Current Affairs Quiz 4 April 2026

The Income Tax Act, 2025 replaced the Income-tax Act, 1961 after 65 years. The 1961 Act had grown to over 1,300 sections through decades of amendments, making it complex and prone to litigation.

The simplification exercise, directed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Budget 2024-25, focused on plain language, removing expired provisions, and formula-based expressions of calculations. Key distinction: no change in tax rates or slabs, purely structural reform.

CBDT notified new rules on March 20, 2026. PRARAMBH (Policy Reform and Responsible Action for Mission Viksit Bharat) was launched as the nationwide outreach campaign.

Kar Saathi, a 24x7 AI chatbot, was launched April 2, 2026 for taxpayer guidance. CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal oversaw implementation.

Kar Saathi was launched as part of the rollout of the Income Tax Act, 2025 (effective April 1, 2026). It is accessible through the income tax e-filing portal and Aaykar Seva Kendras.

The chatbot covers 2,200+ FAQs prepared by CBDT for 186 forms under the new Act. PRARAMBH, the outreach campaign, complements Kar Saathi with physical workshops for chartered accountants, tax practitioners, and industry.

This follows the Faceless Assessment Scheme (2020) and Annual Information Statement (AIS) in CBDT’s digital reform journey. The name ‘Kar Saathi’ is carefully chosen: ‘Kar’ = tax (Hindi) and ‘Saathi’ = companion, positioning the government as a taxpayer ally rather than an adversary.

PRARAMBH (Policy Reform and Responsible Action for Mission Viksit Bharat) is purely an awareness and capacity-building initiative, not a financial incentive programme. It fills the gap between the legislative reform (new Act) and actual taxpayer behavioural change.

Targets include chartered accountants, company secretaries, lawyers, industry associations, and individual taxpayers. The campaign aligns with the broader Viksit Bharat (Developed India by 2047) agenda under which multiple government reform campaigns are being branded.

Direct incentive schemes for early ITR filing have existed in the past (faster refunds, etc.) but PRARAMBH is not one of them. This distinction is important for UPSC as questions often test specific scheme features to eliminate incorrect options.

GIXI (Gas IndeX of India) is operated by IGX (Indian Gas Exchange), a wholly owned subsidiary of IEX (Indian Energy Exchange). It is a transaction-based index, prices reflect actual weighted averages of trades, not survey estimates, making it more robust than some legacy global benchmarks.

The index was developed as India’s gas market matured with the rollout of the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network. Prior to GIXI, Indian gas buyers and sellers either used international benchmarks (TTF, Henry Hub, JKM) or negotiated bilaterally, creating price opacity.

SEBI approved NSE to launch exchange-traded natural gas futures and options linked to GIXI on April 1, 2026. This enables hedging for CGD companies (IGL, MGL), producers (ONGC, RIL), and industrial consumers.

IGX started as a gas trading platform on June 15, 2020.

IEX (Indian Energy Exchange) was India’s first and largest power exchange, set up in 2008 under the Electricity Act, 2003. Sensing the opportunity to extend transparent price discovery to natural gas, IEX established IGX (Indian Gas Exchange) as a wholly owned subsidiary, which began operations on June 15, 2020 (as a trading platform) and became a full gas exchange by December 10, 2020.

IGX was launched by then-Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The PNGRB (Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board) regulates the gas market, while SEBI regulates derivatives on gas.

This dual-regulator architecture is an important institutional feature. NSE’s role is to host the exchange-traded derivatives on GIXI; IGX continues to run the spot/short-term gas trading market.

PLR Systems Pvt. Ltd. was set up as a joint venture between Adani Defence and Aerospace and IWI (Israel Weapon Industries), the maker of the NEGEV, TAVOR, Galil, and UZI families.

The Gwalior plant was specifically chosen for its proximity to existing defence infrastructure (Small Arms Complex is also in Gwalior). The NEGEV NG-7 fires 7.62x51mm NATO rounds, compared to the older INSAS LMG which fired 5.56x45mm.

The 7.62mm round has greater stopping power and effectiveness at longer ranges, addressing a key operational gap. The contract signed in August 2024 is the largest single small-arms contract ever awarded to an Indian private company.

Indigenous content is targeted at 75% within 3 years and 90% by end of decade, with full Transfer of Technology (ToT) from IWI.

The INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) programme was developed indigenously by DRDO and manufactured by Ordnance Factory Board (now OFB successor companies). It entered service in 1994 but faced persistent criticism: jamming in cold conditions (Kargil 1999 highlighted this), use of proprietary 5.56x45mm rounds limiting interoperability, and ergonomic shortcomings.

The 7.62mm NATO round used by the NEGEV NG-7 is also used by many NATO nations and friendly armies, improving logistical interoperability. The Indian Army also procured AK-203 assault rifles (from an OFB-Kalashnikov JV in Amethi, UP) to replace the INSAS rifle, while PLR Systems addresses the LMG gap.

Note: AK-203 replaces the INSAS rifle, not the LMG, a common point of confusion.

The three D-SIIs (Domestic Systemically Important Insurers) designated by IRDAI for FY 2025-26 are LIC, GIC Re, and NIACL. LIC was created by nationalising 245 private insurance companies under the LIC Act, 1956, the largest nationalisation exercise in Indian financial history.

GIC Re was created when general insurance was nationalised in 1972 (General Insurance Business Nationalisation Act, 1972). NIACL (New India Assurance) was originally a Tata group company founded in 1919, nationalised in 1972, and remains India’s largest non-life insurer.

The mandatory 5% cession to GIC Re is a regulatory requirement that ensures GIC Re has a steady premium base and provides reinsurance capacity to the Indian market. IRDAI was established following the Malhotra Committee (1994) recommendations and the opening of insurance to private players in 2000.

The D-SII framework was inspired by the IAIS (International Association of Insurance Supervisors) framework for G-SIIs (Global Systemically Important Insurers). In India, IRDAI adapted it as a domestic framework, designating D-SIIs annually based on size, market importance, and interconnectedness.

D-SIIs face enhanced corporate governance, risk management, and supervisory requirements. Contrast with RBI’s D-SIBs (Domestic Systemically Important Banks): the current D-SIBs are SBI, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank.

Both frameworks emerged from lessons of the 2008 global financial crisis where AIG’s (American International Group’s) near-collapse showed how a large insurer can trigger systemic failure. The ‘enhanced supervision’ for D-SIIs includes more frequent IRDAI inspections and mandatory Recovery and Resolution Plans.

UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) was established through an executive order in January 2009 and given statutory backing through the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. As of 2026, Aadhaar has over 1.4 billion enrolments, nearly universal coverage for Indian adults.

The Aadhaar Seva Kendra (ASK) programme upgraded the service centre experience with appointment systems, air conditioning, and professional staff. MapmyIndia’s Mappls app is India’s indigenous navigation platform (an alternative to Google Maps), and its government tie-ups reflect the policy push for domestic digital infrastructure.

An earlier partnership with Google Maps for Aadhaar centre listing preceded this MOU. The UIDAI-MapmyIndia MOU falls under the Digital India and Ease of Living initiatives.

UIDAI was set up by the Planning Commission of India in January 2009 under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani. The first Aadhaar was issued in September 2010 in Nandurbar, Maharashtra.

The Aadhaar Bill was passed in 2016 as a Money Bill (this classification itself was challenged, the Puttaswamy 2018 judgment held this was incorrect but did not strike down the Act). The Puttaswamy (2018) 5-judge bench gave a split ruling: upheld Aadhaar for government welfare schemes and ITR filing; struck down Section 57 (private entities cannot mandate Aadhaar); held children cannot be denied welfare for lack of Aadhaar.

The right to privacy was declared a fundamental right (Article 21) in Puttaswamy (2017), a separate 9-judge bench ruling that preceded the Aadhaar verdict.

Gangotri National Park lies in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, adjacent to the Gangotri Biosphere Reserve, at altitudes ranging from 1,800 m to 7,083 m. It is part of the broader Western Himalayan landscape, one of the globally significant snow leopard ecosystems covered under GSLEP (Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program). The park closes every November 30 and reopens around April 1, allowing wildlife to breed undisturbed in winter.

Key trekking destinations: Gaumukh (3,892 m), the glacier snout that is the origin of the Bhagirathi river; Kedartal (4,750 m), a high-altitude glacial lake; Gartang Gali, restored ancient trade route on the India-Tibet corridor; Nelang Valley, formerly restricted border area now opened for eco-tourism with Inner Line Permits. The NGT (National Green Tribunal) set a limit of 150 trekkers per day to Gaumukh.

The Gangotri glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the Himalaya (~30 km long, 2-4 km wide). Gaumukh, its terminal face, is at 3,892 m altitude and is both a pilgrimage site and a hydrological monitoring point.

The glacier has retreated about 2 km since 1935. The Bhagirathi originates here and flows through Uttarkashi, Tehri (where Tehri Dam is located), and Rishikesh before reaching Haridwar.

At Devprayag, the Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda (which originates near Badrinath) to become the Ganga. The Gangotri glacier is monitored by GSI (Geological Survey of India) and WIHG (Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology) under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE), one of the 8 missions of NAPCC (National Action Plan on Climate Change).

The Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) is a pheasant of the family Phasianidae. Males are famous for their spectacular multi-coloured iridescent plumage (blue-green crest, copper neck, green back, red tail).

Females are brown with streaking. Found across the Himalayas from Afghanistan to Arunachal Pradesh, typically at 2,500-5,000 m altitude.

It is the state bird of Uttarakhand (also the state bird of Himachal Pradesh, an important distinction; both states claim it). In Nepal, it is called Danphe and is the national bird.

Scientific name: Lophophorus impejanus (named after Lady Mary Impey, who kept specimens in Calcutta). IUCN: Least Concern.

Other Himalayan pheasants in Gangotri NP include the Western Tragopan (Vulnerable) and Koklass Pheasant.

The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) was listed as Endangered from 1996 to 2017, when it was downlisted to Vulnerable after new surveys estimated the global population at 4,000-6,500 individuals (previously estimated as fewer than 2,500). India’s snow leopard range covers Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

India launched Project Snow Leopard (2009) for conservation. Snow Leopards are also protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (highest protection).

Internationally, GSLEP (Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program) was launched at the 2013 Bishkek Declaration, covering 12 range countries including India. Snow Leopard is the national animal of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Common mistake: many students say Snow Leopard is Critically Endangered, it is Vulnerable as of 2017.

India’s defence export journey: FY 2016-17 (Rs 1,941 cr), FY 2020-21 (Rs 13,000 cr), FY 2024-25 (Rs 23,622 cr), FY 2025-26 (Rs 38,424 cr). Key exports include: Torpedoes and missiles (BDL), radars and EW equipment (BEL), armoured vehicles (Tata, BEML), small arms and personal protection equipment (PLR Systems, MKU), UAVs (ideaForge), ALH Dhruv helicopters (HAL), patrol vessels (GRSE, GSL).

BrahMos exports are significant, Philippines ($375 million, 2022, first SE Asia export). India’s target of Rs 50,000 crore by 2028-29 requires sustained ~10% annual growth from current levels.

Ministry of Defence’s Export Promotion Cell and the DAP 2020 framework have been key policy enablers.

DPSU stands for Defence Public Sector Undertaking, these include HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.), BEL (Bharat Electronics Ltd.), BDL (Bharat Dynamics Ltd.), BEML, GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders), MDL (Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders), Goa Shipyard, Mishra Dhatu Nigam, and the successor entities of the Ordnance Factory Board (corporatised in 2021 into 7 DPSUs). Major DPSU export items: HAL, ALH Dhruv helicopters and aero components to friendly nations; BDL, lightweight torpedoes and guided weapons; BEL, radars, communication equipment; GRSE and GSL, fast patrol vessels and offshore vessels.

The private sector (Adani Defence, Tata Advanced Systems, L&T, ideaForge, MKU) primarily exports armoured vehicles, UAVs, body armour, and small arms.

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India (DRDO) and Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya) through BrahMos Aerospace Ltd. Specifications: speed Mach 2.8, range up to 290+ km (naval version), being upgraded to 450+ km.

Named after Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia) rivers. Versions: ship-launched, submarine-launched, ground-launched, air-launched (from Su-30MKI).

The Philippines deal (2022, $375 million) was for 3 batteries of shore-based BrahMos anti-ship missile systems. India has also supplied Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers to Armenia (2024, Rs 2,100 crore deal).

BrahMos is being upgraded to hypersonic (BrahMos-II / BrahMos-NG, Next Generation). The Russia-DRDO JV is unusual in defence exports as Russia is technically co-owner but India drives export decisions, a diplomatic balance point.

Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 empowers the Central Government to declare an institution of sufficiently high standard in a specific field as a deemed-to-be university, on the advice of the UGC. NCERT’s distinct category prevents it from functioning as a conventional university (no affiliation of colleges, no commercial activities).

The six constituent units gaining the benefit: 5 RIEs (Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru, Shillong) + PSSCIVE Bhopal. NCERT was established in 1961 as a society under the Societies Registration Act.

Its key function has been developing the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), the NCF 2023 was aligned with NEP 2020. Deemed university status enables NCERT to directly offer 4-year integrated B.Ed. programmes as mandated by NEP 2020 (by 2030), without depending on affiliation with other universities.

The five RIEs (Regional Institutes of Education) were established in 1963 as part of NCERT’s regional outreach strategy. Each runs model schools (Demonstration Multipurpose Schools) and offers B.Ed. and M.Ed. programmes for teacher training.

The RIE Shillong serves the entire North-East region. The sixth constituent unit is PSSCIVE (Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education) in Bhopal, specialising in vocational education teacher training, critical for NEP 2020’s vocational integration goals.

There are also NCERT regional extension centres and field units in various cities (including Kolkata and Ahmedabad) but these are NOT RIEs. A common confusion: NCERT has presence in many cities, but only 5 have full RIEs.

NCERT was established by the Government of India in 1961, replacing the Central Institute of Education and other predecessor bodies. Its creation was recommended by the Kothari Commission (Education Commission 1964-66, though this post-dated NCERT’s founding, the immediate trigger was the 1961 government resolution).

NCERT’s mandate spans school education (Classes I-XII), teacher training, educational research, and curriculum development. Key publications: National Curriculum Framework (NCF), versions in 1975, 1988, 2000, 2005, 2023.

The NCF 2005 was particularly influential, developed under Krishna Kumar, it emphasised constructivist learning. NCF 2023 aligns with NEP 2020.

NCERT textbooks are mandated for CBSE schools and used as the base for NDA, CDS, and UPSC Prelims preparation. The body now operates as a deemed university (from March 2026).

Under IRDAI regulations, every general insurance company in India must cede a mandatory 5% of its gross written premium to GIC Re as obligatory cession. This ensures GIC Re has a premium base independent of commercial negotiations and maintains reinsurance capacity in the domestic market.

GIC Re was established in 1972 under the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act, 1972. It is also the only government-owned reinsurer in India.

Besides mandatory cession, GIC Re also participates in facultative and treaty reinsurance. The D-SII framework (from FY 2021-22) designates GIC Re along with LIC and NIACL as entities whose failure would disrupt the financial system.

Comparable to RBI’s D-SIBs (SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank). D-SIIs face enhanced governance, risk management, and supervisory requirements from IRDAI.

The Income Tax Act, 2025 was explicitly designed to simplify without changing tax policy. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, when announcing the review in Budget 2024-25, specified that the goal was ‘concise, lucid, and easy to understand’ language, with no change in tax rates, deductions, or policy intent.

This distinction was central to the political narrative around the reform: taxpayers needed assurance that simplification was not a disguise for tax increases. Key changes: formula-based provisions (instead of long textual provisos), removal of expired clauses, unified ‘tax year’ terminology.

The new rules (333, reduced from 510) were notified by CBDT on March 20, 2026. The assertion about rate changes is a deliberate distractor to test if students confuse structural reform with rate revision.

The institutional architecture for India’s gas market: PNGRB (Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, est. 2006 under PNGRB Act 2006) regulates pipelines, CGD networks, and gas marketing. SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) regulates financial derivatives on commodities.

IEX (Indian Energy Exchange), India’s largest power exchange, also parent of IGX, listed on NSE and BSE. IGX (Indian Gas Exchange), operational since June 2020, provides spot and short-term gas contracts.

NSE, National Stock Exchange, India’s largest stock exchange, will host exchange-traded futures and options on GIXI. GIXI = Gas IndeX of India, transaction-based weighted average price at 6 regional delivery hubs.

This multi-institution setup reflects the multi-regulator nature of India’s energy markets.

Life Insurance Corporation of India was nationalised under the LIC Act, 1956, which consolidated 245 private insurance companies into one entity. LIC’s IPO was long anticipated but faced multiple delays due to market volatility and valuation disputes.

When it finally listed in May 2022, it was oversubscribed across most categories. The embedded value (EV) was revised downward before listing due to market conditions.

LIC policyholder reservation, a unique category in the IPO, allowed LIC policy holders to bid with a discount. Post-listing, the stock underperformed initially but recovered.

LIC’s AUM exceeds Rs 50 lakh crore, making it one of India’s largest institutional investors, larger than India’s entire mutual fund industry at the time of IPO. LIC invests significantly in government securities, making it critical for sovereign debt absorption.

GIXI (Gas IndeX of India) is operated by IGX using actual trade data, a transaction-based weighted average price across 6 regional hubs. This distinguishes it from some older benchmarks that relied on surveys or published tariffs.

PNGRB (Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board) was established under the PNGRB Act, 2006 and regulates: natural gas pipelines (including GAIL), city gas distribution (CNG/PNG networks), and LNG terminals. It does NOT operate a price index.

IEX is the parent of IGX, IEX handles electricity trading, IGX handles gas trading. NSE’s entry into gas derivatives creates a new product in the commodity derivatives segment, alongside existing contracts in crude oil, gold, silver, and agri-commodities.

UIDAI chronology: January 2009, established by Planning Commission via executive order; 2010, first Aadhaar issued (Nandurbar, Maharashtra, to Ranjana Sonawane); 2016, Aadhaar Act passed (as Money Bill); 2018, Puttaswamy verdict (upheld Aadhaar for welfare, struck Section 57). The Puttaswamy (2018) verdict had two key effects on Aadhaar: (a) upheld its use for government welfare schemes, PAN/ITR, and passport applications; (b) struck down Section 57, private entities (banks, telecom) cannot mandate Aadhaar for their services.

Children: cannot be denied scheme benefits for lack of Aadhaar. This created the current regime where Aadhaar is voluntary for private services but functionally mandatory for government benefits.

The UIDAI-MapmyIndia MOU is about service access, not about authentication mandates.

NEP 2020’s teacher education provisions: (a) By 2030, minimum qualification for teaching will be a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree. (b) Those who already hold a 3-year UG degree can complete a 2-year B.Ed. (c) Those with a 4-year UG degree can complete a 1-year B.Ed. (d) The 4-year integrated programme combines content knowledge + pedagogy + practical experience. NCERT, with its 5 RIEs + PSSCIVE as constituent units, is the anchor institution for implementing this reform.

PSSCIVE (Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education) in Bhopal handles vocational teacher training, critical as NEP 2020 integrates vocational education from Class VI. RIEs currently run B.Ed. and M.Ed. programmes; deemed university status enables 4-year integrated B.Ed. directly.

The Snow Leopard was downlisted from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2017 by IUCN after revised population estimates showed 4,000-6,500 individuals globally (India: ~500-700). The Devprayag confluence is one of the five Panch Prayag confluences: Vishnuprayag (Alaknanda + Dhauliganga), Nandaprayag (+ Nandakini), Karnaprayag (+ Pindar), Rudraprayag (+ Mandakini), Devprayag (Bhagirathi + Alaknanda = Ganga).

Gangotri NP is part of the GSLEP (Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program) landscape, India is one of 12 range countries. The Gangotri glacier retreat (22 m/year) is monitored under NMSHE (National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem), one of 8 NAPCC missions.

NGT (2013) set 150 trekker/day limit for Gaumukh trek.

India’s defence export trajectory: FY2016-17 (Rs 1,941 cr) to FY2025-26 (Rs 38,424 cr), approximately 20x growth in one decade. The Rs 50,000 crore target by FY 2028-29 was set by the Ministry of Defence as part of the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat push.

The Positive Indigenisation List, three lists covering 509 items, bans import of these items after their notification date, channelling demand toward domestic producers who then also build export capability. Key enabling policies: DAP 2020 (Defence Acquisition Procedure), DPIIT industrial licensing, DPP export promotion cell, and G2G export facilitation.

BrahMos and Pinaka rocket systems are India’s flagship export items for high-value defence diplomacy.