Current Affairs, 17 August 2026

Run by

UDISE+ is developed and run by the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education.

Launch

UDISE+ was launched in 2018–19 as a data platform for evidence-based planning and monitoring.

Pupil–teacher ratio

The overall PTR is 24:1, within the NEP 2020 benchmark of 30:1.

Weak schools

Single-teacher schools fell about 3% to 1,00,843. Zero-enrolment schools fell 29% to 5,663.

Digital access

Schools with computers rose to 69.9% and with internet to 67.4%.

Proposed widening

The Additional Secretary spoke of tracking students' learning outcomes and dropouts through the APAAR ID.

Integration through API

DoSEL stressed linking other portals to UDISE+ through API to reduce the reporting burden on schools.

AI use being explored

Ideas include automated data flagging, smart verification queues, an AI helpdesk and automated school report cards.

Data covered

The data cover school infrastructure, student enrolment and teacher profiles.

Don’t confuse with PTR vs GER: PTR is students per teacher at a stage. GER is total enrolment at a stage as a share of the official age group population, and can exceed 100%.

Don’t confuse with Dropout vs retention vs transition: Dropout is the share leaving school. Retention is the share staying to a stage. Transition is the share moving from one stage to the next.

Don’t confuse with UDISE+ vs APAAR ID: UDISE+ is the school data system. APAAR ID is a student identifier that is proposed to be used with it to track students.

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

1. 2020Mains GS2 · Q18Critically examine NEP 2020's conformity with SDG-4 and restructuring intent
2. 2020Mains GS1 · Q20How have digital initiatives contributed to functioning of India's education system?
3. 2020Mains GS4 · Q1Examine NEP 2020 as a tool for all-round development and social transformation
4. 2017Prelims Q88Purpose of Vidyanjali Yojana: private and community support for school education
5. 2025Prelims Q6615th Finance Commission recommendations on grants for educational outcomes

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

Legal basis

It is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, which governs cooperatives working in more than one state.

Founders

Eight national cooperative institutions set it up on 6 June 2025, including NCDC, IFFCO, NABARD, KRIBHCO, Amul, NAFED, NDDB and NCEL.

Earnings model

It is zero-commission and surge-free, with a subscription-based model so drivers keep full fares.

Scale

As of 25 July 2026 it had nearly 8 lakh registered drivers and about 41 lakh customers.

Don’t confuse with Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 vs Cooperative Societies Acts of states: The 2002 Act covers societies whose members and operations span more than one state. Other cooperatives are governed by state laws.

Don’t confuse with e-Shram vs AB-PMJAY: e-Shram is a database of unorganised workers under the Labour Ministry. AB-PMJAY is a health insurance scheme; registration on e-Shram helps access it.

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

1. 2014Mains GS3 · Q4Cooperative society as village credit body; agri finance constraints.
2. 2021Mains GS1 · Q10Role of gig economy in empowering women in India.
3. 2020Prelims Q59Statements on DCCBs' short-term agri credit and role funding PACS.

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

Event

India spoke at the Ministerial Dialogue on 'Accelerating Drought Resilience' at the 17th CoP of the UNCCD, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

India's core position

India wants drought treated as a predictable, preventable risk rather than a recurring disaster needing emergency response.

Early warning approach

Rainfall monitoring and satellite-based drought assessments trigger preparedness at inter-ministerial and State levels.

Watershed approach

A pan-India watershed programme treats degraded rainfed lands using a ridge-to-valley approach, with community institutions and convergence with rural employment programmes.

UNCCD background

The UNCCD was adopted in 1994 and came into force in 1996. India is a party and hosted CoP14 in 2019 at Greater Noida.

Launch venue

The Guide was launched at a side event of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on 17.08.2026.

Who produced it

ATREE organised the publication with IUCN, CoE-SLM, ICFRE and ISRO's Space Applications Centre, under MoEF&CC guidance.

Content

It covers geography, ecology, biodiversity and associated communities, with thematic sections on pastoralism, fire ecology and carbon sequestration.

Range of ONEs

India's ONEs run from Himalayan and Terai grasslands to the Thar and Banni landscapes, Deccan savannas, rocky plateaus, ravines and coastal ecosystems.

Link to LDN

Restoring grasslands and ONEs is discussed as a way to meet India's Land Degradation Neutrality targets.

UNCCD

The UNCCD, adopted in 1994, is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.

Don’t confuse with UNCCD vs UNFCCC vs CBD: UNCCD deals with desertification, land degradation and drought. UNFCCC deals with climate change. CBD deals with biodiversity. All three are Rio Conventions of 1992 origin, though UNCCD was adopted in 1994.

Environment: Prelims tests bodies, programmes and the law behind them; Mains asks why plans fall short.

1. 2020Mains GS1 · Q5Justify that desertification has no climatic boundaries, with examples
2. 2026Mains GS1 · Q6Discuss the role of aeolian processes in desertification and land degradation
3. 2026Mains GS1 · Q17Drivers of human-induced land-use change in India and consequences
4. 2013Prelims Q22Why trees don't replace grasses in grassland ecological succession
5. 2016Prelims Q13Importance of UNCCD: its aims, South Asia and North Africa focus, bottom-up approach
6. 2014Prelims Q78Which listed international agreements include the UN Convention to Combat Desertification

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

Coverage

NICDP covers 20 approved projects in 13 States across 7 Industrial Corridors.

Smart cities in production

Dholera, Shendra-Bidkin, Greater Noida and Vikram Udyogpuri have reached the production stage.

NICDIT

NICDIT is a Trust of the Government of India under DPIIT for coordinated development of industrial corridors. Under BHAVYA, central equity and SPV participation is routed through it.

NICDC

NICDC is an SPV under DPIIT that develops corridor projects. It is the Project Management Agency for BHAVYA.

Don’t confuse with NICDIT vs NICDC: NICDIT is the Trust that supports trunk infrastructure and routes central equity. NICDC is the SPV that develops projects and coordinates with States.

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

1. 2018Mains GS1 · Q16Significance of industrial corridors in India; explain their main characteristics.
2. 2016Mains GS1 · Q11Quality of urban life background; objectives and strategy of Smart City Programme.
3. 2015Mains GS3 · Q10Issues plaguing SEZs' success regarding taxation, governing laws, administration.

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