Kerala Extends Ayushman Bharat-KASP to 38.9 Lakh 'Missing Middle' Families, May Cost ₹1,200-1,500 Cr Annually

Himachal Pradesh to Launch ₹10 Lakh Health Insurance Scheme for Poor Families – First State to Offer Comprehensive Coverage

Himachal Pradesh is set to launch a new health insurance scheme offering up to ₹10 lakh coverage for poor families at a nominal premium, becoming the first state to do so. This aims to ensure quality healthcare access and reduce the need for residents to travel outside the state for advanced treatment.

MahaRERA Strikes Down Builder's Unilateral Cancellation Clause, Orders Interest from Oct 2023 Under RERA Act

MahaRERA has declared illegal a contractual clause that allowed a builder to unilaterally cancel a flat allotment via Power of Attorney, reinforcing statutory safeguards under the RERA Act. The developer was ordered to pay interest for delayed possession from October 1, 2023. This ruling is a key example of regulatory protection for homebuyers and a must-know for exams covering RERA, consumer rights, and state-level governance.

West Bengal MMSBY: ₹5 Lakh Health Insurance Covering 2,000 Diseases for Underprivileged Families

West Bengal's Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana (MMSBY) provides ₹5 lakh cashless health insurance covering ~2,000 diseases to families with annual income ≤ ₹8 lakh. The scheme integrates with existing Swasthya Sathi and Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, offering free digital cards. Key for exams: state health scheme, income eligibility, disease coverage, and integration with central schemes.

Karnataka Suspends Food Licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket for Selling Poisonous Datura

Karnataka's food safety department has suspended licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket for selling toxic Datura as a food product, posing serious public health risks. This action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 highlights regulatory gaps in e-commerce food sales and the vulnerability of online platforms to illegal products. For exams: testable data includes specific platforms, the poisonous substance, and legal framework.

Drug Sale Norms: 71% in Mumbai Skip Rx Check; FDA Acts on 880 Licenses

A Mumbai survey reveals widespread non-compliance in prescription checks at pharmacies, with 71% of consumers rarely asked for a prescription. This comes alongside the Centre's proposed mandatory CCTV rules and Maharashtra FDA's crackdown on 880 drug licensees, highlighting a critical public health governance gap.

Centre Mandates 60:40 Centre-State Funding Split for VB-G RAM-G Rural Employment Scheme

The Centre has shifted the funding pattern of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (now VB-G RAM-G) from 100% central funding to a 60:40 Centre-State split (90:10 for Himalayan/Northeast states). This marks a major fiscal federalism change, with states allocating full 40% despite political opposition. Essential for Prelims (ratio, scheme name) and Mains (fiscal federalism, rural wage floor).

Delhi Lakshmi Yojana: ₹5,100 Cr Budget, ₹2,500/Month Aid to Women via New Portal

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta launched the online portal for the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana on August 1, 2026, offering eligible women ₹2,500/month. With a ₹5,100 crore budget, the scheme fulfills a key BJP poll promise but includes strict eligibility exclusions and a lock-in component, making it a high-yield topic for welfare scheme-based questions in state and central exams.

Maharashtra FDA Bans Junk Food in Schools: 41 Million Children Overweight, Experts Call for Home Diet Changes

Maharashtra FDA bans sale of HFSS foods (chocolates, chips, sugary drinks, deep-fried snacks) in schools and within 50-metre radius. Doctors welcome the move but emphasize it alone cannot curb childhood obesity without healthier home food, nutrition education, and physical activity. India has 41 million overweight/obese children aged 5-19, as per World Obesity Atlas 2026.