PM Modi clears new initiatives from Seva Teerth office

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi shifted to his new office ‘Seva Teerth’ from the colonial-era South Block building near Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill. 

• The shift came on a day — February 13 — that marked 95 years since the formal inauguration of New Delhi as India’s modern capital in 1931.

• On his first day at Seva Teerth, PM Modi signed files that touch every section of society: farmers, women, youth, and vulnerable citizens.

These initiatives are:

1) PM RAHAT Scheme

The Prime Minister has approved the launch of the PM RAHAT scheme. Under this initiative, accident victims will get cashless treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh, ensuring that no life is lost due to lack of immediate medical help.

2) Doubling of target of Lakhpati Didis to 6 crore

Lakhpati Didi is an initiative of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) with the objective to empower and enable Self-Help Groups (SHG) rural women to earn a minimum income of Rs 1 lakh per annum on a sustainable basis, for at least four agricultural seasons and/or business cycles. The government has crossed the landmark of three crore Lakhpati Didis, more than a year ahead of the original March 2027 timeline. The PM has now set a new, ambitious target of six crore Lakhpati Didis by March 2029, doubling both scale and aspiration.

3) Loan Target of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund doubled to Rs 2 lakh crore

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) plays a key role in strengthening market linkages and value chain management by supporting creation of post-harvest infrastructure like primary processing units, warehouses, cold chains, and collection centres. These facilities help reduce wastage, enhance value addition, and ensure better price realisation for farmers. In a move aimed at strengthening India’s entire agriculture value chain, the PM has announced the doubling of the loan target of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund from Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 2 lakh crore.

4) Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore

The Fund of Funds for Startups Scheme was approved and established in 2016 with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore. The Scheme is operationalized by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) which provides capital to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) who in turn invest in startups. Following the successful utilisation of the first tranche, a second phase of Rs 10,000 crore was sanctioned in the Union Budget for 2025-26. To power India’s innovation ecosystem, especially in deep tech, early-stage ideas, advanced manufacturing and breakthrough technologies, the PM has approved the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)