World Bank Archives - National Times

21 Aug

Haryana to Launch Rs 5,714 Crore ‘Water Secure Haryana’ Programme with World Bank Support

Balwinder Singh0 CommentsHaryanaCrop Diversification, DSR, Shyam Singh Rana, Water Secure Haryana, Waterlogging, World Bank

Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): The Haryana government will implement the "Water Secure Haryana" programme to strengthen long-term water security and promote sustainable, climate-smart agricultural practices across the state, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana announced on Friday. Presiding over a departmental review meeting in Chandigarh alongside senior agricultural officials, the minister outlined a comprehensive framework aimed at reclaiming degraded farmland, enhancing water efficiency, and raising farmers' incomes by reducing the acreage under water-intensive crops. The initiative focuses on reclaiming waterlogged and saline-affected agricultural land through sub-surface and vertical drainage systems, alongside promoting crop diversification and modern water-saving techniques. Under…

13 Aug

Haryana Cabinet Approves Rs 5,714-Crore World Bank-Funded ‘Water Secure Haryana Program’

Balwinder Singh0 CommentsPunjabHaryana Cabinet, Irrigation Infrastructure, Nayab Singh Saini, Water Secure Haryana Program, World Bank

Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): The Haryana Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, has approved the ambitious 'Water Secure Haryana Program' (WSHP) to address the state's growing water challenges and strengthen climate resilience. Estimated at a total cost of Rs 5,714.80 crore, the project includes a Rs 4,000.36 crore loan from the World Bank, with the remaining Rs 1,714.44 crore funded by the state government. The integrated water sector initiative aims to benefit approximately 45 lakh people across 15 priority irrigation clusters covering nearly 48.94 lakh acres of culturable command area. The multi-departmental project will focus on tackling depleting groundwater…

05 Aug

Haryana Partners with World Bank for AI-Driven Governance and Skill Development

Balwinder Singh0 CommentsHaryanaDigital Governance, Haryana AI, Korea Digital Summit, Nayab Singh Saini, Parivar Pehchan Patra, World Bank

Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh) — Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met with a delegation from the World Bank on Wednesday to accelerate artificial intelligence implementation, digital governance, skill development, and data-driven administrative systems across the state. During the session in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister reiterated that the state government aims to leverage advanced technologies to increase administrative transparency, expedite public service delivery, and enhance decision-making tools for civil servants. The World Bank delegation briefed the Chief Minister on the AI Sandbox developed in collaboration with the Haryana government, announcing that its results will be showcased at the Korea Digital Summit…

09 Apr

Haryana Unveils ₹5,715 Crore Water Security Plan to Transform Agricultural Irrigation

nishuthapar10 CommentsHaryanaAnurag Rastogi, Haryana, irrigation reform, Water Secure, World Bank

Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): In a significant push towards long-term water sustainability, Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, on Thursday, chaired a high-level meeting with the World Bank Appraisal Mission, marking a decisive step forward in the implementation of the ambitious ‘Water Secure Haryana’ programme. The programme, with a total outlay of ₹5,715 crore, including a ₹4,000 crore World Bank loan, is aimed at improving the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of agricultural water use across Haryana. Planned over a six-year period, the initiative represents a comprehensive and structured effort to strengthen water management systems in the state. The project will be implemented…

05 Jul

India Becomes World’s 4th Most Equal Society, Says World Bank

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiafinancial inclusion, Gini Index, income equality, India, poverty reduction, World Bank

New Delhi, July 5 — India has emerged as the fourth most equal society in the world, achieving a Gini Index of 25.5, according to the latest data released by the World Bank. The nation now ranks just behind the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Belarus in income equality, outpacing major economies including China, the United States, and all G7 and G20 nations.“It reflects how India’s economic progress is being shared more evenly across its population,” stated a release from the Ministry of Social Welfare. “Behind this success is a consistent policy focus on reducing poverty, expanding financial access, and delivering…

07 Jun

India’s Extreme Poverty Plummets from 27.1% to 5.3% in Just Over a Decade: World Bank

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, IndiaWorld Bank

New Delhi (National Times): In a landmark revelation, the World Bank has released its June 2025 Poverty Report, highlighting a significant decline in extreme poverty in India. According to the report, the percentage of Indians living in extreme poverty, defined as living on $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), has dropped dramatically from 27.12% in 2011 to just 5.25% in 2022. This translates to a reduction in the number of people living under extreme poverty from 344.41 million in 2011 to 75.22 million in 2022, an achievement that underscores the success of India’s inclusive growth strategies over the past decade. The…