Current Affairs, 23 February 2026

Size and period

NMP 2.0 estimates total monetisation potential of ₹16.72 lakh crore over FY2026 to FY2030, including ₹5.8 lakh crore of private investment.

Who prepared it

NITI Aayog prepared it with infrastructure line ministries, on the mandate of the Asset Monetisation Plan 2025-30 in Budget 2025-26.

Monitoring body

The Core Group of Secretaries on Asset Monetisation, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, continues to monitor progress.

Methods of monetisation

Asset monetisation includes limited-period transfer of assets, partial divestment of listed entities, securitisation of cash flows and strategic commercial auctions. Instruments include PPP concessions and InvITs.

Where proceeds go

Revenue from projects run by Central ministries goes to the Consolidated Fund of India. PSU proceeds go to the PSU, and mines and coal royalties go to State Consolidated Funds.

Don’t confuse with Monetisation vs disinvestment: Monetisation transfers use or operation of assets for a period, and government keeps ownership. Disinvestment sells government equity in a PSU.

Don’t confuse with NMP 1.0 vs NMP 2.0: NMP 1.0 had a ₹6 lakh crore target over 4 years. NMP 2.0 has ₹16.72 lakh crore over 5 years (FY2026-30).

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. 2022Mains GS3 · Q1Why PPP is needed in infrastructure, and its role in railway station redevelopment
2. 2020Mains GS3 · Q11Factors to consider in designing a public-private concession agreement
3. 2017Mains GS3 · Q3Development of airports through PPP joint ventures, and the challenges faced
4. 2023Prelims Q21Tax treatment of InvIT interest and dividends, and whether InvITs are borrowers
5. 2025Prelims Q10Whether borrowings and disinvestment are capital receipts creating government liabilities

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

Set up

TKDL was established in 2001 jointly by CSIR and the department that is now the Ministry of Ayush.

Systems covered

It covers Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga.

Languages

Content in Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil, Urdu, Bhoti and others is transcribed into English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese.

Purpose and access

It prevents misappropriation of traditional knowledge through patents. 18 patent offices have access under non-disclosure agreements with CSIR.

Impact

Since 2009, 375 patent applications were refused, withdrawn, amended or set aside based on TKDL evidence.

Biodiversity law

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 regulates access to biological resources and associated traditional knowledge, with benefit sharing through the National Biodiversity Authority.

Content

It has over 5.2 lakh formulations and practices from Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga.

Access terms

Patent offices get access through Non-Disclosure Agreements; with Brazil the count is eighteen.

Don’t confuse with TKDL vs Biological Diversity Act: TKDL blocks wrongful patents by supplying prior art. The Biological Diversity Act regulates access to biological resources and shares benefits through the NBA.

Don’t confuse with Prior art vs patent: Prior art is existing public knowledge used to show an invention is not novel. A patent is an exclusive right granted for a new invention.

Don’t confuse with Defensive vs positive protection: TKDL is defensive: it blocks wrong patents by supplying prior art. Positive protection would give holders their own rights, such as a patent or sui generis right.

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.

1. 2015Mains GS3 · Q14Pros and cons of making TKDL's medicinal formulation database open-source.
2. 2019Mains GS3 · Q15How India protects traditional medicine knowledge from pharmaceutical patenting.
3. 2024Mains GS3 · Q5IPR world scenario on life materials and reasons for poor commercialization of Indian patents.
4. 2016Prelims Q27Overall goal of FAO's GIAHS: safeguarding traditional farm practices and knowledge systems.

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

Original treaty

The India-France DTAC was first signed on 29 September 1992 and is now amended by a Protocol.

Capital gains

Capital gains from sale of shares are taxable fully in the country where the company is resident.

Dividend rates

The single 10% dividend tax rate is replaced by 5% for holders of at least 10% of capital and 15% in other cases.

MFN clause

The Most-Favoured-Nation clause is deleted from the Protocol to the DTAC.

FTS and PE

Fees for Technical Services is aligned with the India-US treaty definition, and Service PE is added to Permanent Establishment.

Information and MLI

Exchange of Information is updated, a new Article on Assistance in Collection of Taxes is added, and BEPS MLI provisions are incorporated.

Don’t confuse with DTAC vs MLI: A DTAC is a bilateral treaty; the BEPS Multilateral Instrument (MLI) is a multilateral convention that modifies many bilateral treaties at once.

Don’t confuse with Service PE vs Fees for Technical Services: Service PE decides when service provision creates a taxable presence; FTS is a category of income defined in the treaty.

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.

1. 2018Mains GS3 · Q2Changes to long-term capital gains tax and dividend distribution tax in Budget 2018-19
2. 2010Prelims Q30Why does Mauritius attract more FDI than UK and France? Double taxation avoidance agreement
3. 2018Prelims Q8Equalisation tax on non-resident advertising; tax credit under double taxation avoidance agreements

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

Administering ministry

The scheme is run by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

Nature of the scheme

It is need-based and sets no merit criteria.

The change

A student on the welfare scholarship may also receive a merit-based scholarship from a Central or State agency, where eligible. This departs from the earlier provision.

Beneficiaries

About one lakh students benefit each year, and the reform is expected to cover more.

Legal link

The reform is tied to the Code on Social Security, 2020, which covers social security and welfare, including education, for unorganised workers and their families.

Don’t confuse with Welfare vs merit scholarship: The Labour Ministry scheme is need-based for specified worker groups. Merit-based scholarships come from other Central or State agencies and depend on academic performance.

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. 2026Mains GS2 · Q18Education as welfare obligation versus strategic investment; critically evaluate.
2. 2019Mains GS2 · Q18Why vulnerable-section welfare schemes underperform without awareness and involvement; discuss.

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

Pilot states

The pilot runs in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Odisha.

Instruments in the van

Vans carry ultrasonic pulse velocity meters, rebound hammers, asphalt density gauges and reflectometers, among others.

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity meter

It sends sound waves through concrete to reveal hidden cracks, voids and inconsistencies.

Reflectometer

It checks the visibility of road signs and markings, day and night.

Quality Monitoring Portal

MoRTH is developing a National Highway Quality Monitoring Portal with online test reports and real-time GPS tracking of vans.

Don’t confuse with Rebound hammer vs UPV meter: Rebound hammer measures surface hardness to estimate concrete strength. UPV meter sends sound waves through concrete to find internal cracks and voids.

Don’t confuse with Reflectometer vs Light-Weight Deflectometer: Reflectometer checks visibility of signs and markings. Light-Weight Deflectometer estimates compaction of soil and sub-base.

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.

1. 2013Mains GS4 · Q10Executive Engineer's response to juniors falsely reporting flyover construction compliant with specifications
2. 2021Mains GS4 · Q9Project manager's handling of a quality defect found during surprise inspection of an elevated corridor

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

Verticals

The new sanctions came under Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) and Affordable Rental Housing (ARH). The scheme also has an interest subsidy vertical (ISS), which the release names.

Who sanctions

The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC), chaired by the MoHUA Secretary, approves projects. Its 6th meeting was held on 23 Feb 2026.

Target groups

The scheme serves EWS, LIG and MIG urban families.

Rental housing

ARH is a separate vertical for urban migrants, the homeless, industrial workers, working women, construction workers and other vulnerable groups.

Demonstration projects

Three Demonstration Housing Projects of 40 units each were approved in Chhattisgarh, Puducherry and Rajasthan to showcase modern, cost-effective construction.

Women's ownership

96% of houses in BLC and ISS are in the name of the female head of the household or in joint ownership.

Don’t confuse with BLC vs AHP: BLC supports individuals building on their own land. AHP is for housing projects built in partnership with public or private agencies.

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. 2025Mains GS1 · Q8How smart cities address urban poverty and distributive justice in India
2. 2023Mains GS1 · Q18Whether urbanization segregates and marginalizes the poor in Indian metropolises
3. 1997Prelims Q89Which programme includes urban micro enterprises, urban wage employment, and housing and shelter upgradation schemes
4. 2017Prelims Q41Statements on the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development

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