Current Affairs, 12 January 2026

SOM numbers

General Bodies of National Sports Bodies must include at least four Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit, with fifty per cent of them women.

Women in Executive Committee

The Act mandates at least four women in the Executive Committee. The Rules let each body reserve posts for women through its bye-laws.

Election Panel

The National Sports Election Panel roster must always have at least twenty qualified members.

Electoral officer fee

The fee of an electoral officer is agreed mutually with the National Sports Body, capped at Rs 5 lakh.

Bye-law deadline and relaxation

Bodies must amend bye-laws within six months. The Centre can relax the Rules for twelve months on application, with reasons recorded.

Committee chair

The Search-cum-Selection Committee is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.

Committee composition

Besides the Cabinet Secretary, it has the Secretary (Sports), one sports administration expert and two national sports award recipients.

Task

It recommends a panel of names for Chairperson and two Members of the Board.

Board's role

The Board is the central authority that grants recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensures compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards.

Don’t confuse with Act vs Rules: The Act (2025) is Parliament's law and sets the mandate, such as four women in the Executive Committee. The Rules (2026) are delegated legislation giving procedures.

Don’t confuse with National Sports Board vs Election Panel: The Board recognises bodies and enforces standards. The Election Panel supplies electoral officers for National Sports Body elections.

Don’t confuse with National Sports Board vs Sports Authority of India: The Board is a regulator under the 2025 Act that recognises sports federations. The Sports Authority of India is the body that trains athletes and runs sports facilities.

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.

1. 2014Mains ESSAY · Q3Essay on whether India can win fifty Olympic gold medals
2. 2014Mains GS2 · Q12Discuss state-sponsored talent hunts versus reward mechanisms for Olympic athletes.
3. 2026Prelims Q82Which statements on Grand Slam tennis governance and wild cards are correct?
4. 2023Prelims Q95Consider pairs of sports awards and their correct matches

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Visit

Merz's first official India visit and his first Asia visit as Chancellor.

Trade

Bilateral trade in goods and services passed USD 50 billion in 2024, over a quarter of India's trade with the EU.

Green and Sustainable Development Partnership

Germany committed 10 billion euros till 2030, mostly as concessional loans. About 5 billion euros have been used or earmarked since 2022.

UNSC reform

Both countries called for expanding permanent and non-permanent seats and for text-based negotiations at the IGN.

Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative

Germany co-leads the Capacity Building and Resource Sharing pillar of IPOI with India, and a new bilateral Indo-Pacific consultation mechanism was announced.

Next IGC

The next Inter-Governmental Consultations will be held in Germany later in 2026.

Don’t confuse with IPOI vs IORA: IPOI is an India-initiated, open, non-treaty initiative with pillars led by partner countries. IORA is a formal regional organisation of Indian Ocean rim states.

Don’t confuse with IMEC vs Chancellor's visit outcomes: IMEC is a multi-country connectivity corridor proposal linking India, the Middle East and Europe. The leaders only backed it and awaited its first ministerial meeting.

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.

1. 2019Mains GS2 · Q9Comment on building a strategic, global partnership between India and Japan
2. 2023Mains GS2 · Q19Opinion on whether a stronger NATO and US-Europe partnership benefits India, with examples
3. 2026Prelims Q78Which outcomes of the German Chancellor's January 2026 India visit are not correct?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Food inflation

CFPI-based food inflation was -2.71%, the seventh straight month of negative food inflation.

Who collects data

Prices are collected by NSO field staff from 1114 urban markets and 1181 villages across all States/UTs.

CFPI coverage

CFPI uses ten of the twelve sub-groups in 'Food and Beverages', leaving out non-alcoholic beverages and prepared meals, snacks, sweets.

Housing index

The housing index is compiled for the urban sector only; no rural housing CPI exists.

New base

The revised CPI series on base 2024=100 is due on 12 February 2026 or the next working day.

Don’t confuse with CPI vs WPI: CPI measures retail prices faced by consumers and is compiled by MoSPI. WPI measures wholesale prices and is compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT.

Don’t confuse with CPI vs CFPI: CPI (General) covers all groups. CFPI covers only food items, with ten sub-groups.

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.

1. 2024Mains GS3 · Q2Causes of persistent food inflation and RBI monetary policy effectiveness
2. 2019Mains GS3 · Q2Whether steady GDP growth and low inflation mean good economic shape
3. 2022Mains GS2 · Q16Discuss managing inflation and unemployment to serve the poor
4. 2022Prelims Q3When RBI would buy government securities, sell dollars, or buy dollars
5. 2022Prelims Q5Advantages of inflation-indexed bonds for government and investors
6. 2022Prelims Q68Which body is responsible for maintaining price stability by controlling inflation in India?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Outlay and approval

The Union Cabinet approved the scheme on 26 November 2025 with an outlay of Rs 7,280 crore.

Incentive structure

The scheme gives a capital subsidy of Rs 750 crore and sales-linked incentives of Rs 6,450 crore. The three lowest bidders get limited assured supply of NdPr oxide from IREL (India) Ltd.

Selection method

Beneficiaries are chosen online through a two-stage Least Cost System (technical and financial bid) on the CPP Portal.

Outlay

Total outlay is Rs 7,280 crore: Rs 6,450 crore as sales-linked incentives and Rs 750 crore as capital subsidy.

Capacity

The scheme targets an aggregate 6,000 metric tonnes per annum of magnet manufacturing capacity.

Duration

The scheme runs 7 years from the date of award: a 2-year gestation period to build integrated facilities, then 5 years of incentive payment on sales.

Notification and selection

The scheme was notified on 15 December 2025. Beneficiaries are chosen through a bidding process, and the RfP is being finalised.

Administering ministry

The Ministry of Heavy Industries runs the scheme. The Cabinet approved it in November 2025.

Don’t confuse with Sintered NdFeB magnets vs NdPr oxide: NdPr oxide is the rare earth input, supplied in limited quantity by IREL. Sintered NdFeB magnets are the finished product the scheme supports.

Don’t confuse with Capital subsidy vs sales-linked incentive: The capital subsidy (Rs 750 crore) supports setting up plants. The sales-linked incentive (Rs 6,450 crore) is paid against magnet sales and forms most of the outlay.

Don’t confuse with Sintered NdFeB magnets vs rare earth oxides: The scheme supports making finished magnets from NdPr oxide in integrated plants. It does not support mining or oxide production alone.

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.

1. 2025Mains GS3 · Q12Rationale, achievements, and improvements of Production Linked Incentive scheme
2. 2025Mains GS3 · Q16Challenges facing semiconductor industry; features of India Semiconductor Mission
3. 2019Mains GS1 · Q6Can regional resource-based manufacturing help promote employment in India?
4. 2023Mains GS3 · Q1Policies to raise manufacturing share in GDP, particularly MSMEs
5. 2026Prelims Q95Statements on rare earth elements, critical minerals and India's NCMM
6. 2025Prelims Q6Statements on India's critical minerals: MSP membership, resources, MMDR amendment
7. 2021Prelims Q56Which statements on seabed mining licences and rare earth minerals in international waters are correct?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Operational since

NCVET began functioning on 1 August 2020.

Bodies subsumed

NCVET took over the functions of NSDA and NCVT, consolidating the skilling regulatory structure.

Regulated entities

NCVET regulates 161 Awarding Bodies and 68 Assessment Agencies.

Research Division

The General Body approved a dedicated Research Division to act as a think tank on labour market trends and policy.

Chair

The Secretary, MSDE is the Chairperson of NCVET; the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is the parent ministry.

Don’t confuse with NCVET vs NSDA/NCVT: NSDA and NCVT were the older skilling bodies; NCVET absorbed their functions and is the single regulator.

Don’t confuse with NCVET vs NCrF/NSQF: NCVET is a regulator. NCrF and NSQF are qualification frameworks that it works within.

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.

1. 2021Mains GS2 · Q7Whether the Earn while you learn scheme needs strengthening for meaningful vocational training
2. 2023Mains GS2 · Q18Analyse linkages between education, skill development and employment in India
3. 2015Mains GS3 · Q8Whether Make in India success depends on Skill India and labour reforms

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.