UPSC current affairs · Wednesday

Current Affairs, 22 April 2026

6 issues picked from 41 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

Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. MeitY notifies rules to operationalise the online gaming law, creating a regulator and appeals.
Ramsar Sites in India and Glaw Lake. Shekha Jheel in Aligarh becomes India's 99th Ramsar site; Uttar Pradesh has 12.
Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme. Revised TDIP guidelines fund India's role in global telecom standards, with ₹203 crore for 2026–31.
National Pension System and Atal Pension Yojana. Atal Pension Yojana crosses 9 crore gross enrolments; FY26 saw record 1.35 crore sign-ups.
Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS). PMIS pilot now open to final-year graduate and postgraduate students with a college NOC.
Wind Energy in India. India added a record 6.1 GW wind capacity in 2025–26; targets 100 GW by 2030.

Law and statutory body

Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025

GS3 Science & Tech · Cyber regulationGS2 GovernancePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 22 April 2026, MeitY notified the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 under the PROG Act, 2025. The Rules come into force on 1 May 2026.
What it is: The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 bans all online money games, whether of chance, skill or both. It promotes e-sports and online social games. It creates the Online Gaming Authority of India as regulator. The 2026 Rules supply the procedures for classification, registration, grievances and penalties.

Scope of ban: The ban covers money games of chance, skill or a mix. Advertising, promotion and facilitation are also barred.
Online Gaming Authority of India: It is an attached office of MeitY, headquartered in Delhi, chaired by the Additional Secretary, MeitY. It has Joint Secretary level members from Home, Finance, I&B, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Law.
Determination of a game: Classification is to be completed, as far as practicable, within 90 days. It can start by the Authority's suo motu action, a provider's application or Central Government notification.
Enabling power: Section 19 of the Act lets the Centre make rules. MeitY is the nodal ministry.
Structure of the Rules: The Rules have 6 Parts and 26 Rules.
Determination timeline: Determination of whether a game is an online money game should be completed within 90 days where practicable (Rule 10).
Registration validity: The Certificate of Registration carries a unique number and is valid for up to 10 years.
Appeals: A user can appeal to the Authority within 30 days. A second appeal lies to the Secretary, MeitY, as Appellate Authority.

Don’t confuse with Online money games vs online social games: Money games involve financial stakes and are banned. Social games are casual, mostly skill-based and permitted.

Don’t confuse with Authority vs Appellate Authority: The Authority (chaired by Additional Secretary, MeitY) hears the first appeal. The Appellate Authority (Secretary, MeitY) hears the second.

Don’t confuse with Online money game vs online social game: Money games involve stakes or expected monetary winnings and are prohibited. Social games and e-sports are permitted, and e-sports must be registered.

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.

Why it matters

Replaces patchy state laws and court battles with one national framework for online gaming.
Protects users from addiction, financial loss and money laundering linked to money games.
Gives legal recognition to e-sports and social games, supporting the creative economy.
Gives legal certainty by setting objective criteria and time limits for classifying games.
Protects children and vulnerable users through age-gating, time limits and parental controls.
Cuts off financial channels by involving banks and payment systems in enforcement.

Problems

Classifying games with mixed chance and skill by objective tests may be contested in court, including on the right to trade.
A total ban may push users to offshore or unlicensed platforms, which are hard to block.
Enforcement needs coordination among the Authority, banks, payment systems and state cyber cells.
Classifying hybrid games is hard because revenue models and in-game asset redemption vary widely.
The regulator is an attached office of MeitY and the appeal lies to the Secretary, which raises independence concerns.
Offshore platforms and VPN access make enforcement difficult.

Way forward

Keep determination orders transparent, time-bound and open to appeal to withstand legal challenge.
Strengthen cyber enforcement and financial tracking against offshore platforms.
Run awareness and counselling support for users and families.
Publish clear determination orders and the list of money games to build predictability.
Coordinate Authority, RBI, banks and State police, and block payment channels for prohibited games.
Add awareness and counselling support alongside enforcement.

Put in your answer

Harm estimate: Around 45 crore people are estimated to have been affected by money games, with losses above Rs 20,000 crore.

Safety features: The Rules require age verification, age gating, time restrictions and parental controls.

Determination factors (Rule 9): Fees or stakes, expectation of monetary winnings, the revenue model, and redemption of rewards outside the game.

Two-tier grievance redress: Provider first, then the Authority (30 days to appeal, 30 days to dispose), then the Secretary MeitY as Appellate Authority.

User safety features: Age verification, time restrictions, parental controls, reporting tools and counselling support.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 12

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

1.The Online Gaming Authority of India is chaired by the Additional Secretary, MeitY.
2.The Act bans online money games only if they are based purely on chance.
3.The second appeal against the Authority's decision lies before the Secretary, MeitY.
4.Under the Rules, registration is mandatory for every online game offered in India.
5.A Certificate of Registration under the Rules is valid for up to 10 years.
6.Fines imposed under the Act are credited to the Online Gaming Authority's own fund.
7.The Authority is constituted as an attached office of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
8.The Online Gaming Authority of India is constituted as an attached office of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
9.The Authority is chaired ex officio by the Secretary, MeitY.
10.Registration under the Rules is compulsory for every online social game.
11.A Certificate of Registration issued by the Authority is valid for up to 10 years.
12.An online money game can be recognised as an e-sport under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Electronics & IT, 22 Apr, 18:14 IST · Release 288150

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 21 April 2026 (announced; release dated 22 April), Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, as India's 99th Ramsar site. Uttar Pradesh now has 12 sites.
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., 22 Apr, 10:01 IST · Release 288120

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme

GS3 Science & Tech · TelecomPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 22 April 2026, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia released revised guidelines for the TDIP Scheme, with an outlay of ₹203 crore for 2026–31.
What it is: TDIP is a Department of Telecommunications scheme. It funds Indian participation in global telecom standard-setting bodies and helps Indian technologies get into those standards. It also supports indigenous telecom technology development.

Outlay: The revised scheme has a total outlay of ₹203 crore for 2026–31.
Standards bodies: It aims to raise India's influence in the ITU, 3GPP and oneM2M.
What it funds: It supports travel to global meetings, technical contributions, study group leadership and hosting of international standards events in India.
Expanded scope: The revised guidelines extend support to startups, MSMEs, academia, research institutions, telecom service providers and industry.
Implementing agencies: TSDSI, TCoE India and TCIL are the designated implementing agencies.
Related initiatives: The scheme complements the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) and the Bharat 6G Mission.

Don’t confuse with TDIP vs TTDF: TDIP funds participation in global standards and investment promotion. TTDF funds indigenous telecom R&D by startups, academia and others.

Don’t confuse with TSDSI vs TCIL: TSDSI is India's telecom standards body. TCIL is a public sector telecom consultancy company.

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 Communications, 22 Apr, 19:11 IST · Release 288155

Issue page →

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

Scheme

National Pension System and Atal Pension Yojana

GS3 Economy · Social security and pensionsGS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 22 April 2026 the Finance Ministry said Atal Pension Yojana total gross enrolments passed 9 crore on 21 April 2026. Enrolments in FY 2025–26 crossed 1.35 crore, the highest in a single year.
What it is: Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is a government-backed pension scheme, mainly for unorganised-sector workers. It is run by PFRDA under the National Pension System and is delivered through banks and the Department of Posts. It was launched in 2015 along with PMJJBY and PMSBY to widen social security cover.

Regulator: PFRDA runs APY. Banks, State Level Bankers' Committees (SLBCs) and the Department of Posts deliver it.
Record enrolment: APY added 1.35 crore subscribers in FY 2025-26, its highest annual enrolment.
Cumulative reach: Gross enrolments crossed 9.10 crore as of 18 May 2026, covering all States and UTs.
Launch: APY was launched on 9 May 2015 as part of the Jan Suraksha schemes.
APY eligibility: Open to bank account holders aged 18 to 40 who are not income tax payers.
APY administrator: APY is run by PFRDA under the National Pension System architecture.
APY pension slabs: Guaranteed monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 after age 60, depending on contributions.
NPS two-tier structure: Tier I is the primary retirement account with withdrawal restrictions. Tier II is a voluntary savings account with more liquidity.
NPS Vatsalya: NPS Vatsalya (2024) lets parents or guardians open a pension account for a minor. It converts to a regular NPS account when the minor reaches majority.
Launch date: APY was launched on 9 May 2015.
Administered by: PFRDA administers the scheme.
Eligibility: Open to Indian citizens aged 18 to 40, except current or past income tax payers.
Pension benefit: Guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 after age 60.
Delivery channels: Banks of all types and the Department of Posts enrol subscribers.

Don’t confuse with APY vs NPS: APY is a fixed-pension scheme within NPS aimed at unorganised workers. NPS is the wider market-linked pension system.

Don’t confuse with APY vs PMJJBY/PMSBY: PMJJBY and PMSBY are one-year renewable insurance covers. APY is a long-term pension scheme.

Don’t confuse with PMJJBY vs PMSBY: PMJJBY covers death from any cause (ages 18-50, Rs 436). PMSBY covers accidental death and disability (ages 18-70, Rs 20).

Don’t confuse with NPS vs UPS: NPS gives no assured payout and depends on market returns, with 14% government contribution. UPS is an option within NPS with an assured payout and a pool corpus.

Don’t confuse with EPS vs NPS: EPS (1995) is EPFO-run, pooled and formula-based for organised private workers. NPS is an individual-account scheme regulated by PFRDA.

Don’t confuse with APY vs PMJJBY and PMSBY: PMJJBY and PMSBY are life and accident insurance schemes launched alongside APY in 2015; APY is a pension 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.

Why it matters

Extends old-age income security to unorganised workers who lack formal pensions.
Rising women and youth enrolment shows growing awareness of retirement planning.
Gives low-cost insurance and pension cover to poor and unorganised-sector workers through bank and post office accounts.
Digital enrolment through the Jan Suraksha Portal and faster claim settlement widen reach.
Extends old-age income security beyond government employees to informal workers.
Contributory schemes support fiscal sustainability and build long-term savings.
Record enrolments show growing reach through banks and post offices.

Problems

Subscriber persistency: many may stop contributing, which the Secretary flagged.
Reaching the urban informal sector remains limited.
Cover is one-year and needs yearly renewal by auto-debit, so lapses can occur.
APY excludes income tax payers and gives a fixed pension whose real value may fall with inflation.
Market-linked NPS gives uncertain payouts, and low-income informal workers may not save regularly.
Social pensions under NSAP are small, averaging about ₹1,000 a month in most States/UTs.
Contributions are voluntary, and many subscribers may stop paying or drop out.
Fixed pension amounts may lose real value over decades through inflation.

Way forward

Strengthen financial literacy and subscriber engagement through banks and SLBCs.
Expand outreach among urban informal workers.
Strengthen awareness and ease renewal and claim processes, especially in rural areas.
Review pension slabs and cover amounts periodically against inflation.
Raise social pension amounts and widen enrolment of informal and gig workers through digital outreach.
Keep strengthening PFRDA oversight and subscriber awareness on annuity choices.
Improve retention through auto-debit reminders and financial literacy.
Review pension levels and incentives so that benefits keep pace with inflation.

Put in your answer

APY scale: APY has over 9 crore gross enrolments and AUM above ₹54,000 crore, showing the reach of the pension scheme.

Persistency focus: The DFS Secretary stressed persistency, financial literacy and urban informal outreach as priorities.

Claims paid under PMJJBY: Rs 21,512.50 crore paid for 10,75,625 claims as on 29.04.2026.

Claims paid under PMSBY: Rs 3,667.52 crore paid for 1,84,662 claims as on 29.04.2026.

Women in APY: Females are around 49% of APY enrolments, showing gender inclusion.

Multi-pillar pension system: India's pensions combine defined-benefit, contributory, statutory payroll-linked and tax-funded social pensions.

NSAP top-ups: As of August 2025, States/UTs top up NSAP by ₹50 to ₹3800 a month per beneficiary.

Code on Social Security, 2020: It provides enabling provisions to extend social security, including pension-linked benefits, to gig and platform workers.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting scheme on the syllabus with a milestone of 9 crore enrolments. Already on file, so a card only, with no new debate.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Finance, 22 Apr, 15:45 IST · Release 288135

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS)

GS2 Welfare schemes · Skills and employmentGS3 EconomyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 22 April 2026 the Ministry of Corporate Affairs widened the pilot phase of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme to cover final-year graduate and postgraduate students aged 18-25, in consultation with the Department of Higher Education.
What it is: The Prime Minister Internship Scheme is a Government of India scheme run by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It offers structured, paid internships in top companies to young people. It is currently in a pilot phase.

Nodal ministry: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs runs the scheme and its portal, in consultation with the Department of Higher Education for this change.
New eligibility: Final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students can now apply, besides meeting existing criteria.
NOC condition: Students must submit a No Objection Certificate from their institution, confirming the internship will not interfere with academics.
Who can sign the NOC: Heads of Department, Deans, Principals or Training & Placement Officers.
Assistance: Interns get minimum financial assistance of ₹9,000 per month.

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: Scheme (52 of 327 Prelims questions) with a changed eligibility. Details are thin for statements, so a card only.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, 22 Apr, 16:02 IST · Release 288136

Issue page →

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

Economy

Wind Energy in India

GS3 EnergyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 22 April 2026, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi told the WIPPA Foundation Day that India added a record 6.1 GW of wind capacity in 2025–26. He restated targets of 100 GW by 2030 and 156 GW by 2036.
What it is: Wind energy is India's second-largest renewable source after solar. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy leads policy, and the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), Chennai, does resource assessment and testing. India has a long coast and strong wind belts in the western and southern states, so it has both onshore and offshore potential.

Gross potential: Estimated gross wind potential is 695.5 GW at 120 m and 1,163.9 GW at 150 m hub height.
Record addition: A record 6.05 GW was added in 2025-26, beating 4.15 GW in 2024-25.
Offshore VGF: Viability Gap Funding of ₹6,853 crore is approved for 1,000 MW offshore wind, 500 MW each off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Contracts for Difference: A 500 MW CfD pilot has been launched. CfD reduces price volatility and gives revenue certainty to developers.
Targets: India aims for 100 GW wind capacity by 2030 and 156 GW by 2036.
Global rank and capacity: India ranks fourth globally in wind energy, with over 56.1 GW installed and 28 GW more under implementation.
Potential: Wind potential at 150 m hub height is estimated at nearly 1164 GW.
Peak-hour role: About 45% of wind generation occurs in peak demand hours, so it complements solar.
CfD pilot: A 500 MW pilot under the Contracts for Difference model has been launched to give revenue certainty.
Cumulative capacity: Total installed wind capacity has crossed 56 GW.
Lead states: Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra contributed most of the addition during the year.
ISTS waiver: The government gives a graded waiver of Inter-State Transmission System charges until June 2028 to promote wind power.
2030 target: The addition supports India's target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
NIWE: The National Institute of Wind Energy is in Chennai and is an autonomous institution under MNRE.

Don’t confuse with Viability Gap Funding vs Generation Based Incentive: VGF is a capital support to make a project viable (here offshore wind). GBI pays per unit of electricity generated.

Don’t confuse with Contracts for Difference vs fixed-tariff PPA: CfD settles the gap between a strike price and market price to give revenue certainty. A fixed-tariff PPA fixes the price paid by the buyer.

Don’t confuse with RPO vs ALMM: Renewable Purchase Obligation makes distribution companies and large buyers procure a share of renewable power, creating demand. ALMM lists approved models and manufacturers, promoting domestic manufacturing.

Don’t confuse with Onshore vs offshore wind: Onshore turbines are on land, with most Indian capacity in states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Offshore turbines are at sea and are at an early stage in India.

Don’t confuse with ISTS waiver vs RCO: The ISTS waiver cuts transmission charges for renewable power. The Renewable Consumption Obligation requires designated consumers to use a minimum share of renewable energy.

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.

Why it matters

Wind generates about 45% of its output in peak demand hours, complementing solar and aiding grid reliability.
Domestic manufacturing (about 24 GW capacity, 70-80% indigenisation) supports energy security and industrial growth.
Wind peaks in evening and night hours, balancing solar and easing peak demand.
Domestic manufacturing above 24 GW a year supports energy security and the net-zero 2070 goal.
Wind complements solar because it often generates at different times of day, which helps grid balance.
It helps India move towards 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.

Problems

Regulatory, land, transmission and implementation delays slow projects; a Task Force was set up in January 2026 to address them.
Offshore wind is new in India and needs finance, ports and supply chains.
Deviation Settlement Mechanism penalties, curtailment and transmission delays hurt developers.
Few new wind tenders and costly finance slow the pace of capacity addition.
Transmission readiness and grid integration of variable power remain constraints.
Good land sites are limited, and land acquisition is difficult.

Way forward

Strengthen transmission, storage-linked round-the-clock models and AI-based forecasting.
Expand into emerging states such as Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha and develop offshore leasing areas.
Expand Green Energy Corridor transmission, repower old turbines and promote wind-solar-storage hybrid and round-the-clock projects.
Mobilise low-cost long-term finance through blended finance, credit enhancement and CfD.
Build transmission alongside projects and expand wind-solar hybrids and storage.
Develop offshore wind and repower old turbines to raise output from existing sites.

Put in your answer

Wind capacity growth: Installed capacity rose 2.66-fold from 21.04 GW to 56.09 GW between March 2014 and March 2026.

Offshore wind support: ₹6,853 crore VGF for 1,000 MW offshore wind off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

India-UK cooperation: An India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce was launched in February 2026.

Manufacturing base: Annual wind manufacturing capacity exceeds 24 GW, with 70–80% indigenisation.

Policy measures: Policy tools include a wind component in RPO, Late Payment Surcharge rules, ALMM and Green Energy Open Access.

Capacity data: India has over 56.1 GW of installed wind capacity, ranking fourth globally.

Policy support measures: Concessional customs duty on components, ISTS waiver till June 2028, competitive bidding and separate wind RCO.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Issue on file. Wind capacity of 56.1 GW and targets are useful, but mostly data, so a card only.

Source: PIB, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, 22 Apr, 18:46 IST · Release 288154

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

Quick facts

India and Germany signed a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an arrangement on UN Peacekeeping Training in Berlin on 22 April 2026.
Justice Lisa Gill has been appointed Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court from 25 April 2026.

Source: PIB, 22 Apr

What we left out: 33 of 41 releases

Speeches without a decision (8)
Meetings and schedules (5)
Routine data (2)
Ceremonies and campaigns (10)
Routine exercises (1)
Routine seizures (1)
Same issue as another release (3)
Research results without syllabus link (1)
Routine approvals (1)
Awards without syllabus link (1)

Practise the day’s news

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

1Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025MCQ · 12 true or false · Mains
2Ramsar Sites in India and Glaw LakeMCQ · 32 true or false · Mains
3Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) SchemeMCQ · 7 true or false

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, notified by MeitY under the PROG Act, 2025, set up the Online Gaming Authority of India, a test to classify games, a registration regime and a two-tier appeal system. Examine the key provisions of the Rules and discuss the challenges in regulating online gaming while balancing user protection with the growth of e-sports and the industry.

From: Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025

Write and get it marked

Keep reading

The day before

Tuesday, 21 April 2026PLI Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)

The day after

Thursday, 23 April 2026NAMASTE Scheme (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) · Sustainable Aviation Fuel and ATF Control Order · PM-AASHA (Price Support Scheme for pulses) and 4 more

All days

Practice · 3 Mains question