UPSC current affairs · Friday

Current Affairs, 13 March 2026

12 issues picked from 103 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

Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). PM-ABHIM approvals reach 9,519 rural AAMs and 744 labs; land and tendering delays slow States.
Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses. Pulses mission, Rs 11,440 crore over six years, targets Tur, Urad, Masoor self-sufficiency and procurement.
Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025. HLC approves Rs 1,912.99 crore NDRF aid for six States/UT hit by 2025 disasters.
Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, NALSA and Lok Adalat. Law Ministry lists DISHA components and NALSA legal aid reach under the LSA Act, 1987.
Project Great Indian Bustard. Two new chicks hatched in Rajasthan; captive Great Indian Bustards reach 70, with soft release planned.
Kaziranga Elevated Corridor (NH-715). NHAI gets 18 bids for NH-715 Kaliabor–Numaligarh road with 34.5 km Kaziranga elevated wildlife corridor.
SWAMIH Fund. SWAMIH funds stalled affordable and mid-income housing; Fund-2 of ₹15,000 crore is planned.
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat. Government outlines Child Marriage Act enforcement and the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign in Lok Sabha.
Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan. JJM 2.0 runs to December 2028; Sujal Gaon IDs digitally map rural water schemes.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya. Ministry's schemes sit under three missions; Gender Budget 2026-27 stands at Rs 5.01 lakh crore.
Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G). VB-G RAM G gives 125 days of work; Centre-State funding is 60:40, or 90:10 for special states.
Bharat-VISTAAR. Government launches Phase-I of Bharat-VISTAAR, a voice-first AI platform giving farmers advisories and scheme access.

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)

GS2 HealthPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 13 March 2026, the Minister of State for Health told the Lok Sabha that PM-ABHIM has a Rs 64,180 crore outlay, with approvals for thousands of health centres, labs and critical care blocks, and he listed the bottlenecks States faced.
What it is: PM-ABHIM is a centrally sponsored health scheme meant to build health systems that can handle pandemics and public health emergencies. It funds critical care blocks, public health laboratories and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, so that routine care continues during emergencies.

Objective: The mission aims to strengthen the health system's response to future pandemics and emergencies while keeping routine healthcare running.
Critical Care Blocks: 631 Critical Care Blocks have been sanctioned across States and Union Territories under the scheme.
Components in Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh got approval of ₹1,271.80 crore for five years under four components: CCBs, IPHLs, Urban and Rural Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
IPHL role: Integrated Public Health Laboratories provide district-level testing for infectious and non-infectious diseases and support disease surveillance and early outbreak detection.
Outlay and period: The scheme has an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore for FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
Nature of scheme: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with some Central Sector components. Support goes to States/UTs for district and block level infrastructure and to national institutions.
Critical care target: The target is 602 Critical Care Hospital Blocks in all districts with a population of more than 5 lakh.
District labs: The target is 730 District Integrated Public Health Labs, one in each district.
Approvals so far: CSS approvals worth Rs 32,928.82 crore cover 9,519 rural AAMs, 5,456 urban AAMs, 2,151 BPHUs, 744 IPHLs and 621 CCBs.
Rural AAM target: The scheme targets 17,788 building-less Sub-Centres to be built as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

Don’t confuse with PM-ABHIM vs Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: PM-ABHIM builds health infrastructure and surveillance capacity. PM-JAY is the health insurance cover for hospitalisation.

Don’t confuse with Ayushman Arogya Mandirs vs Critical Care Blocks: Arogya Mandirs give primary care at community level. Critical Care Blocks give intensive care at district hospitals and medical colleges.

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 Health and Family Welfare, 13 Mar, 16:32 IST · Release 285895

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses

GS3 AgriculturePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 13 March 2026, the Agriculture Ministry told Rajya Sabha about progress under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, including procurement and processing units.
What it is: Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses is a six-year scheme (2025-26 to 2030-31) to make India self-sufficient in pulses. It takes a value-chain approach: seeds, area expansion, processing, assured procurement and digital monitoring. It focuses on Tur, Urad and Masoor.

Procurement agencies: NCCF and NAFED are authorised to procure 100% of Tur, Masur and Urad for four years, 2025-26 to 2028-29.
Digital tools: Krishi Mapper does geo-tagging and tracking of demonstrations. SATHI tracks the seed life cycle. A three-tier Steering Committee monitors the Mission.
Approval and outlay: Cabinet approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 1 October 2025, with Rs 11,440 crore over 2025-26 to 2030-31.
Focus districts: 489 districts are identified as focus districts for clusters. The list may be modified later.
Area expansion: Pulses area is projected to expand by 35 lakh hectares by 2030-31: 24.5 lakh ha in traditional areas and 10.5 lakh ha in non-traditional areas.
Focus pulses: The mission gives special focus to Tur, Urad and Masoor.
PMKSY projects: 23 pulse processing units were approved under CEFPPC of PMKSY, and 18 are completed.

Don’t confuse with NAFED vs NCCF: Both are national cooperative marketing bodies and both procure pulses under the Mission. NAFED is the apex agricultural marketing cooperative; NCCF is the consumers' cooperative federation.

Don’t confuse with Mission vs PM-AASHA: PM-AASHA is a broad price-support umbrella for pulses, oilseeds and copra. This Mission is a dedicated six-year pulses scheme with seeds, processing and procurement.

Don’t confuse with Centrally Sponsored vs Central Sector scheme: In a Centrally Sponsored Scheme the Centre and States share the cost. A Central Sector scheme is fully funded by the Centre.

Don’t confuse with PM-AASHA vs PM-KISAN: PM-AASHA protects farmers' income through procurement, including the Price Support Scheme. PM-KISAN gives direct income support of Rs 6,000 a year.

Don’t confuse with Mission vs PMKSY: The pulses mission is a crop-focused scheme of the Agriculture Ministry. PMKSY (Kisan SAMPADA) is a food processing scheme under a separate 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.

Why it matters

Cuts import dependence and saves foreign exchange; pulses imports fell 31.52% in 2025-26.
Strengthens protein and nutritional security, as pulses have 20-25% protein.
Assured procurement at MSP raises farmer confidence and income.
Reduces dependence on pulse imports and saves foreign exchange.
Raises farmer incomes and nutrition security, and brings rice fallows under pulses.
Aims to cut pulse imports and improve self-sufficiency in a major protein source.
Assured procurement can encourage farmers to shift to pulses.

Problems

Yield of 957 kg/ha in 2025-26 is well below the 1,130 kg/ha target; closing the gap needs better seed and climate-resilient varieties.
Only 4.69 lakh of 7.74 lakh registered farmers have been benefited by NCCF procurement, so reach is partial.
Pulses are mostly rainfed and prone to weather and price swings.
Yield stagnation and weather risk in rain-fed pulse areas.
Price volatility and weak assured procurement can discourage farmers.
Yield of pulses remains low and rain-dependent, with price risk for farmers.
Procurement and storage capacity are limited in many states.

Way forward

Speed up seed kit distribution and certified seed supply for rice fallows.
Complete processing units and extend procurement beyond the four-year window.
Use AgriStack and digital surveys to target inputs and registration.
Promote high-yielding, climate-resilient seed varieties and timely seed supply.
Ensure assured procurement at MSP and build post-harvest processing capacity.
Promote climate-resilient, high-yielding seeds and wider adoption.
Strengthen storage, processing and timely procurement.

Put in your answer

Mission outlay and duration: Rs 11,440 crore over six years, 2025-26 to 2030-31, aiming at self-sufficiency in pulses.

Area expansion target: Pulses area is to rise by 35 lakh hectares by 2030-31.

Mission outlay: Rs 11,440 crore over 2025-26 to 2030-31 for pulses self-sufficiency.

Farmer registration: 1.5 lakh pulse farmers registered through NAFED and NCCF in Rabi 2026-27 procurement season.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 18

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

1.The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses runs for six years from 2025-26 to 2030-31.
2.The Mission targets pulses production of nearly 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31.
3.Under the Mission, assured procurement of Tur, Urad and Masoor is done by NCCF and NAFED for the full six years of the Mission.
4.The Mission aims to set up 1,000 pulse processing units.
5.The SATHI portal covers the seed life cycle from seed production to certification and sale.
6.The Minimum Support Price for pulses is announced by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices after approval by the Parliament.
7.The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
8.Its financial outlay is Rs 11,440 crore.
9.The Mission approves 1,000 processing units for the mission period.
10.Under the Mission, seed kits are supplied to farmers at subsidised prices.
11.Seed kits under the Mission target rice fallow areas and other diversifiable areas.
12.The list of 489 focus districts under the Mission is fixed and cannot be changed during the mission period.
13.Most of the projected 35 lakh hectare area expansion is in non-traditional areas.
14.The Mission runs for five years from 2025-26.
15.The Mission gives special focus to Tur, Urad and Masoor.
16.Procurement support under the Mission follows Price Support Scheme norms under PM-AASHA.
17.Procurement of Tur, Urad and Masoor is limited to a fixed quantity per farmer under the Mission.
18.NAFED and NCCF are the Central Nodal Agencies for pulses procurement.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 13 Mar, 18:36 IST · Release 285929

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 13 March 2026, a High-Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved Rs 1,912.99 crore of additional central assistance from the NDRF for five States and J&K hit by 2025 disasters.
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, 13 Mar, 11:01 IST · Release 285832

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, NALSA and Lok Adalat

GS2 JudiciaryPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 13 March 2026, the Law Ministry told the Lok Sabha in a written reply about the DISHA scheme and NALSA's work. It gave figures on Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu and the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System.
What it is: DISHA (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) is a Law Ministry scheme to widen access to justice, aligned with the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Its parts include Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu and legal literacy and awareness. NALSA, set up under the Act, runs free legal aid, Lok Adalats and related services from the Supreme Court down to the taluk level.

Legal Aid Defense Counsel System: LADCS is a Central Sector Scheme run through NALSA since FY 2023-24. It gives legal representation in criminal cases to those eligible under Section 12.
Legal services institutions: The structure runs from the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee to 38 High Court committees, 37 State authorities, 715 District authorities and 2,475 Taluk committees.
Constitutional basis: Article 39A, a Directive Principle, directs the State to ensure equal justice and free legal aid.
Status of award: A Lok Adalat award is deemed a civil court decree. It is final and binding, and no appeal lies against it.
National Lok Adalat: National Lok Adalats are held at the same time in all Taluks, Districts and High Courts on a fixed date.
Cases covered: Lok Adalats take up cases pending in court and also pre-litigation disputes.
NALSA head: The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA. The next senior-most Supreme Court judge is its Executive Chairman.

Don’t confuse with NALSA vs Supreme Court Legal Services Committee: NALSA is the apex body under the LSA Act. The SCLSC is a separate committee that gives legal aid in Supreme Court matters.

Don’t confuse with Tele-Law vs Nyaya Bandhu: Tele-Law gives pre-litigation advice by video. Nyaya Bandhu connects eligible people with pro bono advocates for court representation.

Don’t confuse with Lok Adalat vs Permanent Lok Adalat: Lok Adalats are held periodically and rely on consent. Permanent Lok Adalats are standing bodies for public utility services.

Don’t confuse with Article 39A vs Article 21: Article 39A is a Directive Principle on free legal aid. Article 21 (right to life) has been read to include speedy trial.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Law & Justice, 13 Mar, 13:02 IST · Release 285850

Issue page →

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

Species and protected area

Project Great Indian Bustard

GS3 Environment and BiodiversityPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 13 March 2026, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said Project Great Indian Bustard's captive breeding programme entered its fourth year. Two chicks hatched at the Rajasthan centre this week, taking captive birds to 70.
What it is: The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is a large ground-dwelling bird of India's dry grasslands, with Rajasthan holding its main surviving population. Project Great Indian Bustard is a conservation effort that includes captive breeding at a Conservation Breeding Centre in Rajasthan, to build an insurance population for the wild.

Captive tally: The number of Great Indian Bustards in captivity has reached 70 after two chicks hatched.
Two breeding methods: One chick came from natural mating and the other from artificial insemination.
Soft release plan: Some of this year's captive-bred chicks will be soft released in the wild, a new stage for the project.
Legal and IUCN status: The Great Indian Bustard is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and is in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Where it lives: Its main stronghold is Rajasthan, especially the Desert National Park near Jaisalmer. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh hold small numbers.

Don’t confuse with Soft release vs hard release: Soft release keeps animals in acclimatisation enclosures with support before they go free. Hard release frees them directly into the wild.

Don’t confuse with Natural mating vs artificial insemination: Both were used at the centre: one chick came from each method.

Species and protected areas: 12 Prelims questions since 2013; they test legal status, location and the year of designation.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Species conservation topic of lasting interest; the new facts are a chick count, so no solid statement-based question.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 13 Mar, 13:21 IST · Release 285854

Issue page →

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

Place in the news

Kaziranga Elevated Corridor (NH-715)

GS3 Infrastructure and EnvironmentPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 13 March 2026, NHAI said its Kaliabor–Numaligarh tender on NH-715 in Assam drew 18 bids. The project includes a 34.5 km elevated wildlife corridor through Kaziranga.

Wildlife link: The corridor is aligned to help animals move from Kaziranga National Park to the Karbi Anglong hills.
Approvals and bodies: NHAI consulted WII, NTCA and the Assam Forest Department, and has approval from the National Board for Wildlife.
Cost and bids: The project received 18 bids, with a capital cost of Rs 6,956 crore, and is to be awarded this financial year.

Don’t confuse with NBWL vs NTCA: NBWL is the statutory board under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 that clears projects affecting protected areas. NTCA is the statutory body for tiger conservation.

Places in the news: 26 Prelims questions since 2013, rising (12% of news questions in 2022–26); they test location and why it matters.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Highway with a wildlife corridor through Kaziranga is a lasting topic; no strong provisions for a question yet.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, 13 Mar, 15:55 IST · Release 285874

Issue page →

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

Scheme

SWAMIH Fund

GS3 Economy and HousingGS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 13 March 2026, PIB published a explainer on the SWAMIH Fund, saying over 58,000 homes have been completed and SWAMIH Fund-2 (₹15,000 crore) was announced in Budget 2025-26.
What it is: SWAMIH is the Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing Investment Fund, launched in 2019. It gives priority debt to viable but stalled residential projects so they can be finished and handed over. It is a Category-II Alternative Investment Fund under SEBI rules, managed by SBICAP Ventures.

Fund type: SWAMIH is a Category-II Alternative Investment Fund, regulated under SEBI rules. It is described as a first-of-its-kind social impact investment vehicle.
Sponsor and manager: The Government of India is the Sponsor, with the Department of Economic Affairs overseeing it. SBICAP Ventures Ltd, a wholly-owned SBI subsidiary, manages the fund.
Corpus: The fund has ₹15,531 crore from the Government, PSU banks and LIC.

Don’t confuse with SWAMIH vs PMAY-U: PMAY-U (2015) creates and gives access to pucca housing for EWS, LIG and MIG households. SWAMIH only completes stalled projects.

Don’t confuse with SWAMIH vs ARHCs: ARHCs give rental housing for migrants and urban workers. SWAMIH funds completion of homes for buyers.

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: A scheme with numbers; UPSC has asked scheme features in Prelims (52 of 327), but this release is explanatory with few settled facts.

Source: PIB Headquarters, 13 Mar, 16:07 IST · Release 285876

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat

GS2 Social JusticePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 13 March 2026, the Women and Child Development Ministry told Lok Sabha about the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign and how the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 is enforced.
What it is: The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 replaced the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929. It prohibits child marriage and provides for officers to prevent it and prosecute offenders. Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat is a national campaign that supports enforcement through awareness and community action.

Campaign launch: Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat was launched on 27 November 2024 to make India child-marriage-free through a whole of government and whole of society approach.
Who appoints CMPOs: Section 16 of the PCMA lets the State Government appoint Child Marriage Prohibition Officers for the whole State or a part of it.
Constitutional basis of State role: Police and Public Order are State subjects, so States and UTs bear primary responsibility for preventing child marriage.
100 Days Special Campaign: It began on 4 December 2025, and requires CMPO details to be uploaded on the portal. It also pushes Gram Panchayats and Municipal Wards to declare themselves child-marriage-free.

Don’t confuse with PCMA 2006 vs Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929: The 2006 Act replaced the 1929 Act. It focuses on prohibition and on protecting victims, not only on restraining marriages.

Don’t confuse with PCMA vs Child and Adolescent Labour Act 1986: The PCMA covers child marriage and has CMPOs under Section 16. The labour Act covers child and adolescent labour and has District Magistrate powers under Section 17A.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: A lasting law and campaign; this reply gives little that is new, so no practice question.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Women and Child Development, 13 Mar, 16:09 IST · Release 285879

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 13 March 2026, Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil released the Sujal Gaon ID, a unique digital ID for rural piped water schemes, and reviewed JJM 2.0 with State ministers. The Cabinet has extended JJM 2.0 to December 2028 with a higher outlay.
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, Ministry of Jal Shakti, 13 Mar, 16:18 IST · Release 285888

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya

GS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 13 March 2026, the Women and Child Development Minister told the Lok Sabha how the ministry's schemes are grouped into three umbrella missions, with beneficiary data and a Gender Budget of Rs 5.01 lakh crore for FY 2026-27.
What it is: The Ministry of Women and Child Development places its Centrally Sponsored Schemes under three verticals. Mission Shakti covers women's safety and empowerment, Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 covers nutrition and health, and Mission Vatsalya covers child protection. The 15th Finance Commission cycle saw several older schemes merged into these missions.

Mission Shakti structure: It has two sub-schemes: Sambal for safety and security, and Samarthya for empowerment of women.
Sambal components: Sambal includes One Stop Centres, Women Helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Nari Adalat.
Samarthya components: Samarthya includes PMMVY, Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, Palna and SANKALP: HEW.
Six services under Poshan 2.0: Supplementary Nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-up and referral. The last three are delivered through the National Health Mission and public health infrastructure.
Mission Vatsalya origin: It is the erstwhile Integrated Child Protection Scheme, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented through States/UTs for children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law.
SANKALP: HEW role: It works as the Project Monitoring Unit for all components of Mission Shakti and as a single-window system for women.
Poshan 2.0 merges schemes: Anganwadi Services, POSHAN Abhiyaan and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls were reorganised into three sub-verticals: nutrition support, early childhood care and education, and Anganwadi infrastructure.
Mission Shakti verticals: Sambal covers safety and security, with One Stop Centre, Women Helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Nari Adalat. Samarthya covers empowerment, with Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, PMMVY, Palna and SANKALP: HEW.
Mission Vatsalya: It includes the Integrated Child Protection Scheme. About 82,005 children are in institutional care across 3799 Child Care Institutes.

Don’t confuse with Mission Poshan 2.0 vs Poshan Abhiyaan: Poshan Abhiyaan was one of the schemes reorganised into Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, so it is not the same thing.

Don’t confuse with Samagra Shiksha vs the three WCD missions: Samagra Shiksha is run by the Department of School Education and Literacy, not the Women and Child Development ministry.

Don’t confuse with Sambal vs Samarthya: Sambal deals with safety and security (OSC, Women Helpline, BBBP, Nari Adalat). Samarthya deals with empowerment (Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, PMMVY, Palna, SANKALP: HEW).

Don’t confuse with Poshan 2.0 vs POSHAN Abhiyaan: POSHAN Abhiyaan is now one of the schemes merged into the wider Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 mission.

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 Women and Child Development, 13 Mar, 17:10 IST · Release 285908

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G)

GS2 Welfare schemesGS3 Inclusive growthPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 13 March 2026, the Rural Development Ministry told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply how funds are shared under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, and gave the 2026-27 Central share.
What it is: The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 is a Central law on rural wage employment. It gives eligible rural households a statutory entitlement to guaranteed wage employment and aims at durable rural assets and livelihoods. It takes the place of the earlier rural employment guarantee framework under which households had 100 days of work.

Wage floor: No notified daily wage anywhere in the country will be below ₹300.
National average wage: The national average notified wage rose from ₹298.8 to ₹327.4 per day, an increase of over 10 per cent.
Interim allocation: The Centre has released an interim allocation of ₹95,692.31 crore to States and UTs.
Launch venue: The National Launch Programme is on 2 July 2026 at Mukkavaripalle Village, Tirupati District, Andhra Pradesh.
Ministry: The Act is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development.
Days of guaranteed work: The statutory guarantee rises from 100 to 125 days for every eligible rural household.
Commencement date: The Act comes into force across rural India from July 1, 2026.
Role of Gram Panchayats: The Act places Gram Panchayats at the centre, stressing durable assets, water conservation, SHGs and convergence with other rural programmes.
State readiness: 29 States/UTs have made budget provisions and 24 States have notified the VB-G RAM G State Scheme.
Job card transition: Existing e-KYC verified job cards stay valid until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.
Commencement: The Act is to be rolled out nationwide from 1 July 2026, notified on 11 May 2026.
Repeal of MGNREGA: MGNREGA, 2005 stands repealed from the date the new Act commences.
Guarantee: Each rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work is entitled to 125 days of wage employment every financial year.
Unemployment allowance: If work is not given within the prescribed time after demand, workers are entitled to unemployment allowance.
Funding pattern: Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Section 22. Sharing is 90:10 for North-Eastern States, Himalayan States and UTs (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K), and 60:40 for all other States and UTs with legislature.
State scheme: Under Section 3(1), each State must notify a Scheme consistent with the Act within six months of its commencement.
Normative allocation: The Central Government decides State-wise normative allocation on objective parameters it prescribes (Section 22(4)).
Type of scheme: Section 22 makes the scheme a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
Fund sharing: The Centre-State ratio is 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, and 60:40 for all other States and UTs with legislature.
State-wise allocation: Under Section 22(4), the Centre decides each State's normative allocation on objective parameters it prescribes.
Special relaxations: In disasters or pandemics, States may recommend relaxations. The Centre can allow wider permissible works, relaxed documentation and temporarily more employment.
Plan approval: The Gram Panchayat prepares the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan and the Gram Sabha approves it (Schedule I, para 5(2)).
50% works through Gram Panchayats: At least half of the total works, by cost, must be implemented through Gram Panchayats.
Gati Shakti link: Village plans are integrated with PM Gati Shakti, use geospatial systems, and are aggregated at Block, District, State and National levels.
Guaranteed days: At least 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year, up from 100 days.
Women's participation: At least one-third participation of women is mandatory, with special job cards for women-headed households and single women.
Crèche: A crèche is to be provided at worksites where five or more children under five accompany working women.
Councils: One-third women representation is mandatory in the Central and State Rojgar Guarantee Councils.
Work themes: Works are prioritised under four themes: water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure and mitigation of extreme weather events.
Nature of scheme: The scheme under the Act is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
Allocation: The Centre fixes State-wise normative allocation on objective parameters, under Section 22(4).
Planning: Works are chosen through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans approved by the Gram Sabha and aggregated up to the national level, in four thematic domains.
Four thematic domains: Water security works, core rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, and special works for extreme weather events and disaster preparedness.
Allocation to States: The Central Government determines State-wise normative allocation on objective parameters it prescribes (Section 22(4)).
Planning link: Works are planned through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, integrated with PM Gati Shakti and aggregated at Block, District, State and National levels.
Wage payment: Wages must be paid within one week. If payment is delayed beyond 15 days, workers get 0.05 percent extra as interest on dues.
Role of Gram Sabha: The Gram Sabha takes the decision on which village-related works are to be undertaken.
Women's share: 33 percent of the work under the scheme is reserved for women.
Farm work window: State governments can notify deployment of workers for agricultural operations for a maximum of 60 days during sowing and harvesting.
Administrative expenditure: Administrative expenditure is raised from 6 percent to 9 percent to avoid delays in payments to employment assistants.

Don’t confuse with VB-G RAM G vs MGNREGA: MGNREGA, 2005 guaranteed 100 days of work per household. VB-G RAM G raises the entitlement to 125 days and adds a focus on durable assets and livelihoods.

Don’t confuse with VB-G RAM G Act vs earlier rural employment guarantee law: The new Act raises the guarantee from 100 to 125 days and replaces the earlier framework; the 100-day figure belongs to the old one.

Don’t confuse with Interim allocation vs final allocation: The ₹95,692.31 crore is an interim sum for a smooth start, not the full annual allocation.

Don’t confuse with VB–G RAM G vs MGNREGA: MGNREGA, 2005 gave 100 days and is repealed; VB–G RAM G gives 125 days from 1 July 2026.

Don’t confuse with Notification vs commencement: The notification was on 11 May 2026; the Act applies from 1 July 2026.

Don’t confuse with VB-G RAM G vs earlier 100-day framework: The new Act raises the guarantee to 125 days, makes the scheme Centrally Sponsored with normative allocation, and adds an off-season employment guarantee.

Don’t confuse with VB-G RAM G vs the earlier rural employment guarantee: The earlier framework gave 100 days of work. The 2025 Act guarantees 125 days.

Don’t confuse with VB-G RAM G vs MGNREGS: MGNREGS gave 100 days of work; VB-G RAM G gives 125 days and adds Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans linked to PM Gati Shakti.

Don’t confuse with Gram Panchayat vs Gram Sabha: The Gram Panchayat is the elected village body that prepares plans and executes works; the Gram Sabha of village voters approves plans and conducts social audits.

Don’t confuse with VB-G RAM G Act vs MGNREGA: The new Act gives 125 days of guaranteed work; the earlier framework gave 100 days.

Don’t confuse with VB-G RAM G Act vs earlier MGNREGA: The earlier framework guaranteed 100 days of work; VB-G RAM G guarantees 125 days and adds thematic works and a digital governance layer.

Don’t confuse with Centrally Sponsored vs Central Sector Scheme: Centrally Sponsored Schemes share cost with States; Central Sector Schemes are fully funded by the Centre.

Why it matters

Raises the statutory work guarantee to 125 days and lifts wages, supporting rural income and livelihood security.
Targets durable assets, natural resource conservation and women-led development.
Raises the legal guarantee of wage work to 125 days, improving rural income security.
Focus on durable assets, water conservation and convergence can build rural infrastructure and livelihoods.
Gram Panchayat-centred planning supports decentralised, participatory governance.
Raises the statutory guarantee from 100 to 125 days, strengthening livelihood security and rural incomes.
Keeps the legal right to work, with unemployment allowance and delay compensation as enforcement tools.
Makes Gram Panchayats central to rural development planning.
Raises the statutory wage guarantee, improving income and livelihood security for rural households.
Mandatory off-season work gives support when farm work is scarce.
Large outlay supports rural asset creation and demand.
Raises the statutory work guarantee to 125 days, adding to rural income security.
Demand-driven design with State partnership supports cooperative federalism.
Strengthens decentralised planning by making Panchayats at three tiers the principal authorities.
Raises the guarantee to 125 days, adding to rural livelihood security.
Geospatial, Gati Shakti-linked plans promote convergence and durable assets.
Higher guaranteed days raise rural income security and consumption smoothing.
Women-centric provisions promote gender-inclusive employment and support SHGs.
Focus on durable and climate-resilient assets links wage work to livelihoods.
Raises the statutory guarantee of rural work from 100 to 125 days, strengthening income security.
Links works to water security, rural infrastructure and disaster resilience through local plans.
Raises the statutory guarantee to 125 days, supporting rural income security.
Ties wage work to durable assets, water security and climate resilience.
Digital tools like biometrics, GPS monitoring and AI audits aim to cut leakages.
Gives rural households a stronger legal work guarantee and a safety net through more days and an unemployment allowance.
Gram Sabha control over works ties employment to local needs such as water conservation and disaster mitigation.

Problems

States must share costs and keep up timely wage payment, which strains finances.
Real delivery depends on demand-based work, administration capacity and transparent payments.
States must share costs and prepare schemes, and uneven readiness could delay work and wage payments.
Technology-based verification and new cards may exclude workers with poor connectivity or documents.
Transition risk: rules on transition, allocation and grievance redressal are still being drafted.
Fiscal burden on States, which share the cost, and dependence on Central normative allocation.
Technology-linked requirements such as e-KYC and DBT can exclude workers.
The 60:40 sharing and normative allocation may strain finances of poorer States.
Centrally fixed allocation may limit a demand-driven entitlement.
Timely wage payment, State scheme notification and capacity remain hurdles.
States must pay 40% in most cases, which strains finances.
Central fixing of normative allocations may limit the demand-driven character.
Panchayats may lack technical staff and capacity for geospatial planning and record-keeping.
Dependence on digital systems can exclude workers with poor connectivity.
Funding and timely wage payment depend on Centre-State coordination.
Timely wage payment and paying the unemployment allowance depend on state capacity and funds.
Critics may argue that changes to the earlier framework could weaken its demand-driven nature.
The 60:40 sharing may strain finances of poorer States.
Biometric and digital monitoring may exclude workers with poor connectivity or authentication failures.
Centre-set normative allocation may limit demand-driven work.
States must bear 40% (or 10%) of costs, straining finances of poorer States.
Centre-set normative allocation may limit demand-driven work and State autonomy.
Biometric and digital dependence can exclude workers in areas with poor connectivity.
Faster wage payment and interest on delays depend on states' capacity and fund flow.
Allowing farm work for up to 60 days must not dilute the purpose of creating durable rural assets.

Way forward

Release funds on time and pay wages without delay.
Use the new software platform for transparency and social audit of works.
Ensure timely wage payment and adequate funds to States, with regular social audits.
Build Gram Panchayat capacity for planning and asset creation, with support for digital access.
Publish the rules quickly after public consultation so the transition is smooth.
Support States with timely funds and e-KYC facilitation, never denying work for pending e-KYC.
Strengthen grievance redressal and social audit so wage payment and work demand are enforced.
Keep allocation flexible enough to meet actual demand.
Ensure timely payment of wages and the Centre's share.
Build State capacity and social audit to ensure assets are durable.
Use clear, objective allocation parameters and release funds on time.
Focus spending on durable rural assets.
Build Panchayat capacity with technical staff and training.
Ensure regular Gram Sabha social audits with public disclosure of records.
Keep offline options and grievance redressal for workers facing digital barriers.
Ensure time-bound wage payment and effective social audits.
Converge works with Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans and ensure strong grievance redressal.
Ensure fallback to manual verification so no worker is excluded.
Keep funds flowing on time and allocation responsive to actual demand.
Strengthen Gram Sabha role and social audits in planning.
Ensure timely fund release and wage payment, with fiscal support for weaker States.
Keep non-digital fallback for authentication and strengthen social audits and Gram Sabha role.
Issue clear instructions with states and strengthen monitoring and social audit so timely payment is enforced.
Build Gram Panchayat capacity to plan village-specific works.

Put in your answer

Interim allocation: Cite the ₹95,692.31 crore interim release as the Centre's funding for rollout.

Guarantee raised: Statutory entitlement increased from 100 to 125 days per eligible rural household.

State readiness data: 29 States/UTs made budget provisions and 24 States notified the State Scheme before rollout.

Fiscal federalism angle: Section 22 makes it a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with 90:10 and 60:40 sharing, a case of cooperative federalism and cost burden on States.

Fund sharing: Centre-State ratio of 90:10 for NE and Himalayan States, 60:40 for others, shows differentiated cooperative federalism.

Section 16 role of Panchayats: Panchayats at all three levels are the principal authorities for planning, implementation and monitoring, a decentralisation point in answers on grassroots governance.

Social audit: Records must be placed before the Gram Sabha for social audits, supporting transparency and accountability.

Women's participation: Women's participation under MGNREGS has been above 50% in the last three financial years and in 2025-26.

Livelihood infrastructure: Assets such as SHG buildings, work sheds, nurseries, livestock shelters and rural haats strengthen women and SHGs.

Digital governance: Biometric authentication, GPS or mobile worksite monitoring, real-time dashboards and AI for audits and fraud risk.

Funding split: 60:40 for most States and 90:10 for NE and Himalayan States shows differentiated cooperative federalism.

Accountability: Delayed wages now attract 0.05 percent extra interest on dues after 15 days, so those responsible bear the cost of delays.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 40

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

1.The Act keeps the earlier entitlement of 100 days of employment per eligible rural household.
2.Following the notification of revised rates, no notified daily wage in any State or UT is below ₹300.
3.The Act is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development.
4.The National Launch Programme of the Act is to be held in Tirupati district of Telangana.
5.The Act comes into force across rural India from July 1, 2026.
6.The Act makes Block Panchayats the central unit of rural transformation in place of Gram Panchayats.
7.The Act is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development, whose Union Minister also holds the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare portfolio.
8.The interim allocation to States and UTs for the rollout is ₹95,692.31 crore.
9.The Act will come into force on 11 May 2026, the date of its notification.
10.MGNREGA, 2005 stands repealed when the new Act comes into force.
11.If work is not provided within the prescribed time after demand, the worker has no remedy under the Act.
12.Existing e-KYC verified MGNREGA job cards remain valid under the new Act until Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.
13.The ₹95,692.31 crore allocation for 2026–27 is the total programme outlay including State contributions.
14.The scheme under the Act is a Central Sector Scheme funded wholly by the Centre.
15.For Himalayan States such as Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the Centre-State sharing ratio is 90:10.
16.For States other than North-Eastern and Himalayan States, the Centre bears 90 per cent of the cost.
17.Each State must notify its own Scheme consistent with the Act within six months of commencement.
18.State-wise normative allocation is fixed by each State Government on its own parameters.
19.Under the Act, the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan is prepared by the Programme Officer and approved by the Block Panchayat.
20.At least fifty percent of the total works, in cost terms, are to be implemented through Gram Panchayats.
21.The intermediate-level Panchayat finalises the aggregate district-level plan under the Act.
22.The Gram Panchayat registers households and issues Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards under the Scheme.
23.Under the Act, muster rolls, bills and vouchers are placed before the Block Panchayat for social audit.
24.Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans are integrated with PM Gati Shakti and aggregated at Block, District, State and National levels.
25.The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 guarantees at least 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year.
26.Under the Act, an unemployment allowance is payable if work is not provided within the stipulated time.
27.The Act makes at least half of the participation of women mandatory.
28.Crèche facilities are required at worksites where five or more children under five years accompany working women.
29.The Act requires one-third women representation in the Central and State Rojgar Guarantee Councils.
30.The four priority themes of works under the Act include defence infrastructure.
31.For most States, the Centre and State share the cost in a 60:40 ratio.
32.The 90:10 sharing pattern applies to the North-Eastern and Himalayan States and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
33.State-wise normative allocation under the Act is decided by each State Government on its own parameters.
34.Works under the Act are identified through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans prepared and approved by the Gram Sabha.
35.The Act confines works to a single theme, rural roads.
36.The scheme under the Act is a Central Sector Scheme funded wholly by the Union Government.
37.Under the Act, the Centre-State funding ratio is 60:40 for most States, and 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States.
38.Special works to mitigate extreme weather events and prepare for disasters are one of the thematic domains of works under the Act.
39.The Act provides for works to be identified through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, which are integrated with PM Gati Shakti.
40.The Act has five thematic domains of works, including a separate domain for urban infrastructure.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Rural Development, 13 Mar, 17:41 IST · Release 285915

Issue page →

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

Science and technology

Bharat-VISTAAR

GS3 Agriculture and TechnologyGS2 Digital Public InfrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 13 March 2026, the Agriculture Ministry told Rajya Sabha in a written reply that Phase-I of Bharat-VISTAAR, an AI-powered farmer advisory platform, was launched on 17 February 2026.
What it is: Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) is a Digital Public Infrastructure platform for farmers. It uses AI and data from government systems and ICAR research to give personalised advice on crops, weather, prices, pests and soil. It also links farmers to central schemes and services.

Budget outlay: Announced in Union Budget 2026-27 with a total allocation of Rs 150 crore.
Phase-I channels: Phase-I runs in Hindi and English via a helpline (155261), a voice AI chatbot, a ministry web portal and a mobile app.
Schemes integrated: Phase-I integrates 10 central schemes, including PM-KISAN, PMFBY, Soil Health Card and Kisan Credit Card.
Language expansion: 4 more languages planned in 3 months and 5 more in 6 months.
Access for non-smartphone users: Voice and IVRS access is provided for farmers without smartphones.
Legal and security compliance: Built in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and MeitY and CERT-In cyber security guidelines.

Don’t confuse with Bharat-VISTAAR vs Agristack: Agristack is the farmer-data registry layer (farmer ID, crop survey). Bharat-VISTAAR is an advisory and service-access platform that draws on government data.

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.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: New AI-based farmer platform with Rs 150 crore outlay; recent and thin on settled facts, so card only.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 13 Mar, 18:35 IST · Release 285927

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

The IBSA Fund, set up in 2004 by India, Brazil and South Africa, has backed over 50 development projects in nearly 40 countries.
APEDA facilitated the first export of GI-tagged Joha rice from Assam, 25 tonnes to the UK and Italy; it got the GI tag in 2017.
Captive, commercial and other coal mines crossed 200 million tonnes in FY 2025-26 on 11 March 2026.
NMDC became India's first mining company to produce 50 million tonnes of iron ore in a single financial year (FY 2025-26).

Source: PIB, 13 Mar

What we left out: 87 of 103 releases

Ceremonies and workshops (7)
Routine seizures (1)
Same issue as another release (15)
Meetings without a decision (6)
Speeches without a decision (10)
Parliament replies, local data (6)
Routine MoUs and project support (3)
Greetings and speeches (1)
Parliament replies, minor portals (2)
Routine portal launches (2)
Parliament replies, routine data (19)
Ceremonies and campaigns (8)
Visit schedules and inaugurations (2)
Internal campaigns (1)
Briefings without a decision (1)
Draft regulations for consultation (1)
Ceremonies and inaugurations (1)
Other releases (1)

Practise the day’s news

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

1Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)MCQ · 5 true or false
2Mission for Aatmanirbharta in PulsesMCQ · 18 true or false · Mains
3Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025MCQ · 6 true or false · Mains
4Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, NALSA and Lok AdalatMCQ · 6 true or false
5Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal ArpanMCQ · 56 true or false · Mains
6Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti and Mission VatsalyaMCQ · 5 true or false
7Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G)MCQ · 40 true or false · Mains

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