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  • PAIMANA Portal

    Why in the News?

    The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has operationalised the PAIMANA portal for mandatory monitoring of Central Sector Infrastructure Projects worth ₹150 crore and above.

    About PAIMANA Portal

    • PAIMANA stands for Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring and Analytics for Nation-building.
    • It is a flagship digital initiative of MoSPI aimed at strengthening monitoring, transparency and data driven governance in infrastructure development.

    Objectives

    • Create a centralised national repository of major infrastructure projects
    • Enable evidence based decision making using analytics
    • Improve data accuracy, operational efficiency and project oversight

    Key Features

    • Centralised Project Monitoring: Single window system for ministries, departments and implementing agencies to upload, track and review project data
    • Real Time Dashboards: Interactive dashboards with drill down options to monitor progress across sectors, states and timelines
    • Advanced Data Analytics: Includes reporting tools, query modules, review cases and identification of data gaps
    • Role Based Access: Different user roles for data entry, validation and monitoring to ensure accountability
    • Integration: Integrated with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s Integrated Project Monitoring Portal (IPMP or IIG PMG) through APIs
    • Coverage: Mandatory monitoring of Central Sector Infrastructure Projects worth ₹150 crore and above
    [2022] In India, what is the role of the Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO)? 

    1. CCO is the major source of Coal Statistics in Government of India

    2. It monitors progress of development of Captive Coal/Lignite blocks

    3. It hears any objection to the Government’s notification relating to acquisition of coal-bearing areas

    4. It ensures that coal mining companies deliver the coal to end users in the prescribed time. 

    Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

    (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 4

  • 🔴[UPSC Webinar for 2026] By Sreejay Sir, lead Prelims Prog, Civilsdaily IAS | The Logical Elimination System for UPSC Prelims 2026 | Orientation Session | Join on 31st January at 7PM

    🔴[UPSC Webinar for 2026] By Sreejay Sir, lead Prelims Prog, Civilsdaily IAS | The Logical Elimination System for UPSC Prelims 2026 | Orientation Session | Join on 31st January at 7PM

    Register for the session


    Read about Webinar


    Most aspirants prepare hard for Prelims.
    Very few prepare smart.

    UPSC Prelims is no longer just about what you know, it’s about how effectively you eliminate options under pressure. And that skill is not instinctive. It is trained.

    In this orientation session, Sreejay Sir will introduce the Logical Elimination System designed specifically for UPSC Prelims 2026, a framework that helps aspirants make correct decisions even when certainty is low.

    Sreejay Sir, Civilsdaily IAS

    What this session is really about:

    • Why Prelims has shifted from memory based to logic heavy papers
    • How toppers use elimination to score consistently above the cutoff
    • The structure of a repeatable logical elimination system
    • How microthemes support faster recall and sharper elimination
    • How this system fits into your 2026 Prelims preparation timeline

    This session is not about shortcuts.
    It’s about building the right thinking process for Prelims.


    Who should attend:

    • Aspirants preparing for UPSC Prelims 2026
    • Those struggling with negative marking and guesswork
    • Candidates who know the syllabus but lack exam confidence
    • Anyone looking to upgrade from content-heavy to logic driven preparation

    Join us, for a 45 minute live Zoom session on 31st Jan at 7PM.

    See you in masterclass.



    It will be a 45 minute session, post which we will open up the floor for all kinds of queries which a beginner must have. No questions are taboo and Sreejay sir is known to be patiently solving all your doubts.

    Join us for a Zoom session on 31st Jan at 7 PM. This session is a must attend for you If you are attempting UPSC for the first time or have attempted earlier and now preparing for 2026/2027, then it is going to be a valuable session for you too.

    See you in the session”

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    In this Civilsdaily masterclass, you will get:

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    2. How do first-attempt IAS Rankers get the most out of their one year prep?
    3. Insider tips that only the top IAS and IPS rankers know and apply to get rank.

    By the end, you’ll have razor-sharp clarity and a clear path to crack UPSC with confidence and near-perfect certainty. 

    Join UPSC session on 31st Jan, at 7 PM

    (Don’t wait—the next webinar/session won’t be until Mid Feb’26)



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  • [30th January 2026] The Hindu OpED: India-Arab League: bridging cultures, creating opportunities

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2017] The question of India’s energy security constitutes the most important part of India’s economic progress. Analyze India’s energy policy cooperation with West Asian countries.

    Linkage: Energy security remains central to India’s economic progress, with West Asia continuing as India’s largest source of crude oil and LPG.  The article shows how India-Arab League engagement strengthens institutional energy cooperation.

    Mentor’s Comment

    India’s engagement with the Arab League marks a calibrated shift from transactional diplomacy to structured regional partnership. At a time of escalating conflicts in West Asia and intensifying great-power contestation, India’s outreach to the Arab League reflects both strategic necessity and diplomatic maturity. This article analyses the significance, pillars, and implications of this engagement.

    Why in the News?

    India hosted the 2nd India-Arab League Meeting in New Delhi on January 30-31, 2026, with participation from ministers and delegates of 22 Arab League members. The meeting assumes significance amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Syria, and Yemen, persistent US military build-up, and shifting regional power equations.

    How Has India-Arab League Engagement Evolved Institutionally?

    1. Institutional Framework: Formal engagement initiated through a Memorandum of Understanding (2002) to establish structured dialogue.
    2. Multilateral Integration: India granted Permanent Observer status to the Arab League in 2023.
    3. Summit Diplomacy: India-Arab Summit (2016, Bahrain) and India-Arab Partnership Investment Summit institutionalised economic engagement.
    4. Diplomatic Continuity: Regular ministerial visits and dialogues indicate sustained political commitment.

    What Are the Core Pillars of the India-Arab League Partnership?

    1. Trade and Investment: Bilateral trade exceeds USD 240 billion, with India targeting USD 200 billion investment inflows by 2030.
    2. Energy Security: Arab states supply over 50% of India’s crude oil imports and 60% of LPG requirements.
    3. Diaspora Linkages: Millions of Indian workers contribute to remittances and act as socio-economic bridges.
    4. Strategic Dialogue: Expanding engagement on security, counter-terrorism, and regional stability.

    How Does Strategic Convergence Shape the Relationship?

    1. Vision Alignment: Overlap between Saudi Vision 2030, UAE Centennial 2071, Kuwait Vision 2035, and India’s Vision 2047.
    2. Resilience Test: Partnership endured disruptions such as COVID-19 and regional conflicts.
    3. Logistics Connectivity: Majority of India’s trade passes through Suez Canal, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden.
    4. Economic Corridors: India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) enhances connectivity and supply chain resilience.

    What Is the Scale of Economic and Investment Engagement?

    1. Major Investors: UAE (USD 75 bn), Saudi Arabia (USD 100 bn), Qatar (USD 10 bn).
    2. Infrastructure Focus: Investments in ports, logistics, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure.
    3. Trade Expansion: Trade through the region crossed USD 2.5 trillion, enabling export growth and market diversification.
    4. FTA Momentum: CEPA with UAE and ongoing talks with Oman indicate institutional trade deepening.

    How Is Technology and Digital Cooperation Expanding?

    1. FinTech Integration: UPI linkage with UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar enhances cross-border payments.
    2. Digital Infrastructure: Emphasis on transaction transparency and cost efficiency.
    3. Knowledge Economy: Collaboration in fintech, cybersecurity, and data-driven governance.

    What Is the Emerging Security and Defence Dimension?

    1. Counter-Terrorism: Shared condemnation of terrorism, including incidents like Uri, Pathankot, Pulwama, and Pahalgam.
    2. Defence Exports: Indian platforms such as Tejas fighter aircraft, BrahMos missiles, artillery systems attract interest.
    3. Maritime Security: Cooperation to counter piracy and secure sea lanes.
    4. Future Domains: Growing engagement in cyber, space, and drone technologies.

    Why Does This Engagement Matter for India’s West Asia Strategy?

    1. Strategic Autonomy: Enables India to maintain balanced relations with competing regional actors.
    2. Energy and Economic Stability: Ensures reliable access to hydrocarbons and investment flows.
    3. Geopolitical Relevance: Positions India as a credible stakeholder in West Asian stability.
    4. Diplomatic Leverage: Allows quiet engagement on sensitive issues such as Palestine-Israel.

    Conclusion

    India-Arab League engagement reflects a transition from episodic diplomacy to sustained strategic partnership. Anchored in economic interdependence, energy security, and shared security concerns, this relationship strengthens India’s role as a stabilising power in West Asia while safeguarding its long-term national interests.

  • Why rupee challenges are primarily external

    Why in the News?

    The Indian rupee touched a historic low of around ₹91.98 per US dollar in early 2026, prompting concerns over macroeconomic stability. The Economic Survey 2025-26 identifies this episode as part of a broader global capital reallocation rather than a domestic crisis. This is significant because the Survey explicitly rejects thecurrency underperformance equals weak fundamentals” assumption, even as India records strong growth, controlled inflation, and stable agricultural output. The issue is large in scale: foreign portfolio investors withdrew about $41 billion in January alone, pushing total outflows in 2025 close to $11.8 billion, making external capital volatility a first-order macroeconomic risk.

    Why Has the Rupee Been Underperforming Despite Strong Fundamentals?

    1. External Capital Outflows: Sustained withdrawal of foreign portfolio investments in equity and debt segments exerts downward pressure on the rupee despite stable domestic indicators.
    2. Magnitude of Outflows: Portfolio investors withdrew nearly $41 billion in January 2026, with cumulative outflows of $11.8 billion in 2025, indicating scale rather than episodic volatility.
    3. Domestic Counterbalancing: Mutual funds and insurance companies provided partial support, but domestic flows were insufficient to neutralise foreign exits.
    4. Investor Risk Perception: Global uncertainty induces portfolio rebalancing away from emerging markets, irrespective of individual country performance.

    How Do Capital Inflows Shape Rupee Stability?

    1. Balance of Payments Dependence: India relies on foreign capital inflows to maintain a manageable balance of payments position.
    2. Liquidity Transmission: Sudden contraction in inflows tightens dollar liquidity, amplifying exchange rate volatility.
    3. Capital Flight Risk: The Survey flags capital flight as a key near-term risk, especially during periods of global financial stress.
    4. US Dollar Dominance: Heightened demand for dollar assets during uncertainty weakens emerging market currencies uniformly.

    What Role Do Global Trade and Tariff Shocks Play?

    1. US Tariff Escalation: Steep tariff increases by the US, including potential 50% duties, create uncertainty for exporters.
    2. Export Disruption: While outbound shipments remain resilient so far, exporters face order delays and price renegotiations.
    3. Inflation Transmission: Higher tariffs on Indian goods may indirectly affect investment sentiment rather than immediate inflation.
    4. Investor Hesitation: Trade uncertainty discourages long-term capital commitments, increasing exchange-rate sensitivity.

    Why Is Manufacturing Not Enough to Stabilise the Currency?

    1. Limited Export Offset: Manufacturing strength alone cannot fully compensate for trade deficits in goods.
    2. Structural Gap: Services exports and remittances provide support but do not substitute industrial export depth.
    3. Industrial Capacity Constraint: Currency resilience requires diversified, complex manufacturing with scale.
    4. Policy Sequencing: Export competitiveness must precede exchange-rate stability, not follow it.

    What External Risks Dominate the 2026 Outlook?

    1. Global Scenario Volatility: The Survey outlines three global scenarios, baseline recovery, disorderly breakdown, and systemic shock.
    2. Capital Flow Sensitivity: Even moderate global shocks trigger disproportionate capital outflows from emerging markets.
    3. Institutional Fragility: Weaker global shock absorbers increase contagion risk across trade, finance, and currencies.
    4. Strategic Sobriety: The Survey calls for preparedness rather than optimism, given external uncertainty.

    What Policy Response Does the Survey Advocate?

    1. Liquidity Planning: Strengthens preparedness for sudden capital outflows through buffer creation.
    2. FDI Expansion: Prioritises stable long-term capital over volatile portfolio flows.
    3. Import Financing Resilience: Ensures uninterrupted financing for essential imports.
    4. Payment Diversification: Encourages diversification of trade routes and settlement systems.

    Conclusion

    The Economic Survey 2025-26 reframes rupee depreciation as an externally induced phenomenon rooted in global capital cycles rather than domestic macroeconomic weakness. Currency stability, therefore, depends less on short-term exchange-rate management and more on long-term structural resilience, particularly stable capital inflows, diversified exports, and robust external buffers.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2018] How would the recent phenomena of protectionism and currency manipulations in world trade affect macroeconomic stability of India?

    Linkage: This PYQ directly tests how global protectionism and currency manipulation transmit external shocks into India’s exchange rate. The Economic Survey 2025-26 reinforces this by showing that rupee weakness is driven mainly by global trade tensions and volatile foreign capital flows.

  • Thorium based nuclear power key to securing energy independence

    Why in the News?

    Thorium-based nuclear power is gaining attention again as India expands its Pressurized Heavy-Water Reactor (PHWRs) using imported uranium, which allows faster production of fissile material needed for thorium use. Earlier, limited domestic uranium kept reactor capacity low and delayed the thorium programme. With a target of 100 GWe nuclear capacity, largely through PHWRs, India can now produce enough U-233, making thorium reactors practically feasible. This reflects a clear shift from long-term planning to real implementation, strengthening energy independence.

    Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR)

    1. It is a nuclear reactor type that uses unenriched, natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as both coolant and moderator. 
    2. Characterized by a horizontal “Calandria” vessel, PHWRs operate under pressure to prevent boiling, offering high neutron economy and low proliferation risk. 

    How Does India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Programme Enable Thorium Use?

    1. Three-stage framework: Structures India’s nuclear strategy around uranium, plutonium, and thorium to overcome resource asymmetry.
    2. Stage One (PHWRs): Uses natural uranium to generate electricity and produce plutonium as a by-product.
    3. Stage Two (Fast Breeder Reactors): Utilises plutonium to generate power and multiply fissile material.
    4. Stage Three (Thorium reactors): Converts thorium into U-233, enabling long-term clean energy production.
    5. Strategic outcome: Ensures sustained energy security using domestically abundant thorium reserves.

    Why Is Scaling Up PHWR Capacity Critical for Thorium Transition?

    1. Irradiation capacity: Enables production of U-233 by irradiating thorium in sufficient quantities.
    2. Earlier constraint: Limited domestic uranium restricted reactor scale when the programme was conceptualised.
    3. Current shift: Access to international uranium markets removes fuel bottlenecks.
    4. Capacity expansion: Nuclear roadmap targets 100 GWe, with PHWRs forming the backbone.
    5. Transition acceleration: Large-scale PHWR deployment shortens the timeline for thorium-based power.

    What Role Do Advanced PHWR Designs Play in Energy Independence?

    1. Technological evolution: Enables use of thorium in PHWRs through advanced fuel cycles.
    2. Fuel innovation: Facilitates blending of thorium with HALEU (High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium).
    3. Efficiency gains: Improves fissile breeding and fuel utilisation.
    4. Strategic benefit: Reduces reliance on fast breeder reactors alone for thorium transition.
    5. System-wide impact: Enhances safety, economic viability, and fuel security.

    How Feasible Is Rapid PHWR Capacity Expansion in India?

    1. Scale requirement: Achieving 50-75 GWe requires addition of approximately 3 GWe annually.
    2. Infrastructure implication: Construction of five to eight reactors per year.
    3. Capital intensity: Demands significant financial mobilisation for reactors, fuel cycle, and back-end facilities.
    4. Institutional expansion: Requires entry of multiple public and private players beyond existing structures.
    5. Implementation role: Positions NPCIL as technology provider, capacity builder, and programme integrator.

    What Is the Case for Imported Light-Water Reactor (LWR)-Based Nuclear Projects?

    1. Complementarity: Supplements indigenous PHWR capacity during rapid scale-up.
    2. Fuel efficiency: Higher energy output per unit of enriched fuel.
    3. Economic condition: Viability depends on cost competitiveness and fuel cycle consistency.
    4. Strategic balance: Does not replace indigenous systems but supports capacity growth.
    5. Policy approach: Prioritises futuristic technologies while leveraging imported reactors pragmatically.

    How Does Fuel Cost Comparison Strengthen the PHWR Case?

    1. LWR fuel demand: A 1,000 MWe LWR requires ~25 tonnes of enriched fuel annually at 80% PLF.
    2. Cost implication: At $1.76 million per tonne, fuel costs translate to ~₹350 crore/year (±₹80 crore).
    3. PHWR advantage: Requires lower enriched uranium input due to higher efficiency in mined uranium use.
    4. Hybrid fuel strategy: Using small amounts of enriched uranium with thorium in PHWRs reduces overall cost.
    5. Outcome: Positions PHWRs as economically superior for clean power expansion.

    Conclusion

    India’s nuclear energy pathway is entering a decisive phase where scale, fuel flexibility, and technological maturity converge. Expansion of PHWR capacity using imported uranium removes historical constraints on thorium utilisation, enabling faster production of U-233 and improving the feasibility of thorium-based reactors. Combined with advanced fuel designs and selective use of imported LWRs, this strategy strengthens India’s long-term energy independence while ensuring cost efficiency and system resilience.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2018] With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy?

    Linkage: This question tests understanding of India’s long-term energy security choices amid rising power demand and clean energy transition. The article shows how scaling up PHWRs and advancing the thorium fuel cycle addresses energy security.

  • Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary  

    Why in the News?

    The Forest Minister of Karnataka recently visited Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary amid controversy over a proposal to reduce the sanctuary boundary.

    About Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary

    • Located in Karnataka, in Shimoga (Shivamogga) district
    • Lies along the Tunga River
    • Tunga Anicut Dam situated within the sanctuary
    • Provides habitat for otters and water birds
    • Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary forms part of Shettihalli
    • Mandagadde is an island nesting site in the Tunga River

    Prelims Pointers

    • Shettihalli lies on the Tunga River
    • Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary is part of it
    • Presence of displaced human settlements is a management challenge
    • Supports rich avifauna and large mammals
    • Forest types range from dry deciduous to evergreen
    [2019] Consider the following pairs: 

    Famous place :    River 

    1. Pandharpur :    Chandrabhaga 

    2. Tiruchirappalli : Cauvery 

    3. Hampi :             Malaprabha

    Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched? 

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • Rare Rusty spotted Cat sighted in Rajasthan 

    Why in the News?

    A Rusty spotted Cat, one of the smallest wild cats in the world, was recorded alive for the first time in the Shergarh Sanctuary of Baran district, Rajasthan, through camera trap evidence in January 2026.

    About Rusty spotted Cat

    • Among the world’s smallest felines
    • Nocturnal, shy, and solitary in nature
    • Comes together only during breeding season
    • Primarily a carnivore
    • Plays an ecological role in seed dispersal through fruits sticking to its fur

    Conservation Status

    • Near Threatened (NT) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
    • Faces threats from habitat loss, road kills, and low detectability

    Habitat and Distribution

    • Forests and scrublands
    • Found in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and South India
    • First live record in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan
    • Earlier road kill recorded in Shahabad area of Baran district in December 2023

    About Shergarh Sanctuary

    • Located in Baran district
    • Part of the Hadoti region
    • Dry deciduous forest ecosystem
    • Increasing use of camera trapping for wildlife monitoring
    [2023] Consider the following fauna: 

    1. Lion-tailed Macaque 

    2. Malabar Civet 

    3. Sambar Deer 

    How many of the above are generally nocturnal or most active after sunset? 

    (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None

  • Deuteron

    Why in the News?

    A recent study by the ALICE Collaboration at Large Hadron Collider, CERN has explained how deuterons survive ultra high energy particle collisions.

    About Large Hadron Collider

    • World’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator
    • Located near Geneva, on the France Switzerland border
    • Circular tunnel of 27 km circumference
    • Operated by CERN
    • Collides protons and heavy ions at near speed of light

    About Deuteron

    • Deuteron is the nucleus of deuterium, a stable isotope of hydrogen
    • Contains one proton + one neutron
    • Denoted by ²H or D
    • Simplest composite nucleus after hydrogen
    • Found in trace amounts in natural water
    • Present in atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn

    Why Deuteron Survival Was a Puzzle

    • LHC collisions create extreme temperature and energy
    • Deuterons should theoretically break apart
    • Yet deuterons and anti deuterons are observed repeatedly

    Key Scientific Finding

    • Deuterons mainly form through coalescence mechanism
    • Protons and neutrons form first, then bind together later
    • Pions act as energy carriers enabling binding
    • Formation happens away from the most violent collision zone
    • Explains survival despite low binding energy

    Applications of Deuteron

    • Production of heavy water (D₂O) used as moderator in nuclear reactors
    • Used in fusion research as a fuel source
    • Used in tritium production
    • Important in nuclear physics experiments
    [2011] The function of heavy water in a nuclear reactor is to? 

    (a) Slow down the speed of neutrons

    (b) Increase the speed of neutrons

    (c) Cooldown the reactor

    (d) Stop the nuclear reaction.

  • Jal Shakti Minister interacts with WaSH Warriors

    Why in the News?

    Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Paatil interacted with WaSH Warriors and school students in New Delhi and inaugurated 25 JALAJ Livelihood Centres, highlighting Jan Bhagidari in water conservation and river rejuvenation.

    Key Initiatives Highlighted

    • WaSH Warriors and Jan Bhagidari
      • Grassroots change makers working on Ganga cleanliness, plastic reduction, biodiversity conservation, and water source protection
      • Promote community driven riverbank cleanliness, plantation, and awareness campaigns
      • Strengthen people’s participation in environmental governance
    • Jal Jeevan Mission Impact
      • Participants highlighted benefits of Jal Jeevan Mission
      • Har Ghar Jal improved health, dignity, and quality of life, especially in rural areas
    • JALAJ Livelihood Centres
      • 25 centres inaugurated
      • Joint initiative of National Mission for Clean Ganga and Wildlife Institute of India
      • Linked to Namami Gange Mission
      • Objective is river conservation linked with sustainable livelihoods
      • Special focus on women participation and community ownership
      • Implemented in the Ganga river basin
    • Youth for Ganga Youth for Yamuna
      • Educational outreach by Eco Roots Foundation
      • Engages students and youth in Ganga and Yamuna conservation
      • Expansion planned across Delhi NCR schools
      • Builds emotional, cultural, and environmental connect with rivers

    Role of Institutions

    • National Mission for Clean Ganga acknowledged for improving cleanliness and ecological health of the Ganga
    • Jal Prahari initiative strengthens monitoring and awareness at the community level
    [2016] Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)? 

    1. River basin is the unit of planning and management

    2. It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level

    3. One of the Chief Ministers of the States through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on rotation basis

    Select the correct answer using the code given below

    (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026  

    Why in the News?

    The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, replacing the SWM Rules, 2016. The rules will come into force from April 1, 2026.

    About Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026

    • Focus on Circular Economy, Extended Producer Responsibility, and scientific waste management
    • Strengthen compliance through the Polluter Pays Principle
    • Emphasis on source segregation, decentralised processing, and digital monitoring

    Key Provisions

    • Four stream segregation at source
      • Mandatory segregation into Wet Waste, Dry Waste, Sanitary Waste, and Special Care Waste
      • Wet Waste to be processed through composting or bio methanation
      • Dry Waste to be sent to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for recycling
      • Sanitary and Special Care Waste to be collected by authorised agencies
    • Environmental compensation
      • Imposed for non compliance, false reporting, forged documents, or operating without registration
      • Guidelines issued by Central Pollution Control Board
      • Compensation levied by State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees
    • Bulk Waste Generators and EBWGR
      • Bulk Waste Generators defined as entities generating 100 kg waste per day, or area above 20,000 sq m, or water use above 40,000 litres per day
      • Includes government offices, PSUs, institutions, commercial establishments, and housing societies
      • Introduction of Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR)
      • Mandatory on site wet waste processing where feasible
      • Bulk generators account for nearly 30 percent of total solid waste
    • Online monitoring and land allocation
      • Creation of a Centralised Online Portal for tracking waste generation, collection, transport, processing, disposal, and legacy waste remediation
      • Online registration, authorisation, and reporting made mandatory
      • Graded buffer zone norms for waste processing facilities above 5 tonnes per day
    • Material Recovery Facilities and local bodies
      • Formal recognition of MRFs for sorting of solid waste
      • Local bodies responsible for collection, segregation, and transportation
      • MRFs may act as collection points for e waste, sanitary waste, and special care waste
      • Local bodies encouraged to generate Carbon Credits
    • Refuse Derived Fuel usage
      • Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) defined as fuel from high calorific non recyclable waste
      • Cement plants and waste to energy plants mandated to use RDF
      • Fuel substitution target raised from 5 percent to 15 percent over six years
    • Landfills and legacy waste
      • Landfilling restricted to inert and non recoverable waste only
      • Higher landfill fees for unsegregated waste
      • Mandatory mapping, biomining, and bioremediation of legacy dumpsites
      • Annual landfill audits by SPCBs with District Collector oversight
    • Hilly areas and islands
      • Levy of User Fees on tourists
      • Regulation of tourist inflow based on waste handling capacity
      • Decentralised wet waste processing by hotels and restaurants
      • Designated collection points for non biodegradable waste
    [2019] As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct? 

    (a) Waste generator has to segregate waste into five categories

    (b) The Rules are applicable to notified urban local bodies, notified towns and all industrial townships only

    (c) The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities

    (d) It is mandatory on the part of waste generator that the waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district.

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