread across 29 central Acts, some dating back to the 1920s, with different definitions of wages, worker and establishment in each. The four labour codes consolidate them. They were passed by Parliament in 2019 and 2020, came into force on 21 November 2025, and the Centre notified its final … Read more