UPSC current affairs · Monday

Current Affairs, 2 February 2026

10 issues picked from 55 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

Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan. JJM has given tap water to 81.56% rural homes; extension to 2028 proposed.
Baggage Rules, 2026 and Customs Baggage Regulations, 2026. New baggage rules raise duty-free limits and allow electronic, advance declarations for international passengers.
Biopharma SHAKTI. Budget 2026-27 proposes Rs 10,000 crore Biopharma SHAKTI to build India's biologics and biosimilars ecosystem.
Ramsar Sites in India and Glaw Lake. India's Ramsar sites reached 98 from 26 in 2014; World Wetlands Day 2026 held.
PAIMANA Portal. PAIMANA, MoSPI's portal replacing OCMS-2006, tracks 1,392 big central projects via IPMP data feeds.
Classical Languages of India. Lok Sabha told India has eleven classical languages; Ministry of Education promotes them.
Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). Most PMEGP units over five years were small projects costing up to Rs 10 lakh.
Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). SIDH has onboarded 1.5 crore candidates and links with eShram to reach gig workers.
Skill India Programme (PMKVY 4.0, PM-NAPS, JSS). Skill India Programme continues to FY 2025-26; minister details trainee numbers, outreach to weaker groups, and PMKVY 4.0 safeguards.
e-Shram and National Database of Unorganised Workers. e-Shram has registered over 31 crore unorganised workers and links 14 welfare schemes.

Scheme

Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan

GS2 Welfare schemesGS3 Rural water supplyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 2 February 2026, the Jal Shakti Ministry told Rajya Sabha that 81.56% of rural households had tap water as on 28 January 2026, and that JJM extension to December 2028 is under consideration.
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, 2 Feb, 16:16 IST · Release 283233

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

Law and statutory body

Baggage Rules, 2026 and Customs Baggage Regulations, 2026

GS3 Economy - Customs and trade facilitationGS2 GovernancePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 2 February 2026 the Finance Ministry notified the Baggage Rules, 2026 and the Customs Baggage (Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2026, and issued a Master Circular for international passengers.
What it is: Baggage Rules set the duty-free allowance and conditions for goods that international passengers bring into India as baggage. They work under the Customs Act, 1962, and are administered by Customs through the CBIC. The 2026 set replaces older rules with a new rules-regulations-circular framework.

Consolidated concessions: One laptop for passengers above 18 years, and pets, are now duty-free under the Rules.
Regulations and circular: The new Regulations and Master Circular consolidate and revise 35 earlier circulars to operationalise the Rules.
Legal basis: Baggage Rules are made under the Customs Act, 1962 by the Central Government.

Don’t confuse with Baggage Rules vs Baggage Regulations: The Rules set allowances and are notified by the Central Government. The Regulations set the declaration and processing procedure.

Don’t confuse with General free allowance vs transfer of residence: General allowance applies to any arriving passenger by class. Transfer of residence applies to those shifting home to India, by length of stay abroad.

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 Finance, 2 Feb, 21:58 IST · Release 283259

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Biopharma SHAKTI

GS3 Science and Technology: BiotechnologyGS2 HealthPrelims and Mains

Why in news: A PIB Budget 2026-27 explainer on 2 February 2026 outlined Biopharma SHAKTI, a Rs 10,000 crore, five-year push for biologics and biosimilars, and the schemes around it.
What it is: Biopharma SHAKTI stands for Strategy For Healthcare Advancement Through Knowledge, Technology And Innovation. It aims to build an ecosystem for making biologics and biosimilars in India. Biologics are medicines made from living cells, and biosimilars are near-copies of approved biologics.

Outlay and period: Biopharma SHAKTI has an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore over five years, announced in Union Budget 2026-27.
NIPERs: Three new NIPERs are to be set up and seven existing NIPERs upgraded to supply specialised biopharma manpower.
Clinical trial sites: The plan is to develop over 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites across the country.
Regulator capacity: CDSCO is to be strengthened by inducting specialised scientific and technical staff, for faster approvals of complex products.
PRIP: PRIP was launched in 2023 by the Department of Pharmaceuticals with Rs 5,000 crore outlay.
Aim: It builds the ecosystem for domestic production of biologics and biosimilars.
Regional Medical Hubs: A scheme will support States in setting up five Regional Medical Hubs with the private sector, to promote medical tourism.
Allied health professionals: Existing AHP institutions will be upgraded and 100,000 AHPs added over 5 years, covering 10 disciplines.
Caregivers: NSQF-aligned programmes will train multi-skilled caregivers; 1.5 lakh are to be trained in the coming year.
Mental health: A NIMHANS-2 will be set up and the National Mental Health Institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur upgraded as Regional Apex Institutions.

Don’t confuse with Biologics vs biosimilars: Biologics are medicines made from living cells; biosimilars are near-copies of an already approved biologic.

Don’t confuse with NBM vs BioE3 vs Bio-RIDE: NBM (2017) funds biopharma product development via BIRAC; BioE3 is a 2024 policy for biomanufacturing; Bio-RIDE is a 2024 DBT umbrella scheme.

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

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 13

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

1.Biopharma SHAKTI has an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore over five years.
2.Under the initiative, three new NIPERs are to be established and seven existing ones upgraded.
3.It includes strengthening CDSCO, the drug regulator, by inducting specialised scientific and technical personnel.
4.The National Biopharma Mission is implemented by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
5.The National Biopharma Mission is co-funded by the World Bank.
6.The PRIP scheme is run by the Department of Biotechnology.
7.Biopharma SHAKTI has an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over the next 5 years.
8.Biopharma SHAKTI is meant to build an ecosystem for domestic production of biologics and biosimilars.
9.The Budget proposes a scheme to support States in setting up ten Regional Medical Hubs in partnership with the private sector.
10.The proposed Regional Medical Hubs are to include AYUSH Centres and Medical Value Tourism Facilitation Centres.
11.The Budget proposes to add 1,00,000 allied health professionals over the next 10 years.
12.The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre to be upgraded under the Budget proposals is located at Jamnagar.
13.The Budget proposes to upgrade the National Mental Health Institutes at Ranchi and Tezpur as Regional Apex Institutions.

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

Source: PIB Headquarters, 2 Feb, 14:26 IST · Release 283210

Issue page →

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

Place in the news

Ramsar Sites in India and Glaw Lake

GS3 EnvironmentPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 2 Feb 2026, World Wetlands Day, the Environment Ministry held an event at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi, and said India's Ramsar sites rose from 26 in 2014 to 98.
What it is: The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. A Ramsar Site is a wetland listed as a Wetland of International Importance because it meets at least one of nine criteria. In India, States propose sites and the Environment Ministry sends them to the Ramsar Secretariat.

India joined: India became a Party to the Convention on 1 February 1982.
Montreux Record: A register of Ramsar Sites where ecological character has changed or is likely to change. Chilika was removed from it in 2002.
Site: Glaw Lake was designated India's 101st Ramsar Site.
Location: The lake lies within Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.
Growth of network: India had 26 Ramsar Sites in 2014, according to the Minister.
Water source: The lake is fed by perennial mountain streams.
Biodiversity: Over 150 tree species and 49 orchid species are recorded in the site and its catchment.
Convention: The Ramsar Convention was adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran.
100th site: Surha Tal is India's 100th Ramsar site.
New site: Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, was designated a Ramsar site.
Flyway: The site is a stopover on the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds in winter.
Ramsar Convention: Adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran, it is an intergovernmental treaty for conservation and wise use of wetlands.
Listing body: In India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change handles Ramsar site nominations.
Number of sites: India has 98 Ramsar sites, up from 26 in 2014.
Convention adoption: The Convention was adopted on 2 February 1971 at Ramsar, Iran. World Wetlands Day marks this date.
India's accession: India became a signatory to the Convention on 1 February 1982.
Asia ranking: India leads Asia in the number of Ramsar sites.
2026 theme: The theme was 'Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage'. The Ministry released the document Cultural Wonders of Ramsar Sites.
New sites: Patna Bird Sanctuary (Etah, Uttar Pradesh) and Chhari-Dhand (Kutch, Gujarat) were added to the Ramsar list.
India's count: India's Ramsar network grew from 26 sites in 2014 to 98 at present, per the Minister.
Wildlife: The two wetlands host migratory and resident birds, and animals such as chinkara, wolf, caracal, desert cat and desert fox.
World Wetlands Day: World Wetlands Day is observed on 2 February, the anniversary of the Convention's adoption in 1971.

Don’t confuse with Montreux Record vs Ramsar List: The Ramsar List holds all designated sites. The Montreux Record holds only sites under ecological threat.

Don’t confuse with Ramsar Site vs Wetland City Accreditation: A Ramsar Site is a wetland. Accreditation is for cities, such as Indore and Udaipur in January 2025.

Don’t confuse with Ramsar Convention vs Montreux Record: The Montreux Record lists Ramsar Sites facing ecological change; it is not the list of designations.

Don’t confuse with Ramsar Site vs Montreux Record: Ramsar Sites are listed wetlands of international importance. The Montreux Record lists Ramsar sites where ecological character has changed or is under threat.

Don’t confuse with Ramsar Convention vs CMS: Ramsar covers wetlands (1971, Iran); the Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn, 1979) covers migratory animals.

Don’t confuse with Ramsar Site vs Wildlife Sanctuary: Ramsar is an international listing for wetlands; a sanctuary is a domestic protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. A site may fall within one.

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

Why it matters

Wetlands buffer floods, recharge groundwater, sustain fisheries and shelter migratory birds.
Ramsar listing gives international visibility, expert advice and access to small grants.
Adds an Eastern Himalayan freshwater wetland to the Ramsar network and gives Arunachal Pradesh its first site.
Supports biodiversity, water security and livelihoods of dependent communities.
Reaching 100 sites shows growing wetland protection and global recognition of Indian wetlands.
Wetlands support biodiversity, migratory birds, flood control, groundwater recharge and livelihoods.
Community and cultural links, such as Wetland Mitras, make conservation more durable.
Ramsar listing gives international recognition and supports wetland conservation and wise use.

Problems

Listing alone does not stop encroachment, waste dumping and untreated effluent.
Ecological character needs regular monitoring and updated management plans across 28 States and UTs.
Remote high-altitude wetlands face climate change and catchment pressure.
Designation does not itself ensure funded management or local participation.
Listing does not itself stop encroachment, pollution or drainage of wetlands.
Urbanisation, encroachment and pollution damage wetlands.
Ramsar listing gives no legal protection by itself; it relies on domestic law.
Listing alone does not stop encroachment, pollution or drying of wetlands; management must follow.

Way forward

Notify sites under the 2017 Rules with Integrated Management Plans and monitor them regularly.
Strengthen community stewardship, data sharing and sustainable livelihoods around wetlands.
Prepare and implement a wetland management plan with community involvement.
Monitor water quality and biodiversity regularly.
Prepare site-level management plans with community participation and monitor water quality and bird populations.
Enforce the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and prepare site management plans.
Involve local communities and use traditional knowledge in wetland management.
Prepare and enforce site management plans with local community involvement and regular monitoring.

Put in your answer

MISHTI: Targets mangrove restoration over 540 sq km in nine States and four UTs.

Glaw biodiversity: Over 150 tree species and 49 orchid species are recorded in the site and catchment.

100 Ramsar sites: India now has 100 Ramsar sites, a useful data point on wetland conservation.

Growth in sites: India's Ramsar sites rose from 26 in 2014 to 98.

Urban pressure example: Delhi's minister said urbanisation, encroachments and human activity have hurt wetlands; Delhi targets restoring its water bodies in two years.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 32

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

1.The Ramsar Convention was adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran.
2.India ranks first in the world in the number of Ramsar Sites.
3.A wetland must satisfy all nine criteria to be designated a Ramsar Site.
4.The Montreux Record lists Ramsar Sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur.
5.Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park were India's first Ramsar Sites, designated in 1981.
6.Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of Ramsar Sites among Indian States.
7.The Ramsar Information Sheet of a designated site must be updated every six years.
8.Glaw Lake is the first Ramsar Site of Arunachal Pradesh.
9.Glaw Lake is located within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary.
10.Glaw Lake is a brackish coastal lagoon.
11.With Glaw Lake, India has 101 Ramsar Sites.
12.The Ramsar Convention was adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
13.Glaw Lake is fed mainly by glacial melt and has no perennial streams.
14.Surha Tal, designated as India's 100th Ramsar site, is located in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh.
15.The Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary is notable for its avifaunal diversity, including migratory and resident birds.
16.Surha Tal is the 100th Ramsar site in India and lies in Bihar.
17.India lists Ramsar sites through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
18.Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary is located in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh.
19.With this designation, India has 99 Ramsar sites.
20.Shekha Jheel is described as a stopover on the Central Asian Flyway.
21.Shekha Jheel is a stopover on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
22.The Ramsar Convention is a treaty concerned mainly with conservation of migratory species of wild animals.
23.The Ramsar Convention was adopted in 1971 at Ramsar in Iran.
24.India has 98 Ramsar sites at present, up from 26 in 2014.
25.India has the largest number of Ramsar sites in the world.
26.World Wetlands Day is observed every year on 2 February.
27.The Montreux Record is a register of Ramsar sites where ecological change has occurred or is likely.
28.Patna Bird Sanctuary, newly designated a Ramsar site, is located in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh.
29.Chhari-Dhand, newly added to the Ramsar list, is located in Rajasthan.
30.With these additions, India has 98 Ramsar sites, according to the Minister.
31.The Ramsar Convention was signed in Ramsar, Iran.
32.Designation as a Ramsar site makes a wetland a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 2 Feb, 18:48 IST · Release 283249

Issue page →

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

Scheme

PAIMANA Portal

GS3 InfrastructureGS2 GovernancePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 2 February 2026, MoSPI told the Rajya Sabha that PAIMANA, launched on 25 September 2025, now tracks 1,392 central infrastructure projects as of December 2025.
What it is: PAIMANA is a web monitoring system run by MoSPI to track ongoing Central Sector infrastructure projects costing Rs. 150 crore and above. It gives line ministries dashboards and analytics on project progress and slippages. It works alongside other mechanisms such as DPIIT's Project Monitoring Group and PRAGATI.

Full form and owner: PAIMANA stands for Project Assessment Infrastructure Monitoring and Analytics for Nation-Building. MoSPI runs it.
Coverage: As of January 2026 it tracks 1,702 projects of 17 Central Ministries/Departments. Original cost is ₹33.71 lakh crore and expenditure so far is ₹20.01 lakh crore.
One Data One Entry: PAIMANA is linked through APIs to DPIIT's Integrated Project Monitoring Portal (IPMP). Data reported by ministries and agencies is fetched automatically.
PRAGATI: The Prime Minister reviews projects periodically through video conferencing under PRAGATI meetings.
Threshold: MoSPI monitors ongoing Central Sector infrastructure projects costing Rs. 150 crore and above.
Launch and predecessor: PAIMANA was launched on 25 September 2025 and replaced OCMS-2006.
Automation: About 60 per cent of projects of the Road, Petroleum & Natural Gas and Coal ministries are updated automatically.

Don’t confuse with PAIMANA vs PMG: PAIMANA is MoSPI's portal for projects of Rs. 150 crore and above. PMG is a DPIIT body for issue resolution on projects of Rs. 500 crore and above.

Don’t confuse with PAIMANA vs IPMP: IPMP is DPIIT's portal from which PAIMANA fetches data. PAIMANA is MoSPI's monitoring and analytics system.

Don’t confuse with PAIMANA vs PRAGATI: PAIMANA monitors infrastructure projects through data and reports; PRAGATI is a Prime Minister-led platform for reviewing projects and grievances.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: A lasting monitoring platform (replaced OCMS-2006, projects of Rs 150 crore and above), but it offers few facts or debate for a question.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, 2 Feb, 15:22 IST · Release 283213

Issue page →

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

Art and culture

Classical Languages of India

GS1 Indian Culture - LanguagesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 2 February 2026, the Culture Minister told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that India recognises eleven classical languages. The reply gave recognition dates and Census 2011 speaker numbers.

Number recognised: Eleven languages are now recognised as Classical Languages of India.
Ministry in charge: The Ministry of Education works for promotion and preservation of classical languages.
Sanskrit institutions: Sanskrit is promoted through three central universities: Central Sanskrit University (Delhi), Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University (Delhi) and National Sanskrit University (Tirupati).

Don’t confuse with Classical language vs Eighth Schedule language: Classical status is an executive recognition for ancient heritage. The Eighth Schedule is a constitutional list of languages. The two lists are not the same.

Art and culture in the news: Prelims tests UNESCO listings, GI tags and where a site is.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Eleven languages hold classical status, with Marathi, Assamese, Bangla, Pali and Prakrit added on 4 Oct 2024. UPSC asks culture in Prelims (8 questions), but no Mains.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Culture, 2 Feb, 15:30 IST · Release 283216

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)

GS3 Economy - MSME and employment schemesGS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 2 February 2026, the MSME Ministry told the Rajya Sabha that PMEGP assisted about 63% of manufacturing units and 93% of service units with project costs up to Rs 10 lakh in FY 2020-21 to 2024-25.
What it is: PMEGP is a credit-linked subsidy scheme of the Ministry of MSME. It helps set up new micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector, mainly in rural and semi-urban areas. Aid comes as a margin money subsidy on bank loans.

Nodal agency: KVIC implements the scheme at the national level under the MSME Ministry.
Form of aid: Margin Money subsidy on bank-sanctioned loans.
Reach since FY 2014-15: About 8.12 lakh entrepreneurs got Rs 24,398.61 crore subsidy, generating jobs for about 73.08 lakh persons.
Sector: Only non-farm sector enterprises are supported.
Launch: PMEGP was launched in 2008-09 by merging PMRY and REGP.
Implementing agency: PMEGP is implemented through the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the MSME Ministry.
Type of support: Margin money subsidy on bank loans for new micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector.
Outlay and units: Outlay of ₹13,554.42 crore was fully used; 4,03,706 units were set up against a target of 4,02,000.
Scheme type: PMEGP is a central sector scheme that helps set up new micro-enterprises with small project costs, funded through small loans.
Reach among small projects: From FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25, about 63% of manufacturing units and 93% of service units with project cost up to Rs 10 lakh were assisted.
No collateral: As per RBI guidelines, banks are not to insist on collateral security for loans up to Rs 10 lakh.
Education requirement: No educational qualification is needed for projects up to Rs 10 lakh in manufacturing and up to Rs 5 lakh in services.
Interest rates: Banks set PMEGP loan interest rates themselves within RBI's framework, since rates on advances are deregulated.
CHAMPIONS portal: The Ministry's CHAMPIONS portal handles grievances on its schemes including PMEGP and offers handholding and guidance to MSMEs.

Don’t confuse with PMEGP vs PMMY (Mudra): PMEGP gives a margin money subsidy for new micro-enterprises; Mudra gives collateral-free loans to small businesses without a subsidy.

Don’t confuse with PMEGP vs MUDRA: PMEGP gives a margin money subsidy on bank loans through KVIC; MUDRA loans are collateral-free credit without a subsidy element.

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

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises, 2 Feb, 15:34 IST · Release 283220

Issue page →

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

Science and technology

Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH)

GS2 GovernanceGS3 Digital public infrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 2 February 2026, the Skill Development Ministry told the Lok Sabha that over 1.5 crore candidates have joined the Skill India Digital Hub since its 2023 launch. It also said gig workers are covered under existing schemes and reached through the eShram link.
What it is: Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) is a Digital Public Infrastructure for skilling run by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. It puts training, assessment, certification, jobs and entrepreneurship services on one platform that training providers, employers and schemes can join.

Launch: SIDH was launched on 13 September 2023 as a DPI for skilling under MSDE.
Interoperability: It is mobile-first and links with National Career Service, eShram, DigiLocker and BHASHINI.
SOAR: Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) was launched by MSDE through NCVET. Its courses are online, self-paced and NSQF-aligned, and are offered by NCVET-recognised Awarding Bodies.
Credit link: SOAR courses are credit-linked under the National Credit Framework, and credits are integrated with the Academic Bank of Credits.
Onboarding numbers: Over 7,000 training providers, over 68,000 employers and more than 1.5 crore candidates are onboarded, along with more than 70 assessment agencies.
Integrations: SIDH is linked with DigiLocker, e-Shram, the National Career Service, UIDAI and PFMS.
Gig workers: No separate priority category exists for gig and platform workers. They are covered under existing schemes, and the eShram link helps reach them.
Schemes under Skill India Mission: MSDE delivers training through PMKVY, the Jan Shikshan Sansthan scheme, NAPS and the Craftsman Training Scheme run through ITIs.

Don’t confuse with NCVET vs NSDC: NCVET is the regulator that recognises awarding bodies and sets quality norms. NSDC is a public-private body that funds and promotes training providers.

Don’t confuse with NCrF vs ABC: The National Credit Framework sets credit norms across school, higher and vocational learning. The Academic Bank of Credits stores the credits earned.

Don’t confuse with SIDH vs Skill India Mission: The Skill India Mission is the umbrella effort with schemes such as PMKVY and NAPS. SIDH is the digital platform that supports delivery of those schemes.

Don’t confuse with eShram vs National Career Service: eShram is a national database of unorganised workers, including gig workers. NCS is a job-matching portal. SIDH links to both.

Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: A lasting digital public infrastructure for skilling, launched in September 2023 and linked to DigiLocker and e-Shram. No sharp question facts.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2 Feb, 15:46 IST · Release 283221

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Skill India Programme (PMKVY 4.0, PM-NAPS, JSS)

GS2 Governance - Skill developmentGS3 EmploymentPrelims and Mains

Why in news: In a written Lok Sabha reply on 2 February 2026, the skill development ministry gave component-wise numbers for the Skill India Programme and listed steps to widen its reach and tighten PMKVY 4.0.
What it is: The Skill India Programme is a Central Sector Scheme run by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. It bundles three components: PMKVY 4.0 for short-term skill training, PM-NAPS for apprenticeship promotion, and Jan Shikshan Sansthan for community-level training. It aims to provide skilling, reskilling and upskilling across society.

Components: The programme has three parts: PMKVY 4.0, PM-NAPS and Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS).
Cabinet approval: The Cabinet approved continuation of the Central Sector Scheme for FY 2022-23 to 2025-26 on 7 February 2025.
JSS focus: JSS is a community-driven scheme that delivers skill training at the beneficiary's doorstep, aimed at women and other vulnerable groups.
NAPS aim: NAPS promotes apprenticeship training and raises the engagement of apprentices in industrial establishments.
Tribal Skilling Centres: Under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, 30 Tribal Skilling Centres were set up through JSS in 30 tribal districts across 15 States/UTs.
PMKVY 4.0 safeguards: Corrective measures include Aadhaar e-KYC, face authentication, geo-tagged attendance, QR-coded certificates, NCVET accreditation and independent monitoring by Kaushal Samiksha Kendra.

Don’t confuse with PMKVY vs PM-NAPS: PMKVY gives short-term, classroom and on-the-job skill training; PM-NAPS promotes apprenticeship in industry establishments.

Don’t confuse with JSS vs Tribal Skilling Centres: TSCs are a last-mile initiative run through the JSS scheme under DA-JGUA; JSS itself is the wider community-based scheme.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: A continuing umbrella scheme with three components (PMKVY 4.0, PM-NAPS, JSS), approved for 2022-23 to 2025-26. Mostly routine data.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2 Feb, 15:47 IST · Release 283223

Issue page →

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

Scheme

e-Shram and National Database of Unorganised Workers

GS2 Welfare - Social security for unorganised workersGS3 EmploymentPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 2 February 2026, the Labour Ministry told the Lok Sabha that over 31.48 crore unorganised workers had registered on the e-Shram portal as of 26 January 2026, and that 14 schemes are now linked to it.
What it is: e-Shram is a portal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment that builds the National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW). Workers register on self-declaration and get an e-Shram card with a Universal Account Number (UAN). It is meant to help the government reach unorganised workers with social security schemes.

Launch: The Labour Ministry launched the e-Shram portal on 26 August 2021 to create the National Database of Unorganised Workers.
Registration basis: Workers are registered on self-declaration and given a Universal Account Number (UAN).
Coverage: Over 31.48 crore unorganised workers were registered as of 26 January 2026.
Scheme links: Fourteen schemes of Central Ministries are integrated, including PM-KISAN, MGNREGS, AB-PMJAY, PMSBY, PMJJBY and ONORC. Linkages also exist with NCS, SIDH and PM-SYM (pension).

Don’t confuse with e-Shram vs PM-SYM: e-Shram is a registration database and access portal. PM-SYM (Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan) is a separate pension scheme for unorganised workers, only linked to e-Shram.

Don’t confuse with UAN of e-Shram vs EPFO UAN: The e-Shram UAN identifies unorganised workers on the NDUW. The EPFO UAN is for organised-sector provident fund members. They are separate.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: A lasting portal with the UAN, a One-Stop-Solution and 14 integrated schemes. Facts are mostly progress counts.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Labour & Employment, 2 Feb, 18:23 IST · Release 283247

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

MoSPI's NSO has proposed a Survey on Migration for July 2026-June 2027; PLFS 2020-21 put India's migration rate at 28.9%.
Yantra India Limited, a defence PSU, got Miniratna Category-I status; it can spend up to Rs 500 crore on new projects without Government approval.
MeitY and the European Commission's DG CONNECT signed an arrangement on advanced electronic signatures and seals, implemented through India's Controller of Certifying Authorities.
Devnimori Buddha relics from Vadodara go to Colombo for an exposition at Gangaramaya Temple, 4-10 February 2026.
MoSPI plans a Rapid Survey on Functional Cooperatives from April 2026, using the National Cooperative Database as sampling frame, to estimate their output and employment.
India returns to the Venice Biennale (61st edition, 9 May-22 November 2026) with a national pavilion for the first time since 2019.
US President Trump announced cutting the tariff on Indian goods to 18%; PM Modi thanked him in a call.

Source: PIB, 2 Feb

What we left out: 38 of 55 releases

Ceremonies and campaigns (6)
Speeches without a decision (4)
Visits and meetings (1)
Same issue as another release (11)
Routine parliamentary replies (6)
Routine tourism replies (6)
Routine MoUs (2)
Appointments (1)
Routine data (1)

Practise the day’s news

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

1Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal ArpanMCQ · 56 true or false · Mains
2Baggage Rules, 2026 and Customs Baggage Regulations, 2026MCQ · 5 true or false · Mains
3Biopharma SHAKTIMCQ · 13 true or false
4Ramsar Sites in India and Glaw LakeMCQ · 32 true or false · Mains
5Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)MCQ · 11 true or false

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

The Jal Shakti Ministry has told Parliament that 81.56% of rural households had tap water by January 2026 and that extending the Jal Jeevan Mission to December 2028 is under consideration. In this context, discuss the main features of the Jal Jeevan Mission and critically examine the challenges in ensuring sustainable and safe tap water supply in rural India.

From: Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan

Write and get it marked

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Sunday, 1 February 2026Sixteenth Finance Commission · Fiscal Deficit and Debt-to-GDP Glide Path · Biopharma SHAKTI and 4 more

The day after

Tuesday, 3 February 2026Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G) · Minimum Support Price and CACP · PM Surya Ghar and 9 more

All days

Mains question of the day

15 marks

From: Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan

Write and get it marked

Practice

1Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal ArpanMCQ · 56 true or false · Mains
2Baggage Rules, 2026 and Customs Baggage Regulations, 2026MCQ · 5 true or false · Mains
3Biopharma SHAKTIMCQ · 13 true or false
4Ramsar Sites in India and Glaw LakeMCQ · 32 true or false · Mains
5Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)MCQ · 11 true or false

Practice · 5 Mains question