Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana aims to provide physical aids and assisted-living devices for senior citizens belonging to BPL category. It is first-of-its kind Central sector scheme in India. It is to be fully funded by the Central Government. The scheme will be implemented by Artificial Limbs manufacturing Corporation.The beneficiaries are to be identified by the State Governments.

Skill for life, Save a life initiative is launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It was launched to promote skill development in the health sector. Under this initiative various courses are planned to be initiated targeting specific competencies for healthcare professionals as well as for general public.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched “Mission Parivar Vikas” in 145 high focus districts having the highest total fertility rates in the country. These 145 districts are in the seven high focus, high TFR states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam that constitute 44% of the country’s population. The main objective of ‘Mission Parivas Vikas’ will be to accelerate access to high quality family planning choices based on information, reliable services and supplies within a rights-based framework.

The initiative aimed at improving quality of care in labour room and maternity Operation Theatre (OT). The Program will improve quality of care for pregnant women in labour room, maternity Operation Theatre and Obstetrics Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and High Dependency Units (HDUs). The LaQshya program is being implemented at all Medical College Hospitals, District Hospitals and First Referral Unit (FRU), and Community Health Center (CHCs) and will benefit every pregnant woman and new-born delivering in public health institutions.

LaQshya’ will reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, improve quality of care during delivery and immediate post-partum period and enhance satisfaction of beneficiaries and provide Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) to all pregnant women attending public health facilities.

The National Strategic plan aimed at eradicating HIV/AIDS by 2030. It was launched on World AIDS Day, December 1. The plan will pave roadmap for achieving the target of 90:90:90 strategy.

The aim of 90:90:90 strategy was to diagnose 90% of all HIV-positive persons, provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 90% of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression for 90% of those treated by 2020.

The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims at correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.   It envisages setting up of AIIMS-like institutes and upgradation of existing Government Medical Colleges/ Institutions in various parts of the country.

The term pro bono is short for the Latin "pro bono publico," which means "for the public good." The term generally refers to free services that a professional provides to poverty-stricken clients, non-profit groups or charitable organizations.

The ‘Pro bono legal services’ initiative is a web based platform, through which interested lawyers can register themselves to volunteer pro bono services for the underprivileged litigants, who are unable to afford it. Through the dedicated online portal, litigants from marginalised communities (including members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, women, children, senior citizens, persons with low income and persons with disabilities) can also apply for legal aid and advice from the pro bono lawyers.

Drawida polydiverticulata and Drawida thomasi are newly discovered earthworm species in Kerala.

Nasikabatachus bhupathi is a newly discovered frog species in the eastern slopes of Western Ghats.