UPSC current affairs · Sunday

Current Affairs, 1 March 2026

2 issues picked from 31 PIB releases · about 2 minutes each · written by UPSC Grade, each fact checked against its PIB release or by a second model

How to readRead “Why in news” and “What it is” for every issue. Open For Prelims or For Mains for the exam you’re preparing for, then Test yourself at the foot of each card. Half the news questions in Prelims are answered from background, not the news itself.

In 60 seconds

Eligible Manufacturer Importer (EMI) Scheme. CBIC lets trusted manufacturers pay import customs duty monthly instead of at clearance, from April 2026.
Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia. CCS reviews West Asia escalation, directs help for Indians abroad, urges early end to hostilities.

Economy

Eligible Manufacturer Importer (EMI) Scheme

GS3 Economy · Customs and trade facilitationPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 1 March 2026, CBIC launched the Eligible Manufacturer Importer (EMI) scheme, announced in Union Budget 2026-27. Eligible manufacturers can defer customs duty payment; Circular 08/2026-Customs was issued on 28 February 2026.
What it is: The EMI scheme is a trust-based customs facilitation measure for manufacturers who import goods. It lets them clear goods first and pay the duty later, in line with the Deferred Payment of Import Duty Rules, 2016. It is linked to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and aims to ease working capital.

Core benefit: EMIs clear imported goods without paying customs duty at clearance; duty is paid monthly.
Validity: The facility is available from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028.
Who is eligible: Eligibility turns on customs and GST compliance, turnover, financial standing and track record. Existing AEO-T1 entities, including MSMEs, can also take part.
AEO progression: Approved EMIs are expected to move up to AEO-T2 or AEO-T3 status during the scheme period.

Don’t confuse with CBIC vs CBDT: CBIC handles customs, GST and central excise; CBDT handles direct taxes such as income tax.

Don’t confuse with EMI vs AEO: EMI is a new deferred-payment category; AEO is the broader tiered trusted-trader programme (T1, T2, T3).

Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Finance, 1 Mar, 10:35 IST · Release 285067

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.

International relations

Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia

GS2 International RelationsGS3 Energy securityPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 1 March 2026 the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by the Prime Minister, reviewed the West Asia situation after air strikes in Iran on 28 February and attacks in Gulf countries.
What it is: The Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia is a ministerial panel set up to monitor the evolving West Asia situation and suggest proactive measures to minimise its impact on India. It is chaired by the Defence Minister and draws in ministers of finance, petroleum, external affairs, power, fertilizers, food and others. It works with seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries that brief it on steps being taken.

Chair and purpose: The IGoM is chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. It monitors West Asia developments and suggests measures to keep the impact on India minimal.
Supporting machinery: Seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries briefed the IGoM on the steps being taken.
Customs relief: Full customs duty exemption on 40 critical petrochemical products was notified, valid till June 30, 2026.
Inter-ministerial group: The PM said an inter-ministerial group meets daily to assess import and export difficulties and work out solutions.
Strait of Hormuz: India imports large quantities of crude oil, gas and fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz, and shipping there has become highly challenging.
Indians in the Gulf: Nearly ten million Indians live and work in the Gulf countries.
Strategic petroleum reserve: India has a strategic petroleum reserve of over 5.3 million metric tonnes, to be expanded to over 6.5 million metric tonnes.
India's position: India opposes attacks on civilians, energy and transport infrastructure, and says dialogue and diplomacy are the only solution.
Cause of supply stress: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is the reason for the steps on petroleum products and LPG.
Legal powers against hoarding: States can act against hoarding and black marketing under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the LPG Control Order, 2000.
Seafarers in the Gulf: 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf, monitored by DG Shipping.
Return of Indians: Over 3,50,000 passengers have returned to India from the region since 28 February.
LPG exposure: India imports about 60% of its LPG consumption, and about 90% of these imports pass through Hormuz.
Natural Gas Control Order: Issued on 9 March 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act to manage gas supply and protect priority sectors. Domestic PNG and CNG get full supply.
LPG demand management: The minimum gap between LPG bookings was raised from 21 to 25 days. Domestic LPG output rose about 25% after refineries were told to maximise LPG.
Seafarers and diaspora: 28 Indian-flagged vessels are in the Persian Gulf region. About one crore Indians live in GCC countries.
Who met: The Cabinet Committee on Security met under the Prime Minister's chairmanship to review the West Asia situation.
Trigger: The CCS was briefed on air strikes in Iran on 28 February and the escalation that followed, including attacks in Gulf countries.
Main concern: The Committee expressed serious concern over the safety and security of the large Indian expatriate community in the region.
Direction given: All concerned departments were told to take necessary and feasible measures to assist affected Indian nationals.
India's stance: The CCS stressed early cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.

Don’t confuse with IGoM vs GoM: An informal group of ministers is set up by executive decision for coordination and has no statutory or constitutional status. Empowered Groups of Secretaries are bureaucratic bodies that brief it.

Don’t confuse with Strait of Hormuz vs Bab-el-Mandeb: Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Bab-el-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

Don’t confuse with PNG vs LPG: PNG is piped natural gas supplied through city gas distribution networks. LPG is bottled liquefied petroleum gas.

Don’t confuse with PNG/CNG vs LPG: PNG and CNG are natural gas, mainly methane. LPG is propane and butane from refining and gas processing.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

Why it matters

Coordinated ministerial oversight lets India respond quickly to energy, trade and price shocks from a distant conflict.
Covering fuel, fertilizer, food and finance in one forum reflects India's exposure to West Asia through energy imports and trade.
Gulf supplies much of India's crude oil and gas, so the conflict directly affects energy security.
Nearly ten million Indians in the Gulf make evacuation, remittances and welfare a core concern.
Shows how a chokepoint closure threatens India's energy security, given its import dependence.
Coordinates Centre and States on supply, enforcement and citizen safety.
Shows India's exposure to a single chokepoint for crude, LNG and LPG.
Diversified crude buying across about 40 countries cushions supply shocks.
Tests crisis coordination across ministries and States, including diaspora protection.
Shows the government treating the West Asia crisis as a security and economic issue, not only a diplomatic one.
Large Indian diaspora in the Gulf makes evacuation and welfare of nationals a central concern.

Problems

Supply panic, hoarding and black marketing, such as in LPG, can create shortages even when stocks are adequate.
Misinformation on social media can fuel panic and complicate management.
Disrupted shipping through Hormuz threatens oil, LPG and fertilizer supplies and raises prices.
Dependence on imports for LPG and fertilizers exposes households and farmers to shocks.
LPG supply remains a concern, with panic buying and hoarding.
States differ in implementation: 17 States/UTs had yet to issue kerosene allocation orders.
Heavy LPG and LNG dependence on Hormuz cannot be shifted quickly.
Rationing gas hurts fertiliser and industry output, and price rises hurt households.
Panic buying and hoarding strain distribution; seafarers and about one crore Gulf Indians face risk.
Safety of Indian expatriates and disruption to travellers and students in the region.
Wider effects on regional security and on economic and commercial activity.

Way forward

Build medium to long-term preparedness, including diversified energy sources and alternatives like PNG.
Enforce action against hoarding and communicate through official sources.
Diversify energy and fertilizer sources and expand strategic reserves.
Speed up renewables, ethanol blending and electric mobility while pursuing diplomacy for safe passage.
Speed up PNG and city gas network expansion by clearing approvals quickly.
Build supply diversification and reserves to cut exposure to a single chokepoint.
Build strategic reserves of crude, LPG and gas, and add import routes.
Raise domestic output and speed up the shift to alternative fuels.
Keep Gulf diplomacy active and prepare evacuation and shipping-safety plans.
Coordinate departments for assistance to affected Indian nationals.
Press for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.

Put in your answer

LPG supply measures: Domestic LPG output was raised to meet consumption, with raids against hoarding and black marketing. Over 80% of pre-crisis commercial LPG supply was maintained.

Renewable capacity: Renewable capacity has crossed 250 GW, about half of installed capacity.

Demand and supply rationalisation: The LPG booking interval was raised from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas.

Diaspora in GCC: About one crore Indians live in GCC countries, making their safety central to India's policy.

LPG subsidy support: Government approved ₹30,000 crore compensation to oil marketing companies for LPG under-recoveries.

Government's response: The CCS reviewed difficulties of Indian travellers and students and the implications for regional security and economic activity.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Cabinet, 1 Mar, 23:30 IST · Release 285098

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Quick facts

INSV Kaundinya, a stitched ship modelled on a 5th-century CE Ajanta Caves depiction, completed its maiden voyage to Oman and returns to Mumbai on 2 March 2026.

Source: PIB, 1 Mar

What we left out: 28 of 31 releases

Ceremonies and campaigns (8)
Routine visits and events (2)
Explainers without new decision (2)
Condolences and ex-gratia (1)
Speeches without a decision (9)
Routine reviews and meetings (2)
Appointments and command changes (1)
Same issue as another release (2)
Workshops and conferences (1)

Practise the day’s news

In UPSC’s formats, inside each issue. The answer and why come after you choose.

1Eligible Manufacturer Importer (EMI) SchemeMCQ · 6 true or false
2Informal Group of Ministers on West AsiaMCQ · 9 true or false · Mains

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