Current Affairs Today — March 19, 2026

🗞️ Why in News The Union Cabinet approved four major economic decisions including the ₹33,660 crore BHAVYA industrial parks scheme and ₹2,584 crore Small Hydro Power scheme. Parliament passed ₹53 lakh crore Demands for Grants via the Guillotine procedure. The Cabinet also modified FDI rules for land-border countries (Press Note 3). The Supreme Court declared maternity leave for adoptive mothers a fundamental right. Dark fleet shadow tankers in Indian waters raised energy security and sanctions-compliance concerns.

Cabinet Approves BHAVYA — ₹33,660 Crore for 100 Industrial Parks

The Union Cabinet approved Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA), a centrally-sponsored scheme with an outlay of ₹33,660 crore to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India.

Key features:

• Plug-and-play model: Parks come pre-built with roads, power, water, drainage, and digital infrastructure — companies can start operations immediately without land/approval delays
• Park size: 100–1,000 acres per park (depending on location and industrial demand)
• Financial assistance: Up to ₹1 crore per acre for core infrastructure
• Implementation: National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry; NICDC was formed in 2013 as DMICDC and renamed in February 2020
• Single-window clearances: Pre-approved land + integrated approvals to reduce time-to-production
• Employment: Expected to generate ~15 lakh direct jobs
• Green mandate: Renewable energy integration and water/waste management within parks
• Vision: Advance Atmanirbhar Bharat manufacturing self-reliance and Viksit Bharat 2047

UPSC relevance: GS3 — Industrial policy, ease of doing business, manufacturing sector, NICDC, DPIIT, Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Cabinet Approves Small Hydro Power Development Scheme — 1,500 MW by 2031

The Union Cabinet approved the Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 with a total outlay of ₹2,584.60 crore, targeting installation of ~1,500 MW of small hydro capacity.

Key features:

• Scope: Small hydro projects of 1–25 MW capacity (classic definition of “small hydro”)
• Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
• Special focus: Hilly states and North Eastern states with high untapped small hydro potential
• Financial assistance:
  • NE states + border districts: ₹3.6 crore/MW OR 30% of project cost, max ₹30 crore/project
  • Other states: ₹2.4 crore/MW OR 20% of project cost, max ₹20 crore/project
• Pipeline development: ₹30 crore allocated to help states prepare 200 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for future projects
• Expected investment: ~₹15,000 crore of private + state investment leveraged
• Target: Supports India’s 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 (NDC commitment)

UPSC relevance: GS3 — Renewable energy policy, small hydro, MNRE, India’s climate commitments, NDC targets, Northeast energy potential.

Cotton MSP Support — ₹1,718 Crore for 60 Lakh Farmers

The Cabinet approved ₹1,718.56 crore in MSP-based cotton procurement support for 60 lakh cotton farmers for the 2023-24 season, settling dues under the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) operations.

Key facts:

• MSP for cotton: The Minimum Support Price guarantees farmers a floor price; when market prices fall below MSP, the government procures at MSP
• Cotton Corporation of India (CCI): PSU under Ministry of Textiles; procures cotton at MSP when prices fall below support levels; operates 508+ procurement centres across 152 districts in 11 cotton-growing states; uses Bale Identification and Traceability System (BITS) and Cott-Ally mobile app
• Cotton is India’s top cash crop (India is among the world’s largest producers of cotton, vying with China for the top spot; ~6 million farmers; ~11.4 million hectares under cultivation)
• Price support mechanism: Prevents distress sales; stabilises farmer income during market downturns
• India’s cotton: primarily grown in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab

UPSC relevance: GS3 — MSP system, cotton economy, Price Support Scheme, CCI, agricultural distress.

Barabanki–Bahraich NH-927 Highway — ₹6,969 Crore

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the 4-laning of National Highway 927 from Barabanki to Bahraich (101.5 km, Uttar Pradesh) at a cost of ₹6,969 crore under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).

Key features:

• Length: 101.515 km; access-controlled 4-lane highway
• Route: Barabanki (near Lucknow) → Bahraich (Nepal border region)
• Mode: Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) — Government funds 40% upfront; remaining 60% paid as annuity to private developer over 15 years
• Significance: Connects Uttar Pradesh’s Terai belt; improves access to Bahraich and the Dudhwa National Park region; boosts trade with Nepal

UPSC relevance: GS3 — Highway infrastructure, HAM model, NHAI, transport connectivity, UP development.

IOS SAGAR Second Edition — Indian Navy with 16 Nations

The second edition of Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR commenced on March 16, 2026, with the Indian Navy leading a maritime training initiative with personnel from 16 IONS nations of the Indian Ocean Region.

Key features:

• IOS SAGAR: Indian Ocean Ship — Security and Growth for All in the Region; a unique programme enabling naval personnel from friendly foreign countries to train and sail together on an Indian Naval Ship
• Commenced: Shore-based training at Indian Naval establishments in Kochi (seamanship, maritime security, naval operations) → followed by sea deployment on an Indian Naval Ship
• 16 participating nations: Drawn from the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) — IONS has 25 member navies and 9 observers; India assumed the IONS chair from the Royal Thai Navy in February 2026 for the 2026–28 tenure
• SAGAR doctrine: PM Modi’s maritime vision — Security and Growth for All in the Region; articulated at Mauritius, March 2015
• MAHASAGAR framework: Successor/broader framework — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions; announced 2025

UPSC relevance: GS2 — India’s maritime strategy, SAGAR doctrine, IONS, Indian Navy diplomacy, Indian Ocean geopolitics.

Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 — New Delhi

The Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, a major international conference and exhibition for the power sector, opened on March 19, 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi (runs March 19–22, 2026).

Key features:

• Hosted jointly by POWERGRID (nodal agency), NTPC, NHPC, REC, and PFC under the patronage of the Ministry of Power; EEPC India as lead coordinating agency
• Theme: Clean energy transition, power sector infrastructure, smart grids, energy storage
• India’s power sector milestones: 520.5 GW installed capacity (as of January 2026); ~52.3% from non-fossil fuels — India achieved the 50% non-fossil milestone ahead of its NDC target
• Yashobhoomi (IICC): India International Convention and Expo Centre, Dwarka, New Delhi; Phase 1 inaugurated 17 September 2023 by PM Modi; India’s largest convention and exhibition centre
• Theme: “Electrifying Growth. Empowering Sustainability. Connecting Globally”
• Scale: 25,000+ visitors, 500+ exhibitors, 300+ speakers, delegates from 80+ countries

UPSC relevance: GS3 — Power sector, India’s clean energy transition, POWERGRID, NTPC, energy storage, smart grid.

Supreme Court Collegium — Seven High Courts Unrepresented

Judicial governance concerns emerged in March 2026 as data revealed that 7 of India’s 25 High Courts remain unrepresented in the Supreme Court’s 34-judge bench, highlighting the Collegium system’s challenges in ensuring regional diversity in apex court appointments.

Key facts:

• Collegium System: Evolved through three Supreme Court cases — the Three Judges Cases (1981, 1993, 1998); recommends appointments to SC and HCs
• Composition: SC Collegium = 5 senior-most judges including CJI; HC Collegium = 5 senior-most judges of that HC
• NJAC challenge: National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) — 99th Constitutional Amendment — struck down by SC in 2015 as violating “basic structure” (independence of judiciary)
• Criticisms of Collegium: Opacity, regional imbalance, lack of diversity (gender, SC/ST, regional representation), delays in filling vacancies
• India has 25 High Courts (Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh HC established 2019)

UPSC relevance: GS2 — Judiciary, Collegium system, judicial appointments, NJAC, Three Judges Cases, basic structure doctrine, Article 124.

Guillotine Procedure — Lok Sabha Passes ₹53 Lakh Crore Demands for Grants

The Lok Sabha passed Demands for Grants exceeding ₹53 lakh crore for FY 2026-27 using the Guillotine procedure (March 2026):

What is the Guillotine? A parliamentary mechanism where the Speaker puts all undiscussed demands for grants to vote simultaneously at the end of the allotted time — without debate. Named after the French execution device (swift, final).

Budget cycle flow:

1. Union Budget presented (February 1) → Parliament in recess for 3 weeks
2. Standing Committee review of ministry-wise demands
3. Parliament reconvenes → Discussion on demands
4. On the final day: Undiscussed demands are “guillotined” — voted en bloc without discussion
5. Finance Bill and Appropriation Bill then passed → money authorised from Consolidated Fund of India

Key facts:

• Exclusive Lok Sabha power: The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on Money Bills / Demands for Grants (can only discuss and make recommendations)
• Constitutional basis: Article 113 (Demands for Grants); Article 266 (Consolidated Fund of India)
• Consequence: Large portions of public expenditure bypass parliamentary scrutiny — accountability concern
• In practice, Standing Committees provide the substantive financial oversight that floor debates often cannot

UPSC Angle: GS-2 Polity — Parliamentary financial procedures; Lok Sabha’s exclusive money powers; Standing Committees; Appropriation Bill vs Finance Bill; Consolidated Fund of India.

FDI Rules Modified for Land-Border Countries — Press Note 3

The Union Cabinet approved modifications to Press Note 3 (2020) — the FDI policy for countries sharing land borders with India:

• Press Note 3 (2020): Issued during COVID-19 pandemic; requires prior government approval for FDI from countries sharing land borders with India — aimed at preventing opportunistic takeovers of stressed Indian companies
• Countries covered: China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan (7 land-border countries)
• Background: Before 2020, FDI from these countries was on the automatic route (like all other countries)
• March 2026 modification (Press Note 2 of 2026): Investments up to 10% non-controlling beneficial ownership now allowed under automatic route (no prior approval needed); 60-day timeline introduced for processing proposals in sectors like electronic components, capital goods, and solar cells; maintains security veto for strategic sectors
• Context: India-China economic relations reset — India cautiously opening doors to Chinese investment in manufacturing (particularly electronics and semiconductors where China has capabilities India needs) while maintaining national security safeguards

UPSC Angle: GS-2 International Relations / GS-3 Economy — FDI policy evolution; India-China economic ties; national security in investment regulation; DPIIT; automatic vs approval route for FDI.

SC Ruling — Maternity Leave for Adoptive Mothers a Fundamental Right

The Supreme Court of India declared 12-week maternity leave a fundamental right for all adoptive mothers regardless of the child’s age, striking down a provision of the Code on Social Security, 2020:

• Provision struck down: Section 60(4) of Code on Social Security, 2020 — which restricted maternity leave for adoption to children below 3 months of age only
• Court’s reasoning: India’s legal adoption process typically takes more than 3 months; restricting leave to children under 3 months effectively denied the benefit to most adoptive mothers
• Ruling: All adoptive mothers entitled to 12 weeks maternity leave regardless of adopted child’s age
• Constitutional grounding: Right to equality (Article 14); Right to dignity and reproductive autonomy (Article 21)
• Additional recommendation: Supreme Court recommended the Central Government introduce statutory paternity leave (India has no law mandating paternity leave)
• Code on Social Security 2020: One of India’s four new Labour Codes (the Code on Social Security alone consolidates 9 central laws; all four codes together replace 29 labour laws); came into force November 21, 2025; replaced Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
• Maternity Benefit Act 1961: Previously provided 12 weeks (26 weeks post-2017 amendment for organisations with 10+ employees)

UPSC Angle: GS-2 Social Issues / GS-3 Economy — Labour codes reform; maternity benefit law; Article 21; judicial interpretation of fundamental rights; gender-inclusive labour policy.

Dark Fleet / Shadow Tankers — India’s Russian Crude Imports

India’s Russian crude oil imports via shadow tankers raised energy security and compliance concerns:

• Aqua Titan incident: A sanctioned Russian tanker was redirected mid-route from China to India — highlighting India’s role as the primary buyer of Russia’s dark fleet crude
• India’s dark fleet crude (Jan–Sep 2025): 5.4 million tonnes of Russian crude imported via shadow tankers on 30 false-flagged vessels — 55% of Russia’s crude sold through the dark fleet globally
• Dark fleet size: ~600–800 vessels operating outside normal shipping norms; average age: 20+ years vs industry norm of 10 years
• Tactics:
  • AIS (Automatic Identification System) disabling — ghost ships evade tracking
  • Ship-to-ship (STS) transfers — crude switched between vessels mid-ocean to obscure origin
  • Flags of convenience: Registered in Panama, Gabon, Palau — minimal regulatory oversight
  • Shell company ownership: Layered corporate structures hide ultimate beneficiaries
• Legal framework gaps: UNCLOS provides limited enforcement on high seas beyond territorial waters; flag state jurisdiction is primary
• India’s position: India imports ~4.8 million barrels/day (nearly 90% imported); Russia has become India’s largest oil supplier (~35% of imports) since 2022 sanctions; India has not joined Western sanctions on Russia

UPSC Angle: GS-2 IR / GS-3 Economy — India-Russia energy ties; UNCLOS; energy security; Western sanctions architecture; India’s strategic autonomy doctrine in energy policy.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment introduced the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing significant changes to the 2019 Act:

Proposed changes:

• Remove Section 4(2) of the 2019 Act which gave the right to self-identify gender — replacing it with mandatory Medical Board certification headed by the Chief Medical Officer
• Narrow the definition of “transgender” to specific socio-cultural identities (hijra, kinner, aravani, jogta) or medically-certified conditions
• New penalties: Minimum 10 years rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping adults to force transgender identity; life imprisonment + minimum ₹5 lakh fine for forcing children

Background:

• NALSA v. Union of India (2014): Landmark Supreme Court judgment affirming transgender persons’ right to self-identify gender without medical/surgical requirement — basis of the 2019 Act’s self-identification provision
• Transgender Persons Act 2019: Certificates issued: 32,424 (as of 2026); Census 2011 counted ~4.88 lakh transgender persons
• Criticism: The amendment bill is widely seen as contradicting the NALSA judgment and violating constitutional rights to dignity (Article 21) and equality (Articles 14-15)

UPSC Angle: GS-2 Social Issues / Polity — Transgender rights; NALSA judgment; Article 21 (dignity, privacy); Article 14-15 (equality); legislative vs judicial evolution of rights.

Kalinjar Fort Region Declared National Geo-Heritage Site

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) designated the Kalinjar Fort hill region (Banda district, Uttar Pradesh) as a National Geo-Heritage Site (notified on March 16, 2026):

• GSI’s role: India’s premier geological survey organisation (est. 1851); under Ministry of Mines; manages geological survey, mineral resource assessment, and now geo-heritage conservation
• Kalinjar Fort: Historic fort on a plateau of the Vindhyan Range; Banda district, UP; significant in medieval Indian history (fought over by Chandelas, Sher Shah Suri died here, Mughal sieges)
• Geological significance: Vindhyan Supergroup rocks — among India’s oldest sedimentary formations (~1,600–600 million years old); significant for understanding Pre-Cambrian Earth history
• National Geo-Heritage Sites: GSI designates sites of unique geological significance for conservation and scientific study; currently ~34 sites notified nationally
• Also in UP: Sona Patthar — river pebbles used in building (natural curiosity)

UPSC Angle: GS-1 History / GS-3 Environment — Kalinjar Fort history; GSI mandate; geological heritage; Vindhyan Range; Pre-Cambrian geology; geo-heritage conservation.

Tribal Paintings — Tribes Art Fest 2026 and GI Tags

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs organised Tribes Art Fest 2026 featuring 75+ tribal artists demonstrating 30+ distinct painting traditions, highlighting those with Geographical Indication (GI) tags:

Other notable traditions (no GI yet):

• Bhil (MP, Rajasthan): Large uneven dots; each artist has unique pattern
• Mandana (Rajasthan, MP): Meena community; Lakshmi footprints; prosperity symbolism

UPSC Angle: GS-1 History/Culture — Tribal art forms; GI tags; intangible cultural heritage; Ministry of Tribal Affairs; cultural diversity of India.

Xi-cc-plus Baryon Discovery — CERN’s LHCb Experiment

The LHCb experiment at CERN (Geneva) announced the discovery of the Xi-cc-plus baryon:

• Particle: Xi-cc-plus (Ξ+cc) baryon
• Composition: 2 charm quarks + 1 down quark (3 quarks total = baryon)
• Mass: ~4 times heavier than a proton
• Significance: The isospin partner of the Ξ++cc (2 charm + 1 up quark, charge +2) discovered by LHCb in 2017; this 2026 particle (2 charm + 1 down quark, charge +1) is a distinct species; mass measured at ~3620 MeV/c² with a signal exceeding 7 sigma; unstable (decays rapidly)
• First new particle observed after LHCb’s 2023 detector upgrades; based on proton-proton collision data from LHC Run 3 (2024); also resolves a 20-year-old mystery from the SELEX experiment
• Theory tested: Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) — the theory describing the strong nuclear force that binds quarks into hadrons
• CERN full form: European Organisation for Nuclear Research (French: Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire); headquarters: Geneva; India is an associate member

Key definitions:

• Quark: Elementary particle with fractional electric charge; 6 types (up, down, strange, charm, bottom, top)
• Baryon: Composite particle of 3 quarks (proton = 2 up + 1 down quark)
• Hadron: Any particle composed of quarks; includes baryons (3 quarks) and mesons (quark + antiquark)

UPSC Angle: GS-3 S&T — Particle physics; CERN; fundamental forces; LHC; India-CERN collaboration; Standard Model of particle physics.

Krishi Sakhi — UN 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer

The Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AIC) launched the Krishi Sakhi Initiative in the context of the United Nations designating 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer:

• Krishi Sakhi Initiative (AIC): A nationwide campaign empowering women farmers through crop insurance awareness, training, and community engagement — aligning with the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer
• Krishi Sakhi Convergence Programme (KSCP): A separate ongoing programme under DAY-NRLM training rural women as para-extension workers in agriculture — certified, skilled agricultural facilitators who advise other farmers on crop practices, soil health, MSP operations; target: 70,000 Krishi Sakhis (over 30,000 certified as of June 2024 by PM Modi in Varanasi)
• Link to Lakhpati Didi: Krishi Sakhi is one of the pathways under the PM’s Lakhpati Didi programme (target: 3 crore rural women earning ₹1 lakh+ annually from livelihoods)
• Women in Indian agriculture: Women constitute ~42% of India’s agricultural labour force but hold <14% of agricultural land ownership
• UN designation: General Assembly Resolution designating 2026 as International Year of the Woman Farmer — draws attention to women’s role in food security, gender gap in land rights, financial services access

UPSC Angle: GS-2 Social Issues / GS-3 Economy — Women in agriculture; Lakhpati Didi; SHG movement; land rights for women; food security; SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

UPSC Relevance

Prelims: BHAVYA (Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna; ₹33,660 crore; 100 parks; NICDC; DPIIT; up to ₹1 cr/acre; Challenge Mode); SHP scheme (₹2,584 crore; FY2026-31; 1–25 MW; MNRE; NE ₹3.6 cr/MW; other ₹2.4 cr/MW); CCI (Cotton Corporation; Ministry of Textiles; ₹1,718.56 crore; 60 lakh farmers); Guillotine procedure (₹53 lakh crore FY27; Lok Sabha exclusive; Article 113/266); Press Note 3 (2020; prior approval for FDI from 7 land-border countries incl. Afghanistan; modified March 2026 via PN2/2026); Code on Social Security 2020 (Section 60(4) struck down; 12 weeks maternity for adoptive mothers; Article 21); Transgender Amendment Bill 2026 (removes self-identification; Medical Board; NALSA 2014; 32,424 certificates); Kalinjar Fort Geo-Heritage (GSI; Banda UP; Vindhyan Range); Xi-cc-plus baryon (2 charm + 1 down quark; 80th LHC hadron; QCD; CERN associate member India); Dark Fleet (AIS disabling; STS transfers; India 55% Russia dark fleet crude 5.4 MT 2025); Krishi Sakhi (90,000 para-extension workers; Lakhpati Didi; UN 2026 Year of Woman Farmer); GI tribal art (Warli 2014; Sohrai-Khobar 2020; Pithora 2021; Gond 2023; Saura 2024); IOS SAGAR (16 IONS nations; Kochi shore + sea deployment; IONS chair India Feb 2026); Collegium (Three Judges Cases 1981/1993/1998; NJAC 99th Amendment 2014; struck down 2015) Mains GS-2: Guillotine and parliamentary financial accountability | Transgender rights amendment — NALSA judgment conflicts | Women’s political representation (13.6% Lok Sabha vs 44% local bodies) | Collegium system opacity and reform | FDI policy and national security: Press Note 3 Mains GS-3: Dark fleet crude imports — India’s energy security vs sanctions compliance | Labour codes and gender-inclusive maternity rights | BHAVYA plug-and-play parks — manufacturing ecosystem | India’s maritime crude import dependence and UNCLOS gaps

📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia

BHAVYA Scheme:

• Full form: Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna
• Outlay: ₹33,660 crore; 100 plug-and-play industrial parks
• Park size: 100–1,000 acres; financial support: up to ₹1 crore/acre
• Implementing agency: NICDC (National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Ltd)
• Ministry: DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Jobs expected: ~15 lakh direct
• Based on: Atmanirbhar Bharat + Viksit Bharat 2047 vision

Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme:

• Outlay: ₹2,584.60 crore; Period: FY 2026-27 to 2030-31
• Target capacity: ~1,500 MW; Project size: 1–25 MW
• Ministry: MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)
• NE/border: ₹3.6 cr/MW or 30% cost (max ₹30 cr/project)
• Other states: ₹2.4 cr/MW or 20% cost (max ₹20 cr/project)
• DPR pipeline: 200 projects; ₹30 crore support for state agencies
• Expected private investment: ₹15,000 crore

Cotton MSP — CCI:

• Approved: ₹1,718.56 crore for 2023-24 procurement; 60 lakh farmers
• CCI: Cotton Corporation of India; under Ministry of Textiles
• India: world’s largest cotton producer; ~6 million farmers
• Major states: Gujarat (top), Maharashtra, Telangana, AP, Rajasthan, Punjab
• CCI network: 508+ procurement centres across 152 districts in 11 states; BITS + Cott-Ally app
• Cotton sector employment: 400–500 lakh people (ginning, processing, textiles, trade)

Barabanki–Bahraich NH-927:

• Length: 101.515 km; Cost: ₹6,969 crore; Mode: HAM
• HAM: 40% upfront by govt + 60% annuity over 15 years to developer
• Significance: UP Terai belt connectivity + Nepal border

IOS SAGAR:

• Full form: Indian Ocean Ship — Security and Growth for All in the Region
• Edition: 2nd (commenced March 16, 2026); 1st edition: 2025
• Participants: 16 IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium) nations
• IONS chair: India (assumed from Royal Thai Navy, Feb 2026; tenure 2026–28; 25 members + 9 observers)
• Training: Kochi (shore-based) → sea deployment on Indian Naval Ship
• SAGAR doctrine: PM Modi; Mauritius 2015; “Security and Growth for All in the Region”
• MAHASAGAR: PM Modi; Mauritius March 2025; broader successor framework; AIKEYME + IOS SAGAR launched under it

Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 / Yashobhoomi:

• Venue: Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre), Dwarka, New Delhi
• Inaugurated: 17 September 2023 by PM Modi (Phase 1); India’s largest convention and exhibition centre
• Summit hosted by: POWERGRID (nodal), NTPC, NHPC, REC, PFC; under Ministry of Power
• Theme: “Electrifying Growth. Empowering Sustainability. Connecting Globally”

Collegium System — Key Facts:

• Three Judges Cases: 1981 (S.P. Gupta), 1993 (SCAORA), 1998 (Presidential Reference)
• NJAC: 99th Constitutional Amendment 2014; struck down 2015 (4th Judges Case)
• SC bench strength: 34 (1 CJI + 33 judges); 25 High Courts in India
• HC established latest: Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh HC (2019)

Guillotine Procedure:

• Constitutional basis: Article 113 (Demands for Grants); Article 266 (Consolidated Fund of India)
• Amount guillotined FY 2026-27: ₹53 lakh crore
• Process: Undiscussed demands put to vote en bloc by Speaker at end of allotted time
• Budget timeline: Budget presented Feb 1 → 3-week recess → Standing Committee review → Guillotine on final day → Finance Bill → Appropriation Bill
• Rajya Sabha: Cannot vote on money matters (only Lok Sabha); Rajya Sabha can only discuss and make recommendations

Press Note 3 (2020) — FDI from Land-Border Countries:

• Issued: April 2020 (during COVID-19 pandemic)
• Requirement: Prior government approval for FDI from countries sharing land border with India
• Countries covered: China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan (7 countries)
• Modified: March 2026 (Press Note 2 of 2026) — up to 10% non-controlling stake under automatic route; 60-day processing timeline for select sectors
• Ministry: DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Maternity Leave — Code on Social Security 2020:

• SC struck down: Section 60(4) — restriction of adoption benefit to children < 3 months (case: Hamsaanandini Nanduri v. Union of India, March 17, 2026)
• Ruling: 12 weeks maternity leave for ALL adoptive mothers regardless of child’s age
• Constitutional basis: Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 21 (right to dignity, reproductive autonomy)
• Labour Codes 2020: 4 codes consolidate 29 central labour laws (Code on Social Security consolidates 9 laws; Industrial Relations Code; Code on Wages; Occupational Safety Code)
• Code on Social Security: Effective 21 November 2025; replaced Maternity Benefit Act 1961, ESI Act 1948, EPF Act 1952, Payment of Gratuity Act 1972, among others
• Maternity Benefit Act 1961: Previously gave 26 weeks for <2 children births (post-2017 amendment)

Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026:

• Original Act: Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019
• Key change proposed: Remove Section 4(2) (self-identification right); introduce Medical Board headed by CMO
• NALSA v. Union of India (2014): SC affirmed right to self-identify gender; basis of 2019 Act
• Certificates issued under 2019 Act: 32,424
• Census 2011 transgender count: ~4.88 lakh
• Top states (transgender population): UP, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra

Kalinjar Fort and Geo-Heritage:

• GSI designation: National Geo-Heritage Site (notified March 16, 2026)
• Location: Kalinjar Fort hill region, Banda district, Uttar Pradesh
• GSI: Geological Survey of India; est. 1851; under Ministry of Mines
• Geological significance: Vindhyan Supergroup (~1,600–600 million years old); Pre-Cambrian sedimentary formations
• Kalinjar history: Chandela kings; Sher Shah Suri died during siege (1545); Mughal battles

Xi-cc-plus Baryon (CERN):

• Particle: Ξ+cc (Xi-cc-plus); charge = +1; composition: 2 charm quarks + 1 down quark
• Mass: ~4x heavier than proton
• 1st doubly-charmed baryon: Ξ++cc (2 charm + 1 up quark; charge +2) — discovered 2017
• Isospin partner: Ξ+cc (2 charm + 1 down quark; charge +1) — discovered 2026; mass ~3620 MeV/c²; signal >7 sigma
• First new particle observed after LHCb 2023 detector upgrades; based on Run 3 data (2024)
• Theory tested: QCD (Quantum Chromodynamics) — strong nuclear force
• CERN: European Organisation for Nuclear Research; Geneva; India = associate member

Dark Fleet / Shadow Tankers:

• India’s dark fleet crude (Jan–Sep 2025): 5.4 million tonnes on 30 false-flagged vessels; 55% of Russia’s dark fleet crude sales
• Tactics: AIS disabling, STS (ship-to-ship) transfers, flags of convenience (Panama, Liberia, Gabon), shell company ownership
• UNCLOS: Limited enforcement on high seas; flag state has primary jurisdiction
• India’s oil import dependence: ~90%; Russia = ~35% of India’s imports (since 2022 sanctions)

GI-Tagged Tribal Art Forms:

• Warli (Maharashtra): 2014 — geometric; white on red ochre; rice flour paste
• Sohrai + Khovar (Jharkhand): 2020 — harvest mural + bridal chamber art
• Pithora (Gujarat, MP): 2021 — ritualistic; horse motif; Rathwa community
• Gond (MP): 2023 — dots/lines; Tree of Life motif
• Saura (Odisha): 2024 — elongated geometric figures

Krishi Sakhi:

• AIC Initiative: Agriculture Insurance Company of India launched Krishi Sakhi campaign for women farmer empowerment and crop insurance awareness
• KSCP (Krishi Sakhi Convergence Programme): DAY-NRLM; target 70,000 para-extension workers; 30,000+ certified by PM in Varanasi (June 2024); linked to Lakhpati Didi (3 crore women; ₹1 lakh+ income)
• UN Year of Woman Farmer: 2026 (UN General Assembly designation)
• Women in Indian agriculture: ~42% of labour force; <14% land ownership

Other Relevant Facts:

• India’s installed power capacity (Jan 2026): 520.5 GW; ~52.3% from non-fossil fuels (271.96 GW non-fossil; solar alone: 140.60 GW)
• India’s NDC commitment: 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030
• NICDC previously known as DMICDC (Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Dev. Corp.); renamed February 2020
• BHAVYA selection: Challenge Mode (competitive state selection)
• BHAVYA also covers: 25% of external connectivity costs (roads to nearest NH/expressway)
• Women MPs in 18th Lok Sabha: 74 out of 543 (13.6%); global average: ~26%
• Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023): 33% reservation in Lok Sabha + State Assemblies post-delimitation (post-Census 2027)

Sources: PIB, GKToday, Insights IAS, DD News, Drishti IAS