All days

UPSC current affairs · Sunday

Current Affairs, 2 August 2026

4 issues picked from 40 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

  1. Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY). Cabinet-approved PM-SSY backs 5,000 MW floating solar with storage, outlay ₹5,070 crore, FY27-FY31.
  2. National Biodiversity Authority and Access and Benefit Sharing. NBA shares Rs 8.22 crore rice ABS payment with research institutions and States.
  3. Drug-free India Roadmap 2026-2029. PM launches a 100-week national anti-drug youth campaign, scaled up from a Kashi pilot.
  4. Ujh Multipurpose Project. Ujh project on Ravi tributary to be built in phases, with land acquisition continuing alongside.
1

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY)

GS3 Energy - Renewable energyGS3 Environment and climatePrelims and Mains

Why in news
On 31 July 2026 the Government approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) for 5,000 MW of floating solar with energy storage; PIB explained it on 2 August 2026.
What it is
PM-SSY is a central scheme to build floating solar photovoltaic plants on existing reservoirs and industrial ponds, paired with co-located battery storage. It aims to save land and improve grid reliability while building domestic manufacturing of floats, cells, modules and storage.
Storage
Storage must be at least two hours, equal to 10,000 MWh, to help states manage peak demand.
Outlay and period
₹5,070 crore, implemented over FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.
Basis
Based on a National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) assessment estimating about 102.18 GWp floating solar potential.
Eligibility
All States and Union Territories can benefit.
Target capacity
5,000 MW of floating solar with co-located storage of at least two hours, i.e. 10,000 MWh.
Outlay
Total outlay is Rs.5,070 crore.
Timeline
Projects are sanctioned from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31; payments continue up to FY 2032-33.

Don’t confuse with PM-SSY vs PM-KUSUM vs PM Surya Ghar: PM-SSY is floating solar on water bodies with storage; PM-KUSUM covers farm solar pumps and feeder solarisation; PM Surya Ghar is household rooftop solar.

Don’t confuse with PM-SSY vs PM-KUSUM: PM-SSY funds floating solar with storage on water bodies. PM-KUSUM supports solar pumps and farm-linked solar for farmers.

Don’t confuse with FSPV vs ground-mounted solar: Floating solar sits on water bodies and saves land; ground-mounted plants need land.

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

Test yourselfMains

Source: PIB Headquarters, 2 Aug, 11:55 IST · Release 292537

Issue page →

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

2

Law and statutory body

National Biodiversity Authority and Access and Benefit Sharing

GS3 Environment · BiodiversityGS2 Statutory bodiesPrelims and Mains

Why in news
On 2 August 2026, the National Biodiversity Authority released Rs 8.22 crore in access and benefit-sharing (ABS) money from a seed company's use of Indian rice varieties. It went to three research institutions and 33 State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils.
What it is
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is a statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, headquartered in Chennai. It regulates access to India's biological resources and associated knowledge by commercial users and foreign entities. Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) requires users to share benefits with the providers and local communities, in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol.
Amount and recipients
Rs 1.19 crore went to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one UT Biodiversity Council.
Basis of allocation
Because resources were bought through markets or traders, individual benefit claimers could not be identified. Shares were set in proportion to estimated cultivation areas.
Use of funds
Funds must be used only for activities under Section 32(2) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Legal basis and seat
NBA was set up under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and is headquartered in Chennai.
COP 17
COP 17 of the CBD is scheduled for 19-30 October 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia.
Top sector
The agri-seed sector gave the largest share, Rs 7.16 crore, followed by food and beverages.
Cumulative since 2008
NBA has realised about Rs 278 crore through ABS and disbursed over Rs 200 crore for conservation and benefit claimers.
Disbursal route
Funds go through State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils to support People's Biodiversity Registers and Biodiversity Management Committees.
Legal basis and HQ
NBA is a statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, headquartered in Chennai.
Amended framework
The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 and the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024 have strengthened the framework under the 2002 Act. States are urged to align their rules with it.
ABS funds shared
The NBA has shared over ₹200 crore of ABS funds with farmers, communities, BMCs, SBBs, UTBCs and research institutions.
Local bodies
The Minister called for making the more than 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees functional.
International reporting
India submitted its 7th National Report to the CBD and its 1st National Report on the Nagoya Protocol.
NBA basis and seat
The NBA is a statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, headquartered in Chennai.
Amount sanctioned
₹8.23 crore was sanctioned to 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 5 UT Biodiversity Councils, from bitter gourd, okra, chilli and onion.
Distribution basis
The resources came from the open market or traders, so no individual providers could be traced. Shares go to States by area under cultivation, as published by the Agriculture Ministry.
Legal basis
The NBA was established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and is headquartered in Chennai. It is a statutory, autonomous body.
Three-tier structure
The Act sets up the NBA at the national level, State Biodiversity Boards in States, and Biodiversity Management Committees at local body level.
Okra component
The largest part is for okra: Rs. 3.51 crore released to 32 SBBs and UTBCs, from money paid by Nunhems India.
Distribution modality
Since the resources came from markets and traders, the share is split among States and UTs where the resource is cultivated, as recommended by an Expert Committee and approved by the Authority.
Cumulative total
Total ABS disbursed by the NBA has crossed Rs. 191 crore.
Amount and source
Rs. 15.52 crore came from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, which developed ten mustard hybrids using Indian biological resources.
Intermediary rule
Where the resource came through intermediaries, ABS is shared among the SBBs/UTBCs of the areas where it is cultivated.
Unidentified source of access
Where resources were accessed via markets, traders or intermediaries, the source could not be identified, so the NBA used benefit-sharing modalities prepared by an Expert Committee.
Basis of distribution
Money was shared among SBBs/UTBCs of States where the crops are grown, using cultivation-area data of the Agriculture Ministry.
Local structures
State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees are set up under the Act; the NBA is at the national level.
Payer
The money came from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, an international seed company that used Indian rice varieties to develop hybrids.
State share basis
Rs 5.75 crore went to 33 State Biodiversity Boards and UT Councils, allocated by each State's rice-growing area. Uttar Pradesh got the most.
Global link
The initiative contributes to Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, on fair and equitable benefit sharing.
Headquarters
The NBA is headquartered in Chennai.
Where the money goes
If the geographical source of a resource can be established, the ABS amount goes to the State Biodiversity Boards. If not, it stays in the National Biodiversity Fund under Section 27 of the Act.
Basis of State shares
State allocation is proportional to each State's area under cotton, using AICRP (ICAR) data.
Total released
Total ABS funds released by the NBA have reached Rs 152.24 crore.
Effect of notification
Notification regulates or prohibits collection of the species and provides for its rehabilitation and conservation. The Centre may delegate the power to States.
Numbers notified
159 plant and 173 animal species notified as threatened, across 17 States and 3 UTs.
Who the SOP helps
It assists State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils, which recommend species to the State Government for notification.
Link to ABS Regulations
The 2025 ABS Regulations treat benefit-sharing differently where the resource belongs to a species notified as threatened under Section 38.
Money realized
NBA has realized over Rs 266 crore through ABS since 2008, including Rs 21.26 crore in FY 2025-26.
Transfer rule
Under the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024, NBA transfers 85-90 per cent of the ABS amount to State Biodiversity Boards for disbursal.
Reach
Benefits reached over 10,500 Biodiversity Management Committees across 23 States and 4 Union Territories.
Leadership
Dr P. L. Gautam, a former head of the NBA and PPVFRA, chairs the committee. The PPVFRA Chairperson is Co-Chair.
Age of the committee
It has been an advisory body of the NBA since 2005 and is reconstituted periodically.
Scope of work
It examines seed sector issues, reviews guidelines for international collaborative research, and recommends measures to conserve threatened native crop varieties and livestock breeds.
International link
The committee gives inputs on India's engagement with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
NBA headquarters
The NBA is headquartered in Chennai.
People's Biodiversity Register
A BMC prepares the PBR in consultation with local people. It records resources, habitats, landraces and traditional knowledge.
National Biodiversity Authority Fund
The NBAF is a statutory fund created under section 27 of the Act. It supports benefit sharing and conservation.
Section 39 repositories
The Central Government can designate institutions as repositories for biological resources. Twenty institutions have been designated so far.
Nagoya Protocol
It is a legally binding supplementary agreement to the CBD, adopted in October 2010 at COP-10 in Nagoya, on fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
Prior registration for IPR
Applicants covered under Section 7 must get a Certificate of Registration from the NBA before seeking IPR, including patents, based on Indian biological resources.
2025-26 numbers
The NBA received 1,077 IPR applications and issued 885 CoRs between April 2025 and March 2026.
2024-25 numbers
Around 857 IPR applications were received and 792 CoRs issued from April 2024 to March 2025.
International basis
The Act implements the Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992; the Nagoya Protocol (2010) deals with access and benefit sharing.
Who got the money
Biodiversity Management Committees in 24 districts across nine States and one Union Territory received the current release. One Haryana dairy farmer was also paid for supplying Murrah buffalo.
Cumulative ABS
Total ABS disbursements at the national level have crossed ₹145 crore, about USD 16 million.
Resources behind the funds
The funds came from commercial use of microorganisms, marine microalgae and seaweed, among others, plus plants such as Tulsi, Moringa, neem and ashwagandha.
International commitments
The NBA implements India's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, and contributes to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Who receives benefits
Benefits go to institutes, local communities, farmers and Biodiversity Management Committees that provided the parental lines of seeds.
Payout
NBA released Rs 45.05 lakh through State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils to benefit claimers.
Resources used
Benefits came from insects, soil and water microorganisms and cultivated Red Sanders.
International links
NBA advances India's obligations under the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol on ABS.
Amount released
The NBA released Rs 17 lakh to the Mumbai civic body's Biodiversity Management Committee, routed through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board.
Source of benefit
The money comes from the commercial use of soil micro-organisms of the Bacillus genus in probiotic products.
National total
Cumulative ABS disbursements have crossed Rs 144.37 crore, about USD 16 million.
Maharashtra's position
Maharashtra is the second major beneficiary State, next to Andhra Pradesh, whose figure is driven by Red Sanders.
Global frameworks
The outcomes are linked to Targets 13 and 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Latest payout
The NBA released ₹45 lakh to Andhra Pradesh farmers through the State Biodiversity Board.
Statutory status and seat
The NBA is a statutory body under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, with headquarters in Chennai.
Red Sanders share
Over ₹104 crore of the total has gone to Andhra Pradesh for Red Sanders conservation, protection and benefit claimers.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs SBB vs BMC: NBA is the national body. State Biodiversity Boards work at State level. Biodiversity Management Committees are local bodies under the same Act.

Don’t confuse with CBD vs Nagoya Protocol: The CBD is the parent treaty. The Nagoya Protocol is its supplementary agreement on access and fair benefit sharing.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs State Biodiversity Board: NBA is the national regulator at Chennai. State Biodiversity Boards regulate use by Indians at the state level and channel benefits.

Don’t confuse with Nagoya Protocol vs Cartagena Protocol: Nagoya concerns access and benefit sharing of genetic resources. Cartagena concerns the biosafety of living modified organisms.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs National Green Tribunal: The NBA is a regulator under the Biological Diversity Act. The NGT is a judicial body under the NGT Act, 2010.

Don’t confuse with Nagoya Protocol vs Kunming-Montreal Framework: Nagoya is a legal protocol on ABS under the CBD; the Kunming-Montreal Framework is a 2022 global target set, with Target 13 on benefit sharing.

Don’t confuse with Section 38 vs IUCN Red List: Section 38 notification is a legal act under Indian law that restricts collection. The IUCN Red List is a global assessment with no legal force in India.

Don’t confuse with Section 38 vs Wild Life (Protection) Act Schedules: Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act covers threatened species and regulates collection; the Wild Life (Protection) Act uses Schedules to protect wild animals and plants.

Don’t confuse with Rs 266 crore vs Rs 145 crore: Rs 266 crore is realized from users; Rs 145 crore is what has been disbursed to beneficiaries so far.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs PPVFRA: The NBA works under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and regulates access and benefit sharing. The PPVFRA works under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 and registers plant varieties and protects farmers' rights.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs State Biodiversity Boards: The NBA is the national body. State Biodiversity Boards regulate certain uses within their states, and Biodiversity Management Committees work at the local level.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs State Biodiversity Boards vs BMCs: The NBA is national, the SBBs work at state level, and BMCs are local bodies that prepare PBRs.

Don’t confuse with Convention on Biological Diversity vs Nagoya Protocol: The CBD is the parent treaty of 1992. The Nagoya Protocol is its supplementary agreement dealing specifically with access and fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs SBB: NBA is the national regulator. State Biodiversity Boards regulate at State level, and BMCs work at local body level.

Don’t confuse with NBA vs Biodiversity Management Committees: Biodiversity Management Committees are local-level bodies that document local biodiversity. The NBA and State Boards sit above them.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 2 Aug, 13:41 IST · Release 292544

Issue page →

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

3

Scheme

Drug-free India Roadmap 2026-2029

GS3 Internal securityGS2 Social issuesPrelims and Mains

Why in news
On 2 August 2026, PM Modi launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' through a nationwide video conference with over one crore youth at more than 28,000 locations.
What it is
The Drug-free India Roadmap 2026-2029 is a Home Ministry plan that puts the anti-drug effort in mission mode. It sets timelines, assigns ministries accountability and fixes measurable outcomes. It builds on the NCORD coordination system, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and the NCB's enforcement work.
Duration
The roadmap runs for three years, from July 2026 to July 2029, with quarterly reviews and outcome-based accountability.
Four pillars
Intelligence and operation-based enforcement; precursor and synthetic drugs control; demand and harm reduction; capacity building and coordination.
State task forces
The Centre will give 7 per cent central assistance to set up equipped Anti-Narcotics Task Forces in every state by March 2027.
De-addiction centres
The number of de-addiction centres will be tripled to 1,751.
NCORD
A four-tier NCORD coordination mechanism was created in 2019, with a Joint Coordination Committee.
Helpline and database
The 1933 Manas helpline supports rehabilitation of addicted youth, and the NIDAAN portal holds a national database of narcotics offenders.
Origin
It began as a pilot from Kashi the previous year. Over 125 spiritual organisations and NGOs backed it under the Kashi Declaration.
Duration and format
The campaign runs a 100-week roadmap. Each Sunday will have activities in art, culture, sports and meditation.
Participants
The online gathering included students, NSS members and My Bharat volunteers.
Role of colleges
The PM asked college and university professors to discuss the dangers of drugs in regular teaching and to start anti-intoxication movements on campuses.
Event
The 10th Apex-Level Meeting of NCORD is set for 26 June 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, and is organised by the NCB.
Three pillars
The Vision Document addresses demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction.
Disposal drive
An Online Drug Disposal Fortnight Campaign aims to destroy about 2,09,500 kg of drugs worth ₹6,000 crore, as per law, by Central and State agencies.
New NCB offices
New NCB Zonal offices in Jammu and Guwahati will be inaugurated.

Don’t confuse with Death Triangle vs Death Crescent: The Death Triangle (Golden Triangle) covers Myanmar, Laos and Thailand in the east. The Death Crescent (Golden Crescent) covers Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran in the west.

Don’t confuse with 1933 Manas vs 1930: 1933 is the Manas helpline for drug rehabilitation. 1930 is the cyber crime helpline.

Don’t confuse with NCORD vs NCB: NCORD is the coordination mechanism among agencies. The NCB is the enforcement agency under the Home Ministry.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Launch of a 100-week campaign on an issue already on file. Campaign has little for Prelims facts; Mains angle is covered by existing card.

Source: PIB, Prime Minister's Office, 2 Aug, 13:48 IST · Release 292546

Issue page →

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

4

Place in the news

Ujh Multipurpose Project

GS1 Geography - Water resourcesGS3 InfrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news
On 2 August 2026, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh reviewed the phased implementation plan of the Ujh Multipurpose Project in Kathua, J&K. Work will start while the remaining land is being acquired.
What it is
The Ujh Multipurpose Project is planned on the Ujh River, a main tributary of the Ravi, in Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir. It combines power generation, irrigation and drinking and industrial water supply. It aims to use Ravi waters that now flow on into Pakistan.
Location
The project is on the Ujh River, a main tributary of the Ravi, in Kathua district of J&K.
Power capacity
It is designed to generate about 186 MW to 212 MW.
Irrigation reach
Nearly 90,000 hectares in Kathua and Samba (J&K) and Pathankot and Gurdaspur (Punjab) are to be irrigated. Kathua also gets drinking water.
Implementing agency
WAPCOS Ltd, a Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, has been entrusted with implementation.
Indus Waters Treaty status
Ravi, Satluj and Beas are India's three eastern rivers under the Treaty, which is now in abeyance.
Shahpurkandi link
The Shahpurkandi project was revived in 2019 and is almost complete; Ujh was revived in 2026.

Don’t confuse with Ujh vs Shahpurkandi: Ujh is a multipurpose project on the Ujh tributary in J&K. Shahpurkandi is a separate Ravi project, revived in 2019 and now almost complete.

Don’t confuse with Ravi vs Chenab: Ravi, Satluj and Beas are the eastern rivers of the Indus system allotted to India under the treaty. Chenab belongs to the western rivers.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: River project on Ravi waters in J&K; a lasting topic, but a review meeting gives few testable facts.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Science & Technology, 2 Aug, 16:01 IST · Release 292551

Issue page →

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

What we left out: 36 of 40 releases
  • Speeches without a decision (1)
  • Sports congratulations (16)
  • Ceremonies and campaigns (8)
  • Routine data (1)
  • Visit schedules (1)
  • Same issue as another release (7)
  • Beneficiary success stories (2)

Practise the day’s news

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

  1. 1Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY)MCQ · 13 true or false · Mains
  2. 2National Biodiversity Authority and Access and Benefit SharingMCQ · 53 true or false · Mains

Mains question of the day

10 marks · 150 words

The Government has approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana to support 5,000 MW of floating solar projects with co-located energy storage on reservoirs and industrial ponds. Discuss the significance of the scheme for India's energy transition and examine the challenges in implementing floating solar with storage at scale.

From: Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY)

Write and get it marked

Keep reading

The day before

Saturday, 1 August 2026Samudra Manthan - National Offshore Exploration Scheme · Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) · Left Wing Extremism in India and 2 more

The day after

Monday, 3 August 2026Kisan Credit Card – Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (KCC-MISS) · Mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and RTE Act Section 23 · Gyan Bharatam Mission and 9 more
All days
Practice · 2Mains question