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Type: Prelims Only

  • PARIVARTAN Scheme

    Why in News?

    The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has approved the operational guidelines for the PARIVARTAN Scheme to replace old, polluting trucks and buses in the National Capital Region (NCR) with cleaner vehicles.

    Key Highlights

    • Full Form: PARIVARTAN – Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions
    • Approved by Union Cabinet: 3 June 2026
    • Total Outlay:₹9,585 crore
      • Central Government Support: ₹5,041 crore
    • Targets replacement of old trucks and buses with Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) compliant vehicles, or Electric Vehicles (EVs).
    • Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
    • Funding Agency: National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB)
    • States Covered: The following have notified 10-year Motor Vehicle Tax concession and registration fee waiver in Delhi (NCT), Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh

    Incentives under the Scheme

    • Motor Vehicle Tax concession.
    • Registration fee waiver.
    • 5% interest subvention on vehicle loans.
    • Minimum 8% Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) discount on eligible vehicles.
    • Monthly fuel voucher support for eligible diesel and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) replacement vehicles.
    • One-time financial assistance for electric replacement vehicles.
    • Support for Certificate of Deposit (CoD) trading.

    Digital Implementation

    The scheme will operate through an integrated digital platform linked with:

    • VAHAN – National Vehicle Registry
    • V-Scrap – Vehicle scrapping portal
    • DigiELV – Digital End-of-Life Vehicle platform
    • Public Financial Management System (PFMS)
    • Participating lenders and fuel voucher systems.

    About NCRPB

    • Full Form: National Capital Region Planning Board
    • Established: 1985 under the National Capital Region Planning Board Act, 1985
    • Administrative Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
    • Responsible for coordinated planning and development of the National Capital Region (NCR).

    [2025] Consider the following types of vehicles:
    I. Full battery Electric vehicles
    II. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
    III. Fuel cell electric hybrid vehicles
    How many of the above are considered as alternative powertrain vehicles?

    [A] Only one

    [B] Only two

    [C] All the three

    [D] None

  • ICAR Foundation Day 2026

    Why in News?

    The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) celebrated its 98th Foundation Day (16 July 2026), highlighting its achievements in climate resilient agriculture, biofortified crops and technology dissemination.

    Key Highlights

    • Established: 16 July 1928
    • India’s apex organization for agricultural research, education and extension under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
    • During 2025-26, ICAR developed 386 improved varieties across 44 crops: 94% are climate resilient and 29 varieties are biofortified.
    • Released: 43 improved crop varieties, 17 agricultural technologies and 14 publications
    • New technologies include:
      • Climate resilient and salinity/alkalinity tolerant rice varieties
      • Export-oriented mango production technology
      • India’s first indigenous African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine
      • Digital Swine Disease Atlas
      • Affordable cassava harvester for smallholders.
    • 72 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed with 51 industry partners for commercialization of ICAR technologies.
    • 18 international MoUs signed to strengthen global agricultural cooperation.
    • ICAR technologies reached: Nearly 1 crore farmers directly. Over 5 crore farmers through media and social media.

    Economic Impact

    • Agriculture, horticulture, livestock and fisheries generated an additional economic value of about ₹1.70 lakh crore in 2025-26.
    • Agricultural research alone contributed an estimated ₹55,000 crore.

    About ICAR

    • Full Form: Indian Council of Agricultural Research
    • Established: 16 July 1928
    • Headquarters: New Delhi
    • Parent Department: Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)
    • Parent Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
    • Coordinates: Agricultural research, Agricultural education and Extension services through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
    • Played a major role in: Green Revolution, Food and nutritional security, Development of improved crop varieties, Livestock, fisheries and horticulture research, and Climate resilient agriculture

    [2021] In the context of India’s preparation for climate-smart agriculture, consider the following statements:
    1. The ‘Climate-Smart village’ approach in India is a part of a project led by the climate change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research programme.
    2. The project of CCAFS is carried out under consultative group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) headquartered in France.
    3. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR’s research centres.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    [A] 1 and 2 only

    [B] 2 and 3 only

    [C] 1 and 3 only

    [D] 1,2 and 3

  • China’s Great Green Wall

    Why in News?

    China’s Three-North Protective Forest Program (TNPFP), popularly known as the Great Green Wall, has significantly reduced desertification, though scientists stress that long-term efforts are still needed.

    Key Highlights

    • Launched in 1978 to combat desertification in northern China.
    • Covers the northeast, north and northwest regions of China.
    • Uses *Straw Checkerboards, a technique in which straw is arranged in square grids to stabilize sand dunes, reduce wind erosion, retain soil moisture and enable saplings to take root.
    • Forests created under the programme now cover about 5,00,000 sq. km.
    • Since 2000, desertified land has reduced by over 1,000 sq. km annually.
    • Overall desertified land has shrunk by around 10%, while severely desertified areas have declined by over 40%.
    • Forest cover in the programme area increased from 5% (1978) to 14% (2022).
    • More than 300 million rural workers have contributed to the programme.

    What is Desertification?

    • Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas due to climatic variations and human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing and unsustainable farming.

    Significance

    • Reduces sandstorms and soil erosion.
    • Improves ecological restoration and carbon sequestration.
    • Demonstrates the importance of sustained policy support and community participation in combating land degradation.

    UPSC Prelims Value Addition

    • Great Green Wall: Also called the Three-North Protective Forest Program (TNPFP).
    • Launched: 1978.
    • Technique Used: Straw Checkerboards for sand dune stabilization and afforestation.
    • Related Convention: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

    [2016] What is/are the importance/importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’?

    1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships.
    2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions.
    3. It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    [A] 1 only

    [B] 2 and 3 only

    [C] 1 and 3 only

    [D] 1, 2 and 3

  • Kudankulam Nuclear Plant Data Leak

    Why in News?

    A ransomware group allegedly accessed over 19,000 files related to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) through a contractor’s server, raising cybersecurity concerns.

    Key Highlights

    • The breach reportedly involved engineering documents, vendor details and conventional plant infrastructure files dating from 2016 to 2025.
    • The leak originated from a third-party server (Yotta) used by the plant’s contractor.
    • NPCIL clarified that the leaked data relates only to conventional balance of plant facilities and does not involve nuclear safety or security systems.
    • Investigations are being carried out by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
    • This follows a similar cybersecurity incident in 2019, when malware affected the plant’s administrative network.

    About Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP)

    • Located in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
    • Developed by NPCIL in collaboration with Russia’s Rosatom.
    • Uses VVER (Water-Water Energetic Reactor), a Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) technology.
    • Two 1,000 MW reactors are operational, while four additional units are under construction.

    Significance

    • Highlights the importance of cybersecurity for critical infrastructure.
    • Reinforces the need for secure third-party vendors and supply chains.
    • Emphasises regular cyber audits and protection of strategic infrastructure.

    Prelims Pointer

    • NPCIL: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.
    • CERT-In: Indian Computer Emergency Response Team. It functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
    • VVER: Water-Water Energetic Reactor (Russian Pressurised Water Reactor).
    • Operator: NPCIL under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

    [2017] In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents?
    1.Service providers
    2.Intermediaries
    3.Corporate bodies
    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 only

  • Semicon 2.0

    Why in News?

    The Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 with an outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore to strengthen India’s semiconductor design and manufacturing ecosystem after the success of Semicon 1.0.

    Key Highlights

    • Outlay: ₹1,27,500 crore.
    • Objective: Develop a complete semiconductor ecosystem and strengthen India’s position in the global semiconductor value chain.

    Six Pillars

    • Design: Promote indigenous chip design, Intellectual Property (IP) creation and System-on-Chip (SoC) development.
    • Machines & Materials: Support manufacturing of semiconductor equipment, chemicals and materials.
    • Semiconductor Fabs: Encourage Silicon, Compound Semiconductor, Display and Discrete Component fabrication units.
    • ATMP/OSAT: Expand Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facilities.
    • R&D: Strengthen Research and Development (R&D) for advanced semiconductor technologies.
    • Talent Development: Expand semiconductor education and industry training.

    Progress under Semicon 1.0

    • 12 manufacturing units approved with investment of ₹1.64 lakh crore.
    • Includes 1 Silicon Fab, 1 Silicon Carbide Fab, 1 Gallium Nitride (GaN) Micro LED Fab and 9 packaging units.
    • Micron, Kaynes and CG Semi have started commercial production.
    • 24 design projects supported and 105 startups/MSMEs provided access to Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools.

    Significance

    • Reduces import dependence on semiconductors.
    • Strengthens supply chain resilience and national security.
    • Promotes innovation, high-value manufacturing and technological self-reliance.

    Prelims Pointer

    • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)
    • Mission: India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)
    • Key Focus: Chip design, fabrication (Fabs), ATMP, OSAT, R&D and skill development.

  • Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin, June 2026

    Why in News?

    The National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the PLFS Monthly Bulletin for June 2026, showing stable employment indicators with a marginal improvement in urban labour participation.

    Labour Market Indicators (15+ years)

    • Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): 54.4%, unchanged from May 2026 and slightly higher than 54.2% in June 2025.
    • Worker Population Ratio (WPR): 51.4%, unchanged from May 2026 and up from 51.2% a year earlier.
    • Unemployment Rate (UR): 5.5%, unchanged from both May 2026 and June 2025.

    Urban Trends

    • LFPR increased from 49.8% to 50.1%.
    • WPR improved from 46.6% to 46.8%.
    • UR rose slightly from 6.4% to 6.6%, but remained below 7.1% recorded in June 2025.

    Rural Trends

    • LFPR remained stable at 56.6%.
    • WPR remained stable at 53.8%.
    • UR declined marginally from 5.1% to 5.0%.

    Female Labour Force Participation

    • Overall female LFPR stood at 32.7%.
    • Rural female LFPR was 36.6%.
    • Urban female LFPR remained 24.8%.
    • Overall female participation was 0.7 percentage points higher than June 2025.

    About PLFS

    • Conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI.
    • India’s primary survey on employment and unemployment.
    • Since January 2025, it provides monthly and quarterly labour market estimates.
    • Monthly estimates follow the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach.

    Key Terms

    • Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Percentage of people who are employed or actively seeking employment.
    • Worker Population Ratio (WPR): Percentage of the population that is employed.
    • Unemployment Rate (UR): Percentage of unemployed persons in the labour force.

    Significance

    • Provides high-frequency employment data for policymaking.
    • Tracks labour market trends across rural and urban India.
    • Supports employment, skill development and social welfare planning.

    [2020] With reference to the Indian economy after the 1991 economic liberalization, consider the following statements:

    1.Worker productivity (Rs. per worker at 2004 — 05 prices) increased in urban areas while it decreased in rural areas.
    2.The percentage share of rural areas in the workforce steadily increased.
    3.In rural areas, the growth in non-farm economy increased.
    4.The growth rate in rural employment decreased.

    Which of the statements given above is/are Correct?
    a) 1 and 2 only
    b) 3 and 4 only
    c) 3 only
    d) 1, 2 and 4 only

  • India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Comes into Force

    Why in News?

    The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Double Contribution Convention (DCC) came into force, marking one of India’s most comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

    Key Highlights

    • CETA: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
    • DCC: Double Contribution Convention
    • The UK will eliminate tariffs on 96.8% of tariff lines (covering 97.7% of trade value) immediately.
    • India will remove tariffs on 30.3% of trade value immediately, with further reductions phased over time.
    • Covers 30 chapters, including: Digital Trade, Government Procurement, MSMEs, Labour, Environment, Gender, and Innovation
    • Addresses SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) and TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) to reduce non-tariff barriers.
    • India has protected sensitive sectors such as dairy, cereals, pulses, vegetables, gold & jewellery, smartphones, and critical polymers.
    • Under the DCC, Indian professionals working in the UK for up to 5 years will be exempt from paying UK social security if they are already contributing in India, benefiting 75,000+ workers and 900+ employers.

    About CETA

    • A comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aimed at boosting trade, investment, services, and economic cooperation.
    • Enhances market access while reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers between India and the UK.

    [2017] ‘Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of negotiations held between India and

    [A] European Union

    [B] Gulf Cooperation Council

    [C] Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

    [D] Shanghai Cooperation Organization

  • Indian Grey Hornbill Returns to Gir

    Why in News?

    The Indian Grey Hornbill has recorded four consecutive years of successful breeding in Gujarat’s Gir Forest after being reintroduced in 2021, marking the revival of a species that disappeared from the region over six decades ago.

    Key Highlights

    • The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Birds.
    • The species had disappeared from Gir during the 1950s-1960s.
    • 40 Indian Grey Hornbills were released in two phases: 28 birds (2021-22) and 12 birds (2023)
    • 11 males were fitted with satellite transmitters to monitor movement, habitat use, and breeding.
    • The project has achieved four consecutive years of successful breeding, indicating the population is becoming self-sustaining.
    • The Indian Grey Hornbill is an important long-distance seed disperser, aiding forest regeneration.

    About Indian Grey Hornbill

    • Scientific name: Ocyceros birostris
    • IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)
    • Habitat: Open forests, wooded farmlands, and urban parks across the Indian subcontinent.
    • Feeds mainly on fruits, insects, and small reptiles.
    • Plays a vital ecological role in seed dispersal and maintaining forest biodiversity.

    [2020] With reference to India’s biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned miniyet and White-throated redstart are

    a) Birds
    b) Primates
    c) Reptiles
    d) Amphibians

  • Future-Ready Workforce for India’s Creative Economy

    Why in News?

    The Press Information Bureau (PIB) organised a ‘Varta’ workshop on “Creating a Future-Ready Workforce for India’s Creative Economy” in Nagpur.

    Key Highlights

    • India currently contributes ~3% to the global Orange Economy and aims to increase it to 12 to 15% over the next decade.
    • IICT: Indian Institute of Creative Technology is the National Centre of Excellence for the AVGC-XR sector.
    • AVGC-XR: Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality.
    • Kaushal Bodh curriculum, developed by IICT in collaboration with NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training), will promote creativity and skill development from an early stage.
    • Proposal to establish AVGC Content Creator Labs in 500 colleges and 15,000 schools.
    • IICT will offer industry-oriented courses through a Hub-and-Spoke model, extending training beyond Mumbai to regional and semi-urban centres.
    • Focus on leveraging India’s storytelling tradition and indigenous knowledge systems to strengthen the creative economy.

    About Orange Economy

    • Refers to the creative economy based on creativity, culture, intellectual property, and digital content.
    • Includes sectors such as animation, films, gaming, music, publishing, design, advertising, media, and digital arts.

    [2019] In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements:
    1. In Augmented Reality (AR), a simulated environment is created and the physical world is completely shut out.
    2. In Virtual Reality (VR), images generated from a computer are projected onto real-life objects or surroundings.
    3. AR allows individuals to be present in the world and improves the experience using the camera of smart-phones or PC.
    4. VR closes the world, and transposes an individual, providing complete immersion experience.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    [A] 1 and 2 only

    [B] 3 and 4

    [C] 1, 2 and 3

    [D] 4 only

  • NESAC Strengthens Space-Based Governance in Northeast

    Why in News?

    The Union Minister reviewed the initiatives of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), highlighting its role in border management, disaster resilience, and socio-economic development in the Northeast

    Key Highlights

    • NESAC: North Eastern Space Applications Centre, located at Umiam, Meghalaya.
    • Implementing ~130 space application projects, including 78 ongoing and 50 recently completed.
    • Supporting geospatial mapping of the India-Myanmar border and inter-state boundaries.
    • Key sectors covered: Agriculture, Disaster Management, Water Resources, Forestry, Urban & Regional Planning, Geoinformatics, Satellite Communication, UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) applications
    • Promoting bamboo resource mapping in collaboration with NECBDC (North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council).
    • Strengthening flood early warning systems and the GeoTourism ‘ManzilNE’ dashboard.
    • Encouraged partnerships with State Governments, academia, startups, and industry to expand space-based applications.

    About NESAC

    • Established in 2000 as a joint initiative of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and the North Eastern Council (NEC).
    • Provides space technology, remote sensing, GIS (Geographic Information System), satellite communication, and disaster management support for the eight Northeastern States.

    [2024] The North Eastern Council (NEC) was established by the North Eastern Council Act, 1971. Subsequent to the amendment of NEC Act in 2002, the Council comprises which of the following members?
    1. Governor of the Constituent State
    2. Chief Minister of the Constituent State
    3. Three Members to be nominated by the President of India
    4. The Home Minister of India
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    [A] 1, 2 and 3 only

    [B] 3 and 4 only

    [C] 2 and 4 only

    [D] 1, 2, 3 and 4