BUILDING INDUSTRY, LIVELIHOODS AND BETTER CITIES

BHAVYA Scheme to Develop 100 Industrial Parks with Rs. 33,660 Crore Investment


BHAVYA SCHEME India has taken a significant step toward strengthening its manufacturing base with the release of detailed operational guidelines for the BHAVYA Scheme by the Department for Promotion of Industryand Internal Trade (DPIIT). Designed as a flagship industrial infrastructure initiative, the scheme aims to create investment-ready industrial ecosystems BHARATAUDYOGK VIKAS YOJNA that can attract large-scale manufacturing investments and support the country's long-term economic growth. With a total outlay of approximately Rs. 33,660 crore, the BHAVYA Scheme will support the development of 100 industrial parks across India over a six-year period from 2026-27 to 2031-32. In its first phase, up to 50 industrial parks will be selected through a challenge-based competitive process, ensuring that only the most viable and strategically located projects receive support. The scheme aligns with key national initiatives such as Make in India and PM Gati Shakti, while reinforcing the government's broader objective of positioning India as a globally competitive manufacturing destination. The focus is not merely on creating industrial land banks but on developing integrated industrial ecosystems that are ready for immediate investment and operations. Under the guidelines, both greenfield and eligible brownfield industrial parks can be considered. The minimum land requirement has been fixed at 100 acres for most states, while hilly states, northeastern states, Union Territories and smaller states can qualify with a minimum of 25 acres. The framework also allows for the development of larger industrial parks of up to 1,000 acres.

Over 75.5 Lakh Street Vendors Benefit from PM SVANidhi PM SVANidhi


Six years after its launch, PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) has emerged as one of India's most impactful financial inclusion programmes, helping millions of street vendors access affordable credit, digital services and social security benefits. Launched in June 2020 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the scheme was designed to support street vendors whose livelihoods were severely affected during the pandemic. Since then, it has evolved into a nationwide initiative that has brought informal workers into the formal financial system while strengthening their economic resilience. Marking the sixth anniversary of the scheme in Agartala, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal highlighted its growing impact across the country. According to official data, more than 75.5 lakh street vendors have benefited under PM SVANidhi, with over 1.05 crore loans sanctioned and more than Rs. 17,800 crore disbursed. The scheme offers collateral-free working capital loans, enabling vendors to expand their businesses and improve income opportunities. Its impact has been particularly significant among women entrepreneurs. So far, 34.81 lakh women street vendors have benefited from the programme, while over 51 lakh loans have been disbursed to women beneficiaries. Beyond access to credit, PM SVANidhi has encouraged digital adoption and financial inclusion. More than 55 lakh vendors have been digitally onboarded, and many have joined the banking system for the first time. The programme has also facilitated access to several government welfare schemes through the SVANidhi Se Samriddhi initiative, benefiting more than 50 lakh vendor families.

Nearly 43 Acres of Land Recovered from Bhalswa Dumpsite


SWACHH BHARAT MISSION-URBAN 20 The transformation of Delhi's Bhalswa Dumpsite has reached a significant stage, with nearly 43 acres of land reclaimed through ongoing remediation efforts under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited the site to review the progress of legacy waste remediation being carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). This marked his second on-site inspection since the dumpsite was adopted under the Dumpsite Remediation and Action Plan (DRAP), a nationwide initiative aimed at scientifically clearing legacy waste and achieving the goal of "Lakshya Zero Dumpsites." Bhalswa, one of Delhi's largest landfill sites, contained nearly 73 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste in June 2022. Since the launch of biomining operations in July 2022, waste processing has been carried out on a mission mode basis, with around 15,000 metric tonnes being treated every day.

As of May 2026, the remaining waste volume has been reduced to approximately 23.17 lakh metric tonnes. The sustained remediation effort has enabled the recovery of nearly 43 acres from the site's total area of around 70 acres. Officials informed the minister that scientific waste treatment methods, environmental safeguards and land restoration measures are being implemented simultaneously to reduce environmental risks and improve living conditions in surrounding neighbourhoods. During the review, the minister assessed biomining operations, fire prevention systems, leachate management and the overall roadmap for completing the project. He directed authorities to ensure full remediation of the Bhalswa landfill by September and stressed the need to process fresh waste immediately to prevent the creation of new waste mounds. He also emphasized that reclaimed land should be used carefully for public amenities and community welfare, ensuring that the environmental gains achieved through remediation translate into long-term benefits for residents.