UPSC current affairs · Friday

Current Affairs, 14 August 2026

9 issues picked from 62 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

CBDC-based Direct Benefit Transfer under PMGKAY. Food subsidy under PMGKAY now credited as programmable Digital Rupee in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. Parliament passed MMDR Amendment Bill 2026 to give stable, predictable taxation of major minerals.
Software Technology Parks (STP) Scheme. STP units' exports rose to an estimated ₹7.74 lakh crore in FY26; approvals simplified.
Chips to Start-ups (C2S) Programme. C2S has trained 68,000+ students and taped out 254 chip designs across 332 institutions.
IRDAI and Bima Bharosa Grievance Portal. Policyholders must first approach the insurer, then IRDAI's Bima Bharosa portal, for grievance redressal.
NITI Aayog Services Thematic Series. NITI Aayog's third Services Thematic report reviews professional services regulation and proposes a four-pronged strategy.
Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan. Jal Jeevan Mission turns seven; rural tap coverage rises from 16.7% to 82%, extended to 2028.
National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH). NCH clarifies homoeopaths can't cross-practise, except in government programmes with recognised training.
Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 and TV Advertisement Cap. Government scraps 12-minute TV ad cap, citing competition, digitisation and level field with digital media.

Economy

CBDC-based Direct Benefit Transfer under PMGKAY

GS3 Economy: digital currency and welfare deliveryGS2 Food securityPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 14 August 2026, the Centre launched CBDC-based Direct Benefit Transfer under PMGKAY in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Food subsidy now goes into beneficiaries' Digital Rupee wallets.
What it is: PMGKAY gives free foodgrains to eligible households under the National Food Security Act. The Digital Rupee (e-rupee) is India's Central Bank Digital Currency, issued by the RBI as legal tender. In this model the food subsidy is credited as purpose-bound tokens in a CBDC wallet and spent at empanelled merchants.

Where launched: Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli are the first State/UT to transfer the subsidy to all eligible PMGKAY beneficiaries as CBDC tokens.
Earlier pilots: Pilots ran in Gujarat (15 Feb 2026) and Puducherry (26 Feb 2026).
Access: Smartphone users pay by QR code; feature-phone users use OTP-based access.
Firsts: It is the first large-scale use of CBDC in Central Government welfare programmes.
JAM base: JAM stands for Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar and mobile phones; the Secretary cited over 59 crore Jan Dhan accounts.
Issuer: The Digital Rupee is issued by the Reserve Bank of India.
Launch date and places: CBDC-based DBT under PMGKAY will start on 14 August 2026 in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
First UTs: They will be the first UTs to transfer food subsidy to all eligible PMGKAY beneficiaries as programmable CBDC tokens.
How it works: Subsidy goes to CBDC wallets instead of bank accounts and is spent on foodgrains at empanelled merchants.
Issuer of CBDC: The Digital Rupee is issued by the Reserve Bank of India as legal tender.

Don’t confuse with CBDC vs UPI: CBDC is legal tender issued by the RBI. UPI is a payment system run by NPCI that moves bank money.

Don’t confuse with PMGKAY vs ONORC: PMGKAY gives free foodgrains. ONORC is portability that lets beneficiaries draw ration anywhere in India.

Don’t confuse with CBDC vs cryptocurrency: CBDC is legal tender backed by the RBI; private cryptocurrencies are not.

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

Test yourselfMains

True or false?

1 of 14

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

1.Under the new system, the food subsidy is credited into the beneficiary's Digital Rupee wallet instead of a conventional bank account.
2.Gujarat and Puducherry were the first places where the CBDC-based food subsidy pilot was run.
3.Feature-phone users cannot use the CBDC-based facility because it needs QR code scanning.
4.The subsidy received in the CBDC wallet is purpose-bound and can be spent on foodgrains at empanelled merchants.
5.The Digital Rupee is issued by the National Payments Corporation of India.
6.The JAM trinity refers to Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar and mobile phones.
7.PMGKAY foodgrains are provided under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
8.Under the new model, eligible PMGKAY beneficiaries receive the food subsidy in their CBDC wallets instead of conventional bank account transfers.
9.Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli are the first Union Territories to transfer PMGKAY food subsidy to all eligible beneficiaries as programmable CBDC tokens.
10.The rollout in these Union Territories follows earlier pilots in Puducherry and Gujarat.
11.The Digital Rupee is issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
12.Beneficiaries can spend the CBDC subsidy only by withdrawing cash from ATMs.
13.The Digital Rupee is a legal tender, a digital form of the Indian rupee issued by the central bank.
14.The release describes the rollout as a proof of concept intended to remain limited to these two Union Territories.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, 14 Aug, 19:04 IST · Release 293514

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026

GS3 Mining, Centre-State fiscal relationsGS2 FederalismPrelims and Mains

Why in news: Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 on 13 August 2026. The Ministry of Mines explained the aim on 14 August 2026: stability in the major minerals sector.
What it is: The MMDR Act, 1957 is the central law for regulating mines and developing minerals in India. It separates major minerals, which the Centre regulates, from minor minerals, which States regulate. The 2026 amendment adds a fiscal layer to this framework by limiting State levies on mineral rights and lands.

New Section 9D: No State may impose a tax, cess or other levy on mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands, except as per conditions the Centre prescribes. This covers levies based on quantity, value, royalty or any other basis.
Past levies: Levies not paid or collected before the amendment applies are treated as invalid. Amounts already deposited or recovered are not refunded.
Section 13 rules: Section 13 is amended so the Centre can make rules prescribing the conditions for State levies.
Minor minerals: Nearly 50 minor minerals such as sand, granite and marble stay fully under State control. The Act does not affect them.
DMFs: District Mineral Foundations collections continue unchanged. The full DMF amount goes to local projects decided by the district administration.
Auction regime: The 2015 amendment ended discretionary allocation of concessions and brought in competitive auction, giving States auction premium.
Passage: Both Houses of Parliament passed the Bill on 13 August 2026.
Revenue split: About 90% of taxes and statutory payments in mining accrue to States, and this continues.
Levies: States levy around 14 types of charges on mining, including royalty, auction premium, dead rent, DMF contribution, GST and transit fee.
Auction premium: Auction premium is the amount quoted by the successful bidder. It became a State revenue source after the auction regime began in 2015.
Imports: India imported minerals worth Rs 10,12,529 crore in FY 2025-26.
Parent Act: Mining is governed by the MMDR Act, 1957, under which the Union controls mine regulation and mineral development.
Mineral-bearing lands: Union control now also covers mineral-bearing lands, identified by parameters the Centre prescribes.
Rule-making: Section 13 is amended so the Centre can make rules prescribing conditions or restrictions for State levies.
Parliamentary status: The bill has been passed by both Houses of Parliament.

Don’t confuse with Major vs minor minerals: Major minerals such as coal and iron ore are regulated by the Centre. Minor minerals such as sand and granite are under States. The 2026 Act affects only the former's fiscal regime.

Don’t confuse with Royalty vs auction premium: Royalty is a statutory payment on mineral produced. Auction premium is the bid amount paid to the State after a block is auctioned.

Don’t confuse with Royalty vs tax on mineral rights: Royalty is paid under the MMDR Act's Second Schedule. The Bill's Section 9D covers levies on mineral rights and lands, including those based on royalty, and subjects them to Centre's conditions.

Don’t confuse with Section 9D vs Section 13: Section 9D restricts State levies. Section 13 is the Centre's rule-making power, amended to prescribe the conditions.

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.

Why it matters

Creates a uniform, predictable tax regime that can lower input costs for steel, cement and power and attract investment.
Supports energy and critical-mineral security by keeping strategic mineral projects viable.
Aims at a predictable fiscal regime for investors, to raise investment in mining and support Atmanirbhar Bharat.
May reduce import dependence, as minerals imports were Rs 10.12 lakh crore in FY 2025-26.
Gives miners predictability and ends retrospective or unpredictable State levies.
Aims at a uniform national fiscal framework, supporting critical mineral security and lower input costs.

Problems

Curbs State fiscal autonomy over taxing mineral lands and rights, raising federalism concerns, especially for mineral-rich States.
Declaring past levies invalid may invite litigation, since it cuts across earlier judicial rulings on State taxing powers.
Federal concern: States may see caps on mineral taxation as intrusion into their fiscal autonomy.
Balancing national market uniformity with State revenue needs and mining-area communities.
Curbs State fiscal autonomy and may affect mineral-rich States' revenue, raising federalism concerns about the Union-State balance.
May face legal challenge over legislative competence, since State taxing powers on mineral rights and lands are in the State List, and over invalidating past levies.

Way forward

Frame the Section 13 rules after consulting States so conditions stay fair and clear.
Protect State revenue and DMF flows, and settle disputes through the Inter-State Council or GST Council-style consultation.
Consult States through forums such as the Inter-State Council or GST Council-type mechanisms on tax limits.
Keep the State revenue share and DMF funds for affected communities protected.
Frame Section 13 rules after consulting States, with clear, transparent limits on levies.
Compensate or share revenue with mineral-bearing States, and use the District Mineral Foundation for affected communities.

Put in your answer

State revenue share: In coal, States received 89.5 percent of the total in 2025-26, up from 55.6 percent in 2014-15.

Import bill: India imported minerals worth ₹10,12,529 crore in FY 2025-26.

State revenue data: Major mining States got over Rs 5 lakh crore in FY 2015-16 to FY 2025-26, against Rs 82,000 crore for the Centre.

Auction premium data: Major mining States collected over Rs 96 thousand crore in auction premium during 2020-21 to 2025-26.

Union control and public interest: Section 2 of the MMDR Act declares Union control of mine regulation and mineral development in the public interest, and the Bill widens it to mineral-bearing lands.

Retrospective levies invalid: The Bill invalidates uncollected past levies but allows no refund of amounts already recovered, a balance between miners and States.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 17

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

1.Under the Act, States may impose levies on mineral rights only as per conditions or restrictions prescribed by the Central Government.
2.The Act requires States to refund all amounts of invalidated levies already collected before its commencement.
3.The power to prescribe conditions for State levies is given to the Central Government by an amendment to Section 13 of the MMDR Act.
4.The Act also brings the taxation of minor minerals such as sand and granite under Central conditions.
5.Under the MMDR Act, 1957, major minerals are regulated by the Centre and minor minerals by the States.
6.The National Critical Mineral Mission was approved in January 2025 with an outlay of ₹16,300 crore including ₹2,600 crore budgetary support.
7.The competitive auction regime for mineral concessions was introduced by the 2015 amendment to the MMDR Act, which gave States auction premium as a new income source.
8.About 90% of total taxes and statutory payments in mining accrue to the States.
9.Auction premium became a State revenue source after the auction regime was introduced in 2015.
10.Contribution to the District Mineral Foundation is among the levies States charge on mining operations.
11.From FY 2015-16 to FY 2025-26, revenue to the Centre from mining exceeded that to the major mining States.
12.The MMDR Act, 1957 is a central law enacted under the Union's power to regulate mines and mineral development in the public interest.
13.Under the MMDR Act, the State governments regulate major minerals, while the Centre regulates minor minerals.
14.The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 is the law governing mining in India.
15.Under the Bill, amounts already recovered by States as levies before commencement must be refunded to miners.
16.Levies not paid or collected by a State before the Amendment applies are treated as invalid.
17.The Union's control over mine regulation and mineral development in the MMDR Act is declared under Section 2.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Mines, 14 Aug, 20:14 IST · Release 293529

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Software Technology Parks (STP) Scheme

GS3 Economy · IT exportsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 12 August 2026, the Electronics and IT Minister told the Lok Sabha that STP units exported an estimated ₹7.73 lakh crore in FY 2025-26. The ministry also listed steps taken to ease approvals for these units.
What it is: The Software Technology Parks (STP) Scheme is a 100% export-oriented scheme for software and IT/ITeS exports. It is run by Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), under the Ministry of Electronics and IT. STPI gives statutory services to registered units through a single-window clearance system.

Nature of scheme: STP is a 100% export-oriented scheme to promote software and IT/ITeS exports from India.
Who runs it: STPI provides statutory services under the scheme through a single-window clearance system. STPI works under the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
Import procedure change: Case-to-case import permissions were replaced by blanket import permissions for the financial year.
DTA sales: Prior DTA permission is replaced by self-declaration, except for advance DTA sales in a unit's first year.
RBI link: STPI's online system for IT exporters is integrated with RBI's EDPMS, so export declaration data reaches RBI in near real time.

Don’t confuse with STP vs SEZ: STP is a scheme for 100% export-oriented IT/ITeS units run by STPI. SEZs are duty-free enclaves treated as foreign territory for trade, governed by the SEZ Act, 2005.

Don’t confuse with STP vs EOU: STP units are a separate scheme for software and IT services, run by STPI. EOUs are a broader export-oriented scheme covering other sectors.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting export-oriented scheme run by STPI, but mostly tabulated data; UPSC rarely asks it (schemes 52 of 327 Prelims questions, fresh-news driven).

Source: PIB, Ministry of Electronics & IT, 14 Aug, 11:49 IST · Release 293475

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Chips to Start-ups (C2S) Programme

GS3 Science & Tech · SemiconductorsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 12 August 2026 the Minister of State for Electronics and IT told the Lok Sabha that over 68,000 students have been trained and 254 chip designs taped out under the C2S Programme. The release was posted on 14 August 2026.
What it is: Chips to Start-ups (C2S) is a Ministry of Electronics and IT programme to build chip design talent and infrastructure in India. It gives academic institutions access to Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools and chip fabrication opportunities, so students can design and test chips.

Target: The programme aims to produce 85,000 industry-ready people at B.Tech, M.Tech and PhD levels in chip design.
Training so far: More than 68,000 students have been trained.
Tape-outs: 254 chip designs have been taped out: 175 at the 180 nm node at SCL Mohali and 79 at overseas foundries.
Purpose: It addresses the workforce talent gap and the lack of chip design infrastructure.
Implementing ministry: The programme is run under the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

Don’t confuse with C2S vs Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme: C2S builds academic talent and design infrastructure. The DLI scheme gives financial incentives to chip design start-ups and companies.

Don’t confuse with Tape-out vs fabrication: Tape-out is the final design submission sent to a foundry. Fabrication is the manufacture of the chip that follows.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting semiconductor skilling programme with targets (85,000 manpower); useful context, but no strong Prelims hook beyond semicon items already on file.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Electronics & IT, 14 Aug, 13:24 IST · Release 293481

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

IRDAI and Bima Bharosa Grievance Portal

GS3 Economy · InsuranceGS2 GovernancePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 14 August 2026, the Department of Financial Services (Ministry of Finance) outlined how policyholders can seek redress of insurance grievances, first from the insurer and then through IRDAI's Bima Bharosa portal.
What it is: IRDAI is the statutory regulator of the insurance sector in India. It protects policyholders' interests and regulates the industry. Bima Bharosa is its integrated portal for registering and monitoring policyholder grievances across insurers.

First step: Complainants must first approach the grievance cell of the insurer concerned before going to IRDAI.
Insurer's nodal officer: The Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO) is the nodal officer for handling grievances at the insurer level.
Board-level committee: Every insurer has a PPGR & CM Committee at Board level to ensure efficient grievance redressal.
Integration: Insurers' Complaints Management Systems are linked with the Bima Bharosa Portal.
Time limit: Insurers must acknowledge a complaint immediately and resolve it within 14 days.
IRDAI call centre: The IRDAI call centre has toll-free numbers and works in 12 languages.

Don’t confuse with IRDAI vs Insurance Ombudsman: IRDAI is the regulator and runs Bima Bharosa. The Insurance Ombudsman is a separate forum under the Insurance Ombudsman Rules, 2017, which hears complaints that remain unresolved at the insurer level.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Statutory regulator and grievance system worth knowing; facts are few and UPSC rarely asks statutory bodies (7 of 327 Prelims).

Source: PIB, Ministry of Finance, 14 Aug, 15:15 IST · Release 293490

Issue page →

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

Report or index

NITI Aayog Services Thematic Series: Professional Services Report

GS3 Economy · Services sectorPrelims and Mains

Why in news: NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri launched the third report of the Services Thematic Series on 10 August 2026; the release was posted on 14 August 2026. It reviews the regulatory regime in professional services.
What it is: The Services Thematic Series is a set of NITI Aayog reports on India's services sector. This third report studies the rules governing professional services and compares them with select foreign jurisdictions. It draws on stakeholder consultations to identify challenges and a way forward.

Report: Third report under the Services Thematic Series, titled 'India's Services Sector: Insights on Regulatory Regime in Professional Services'.
Publisher and launch forum: Published by NITI Aayog and launched at the High-Powered 'Education to Employment and Enterprise' Standing Committee.
Export share: Professional services account for nearly a quarter of India's total services exports.
Method: The report assesses India's regulatory framework and benchmarks it against select foreign jurisdictions, using stakeholder consultations.
Four-pronged strategy: Harness emerging trends, elevate professional services in the value chain, adopt best practices, and promote continuous professional development.

Don’t confuse with NITI Aayog vs MOSPI: NITI Aayog is the government's policy think tank and published the report. MOSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) produces official statistics; its Secretary attended the launch.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Policy report with challenges and way forward; useful for Mains context, but reports reach Prelims rarely (14 of 327) and this one is niche.

Source: PIB, NITI Aayog, 14 Aug, 17:13 IST · Release 293500

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: 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 14 August 2026, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said Jal Jeevan Mission completes seven years on 15 August 2026, with rural tap coverage at 82.24% of households. The Mission has been extended till December 2028.
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, 14 Aug, 17:35 IST · Release 293502

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH)

GS2 Health · RegulationPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 14 August 2026, the National Commission for Homoeopathy clarified that homoeopathic practitioners may not practise other systems of medicine, except under government health programmes after recognised training.
What it is: The National Commission for Homoeopathy is the statutory regulator of homoeopathy education and practice in India. It was set up under the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020, replacing the Central Council of Homoeopathy. It frames regulations on professional conduct, courses and standards.

Core rule: A homoeopathic practitioner shall not practise any system of medicine other than homoeopathy.
Exception (proviso): The restriction does not bar practice under a National Health Programme or another Central or State Government programme, if the practitioner has completed training recognised or prescribed by the competent authority.
BHMS regulation: Sub-regulation (7) of Regulation 14 of the BHMS Regulations, 2022 recognises the role of homoeopathic graduates in Government health facilities and National Health Programmes.
Legal basis: The NCH is a statutory body created by the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020, which replaced the Central Council of Homoeopathy.

Don’t confuse with NCH vs NCISM: NCH regulates homoeopathy; the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) regulates Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa. Both were created in 2020.

Don’t confuse with NCH vs NMC: The National Medical Commission regulates modern (allopathic) medicine under the NMC Act, 2019; NCH covers homoeopathy only.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Statutory regulator; clarification on cross-practice under Regulation 36(y) is niche, so UPSC unlikely to set a question (statutory bodies 7 of 327 Prelims).

Source: PIB, AYUSH, 14 Aug, 20:16 IST · Release 293530

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 and TV Advertisement Cap

GS2 Governance · Media regulationGS3 EconomyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 14 August 2026, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting announced that the 12-minute advertisement duration cap for TV channels will be removed. It takes effect once the amendment to the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 is notified in the Gazette.
What it is: The Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 are framed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. They set out the programme and advertising codes for TV channels carried on cable networks. The ad duration cap was added to these rules in 2006 to protect viewers from excessive advertising.

What is removed: The 12-minute limit on advertisement duration for TV channels is being scrapped.
Legal source of the cap: The cap was introduced in 2006 through the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.
When it applies: The change takes effect only on Gazette notification of the amendment to the Rules.
Reason: market change: Channels grew from 62 in 2006 to over 900 now, and all distribution platforms are digital.
Reason: level playing field: Digital media has no ad cap, so TV channels were at a disadvantage.
Parent Act: The Rules are made under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, administered by the Ministry of I&B.

Don’t confuse with Cable TV Rules, 1994 vs Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995: The Act (1995) is the parent law passed by Parliament. The 1994 Rules are subordinate legislation framed by the government, so they can be amended by notification.

Don’t confuse with Ministry of I&B vs TRAI: The ad cap sits in the government's Rules. TRAI regulates broadcasting tariffs and interconnection, not these programme and advertising codes.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Government removed the 12-minute ad cap set in 2006 under the 1994 Rules; a regulatory change worth reading, but UPSC has little pattern of asking media rules.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, 14 Aug, 20:39 IST · Release 293532

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

Logistics Data Bank, launched in 2016, has tracked 10 crore EXIM containers using RFID.
MoD signed Rs 1,577 crore contracts with Tata Advanced Systems and NIBE for Loiter Munition Systems for the Army, under Buy (Indian) via Fast Track Procedure.

Source: PIB, 14 Aug

What we left out: 51 of 62 releases

Speeches without a decision (6)
Awards and honour lists (10)
Ceremonies and campaigns (10)
Routine programme data (2)
Routine data releases (1)
Routine arrests and seizures (1)
Same issue as another release (5)
Routine drive tests (1)
Events and meets (1)
Ship visits and exercises (1)
Independence Day backgrounders (5)
Small MoUs (1)
Visit schedules (1)
Internal programmes (1)
Consultations and meetings (1)
Webinars and open houses (1)
Greetings messages (1)
Reviews without a decision (1)
Company announcements (1)

Practise the day’s news

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

1CBDC-based Direct Benefit Transfer under PMGKAYMCQ · 14 true or false
2Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026MCQ · 17 true or false · Mains
3Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal ArpanMCQ · 56 true or false · Mains

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

The Centre has launched a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Direct Benefit Transfer for food subsidy under PMGKAY in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, after pilots in Gujarat and Puducherry. Examine the features of this model and discuss its significance and the challenges in scaling it up as a way of delivering welfare benefits in India.

From: CBDC-based Direct Benefit Transfer under PMGKAY

Write and get it marked

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