PM Modi Highlights Women's Economic Empowerment and Space Initiatives in Mann ki Baat

Gist Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent address in the 137th episode of Mann ki Baat focused heavily on grassroots social challenges and initiatives driving women’s empowerment. He highlighted the debilitating societal impact of drug addiction while showcasing the tangible successes of micro-credit interventions for female street vendors and international STEM initiatives for young women. For civil services aspirants, this address provides critical examples of financial inclusion and women-led development that can be directly applied to answers on social justice and governance. Background PM SVANidhi Yojana is a Central government scheme designed to provide affordable, collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors and hawkers in urban areas. It was introduced to address the lack of institutional credit available to the informal sector, ensuring they are not prevented from expanding their businesses due to capital constraints. The emphasis on women in STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is a key policy objective to bridge gender gaps in advanced scientific fields. Initiatives like Mission ShaktiSAT serve as practical platforms to involve young girls in high-end space technology, specifically satellite development. Key Pointers Financial…