New India Samachar’s May 2026 issues (Vol 6, Issues 21-22) carry two heavyweight cover stories: the failed 131st Amendment push to operationalise women’s reservation, and Census 2027, India’s first digital and caste-enumerating census. Alongside: 11 years of the Jan Suraksha trinity, one year of Operation Sindoor, the cooperative grain storage plan and the India-New Zealand FTA.
Features in This Edition
- Census 2027 - 16th census, first fully digital, first with caste enumeration of all communities; Phase 1 from April 2026, Phase 2 February 2027
- 11 Years of Jan Suraksha (PMSBY, PMJJBY, APY) - 92 crore+ combined registrations; claims over Rs 21,500 crore settled
- One Year of Operation Sindoor - 9 terror camps in 23 minutes; defence exports Rs 38,424 crore in FY 2025-26
- Women’s Reservation Special Session - 131st Amendment Bill fell 298-230; the 850-seat Lok Sabha proposal
- World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme - 120 PACS warehouses built, 72,702 MT capacity; AMI subsidy raised to 33.33 percent
- India-New Zealand FTA - signed April 27, 2026 after a record 9-month negotiation; dairy fully protected; India’s 9th pact with developed economies in 6 years
Key Data at a Glance
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Census 2027 | 16th census, 8th since independence; 3.1 million field workers; 33 HLO questions |
| PMSBY | 57.11 crore registered; Rs 20/year; Rs 2 lakh accident cover |
| PMJJBY | 26.31 crore registered; Rs 436/year; Rs 2 lakh life cover |
| APY | 8.71 crore enrolled; guaranteed Rs 1,000-5,000/month pension; extended to 2030-31 |
| Operation Sindoor | May 7, 2025; 9 camps, 125+ terrorists; ceasefire 5 PM May 10 |
| Defence economy | Exports Rs 38,424 crore FY 2025-26; Rs 50,000 crore target by 2029 |
| Women’s reservation | LS vote 298-230, short of two-thirds; proposed 850 seats, SC/ST seats 131 to 205 |
| Grain storage | Approved May 31, 2023; 120 warehouses; FCI 9-year rental guarantee |
| India-NZ FTA | $20 billion investment expected; exports FY 2025-26: $860.09 billion |
| Wind energy (briefs) | Record 6.05 GW added FY 2025-26; non-fossil 283.46 GW on March 31, 2026 |
UPSC GS Relevance
- GS1/GS2: census and society, Parliament and constitutional amendment process, welfare schemes
- GS3: defence indigenisation, food storage, external trade
