Current Affairs, 20 September 2026

Five platforms

CIL's portfolio covers coal gasification and coal-to-chemicals, thermal power, renewables and storage, critical minerals and advanced materials, and diversified minerals including iron ore.

Underground Coal Gasification pilot

A phased UCG pilot is under way at Kasta West Block of ECL. It targets deep or unmineable coal, and the technology is not yet commercially proven globally.

Chandrapura power JV

CIL and Damodar Valley Corporation plan a 2×800 MW ultra-supercritical brownfield expansion at Chandrapura, Jharkhand, via a proposed 50:50 joint venture.

R&D framework

CIL's R&D Policy and Guidelines of 2026 prioritise projects at TRL 4 and above. NaCCER is the nodal agency.

Don’t confuse with Coal gasification vs Underground Coal Gasification: Surface gasification converts mined coal into syngas in a plant. UCG converts coal in place underground, suiting deep or unmineable seams.

Don’t confuse with CIL vs its subsidiaries: CIL is the parent company. Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) is one of its subsidiaries and hosts the Kasta West UCG pilot.

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.

1. 2017Mains GS1 · Q6Discuss whether coal mining is inevitable despite environmental impact.
2. 2014Mains GS3 · Q15Discuss environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants at pitheads.
3. 2022Mains GS3 · Q12Can India meet 50% energy from renewables by 2030; subsidy shift?
4. 2025Prelims Q6Which statements on critical minerals, MSP and MMDR amendment are correct?
5. 2026Prelims Q95Which statements on rare earth elements and critical minerals are correct?

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

Implementing department

The Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, runs the scheme and is organising the Goa workshop.

Components named

The release names Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programmes, and VIDHI-Sanjeevani as initiatives of the Department.

Delivery partners

Tele-Law reaches people through Common Service Centres, using Village Level Entrepreneurs, Panel Lawyers and Nyaya Sahayaks.

Nyaya Bandhu

Law schools take part in the Nyaya Bandhu Pro Bono Legal Services Programme, which promotes pro bono legal service by students and young lawyers.

Nyaya Prabodh campaign

The 'Know Your Rights in 90 Seconds' reels campaign aims to improve legal literacy; a slogan competition will be launched.

Outlay and type

DISHA 2.0 is a Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of Rs 255 crore for 2026-31, implemented pan India.

Four components

Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme, and VIDHI-Sanjeevani.

Tele-Law access

Pre-litigation advice from panel lawyers through a mobile app, toll-free number 14454 and video facilities at Common Service Centres run by Village Level Entrepreneurs.

VIDHI-Sanjeevani

A centralised integrated dashboard to monitor the scheme, to be linked with the Nyaya Setu AI chatbot. It targets 50 lakh beneficiaries over 2026-31 with no state-specific targets.

Don’t confuse with DISHA vs NALSA: DISHA is a Department of Justice scheme. NALSA is the statutory body under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, which oversees legal aid.

Don’t confuse with Tele-Law vs Nyaya Bandhu: Tele-Law gives legal advice through CSCs. Nyaya Bandhu connects pro bono lawyers and law students with those needing help.

Don’t confuse with DISHA 2.0 vs NALSA legal aid: NALSA and the legal services authorities under the 1987 Act give free legal aid through statutory bodies. DISHA is a Department of Justice scheme using technology, Tele-Law and pro bono advocates.

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

1. 2023Mains GS2 · Q2Entitlement to free legal aid and NALSA's role in providing it.
2. 2013Prelims Q71Statements on NALSA's objective and guidelines to State Legal Services Authorities.
3. 2020Prelims Q9Which citizen groups get free legal services from Legal Services Authorities?

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

Legal basis

CAT was established in 1985 under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, to give speedy and affordable justice in service matters.

Constitutional source

The Act was passed under Article 323A, which lets Parliament set up administrative tribunals for service matters of public employees.

Filing fee

A nominal fee of ₹50 is charged for an Original Application. Miscellaneous Applications, Review Applications and Contempt Petitions carry no fee.

All-India workload

Up to 30 June 2026, 10,01,177 cases were filed before CAT and 9,32,723 disposed of, a rate of about 93.16 per cent.

Jammu Bench composition

The Jammu Bench began with one Division Bench and now has a second. It has two Judicial Members and two Administrative Members.

Appeals

Only about 8 per cent of Jammu Bench cases have gone in appeal to the J&K High Court.

Don’t confuse with Article 323A vs 323B: Article 323A covers administrative tribunals for public service matters. Article 323B covers tribunals for other subjects such as taxation and land reforms.

Don’t confuse with CAT vs State Administrative Tribunals: CAT hears central government employees' service cases. State Administrative Tribunals, where set up, handle state employees' cases.

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.

1. 2019Mains GS2 · Q2Explain how CAT now functions as an independent judicial authority.
2. 2025Mains GS2 · Q2Need for administrative tribunals versus courts; 2021 reforms assessment
3. 2018Mains GS2 · Q12Whether tribunals curtail court jurisdiction; their constitutional validity and competency
4. 2009Prelims Q87Statements on CAT's setup under Shastri and member composition

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

Stages of money laundering

The speaker explained the three stages: Placement, Layering and Integration.

PMLA sections discussed

Sections 3, 4, 5, 8, 44 and 45 of the PMLA were covered with judicial precedents.

Core issue

The difficulty arises when assets of a corporate debtor are attached under PMLA during insolvency resolution.

Section 32A origin

Section 32A was inserted into the IBC by the 2020 Amendment (Ordinance, later Act).

Section 3 PMLA

Section 3 of the PMLA defines the offence of money laundering.

Don’t confuse with PMLA Section 3 vs Section 4: Section 3 defines the offence of money laundering; Section 4 prescribes the punishment.

Don’t confuse with Adjudicating Authority vs Appellate Tribunal under PMLA: The Adjudicating Authority first confirms provisional attachment; the Appellate Tribunal hears appeals against its orders.

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.

1. 2013Mains GS3 · Q21Significance of money laundering for India and steps to control it
2. 2021Mains GS3 · Q9How technology and globalisation aid money laundering; national and international countermeasures

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