Economy

The importance of NSVs lies in their ability to turn road inspection from a slow manual process into a fast, evidence-based digital system. Earlier, highway surveys could cover only 20 to 80 km in a day. With the new technology, NSVs can survey up to 300 km per day, allowing defects to be detected quickly and repair action to begin faster. This speed matters because potholes, surface cracks and uneven road patches directly affect passenger comfort, vehicle safety and accident risk.

PM Vishwakarma is built around the three pillars of Samman, Samarthya and Samriddhi. Through OSOP, the government is focusing on the Samriddhi pillar by helping artisans sell their products in busy railway locations. These outlets increase visibility, create better sales opportunities and support sustainable livelihoods for artisans who often struggle to reach larger markets.

The strength of Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra lies in its simplicity. Farmers do not need to install a new app, visit an office, or wait for field-level support. They can save the number +91 4024598180 on WhatsApp and ask questions in any Indian language. The chatbot provides free, instant and research-based answers on crops such as groundnut, mustard, sesame, sunflower, soybean, niger and other oilseeds. Its advisory covers variety selection, crop management, pest and disease control, irrigation practices, post-harvest handling and seed availability.

VivaTech 2026 will be held from June 17 to 20 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. The event brings together startups, investors, governments, innovators, technology companies and global industry leaders. India’s presence at the event will be led by the India Trade Promotion Organisation, with participation from key government departments, startups, unicorns, investors and digital enterprises. The message is clear: India is moving from being a major technology market to becoming a technology shaper.

Passenger vehicles emerged as the biggest growth driver. Retail sales in this segment rose 23.25% year-on-year to 4,02,591 units, supported by strong rural buying, new launches, healthy booking pipelines, a revival in small cars and sustained demand for SUVs. Rural passenger vehicle sales grew 30.35%, far ahead of the 18.80% growth recorded in urban markets. This is an important signal because it shows that India’s smaller towns and rural districts are now shaping the country’s car market with increasing force.

CGSMFI-2.0 was introduced by the Central Government on March 20, 2026. The scheme provides guarantee cover to banks and financial institutions through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited against expected losses on financial assistance extended to NBFC-MFIs and MFIs. These institutions then lend the funds onward to small borrowers. As of the latest update, loans worth ₹770 crore have already been sanctioned under the scheme.

GeM was created to make government buying more transparent, faster and more accessible. The platform allows central ministries, state departments, public sector undertakings and other government-linked institutions to buy goods and services through a digital system. Digital India describes GeM as a unified platform for end-to-end procurement, built on the principles of efficiency, transparency and inclusivity.

The timing of the move is important because the monsoon season places heavy pressure on highway drainage systems. Waterlogging, blocked drains, silt accumulation and damaged road shoulders can reduce road safety and affect traffic movement. By mandating mechanized cleaning of lined drains in urban and built-up areas of National Highways and Expressways, NHAI is giving drainage maintenance a more preventive and time-bound structure.