Resource Type: India Focus Notes

To check overexploitation of groundwater in Punjab, the state government launched an innovative pilot for Direct Benefit Transfer in Electricity (DBTE), “Paani Bachao, Paise Kamao” (Save water, earn money). This note highlights the on-ground challenges in the implementation of the pilot and the way forward.

This note discusses how free power to the agriculture sector has led to the overexploitation of groundwater in India. It highlights the case of Punjab, where the government launched Paani Bachao, Paise Kamao (Save water, earn money), an innovative pilot program for Direct Benefit Transfer in Electricity (DBTE), to address the rapidly declining water tables in the state.

India is home to 146 million farmers, 86% of which are small and marginal farmers. Although agriculture is a key economic activity in India and employs almost 55% of the population, access to finance remains a challenge for most farmers, especially the small and marginal ones.

Driven by the government’s financial inclusion agenda, as the BC model expands in multiple forms, banks and BCNMs are experiencing new consumer demand and expectations.

This note highlights the survey conducted by MicroSave, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to understand customers’ experience with PMJDY.

This publication talks about the primary problem plaguing the education system in India and discusses a few innovative solutions to help improve the situation of public education in the country.