UPSC current affairs · Tuesday

Current Affairs, 10 March 2026

12 issues picked from 100 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

India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). India-EFTA TEPA, in force since October 2025, ties tariff cuts to $100 billion investment and jobs.
Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025. Amended DM Act adds urban authorities, a disaster database and a statutory High-Level Committee.
Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan. Cabinet extends Jal Jeevan Mission to 2028, raises outlay, shifts focus to service delivery.
FDI Policy and Press Note 3 (Land Bordering Countries). Cabinet eases Press Note 3: 10% non-controlling land-border ownership automatic; 60-day approvals for select manufacturing.
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY). Finance Ministry reports PMJJBY coverage, claim settlement and steps to cut policy lapses and speed payouts.
Agricultural Credit. Government lists measures to widen farm credit: GLC targets, PSL norms, KCC, interest subvention, collateral-free limit.
Dam Safety Act, 2021 and National Committee on Dam Safety. New NDSA office opens in Delhi; AI, GIS and dam-break digital tools launched for dam safety.
PM-eBus Sewa Scheme. 10,000 e-buses sanctioned in 116 cities under PM-eBus Sewa; infrastructure sanctions at Rs 1254 crore.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). PMFBY farmer premium is capped at 1.5-5%; Centre and states share the rest.
Defence Forces Vision 2047. HQ IDS's Vision 2047 sets a roadmap for an integrated, indigenous, tech-driven military.
Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 and NOTTO. 217 of 804 transplant hospitals skipped registry reporting in 2025; States to act under THOTA.
PM e-Vidya. PIB explainer on PM e-Vidya, India's multi-mode digital education programme, with latest platform figures.

International relations

India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)

GS2 International RelationsGS3 TradePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 10 March 2026, the Commerce Ministry marked two years since the India-EFTA TEPA was signed. The agreement has been in force since 1 October 2025.
What it is: The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) is a free trade agreement between India and the four EFTA states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It covers trade in goods, services and investment. It carries investment and job-creation targets alongside tariff concessions.

Members of EFTA in TEPA: TEPA is India's first trade agreement with the EFTA states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
First with a European bloc: It is India's first operational trade arrangement with a European economic bloc, alongside ongoing talks with the EU and UK.
Investment and jobs target: The agreement aims to facilitate USD 100 billion of investment into India and one million direct jobs.
EFTA is not the EU: EFTA is a separate trade bloc from the European Union. Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are not EU members.
Parties: TEPA is between India and the four EFTA member states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
EFTA tariff commitments: EFTA covers 92.2% of tariff lines, which account for 99.6% of India's exports to EFTA.
India tariff commitments: India covers 82.7% of tariff lines, accounting for 95.3% of EFTA exports. Dairy, soya, coal and some farm products are protected, and the effective duty on gold is unchanged.
Investment and jobs: The agreement has an investment commitment of USD 100 billion over 15 years and facilitation of one million direct jobs.
Services: TEPA enables Mutual Recognition Agreements in professions such as nursing, chartered accountancy and architecture.
EFTA nature: EFTA is a trade bloc of four European countries that are not in the European Union. Its headquarters are in Geneva.

Don’t confuse with EFTA vs EU: EFTA has four members (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) and is separate from the 27-member EU. TEPA is with EFTA, not the EU.

Don’t confuse with TEPA vs CEPA/CECA: TEPA is the name for the EFTA deal. India's pacts with UAE and Japan are called CEPA, and with Australia ECTA.

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.

Test yourselfMains

Source: PIB, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 10 Mar, 14:43 IST · Release 285470

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Law and statutory body

Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025

GS3 Disaster ManagementGS2 Statutory bodiesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 10 March 2026, the MoS Home told the Lok Sabha how the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 sets up Urban Disaster Management Authorities, a National Disaster Database and a statutory High-Level Committee. The HLC approved Rs 4576.7 crore from NDRF in 2025-26.
What it is: The Disaster Management Act, 2005 is the law that sets up India's disaster management system: the NDMA at the national level, State Disaster Management Authorities and District Authorities. It also provides for response and mitigation funds at the national and State levels. The 2025 Amendment updates this framework.

Who approved: A High-Level Committee under the Union Home Minister approved the additional assistance.
Source of funds and adjustment: The aid comes from the NDRF, after adjusting 50% of the opening balance in the State's SDRF.
Releases in 2025-26: The Centre released Rs 20,735.20 crore under SDRF to 28 States and Rs 3,628.18 crore under NDRF to 21 States.
Mitigation funds: Mitigation money was also released: Rs 5,373.20 crore from the SDMF to 23 States and Rs 1,189.56 crore from the NDMF to 21 States.
Legal basis of the funds: The 2005 Act provides for response and mitigation funds at national, State and district levels. The NDMA is headed by the Prime Minister.
Section 41A: The amendment enables State Governments to constitute Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMA) in State capitals and cities with a Municipal Corporation, excluding NCT of Delhi and Chandigarh.
UDMA role: UDMAs prepare an Urban Plan covering urban vulnerabilities such as flooding and heat waves, and coordinate its implementation.
National Disaster Database: The 2025 Act mandates a National Disaster Database with risk assessments, mitigation plans and real-time disaster data.
High-Level Committee: The HLC approves central assistance to States from NDRF and NDMF. It existed earlier and got statutory status through the 2025 amendment.
NDRF approvals: The HLC approved Rs 4576.7 crore from NDRF to States in 2025-26.
NDMA head: Under the 2005 Act, the National Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.

Don’t confuse with SDRF vs NDRF: SDRF is the State's own response fund, to which the Centre contributes. NDRF is the central fund that gives additional aid for severe disasters.

Don’t confuse with Response vs mitigation funds: NDRF and SDRF pay for relief and response. NDMF and SDMF pay for mitigation projects.

Don’t confuse with NDRF vs NDMF: NDRF funds response and relief; NDMF funds mitigation projects.

Don’t confuse with NDMA vs UDMA: NDMA is the national apex body chaired by the PM; UDMA is a city-level body set up by States.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs, 10 Mar, 15:30 IST · Release 285478

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan

GS2 Welfare schemesGS3 Rural water supplyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 10 March 2026 the Union Cabinet approved extending the Jal Jeevan Mission to December 2028 as JJM 2.0, with the total outlay raised to Rs 8.69 lakh crore.
What it is: Jal Jeevan Mission is the Centre's flagship scheme, run by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, to give every rural household a tap water connection. Jal Arpan is a reform under it: the formal handover of completed water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees for operation and maintenance.

Jal Arpan: Formal handover of completed rural water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs, after a prescribed trial run period.
Coverage: More than 15.96 crore rural households, over 82% of rural households, have tap connections.
Jal Arpan module: Developed by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation; keeps a digital record of scheme handover.
Sujalam Bharat: Geotagging of water supply assets and sources under JJM 2.0 to build a digital inventory.
Launch: Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 with the target of tap water to all rural households by 2024.
Summit dates and venue: The first Departmental Summit is on 1-2 September 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi.
Purpose of the summit model: It is a new platform to strengthen cooperative federalism through Centre-State collaboration. It is the first of a series of such summits.
Four thematic pillars: Timely implementation of water infrastructure projects, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari-Catch the Rain, source sustainability of drinking water, and operation and maintenance of rural water supply under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
Who attends: Political leaders and senior officials from the Union and State Governments take part.
Outcome presentation: States will present outcomes and action plans to the Prime Minister in the valedictory session.
Nodal ministry: Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
JJM 2.0 approval: JJM 2.0 was approved on 10 March 2026. Its strategy centres on source sustainability, groundwater recharge and greywater management.
Water security in the VB-G RAM G Act: The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 names water security as one of its four thematic focus areas.
SBM(G) 2.0 focus: SBM(G) 2.0 focuses on scientific management of solid and liquid waste.
Planning vehicle: Convergence is to be done through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, aligned with Village Action Plans under JJM 2.0 and SBM-G 2.0.
Geo-tagging and tools: Works must be registered and geo-tagged on the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack. States are to use tools such as Yuktdhara, water budgeting and hydrogeological assessments.
Institutional step: The officer in charge of Rural Water Supply or the Public Health Engineering Department is to join the State-level Steering Committee under the Act.
Launch and aim: Launched on 15 August 2019 to give every rural household a functional tap connection on a regular, long-term basis.
Service standard: The Mission targets 55 litres per capita per day of water meeting the BIS 10500 standard, at affordable service charges.
Har Ghar Jal certification: 188 districts, 1,090 blocks, 1.01 lakh Gram Panchayats and 2.04 lakh villages are certified Har Ghar Jal.
Extension: The Union Government has extended the Mission till December 2028.
Signatories: MoUs were signed with four States (Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland) and one UT (Puducherry).
Model mandated: The MoU requires a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based and community-centred model of rural water governance.
JJM 2.0 priorities: Focus is on sustaining infrastructure, tap functionality, water quality, source sustainability, O&M, community ownership and regular monitoring.
Institutions: Collectors are to hold regular District Water and Sanitation Mission meetings, which help prepare Village Action Plans and certify Panchayats as capable institutions.
Conditions before fund release: States must sign the MoU, get schemes validated against the Sujalam Bharat GIS-linked Asset Registry, certify compliance with CPHEEO design norms, and reconcile expenditure financially.
Jal Utsav: A three-tier annual community campaign: Jal Mahotsav nationally, Rajya Jal Utsav or Nadi Utsav in States, and Lok Jal Utsav at Gram Panchayat level.
MoU count: Meghalaya is the twelfth State to sign a Reform-Linked MoU under JJM 2.0.
Cabinet approval: JJM 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
Extended deadline: The original deadline of May 2024 has been extended to December 2028.
Outlay: The Cabinet approved an additional outlay of ₹1.51 lakh crore for the Mission.
Local role: Gram Panchayats and VWSCs are to manage and operate in-village water supply systems; District Water Sanitation Missions prepare village action plans and issue panchayat certifications.
Implementing ministry: JJM is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Jal Mahotsav 2026: A 15-day nationwide campaign from 8 March (International Women's Day) to 22 March (World Water Day), with Jal Arpan of assets to Gram Panchayats.
Key reform areas: Assured service delivery with defined performance standards, clear accountability at State, district and Gram Panchayat levels, and long-term sustainability through source protection.
Implementing body: JJM is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, jointly with States.
New end date: The Mission is extended up to December 2028 with a higher financial outlay.
MoU model: The MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based, community-centred model of rural water governance.
Implementing department: The Mission is run by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, through the National Jal Jeevan Mission.
Original launch: JJM was launched in 2019 with the aim of tap water to every rural household by 2024.
Funding pattern: JJM is a centrally sponsored scheme; the Centre-State share is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other States.
Start and aim: Running since August 2019, JJM aims at assured tap water to every rural household in partnership with States.
Extended phase: The extended phase focuses on infrastructure quality and O&M through Jan Bhagidhari, with separate MoUs signed with States/UTs.
Functionality assessment 2024: An independent third-party assessment found 76% of household tap connections functional, judged on quantity, quality and regularity.
Federal division: Drinking water is a state subject; States handle planning, approval, implementation and O&M, and the Centre gives technical and financial help.
Reform areas in MoU: The reform-linked MoU covers 11 structural reform areas, including institutional architecture, service utility framework, water quality governance and source sustainability.
Jal Arpan condition: A key MoU condition is that completed piped schemes be handed over to Gram Panchayats/VWSCs and the community through Jal Arpan.
Decision Support System: The MoU provides for the DSS platform, developed by DDWS, as a digital planning tool at district and GP levels for source sustainability, integrated with Sujalam Bharat and national water datasets.
Mission extension: JJM has been extended till December 2028 with an enhanced outlay.
Reform areas: The MoU covers 11 structural reform areas, such as service utility framework, water quality governance and source sustainability.
Sujal Gaon ID: A scheme-based unique digital identifier for mapping rural piped water supply assets. 1.64 lakh IDs are created across 31 States/UTs, linked to 67,000 Sujalam Bharat IDs.
Conditions for central funds: Central funds depend on four requirements: signing the MoU, creating Sujal Gaon IDs, timely financial reconciliation, and notifying State O&M policies.
Funding modes: Upfront payment, reimbursement and Viability Gap Funding (for annuity-based PPP models in BWSs). No central help for retrofitting schemes.
Har Ghar Jal declaration: A Gram Panchayat can declare itself Har Ghar Jal only after the State has set up adequate in-village operation and maintenance mechanisms.
Target and MoUs: All 19.36 crore rural households are to get tap connections by December 2028, with separate MoUs with States/UTs.
Water quality standard: BIS:10500 is the benchmark for water supplied under JJM; arsenic and fluoride affected habitations get priority.
Quality monitoring funds: States/UTs can use up to 2% of their annual JJM allocation for water quality monitoring and surveillance.
Nal Jal Mitra: Nal Jal Mitra Programme, run with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, trains villagers as scheme operators and for minor repairs.
Implementing agency: The scheme is run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through its Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): JJM targets rural household tap connections; AMRUT covers urban water supply and sewerage.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen): JJM is for drinking water supply; SBM-G is for sanitation. Both run under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Jal Arpan hands over completed water supply schemes to local bodies for operation and maintenance. Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari is a community-participation drive on water conservation and rainwater harvesting.

Don’t confuse with JJM vs SBM(G): JJM provides tap water to rural homes. SBM(G) deals with rural sanitation and waste management. Both are run by DDWS.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs JJM: Jal Arpan is only the handover of completed schemes for operation and maintenance. JJM is the whole mission.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Jal Shakti Abhiyan: JJM provides household tap connections in rural areas. Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a water conservation and rainwater harvesting campaign.

Don’t confuse with JJM vs Swajaldhara/NRDWP: Earlier programmes such as Swajaldhara and NRDWP focused on habitation-level coverage; JJM targets household tap service delivery.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Sankalp: Jal Arpan is the formal handover of water assets to Gram Panchayats. Jal Sankalp is Arunachal Pradesh's gap-funding effort for source sustainability.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Utsav: Jal Arpan is the commissioning and formal handover of schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs. Jal Utsav is an annual community campaign for maintenance and review.

Don’t confuse with Sujalam Bharat vs Meri Panchayat: Sujalam Bharat is the digital asset and service-area mapping framework. Meri Panchayat is the application that reflects citizen feedback from Jal Seva Aankalan.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Sanchay: JJM provides tap water to rural homes; Jal Sanchay is the water conservation push that supports source sustainability.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs AMRUT: JJM covers rural households; AMRUT focuses on urban water supply and sewerage.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Mahotsav: Jal Arpan is the handover of water assets to local bodies; Jal Mahotsav is a community campaign during which such handovers were held.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Shakti Abhiyan: JJM is a tap connection scheme; Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a water conservation campaign.

Don’t confuse with Jal Shakti Abhiyan vs Jal Jeevan Mission: Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain is a water conservation campaign for source sustainability; JJM is the tap connection scheme.

Don’t confuse with Jal Seva Aankalan vs Jal Arpan: Jal Seva Aankalan records service delivery responses at GP level. Jal Arpan is the handover of schemes.

Don’t confuse with Sujal Gaon ID vs Sujalam Bharat ID: Sujal Gaon ID identifies a scheme. Each Sujalam Bharat ID combines a scheme's infrastructure ID and service area ID, and Sujalam Bharat is the wider national digital architecture.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Arpan: JJM is the overall scheme for rural tap connections; Jal Arpan is a reform under it for handing over completed schemes to GPs/VWSCs.

Don’t confuse with JJM vs Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin): JJM provides piped drinking water; SBM (Gramin) is the sanitation programme, with which JJM converges for grey-water reuse.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

Why it matters

Handing schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs builds community ownership and supports the 73rd Amendment's local self-governance.
Geotagging and digital records improve monitoring and planning of rural water assets.
Institutionalises Centre-State dialogue on water, a State subject, supporting cooperative federalism.
Focus on operation and maintenance and source sustainability addresses the gap between creating tap connections and delivering reliable water.
Joint planning of water, sanitation and livelihood works can cut duplication and make better use of funds.
Source sustainability and groundwater recharge work can make tap water services last.
Reduces women's and girls' time spent fetching water, aiding health, education and livelihoods.
Moves rural water policy from creating assets to delivering a regular service.
Moves the mission from asset creation to reliable, accountable service delivery.
Strengthens decentralised governance by giving Gram Panchayats and VWSCs charge of O&M.
Linking funds to MoUs, validation and reconciliation brings accountability and performance-based release.
Focus on O&M and community ownership aims at lasting service, not just connections.
Shifts focus from building pipelines to sustainable service delivery.
Strengthens decentralisation by giving Gram Panchayats and VWSCs charge of operation and maintenance.
Shifts focus from building pipes to reliable, safe water, which supports health, hygiene and women's time savings.
Reform-linked MoUs bind States to accountability, strengthening cooperative federalism.
Shifts focus from creating pipelines to assured, regular, quality service.
Strengthens Panchayats and community ownership in water management, advancing decentralisation.
Tap water at home reduces the time women spend fetching water and lowers waterborne disease.
Cuts across health, gender and rural development goals, and supports SDG 6.
Shifts focus from building taps to assured service delivery, quality and long-term sustainability.
Gram Panchayat-led management gives local bodies ownership of water assets.
Shifts the Mission from creating tap connections to assured, lasting service delivery.
Gives Gram Panchayats and communities ownership of rural water systems.
Digital IDs enable source-to-tap tracking, real-time monitoring and transparency.
Conditional, milestone-based funding ties central money to State reforms and long-term service delivery.
Shifts focus from building pipes to reliable service delivery, aiming at assured 24x7 rural supply.
Reduces women's drudgery and improves health, with women and girls the main beneficiaries.
Tap water at home cuts the drudgery of fetching water, which falls mostly on women.
Safe supply in arsenic and fluoride areas reduces waterborne disease and health costs.
Community ownership through GPs and VWSCs builds local self-government.

Problems

Gram Panchayats may lack technical skills and funds to run and maintain schemes.
Source sustainability and water quality (contamination) remain concerns even after tap connections.
Water is a State subject, so outcomes depend on State follow-through; summit commitments are not binding.
Weak source sustainability, groundwater depletion and thin local capacity for operation and maintenance can leave connections without water.
Several departments and levels of government must coordinate, and capacity at Gram Panchayat level is uneven.
Source depletion and poor operation and maintenance can undercut tap connections.
Sustaining sources and keeping schemes functional after tap connections are installed.
Ensuring water quality and community capacity to operate and maintain systems.
Difficult terrain, forest clearances and NoCs delay pipelines (Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh).
Source sustainability and lack of perennial sources, as in Tamil Nadu, threaten tap functionality.
Water is a State subject, so success depends on State accountability and capacity.
Sustaining source and O&M after handover to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs is difficult.
Operation and maintenance of in-village systems needs funds and capacity at village level.
Quality, accountability and source sustainability must be ensured.
Sustaining O&M depends on user charges and local capacity, which vary across villages (₹40 to ₹100 per household in the villages featured).
Source sustainability and water quality remain at risk without groundwater recharge and regular testing.
Panchayats need funds, skills and the power to levy user charges for operation and maintenance.
Source sustainability, water quality and corruption in works threaten long-term functionality.
Functionality lags coverage: only 76% of connections were functional in 2024, with quality and regularity gaps.
Scarce sources, geogenic contamination, difficult terrain, limited technical capacity and rising costs slow delivery.
Local bodies may lack technical skills and funds to run and maintain schemes.
Source sustainability and water quality (arsenic, fluoride) need continuous monitoring.
Weak capacity and finances of Gram Panchayats to run and maintain schemes.
Source sustainability and water quality, especially in water-scarce and varied hydro-geological areas.
Water is a State subject, so delivery depends on State capacity and accountability; delays have arisen from technical shortcomings.
Oversized or non-compliant works raise costs, and States must bear that expenditure.
Sustaining operation and maintenance and source sustainability after handover, with weak Gram Panchayat finances and capacity.
Last-mile coverage of the remaining households and ensuring water quality and State-wise delivery.
Water source sustainability and groundwater depletion threaten long-term supply.
Reported connections may not mean regular, quality-assured supply; functionality must be checked.
Weak capacity of Gram Panchayats for operation, maintenance and tariff collection; Central outlay is almost used up.

Way forward

Train and fund VWSCs, with user charges for operation and maintenance.
Strengthen source recharge and regular quality testing, with women-led surveillance.
Set time-bound, monitored targets for agreed action points, with digital monitoring and regular review.
Strengthen Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees with funds, training and tariff support for asset management.
Build Gram Panchayat capacity for planning, water budgeting and asset upkeep.
Use geo-tagged data to monitor assets and check that convergent works are completed.
Strengthen source sustainability through groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting.
Build Gram Panchayat and VWSC capacity, with regular water quality testing and surveillance.
Notify State O&M policies and certify Panchayats as capable institutions.
Invest in spring rejuvenation, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and community water quality monitoring.
Build Gram Panchayat and VWSC capacity for O&M and tariff or financing arrangements.
Use Sujalam Bharat data and Jal Seva Aankalan feedback to monitor and fix service gaps.
Link JJM with MGNREGA and conservation works to strengthen water sources.
Enforce accountability measures in the MoUs and build local capacity.
Ensure Gram Panchayats and VWSCs are trained and funded to run schemes, with defined performance standards.
Link supply with source protection, rainwater harvesting, grey water reuse and aquifer recharge, backed by technology-based monitoring.
Build Panchayat capacity and allow user charges with support for poor households.
Strengthen source recharge, quality testing and third-party audit of assets.
Shift to O&M and sustainability through community ownership (Jan Bhagidhari, Jal Arpan) and State MoUs.
Strengthen source sustainability, monitoring through IoT sensors and dashboards, and local skills such as Nal Jal Mitra.
Build GP capacity and skilling, and ensure sound operational and financial models such as user charges.
Use digital tools like DSS and citizen feedback to track service delivery and source health.
Train and fund GPs and VWSCs, and set up service utility arrangements.
Use digital tools like the DSS and citizen feedback to track quality and sources.
Strengthen Gram Panchayat-led O&M, source sustainability and recharge, and community oversight.
Enforce technical specifications, financial reconciliation and quality checks through the State MoUs.
Strengthen GPs and VWSCs with training, tariff or user-charge systems and funds for upkeep.
Use digital mapping and monitoring for accountability, and converge with groundwater recharge and source-sustainability programmes.
Strengthen source recharge by converging with watershed, MGNREGA-type and Finance Commission funds.
Train and pay local operators such as Nal Jal Mitras and enforce independent quality testing with public data.
Secure enhanced funding for extension to 2028 and link it to service-delivery outcomes.

Put in your answer

JJM coverage: Over 15.96 crore rural households (82%+) have tap connections.

Geotagging: 2,691 water supply assets, including around 700 sources, were geotagged on the day.

Departmental Summit as cooperative federalism example: A new Centre-State platform where States present action plans to the Prime Minister, for answers on cooperative federalism and governance.

Community-led water governance: Discussions cover asset management and strengthening community-led water governance, useful for answers on decentralised service delivery.

Convergence tools: Geo-tagging on the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack and geospatial planning tools such as Yuktdhara are named for convergent planning.

Local planning example: Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans are the unit for integrated planning of water security.

Community role: Gram Panchayats, VWSCs and Self-Help Groups are meant to manage and sustain rural water supply assets.

Reform-linked MoUs: Use as an example of cooperative federalism tied to governance reforms and community ownership.

Arunachal catchment law: Arunachal Pradesh has an Act for protection and management of drinking water catchment areas, with community participation.

Compliance-linked release: ₹1,561.53 crore went to five States, the first performance-based, compliance-linked release.

Extended timeline: JJM deadline extended from May 2024 to December 2028.

Meghalaya example: Meghalaya, once among the lowest in rural tap coverage, reached 83.59% coverage.

Community-managed example: Tepla village in Ambala collects ₹40 per household per month as user charges for operation and maintenance.

Reform-linked MoU: Centre-State MoUs tie JJM 2.0 to Panchayat-led O&M reforms, an example of cooperative federalism.

Jan Bhagidari: The MoU seeks stronger community participation (Jan Bhagidari) for sustainable operation and maintenance of rural water supply.

Functionality gap: The 2024 assessment found 76% of tap connections functional on quantity, quality and regularity.

Health benefit claim: The Minister cited a WHO study that universal household tap water could prevent close to 4 lakh diarrhoeal deaths annually.

Reform-linked federal model: The MoU ties Centre-State cooperation to 11 structural reforms, an example of conditional cooperative federalism.

Community model: The MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based, community-centred model of rural water governance.

Cooperative federalism example: State-specific MoUs with conditional, milestone-based central funding show how the Centre links funds to reforms.

WHO health estimate: WHO estimated 5.5 crore hours saved daily for women and 400,000 diarrhoeal deaths prevented.

Jal Arpan handbook: A 15-day trial run with GP and VWSC members precedes handover of schemes, supported by dashboards and Jal Seva Ankalan.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 56

Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.

1.Jal Arpan involves the formal handover of completed rural water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees.
2.The Jal Arpan digital module was developed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
3.Under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, Sujalam Bharat is used for geotagging of rural water supply assets.
4.Water quality testing demonstrations during Jal Arpan used Field Test Kits.
5.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.
6.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2014 to provide tap water to every rural household.
7.The Jal Arpan module now provides Har Ghar Jal certificates only in Hindi and English.
8.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 and is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
9.JJM 2.0 shifts the mission from an infrastructure-centric approach to a service delivery model.
10.Under JJM 2.0, States can receive funds without signing any MoU, as long as the schemes are completed.
11.Schemes are validated against the Sujalam Bharat GIS-linked Asset Registry before funds are released to States.
12.Jal Utsav is organised in three tiers, with Lok Jal Utsav held at the State level.
13.Meghalaya is the twelfth State to sign a Reform-Linked MoU under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
14.Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026.
15.The Cabinet has approved an additional outlay of ₹1.51 lakh crore for the Mission.
16.Under the reform-linked MoU, District Water Sanitation Missions are headed by the State Water Resources Secretary.
17.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through its Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
18.Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended till December 2028 with the approval of the Cabinet.
19.Jal Mahotsav 2026 was a 15-day campaign running from International Women's Day to World Water Day.
20.JJM 2.0 aims to move from a service-delivery approach to an infrastructure-creation approach.
21.The Guidelines say source sustainability is secondary to service delivery, so convergence on water conservation is optional.
22.The Union Cabinet approved Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 on 10 March 2026.
23.Under JJM 2.0 the Mission period has been extended up to December 2028.
24.The reform-linked MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based model of rural water governance.
25.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2019.
26.The MoUs under JJM 2.0 were signed with Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Goa.
27.Jal Jeevan Mission has been implemented since August 2019 by the Centre in partnership with States.
28.At the start of the Mission, about half of rural households had tap water connections.
29.Under JJM, responsibility for operation and maintenance of drinking water schemes lies with the State/UT governments.
30.The functionality assessment of tap connections under JJM is carried out by an independent third-party agency selected on standard statistical sampling.
31.The 2024 Functionality Assessment judged tap connections functional on quantity, quality and regularity, and found about 76% functional.
32.Jal Jeevan Mission is administered by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
33.Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
34.The reform-linked MoU signed by Uttar Pradesh covers 11 key structural reform areas.
35.Under the MoU, completed piped water schemes are to be handed over to Gram Panchayats or Village Water and Sanitation Committees through the Jal Arpan process.
36.The Decision Support System platform under the MoU was developed by the NITI Aayog for planning at district and GP levels.
37.Jal Utsav is a two-tier annual campaign held only at the national and State levels.
38.Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended till December 2028 with an enhanced outlay.
39.Under the MoU, completed piped water supply schemes are to be handed over to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs through the Jal Arpan process.
40.The Decision Support System platform was developed by the Ministry of Rural Development.
41.Jal Utsav includes Lok Jal Utsav at the Gram Panchayat level.
42.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
43.Jal Seva Aankalan is a Union-level audit carried out by the Ministry, with results published on the Jal Shakti portal.
44.The Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended up to December 2028 under JJM 2.0.
45.A Gram Panchayat may declare itself 'Har Ghar Jal' as soon as pipelines are laid, without any check on maintenance arrangements.
46.The central assistance approved for JJM has been raised from Rs 2.08 lakh crore to Rs 3.59 lakh crore.
47.Jal Utsav is a biennial event led by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to inaugurate new schemes.
48.In 2019, about 17 per cent of rural households had tap water connections, the baseline for JJM.
49.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
50.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 to provide potable water to every rural household.
51.Under JJM, Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees plan, implement, operate and maintain in-village water supply systems.
52.Under JJM, the benchmark for quality of piped water is the standard set by the World Health Organization.
53.States and UTs may use up to 2% of their annual JJM allocation for water quality monitoring and surveillance.
54.Under Jal Arpan, the handbook on community-managed piped water systems mandates a 15-day trial run involving GPs and VWSC members before handover.
55.Since drinking water is a Union subject, the Centre alone funds and builds JJM schemes.
56.Community water purification plants under JJM are meant as an interim measure in arsenic and fluoride affected habitations until compliant piped schemes are commissioned.

Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.

Source: PIB, Cabinet, 10 Mar, 16:12 IST · Release 285494

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Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Economy

FDI Policy and Press Note 3 (Land Bordering Countries)

GS3 Economy / FDI policyGS2 International RelationsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 10 March 2026 the Union Cabinet approved changes to the FDI policy on investments from countries sharing a land border with India (Press Note 3, 2020). It adds a Beneficial Owner definition, a 10 percent automatic-route window and a 60-day decision timeline for some manufacturing sectors.
What it is: Press Note 3 (2020) is an FDI policy amendment issued on 17 April 2020 to stop opportunistic takeovers of Indian firms during COVID-19. It put investments from entities of countries sharing a land border with India, or with beneficial owners from them, under the Government approval route. The policy is administered by DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Route under PN3: An entity from a land-border country, or with a beneficial owner from one, can invest only under the Government route.
10 percent window: Investors with non-controlling LBC beneficial ownership of up to 10 percent are allowed under the automatic route, with reporting to DPIIT by the investee entity.
60-day timeline: Proposals in specified manufacturing sectors (capital goods, electronic capital goods, electronic components, polysilicon and ingot-wafer) must be decided within 60 days.
Control condition: For fast-track cases, majority shareholding and control must stay with resident Indian citizens or entities owned and controlled by them at all times.

Don’t confuse with Automatic route vs Government route: Under the automatic route no prior approval is needed, only post-investment reporting. Under the Government route, prior approval is required.

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, Cabinet, 10 Mar, 19:17 IST · Release 285548

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)

GS2 Welfare schemes / Financial inclusionGS3 EconomyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 9 March 2026 the Finance Ministry told the Lok Sabha, in a written reply (released 10 March 2026), how PMJJBY enrolment and claim settlement are being improved. It gave 26.79 crore beneficiaries and a 99.95% claim settlement ratio as on 18 Feb 2026.
What it is: Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana is a government-backed life insurance scheme for bank account holders. It was launched in 2015 and offers a renewable one-year term cover of Rs 2 lakh on death from any cause. It is run through banks, post offices and insurers.

Settlement time: IRDAI says average claim settlement time ranges from 0.61 to 17 days across insurers.
Jansuraksha Portal: The portal digitises enrolment and claims for PMJJBY and PMSBY. 12 public sector banks, 28 RRBs and 13 insurers are onboarded.
Cover and eligibility: PMJJBY gives Rs 2 lakh life cover for death from any cause, for ages 18-50 with a bank account. The premium is Rs 436 a year, auto-debited, and cover runs 1 June to 31 May.

Don’t confuse with PMJJBY vs PMSBY: PMJJBY is life insurance, Rs 2 lakh for death from any cause, premium Rs 436. PMSBY is accident insurance, Rs 2 lakh for accidental death or full disability, premium Rs 20.

Don’t confuse with PMJJBY vs Atal Pension Yojana: PMJJBY is term life insurance. APY is a pension scheme with guaranteed pension after age 60.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Finance, 10 Mar, 15:32 IST · Release 285482

Issue page →

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

Economy

Agricultural Credit: KCC, Ground Level Credit and Priority Sector Lending

GS3 Agriculture / CreditPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 10 March 2026, the Finance Ministry told Rajya Sabha about steps to raise institutional credit to agriculture, including KCC, collateral-free loans up to Rs 2 lakh, 7% interest subvention and PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana.
What it is: The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) gives farmers short-term credit for crops and related needs through one revolving limit. Its reach is shaped by RBI's Priority Sector Lending norms, yearly Ground Level Credit targets and the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme. Since 2019 it also covers working capital for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries.

PSL agriculture target: Covered banks must lend at least 18% of ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher, to agriculture. Of this, 10% is a sub-target for small and marginal farmers.
KCC extended to allied activities: Since 2019 the KCC covers working capital for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries.
Digital channels: Jan Samarth is a one-stop portal linking government-sponsored loans, including KCC. NABARD's e-KCC portal lets RRB and rural cooperative bank applicants apply without visiting branches.
District-level credit incentives: PSL norms give incentives for districts with low priority sector credit flow and disincentives for districts with high flow, to spread credit more evenly.
KCC extension: Since 2019, KCC covers working capital for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries.
PLP and GLC: NABARD prepares the district Potential Linked Credit Plan under the Lead Bank Scheme; these are aggregated at state level and inform the GLC target.

Don’t confuse with MISS vs the Rs 2 lakh collateral-free limit: MISS is a government interest subsidy on KCC short-term loans. The collateral-free limit is an RBI rule on security for such loans. They are separate instruments.

Don’t confuse with GLC target vs PSL norm: The Ground Level Credit target is set yearly by the Government for banks. The PSL norm is a standing RBI percentage requirement.

Don’t confuse with GLC target vs PSL target: GLC is a yearly government target for agri credit set by region, agency and loan type. PSL is an RBI norm of a share of bank credit (18% for agriculture).

Don’t confuse with Interest subvention vs prompt repayment incentive: The 7% rate is after the subvention. The extra 3% for prompt repayment brings it to 4%.

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, 10 Mar, 15:34 IST · Release 285483

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Dam Safety Act, 2021 and National Committee on Dam Safety

GS3 Infrastructure - Water resourcesGS2 Statutory bodiesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 10 March 2026, Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil inaugurated the new National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) office in New Delhi. He also launched the NDSA website, the AI platform NETRA and the dam-break visualisation tool Rashtriya Bandh Suraksha Darpan.
What it is: The Dam Safety Act, 2021 provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of specified dams to prevent dam failure disasters. It sets up the National Committee on Dam Safety and the National Dam Safety Authority at the Centre, and State Committees and State Dam Safety Organisations in States.

Who chaired the meeting: The 12th NCDS meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Central Water Commission.
New regulation planned: The Committee agreed to work on a new regulation on surveillance and security of specified dams, given emerging threats.
Dam failures reviewed: Owners presented on recent failures including Luti Tank, Rajadera, Teesta Stage-III and Madhopur barrage.
Legal basis: The Dam Safety Act, 2021 is a Central law that creates the NCDS and the National Dam Safety Authority.
Specified dam: The Act covers dams above 15 m in height, or 10-15 m if they meet prescribed technical criteria.
Four-tier structure: NCDS is the apex body, NDSA the regulatory and implementing arm, with SCDS and SDSO in States.
Commencement: The Act came into force on 30 December 2021.
Penalties: Chapter X deals with offences. Obstruction or refusal to comply with directions can bring up to one year's imprisonment, a fine, or both. If it causes loss of life or imminent danger, imprisonment can go up to two years.
Dam ownership: State Governments own about 98.5% of specified dams (6,448).
NETRA: NDSA Engine for Tracking and Review using AI, built with WESEE, an Indian Navy R&D laboratory. It gives a conversational interface to NDSA documents.
DHARMA: National repository of dam safety data, covering more than 6,600 specified dams and thousands of inspection reports. NETRA is integrated with it.
Rashtriya Bandh Suraksha Darpan: Visualisation platform developed by C-DAC to present Dam Break Analysis results.
Inspections: More than 13,000 inspection reports are generated each year from pre-monsoon and post-monsoon dam inspections.
Old dams in the register: The National Register of Specified Dams 2025, compiled by the National Dam Safety Authority, lists 1,681 specified dams over fifty years old.
Owner's duty: Under the Act, each owner of a specified dam must inspect it every year before and after the monsoon.
Three categories: Inspections sort dams by urgency of repair. Category-III needs minor remedial work, Category-II major deficiencies needing prompt action, and Category-I the most serious deficiencies that may lead to failure.

Don’t confuse with NCDS vs NDSA: The National Committee on Dam Safety evolves policies and recommends regulations. The National Dam Safety Authority implements policy, resolves inter-State issues and acts as the regulator.

Don’t confuse with State Committee vs State Dam Safety Organisation: The State Dam Safety Organisation does the field work of surveillance and inspection, while the State Committee on Dam Safety reviews it at State level.

Don’t confuse with DRIP Phase I vs Phases II and III: Phase I (2012-2021) was World Bank supported and covered 223 dams in seven states. Phases II and III began in October 2021, are co-financed by the World Bank and AIIB, and cover 736 dams.

Don’t confuse with NDSA vs CWC: The Central Water Commission is the older technical body under the Jal Shakti Ministry. The NDSA is a separate statutory authority under the 2021 Act.

Don’t confuse with National Committee on Dam Safety vs National Dam Safety Authority: The Committee oversees dam safety policies and recommends regulations. The Authority implements policy, maintains the national register and resolves disputes between State bodies, among other tasks.

Don’t confuse with DRIP vs the Dam Safety Act: DRIP is a funded rehabilitation scheme with external financing. The Act is the legal framework for surveillance and safety of specified dams.

Why it matters

Ageing dams and recent failures make uniform safety standards across States important for protecting lives and downstream property.
Gives dam safety a statutory basis with fixed owner duties and timelines. Earlier, safety depended on State practice.
Uniform standards across States address dam failure risk as 26% of dams are over 50 years old.
Digital tools help track many dams and inspection reports, making safety oversight more data-driven.
Dam break visualisation supports risk assessment and emergency planning for downstream areas.
Annual inspections and categorisation let repairs be prioritised before failures occur.
Ageing dams pose risks to life, property and water security, so a statutory framework matters.

Problems

Many State Dam Safety Organisations are weak, and compliance with evaluations, emergency plans and risk studies lags.
Reservoir sedimentation and security threats are emerging issues without clear regulation.
State ownership of about 98.5% of dams means safety depends on State capacity and funds.
Ageing and sedimentation reduce safety and storage; CWC data on 439 reservoirs show an average 19% loss of storage.
Many dams are owned by States, so consistent compliance and data entry vary.
Ageing dams and extreme rainfall raise failure risk beyond what digital tools alone can fix.
Owners hold primary responsibility, and capacity and funds vary across States and agencies.
Rehabilitation is slow: Rs 2,029 crore had been spent under DRIP-II by 31 December 2025, against Rs 5,107 crore outlay for the phase.

Way forward

Build State capacity through training with institutions like IITs and NITs, and enforce statutory deadlines.
Frame regulations on dam surveillance, security and sedimentation management.
Ensure owners earmark funds for maintenance, and use DHARMA data for risk-based prioritisation.
Complete rehabilitation under DRIP and build expertise through the Centres of Excellence.
Ensure States keep DHARMA data updated and act on inspection findings.
Link dam break analysis to Emergency Action Plans and local disaster management.
Speed up approved DRIP-II works and follow up on Category-I and II dams, including Medigadda.
Strengthen State dam safety organisations and publish inspection findings and Emergency Action Plans.

Put in your answer

Dam Safety Act, 2021 compliance push: The NCDS asked States to complete evaluations, emergency action plans and risk assessments for all specified dams by December 2026.

Scale of oversight: DHARMA covers more than 6,600 specified dams.

Inspection volume: Over 13,000 inspection reports are generated each year.

Old dams: 1,681 specified dams are over fifty years old (NRSD 2025), showing the scale of ageing infrastructure.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Jal Shakti, 10 Mar, 15:51 IST · Release 285486

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Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Scheme

PM-eBus Sewa Scheme

GS3 Infrastructure / Urban transportGS3 EnvironmentPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 10 March 2026, the Government told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that all 10,000 e-buses under PM-eBus Sewa are sanctioned across 116 cities, with Rs 1254.38 crore sanctioned for infrastructure till December 2025.
What it is: PM-eBus Sewa is a Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs scheme to deploy 10,000 electric buses in cities, run on a Gross Cost Contract model. The Payment Security Mechanism is a linked scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries. It sets up a fund so that bus operators get paid on time even if a city transport authority defaults.

Implementing agency: Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) is the Central Implementing Agency. It manages the Payment Security Fund and verifies payment claims.
Coverage period: PSM gives payment security for up to 12 years for each bus deployed under the scheme.
Default recovery: If a transport authority does not repay the fund with Late Payment Surcharge within 90 days, MHI asks RBI to invoke the Direct Debit Mandate. RBI then debits the State/UT account.
First tranche: Rs 500 crore was given to CESL in FY 2025-26 to set up the PSM Fund.
Implementing ministry: The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, not by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
Target cities: Cities with 3 to 40 lakh population, plus state capitals and capitals of North Eastern and hilly regions with under 3 lakh people.
Infrastructure support: The scheme gives 100% financial support for Behind-the-Meter power infrastructure.
Coverage: 10,000 buses are sanctioned across 116 cities in 20 States and 6 UTs.
Infrastructure money: Rs 1254.38 crore sanctioned and Rs 483.70 crore spent on BTM and civil depot infrastructure till December 2025.
Jobs estimate: Estimated 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs during the scheme; actual jobs are not tracked by MoHUA.

Don’t confuse with PM-eBus Sewa vs PM E-DRIVE: PM-eBus Sewa is a MoHUA scheme for 10,000 city buses. PM E-DRIVE is a Ministry of Heavy Industries scheme. PSM covers buses under both.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, 10 Mar, 16:09 IST · Release 285492

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

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

GS3 AgricultureGS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 10 March 2026, the Agriculture Ministry told the Lok Sabha how PMFBY premium is split, how states are clustered and what risk-transfer models exist.
What it is: PMFBY is the central crop insurance scheme launched on 18 February 2016. It insures farmers against yield loss and specified localised and post-harvest risks at low farmer premium rates. Premium above the farmer share is subsidised by the Centre and states.

Prevented sowing: Insured farmers prevented from sowing by adverse weather can claim up to 25% of the sum insured.
Post-harvest cover: Crops in cut-and-spread condition for drying in the field are covered for up to 14 days after harvest against specified cyclonic and unseasonal rain events.
YES-TECH: It uses remote sensing for crop yield estimates. It was launched for paddy and wheat in Kharif 2023.
RWBCIS: The Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme pays on weather parameters as a proxy for crop damage, not assessed yield loss.
Farmer premium cap: Farmers pay at most 2% of sum insured for Kharif, 1.5% for Rabi and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops.
Subsidy sharing: The balance of the actuarial premium is shared 50:50 by Centre and states. North Eastern States (from Kharif 2020) and Himalayan States (from Kharif 2023) share it 90:10.
Alternate Risk Transfer models: Besides standard PMFBY, there are three models: cup and cap (80:110), cup and cap (60:130), and profit and loss sharing. States may choose any one.
Crops and stages covered: Cover runs from pre-sowing to post-harvest for food crops, oilseeds and annual commercial horticultural crops notified by the state.
Clustering of districts: States group districts so each cluster mixes different risk profiles. This lowers expected sum insured and bidded premium.
Wild animal cover: Wild animal losses were not covered earlier as they are preventable. States can now notify them on individual assessment as an add-on at state cost.
Inundation: Inundation cover is available for all notified crops. For paddy, jute, mesta and sugarcane it is excluded for localised claims.
Operational Guidelines revised: The guidelines were comprehensively revised in 2018, 2020 and 2023.
Late-claim penalty: A 12% penalty on insurers for delayed claim payment is auto-calculated on NCIP.
Escrow account: States must open an escrow account to deposit their premium share in advance, mandatory from Kharif 2025.

Don’t confuse with PMFBY vs RWBCIS: PMFBY pays on area-based assessed yield loss, plus localised and post-harvest cover. RWBCIS pays on weather index triggers, mainly for fruit, vegetable and plantation crops.

Don’t confuse with YES-TECH vs WINDS: YES-TECH estimates yields by remote sensing. WINDS gathers hyperlocal weather data through automatic weather stations and rain gauges.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

Why it matters

Gives farmers an income safety net against weather, pest and disease shocks, and helps loan repayment and next-season investment.
Technology tools such as NCIP, DigiClaim and YES-TECH aim at faster and more transparent claim settlement.
Voluntary non-loanee enrolment, about 50% on average over ten years, shows wider acceptance.
Gives farmers low-cost insurance against crop loss and income shocks.
Wide coverage: about 78.7 crore cumulative applications since 2016-17.
Add-on cover for wild animal damage helps farmers near forests, where human-wildlife conflict hits crops.

Problems

States have opted out or run their own schemes, and enrolment swings with state premium subsidies, as in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Accurate yield estimation and land-record validation remain hard, which can delay or reduce claims.
Add-on exclusions and the exclusion of preventable or man-made losses limit the cover.
High state-level cost burden and delays in state subsidy release.
Insurers' bidding and claim settlement vary widely across states.
Delays in state subsidy share, late proposals by banks and yield data disputes delay claims.

Way forward

Expand technology-based yield estimation and land-record integration to more crops and states.
Raise awareness and doorstep enrolment of non-loanee, tenant and sharecropper farmers.
Keep grievance redressal strong and settle claims on time.
Use clustering and risk-transfer models to keep premiums sustainable.
Speed up claim payment with timely data and technology.
Use remote sensing, CCE-Agri App and hyper-local weather data to make yield estimates objective and cut disputes.

Put in your answer

Ten-year claims record: From Kharif 2016 to Rabi 2025-26, over 92.46 crore farmer applications were insured and claims exceeded ₹2.06 lakh crore.

States rejoining: Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal rejoined, and Bihar will return from Rabi 2026–27.

Budget 2026-27: The Union Budget 2026–27 allocated ₹12,200 crore to PMFBY.

Digiclaim module: Links NCIP with PFMS and insurers' accounting systems for transparent claim processing.

Delinking of subsidy: Central share is delinked from state share so farmers get proportionate claims on the Centre's share.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 14

Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.

1.Under PMFBY, the maximum farmer premium for Kharif foodgrain and oilseed crops is 2% of the sum insured.
2.Insured farmers prevented from sowing by adverse weather can claim up to 25% of the sum insured.
3.Under PMFBY, premiums of loanee farmers are automatically deducted from the loan amount by banks.
4.The Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme pays claims on the basis of actual assessed crop-yield losses.
5.Under PMFBY, the maximum farmer premium is 2% of sum insured for Kharif crops and 1.5% for Rabi crops.
6.For North Eastern States, the balance premium is shared between Centre and State in the ratio 90:10.
7.In all states, the premium subsidy is borne entirely by the Central Government.
8.States may choose among alternate risk transfer models such as cup and cap and profit and loss sharing instead of the standard PMFBY.
9.PMFBY was launched in 2016 and covers post-harvest losses among its risks.
10.Under PMFBY, states can notify crop losses caused by wild animals as an add-on cover at the cost of the State Government.
11.Inundation cover under PMFBY is available for all notified crops without any exception.
12.A penalty of 12% on insurance companies for delayed claim payment is auto-calculated on the National Crop Insurance Portal.
13.YES-TECH mandatorily assigns 30% weightage to technology-derived yield estimation for paddy and wheat from Kharif 2023.
14.PMFBY was launched in 2016 and covers non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest.

Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 10 Mar, 18:10 IST · Release 285535

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Defence and security

Defence Forces Vision 2047

GS3 Internal Security / Defence reformsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On March 10, 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released 'Defence Forces Vision 2047' at South Block, New Delhi. The document was prepared by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.
What it is: Defence Forces Vision 2047 is a long-term roadmap for the three Services, drawn up by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff. It lists reforms, capability goals and organisational changes needed to build a future-ready military by the centenary of independence in 2047. It is tied to the national goal of Viksit Bharat.

Author: The document was prepared by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, the tri-service staff under the Chief of Defence Staff.
Released by: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released it at South Block, New Delhi, on March 10, 2026.
Central pillar: Jointness and synergy among the Services in planning, operations and capability development.
Self-reliance: It stresses Aatmanirbharta in defence through indigenous technologies and stronger domestic manufacturing.
Timelines: Capability goals are prioritised across short-term, mid-term and long-term timelines.
Whole-of-nation approach: Military strength is to be combined with diplomatic, technological and economic power.

Don’t confuse with HQ IDS vs Department of Military Affairs: HQ IDS is the tri-service staff organisation that supports the CDS in planning. The Department of Military Affairs is a Ministry of Defence department headed by the CDS as its Secretary.

Defence: Prelims tests exercises (with whom), equipment (who makes it) and firsts.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting defence reform document with jointness and Aatmanirbharta. Defence items rarely reach Mains (3 of 161) and the release gives no testable specifics.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Defence, 10 Mar, 12:23 IST · Release 285447

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

Law and statutory body

Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 and NOTTO

GS2 Health / Statutory bodiesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 10 March 2026, the Health Ministry told the Rajya Sabha that 217 of 804 registered transplant hospitals did not report 2025 data to the national registry. States must act against them under THOTA, 1994.
What it is: The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 regulates removal, storage and transplantation of human organs and tissues for therapeutic use. It bans commercial dealings in organs and recognises brain-stem death. NOTTO is the national-level organisation that runs the national registry and coordinates organ and tissue procurement and distribution.

Who registers hospitals: Hospitals doing transplants are registered by the appropriate authority of the State or UT where they are located.
Who takes action on defaulters: Under THOTA and its Rules, regulatory action against non-reporting hospitals lies with State Governments.
Registry portal: The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Registry Portal has worked since 2015 and is accessed through the NOTTO website.
National Organ Transplant Programme: NOTP is a Central Sector Scheme to build transplant infrastructure and raise awareness of organ donation. It set up ROTTOs and SOTTOs in many regions.
Year of the Act: THOTA was enacted in 1994 and was later amended in 2011 to add tissues and widen the scope.

Don’t confuse with NOTTO vs ROTTO vs SOTTO: NOTTO is the national body. ROTTOs are regional and SOTTOs are State-level bodies under the same programme.

Don’t confuse with Registration vs reporting action: Hospitals are registered by State appropriate authorities, and the same States act on defaulters. NOTTO only holds the registry data.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting law and body on the syllabus. Mostly routine data in this reply, so no practice question.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 10 Mar, 13:24 IST · Release 285453

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

Scheme

PM e-Vidya

GS2 Education / Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: PIB published an explainer on PM e-Vidya on 10 March 2026. It reports DIKSHA at over 2 crore registered users (March 2026) and SWAYAM at about 5.80 crore enrolments (January 2026).
What it is: PM e-Vidya is a Government of India programme that brings online, on-air and offline learning under one framework. It began as a COVID-19 lockdown response in 2020 and was formalised under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. It joins platforms such as DIKSHA, SWAYAM, SWAYAM Prabha, radio and content for children with special needs.

SWAYAM: A free national MOOC platform, launched with IIT Madras. Courses come from ten National Coordinators such as NPTEL, UGC, AICTE, CEC, IGNOU, NCERT and NIOS. Certificates need a paid, proctored exam.
Credit framework: UGC regulations of 2021 let institutions offer up to 40 per cent of a programme's courses in a semester through SWAYAM.
DIKSHA: National digital platform for school education, launched 2017, open-source and federated. It is led by NCERT with CIET and uses QR-coded energised textbooks.
SATHEE: Self-Assessment, Test, and Help for Entrance Examination, launched in November 2023 by the Ministry of Education with IIT Kanpur. It is free and has seven dedicated DTH channels.

Don’t confuse with SWAYAM vs SWAYAM Prabha: SWAYAM is an online MOOC portal; SWAYAM Prabha is a set of 48 DTH TV channels.

Don’t confuse with DIKSHA vs SATHEE: DIKSHA serves school education (K-12) and teachers; SATHEE serves entrance exam and higher education preparation.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting scheme with DIKSHA, SWAYAM, SWAYAM Prabha; backgrounder with stats. Worth a card; a question is less likely.

Source: PIB Headquarters, 10 Mar, 15:16 IST · Release 285473

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

Quick facts

ICANN85 Community Forum is being held in Mumbai from 7 to 12 March 2026, hosted with NIXI under MeitY.
Union Cabinet approved declaring Madurai Airport in Tamil Nadu an international airport.
Dr. Partha Biswas assumed charge as a Member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
DRDO and Indian Navy completed four in-flight release trials of the 150 kg Air Droppable Container ADC-150 from a P8I aircraft off Goa.

Source: PIB, 10 Mar

What we left out: 84 of 100 releases

Speeches without a decision (5)
Ceremonies and campaigns (12)
Same issue as another release (24)
Routine data replies (22)
Routine project sanctions (5)
Routine startup assistance (1)
Routine enforcement data (1)
Routine data (1)
Routine announcements (1)
Lab research without a lasting topic (1)
Routine MoUs and workshops (3)
Routine regulatory notices (1)
Meetings without a decision (1)
Other releases (6)

Practise the day’s news

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

1India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)MCQ · 6 true or false
2Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025MCQ · 6 true or false · Mains
3Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal ArpanMCQ · 56 true or false · Mains
4FDI Policy and Press Note 3 (Land Bordering Countries)MCQ · 6 true or false · Mains
5Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)MCQ · 4 true or false
6Agricultural CreditMCQ · 4 true or false
7Dam Safety Act, 2021 and National Committee on Dam SafetyMCQ · 7 true or false
8PM-eBus Sewa SchemeMCQ · 7 true or false
9Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)MCQ · 14 true or false · Mains

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, in force since 1 October 2025, pairs tariff concessions with an investment commitment of USD 100 billion over 15 years and the facilitation of one million direct jobs. Discuss the key provisions of the agreement and examine their significance and the challenges for India's trade and manufacturing strategy.

From: India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)

Write and get it marked

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