Government Schemes: October to December 2025
1. Winter Session of Parliament: Key Bills Passed
| Bill | Key Provision | Prelims Fact |
|---|---|---|
| The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2025 | Provides 33% reservation for women in state legislative assemblies. Follows the 106th Amendment (2023) which provided reservation in Lok Sabha. Implementation linked to the next delimitation exercise, due after the 2026 Census | 106th Amendment = Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. 33% reservation. Delimitation is the trigger |
| The Mediation Act, 2025 | Gives legal sanctity to mediated settlement agreements. A settlement reached through mediation and signed by parties has the same status as a court decree. Establishes a Mediation Council of India. Mandatory pre-litigation mediation for civil and commercial disputes (not criminal) | Mediation Act. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Lok Adalats under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 |
| The Telecommunications Bill, 2025 | Replaces the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the TRAI Act, 1997. Consolidates telecom regulation. Key feature: spectrum allocation through auction (except for national security and public interest). OTT platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram) brought under telecom regulation | Three colonial-era laws repealed. OTT regulation. TRAI's role redefined |
| The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2025 | Replaces the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. Simplifies registration of newspapers and periodicals. Decriminalises several offences under the old Act. Publishers can register online through a single-window portal | Colonial-era press law repealed. Online registration. Decriminalisation |
2. COP30 Outcomes (Belem, Brazil, November 2025) and India's Implementation
COP30 was held in Belem, Brazil, at the gateway to the Amazon rainforest. It was the "implementation COP" , the focus was on translating pledges into action.
| Outcome | Details |
|---|---|
| NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal) | The new climate finance goal post-2025 was set at $500 billion per year by 2030, replacing the $100 billion goal. Developed countries commit to mobilise this amount from public and private sources. India called the amount "insufficient but a starting point" |
| Global Stocktake follow-up | The first GST (COP28, 2023) found the world was not on track. At COP30, countries updated their NDCs. India submitted an updated NDC: 50% non-fossil capacity by 2030 (unchanged), emissions intensity reduction of 45% by 2030 (unchanged), and a new target: 10% of electricity from nuclear by 2040 |
| Carbon markets (Article 6) | Rules for the global carbon market were finalised. Countries can trade carbon credits. A registry to track credits and prevent double-counting was established. India is expected to be a major seller of carbon credits (through solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects) |
| Loss and Damage Fund | The Fund, established at COP27 (2022), became operational. The World Bank is the interim host. India has not committed to contributing (arguing that historical emitters must fund it), but has also not accessed it (arguing that the fund is for the most vulnerable, not for large developing countries) |
3. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) Integration and the Health Data Debate
The ABDM, launched in 2021, aims to create a digital health ecosystem: a unique health ID (ABHA number) for every citizen, linked health records, and a registry of doctors and health facilities. By December 2025, 55 crore ABHA IDs had been created, and 35 crore health records linked.
The integration of ABDM with the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme (the health insurance scheme) was completed in November 2025. This means every hospitalisation under PM-JAY generates a digital health record linked to the patient's ABHA ID. This creates a longitudinal health record for the poorest 40% of Indians , valuable for public health planning, but raising privacy concerns.
The privacy debate: Who owns the data? The ABDM policy states that the individual owns their health data and must consent to its use. But consent is obtained digitally, often at the point of hospital admission when the patient is in distress. Is this meaningful consent? The DPDP Act, 2023, provides the legal framework for data protection, but its health-sector-specific rules are still being framed. This is a direct Mains topic connecting health policy (GS2) and technology (GS3).
4. Other schemes this quarter
| Scheme | Date | Ministry | Key Provision |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM E-DRIVE Phase II | October 2025 | Heavy Industries | Expanded EV subsidy to cover e-trucks and e-buses for public transport. FAME III scheme. Target: 10,000 e-buses in 100 cities. Budget: ₹10,000 crore |
| National Critical Minerals Mission | November 2025 | Mines | India's first dedicated mission for critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, rare earths). Domestic exploration in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Ladakh. Strategic partnerships with Australia, Argentina, and Chile for lithium supply. Budget: ₹18,000 crore over 5 years |
| PM Vishwakarma Scheme expansion | December 2025 | MSME | Coverage expanded from 18 to 30 traditional trades. Training stipend doubled. Tool kit incentive increased to ₹25,000. Target: 30 lakh artisans and craftspeople by 2028 |