UPSC current affairs · Wednesday

Current Affairs, 11 March 2026

11 issues picked from 123 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

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. MHA outlines BNS provisions on mob lynching, women and children, and tech-based implementation support.
Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia. India diversifies crude sources and rations gas and LPG as West Asia conflict hits Hormuz.
Doppler Weather Radar Network and Mission Mausam. Mission Mausam's HPC and AI upgrades improved cyclone forecasts; a second phase is proposed.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA). Minister outlines revamped RGSA's aims, fund release rules, monitoring and IRMA and NITI Aayog evaluations.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). NAPS-2 apprentices reached 9.85 lakh in 2024-25; women's numbers rose fourfold since 2020-21.
NITI Aayog Fiscal Health Index. NITI Aayog's second Fiscal Health Index adds North-Eastern and Himalayan states, ranked separately from 18 major states.
SHANTI Act and Nuclear Energy Mission. India's ₹20,000 crore SMR push: three BARC designs, Tarapur and Vizag sites chosen, approvals under way.
Kavach Automatic Train Protection System. Kavach 4.0 now runs on 1,452 route km of Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes.
PM-KISAN. 22nd PM-KISAN instalment of over Rs 18,640 crore goes to 9.32 crore farmers on 13 March.
PM-RAHAT (Road Accident Victims' Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment). PM-RAHAT gives cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for road accident victims, paid via MVAF.
Removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker (Article 94). Lok Sabha rejects motion to remove Speaker Om Birla by voice vote.

Law and statutory body

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

GS2 Polity and criminal lawGS1 WomenPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 March 2026 the Home Ministry told the Rajya Sabha about key BNS, 2023 provisions, including mob lynching, offences against women and children, and implementation support to States.
What it is: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaces the Indian Penal Code, 1860 as India's main substantive criminal law. It defines offences and punishments. It works with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (procedure) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (evidence), which replaced the CrPC and the Indian Evidence Act.

Mob lynching: Section 103(2) punishes murder by a group of five or more acting in concert on grounds such as race, caste, community, sex, place of birth, language or personal belief. Each member faces death or life imprisonment, plus fine.
Offences against women and children: These offences are placed first, in Chapter V of the BNS.
Hiring a child to commit an offence: Section 95 punishes it with a minimum of seven years, extendable to ten years.
Digital platforms: MHA, with BPR&D, NCRB and NIC, upgraded CCTNS, e-Forensics, e-Prosecution and e-Prisons, and built e-Sakshya, e-Summons, Nyaya Shruti and MedLEaPR.
Trial in absentia: Courts can try and pronounce verdict on proclaimed offenders in their absence.

Don’t confuse with BNS vs BNSS vs BSA: BNS is substantive law (offences, replaces IPC). BNSS is procedure (replaces CrPC). Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam is evidence law (replaces Evidence Act).

Don’t confuse with e-Sakshya vs Nyaya Shruti: e-Sakshya records evidence collection at the crime scene. Nyaya Shruti enables evidence in courts through video conferencing.

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 yourselfMains

Source: PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs, 11 Mar, 16:19 IST · Release 285611

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 11 March 2026, an inter-ministerial briefing at the National Media Centre set out India's steps on energy, shipping and diaspora safety during the West Asia crisis. It said 70% of crude imports now avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
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, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, 11 Mar, 19:56 IST · Release 285683

Issue page →

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

Science and technology

Doppler Weather Radar Network and Mission Mausam

GS1 GeographyGS3 Disaster managementPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 March 2026, the Earth Sciences Minister told the Lok Sabha that Mission Mausam's first phase has raised computing power and cyclone forecast accuracy, and that a second phase is proposed.
What it is: A Doppler Weather Radar sends out microwave pulses and reads the shift in frequency of the signal returned by raindrops or ice. This shows how fast and in which direction a weather system moves. IMD runs the network, and Mission Mausam is the Ministry of Earth Sciences programme to improve weather and climate services.

Network growth: Operational DWRs rose from 14 to 50 since 2014, an increase of over 250%.
Coverage and plan: The radars cover over 87% of the country, and 50 more are planned under Mission Mausam.
Working principle: The radars use the Doppler effect to track the movement and velocity of weather systems.
Dual-polarization: Modern IMD radars are dual-polarized. They identify rain, hail and drizzle, improve rainfall estimates and reduce false signals.
Nowcast: Nowcast services give highly localised forecasts for the next three hours.
Mission Mausam aim: Mission Mausam aims to strengthen weather and climate services.
Total computing capacity: The Ministry's total computing capacity is now 21.91 petaflops, including a 1.9 petaflops AI/ML system.
Landfall error: The average 24-hour landfall point error fell from 31.9 km (2016-20) to 19.0 km (2021-25). The 48-hour error fell from 61.5 km to 34.4 km.
Heatwave forecasts: Heatwave forecasts are now issued 4-5 days ahead, helping heat action plans.
Phases: Mission Mausam is a multi-phase programme. The second phase would strengthen observations, high-resolution modelling and AI/ML use.

Don’t confuse with Doppler radar vs conventional radar: Conventional radar shows where precipitation is and how intense. Doppler radar also measures motion toward or away from the radar, so it can detect wind and rotation.

Don’t confuse with Nowcast vs medium-range forecast: Nowcast covers the next few hours (here three) at a local scale. Medium-range forecasts cover several days over larger areas.

Don’t confuse with IITM vs NCMRWF: IITM Pune does research on tropical meteorology and climate. NCMRWF Noida produces medium-range numerical weather forecasts. Both are under MoES, not IMD.

Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Earth Science, 11 Mar, 12:21 IST · Release 285567

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)

GS2 Panchayati RajPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 March 2026, the Panchayati Raj Minister told the Rajya Sabha the objectives, funding rules, review system and external evaluations of the revamped RGSA.
What it is: Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. It builds the capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions and elected representatives, strengthens Gram Sabhas and promotes e-governance. The revamped version also supports localisation of the SDGs through panchayats.

Core aim: Train elected PRI representatives for leadership roles so Gram Panchayats work effectively as the third tier of government.
Nature of funding: The revamped scheme is demand-driven. Funds go to States/UTs on the basis of their Annual Action Plan.
Approving body: The Central Empowered Committee approves Annual Action Plans and also reviews implementation.
Monitoring tool: The Training Management Portal is one tool for regular review, along with meetings, field visits and pre-CEC meetings.
External evaluation: IRMA, Anand did an external evaluation, and NITI Aayog commissioned a separate independent study.
Devolution basis: The scheme promotes devolution of powers to Panchayats in line with the Constitution and the PESA Act 1996.

Don’t confuse with RGSA vs SVAMITVA: RGSA builds panchayat capacity and governance. SVAMITVA maps rural inhabited land and issues property cards.

Don’t confuse with Central Empowered Committee vs pre-CEC meetings: The CEC approves action plans. Pre-CEC meetings are review discussions held before it.

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 Panchayati Raj, 11 Mar, 14:36 IST · Release 285581

Issue page →

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

Scheme

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

GS3 Employment and skillingGS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 March 2026, the Skill Development Ministry told the Rajya Sabha that apprentices under NAPS rose to 9.85 lakh in 2024-25, with a third-party evaluation reporting 72% got job offers.
What it is: NAPS is a Central scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. It encourages employers to engage apprentices by sharing part of the stipend cost. It works under the Apprentices Act, 1961, which makes apprenticeship a regulated training route.

Launch and phase: NAPS began in August 2016. Its second phase, NAPS-2, has run since FY 2022-23.
Stipend support: The Government pays 25% of the minimum prescribed stipend, capped at ₹1,500 per apprentice per month.
Mode of payment: Support goes straight to apprentices' bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Legal basis: The scheme is governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961, and its rules.
Evaluation: The third-party evaluation by AJNIFM found about 72% of surveyed apprentices got full-time job offers.

Don’t confuse with NAPS vs NATS: NAPS shares stipend costs for apprentices in industry. NATS is the separate National Apprenticeship Training Scheme for graduate, technician and diploma apprentices, under the Education Ministry.

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 Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 11 Mar, 16:11 IST · Release 285603

Issue page →

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

Report or index

NITI Aayog Fiscal Health Index

GS3 EconomyGS2 FederalismPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 March 2026, NITI Aayog released the second annual edition of the Fiscal Health Index 2026 in New Delhi. It now covers 28 states, adding the 10 North-Eastern and Himalayan states.
What it is: The Fiscal Health Index is a NITI Aayog report that assesses and compares the fiscal performance of Indian states. It is a data-driven framework meant to judge fiscal soundness, guide reforms and support evidence-based fiscal policy. It lets states benchmark themselves against one another.

Publisher: The Index is released by NITI Aayog. The Vice-Chairman Suman Bery and CEO Nidhi Chhibber released this edition.
Coverage expanded: The first edition covered 18 major states. The second adds the 10 North-Eastern and Himalayan states.
Separate ranking: North-Eastern and Himalayan states are evaluated and ranked separately from the major states, to account for structural differences.
State share of debt: States account for nearly one-third of India's general government debt.
Data year and trend: Most of the 18 major states recorded moderated FHI scores in 2023-24 compared with the previous year.
Policy priorities: The report urges higher own-tax capacity, rationalised committed expenditure, better capital expenditure quality, medium-term fiscal planning and closer monitoring of off-budget borrowings.

Don’t confuse with NITI Aayog FHI vs Finance Commission: The FHI is a benchmarking report by NITI Aayog with no binding force. The Finance Commission is a constitutional body (Article 280) that recommends tax devolution.

Don’t confuse with FHI vs SFC/FRBM: FRBM laws set legal fiscal targets for governments. The FHI only scores and compares state performance.

Reports and indices: 14 Prelims questions since 2013; they test who publishes a report and what it measures.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, NITI Aayog, 11 Mar, 16:50 IST · Release 285629

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

SHANTI Act and Nuclear Energy Mission

GS3 Energy: nuclear powerGS2 LawsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 March 2026, the Minister replied in the Lok Sabha on Small Modular Reactors, giving the ₹20,000 crore provision, three BARC designs, sites and approval status.
What it is: The SHANTI Act, 2025 is India's new nuclear energy law. It opens nuclear energy activity to public and private entities and revises the civil liability regime that earlier rested on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. It sits within the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in Union Budget 2025-26 to scale up clean base-load power.

CLND Act, 2010: The Act provides compensation to victims of a nuclear incident or accident.
Contested sections: Section 17(b) gave the operator a right of recourse against the supplier. Section 46 preserved the effect of other laws. Both were out of line with the international liability framework.
Stalled projects: Liability issues delayed commercial agreements for Jaitapur (Maharashtra, with France) and Kovvada (Andhra Pradesh, with the USA).
Russian cooperation: Four 1000 MW reactors, KKNPP 3&4 and 5&6, are under construction with Russia.
Mission target: 100 GWe of nuclear capacity by 2047, to support net-zero emissions by 2070.
Reactor designs: DAE is designing the 220 MWe BSMR-200, the 55 MWe SMR-55 and a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor of up to 5 MWth for hydrogen production.
Current capacity: Nuclear capacity is 8780 MW (excluding RAPS-1), expected to reach 22,380 MW by 2031-32.
BRNS: The Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences is an advisory body and extramural funding agency of DAE that funds academic research.
Budget provision: ₹20,000 crore is provided under the Nuclear Energy Mission for SMR research, design, development and deployment.
Sites: Tarapur (Maharashtra) is the site for lead units of BSMR-200 and SMR-55; BARC's Vizag site (Andhra Pradesh) is for the HTGCR.
HTGCR progress: The HTGCR has in-principle approval, a prepared DPR, siting consent and Terms of Reference for environmental clearance from MoEF&CC.

Don’t confuse with CLND Act 2010 vs SHANTI Act 2025: The CLND Act is the older liability law with supplier recourse provisions. The SHANTI Act is the newer law that aligns liability with the international framework.

Don’t confuse with NSG waiver vs Indo-US agreement: The Indo-US civil nuclear agreement is a bilateral deal. The NSG waiver is the group-level permission that let India trade nuclear items with other countries.

Don’t confuse with BRNS vs AERB: BRNS funds and advises on research under DAE; the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board is the safety regulator.

Don’t confuse with MWe vs MWth: MWe is electrical output; MWth is thermal output. The HTGCR is rated in MWth, the SMRs in MWe.

Don’t confuse with BSMR-200 vs SMR-55: BSMR-200 is the 220 MWe Bharat design with BARC and NPCIL; SMR-55 is a separate 55 MWe design, planned as 2 units.

Why it matters

Clearer liability rules can bring in foreign reactor technology and fuel, helping scale up clean base-load power.
Opening the sector to private entities can raise investment and speed up capacity addition.
Nuclear power is reliable base-load clean energy that supports the net-zero 2070 goal and cuts fossil fuel dependence.
Private and public participation can bring in capital, technology and vendors for faster capacity addition.
SMRs can repurpose retiring coal plant sites, serve industry captive needs and remote off-grid areas.
SMRs can supply clean base-load power and support India's net-zero goals.
Hydrogen-producing high temperature reactors can help decarbonise industry.

Problems

Victims' right to compensation must stay adequate while supplier fears are eased.
Safety regulation and public trust need to keep pace with wider private participation.
Capacity must grow from 8780 MW to 100 GWe, a very steep scale-up.
Safety, liability, waste disposal and public acceptance of land acquisition remain contested issues with private participation.
Dependence on imported reactor designs and fuel conflicts with the self-reliance aim.
Approvals remain pending: BSMR-200 awaits Cabinet Committee sanction, so construction timelines of 60-72 months push results far out.
Technology is yet to be demonstrated at scale and needs detailed engineering and supply chains.

Way forward

Strengthen an independent nuclear regulator and transparent safety oversight.
Conclude the pending commercial agreements for Jaitapur and Kovvada on clear liability terms.
Build a strong, independent regulator and clear liability rules to give confidence on safety.
Develop domestic vendors and skilled manpower through DAE training, incubation centres and BRNS funding.
Speed up SMR and thorium-based programmes alongside renewables for a balanced clean energy mix.
Complete approvals and clearances quickly and build the lead units as technology demonstrators.
Involve PSUs and industry in engineering and manufacturing to build a domestic supply chain.

Put in your answer

Two-pronged strategy: Large 700 MWe PHWRs and imported advanced reactors at greenfield sites, plus SMRs at brownfield sites.

Atal Incubation Centres: DAE has set up four Atal Incubation Centres to work with start-ups and MSMEs on nuclear technology.

SMR funding: ₹20,000 crore under the Nuclear Energy Mission for SMRs, Budget 2025-26.

BSMR timeline: BSMR construction is estimated at 60 to 72 months from administrative and financial approval.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 14

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

1.The Nuclear Energy Mission was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
2.The Nuclear Energy Mission aims at 100 GWe of nuclear capacity by 2070.
3.The budget provision of Rs 20,000 crore under the Mission is meant for Small Modular Reactors.
4.The Mission aims to operationalise at least five indigenously designed SMRs by 2033.
5.The 55 MWe SMR-55 is the larger of the two SMR designs being developed by DAE, compared with the 220 MWe BSMR-200.
6.The High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor being developed by DAE is meant for hydrogen production.
7.The Three Stage Nuclear Power Programme is designed to use India's vast thorium reserves in the long term.
8.The Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences is a regulatory body that licenses nuclear plants.
9.Under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in Union Budget 2025-26, ₹20,000 crore has been provided for research, design, development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors.
10.The Bharat Small Modular Reactor is being designed jointly by BARC and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.
11.The lead units of BSMR-200 and SMR-55 are planned at Vizag in Andhra Pradesh.
12.The high temperature gas cooled reactor under development by BARC is meant for hydrogen generation.
13.Small Modular Reactors are designed so that major components can be factory-fabricated and transported to the site for assembly.
14.The Atomic Energy Commission has already given final financial sanction to construct BSMR-200 and the project has started construction.

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

Source: PIB, Department of Atomic Energy, 11 Mar, 16:51 IST · Release 285630

Issue page →

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

Science and technology

Kavach Automatic Train Protection System

GS3 InfrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 March 2026, the Railway Minister told the Lok Sabha that Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned on 1,452 route km, covering high-density Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes.
What it is: Kavach is India's indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection system. It uses on-board equipment, trackside devices and radio communication to help a train stop automatically if the driver fails to act, and to prevent collisions. It was developed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) with Indian industry partners.

Kavach umbrella work: The work is part of an umbrella programme to provide Kavach with an LTE communication backbone on balance routes, costing ₹27,693 crore in the 2024-25 Pink Book.
Electronic interlocking: Panel interlocking will be replaced at 35 stations in Guntakal Division and 14 in Nanded Division of South Central Railway, on HDN/HUN routes.
Developer of Kavach: Kavach was developed indigenously by RDSO, the Railways' research and standards body, with Indian industry.
Safety level: Kavach needs the highest safety certification, SIL-4.
Adoption: Kavach became the National ATP system in July 2020.
Version 4.0 upgrades: Better location accuracy, better signal aspect information in big yards, station-to-station Kavach interface on OFC, and direct interface with Electronic Interlocking.
Components: Implementation needs station Kavach, RFID tags along the track, telecom towers, optical fibre cable and loco Kavach.
Trackside coverage: Trackside work is taken up on 24,427 RKm covering Golden Quadrilateral, Golden Diagonal, high density network and identified sections.
Sections commissioned: Vadodara–Virar (344 km, Western Railway), Tuglakabad Junction Cabin–Palwal (35 km, Northern Railway) and Manpur–Sarmatanr (93.3 km, East Central Railway).
Technologies used: Kavach combines microprocessors, GPS and radio communication; it alerts the loco pilot and applies brakes automatically if needed.
Protections offered: Protects against Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), side, head-on and rear-end collisions, overspeeding, and gives level crossing gate information.
Developer: Kavach was developed by RDSO, the research and standards body of Indian Railways under the Ministry of Railways.

Don’t confuse with Electronic interlocking vs Kavach: Interlocking prevents conflicting signals and routes at stations. Kavach is an on-board and trackside system that controls train speed and braking.

Don’t confuse with Kavach vs ABS/CTC: Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) and Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) manage train movement and line capacity. Kavach adds automatic collision protection.

Don’t confuse with Kavach vs Electronic Interlocking: Interlocking controls points and signals at stations to prevent conflicting moves. Kavach is an ATP system that brakes the train itself.

Don’t confuse with Kavach vs TCAS: TCAS (Train Collision Avoidance System) was the earlier name for Kavach in trials; do not confuse it with the aircraft system of the same acronym.

Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

Why it matters

Kavach reduces collisions caused by signal passed at danger and human error.
A fibre backbone and electronic interlocking give reliable communication and cut manual intervention, supporting high-density routes.
Reduces accidents from human error such as signal passing.
Indigenous SIL-4 technology supports self-reliance in rail safety.
Improves rail safety by preventing collisions and overspeeding even in low visibility.
Promotes self-reliance and the Indian signalling industry.

Problems

Fitting Kavach on thousands of locomotives and thousands of route km is costly and slow.
It needs reliable telecom, fibre and interlocking first, so works must be coordinated across zones.
Heavy cost: about Rs 50 lakh per km trackside and Rs 80 lakh per loco.
Deployment is slow: 1,452 RKm commissioned against 24,427 RKm taken up.
Large network to cover and locomotives to fit, so rollout is slow and costly.
Needs integration with existing signalling and interlocking systems and trained staff.

Way forward

Complete the fibre and interlocking groundwork before or with Kavach rollout, prioritising high-density routes.
Track progress and fund works on a time-bound basis.
Speed up OFC, tower and loco fitment, and train more staff.
Prioritise high-density routes, then extend to the wider network.
Prioritise high-density routes and fit locomotives in step with track installation.
Keep independent safety assessment and ongoing upgrades based on operational feedback.

Put in your answer

Kavach 4.0 locomotive allocation: ₹208.81 crore for 232 locomotives in Southern Railway shows the scale of fitment cost.

Electronic interlocking umbrella work: A ₹15,164 crore umbrella work covers electronic interlocking at balance stations on HDN/HUN routes where Kavach/ABS/CTC is sanctioned.

Cost: Trackside and station equipment cost about Rs 50 lakh per km; loco equipment about Rs 80 lakh per loco.

Kavach 4.0 coverage: 1,306.3 route km of Kavach 4.0 commissioned across five zones after this addition.

Head-on collision test: On Manpur–Sarmatanr, a head-on collision test saw the train stop automatically, validating the system.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Railways, 11 Mar, 18:14 IST · Release 285666

Issue page →

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

Scheme

PM-KISAN

GS3 Agriculture - Farmer supportGS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 March 2026, the Agriculture Ministry said the PM would release the 22nd PM-KISAN instalment from Guwahati on 13 March 2026, about Rs 18,640 crore to 9.32 crore farmer families.
What it is: PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) is an income support scheme for landholding farmer families, launched on 24 February 2019. It gives ₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts. It is a Central Sector scheme fully funded by the Centre, with States identifying beneficiaries.

Who identifies beneficiaries: State Governments identify eligible farmer households and build the beneficiary database.
Exclusions and recovery: Income tax payers, government employees, PSU personnel and holders of constitutional posts are ineligible; recovery is done from them.
Monitoring: The national-level review mechanism is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, with State and District Monitoring Committees below it.
Cumulative disbursal: More than ₹4.47 lakh crore was disbursed through the first 23 instalments.
Mode of payment: Support reaches eligible farmer families through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund: Under the AIF, about ₹1.75 lakh crore has been invested across more than 2.28 lakh projects.
Scheme type and funding: PM-KISAN is a Central Sector scheme, fully funded by the Centre. It pays ₹6,000 a year in three instalments.
Benefit: Eligible landholding farmer families get Rs.6,000 a year in three equal instalments, paid into bank accounts.
Launch: The scheme was launched in February 2019.
Disbursal so far: Over Rs.4.47 lakh crore has been transferred through 23 instalments.
Women beneficiaries: Women farmers received over Rs.1.06 lakh crore, nearly one in four beneficiaries.
Funding: PM-KISAN is a Central Sector scheme, funded 100% by the Centre.
Cumulative payout: Total disbursement since the 24 February 2019 launch will exceed Rs 4.46 lakh crore.
Funding and type: PM-KISAN is a Central Sector scheme, fully funded by the Centre. It pays Rs 6,000 a year in three instalments by DBT.
Payment: Each eligible family gets ₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments of ₹2,000, paid into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts.
Role of States: States identify eligible households and build the beneficiary database. They must also start recovery where ineligible people were paid.
Budget 2026-27: The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹60,000 crore to the scheme.
Voluntary Surrender: A facility lets affluent farmers give up the benefit; accounts surrendered by mistake can be reactivated.

Don’t confuse with Central Sector vs Centrally Sponsored: Central Sector schemes are 100% Centre-funded; Centrally Sponsored schemes share costs with States. The release calls PM-KISAN centrally sponsored, but it is a Central Sector scheme.

Don’t confuse with PM-KISAN vs PM Fasal Bima Yojana: PM-KISAN gives income support. PMFBY is crop insurance for risk protection.

Don’t confuse with PM-KISAN vs PMFBY: PM-KISAN is cash income support; PMFBY is crop insurance against losses.

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 small and marginal farmers assured cash for inputs, reducing reliance on informal credit.
DBT with Aadhaar and e-KYC cuts leakages and intermediaries.
Gives small farmers a predictable cash income through DBT, without middlemen.
Gives assured, direct income support to small and marginal farmers and reduces dependence on informal credit.
Shows DBT with Aadhaar-based verification can cut leakages.
Assured, direct income support reduces reliance on informal credit and helps buy inputs.
DBT removes intermediaries and cuts leakage.
Regular DBT gives small farmers assured cash for inputs and cuts leakages.
Launching insurance, AgriStack and natural farming alongside builds a wider support system for farmers.
Direct cash transfer eases farmers' liquidity constraints and cuts reliance on informal credit.
Aadhaar-linked DBT lowers leakage and removes intermediaries.
Gives assured income support to small and marginal farmers and boosts rural demand.
DBT through digital infrastructure cuts leakages and middlemen.

Problems

Exclusion of tenant farmers and sharecroppers, since it is tied to land records.
Ineligible payments needed recovery (₹416.75 crore as of December 2025); land record and Aadhaar-seeding gaps persist.
Keeping the beneficiary list accurate and excluding ineligible people, and leaving out tenant farmers who hold no land records.
Tenant farmers and sharecroppers without land records are left out.
Fixed Rs.6,000 has not kept pace with input costs and inflation.
Exclusion of tenant farmers and landless labourers, since the scheme depends on land records.
Ineligible payments to tax payers and others need recovery.
Tenant and landless farmers are left out because eligibility depends on land records.
Outdated land records and eKYC or Aadhaar mismatches cause exclusions.
Tenant farmers and landless labourers are excluded because eligibility rests on land records.
Outdated land records, Aadhaar-bank mismatches and ineligible payments, with ₹416.75 crore recovered so far, hurt targeting.
Exclusion of eligible farmers, such as tenant farmers, and errors in land records and e-KYC.
Ineligible or deceased beneficiaries need continuous weeding out.

Way forward

Digitise and update land records and include tenant cultivators.
Strengthen State verification and grievance redressal.
Digitise and update land records and link them to the beneficiary database to improve targeting and include tenant farmers.
Clean and digitise land records to include tenant farmers.
Review the amount periodically and target it better.
Complete land-record and Aadhaar seeding, and integrate with AgriStack.
Strengthen verification and grievance redressal to reduce errors.
Digitise land records and link them with AgriStack to improve targeting.
Pair income support with insurance, credit and input reforms.
Update and digitise land records and extend coverage to tenant farmers.
Strengthen e-KYC and database checks to prevent duplicate and ineligible payments.
Complete land-record digitisation and e-KYC to reach 100% saturation.
Use periodic verification to remove ineligible entries.

Put in your answer

Cumulative disbursement: Over ₹4.64 lakh crore has gone to farmers through 24 instalments.

Recoveries from ineligible: ₹416.75 crore recovered from ineligible beneficiaries as of December 2025.

Cumulative PM-KISAN disbursal: More than ₹4.47 lakh crore was disbursed through 23 instalments.

AIF investments: About ₹1.75 lakh crore invested across over 2.28 lakh projects to cut post-harvest losses.

Cumulative transfers: Over Rs.4.47 lakh crore sent to farmers through 23 instalments.

Use of funds: DMEO found over 92% of beneficiaries used the money for agriculture.

Recovery from ineligible: ₹416.75 crore recovered from ineligible beneficiaries as of December 2025.

PM-KISAN scale: Cumulative payouts will exceed Rs 4.46 lakh crore since 2019. Use this to show the scheme's reach.

AgriStack: AgriStack is a unified digital platform for fertiliser distribution, Kisan Credit Cards, DBT and MSP procurement. It is part of the Digital Agriculture Mission.

Cumulative disbursal: More than ₹4.27 lakh crore has been disbursed since launch, making it one of the world's largest DBT initiatives.

NITI Aayog evaluation: Nearly 85 percent of beneficiaries reported better farm income and less reliance on informal credit.

Women beneficiaries: Over 2.15 crore women farmers receive the 22nd instalment.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 32

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

1.Under PM-KISAN, State Governments are responsible for identifying eligible farmer households and preparing the beneficiary database.
2.The national-level review of PM-KISAN is chaired by the Union Agriculture Minister.
3.Income tax payers and holders of constitutional posts are among those ineligible for PM-KISAN benefits.
4.Kisan-eMitra, the PM-KISAN chatbot, was developed with technical support from the EkStep Foundation and BHASHINI.
5.PM-KISAN is a Central Sector scheme funded fully by the Union Government.
6.Under PM-KISAN, eligible farmer families get ₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments.
7.PM-KISAN money is paid through Direct Benefit Transfer to bank accounts.
8.PM-KISAN was launched in 2019.
9.PM-KISAN cost-shares its funding between the Centre and States in a 60:40 ratio.
10.PM-KISAN pays ₹6,000 a year in four quarterly instalments.
11.Through the first 23 instalments, PM-KISAN had disbursed more than ₹4.47 lakh crore.
12.The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, implemented by State governments with the Centre's share.
13.PM-KISAN provides Rs.6,000 per year to eligible landholding farmer families in three equal instalments.
14.PM-KISAN was launched in February 2019.
15.PM-KISAN is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in which States share the cost with the Centre.
16.The money under the scheme is transferred through the Direct Benefit Transfer system.
17.Roughly half of the beneficiaries of PM-KISAN are women farmers.
18.The evaluation of the scheme's impact cited in the release was conducted by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office of NITI Aayog.
19.The scheme was launched in February 2019.
20.State Governments are responsible for identifying eligible farmer households under PM-KISAN.
21.Income tax payers and government employees are among those ineligible, and amounts paid to them are subject to recovery.
22.Kisan-eMitra, the AI chatbot linked to PM-KISAN, was developed with technical support from the EkStep Foundation and BHASHINI.
23.Funds under PM-KISAN are transferred to farmers through the state cooperative banks only, without use of PFMS or NPCI.
24.Under PM-KISAN, each eligible farmer family receives ₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments of ₹2,000.
25.Beneficiary identification under PM-KISAN is done by the Central Government through the PM-KISAN portal, without any role for States.
26.The national-level review of PM-KISAN is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
27.Under PM-KISAN, States and Union Territories must initiate recovery of benefits paid to ineligible persons such as income tax payers and government employees.
28.PM-KISAN provides Rs 6,000 a year to each eligible farmer family in three equal instalments.
29.Benefits under PM-KISAN are transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer to beneficiaries' bank accounts.
30.The PM-KISAN portal's Know Your Status module lets beneficiaries check payment status, Aadhaar linking and e-KYC status.
31.The face-authentication e-KYC app under PM-KISAN requires an OTP or a biometric device.
32.The Voluntary Surrender facility under PM-KISAN is meant for affluent farmers.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 11 Mar, 20:45 IST · Release 285687

Issue page →

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

Scheme

PM-RAHAT (Road Accident Victims' Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment)

GS2 Governance: health and road safety schemesGS3 InfrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 March 2026, the Road Transport Ministry told the Rajya Sabha about PM-RAHAT, the cashless road accident treatment scheme launched by the PM on 13 February 2026.
What it is: PM-RAHAT is a cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims, run under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. It aims to cut deaths by ensuring prompt care, especially in the Golden Hour after injury. Claims are handled through State Health Agencies and hospitals designated under the scheme.

Legal basis: The scheme rests on Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Cover: Treatment cover is up to Rs 1.5 lakh per victim, for a maximum of 7 days from the date of accident, on any category of road.
Designated hospitals: Empanelled AB PM-JAY hospitals that follow National Health Authority guidelines count as designated hospitals under the scheme.
112 link: The scheme is linked to the 112 Emergency Response Support System so a victim or Good Samaritan can find the nearest designated hospital and get an ambulance.
Stabilisation treatment: Up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and up to 48 hours in life-threatening cases, subject to police response.
Funding: Hospitals are reimbursed through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. General insurers fund insured cases; the budget funds uninsured and hit-and-run cases.
Platforms: The scheme merges eDAR (used by police) and the NHA's TMS 2.0 (used by hospitals).
Governance: District Road Safety Committees monitor at district level; the State Road Safety Council is the nodal agency in each State/UT; an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee oversees nationally.
Coverage: Every eligible victim on any category of road gets cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for 7 days from the accident.
Stabilisation and police check: Stabilisation care runs up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and 48 hours in life-threatening cases, subject to police authentication.
Digital backbone: The MoRTH eDAR platform is linked with the National Health Authority's TMS 2.0.
Who pays hospitals: Payment is made from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. Insured cases draw on general insurers' contributions; uninsured and hit-and-run cases are paid from the Union budget.
Claim timeline: Claims approved by the State Health Agency are paid within 10 days.
Approval: The Prime Minister approved the launch of the PM RAHAT scheme.
Legal base: It operates under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Delivery: Claims go through State Health Agencies and designated hospitals.

Don’t confuse with PM-RAHAT vs AB PM-JAY: AB PM-JAY is a health insurance scheme for poor families; PM-RAHAT covers road accident victims regardless of income, though it uses PM-JAY hospitals.

Don’t confuse with eDAR vs TMS 2.0: eDAR is the police accident reporting platform. TMS 2.0 is the NHA platform used by hospitals for treatment and claims.

Don’t confuse with PM RAHAT vs Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: PM-JAY is a health insurance scheme for eligible poor families. PM RAHAT covers road accident victims regardless of income, on any road.

Don’t confuse with Good Samaritan protections: Rah-Veer (Good Samaritan) protections shield helpers from harassment. PM RAHAT funds the victim's treatment.

Don’t confuse with PM-RAHAT vs Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: PM-JAY is a general hospitalisation insurance for poor families. PM-RAHAT is limited to road accident victims.

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

Cashless care in the Golden Hour can cut road deaths and spare families from payment delays.
Cashless care in the Golden Hour can reduce deaths from road accidents.
A statutory scheme gives a legal right to treatment regardless of insurance status or road type.
Quick treatment in the Golden Hour can avert many preventable deaths; the release says nearly 50% could be averted with hospital admission in the first hour.
Assured payment within 10 days removes hospitals' fear of unpaid emergency care.
Integrating 112, eDAR and TMS 2.0 builds a single digital emergency response chain.
Cashless care in the Golden Hour can reduce road deaths.

Problems

Many cases were discharged from the scheme because police did not respond within the timelines, and some life-threatening cases were found ineligible by police.
Uptake is uneven: Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh account for most cases.
Treatment depends on police response on eDAR within 24 or 48 hours.
Availability of designated hospitals near accident sites varies across States.
Enough designated hospitals and ambulances are needed, especially in rural and highway areas.
Police authentication timelines may strain capacity and delay claims.
The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund needs steady funding from insurers and the Union budget.
Hospitals may delay care or reject claims, and awareness is low.

Way forward

Tighten police response timelines and link e-DAR with hospital systems.
Designate more hospitals and penalise denial of treatment.
Expand designation of hospitals and ambulance links via 112 ERSS.
Enforce the 10-day payment timeline and monitor grievances at district level.
Widen the network of designated trauma-capable hospitals and strengthen ambulance response under 112.
Train police and hospitals on the digital system and monitor claim timelines.
Spread awareness among citizens and Rah-Veers about 112 and cashless entitlement.
Pay hospitals promptly and train first responders.

Put in your answer

Hospital payment timeline: Payments are due within 10 days of State Health Agency claim approval.

Digital trail: A complete digital trail runs from 112 ERSS accident reporting to final payment.

Golden Hour data point: Studies cited by the Government say nearly 50% of road accident deaths can be averted with hospital admission within the first hour.

PM RAHAT cover: Cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh for accident victims.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 21

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

1.PM-RAHAT was launched under a legal mandate in Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
2.The treatment cover is limited to a maximum of 7 days from the date of accident.
3.The scheme covers victims only of accidents on National Highways.
4.Hospitals empanelled under AB PM-JAY that comply with NHA guidelines are deemed designated hospitals under the scheme.
5.The Golden Hour is the period of one hour following a traumatic injury.
6.The PM-RAHAT scheme is notified under Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
7.Treatment cover under the scheme is up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim, subject to a maximum of 7 days from the date of accident.
8.Reimbursement to hospitals is made from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, with budgetary support for uninsured and hit-and-run cases.
9.The scheme integrates the police's eDAR platform with the Transaction Management System of the National Health Authority.
10.Stabilisation treatment is provided for up to 48 hours in non-life-threatening cases and up to 24 hours in life-threatening cases.
11.The State Road Safety Council acts as the nodal agency for the scheme in each State or Union Territory.
12.Under the scheme, AB PM-JAY empanelled hospitals cannot be designated hospitals, as the scheme runs separately from it.
13.The scheme covers cashless treatment for road accident victims only on National Highways.
14.Cashless treatment is available up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim for up to 7 days from the date of accident.
15.Police confirmation is required within 24 hours for life-threatening cases and 48 hours for non-life-threatening cases.
16.The scheme links the eDAR platform of MoRTH with the Transaction Management System (TMS 2.0) of the National Health Authority.
17.In hit-and-run and uninsured vehicle cases, hospitals are reimbursed from contributions by general insurance companies.
18.Grievances are handled by an officer nominated by the District Road Safety Committee, chaired by the District Collector or Magistrate.
19.Claims approved by the State Health Agency are to be paid to hospitals within 10 days.
20.PM RAHAT provides cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh to accident victims.
21.The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund loan target announced alongside was doubled from ₹1 lakh crore to ₹2 lakh crore.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, 11 Mar, 21:31 IST · Release 285691

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker (Article 94)

GS2 PolityPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 11 March 2026 the Lok Sabha rejected, by voice vote, a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla after about 13 hours of debate. Home Minister Amit Shah replied to the discussion.
What it is: Article 94 lets the Lok Sabha Speaker be removed by a resolution of the House passed by a majority of all the then members. Fourteen days' notice is needed. Article 96 bars the Speaker from presiding while such a resolution is under consideration, though the Speaker may speak and take part in the debate.

Outcome: The Lok Sabha rejected the motion by voice vote after the discussion.
Article 96: When a resolution to remove the Speaker is under consideration, that officer does not preside over the House.
Majority needed: Removal needs a majority of all the then members of the House (effective majority), not a simple majority of those present.
Notice period: At least 14 days' notice must be given of the intention to move the resolution under Article 94.
Vacation of office: The Speaker vacates office on ceasing to be a member of the House, by resigning to the Deputy Speaker, or by removal under Article 94.

Don’t confuse with Article 94 vs Article 96: Article 94 deals with vacation, resignation and removal of the Speaker. Article 96 deals with the Speaker not presiding while his removal is considered.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs, 11 Mar, 22:01 IST · Release 285693

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

Draft GSR 164(E) of 9 March 2026 proposes to amend Schedule F, Part XII C of the Drugs Rules, 1945 to end duplicate viral testing of blood products.
Under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme, the KCC loan limit is Rs 5 lakh, with collateral-free credit raised to Rs 2 lakh.
28 State/UT legislatures have signed NeVA MoUs; 21 conduct business digitally and 7 more are implementing it.
UNNATI (Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization) gives capital investment, interest subvention and manufacturing/services linked incentives in the North East.
PM-DAKSH is a central sector skilling scheme run through NSFDC (SC), NBCFDC (OBC/EWS/DNT) and NSKFDC (safai karamcharis).
PMKVY (since 2015) has trained 1.64 crore candidates to 31 Dec 2025; STT placement rate in versions 1 to 3 was 42.8%.
UIDAI launched its first structured Bug Bounty Programme with 20 selected ethical hackers.
PM SETU is led by a National Steering Committee chaired by Secretary MSDE; industry-led SPVs upgrade ITIs in hub-and-spoke form.

Source: PIB, 11 Mar

What we left out: 104 of 123 releases

Speeches without a decision (10)
Ceremonies and campaigns (10)
Same issue as another release (17)
Routine data and training (1)
Tributes and messages (1)
Routine MoUs (3)
Routine company data (1)
Visit schedules and meetings (6)
Routine funds data (1)
Same issue as an issue on file (7)
Routine data (11)
Webinars and workshops (2)
Routine local initiatives (1)
Routine parliament replies (18)
Webinars and conferences (1)
Routine procurement approvals (1)
Routine project bids (1)
Other releases (12)

Practise the day’s news

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

1Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023MCQ · 5 true or false
2Informal Group of Ministers on West AsiaMCQ · 9 true or false · Mains
3Doppler Weather Radar Network and Mission MausamMCQ · 6 true or false
4Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)MCQ · 7 true or false
5National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)3 true or false
6NITI Aayog Fiscal Health IndexMCQ · 6 true or false
7SHANTI Act and Nuclear Energy MissionMCQ · 14 true or false · Mains
8Kavach Automatic Train Protection SystemMCQ · 11 true or false
9PM-KISANMCQ · 32 true or false
10PM-RAHAT (Road Accident Victims' Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment)MCQ · 21 true or false · Mains
11Removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker (Article 94)MCQ · 5 true or false

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

The Home Ministry has told Parliament about key provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including mob lynching, offences against women and children, trial in absentia and digital support to States. Examine the main provisions of the new criminal laws and discuss the challenges in implementing them across States.

From: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Write and get it marked

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