Current Affairs, 23 March 2026

Base change

CPI base year moves from 2012=100 to 2024=100.

Weights source

The item basket and weights are updated using HCES 2023-24.

Sample markets

Sample markets in rural and urban areas rise from 2295 to 2860.

Online markets

12 online markets are added across the 12 biggest towns, those with over 25 lakh population per Census 2011.

Online price collection

E-commerce prices are collected weekly in all four weeks, and a monthly average is used in CPI.

Compiler

MoSPI compiles the national CPI; the RBI uses CPI-Combined as its inflation target measure (4% with a band of 2%).

Don’t confuse with CPI vs WPI: CPI tracks retail prices paid by consumers and is compiled by MoSPI. WPI tracks wholesale prices and is compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT.

Don’t confuse with HCES vs PLFS: HCES measures household consumption spending; PLFS measures employment and unemployment. Both are NSO surveys.

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. 2021Mains GS3 · Q1Explain differences in GDP computation methodology before and after 2015 base revision
2. 2024Mains GS3 · Q2Causes of persistent food inflation and RBI monetary policy effectiveness
3. 2019Mains GS3 · Q2Whether steady GDP growth and low inflation leave India in good shape
4. 2020Prelims Q67Statements on CPI versus WPI food weightage and services coverage; which are correct
5. 1997Prelims Q67Which index measures inflation in India: WPI or a consumer price index
6. 2010Prelims Q86Statements on WPI frequency and food weight compared with CPI(IW)

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

Pending cases

Maharashtra had 14,726 pending individual forest rights cases at the end of January 2026: 6,158 claims and 8,568 appeals.

Who implements

States and UTs implement the Act. The Tribal Affairs Ministry issues directions and guidelines.

Land is a State subject

Land and its management fall in the State List, Entry 18, Seventh Schedule.

Gram Sabha role

Under the Act, the Gram Sabha initiates the process of determining rights. It is the first authority in the claim process, followed by the Sub-Divisional Level Committee and the District Level Committee.

Role of the Gram Sabha

MoTA has directed that Forest Rights Committees function properly and that Gram Sabhas play the central role in receiving, verifying and recommending claims.

Enactment

The Act was passed in 2006 and the rules came into force in 2008. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal ministry.

Nodal ministry

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is driving the move to an integrated digital platform for implementing and monitoring the FRA.

Next steps

After a two-day village field visit, the student teams will hold a two-day hackathon at the National Tribal Research Institute, New Delhi, to finalise the portal design.

Don’t confuse with IFR vs CFR: Individual Forest Rights cover land for habitation and self-cultivation. Community Forest Resource rights cover the use and management of village forests by the Gram Sabha.

Don’t confuse with Section 7 vs Section 8: Section 7 punishes authorities that contravene the Act. Section 8 bars courts from taking cognizance until a 60-day notice to the State Level Monitoring Committee.

Don’t confuse with FRA vs PESA, 1996: FRA recognises forest rights of tribes and traditional dwellers and is run by MoTA. PESA extends Panchayat self-rule to Fifth Schedule areas, and is administered by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Don’t confuse with Individual vs community rights: Individual rights cover forest land held for habitation or cultivation. Community rights include community forest resource rights and use of minor forest produce.

Don’t confuse with FRA vs PESA: FRA, 2006 recognises forest rights of tribes and other traditional dwellers. PESA, 1996 extends self-governance through Gram Sabhas to Fifth Schedule areas.

Don’t confuse with IFR vs CFR rights: Individual Forest Rights cover habitation and cultivation by a person or family. CFR rights cover community resources traditionally protected and used by a village.

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. 2025Mains GS4 · Q8Ethics of clearing ecologically sensitive forest land for housing the poor
2. 2017Mains GS1 · Q10What two major legal initiatives address discrimination against Scheduled Tribes since Independence?
3. 2013Prelims Q26Who initiates the process of determining forest rights under the Forest Rights Act?
4. 2019Prelims Q55Does the Forest Rights Act treat bamboo as minor forest produce and allow ownership?
5. 2021Prelims Q84Which ministry is the national nodal agency for implementing the Forest Rights Act?

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

Constitutional basis

Scheduled Areas in Fifth Schedule States are administered under Article 244 read with the Fifth Schedule.

Governor's regulation power

Under paragraph 5(1), Governors may make regulations for peace and good governance of Scheduled Areas, including local governance.

Tribes Advisory Council

Paragraph 4 provides for TACs in States with Scheduled Areas, and in other States with Scheduled Tribes if the President directs.

Who runs TACs

Composition, procedure and functioning of TACs, including meetings, are set by State Governments.

Who declares Scheduled Areas

The President declares Scheduled Areas (Fifth Schedule, paragraph 6).

TAC size

A TAC has up to 20 members, about three-fourths of whom are Scheduled Tribe representatives from the State Legislative Assembly.

Don’t confuse with Fifth vs Sixth Schedule: Fifth: Scheduled Areas in most States, run by the Governor with TACs. Sixth: tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, run through Autonomous District and Regional Councils.

Don’t confuse with Article 244(1) vs 244(2): 244(1) applies the Fifth Schedule; 244(2) applies the Sixth Schedule.

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 · Q24Impact of non-implementation of Fifth Schedule on Left Wing Extremism
2. 2016Mains GS1 · Q10Why tribals are called Scheduled Tribes; constitutional provisions for their upliftment
3. 2026Mains GS3 · Q10Discuss BADP and demand for Sixth Schedule provisions for Ladakh
4. 2026Prelims Q57Which statement wrongly places Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram under Fifth Schedule
5. 2025Prelims Q56Fifth Schedule areas: State executive power, local bodies, Union takeover on Governor's recommendation
6. 2022Prelims Q73Best consequence of bringing an area under the Fifth Schedule

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

Chair and purpose

The IGoM is chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. It monitors West Asia developments and suggests measures to keep the impact on India minimal.

Supporting machinery

Seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries briefed the IGoM on the steps being taken.

Customs relief

Full customs duty exemption on 40 critical petrochemical products was notified, valid till June 30, 2026.

Inter-ministerial group

The PM said an inter-ministerial group meets daily to assess import and export difficulties and work out solutions.

Strait of Hormuz

India imports large quantities of crude oil, gas and fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz, and shipping there has become highly challenging.

Indians in the Gulf

Nearly ten million Indians live and work in the Gulf countries.

Strategic petroleum reserve

India has a strategic petroleum reserve of over 5.3 million metric tonnes, to be expanded to over 6.5 million metric tonnes.

India's position

India opposes attacks on civilians, energy and transport infrastructure, and says dialogue and diplomacy are the only solution.

Cause of supply stress

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is the reason for the steps on petroleum products and LPG.

Legal powers against hoarding

States can act against hoarding and black marketing under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the LPG Control Order, 2000.

Seafarers in the Gulf

22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf, monitored by DG Shipping.

Return of Indians

Over 3,50,000 passengers have returned to India from the region since 28 February.

LPG exposure

India imports about 60% of its LPG consumption, and about 90% of these imports pass through Hormuz.

Natural Gas Control Order

Issued on 9 March 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act to manage gas supply and protect priority sectors. Domestic PNG and CNG get full supply.

LPG demand management

The minimum gap between LPG bookings was raised from 21 to 25 days. Domestic LPG output rose about 25% after refineries were told to maximise LPG.

Seafarers and diaspora

28 Indian-flagged vessels are in the Persian Gulf region. About one crore Indians live in GCC countries.

Who met

The Cabinet Committee on Security met under the Prime Minister's chairmanship to review the West Asia situation.

Trigger

The CCS was briefed on air strikes in Iran on 28 February and the escalation that followed, including attacks in Gulf countries.

Main concern

The Committee expressed serious concern over the safety and security of the large Indian expatriate community in the region.

Direction given

All concerned departments were told to take necessary and feasible measures to assist affected Indian nationals.

India's stance

The CCS stressed early cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.

Don’t confuse with IGoM vs GoM: An informal group of ministers is set up by executive decision for coordination and has no statutory or constitutional status. Empowered Groups of Secretaries are bureaucratic bodies that brief it.

Don’t confuse with Strait of Hormuz vs Bab-el-Mandeb: Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Bab-el-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

Don’t confuse with PNG vs LPG: PNG is piped natural gas supplied through city gas distribution networks. LPG is bottled liquefied petroleum gas.

Don’t confuse with PNG/CNG vs LPG: PNG and CNG are natural gas, mainly methane. LPG is propane and butane from refining and gas processing.

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. 2026Mains GS3 · Q11Explain challenges to India's energy security and suggest measures ensuring sustainability.
2. 2017Mains GS2 · Q19Analyse India's energy policy cooperation with West Asian countries.
3. 2025Mains GS2 · Q19How to integrate energy security with India's foreign policy and Middle East influence.
4. 2018Mains GS2 · Q20Effects of US-Iran nuclear pact on India's interests and response
5. 2026Prelims Q30Which countries' ships must cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach the Indian Ocean?

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

Director tenure

Banking Regulation Act amended: cooperative bank directors (excluding Chairperson and whole-time directors) can serve at most 10 consecutive years.

Cooperative Ombudsman

The MSCS Act, 2002 now provides for a Cooperative Ombudsman to handle complaints from members about deposits, equitable benefits and individual rights.

Cooperative Election Authority

Set up to conduct free and fair elections in all Multi-State Cooperative Societies.

Deposit insurance

DICGC insures deposits (principal and interest) up to ₹5,00,000 per depositor in cooperative banks.

NABARD Turn Around Plan

TAP targets State Cooperative Banks and District Central Cooperative Banks to cut losses and improve health.

Fraud Master Direction

RBI issued a Master Direction on Fraud Management for cooperative banks in 2024.

Don’t confuse with RBI vs NABARD role: RBI regulates cooperative banks for banking business; NABARD supervises StCBs and DCCBs and runs TAP. The PCA framework and Master Directions are RBI's.

Don’t confuse with Cooperative Ombudsman vs Banking Ombudsman: The Cooperative Ombudsman handles complaints by members of Multi-State Cooperative Societies under the MSCS Act. RBI's ombudsman schemes cover bank customers' complaints.

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. 2014Mains GS3 · Q4Discuss the claim that cooperative societies suit rural credit, with agri-finance constraints and technology.
2. 2015Mains GS2 · Q16Discuss why regulatory institutions must remain independent and autonomous, citing recent experiences.
3. 2015Mains GS2 · Q14Discuss corporate governance changes after Satyam scandal to ensure transparency and accountability.
4. 2021Prelims Q5Which statements on urban cooperative banks' regulation, share issuance, and 1966 BR Act amendment are correct?
5. 2020Prelims Q59Whether DCCBs deliver more short-term agri credit than SCBs and RRBs, and fund PACS.
6. 2011Prelims Q83Which institution type has the highest share in agricultural credit disbursement: commercial, cooperative, RRB, or MFI?

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

Who is obligated

Producers, importers and brand owners (PIBOs) and OEMs that place products on the market must manage them after end-of-life.

Targets

Besides EPR targets, the framework sets mandatory annual targets for recycling and/or use of recycled content.

Online portals

Portals handle registration, obligations and EPR certificate generation for plastic packaging, e-waste, battery, tyre and used oil.

Parent law

Waste management rules are made under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Don’t confuse with EPR vs Polluter Pays: EPR places end-of-life responsibility on producers; polluter pays makes a polluter bear the cost of damage.

Don’t confuse with V-VMP vs EPR: V-VMP promotes scrapping of unfit vehicles; EPR for ELVs obligates producers for vehicle end-of-life management.

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 · Q20What are the legal provisions for management and handling of hazardous wastes in India?
2. 2026Mains GS3 · Q17Discuss challenges, policy framework, and Delhi and Indore solid waste management cases.
3. 2019Prelims Q78Which rules introduced extended producer responsibility as an important feature in India?
4. 2019Prelims Q59Which statement about Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 is correct?

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

Mission Shakti structure

It has two sub-schemes: Sambal for safety and security, and Samarthya for empowerment of women.

Sambal components

Sambal includes One Stop Centres, Women Helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Nari Adalat.

Samarthya components

Samarthya includes PMMVY, Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, Palna and SANKALP: HEW.

Six services under Poshan 2.0

Supplementary Nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-up and referral. The last three are delivered through the National Health Mission and public health infrastructure.

Mission Vatsalya origin

It is the erstwhile Integrated Child Protection Scheme, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented through States/UTs for children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law.

SANKALP: HEW role

It works as the Project Monitoring Unit for all components of Mission Shakti and as a single-window system for women.

Poshan 2.0 merges schemes

Anganwadi Services, POSHAN Abhiyaan and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls were reorganised into three sub-verticals: nutrition support, early childhood care and education, and Anganwadi infrastructure.

Mission Shakti verticals

Sambal covers safety and security, with One Stop Centre, Women Helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Nari Adalat. Samarthya covers empowerment, with Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, PMMVY, Palna and SANKALP: HEW.

Mission Vatsalya

It includes the Integrated Child Protection Scheme. About 82,005 children are in institutional care across 3799 Child Care Institutes.

Don’t confuse with Mission Poshan 2.0 vs Poshan Abhiyaan: Poshan Abhiyaan was one of the schemes reorganised into Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, so it is not the same thing.

Don’t confuse with Samagra Shiksha vs the three WCD missions: Samagra Shiksha is run by the Department of School Education and Literacy, not the Women and Child Development ministry.

Don’t confuse with Sambal vs Samarthya: Sambal deals with safety and security (OSC, Women Helpline, BBBP, Nari Adalat). Samarthya deals with empowerment (Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, PMMVY, Palna, SANKALP: HEW).

Don’t confuse with Poshan 2.0 vs POSHAN Abhiyaan: POSHAN Abhiyaan is now one of the schemes merged into the wider Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 mission.

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. 2016Mains GS3 · Q2Requirements and status of gender budgeting in India, for women's empowerment
2. 2013Mains GS2 · Q12Whether restructuring centrally sponsored schemes improves state implementation for vulnerable sections
3. 2021Mains GS2 · Q8Can microfinancing women SHGs break gender inequality, poverty and malnutrition cycle?
4. 2025Mains GS2 · Q18Examine NCPCR's challenges for children in digital era; suggest measures.
5. 2016Mains GS2 · Q15Examine main provisions of National Child Policy and its implementation status.

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

SPADEX-2

A study for docking in a highly elliptical orbit, meant to match the Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return mission. It includes sample transfer between two modules.

SPADEX-3

A study for docking in circular orbit between two pressurized modules, using the Bharatiya Docking System (BDS). It is a precursor for docking at the Bharatiya Space Station.

Why docking matters

Rendezvous and docking technology is critical for crewed missions, for crew transfer and for propellant, fluid and power transfer.

Link to Gaganyaan

Validating these technologies in orbit helps docking of the Gaganyaan module to stations like the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

Launch vehicle

The first SPADEX mission was launched on ISRO's PSLV in December 2024.

Don’t confuse with SPADEX vs Gaganyaan: SPADEX demonstrates docking technology with small satellites. Gaganyaan is India's crewed spaceflight programme.

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. 2019Mains GS3 · Q6India's plan for its own space station and its benefits to the space programme
2. 2017Mains GS3 · Q7Technological and logistical obstacles to India's manned space mission, critically examined
3. 2025Prelims Q83Which of the space missions Axiom-4, SpaDeX and Gaganyaan involve docking?

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

Sponsor

RIIT is sponsored by NHAI, under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Listing

Units list on the Bombay Stock Exchange on 24 March 2026.

Subscription

The IPO was oversubscribed nearly 14 times.

Purpose

It aims at capital recycling: monetising operational assets to fund new infrastructure.

Regulator

InvITs in India are regulated by SEBI under the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.

Deal value

NHAI accepted RIIT's offer of Rs 9,500 crore for monetising five highway sections.

Assets and States

The sections are in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; Tamil Nadu has two sections (Chennai Bypass and Chennai–Tada).

Policy link

The monetisation is aligned with the National Monetisation Pipeline, which aims to unlock value from operational infrastructure assets.

Future pipeline

NHAI plans to give RIIT about 1,500 km more of assets over the next 3 to 5 years.

Target investors

RIIT is meant to be a long-term investment instrument mainly for retail and domestic investors.

Don’t confuse with InvIT vs REIT: InvITs hold infrastructure assets such as roads and power lines; REITs hold income-generating real estate. Both are SEBI-regulated trusts.

Don’t confuse with InvIT vs TOT: InvIT sells units in a trust to investors; Toll-Operate-Transfer hands a road to a private concessionaire for a fixed period against an upfront payment.

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. 2020Mains GS3 · Q11Meaning of investment as capital formation; factors in designing public-private concession agreements
2. 2021Mains GS3 · Q12Infrastructure investment's role in rapid, inclusive growth in India
3. 2022Mains GS3 · Q1Need for PPP in infrastructure; its role in railway redevelopment
4. 2013Mains GS3 · Q12Critically discuss pros and cons of PPP infrastructure model
5. 2023Prelims Q21Tax treatment of InvIT income; InvITs as borrowers under SARFAESI

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

Full form and owner

PAIMANA stands for Project Assessment Infrastructure Monitoring and Analytics for Nation-Building. MoSPI runs it.

Coverage

As of January 2026 it tracks 1,702 projects of 17 Central Ministries/Departments. Original cost is ₹33.71 lakh crore and expenditure so far is ₹20.01 lakh crore.

One Data One Entry

PAIMANA is linked through APIs to DPIIT's Integrated Project Monitoring Portal (IPMP). Data reported by ministries and agencies is fetched automatically.

PRAGATI

The Prime Minister reviews projects periodically through video conferencing under PRAGATI meetings.

Threshold

MoSPI monitors ongoing Central Sector infrastructure projects costing Rs. 150 crore and above.

Launch and predecessor

PAIMANA was launched on 25 September 2025 and replaced OCMS-2006.

Automation

About 60 per cent of projects of the Road, Petroleum & Natural Gas and Coal ministries are updated automatically.

Don’t confuse with PAIMANA vs PMG: PAIMANA is MoSPI's portal for projects of Rs. 150 crore and above. PMG is a DPIIT body for issue resolution on projects of Rs. 500 crore and above.

Don’t confuse with PAIMANA vs IPMP: IPMP is DPIIT's portal from which PAIMANA fetches data. PAIMANA is MoSPI's monitoring and analytics system.

Don’t confuse with PAIMANA vs PRAGATI: PAIMANA monitors infrastructure projects through data and reports; PRAGATI is a Prime Minister-led platform for reviewing projects and grievances.

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. 2022Mains GS2 · Q6Discuss Gati-Shakti's need for government and private sector coordination
2. 2025Mains GS4 · Q6Measures to ensure accountability for under-utilised or misutilised allocated funds
3. 2021Mains GS4 · Q9Ethical dilemma faced by project manager during surprise inspection of an elevated corridor project
4. 2019Mains GS2 · Q8Factors hampering ICT-based projects' implementation, and measures to ensure effective implementation

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

Publisher and timing

MoSPI releases the report every year on National Statistics Day, 29 June.

Number of indicators

The 2025 report has 284 national indicators.

Centre and States

MoSPI develops the NIF. States and UTs develop and update their own State Indicator Frameworks (SIF), based on their priorities, data needs and resources.

Poverty highlight

The share of the population living in poverty fell from 24.85 percent in 2015–16 to 14.96 percent in 2019–21.

Coordination set-up

MoSPI, NITI Aayog and the UN Resident Coordinator Office signed a tripartite MoU on SDG data. MoSPI then set up the Data for Development Coordination Forum (DDCF) on SDGs.

Don’t confuse with NIF vs SIF: NIF is the national framework developed by MoSPI. SIF is the State-level framework developed by each State or UT.

Don’t confuse with SDG-NIF report vs SDG India Index: The NIF report is MoSPI's statistical progress report. The SDG India Index is a separate NITI Aayog index that ranks States and UTs.

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

1. 2018Mains GS3 · Q1Comment on India's progress toward SDG energy access goals.
2. 2013Mains GS2 · Q15Identify health-related MDGs and discuss government success in achieving them.
3. 2020Mains GS2 · Q18Critically examine NEP 2020's conformity with SDG-4 education goal.

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

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.

1. 2018Mains GS1 · Q1Why safeguarding Indian art heritage is needed at present; discuss
2. 2019Mains GS1 · Q18Whether small cultural pockets of India exist across the nation, with examples
3. 2019Mains GS1 · Q8What makes Indian society unique in sustaining its culture; discuss
4. 2024Prelims Q60Which practice was the latest inclusion in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List?

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