UPSC current affairs · Monday

Current Affairs, 20 July 2026

11 issues picked from 51 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

WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. India formally joins the WTO pact banning harmful fisheries subsidies, covering marine wild capture only.
National Mission on Cultural Mapping. Cultural mapping only documents village heritage; it does not register artists or give them benefits.
Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana. Lok Sabha reply details KSVY components, grants and the support it gives artists and cultural bodies.
NAKSHA (Urban Land Survey) under DILRMP. Centre says NAKSHA urban land mapping in Goa is only data mapping, not threatening titles.
Coal First Mile Connectivity and Coal Logistics Plan 2030. 72 of 139 coal first-mile projects done; rail share target 75% by FY2030.
Advocates Act, 1961 and Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026 is open for public comment until 31 July 2026.
SMILE Scheme (Beggary Rehabilitation). SMILE Beggary scheme runs in 216 cities, targets 35,000 rehabilitated by 2030-31.
WTO Trade Policy Review Mechanism. WTO peer-reviews India's trade policies for 2021-25; Commerce Secretary leads delegation.
Urban Heat Island and Heat Action Plans. Centre lists Heat Action Plans, green schemes and a 12-city pilot to curb urban heat.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U 2.0). PMAY-U has sanctioned 127.68 lakh houses; 99.07 lakh delivered; PMAY-U 2.0 running since September 2024.
AMRUT and GIS-based Master Plans. 75 AMRUT cities shared groundwater recharge results under the SAM programme and Catch the Rain campaign.

International relations

WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

GS2 International AgreementsGS3 FisheriesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 July 2026, India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies with the WTO Director-General, becoming the 123rd Member to do so.
What it is: The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) is a multilateral trade agreement that disciplines government subsidies which drive overfishing. It was adopted in June 2022 at the 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva. It is the first WTO agreement with an environmental sustainability objective.

Adoption: Adopted by consensus at MC12 in Geneva in June 2022; the first WTO agreement with an environmental sustainability objective.
Entry into force: It entered into force on 15 September 2025 after acceptance by two-thirds of WTO Members.
Scope: It covers marine wild capture fishing and related activities at sea. Aquaculture and inland fisheries are outside it.
Prohibitions: It bars subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and for fishing of overfished stocks.
India's framework: Domestic base includes the EEZ fisheries Rules 2025, High Seas guidelines 2025 and PMMSY.

Don’t confuse with AFS vs FAO Port State Measures Agreement: The FAO agreement targets IUU fishing through port controls; the WTO AFS disciplines subsidies.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

Test yourselfMains

Source: PIB, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 20 Jul, 19:13 IST · Release 291478

Issue page →

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

Scheme

National Mission on Cultural Mapping

GS1 Indian CulturePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 July 2026, the Culture Minister told the Lok Sabha that the National Mission on Cultural Mapping keeps no State-wise register of artists and gives them no financial aid, insurance or social security.
What it is: The National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) is a Ministry of Culture mission to document India's cultural assets. Its Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) initiative records cultural information village by village in village cultural profiles on a portal.

Implementing ministry: NMCM is run by the Ministry of Culture. The minister's reply in Lok Sabha came from the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism.
Village-level unit: Under MGMD, cultural mapping is done at the village level. Data is kept village-wise, not category-wise.
No registration of artists: The Mission does not register artists or cultural practitioners. So no State-wise count of registered artists exists.
No benefits: No financial assistance, insurance or social security is given to artists under NMCM, since it is a documentation exercise.
Main objective: The primary objective of MGMD is documenting village-level cultural heritage. There is currently no provision to link the database with tourism, education or skill development.
Key focus: Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar is the main focus of the mission.
Implementing partner: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj now helps collect and validate data through PRIs and Gram Sabhas, which lowered the funds the mission needs.
Nature of work: Mapping, updating and validation is a continuous process.

Don’t confuse with NMCM vs registration/welfare schemes for artists: NMCM only documents culture. Support for artists comes through separate Ministry of Culture schemes, not through NMCM.

Don’t confuse with NMCMR vs MGMD: NMCMR is the overall mission; MGMD is its key initiative that builds village-level cultural profiles.

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 culture scheme with Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar. Culture items are rare in Prelims (8 of 327) and absent from Mains.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Culture, 20 Jul, 16:13 IST · Release 291452

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana

GS1 Indian CulturePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 July 2026, the Culture Minister told the Lok Sabha how Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY) supports artists and cultural bodies, and gave its components and beneficiary data.
What it is: Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Culture. It bundles several grant, scholarship and fellowship components for performing arts, folk and tribal art and cultural infrastructure. Funds go to eligible organisations and individual artists.

Type of scheme: KSVY is a Central Sector Scheme. Funds come from the Consolidated Fund of India through the annual budget.
Zonal Cultural Centres: Seven ZCCs promote folk and tribal art. Their headquarters are Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. They get annual grant-in-aid.

Don’t confuse with KSVY vs Rachnatmak Bharat: KSVY gives grants, scholarships and fellowships to artists and cultural bodies. Rachnatmak Bharat is a separate intervention for the cultural and creative economy, covering capacity building, market access and digital enablement.

Don’t confuse with ZCCs vs Akademies: ZCCs are regional centres covering member States. Akademies are national-level bodies. Both give emerging artists platforms.

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: Central Sector scheme for artists, with seven Zonal Cultural Centres. Culture schemes seldom reach Mains; Prelims culture is 8 of 327.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Culture, 20 Jul, 16:20 IST · Release 291463

Issue page →

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

Scheme

NAKSHA (Urban Land Survey) under DILRMP

GS2 GovernanceGS3 Land recordsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 July 2026 the Department of Land Resources, with Goa's land records directorate, clarified that the NAKSHA urban land mapping pilot in Goa does not threaten existing land titles. The formal inquiry phase runs from 16 July to 14 August 2026.
What it is: NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations) is a GIS-based survey that maps urban land parcels. It runs under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) of the Department of Land Resources. Its aim is better town planning and modern land administration in towns and cities.

Parent programme: NAKSHA is carried out under DILRMP, the national land records modernization programme.
Nature of exercise: It is a data-mapping exercise, separate from land acquisition, and not meant to raise property taxes.
Effect on disputes: It records parcels as they exist on the ground; disputes stay with courts and administrative bodies.
Absent owners: Absence of an owner during the survey visit does not endanger ownership; verification stages and public viewing windows protect them.
Goa inquiry window: The formal inquiry in the Goa pilot runs from 16 July to 14 August 2026 after ground-truthing.
Administering ministry: DILRMP is run by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.

Don’t confuse with NAKSHA vs SVAMITVA: SVAMITVA maps inhabited rural (abadi) land with drones and issues property cards, under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. NAKSHA maps urban habitations.

Don’t confuse with Survey vs acquisition: A mapping survey only records parcels. Acquisition transfers land to the State under a law and is a separate legal process.

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: GIS-based urban land mapping under DILRMP is a lasting governance topic; schemes are 52 of 327 Prelims questions but this one is a pilot.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Rural Development, 20 Jul, 16:23 IST · Release 291461

Issue page →

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

Economy

Coal First Mile Connectivity and Coal Logistics Plan 2030

GS3 InfrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 July 2026, the Minister of State for Coal told Rajya Sabha that 72 of 139 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects are commissioned, and set out progress under the Coal Logistics Plan and Policy 2030.
What it is: First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects move coal from the mine face to rail loading points using mechanised systems such as silos, rapid loading systems and conveyors, instead of trucks. They sit within the Coal Logistics Plan and Policy 2030, which aims to raise the rail share of coal movement and cut delivered cost.

FMC project scale: 139 FMC projects with 1,319 MTPA capacity are planned for implementation by FY 2029-30.
Progress so far: 72 projects (about 589 MTPA) are commissioned; 67 are at implementation, tendering or planning stages.
Rail share target: The plan targets 75% of coal transport by rail by FY2030, reducing reliance on costlier road movement.
Rail-Sea-Rail incentive: CIL cut the Performance Incentive for supplies beyond ACQ from 40% to 20% for coal moved by Rail-Sea-Rail mode.

Don’t confuse with First mile vs last mile: First mile is mine to loading point or rail siding; last mile is the final link to the consumer or terminal.

Don’t confuse with Rail-Sea-Rail vs all-rail: RSR moves coal by rail to a port, by coastal ship, then by rail again; all-rail stays on rail throughout.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting infrastructure topic with bottlenecks, but mostly project counts; Prelims fact hooks are weak.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Coal, 20 Jul, 16:25 IST · Release 291464

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Advocates Act, 1961 and Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026

GS2 Polity and GovernancePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 July 2026 the Law Ministry said the Bar Council of India (BCI) had put the Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on its website on 18 July 2026 for public comments. Comments are due by 31 July 2026.
What it is: The Advocates Act, 1961 governs the legal profession in India. It set up the Bar Council of India and State Bar Councils and created a single class of advocates with a common roll. The 2026 draft proposes amendments to this Act. The release does not give its contents.

Who hosted the draft: The Bar Council of India put the draft on its official website on 18 July 2026.
How it was prepared: The draft was prepared in consultation with the BCI.
Parent Act: The Advocates Act, 1961 created the Bar Council of India and State Bar Councils.
BCI's role: The BCI is a statutory body. It sets standards of professional conduct and legal education and recognises law degrees.

Don’t confuse with Bar Council of India vs Bar Association: The BCI is a statutory body under the Advocates Act, 1961. Bar associations are voluntary bodies of lawyers at a court.

Don’t confuse with Draft Bill vs Bill in Parliament: A draft Bill released for consultation has not been introduced in Parliament. It has no legal force until Parliament passes it and it receives assent.

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.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Draft bill open for comment; no provisions given yet. Laws are 23 of 327 Prelims questions, but facts here are too thin.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Law & Justice, 20 Jul, 17:38 IST · Release 291472

Issue page →

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

Scheme

SMILE Scheme (Beggary Rehabilitation)

GS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 July 2026 the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said the SMILE Beggary scheme now works in 216 cities and has rehabilitated over 10,200 persons. It plans to cover 35,000 persons and 295 cities by FY 2030-31.
What it is: SMILE stands for Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. It is an umbrella Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. One sub-scheme deals with the comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging, through shelter, skills, education, healthcare and counselling.

Full name and ministry: SMILE is run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as an umbrella scheme for marginalized individuals.
Coverage in cities: The beggary component works in 216 cities now. The target is 295 cities by FY 2030-31, with focus on metros, religious, tourist and historical places.
Who implements: Delivery is through the Centre, States, UTs, district administrations, urban local bodies, municipal corporations and implementing agencies, using a convergence approach.
Digital monitoring: The SMILE-Beggary National Portal registers and tracks rehabilitation centres and shelter homes.
Event: The guidelines were unveiled at a Chintan Shivir with States/UTs held in Chandigarh from 24 to 26 April 2026.
Coverage areas: The framework covers preventive healthcare and sanitation, infrastructure, nutrition and food safety, vocational training, legal aid, child and gender sensitivity, and accountability and oversight.
Convergence: The guidelines stress convergence with Central and State schemes to bring uniform implementation across States and UTs.
Implementation: The Ministry urged States and UTs to implement the guidelines in letter and spirit.
Scheme type: SMILE is a Central Sector scheme run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Launch and ministry: SMILE was launched on 12 February 2022 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Beggary sub-scheme coverage: The beggary sub-scheme is operational in 181 selected cities, with Implementing Authorities such as district administrations and urban local bodies.
Transgender health cover: Transgender persons get health cover in convergence with PM-JAY, including gender-reaffirmation procedures at empanelled hospitals.
National Council for Transgender Persons: The Council is a statutory body that advises the Centre on policy and legislation and monitors welfare schemes.
Beggary sub-scheme reach: The beggary rehabilitation sub-scheme is operational in 181 selected cities.
Rehabilitation numbers: As on 31 January 2026, 30,257 persons were identified as begging and 8,129 were rehabilitated.
Monitoring: Centres and shelter homes are registered and monitored on the SMILE-Beggary National Portal; Garima Grehs are geotagged.
Goal: The objective is Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat (Begging-Free India).
Skilling gap: No beneficiary from the begging or transgender community was certified under PM-DAKSH in 2024-25.

Don’t confuse with Model guidelines vs law: Model guidelines are advisory for uniform practice; they are not a statute. Begging is dealt with under State laws, often based on the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959.

Don’t confuse with SMILE vs PM-DAKSH: SMILE is the umbrella rehabilitation scheme; PM-DAKSH is a skill-training scheme for several groups that SMILE uses for transgender persons.

Don’t confuse with Garima Greh vs beggary shelter homes: Garima Grehs are shelters for transgender persons; the beggary sub-scheme uses separate shelter homes for rescued persons.

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 a rehabilitation route, not just punishment, for a vulnerable group, in line with dignity under Article 21.
Gives States a common standard for shelter homes, which could improve dignity and quality of care for a vulnerable group.
Links shelter homes to health, skilling and legal aid schemes, supporting rehabilitation over punishment.
Gives marginalised groups one framework covering identity, health, skills, shelter and livelihood.
Supports the goal of a begging-free India and gives effect to the 2019 Transgender Act.
Gives a rights-based, rehabilitative approach to begging and transgender welfare instead of a punitive one.

Problems

Begging is still criminalised under many state anti-begging laws, which conflicts with a rehabilitation approach.
Guidelines are not binding; implementation rests with States, so uptake may vary.
Shelter homes often face weak funding, staff and monitoring.
Beggary sub-scheme reach is modest: 9,935 rehabilitated against 31,055 identified, in only 181 cities.
Stigma, lack of documents and weak state enforcement, such as cells set up in only 20 States/UTs, limit outcomes.
Only about 27% of identified persons are rehabilitated, and coverage is limited to 181 cities.
Zero PM-DAKSH certifications show weak convergence with skilling schemes.

Way forward

Decriminalise begging and tie rehabilitation to skilling, housing and social security convergence.
Tie guidelines to regular audits and public reporting by States.
Convergence with skilling, health and housing schemes with clear funding.
Expand coverage beyond selected cities and speed up documentation through the National Portal.
Build follow-up, de-addiction and job linkages, and ensure every State sets up protection cells and welfare boards.
Link beneficiaries to skilling, health and ID schemes, and expand shelters, including Garima Grehs, with portal-based monitoring.

Put in your answer

SMILE scheme: Umbrella Central Sector scheme with a sub-scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging.

Model guidelines 2026: Framework with accountability and oversight, legal aid and child and gender sensitivity for shelter homes.

NALSA judgment: The Supreme Court in NALSA v Union of India (2014) recognised transgender persons as a third gender with constitutional rights.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 20 Jul, 18:39 IST · Release 291474

Issue page →

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

International relations

WTO Trade Policy Review Mechanism

GS2 International InstitutionsGS3 TradePrelims and Mains

Why in news: India's 8th Trade Policy Review at the WTO is scheduled for 21 and 23 July 2026, with the Commerce Secretary leading the delegation (release dated 20 July 2026).
What it is: The Trade Policy Review Mechanism is a WTO transparency tool. Each Member's trade policies are examined by the Trade Policy Review Body, which is made up of all WTO Members. The review rests on a government report and a WTO Secretariat report.

Who reviews: The Trade Policy Review Body, made up of the entire WTO membership, conducts the reviews.
Two documents: A policy statement from the Member under review and a WTO Secretariat report form the basis of the review.
Frequency: How often a Member is reviewed depends on its share of world trade. India is reviewed once every five years.
Period covered: India's 8th TPR covers 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025.
Purpose: It is a peer review meant to improve transparency, predictability and understanding of trade policies, covering border and behind-the-border measures.
Origin: The TPRM was set up in 1989 during the Uruguay Round and is now Annex 3 of the WTO Agreement.

Don’t confuse with TPRM vs Dispute Settlement Body: The TPRM is a transparency and peer review process with no penalties. The Dispute Settlement Body handles complaints and can authorise retaliation.

Don’t confuse with TPRB vs General Council: The General Council meets as the TPRB when it conducts reviews. It is a separate function, not a separate membership.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: India's 8th TPR is a lasting WTO process; international bodies are 61 of 327 Prelims questions, but this item has few testable facts.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 20 Jul, 19:13 IST · Release 291477

Issue page →

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

Environment

Urban Heat Island and Heat Action Plans

GS3 Environment and Disaster ManagementPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 July 2026, the Housing and Urban Affairs Minister told the Rajya Sabha what the Centre and States are doing to reduce the urban heat island effect in Indian cities, including Heat Action Plans and AMRUT 2.0 measures.
What it is: The urban heat island effect is the warming of city areas compared with nearby rural areas. It is caused by concrete and asphalt, little vegetation and heat released by human activity. Heat Action Plans are city, district or state plans that set early warnings, response steps and long-term cooling measures, guided by NDMA's 2019 national guidelines.

NDMA guidelines: NDMA framed national guidelines on heat wave action plans in 2019. Cities are to assess vulnerability and put urban heat island mitigation into their Heat Action Plans.
HAP coverage: Heat Action Plans exist in 23 states, 195 districts and 64 cities.
Constitutional basis: Urban planning is a function of States and urban local bodies under the 12th Schedule. The Centre only supports through schemes, advisories and funds.
AMRUT 2.0 heat pilot: A pilot named 'Building Heat Resilient Cities' assesses urban heat in 12 cities, including Bengaluru, Jodhpur and Visakhapatnam.
India Cooling Action Plan: ICAP, released by MoEFCC, aims at sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all by reducing cooling demand and improving energy efficiency.
Delhi projection: Delhi's revised climate plan projects summer maximum temperatures to rise about 1.5°C under SSP 2-4.5 and up to 2.1°C under SSP 5-8.5 by mid-century.

Don’t confuse with Heat wave vs urban heat island: A heat wave is a spell of abnormally high temperature over a region. The urban heat island is a lasting temperature gap between a city and its surroundings, which worsens heat waves in cities.

Don’t confuse with Heat Action Plan vs India Cooling Action Plan: Heat Action Plans (NDMA guidelines, local implementation) manage heat wave risk and response. The India Cooling Action Plan (MoEFCC) addresses long-term cooling demand across sectors.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting disaster-management topic with NDMA 2019 guidelines; environment events are rare in Prelims (2 of 327).

Source: PIB, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, 20 Jul, 19:24 IST · Release 291479

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U 2.0)

GS2 Welfare schemesGS3 Urban developmentPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 July 2026 the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs told the Rajya Sabha that 127.68 lakh houses have been sanctioned under PMAY-U and PMAY-U 2.0, and 99.07 lakh delivered as of 13 July 2026.
What it is: PMAY-U is the Centre's urban housing scheme, run by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs since 2015 to give pucca houses to eligible urban beneficiaries. PMAY-U 2.0 is its revamped version, called the 'Housing for All' Mission, launched in 2024. It is demand driven, and States and UTs plan and select beneficiaries.

PMAY-U 2.0 launch and target: PMAY-U 2.0 took effect from 1 September 2024, to support 1 crore additional eligible beneficiaries over five years.
Four verticals: PMAY-U 2.0 has four verticals: Beneficiary Led Construction, Affordable Housing in Partnership, Affordable Rental Housing and Interest Subsidy Scheme.
Who implements: States and UTs assess demand, prepare projects and select beneficiaries; the Centre sanctions and monitors.

Don’t confuse with PMAY-U vs PMAY-G: PMAY-U covers urban areas under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. PMAY-G covers rural areas and is run by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Don’t confuse with PMAY-U vs PMAY-U 2.0: PMAY-U ran from 2015 and is being extended only to finish sanctioned houses. PMAY-U 2.0 is the new mission from September 2024 for 1 crore more beneficiaries.

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: Major scheme with four verticals; schemes are 52 of 327 Prelims questions. Card only because this update is mostly status data.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, 20 Jul, 19:25 IST · Release 291480

Issue page →

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

Scheme

AMRUT and GIS-based Master Plans

GS2 Urban governanceGS1 UrbanisationPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 20 July 2026, MoHUA and NIUA held a national interaction with 75 cities running the AMRUT Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) programme, under the 'Catch the Rain' campaign.
What it is: AMRUT is the Centre's urban mission for water supply, sewerage and urban infrastructure. Its GIS-based Master Plan sub-scheme helps cities build digital geospatial databases and statutory master plans. AMRUT 2.0 extends this to smaller Class-II towns.

Constitutional basis: Urban planning, including town planning, is a function of Urban Local Bodies under the 12th Schedule. The Centre only supplements State efforts.
Funding: The GIS Master Plan sub-scheme for AMRUT cities is 100% centrally funded.
AMRUT progress: 461 AMRUT cities are onboarded; draft plans are ready for 404 and 292 plans are finalised.
Data standards: AMRUT uses very high resolution satellite imagery at 1:4000 scale. AMRUT 2.0 adds drone mapping at 1:1000 scale.
Cities covered: 75 cities are implementing SAM recharge interventions under AMRUT.
Who organised: MoHUA organised the event with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
What SAM does: It supports cities in enhancing groundwater recharge through scientific planning and technical handholding.
Flood benefit: Bhubaneswar said SAM also helps reduce urban flooding through better stormwater infiltration.

Don’t confuse with AMRUT vs AMRUT 2.0 GIS sub-schemes: The AMRUT sub-scheme targets 461 AMRUT cities (Class-I). The AMRUT 2.0 sub-scheme targets Class-II towns of 50,000-99,999 population, with drone mapping added.

Don’t confuse with URDPFI Guidelines vs the sub-schemes: URDPFI Guidelines are advisory planning norms that encourage GIS tools. The sub-schemes are funded programmes that actually create the databases and plans.

Don’t confuse with SAM vs Catch the Rain: SAM is a programme under AMRUT for urban groundwater recharge in selected cities. Catch the Rain is a wider nationwide campaign on rainwater harvesting.

Don’t confuse with MoHUA vs Jal Shakti: MoHUA runs AMRUT and its SAM component for urban areas. The Ministry of Jal Shakti handles national groundwater and water policy.

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: Groundwater recharge programme in 75 AMRUT cities; lasting but this release is an event with few testable facts.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, 20 Jul, 20:33 IST · Release 291483

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

President Droupadi Murmu began a State Visit to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania on 20 July 2026; it is the first visit by an Indian President to Moldova.

Source: PIB, 20 Jul

What we left out: 39 of 51 releases

Speeches without a decision (4)
Same issue as another release (16)
Routine export news (1)
Meetings and workshops (2)
Routine parliamentary replies (8)
Routine drive tests (4)
Routine project news (1)
Routine data (1)
App feature launches (1)
Routine seizures (1)

Practise the day’s news

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

1WTO Agreement on Fisheries SubsidiesMCQ · 7 true or false
2SMILE Scheme (Beggary Rehabilitation)MCQ · 6 true or false · Mains

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

India has deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, becoming the 123rd Member to do so. Examine the key provisions of the Agreement and discuss its implications for India's fisheries sector, small-scale fishers and seafood exports.

From: WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

Write and get it marked

Keep reading

The day before

Sunday, 19 July 2026Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)

The day after

Tuesday, 21 July 2026Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act, 2013 · Qdenga Dengue Vaccine (CDSCO approval) · Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and 2 more

All days

Practice · 2 Mains question