Current Affairs, 23 January 2026

Legal basis

CERT-In's mandate comes from section 70B of the IT Act, 2000, covering prevention of cyberattacks, monitoring and coordinated response.

Parent ministry

CERT-In operates under MeitY.

NCCC

The National Cyber Coordination Centre, implemented by CERT-In, monitors cyberspace at metadata level for situational awareness.

CSIRTs

CERT-In oversees sectoral CSIRTs (finance, power, telecom) and State/UT CSIRTs.

2025 numbers

CERT-In handled over 29.44 lakh incidents and issued 1,530 alerts, 390 vulnerability notes and 65 advisories.

Don’t confuse with CERT-In vs NCCC: CERT-In is the incident response agency; NCCC is a monitoring centre implemented by it for metadata-level threat detection.

Don’t confuse with CERT-In vs CSIRTs: CSIRTs are sectoral or State teams that work under CERT-In's oversight; CERT-In is the national body.

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 · Q23Define cyber warfare, outline India's cyber threats and preparedness.
2. 2022Mains GS3 · Q19Elements of cyber security and India's National Cyber Security Strategy success.
3. 2017Mains GS3 · Q9Discuss potential cyber attack threats and the security framework to prevent them.
4. 2017Prelims Q85Which entities are legally mandated to report cyber security incidents in India?

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

Nodal department

The national ODOP initiative is led by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

Product selection

States and UTs choose the products based on the local ecosystem and send the final list to DPIIT.

PM Ekta Malls

Unity Malls are retail and display hubs for ODOP, GI and handicraft products, with a space for every State and UT. They run on a PPP model with state ownership.

Online market access

The GeM-ODOP Bazaar is a dedicated ODOP storefront on the Government e-Marketplace.

Don’t confuse with ODOP vs One Station One Product: ODOP is a district-based product promotion drive led by DPIIT. One Station One Product is a separate Railways initiative to sell local products at stations.

Don’t confuse with ODOP vs Districts as Export Hubs: ODOP picks a signature product per district. Districts as Export Hubs is a related export-focused effort that ODOP is aligned with.

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. 2019Mains GS1 · Q6Can regional resource-based manufacturing promote employment in India?
2. 2025Mains GS3 · Q14Scope of food processing industries and government employment measures in them
3. 2022Mains GS3 · Q13Main bottlenecks in upstream and downstream marketing of agricultural products
4. 2026Prelims Q29Implications of Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk in global markets

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

Target

The roadmap aims to commission 100 GW of pumped storage projects by 2035–36.

Storage need

The report projects storage needs of 62 GW by 2029–30 and 161 GW by 2034–35.

Driver

The need rises from non-fossil capacity growing to 500 GW by 2030 and 701 GW by 2035.

Preferred design

The report especially recommends off-stream closed-loop projects.

Publisher

The Central Electricity Authority is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power, set up under the Electricity Act, 2003.

Wider storage goal

The Shivir discussed a target of 300 GWh storage capacity by 2030.

Don’t confuse with Off-stream closed-loop vs on-stream PSP: Off-stream closed-loop projects use two reservoirs away from a river and recycle the water, so they have less impact on river flows. On-stream projects are built on a river.

Don’t confuse with GW vs GWh: GW measures power capacity (the rate of output). GWh measures stored energy. The 100 GW PSP target is capacity; the 300 GWh target is energy.

Reports and indices: 14 Prelims questions since 2013; they test who publishes a report and what it measures.

1. 2013Mains GS3 · Q17Define run-of-river hydroelectricity and contrast it with other hydro projects.
2. 2024Prelims Q38Which option correctly names the context of pumped-storage hydropower?

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

Implementing body

NICRA is run by ICAR under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Its Expert Committee is chaired by Dr. B. Venkateshwarlu.

Coverage

NICRA is implemented at over 200 locations in 151 highly climate-vulnerable districts.

ACASA–India

A web-enabled digital platform built by ICAR-led NARES with BISA–CIMMYT for location-specific, data-driven adaptation planning.

Age of programme

The workshop marked 15 years of NICRA and sought to chart a data-driven roadmap.

Related schemes

The DG named NICRA, PM Fasal Bima Yojana and livestock and fisheries missions as part of India's climate-resilience ecosystem.

Don’t confuse with NICRA vs PMFBY: NICRA is an ICAR research and demonstration programme building adaptive technologies. PMFBY is a crop insurance scheme that compensates farmers for losses.

Don’t confuse with ICAR vs BISA: ICAR is India's apex agricultural research body under the Ministry of Agriculture. BISA is a partner institution working with CIMMYT in South Asia.

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. 2018Mains ESSAY · Q1Essay on alternative technologies for a climate-resilient India
2. 2019Mains GS3 · Q4Impact of National Watershed Project on farm output in water-stressed areas
3. 2026Mains GS1 · Q15Role of satellite technologies in climate-smart agriculture and food security
4. 2021Prelims Q59Which statements on Climate-Smart Village, CCAFS, CGIAR and ICRISAT are correct
5. 2018Prelims Q35Which statements about GACSA's origin, binding nature and India's role are correct

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

Five pillars

The declaration covers purity of electoral rolls, conduct of elections, research and publications, use of technology, and training and capacity building.

Participation

Delegates came from 42 EMBs, and Heads of Missions of 27 countries attended the inaugural session. The conference was billed as the first and largest of its kind.

Joint outputs

EMBs agreed to produce an Encyclopaedia of Democracies of the World, with themed reports led by International IDEA (seven themes) and IIIDEM (36 themes).

ECINET

ECINET, ECI's one-stop digital platform for election information and services, was launched on Day 2.

Follow-up meeting

Participants proposed to meet again on 3-5 December 2026 at IIIDEM, New Delhi, and to review progress periodically.

ECI's constitutional basis

The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body under Article 324, which vests superintendence, direction and control of elections in it.

Don’t confuse with International IDEA vs IIIDEM: International IDEA is an intergovernmental organisation on democracy and elections, based in Stockholm. IIIDEM is ECI's own institute in New Delhi.

Don’t confuse with ECINET vs EVM/voter portals: ECINET is a single digital platform that brings together ECI's information and services. It is not a voting machine or a single-purpose app.

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. 2017Mains GS2 · Q14ECI's 2016 electoral reform proposals and their significance for democracy.
2. 2022Mains GS2 · Q15Role of ECI in light of Model Code of Conduct evolution.
3. 2018Mains GS2 · Q1Challenges before ECI in ensuring election trustworthiness amid EVM controversy.
4. 2017Prelims Q90Statements on ECI composition, election schedule authority, and party split disputes.
5. 2012Prelims Q7Statements on UT representation, CEC's election dispute role, and Parliament's composition.
6. 2011Prelims Q11What the 73rd Amendment provides, including State Election Commissions conducting panchayat elections.

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

Approval and outlay

Cabinet approved the scheme on 7 April 2021 with an outlay of ₹6,238 crore, for FY 2021-22 to FY 2028-29.

Incentive design

Incentive is 6% to 4% on a reducing basis on incremental sales for five years, after the base year and a one-year gestation period.

Nodal agency

The scheme was notified by DPIIT on 16 April 2021.

Domestic value addition goal

Domestic value addition is expected to rise from 20-25% to 75-80%.

Overall selection

85 selected companies are expected to invest ₹11,198 crore and produce ₹1,90,050 crore cumulatively.

Don’t confuse with PLI White Goods vs PLI for ACs as finished goods: This scheme targets components (compressors, copper tubes, BLDC motors, LED drivers), not finished ACs or lights.

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 GS3 · Q12Rationale, achievements, and improvements of the Production Linked Incentive scheme
2. 2016Mains GS3 · Q11Importance of National Programme on LED lighting and renewable energy status
3. 2023Mains GS3 · Q1Government policies to raise manufacturing share, especially MSMEs, in GDP
4. 1998Prelims Q1Which items constitute white goods in the delicensed industry
5. 2023Prelims Q88Whether PLI scheme beneficiaries include local and foreign companies, with explanation linkage

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

Operational waterways

As of March 2026, 32 National Waterways spanning 5,155 km are operational; the number is proposed to rise to 52 in five years.

IWAI Act, 1985

This Act created the Inland Waterways Authority of India to develop and regulate inland waterways for shipping and navigation.

Cargo record

Cargo on National Waterways reached 145.84 million tonnes in FY 2024-25.

Legal basis

The National Waterways Act, 2016 declared 111 National Waterways, replacing the earlier five.

Sites

Lighthouses will be at Bogibeel, Pandu, Silghat and Biswanath Ghat. Biswanath Ghat is the only one on the north bank.

NW-2 length

NW-2 runs from Dhubri to Sadiya over 891 km, the longest navigable stretch of any Indian waterway, as per the release.

DGLL

DGLL is the statutory authority for aids to navigation along India's 11,098 km coastline and now inland waterways.

Institutional steps

IWAI and DGLL signed an MoU on 8 April 2025. Sites were transferred to DGLL under Right of Use agreements in June 2025.

NW-1

NW-1 on the Ganga (Haldia-Prayagraj) was the first national waterway, declared in 1986.

IWDC 3.0

The third council meeting was held in Kochi and chaired by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. It follows IWDC 1.0 in 2024 and IWDC 2.0 in 2025.

Growth in cargo and waterways

Cargo on national waterways rose from 18 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 145.84 million tonnes in 2024-25. Operational waterways rose from 3 to 32.

Number of national waterways

There are 111 national waterways across 23 states and four union territories. IWAI under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the nodal agency.

Jal Vahak scheme

The cargo promotion scheme reimburses up to 35% of operating expenditure on cargo moved by inland waterways. It is valid initially for three years and is being explored for other waterways including Kerala.

Don’t confuse with IWAI Act, 1985 vs National Waterways Act, 2016: The 1985 Act set up IWAI; the 2016 Act declares the 111 National Waterways.

Don’t confuse with Operational vs declared waterways: 111 are declared as National Waterways, but only 32 are operational with fairway, terminals and navigational aids.

Don’t confuse with Declared vs operational: Declaring a waterway as national (by Parliament) is different from making it operational (by IWAI with infrastructure and cargo movement).

Don’t confuse with NW-1 vs NW-2 vs NW-3: NW-1 is the Ganga (Haldia-Prayagraj), NW-2 the Brahmaputra (Dhubri-Sadiya), NW-3 the West Coast Canal (Kollam-Kottapuram).

Don’t confuse with IWAI vs DGLL: IWAI develops and regulates national waterways; DGLL provides aids to navigation such as lighthouses. Both are under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Don’t confuse with IWAI vs IWDC: IWAI is the statutory authority that develops and regulates national waterways. IWDC is a Centre-State council that reviews projects and coordination.

Don’t confuse with NW-2 vs NW-1: NW-2 is the Brahmaputra (Sadiya to Dhubri). NW-1 is the Ganga (Haldia to Prayagraj).

1. 2016Mains GS1 · Q19Problems and prospects of inland water transport in India.
2. 2017Mains GS1 · Q16Converting floods into irrigation and all-weather inland navigation sources.
3. 2020Mains GS1 · Q14Critically examine river interlinking for droughts, floods, and navigation.
4. 2026Prelims Q35Statements on Sagarmala Programme: port-led growth, waterway shipping, Sagarmala 2.0

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

Drafting body

MeitY set up a drafting committee in July 2025 to frame the guidelines.

Structure

The framework has four parts: principles, issues and recommendations, action plan, and practical guidelines.

New institutions

The guidelines recommend the AI Governance Group, the Technology & Policy Expert Committee and resources for the AI Safety Institute.

Compute under IndiaAI Mission

Over 38,000 GPUs are onboarded against a target of 100,000, with subsidised access through the IndiaAI Compute Portal.

Six pillars

Recommendations cover infrastructure, capacity building, policy and regulation, risk mitigation, accountability and institutions.

Data protection enforcer

The Data Protection Board of India is the statutory enforcement body under the DPDP Act, 2023.

Publisher

The white paper was released by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood spoke at the release.

Techno-legal approach

It embeds governance into the design and operation of AI systems by default. It is meant as a practical, ecosystem-wide model.

Layers of safeguards

The approach combines baseline legal safeguards, sector-specific rules, technical controls and institutional mechanisms. It is described as pro-innovation.

Series position

This is the second paper in the series on Emerging Policy Priorities for India's AI Ecosystem. The first, in December 2025, covered democratising access to AI infrastructure.

Nature of the papers

The papers are explanatory knowledge documents, not binding rules. They aim to inform policy debate and support India's role in global AI governance.

Don’t confuse with AI Governance Group vs Technology & Policy Expert Committee: The AIGG coordinates overall AI policy. The TPEC only advises it with expert inputs.

Don’t confuse with IndiaAI Mission vs these Guidelines: The Mission builds compute, data and skills. The Guidelines set governance principles and institutions.

Don’t confuse with White paper vs Guidelines: The OPSA white paper is an explanatory document. The India AI Governance Guidelines are a framework drafted by a MeitY committee. Do not treat them as one document.

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. 2024Mains GS4 · Q1Critically examine AI as dependable input for administrative decisions, ethically.
2. 2026Mains GS4 · Q8Ethical issues of AI predictive policing using biometric crowd data.
3. 2026Mains GS4 · Q1Discuss accountability and integrity of professor's AI-generated PhD evaluation report.

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