UPSC current affairs · Thursday

Current Affairs, 18 June 2026

6 issues picked from 58 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 Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Centre targets 26,474 km rural roads in 2026-27; urges States to speed up and adopt e-MARG.
PM-KISAN. 23rd PM-KISAN instalment on 20 June 2026; PMFBY, AgriStack, NMNF and PMDDKY also start in West Bengal.
Post-Matric and Pre-Matric Scholarship Schemes for SCs. DBT-led SC scholarship releases hit record highs; beneficiary numbers rise sharply in April-May 2026.
Smart Warehousing System for Foodgrain Storage. AI and IoT-based smart warehousing launched in CWC and FCI foodgrain depots to cut losses and improve transparency.
PARIVARTAN Scheme (Delhi-NCR vehicle replacement). Tata Motors joins PARIVARTAN, offering 8% discount on new trucks and buses in Delhi-NCR.
Price Support Scheme (PSS) and MSP for Copra. Centre approves PSS procurement of moong, urad and groundnut at MSP in four states.

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

GS2 Welfare schemesGS3 InfrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 18 June 2026, the Rural Development Secretary reviewed PMGSY and RCPLWEA progress with 12 States. The Centre has earmarked ₹18,907 crore for 26,474 km of rural roads in FY 2026-27.
What it is: PMGSY is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development, launched in December 2000. It aims to give all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitations. It is run by States through State Rural Roads Development Agencies, with technical support from NRIDA.

FY 2026-27 target: ₹18,907 crore is earmarked for 26,474 km of rural roads under PMGSY and related initiatives.
RCPLWEA: The Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas was reviewed along with PMGSY because of its strategic importance in LWE districts.
PM-JANMAN and PVTGs: States were told to finish remaining unconnected habitations under PMGSY-I and PM-JANMAN, with attention to PVTG habitations.
e-MARG: e-MARG is the Electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads platform. It allows real-time monitoring of maintenance, performance assessment and payment tracking.
Implementing agencies: State Rural Roads Development Agencies implement the scheme. NRIDA is the national agency coordinating it with States and the Ministry.
Launch: PMGSY was launched in December 2000 as a centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development.
Event: The silver jubilee of PMGSY and the national launch of PMGSY-IV will be held on 10 May at Bhairunda, Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh.
PM-JANMAN roads: Over 384 km of road projects under PM-JANMAN will be approved, benefiting 168 backward habitations.
Nature of scheme: PMGSY is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development, launched in December 2000.
Implementation: States implement it through State Rural Roads Development Agencies, with technical support from NRIDA.
Odisha PMGSY-IV package: 827 road projects covering 1,701.84 km will be taken up at a cost of Rs 1,698.04 crore.
Habitations covered: 898 habitations will get all-weather road connectivity for the first time.
Odisha's progress so far: Under PMGSY components, 17,963 roads (74,725 km) and 707 bridges are sanctioned in Odisha; 17,760 roads (71,742 km) and 658 bridges are completed.
Nodal ministry and launch year: PMGSY is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development, launched in December 2000.
Extension: PMGSY-III is continued beyond March 2025 up to March 2028.
Focus of PMGSY-III: It consolidates Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to GrAMs, Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.
Outlay: The outlay is revised to Rs 83,977 crore from Rs 80,250 crore.
Bridges in hilly areas: Bridges in hilly areas get more time, till March 2029.
Long Span Bridges: 161 Long Span Bridges costing Rs 961 crore on alignments of sanctioned roads may be sanctioned and tendered.
Launch and agency: PMGSY was launched in December 2000 under the Ministry of Rural Development; NRIDA gives technical support.

Don’t confuse with PMGSY vs RCPLWEA: PMGSY is the general rural roads scheme. RCPLWEA is a separate project for roads in Left Wing Extremism affected areas.

Don’t confuse with NRIDA vs SRRDA: NRIDA is the national agency supporting the scheme. SRRDAs are State-level agencies that execute it.

Don’t confuse with PMGSY vs PM-JANMAN: PMGSY gives rural road connectivity; PM-JANMAN is a separate mission for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, with roads as one component.

Don’t confuse with PMGSY vs Bharatmala: PMGSY covers rural roads under the Rural Development Ministry; Bharatmala deals with national highways under the Road Transport Ministry.

Don’t confuse with PMGSY vs PMAY-G: PMGSY gives road connectivity to habitations. PMAY-G gives pucca houses to rural poor households. Both are Rural Development Ministry schemes.

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

All-weather roads link villages to markets, schools and health care, which supports rural incomes and inclusion.
Roads in LWE and tribal areas extend State presence and services to remote habitations.
All-weather roads improve rural access to markets, schools and health care.
Connectivity helps include remote and backward habitations in development.
All-weather roads link remote habitations to schools, hospitals and markets, and support local trade and jobs.
Better rural roads improve market access, cut transport time and costs, and raise farm incomes.
Better access to schools and hospitals helps remote areas.

Problems

Delays from land acquisition and forest clearance slow projects.
Roads can deteriorate without proper quality control and maintenance.
Maintenance of roads after construction and quality control remain concerns.
Difficult terrain and delays in clearances slow work in remote areas.
Quality and maintenance of roads, especially in hilly, forested and flood-prone tribal areas, can lag behind construction.
Delays in awarding works led to repeated timeline extensions and cost revision.
Hilly terrain makes bridges slower to build.

Way forward

Use digital tools such as e-MARG for monitoring and payment tracking, and strengthen field inspections.
Fast-track DPRs and clearances, and coordinate Centre, States and NRIDA.
Use new technology and better materials for durable, climate-resilient roads.
Strengthen quality monitoring and funded maintenance by States.
Strengthen quality monitoring and long-term maintenance, with convergence with local planning, so that roads stay usable in all seasons.
Faster tendering and monitoring to meet the new deadlines.
Focus on road quality and maintenance along with new construction.

Put in your answer

e-MARG: Example of digital governance improving transparency and accountability in rural road maintenance.

FY 2026-27 allocation: Data point: ₹18,907 crore earmarked for 26,474 km of rural roads.

PMGSY-IV allocation 2026-27: Rs 18,907 crore announced for PMGSY for 2026-27, to support rural connectivity.

Odisha PMGSY progress: 17,760 of 17,963 sanctioned roads in Odisha are complete, showing high delivery under the scheme.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 11

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

1.PMGSY was launched in December 2000 as a centrally sponsored scheme.
2.PMGSY is administered by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
3.The national launch of PMGSY-IV and the silver jubilee event of PMGSY is scheduled at Bhairunda in Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh.
4.An allocation of Rs 18,907 crore for PMGSY has been announced for the financial year 2026-27.
5.PMGSY is implemented directly by NRIDA, without any State-level agencies.
6.PMGSY-III has been extended up to March 2028.
7.PMGSY-III consolidates Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets, Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.
8.The revised outlay of PMGSY-III is Rs 80,250 crore.
9.The Cabinet allowed 161 Long Span Bridges lying on alignments of already sanctioned roads to be sanctioned and tendered.
10.PMGSY was launched in December 2000 as a scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development.
11.PMGSY is implemented directly by the Union Ministry, with no role for State agencies.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Rural Development, 18 Jun, 10:34 IST · Release 290170

Issue page →

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

Scheme

PM-KISAN

GS3 Agriculture - Farmer supportGS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 18 June 2026 the government said the PM will release the 23rd PM-KISAN instalment on 20 June 2026 from Tarakeswar, Hooghly, West Bengal. Over Rs 18,880 crore will go to more than 9.44 crore farmers.
What it is: PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) is an income support scheme for landholding farmer families, launched on 24 February 2019. It gives ₹6,000 a year in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts. It is a Central Sector scheme fully funded by the Centre, with States identifying beneficiaries.

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

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

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

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

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

Why it matters

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

Problems

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

Way forward

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

Put in your answer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 32

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

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

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 18 Jun, 16:06 IST · Release 290190

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Post-Matric and Pre-Matric Scholarship Schemes for SCs

GS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 18 June 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment reported record Central releases for SC scholarships in FY 2025-26 and a sharp rise in beneficiaries in April-May 2026.
What it is: The Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Schemes for SCs give financial aid to Scheduled Caste students from low-income families to stay in school and pursue higher education. They are run by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment as Centrally Sponsored Schemes, with costs shared between the Centre and States. Money is paid by Direct Benefit Transfer into students' bank accounts.

Domicile certificate: The domicile certificate is no longer required to apply under these scholarship schemes. It was earlier an essential requirement.
Beneficiaries: Nearly 1.2 crore students receive scholarship benefits every year under the Pre-Matric and Post-Matric schemes for SCs and OBCs.
SETU portal: SETU stands for Scholarship for Educational Transformation and Upliftment. It is hosted on the UMANG platform as a single window for scholarship services.
Users of SETU: SETU gives one interface to applicants, Institutional Nodal Officers, District Nodal Officers and State officials, for registration, tracking and validation.
Who benefits from the reform: Students who study in institutions outside their home States gain, as they no longer need a domicile certificate.
DBT start dates: DBT was introduced in Post-Matric in 2021-22 and in Pre-Matric in 2022-23.
Mode of payment: Funds go directly to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of beneficiaries.
Pre-Matric beneficiary growth: Beneficiaries in April-May rose from 2.36 lakh (2025) to 5.75 lakh (2026), about 143.64 percent.

Don’t confuse with Domicile certificate vs caste certificate: A domicile certificate shows State of residence. A caste certificate shows SC status. This reform removes only the domicile requirement.

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 welfare schemes with DBT figures. Scheme questions are 16% of news-linked Prelims questions; these facts are mostly routine data.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 18 Jun, 16:27 IST · Release 290192

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Smart Warehousing System for Foodgrain Storage

GS3 Food storage and technologyGS2 PDSPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 18 June 2026, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the Smart Warehousing System for foodgrain storage at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The best 20 CWC and FCI warehouses under the Depot Darpan framework were also felicitated.
What it is: The Smart Warehousing System is a Department of Food and Public Distribution platform that puts AI and IoT tools into public sector foodgrain warehouses. It covers gate automation, access control, bag counting, environment monitoring and surveillance. It supports the storage end of the food security chain that feeds the Public Distribution System.

Launched by: The Department of Food and Public Distribution launched it, with Pralhad Joshi inaugurating it at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Coverage: It is implemented in 215 bag-based CWC warehouses. FCI is deploying it in 150 more.
Technologies: It uses FASTag and ANPR gate automation, geo-tagged smart locks, AI bag counting, face recognition, object detection, IoT environment monitoring, and AI surveillance for fire, smoke and rodents.
Expected benefits: Lower vehicle turnaround time, more transparency, better compliance monitoring, early hazard detection and real-time visibility.
Depot Darpan: It is an assessment framework used to identify the best performing CWC and FCI warehouses; 20 were felicitated.
PDS reach: The Minister said PDS covers over 80 crore beneficiaries.

Don’t confuse with CWC vs FCI: FCI procures, stores and distributes foodgrain for the central pool. CWC is a warehousing corporation that provides storage.

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: New AI and IoT system across 215 CWC warehouses is on the syllabus, but few stable facts for a Prelims statement.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, 18 Jun, 18:44 IST · Release 290212

Issue page →

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

Scheme

PARIVARTAN Scheme (Delhi-NCR vehicle replacement)

GS3 Environment and pollutionGS2 Government schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 18 June 2026, MoRTH signed an MoU with Tata Motors under the Delhi-NCR old truck and bus replacement scheme. Ashok Leyland and Switch Mobility had signed earlier that week.
What it is: PARIVARTAN is a Cabinet-approved scheme to replace over 2 lakh old trucks and buses meeting BS-IV or older norms in Delhi and NCR districts of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Owners get loan, tax, price and fuel or cash incentives to buy BS-VI or electric vehicles. The aim is to cut transport air pollution and emissions.

Event: MoRTH and the Delhi Government hold the Mela at the Vehicle Inspection Unit near DTO Burari, North Delhi, on 28 October 2026.
Participants: OEMs and dealers, scrapping facilities (RVSFs), banks, NBFCs, oil marketing companies and city gas distribution entities will give guidance on scrapping, finance, purchase and fuel benefits.
Incentives: Minimum 8% OEM discount, 5% interest subvention on loans, 100% road tax concession for 10 years, one-time EV benefits, monthly fuel vouchers and registration fee waiver, as applicable.
Registrations: About 40,000 beneficiaries have registered on the PARIVARTAN portal so far.
Funding and implementation: Funded through NCRPB under MoHUA; implemented by MoRTH.
Outlay: Total outlay ₹9,585 crore, of which ₹5,041 crore is central budgetary support.
Fuel vouchers / EV incentive: BS-VI diesel/CNG buyers get monthly fuel vouchers of ₹1,200-4,800 for five years; EV buyers get a one-time ₹64,000 to ₹2.56 lakh.
Implementation and funding: MoRTH is the implementing ministry. Funding is routed through the NCRPB.
Incentive package: Incentives include 5% interest subvention on loans, a minimum 8% OEM discount, tax concessions, registration fee waivers, fuel vouchers and one-time aid for electric vehicles and CoD trading.
State notifications: Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi notified a ten-year Motor Vehicle Tax concession and registration fee waiver.
OEM MoUs: 11 OEMs with over 95% of commercial vehicle market share signed MoUs with MoRTH to give the discount.
Digital platform: An integrated platform links VAHAN, V-Scrap, DigiELV, PFMS, lenders and fuel voucher systems.
OEM discount: Under the MoU, DICV will give an 8 per cent discount on the ex-showroom price of eligible trucks and buses.
Electric vehicle cap: For electric vehicles, the discount is capped at the discount for an ICE vehicle of the same GVW category.
Central support: The Centre gives 5 per cent interest subvention and fixed monthly fuel vouchers for five years.
State support: Participating states give up to 100 per cent motor vehicle tax concession for ten years and waive registration fees.
Manufacturers on board: Ashok Leyland, Switch Mobility, Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra and SML Mahindra signed earlier; together they hold 85% of the truck and bus market.
Tata Motors MoU: MoRTH signed an MoU with Tata Motors for the replacement scheme in the Delhi-NCR region.
Other OEMs: Ashok Leyland and Switch Mobility signed earlier in the week. With Tata, the three hold about 50% of the truck and bus market.
Funding and implementing bodies: Funded through NCRPB under MoHUA; implemented by MoRTH and MoPNG with Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Beneficiaries: About 2.07 lakh owners: 1.91 lakh trucks and 16,329 buses.
Scrapping rule: BS-III or older vehicles must be scrapped at registered facilities; BS-IV vehicles may be scrapped or sold outside NCR in non-NCAP cities or towns.
Central benefits: 5% interest subvention on loans for five years and monthly fuel vouchers up to Rs 4,800.
Monitoring: An Empowered Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary monitors it; District Collectors/Magistrates implement at district level.

Don’t confuse with PARIVARTAN vs Vehicle Scrappage Policy: The national Vehicle Scrappage Policy (2021) sets up scrapping and fitness rules for old vehicles. PARIVARTAN is a Delhi-NCR scheme giving financial incentives for replacing old trucks and buses.

Don’t confuse with PARIVARTAN vs PM E-DRIVE: PARIVARTAN is a Delhi-NCR scheme to replace old BS-IV trucks and buses; PM E-DRIVE is a national scheme promoting electric vehicles.

Don’t confuse with MoHUA vs MoRTH: MoHUA approved the guidelines, but MoRTH implements the scheme.

Don’t confuse with NCRPB vs CAQM: NCRPB is a statutory planning body that channels the funds. It is not the Commission for Air Quality Management.

Don’t confuse with OEM discount vs government incentives: The 8% discount comes from the manufacturer. Interest subvention and fuel vouchers come from the Centre. Tax and registration relief come from states.

Don’t confuse with BS-IV vs BS-VI: These are Bharat Stage emission norms; BS-VI is stricter. India moved directly from BS-IV to BS-VI in 2020.

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

Targets old, high-emitting diesel trucks and buses, a major source of Delhi-NCR air pollution.
Links scrapping, finance and fuel players, which can speed up fleet renewal.
Faster removal of old polluting heavy vehicles can cut transport emissions in the Delhi-NCR airshed.
Targets old, high-emitting heavy vehicles, a major source of NCR transport pollution.
Pairs scrappage with clean-vehicle uptake, supporting BS-VI and EV transition.
Cuts emissions from old heavy vehicles, a major source of Delhi-NCR air pollution.
Pushes adoption of BS-VI and electric commercial vehicles and supports the auto sector.
Faster retirement of BS-IV and older heavy vehicles can cut particulate and NOx emissions in the NCR.
Manufacturer participation lowers buyer cost and speeds up the shift to BS-VI and electric vehicles.
Targets a big pollution source: trucks and buses are 36% of transport PM2.5 with 3% of the fleet.
Combines Centre, State and manufacturer incentives, which makes replacement more affordable for owners.
Supports the shift to BS-VI and electric vehicles and formal scrapping.

Problems

Small truck and bus owners may find upfront costs and paperwork hard even with subsidies.
Low uptake: about 40,000 registrations so far against a target of over 2 lakh vehicles.
Owners of old commercial vehicles may find the upfront cost and loan access hard despite incentives.
Scheme covers only NCR, so older vehicles may shift to other regions.
Small truck and bus owners may find it hard to finance replacement even with subsidies.
Depends on consistent state action and on scrapping old vehicles properly rather than reselling them elsewhere.
Smaller owners may find the cost of a new vehicle hard to meet even with incentives.
Success depends on states giving tax and fee relief, and on scrapping the old vehicles rather than reselling them elsewhere.
Small fleet owners may still struggle with the upfront cost even after the discounts.
Success depends on states offering tax and fee relief and on scrapping old vehicles properly.
Small truck operators may still find the upfront cost and loan access hard even with incentives.
Sale of BS-IV vehicles outside NCR may only move pollution to other cities.
Vehicles are only one source; dust, biomass burning and industry also drive NCR pollution.

Way forward

Run outreach camps and simplify the portal to raise registrations.
Expand charging and clean-fuel infrastructure so replacement vehicles are practical.
Strengthen scrapping and registration checks so replaced vehicles leave the road.
Expand charging and CNG infrastructure along freight corridors.
Ensure transparent digital delivery and verified scrapping through V-Scrap and DigiELV.
Expand charging and clean-fuel infrastructure for electric and CNG replacements.
Ensure certified scrapping and tracking of replaced vehicles.
Build charging infrastructure and easy finance for small operators.
Ensure verified scrapping of old vehicles through registered scrapping facilities.
Expand charging infrastructure and bring more manufacturers into the scheme.
Strengthen scrapping and vehicle-testing infrastructure and enforce against old vehicles.
Expand EV charging and CNG supply along freight corridors.
Use the digital portal to track real emission cuts and pair the scheme with action on other pollution sources.

Put in your answer

Incentive package: Cite the mix of OEM discount, interest subvention and road tax concession as an example of demand-side incentives for cleaner transport.

Outlay: Rs 9,585 crore total, with Rs 5,041 crore from the Centre.

Industry buy-in: 11 OEMs with over 95% of commercial vehicle market share signed MoUs.

Incentive design: The scheme combines OEM discount, central interest subvention and fuel vouchers, and state tax relief, an example of centre-state-industry cooperation on air pollution.

Layered incentive design: The scheme combines OEM discount, central interest subvention and fuel vouchers, and state tax waivers, a useful example of cooperative federalism in pollution control.

Transport share of NCR pollution: ARAI-TERI 2018 source apportionment: transport contributes 14% of PM2.5, 40% of CO and 63% of NOx in Delhi-NCR.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 19

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

1.The scheme targets replacement of trucks and buses conforming to BS-IV or older norms.
2.The scheme is funded through the National Capital Region Planning Board under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
3.The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
4.Eligible buyers get a 100% road tax waiver for 10 years.
5.Buyers of electric vehicles receive monthly fuel vouchers for five years.
6.Participating OEMs are to give a discount of at least 8% on the ex-showroom price.
7.The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the implementing ministry for the PARIVARTAN Scheme.
8.Funding for the scheme is routed through the Central Pollution Control Board.
9.The scheme provides a 5% interest subvention on loans taken to buy replacement vehicles.
10.The scheme has a total outlay of Rs 9,585 crore, including central budgetary support of Rs 5,041 crore.
11.The states granted Motor Vehicle Tax concession for five years under the scheme.
12.The scheme's digital platform is to interface with VAHAN and the Public Financial Management System.
13.The scheme is implemented mainly by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
14.Owners of BS-IV trucks and buses may either scrap them or sell them outside NCR in non-NCAP cities or towns.
15.The Centre provides a 5% interest subvention on loans for five years under the scheme.
16.State governments may give up to 100% motor vehicle tax concession on used replacement vehicles.
17.Participating vehicle manufacturers are to offer an 8% discount on ex-showroom prices.
18.In Delhi, buses bought under the scheme may be BS-VI diesel or CNG.
19.The Empowered Committee monitoring the scheme is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, 18 Jun, 19:02 IST · Release 290215

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Price Support Scheme (PSS) and MSP for Copra

GS3 Agriculture · PricingPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 18 June 2026, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved MSP procurement of moong, urad and groundnut under the Price Support Scheme in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Haryana.
What it is: The Price Support Scheme (PSS) lets the Centre buy pulses, oilseeds and copra from farmers at MSP when market prices fall below it. Copra is bought through central nodal agencies on a state's proposal. The Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) covers perishable horticultural crops not under MSP, with a market intervention price and losses shared between Centre and state.

Copra quantity: Approved procurement is 87,226 MT: 87,000 MT milling copra and 226 MT ball copra.
Trigger: The approval followed a proposal from the Tamil Nadu government.
MSP basis: MSP is announced by the Centre on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
Crops approved: Uttar Pradesh gets approval for moong, urad and groundnut. Gujarat, Haryana and Tamil Nadu get approval for moong only.
Uttar Pradesh package: The approvals for Uttar Pradesh have a total MSP value of over ₹1,490 crore, the largest among the four states.
Nature of scheme: PSS is run by the Centre through central nodal agencies, and procurement of a crop happens when market prices fall below MSP.

Don’t confuse with PSS vs MIS: PSS buys crops that have an MSP (pulses, oilseeds, copra) at MSP. MIS buys perishable horticultural crops without MSP at a market intervention price, on a state's request.

Don’t confuse with Milling copra vs ball copra: Both are forms of copra with separate MSPs. Milling copra is used for oil extraction; ball copra is mostly for edible use.

Don’t confuse with PSS vs PDPS: Under PSS the government physically procures the crop. Under the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme, the farmer is paid the difference between MSP and the market price without procurement.

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 scheme; the release gives state-wise procurement approvals, which are routine data. Schemes are 16% of news-linked Prelims questions.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 18 Jun, 21:08 IST · Release 290222

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

India hosts the first BRICS MSME Forum and third SME Working Group meeting in Agra on 19 June 2026 under its BRICS chairship.
ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad, developed a patented biopolymer-based smart seed coating that carries microbes and nutrients to the seed.
The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission took part in the 16th International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias in Brasília, coordinated by WHO.
The first of six indigenous Air Cushion Vehicles built by Chowgule & Company was inducted into the Indian Coast Guard in Goa on 18 June 2026.
Exercise Khaan Quest, a multilateral UN peacekeeping exercise, runs 20 June-3 July 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; India sends 40 troops, mainly from the JAT Regiment.
The Qadian-Beas new rail line in Punjab is a 39.68 km broad-gauge project costing about ₹1,400 crore, built by Northern Railway.
GeM signed a new MoU with CSC-SPV on 18 June 2026 to set up 50 GeM Suvidha Kendras on a pilot basis to help sellers.

Source: PIB, 18 Jun

What we left out: 45 of 58 releases

Speeches without a decision (16)
Condolences and tributes (2)
Visits and reviews (8)
Same issue as another release (3)
Ceremonies and campaigns (10)
Government achievement summaries (2)
Routine research findings (1)
Webinars and workshops (2)
Routine briefings (1)

Practise the day’s news

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

1Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)MCQ · 11 true or false
2PM-KISANMCQ · 32 true or false
3PARIVARTAN Scheme (Delhi-NCR vehicle replacement)MCQ · 19 true or false · Mains

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