UPSC current affairs · Saturday

Current Affairs, 25 April 2026

5 issues picked from 20 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

Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0. DPIIT issues guidelines for ₹10,000 crore FoF 2.0, deploying money via SEBI-registered AIFs.
Census 2027. Census 2027 will be India's first digital census, with caste enumeration, in two phases.
SMILE Scheme (Beggary Rehabilitation). Centre issues model guidelines for humane running of beggars' shelter homes across States and UTs.
Urban Challenge Fund (UCF). HUDCO's Foundation Day launched UiWIN's technical framework to help cities access Urban Challenge Fund money.
NITI Aayog Report on Effective City Government (Million-Plus Cities). NITI Aayog urges empowered city governments with directly elected, fixed-tenure Mayors for million-plus cities.

Scheme

Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0

GS3 Economy · Startups and venture capitalGS2 Government schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 25 April 2026, DPIIT issued operational guidelines for the ₹10,000 crore Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0. They set out how money will be deployed, governed and monitored.
What it is: Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 is a government fund that does not invest in startups directly. It commits money to SEBI-registered AIFs, which invest in DPIIT-recognised startups. It follows FFS 1.0, launched in 2016 under the Startup India Action Plan, and aims to fill funding gaps and draw in private capital.

Corpus: The scheme has a corpus of ₹10,000 crore.
Route of funding: Money goes as commitments to SEBI-registered Category I and II AIFs, which invest in DPIIT-recognised startups.
Implementation Agency: SIDBI is the initial Implementation Agency. DPIIT will onboard one more agency.
AIF segments: AIFs are grouped into deep tech funds, micro VC funds for early-growth startups, funds for innovative and technology-led manufacturing, and sector- and stage-agnostic funds.
Selection process: Selection has two stages: screening and due diligence by the Implementation Agency, then evaluation by a Venture Capital Investment Committee.
Returns for ecosystem: A portion of returns can go to capacity-building such as mentorship and shared infrastructure.
Predecessor: FFS 1.0 was launched in 2016 under the Startup India Action Plan.
Implementing agency: SIDBI starts operating the scheme as Implementation Agency from the date of notification. One more domestic agency will be selected.
Priority segments: Focus is on AIFs backing deep tech, early growth stage startups supported by smaller AIFs, technology-driven and innovative manufacturing startups, and sector or stage agnostic startups.
Governance: A Venture Capital Investment Committee screens AIFs. An Empowered Committee monitors implementation. DPIIT will issue the guidelines and the VCIC composition.
FFS 1.0 outcome: The whole Rs. 10,000 crore of FFS 1.0 was committed to 145 AIFs.
Startup base: DPIIT-recognised startups grew from fewer than 500 in 2016 to over 2 lakh now.
Mode of investment: A fund of funds invests via SEBI-registered AIFs, not directly in startups.

Don’t confuse with FoF vs direct startup investment: A Fund of Funds invests in AIFs. The AIFs then invest in startups. Do not treat it as a government venture fund buying startup equity.

Don’t confuse with FFS 1.0 vs FoF 2.0: FFS 1.0 was launched in 2016. FoF 2.0 is the new ₹10,000 crore scheme with segmented AIFs and guidelines issued in April 2026.

Don’t confuse with FoF 2.0 vs FFS 1.0: FFS 1.0 was launched in 2016. FoF 2.0 was notified in April 2026 with a ₹10,000 crore corpus and priority segments such as deep tech.

Don’t confuse with Fund of Funds vs venture fund: A Fund of Funds invests in other funds (AIFs). A venture fund invests directly in startups.

Don’t confuse with Fund of Funds vs direct venture fund: A fund of funds invests in other funds (AIFs). A venture fund invests directly in startups.

Don’t confuse with FoF 2.0 vs Startup India Seed Fund Scheme: The Seed Fund Scheme gives early grants and investment via incubators. FoF 2.0 gives capital to AIFs.

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

Crowds in private capital and deepens domestic venture capital.
Targets deep tech, early-stage and manufacturing startups where funding gaps exist.
Gives long-term domestic capital to deep tech and early-stage startups, where private funding is thin.
Supports manufacturing and innovation, and so jobs and economic resilience.
Gives long-term domestic capital to deep tech and manufacturing, which need patient funding.
Crowds in private capital and reduces dependence on foreign venture funds.
Spreads funding beyond metros and supports jobs and self-reliance.

Problems

Funds may still flow to a few cities and sectors despite the aim of wider access.
Success depends on the quality of AIF selection and monitoring.
Smaller AIFs may find it hard to raise matching private capital.
Returns are slow and uncertain, so fund selection and monitoring must be strong.
Returns and risk: deep tech has long gestation and high failure rates.
Fund managers may still favour metro-based startups, limiting regional spread.
Public money could crowd out private funds if not well targeted.

Way forward

Monitor outcomes by sector, stage and geography, and adjust the framework as experience builds.
Build capacity of the Implementation Agencies and strengthen the ecosystem through mentorship and shared infrastructure.
Issue DPIIT guidelines and the VCIC composition quickly, with clear and transparent selection criteria.
Track outcomes such as jobs and follow-on funding, and review them regularly.
Monitor AIF investments with clear outcome metrics, including regional spread.
Ease regulation and tax for domestic funds and pension and insurance money to join.

Put in your answer

FoF 2.0 corpus: ₹10,000 crore corpus, deployed through SEBI-registered AIFs.

Catalytic design: The scheme is a catalyst, not a direct investor, and mandates minimum private capital mobilisation.

Startup India FoF 2.0: A ₹10,000 crore corpus for AIFs, focused on deep tech, early growth stage and manufacturing startups.

FFS 1.0 (2016): The earlier Fund of Funds, launched under the Startup India Action Plan, is an example of state-backed catalysing of domestic capital.

Startup growth: DPIIT-recognised startups rose from under 500 in 2016 to over 2 lakh.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 18

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

1.Startup India FoF 2.0 invests directly in startups through equity purchases made by DPIIT.
2.The scheme works through commitments to SEBI-registered Category I and II Alternative Investment Funds.
3.SIDBI is the initial Implementation Agency, and DPIIT will onboard an additional agency.
4.The guidelines set minimum private capital mobilisation ratios for the AIF segments.
5.The first Fund of Funds for Startups was launched in 2016 under the Startup India Action Plan.
6.AIF proposals under the scheme are assessed only by the Implementation Agency, with no separate committee.
7.Startup India FoF 2.0 invests money directly in startups as equity.
8.The scheme has a total corpus of ₹10,000 crore.
9.NABARD has been named the Implementation Agency for the scheme.
10.The operational guidelines of the scheme will be issued by DPIIT.
11.Alternative Investment Funds are registered and regulated by the RBI.
12.Under the scheme, AIFs are screened by a Venture Capital Investment Committee, while an Empowered Committee monitors implementation.
13.Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 has a total corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore.
14.The Fund of Funds for Startups 1.0 was launched in 2016 to address funding gaps and catalyse the domestic venture capital market.
15.Under FFS 1.0, the corpus was committed to 145 Alternative Investment Funds.
16.Under FFS 1.0, only about half of the Rs. 10,000 crore corpus has so far been committed to AIFs.
17.The Fund of Funds invests directly in startups through equity purchases.
18.The Startup India initiative was launched in 2016.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 25 Apr, 19:09 IST · Release 288258

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Census 2027

GS2 Governance - Census and Census Act, 1948GS1 PopulationPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 25 April 2026, PIB published an explainer on Census 2027, India's first digital census. It covers the two phases, caste enumeration, the legal basis, the ₹11,718.24 crore outlay and preparations.
What it is: Census 2027 is India's national population count, run by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Census Act, 1948. It has two phases: Houselisting and Housing Census, then Population Enumeration. This round is the first to use digital tools, including a mobile app and an online self-enumeration option.

Legal basis: Census is conducted under the Census Act, 1948. Information collected is confidential and used only for statistical purposes and development planning.
Digital first: Data is collected through a dedicated mobile app, while door-to-door enumeration continues.
Self-Enumeration dates: In Tamil Nadu and Tripura, self-enumeration runs till 31 July 2026. Field enumeration follows from 1 to 30 August 2026.
HLO questionnaire: The Houselisting phase covers housing conditions, household details, amenities and assets, using 33 notified questions.
Nodal ministry: The Census is conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is a Union subject in the Seventh Schedule (Entry 69, Union List).
Digital features: Includes the CMMS portal for near real-time monitoring, a houselisting mobile app and a self-enumeration portal. Data centres are designated Critical Information Infrastructure (CII).
HLO window: The Houselisting phase runs across the country between 1 April and 30 September 2026. Each State/UT does a 30-day field operation.
Questions: 33 questions for Phase I were notified in January 2026, on housing condition, amenities and assets.
Self-Enumeration ID: On submission, a unique SE ID is generated and shared with the enumerator at the field visit for confirmation.
First states: Self-Enumeration began in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim, and the NDMC and Delhi Cantonment areas. Houselisting there runs from 16 April to 15 May 2026.
Reference date: The reference date is 1 March 2027. For Ladakh, snow-bound areas of J&K, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh it is 1 October 2026.
Caste enumeration: Castes will be enumerated in Phase II, as decided by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA).
Outlay: The Union Government approved an outlay of ₹11,718.24 crore.
Self-enumeration: Respondents fill the schedule on a portal, get a unique SE ID and give it to the enumerator.
Notification: The Centre notified its intent to hold the Census by Gazette Notification on 16 June 2025.
Tool developer: C-DAC developed the digital platforms for enumeration.
Phase 2 and reference date: Population Enumeration is in February 2027, with reference date 1 March 2027. Ladakh and snow-bound areas of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand use 1 October 2026.
Caste question: Caste-related questions will be included in the second phase.

Don’t confuse with Census vs Sample Registration System: The Census is a full count every ten years. The SRS is a yearly sample survey that estimates birth and death rates.

Don’t confuse with Houselisting phase vs Population Enumeration phase: Houselisting records housing and assets of households. Population Enumeration records details of each person.

Don’t confuse with Census vs SECC: The Census is under the Census Act, 1948. The Socio-Economic and Caste Census of 2011 was a separate exercise and not under that Act.

Don’t confuse with Census Act, 1948 vs Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969: The Census Act governs the decennial count. The 1969 Act governs civil registration of births and deaths.

Don’t confuse with HLO vs Population Enumeration: HLO covers housing, amenities and assets. Population Enumeration collects details of each person.

Don’t confuse with Houselisting vs Population Enumeration: Phase I covers houses, amenities and assets. Phase II covers each person: demographics, education, migration, fertility and caste.

Don’t confuse with SECC 2011 vs Census: The Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011 was a separate exercise. Census 2027 enumerates caste within the Census itself under the Census Act.

Don’t confuse with Census vs NPR: The Census is a count under the Census Act, 1948. The National Population Register is a register of usual residents under the Citizenship Act, 1955.

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

Gives the base data for delimitation, policy planning, and targeting of welfare schemes.
Digital collection can speed up processing and improve accuracy.
Gives the base data for planning, delimitation and targeting of schemes.
Caste data can inform policy for backward groups. It fills a gap left since the 1931 caste count.
Census data are the base for planning, welfare targeting and policy for the next decade.
Digital capture and self-enumeration can speed up work and improve convenience.
It provides the base data for planning, welfare targeting and resource sharing.
Caste enumeration will give fresh data for the reservation and social justice debate.
A digital census can speed up processing and cut errors.
Digital collection can speed up data processing and cut paperwork and errors.
Census data underpins delimitation, welfare targeting and planning.

Problems

Data privacy and security concerns with app-based and online collection.
The digital divide may limit self-enumeration, and the staggered State-wise schedule needs coordination.
Data security and privacy risks in a first digital exercise.
Caste enumeration raises questions of classification, accuracy and political use.
Reaching the digitally excluded and remote areas.
Digital divide may limit self-enumeration in rural and poor areas.
Data security and privacy concerns with online collection.
Data security and privacy of online and app-based collection.
Digital divide may limit self-enumeration; training over 3 million staff is a big task.
Caste data may stir political and social disputes, and delimitation concerns may follow.
Digital divide and data privacy risks in online self-enumeration and app-based collection.
Handling caste data raises questions of accuracy and social sensitivity.

Way forward

Keep strict confidentiality safeguards under the Census Act and publish clear data-protection practices.
Keep door-to-door enumeration strong alongside digital options to ensure full coverage.
Strong audits and clear data-protection safeguards.
Careful enumerator training and public awareness, with the offline app and field verification kept as backup.
Keep enumerator visits and assistance for those without digital access.
Maintain strong encryption and confidentiality safeguards under the Census Act.
Strong data protection safeguards and clear limits on use of personal data.
Awareness drives in regional languages, with enumerators backing up those offline.
Publish data on time and transparently, with clear caste classification.
Keep offline modes, multilingual support and field verification so no group is missed.
Put strong data security and confidentiality safeguards in place.

Put in your answer

Census Act, 1948: The Act provides the legal basis for the Census and requires information to be kept confidential.

First digital Census: Mobile app data collection and self-enumeration mark a shift to e-governance in statistics.

Census Act, 1948, Section 15: Confidentiality of individual data, which supports public trust in the Census.

Pre-test for Phase I: A nationwide pre-test covering about 5,000 census blocks was held in November 2025 to validate methods and tools.

Scale: Census 2027 covers 36 States/UTs, 7,092 sub-districts and around 6,39,902 villages.

Digital first: Enumerators submit data via a mobile app; the app and portal work in 16 languages.

Outlay: ₹11,718.24 crore approved for Census 2027.

Self-enumeration: A secure web-based facility lets households submit data online in 16 languages before the door-to-door survey.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 12

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

1.The Houselisting and Housing Census phase will be conducted between April 1 and September 30, 2026.
2.The Self-Enumeration portal is available in 16 regional languages.
3.The Census is conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
4.Census 2027 will be the 16th census in India's series and the 8th since independence.
5.The Census of India is conducted under the Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990.
6.Enumeration of castes will be done in Phase I, the Houselisting and Housing Census.
7.The reference date for Census 2027 is 1 March 2027 for most of the country, but 1 October 2026 for Ladakh and snow-bound areas.
8.The Census in India is conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
9.Census 2027 will be the first Indian census conducted using digital tools.
10.The Census Management and Monitoring System portal lets officers at sub-district, district and state levels track enumeration progress in real time.
11.The reference date for Census 2027 is 1 March 2027 for all States and Union Territories without exception.
12.The Census in India is conducted under the Census Act, 1948.

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

Source: PIB Headquarters, 25 Apr, 10:33 IST · Release 288246

Issue page →

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

Scheme

SMILE Scheme (Beggary Rehabilitation)

GS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 25 April 2026 the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said it had unveiled Model Guidelines on care, rehabilitation and management of Beggars'/Shelter Homes at a Chintan Shivir with States/UTs in Chandigarh (24-26 April 2026).
What it is: SMILE stands for Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. It is an umbrella Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. One sub-scheme deals with the comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging, through shelter, skills, education, healthcare and counselling.

Full name and ministry: SMILE is run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as an umbrella scheme for marginalized individuals.
Coverage in cities: The beggary component works in 216 cities now. The target is 295 cities by FY 2030-31, with focus on metros, religious, tourist and historical places.
Who implements: Delivery is through the Centre, States, UTs, district administrations, urban local bodies, municipal corporations and implementing agencies, using a convergence approach.
Digital monitoring: The SMILE-Beggary National Portal registers and tracks rehabilitation centres and shelter homes.
Event: The guidelines were unveiled at a Chintan Shivir with States/UTs held in Chandigarh from 24 to 26 April 2026.
Coverage areas: The framework covers preventive healthcare and sanitation, infrastructure, nutrition and food safety, vocational training, legal aid, child and gender sensitivity, and accountability and oversight.
Convergence: The guidelines stress convergence with Central and State schemes to bring uniform implementation across States and UTs.
Implementation: The Ministry urged States and UTs to implement the guidelines in letter and spirit.
Scheme type: SMILE is a Central Sector scheme run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Launch and ministry: SMILE was launched on 12 February 2022 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Beggary sub-scheme coverage: The beggary sub-scheme is operational in 181 selected cities, with Implementing Authorities such as district administrations and urban local bodies.
Transgender health cover: Transgender persons get health cover in convergence with PM-JAY, including gender-reaffirmation procedures at empanelled hospitals.
National Council for Transgender Persons: The Council is a statutory body that advises the Centre on policy and legislation and monitors welfare schemes.
Beggary sub-scheme reach: The beggary rehabilitation sub-scheme is operational in 181 selected cities.
Rehabilitation numbers: As on 31 January 2026, 30,257 persons were identified as begging and 8,129 were rehabilitated.
Monitoring: Centres and shelter homes are registered and monitored on the SMILE-Beggary National Portal; Garima Grehs are geotagged.
Goal: The objective is Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat (Begging-Free India).
Skilling gap: No beneficiary from the begging or transgender community was certified under PM-DAKSH in 2024-25.

Don’t confuse with Model guidelines vs law: Model guidelines are advisory for uniform practice; they are not a statute. Begging is dealt with under State laws, often based on the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959.

Don’t confuse with SMILE vs PM-DAKSH: SMILE is the umbrella rehabilitation scheme; PM-DAKSH is a skill-training scheme for several groups that SMILE uses for transgender persons.

Don’t confuse with Garima Greh vs beggary shelter homes: Garima Grehs are shelters for transgender persons; the beggary sub-scheme uses separate shelter homes for rescued persons.

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

Gives a rehabilitation route, not just punishment, for a vulnerable group, in line with dignity under Article 21.
Gives States a common standard for shelter homes, which could improve dignity and quality of care for a vulnerable group.
Links shelter homes to health, skilling and legal aid schemes, supporting rehabilitation over punishment.
Gives marginalised groups one framework covering identity, health, skills, shelter and livelihood.
Supports the goal of a begging-free India and gives effect to the 2019 Transgender Act.
Gives a rights-based, rehabilitative approach to begging and transgender welfare instead of a punitive one.

Problems

Begging is still criminalised under many state anti-begging laws, which conflicts with a rehabilitation approach.
Guidelines are not binding; implementation rests with States, so uptake may vary.
Shelter homes often face weak funding, staff and monitoring.
Beggary sub-scheme reach is modest: 9,935 rehabilitated against 31,055 identified, in only 181 cities.
Stigma, lack of documents and weak state enforcement, such as cells set up in only 20 States/UTs, limit outcomes.
Only about 27% of identified persons are rehabilitated, and coverage is limited to 181 cities.
Zero PM-DAKSH certifications show weak convergence with skilling schemes.

Way forward

Decriminalise begging and tie rehabilitation to skilling, housing and social security convergence.
Tie guidelines to regular audits and public reporting by States.
Convergence with skilling, health and housing schemes with clear funding.
Expand coverage beyond selected cities and speed up documentation through the National Portal.
Build follow-up, de-addiction and job linkages, and ensure every State sets up protection cells and welfare boards.
Link beneficiaries to skilling, health and ID schemes, and expand shelters, including Garima Grehs, with portal-based monitoring.

Put in your answer

SMILE scheme: Umbrella Central Sector scheme with a sub-scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons engaged in begging.

Model guidelines 2026: Framework with accountability and oversight, legal aid and child and gender sensitivity for shelter homes.

NALSA judgment: The Supreme Court in NALSA v Union of India (2014) recognised transgender persons as a third gender with constitutional rights.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 25 Apr, 10:41 IST · Release 288247

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Urban Challenge Fund (UCF)

GS2 Urban development and schemesGS3 Infrastructure financingPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 25 April 2026, HUDCO marked its 56th Foundation Day. A symposium on the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) and the Urban Invest Window (UiWIN) was held, and the UiWIN Technical Assistance Framework was unveiled.
What it is: The Urban Challenge Fund is a Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs fund for urban infrastructure. It gives limited central assistance to leverage municipal bonds, bank loans and PPPs, and rewards reform-driven, bankable projects. HUDCO's offering UiWIN helps urban local bodies prepare such projects.

UiWIN framework: The UiWIN Technical Assistance Framework was unveiled at a symposium on UCF and UiWIN.
Role of UiWIN: UiWIN is meant to help ULBs identify bankable projects and build revenue-generating infrastructure with proven financial viability.
Implementing agency link: HUDCO is a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and offers UiWIN as its new offering.
PPP focus: UCF is expected to open new avenues for public-private partnerships.
Urbanisation projection: Over 50% of India's population is expected to live in cities by 2050.
Central Assistance: Total central assistance is ₹1 lakh crore, meant to mobilise nearly four times the investment.
Funding pattern: Central share is capped at 25% of project cost; at least 50% must come from bonds, bank loans and PPPs.
Outlay split: ₹90,000 crore for projects, ₹5,000 crore for project preparation and capacity building, ₹5,000 crore for CRGSS.
Sectors: Covers redevelopment of old city areas and markets, mobility, non-motorised transport, water and sanitation, and climate-resilient development.
Period: The fund runs from FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31.
Investment target: The fund is expected to lead to a total urban investment of Rs. four lakh crore in five years.
Duration: It runs from FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31, extendable up to FY 2033-34.
Project verticals: Three verticals: Cities as Growth Hubs, Creative Redevelopment of Cities, and Water and Sanitation.

Don’t confuse with UCF vs UiWIN: UCF is the fund for urban infrastructure projects. UiWIN is HUDCO's offering that helps ULBs prepare bankable projects to access it.

Don’t confuse with UCF vs AMRUT: AMRUT is a largely grant-based mission for water, sewerage and urban services. UCF uses limited central aid to leverage market finance.

Don’t confuse with CRGSS vs project funding: CRGSS gives credit guarantees to help cities borrow. The ₹90,000 crore project component gives central assistance to projects.

Don’t confuse with Urban Challenge Fund vs Smart Cities Mission: The Smart Cities Mission was largely grant-based and area-focused. The UCF is market-linked, reform-driven and picks projects by competition.

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

Helps cities reduce dependence on grants by drawing in market finance and private capital.
Rewards reforms and bankable projects, improving urban local body finances.
Shifts urban finance from grants to market-linked, bankable projects.
Helps Tier-II and Tier-III cities borrow through credit guarantees.
Supports the Viksit Bharat 2047 aim of investment-ready cities.
Shifts urban financing from grants to market sources such as municipal bonds, bank loans and PPPs.
Makes ULBs bankable and helps smaller cities gain first-time market access through guarantees.
Ties funds to reforms and outcomes, which can improve urban governance.

Problems

Many ULBs have weak finances and low creditworthiness, limiting bankable projects.
Small cities lack technical capacity to prepare and manage PPP projects.
Many urban local bodies have weak finances and low creditworthiness.
Municipal bond markets are shallow and project preparation capacity is limited.
Private participation may favour revenue-generating projects over social ones.
Weak finances and low creditworthiness of many ULBs may limit their ability to raise 50% from the market.
Capacity gaps in project preparation may favour large, better-resourced cities.
Urban is a State subject, so reform adoption depends on State cooperation.

Way forward

Build ULB capacity through technical assistance and project preparation support.
Strengthen municipal revenues and credit rating to attract bonds and loans.
Strengthen ULB finances through property tax and user-charge reforms.
Build project preparation and credit rating capacity, and deepen the municipal bond market.
Track outcomes with transparent reform-linked disbursement.
Strengthen ULB finances through property tax and user charge reforms.
Build technical capacity for bankable project preparation, especially in smaller cities.
Use third-party verification and KPIs so that fund release stays tied to reforms.

Put in your answer

Urbanisation projection: Over 50% of Indians are expected to live in cities by 2050, which needs large urban infrastructure investment.

Ecosystem building: An e-directory links cities with banks, financial institutions and rating agencies.

Scale of fund: Rs. one lakh crore of Central Assistance aims to catalyse Rs. four lakh crore of urban investment over five years.

Guarantee for small cities: A Rs. 5,000 crore Credit Repayment Guarantee Scheme supports first-time borrowing by smaller ULBs.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, 25 Apr, 20:24 IST · Release 288259

Issue page →

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

Report or index

NITI Aayog Report on Effective City Government (Million-Plus Cities)

GS2 Urban governance · Local governmentGS1 UrbanisationPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 25 April 2026, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar released NITI Aayog's report on effective city government for million-plus cities at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
What it is: This NITI Aayog report sets out a governance framework for India's million-plus cities. It argues that weak leadership, limited powers and poor finances hold back city performance. It links urban reform to the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal and a $30 trillion economy.

Release: Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar released the report on 25 April 2026 in New Delhi.
Publisher and focus: NITI Aayog prepared it, with a focus on million-plus cities as key economic centres.
Leadership reform: It recommends a directly elected Mayor with a fixed tenure, backed by an empowered Mayor-in-Council.
Finance reform: It seeks stronger own-source revenues, predictable transfers through State Finance Commissions, and access to municipal bonds.
Implementation: States should amend their Municipal Acts, and the Housing Ministry should update the Model Municipal Law.
Constitutional basis: The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 gave urban local bodies constitutional status (Part IXA, Articles 243P-243ZG).

Don’t confuse with State Finance Commission vs Union Finance Commission: The State Finance Commission (Article 243Y) reviews municipal finances and recommends transfers from the state. The Union Finance Commission is under Article 280 and deals with Centre-state sharing.

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

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Report on urban governance gaps like weak devolution and fiscal autonomy. Reports are 4% of Prelims; Mains questions on urban governance are rare, so no question.

Source: PIB, NITI Aayog, 25 Apr, 21:21 IST · Release 288261

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

DRDO's VRDE unveiled Advanced Armoured Platforms (tracked and wheeled) with an indigenous 30 mm crewless turret, 65% indigenous content, built with Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge.
NITI Aayog was reconstituted: Ashok Kumar Lahiri is Vice Chairman, with Rajiv Gauba, K. V. Raju, Gobardhan Das, Abhay Karandikar and M. Srinivas as full-time members.

Source: PIB, 25 Apr

What we left out: 13 of 20 releases

Same issue as another release (3)
App launches, routine monitoring (1)
Routine election updates (1)
Speeches without a decision (3)
Routine weather advisories (1)
Routine crisis updates (1)
Ceremonies and campaigns (3)

Practise the day’s news

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

1Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0MCQ · 18 true or false · Mains
2Census 2027MCQ · 12 true or false · Mains
3SMILE Scheme (Beggary Rehabilitation)MCQ · 6 true or false · Mains
4Urban Challenge Fund (UCF)MCQ · 8 true or false · Mains

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