UPSC current affairs · Monday

Current Affairs, 27 July 2026

12 issues picked from 70 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

IndiaAI Mission. Safe & Trusted AI pillar funds responsible AI projects, safety institute and governance guidelines under IndiaAI Mission.
India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). India reports NDC progress: non-fossil goal met early, emissions intensity and carbon sink targets lag, 2035 targets raised.
Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. Amendment Bill tightens 2024 exam-leak law: higher penalties, fast-track courts, two-month investigations.
National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA). 33 of 37 State/UT Legislatures have signed NeVA MoUs; 21 are fully digital.
Gyan Bharatam Mission. Gyan Bharatam reports 1.19 crore manuscripts surveyed, 3.90 lakh online, and a network of Cluster and Independent Centres.
Kosi-Mechi Intra-State Link Project. Kosi–Mechi link gets PMKSY-AIBP funding; completion by March 2029; Kosi dam talks with Nepal continue.
National Coal Gasification Mission. India targets 100 MT coal gasification by 2030; new ₹37,500 crore scheme approved.
National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme. NVHCP offers free hepatitis B and C screening and treatment, integrated with other health programmes.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK). Minister details PMJVK spending, evaluation studies and mandatory third-party quality checks for minority-area infrastructure projects.
PM-NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme). Lok Sabha reply details NAPS-2 stipend support, apprentice numbers, PMNAM melas and a 72% job-offer finding.
Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). Skill India Digital Hub unifies skilling schemes; SOAR AI courses reach about 5 lakh learners.
Kalpasar Project (Gulf of Khambhat). Kalpasar dam across Gulf of Khambhat: DPR nearly final, with Dutch help.

Science and technology

IndiaAI Mission

GS3 Science and TechnologyGS2 GovernancePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, the IT Ministry released details of the Safe & Trusted AI pillar of the IndiaAI Mission, from a Rajya Sabha reply by Ashwini Vaishnaw on 24 July 2026.
What it is: The IndiaAI Mission is a Central programme under MeitY that builds an AI ecosystem in India. Its Innovation Centre pillar backs teams that build indigenous foundation models and Large Language Models. A foundation model is a large AI model trained on broad data, which can then be adapted to many tasks.

Mission approval: The Union Cabinet approved the IndiaAI Mission on 7 March 2024.
Seven pillars: The mission has seven pillars: Compute Capacity, Innovation Centre, Datasets Platform (AIKosh), Application Development Initiative, FutureSkills, Startup Financing, and Safe & Trusted AI.
Dhīr 2B and 5B (ZenteiQ): These are open-source models for secure, on-premise use. They support English and 10 Indian languages.
Compute support: Subsidised national AI compute and support for ancillary research costs enabled the models.
AIKosh: AIKosh is the IndiaAI datasets platform, and the models can be made available through it.
Outlay and approval: The Mission was approved in March 2024 with an outlay of ₹10,371 crore over five years.
Responsible AI projects: 13 Responsible AI projects were approved in educational institutions, covering bias mitigation, machine unlearning, privacy-preserving AI, explainability, deepfake detection and risk assessment.
AI Safety Institute: It was announced in January 2025 and works through a hub-and-spoke model; it oversees projects selected under the Expressions of Interest rounds.
Governance Guidelines: They set a risk-based framework and propose AIGEG, TPEC and AISI as institutional mechanisms.
Summit deliverables: India chaired the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi; outcomes included Frontier AI Impact Commitments, a Guidance Note on AI Governance and the Trusted AI Commons.

Don’t confuse with EKA-1 vs Dhīr: EKA-1 is a large 26.3-billion-parameter model covering all 22 scheduled languages. Dhīr 2B and 5B are lightweight models for on-device use, supporting 10 Indian languages.

Don’t confuse with Foundation model vs LLM: A foundation model is the broader class of large pre-trained models. An LLM is a foundation model focused on language.

Don’t confuse with AIKosh vs IndiaAI Compute: AIKosh is the datasets and models platform; IndiaAI Compute provides GPU access.

Don’t confuse with AI Safety Institute vs AI Impact Summit: The Institute is a standing national body; the Summit was a one-time global event India chaired in 2026.

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.

Test yourselfMains

Source: PIB, Ministry of Electronics & IT, 27 Jul, 16:42 IST · Release 291975

Issue page →

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

International relations

India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)

GS3 Environment, climate changeGS2 International agreementsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, the Environment Ministry told Lok Sabha that India has met its non-fossil capacity NDC goal, with 54.18% of installed power capacity non-fossil as of 30 June 2026, and has set enhanced 2035 targets.
What it is: A Nationally Determined Contribution is a country's own climate action pledge under the Paris Agreement, submitted to the UNFCCC. Parties must update it every five years, with each new NDC more ambitious than the last. India's NDC has quantitative targets on emissions intensity, non-fossil power capacity and carbon sink.

Emissions intensity: India cut the emissions intensity of its GDP by 37.38% between 2005 and 2022. The 2030 goal is 45%.
2035 targets: The 2035 NDC targets: 47% cut in emissions intensity from 2005, 60% non-fossil capacity, and a 3.5-4.0 billion tonne carbon sink.
Reporting: India's first Biennial Transparency Report was submitted to the UNFCCC in April 2026.
Legal basis: NDCs arise under the Paris Agreement of 2015, adopted at COP21.
Three quantitative targets: India's NDC covers emissions intensity of GDP, non-fossil share of installed power capacity, and an additional carbon sink.
Emissions intensity progress: India cut emissions intensity by 37.38% in 2022 from the 2005 level, against a 2030 goal of 45%.
Reporting and oversight: India reports under the Enhanced Transparency Framework, Article 13 of the Paris Agreement, through Biennial Transparency Reports and National Communications.

Don’t confuse with NDC vs Long-term Low Emission Development Strategy: The NDC gives targets to a set year (2030, 2035). The LT-LEDS is a long-term strategy toward net zero; India's net zero year is 2070.

Don’t confuse with NDC vs long-term net-zero goal: The NDC sets near-term targets (2030, 2035); net zero by 2070 is a separate long-term goal.

Don’t confuse with Emissions intensity vs absolute emissions: Intensity is emissions per unit of GDP. India's NDC targets intensity, not an absolute cap on emissions.

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.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 13

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

1.India's NDC has three quantitative targets: emissions intensity of GDP, non-fossil share of installed power capacity, and additional carbon sink.
2.India has already achieved its NDC goal of a 45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP from the 2005 level.
3.India reached its non-fossil installed capacity NDC goal about five years ahead of the committed timeline.
4.The 2035 NDC sets a target of 60% cumulative installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
5.India's Biennial Transparency Report was submitted to the UNFCCC in April 2026 and was its first such report.
6.Nationally Determined Contributions are submitted under the Kyoto Protocol.
7.India's NDC has three quantitative targets, covering emissions intensity of GDP, non-fossil share of installed power capacity and an additional carbon sink.
8.India's 2030 NDC goal is to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% from the 2005 level.
9.India has already achieved its 2030 emissions intensity target of 45% reduction.
10.India met its non-fossil capacity NDC goal five years ahead of the committed timeline.
11.Progress reporting under the Enhanced Transparency Framework falls under Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.
12.Under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, six of the nine missions focus on mitigation rather than adaptation.
13.A party's NDC under the Paris Agreement is submitted to the UNFCCC and is updated every five years.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 27 Jul, 17:22 IST · Release 291984

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024

GS2 Polity and GovernanceGS4 IntegrityPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, Dr. Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. It raises penalties and adds fast-track investigation, trial and appeals.
What it is: The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 is India's first dedicated central law against paper leaks, impersonation and organised cheating in national public examinations. It covers bodies such as UPSC, SSC, RRBs, IBPS and NTA. Its offences are cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.

Special Task Force: The Centre can now set up a Special Task Force to investigate a case. Once set up, it alone investigates that case.
Investigation deadline: Any investigating agency must finish the investigation within two months. This is the first time a time limit is set.
Special Fast Track Courts: Each State and UT must designate a Court of Session as a Special Fast Track Court, in consultation with the High Court Chief Justice. Trial must end within 3 months of the chargesheet.
Coverage: The 2024 Act covers exams by UPSC, SSC, RRBs, IBPS and NTA (for higher education admissions).
Offence status: Offences under the Act are cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
Service providers: Maximum fine rises from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore and debarment from conducting public exams from four to eight years.
Procedure: Special Fast Track Courts, investigation within two months, trial within three months of charge sheet, Special Public Prosecutors, and an optional Special Task Force.
Enactment and force: The Act was enacted on 12 February 2024 and came into force on 21 June 2024.
Nature of offences: All offences are cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.

Don’t confuse with Special Fast Track Court vs Special Task Force: The court is a designated Court of Session that tries cases. The Task Force is a Centre-notified body that investigates.

Don’t confuse with 2024 Act vs 2026 Bill: The 2024 Act is law. The 2026 Bill is only introduced in the Lok Sabha and is not yet law.

Don’t confuse with Amendment Bill vs Act: The 2024 Act is in force. The 2026 Bill has passed the Lok Sabha only and still needs Rajya Sabha passage and assent.

Don’t confuse with Fine amounts: Maximum fine: ₹50 lakh for individuals, ₹5 crore for service providers and their senior management, ₹10 crore for organised crime.

Don’t confuse with Act of 2024 vs Amendment Bill of 2026: The 2024 Act is the existing law. The 2026 Bill only proposes changes such as higher penalties and new Sections 12A and 12B; it is not yet law.

Don’t confuse with Organised crime penalty vs individual penalty: Individuals face 5-10 years under the Bill; organised exam crimes face a minimum of 7 years, up to 10, with fines up to ₹10 crore.

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

Deters paper-leak rackets through much higher penalties and personal liability for service-provider management.
Time-bound investigation and trial can restore candidates' trust in recruitment exams.
Tougher penalties and faster trials aim to deter organised paper-leak networks.
Protects fairness for millions of job and admission aspirants and public trust in recruitment.
Strengthens deterrence against paper leaks and protects the interests of meritorious candidates.
Time-bound investigation, trial and appeal can restore public trust in recruitment.

Problems

Courts already carry heavy backlogs, so day-to-day trials within 3 months need judges, prosecutors and infrastructure.
Harsher penalties alone may not stop leaks without better exam security, technology and audits; a 2-month probe deadline may strain police capacity.
Harsh penalties may fall on low-level staff or candidates while organisers escape.
Fast-track courts and special prosecutors need staff and resources; delays may persist.
Leaks often stem from weak exam logistics and outsourcing, which penalties alone do not fix.
Heavier penalties alone may not deter leaks if enforcement and exam-system security remain weak.
Fixed timelines may strain police, prosecutors and courts already facing heavy case loads.
Harsh provisions risk misuse against candidates or low-level staff rather than organised networks.

Way forward

Resource the Special Fast Track Courts and Special Public Prosecutors in every State and UT.
Pair deterrence with secure exam systems such as digital, encrypted paper delivery and regular audits of service providers.
Strengthen exam security, such as digital and tamper-proof systems, and audit service providers.
Resource the fast-track courts and train investigators, ensuring safeguards against misuse.
Strengthen exam security, such as digital and tamper-proof paper handling, and audit service providers.
Create adequate Special Fast Track Courts, prosecutors and a trained Special Task Force.
Safeguard against misuse by targeting organised networks and ensuring fair procedure.

Put in your answer

Court timelines: Pending cases transfer to the new courts and must finish within 3 months of transfer, with trials of connected BNS charges held together.

Enforcement under 2024 Act: 52 FIRs have been registered under the 2024 Act, as stated in Parliament.

High-level task force: A high-level expert task force was announced to make the exam system leak-proof.

Special Task Force: The Bill empowers the Centre to refer investigation of offences to a Special Task Force.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 15

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

1.The Bill allows the Central Government to set up a Special Task Force to investigate exam-fraud cases.
2.The Bill requires investigation to be completed within six months.
3.Special Fast Track Courts must complete a trial within 3 months of the chargesheet being filed.
4.Under the Bill, appeals against Special Fast Track Court judgments lie to the Supreme Court directly.
5.No appeal can be filed after 90 days of the order, even if the High Court finds good reason for delay.
6.The debarment period for service providers from conducting public examinations is increased from four to eight years.
7.The Bill requires investigation to be completed within three months and trial within two months of filing of the charge sheet.
8.The Bill empowers the Government to constitute a Special Task Force for investigating offences under the Act.
9.The 2024 Act covers examinations conducted by UPSC, SSC, RRBs, IBPS and the NTA for higher education admissions.
10.The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 came into force on 21 June 2024.
11.The Act applies to examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection.
12.Offences under the Act are cognizable and bailable but non-compoundable.
13.The Bill proposes to extend the debarment of service providers from conducting public examinations from four years to ten years.
14.The Bill proposes that investigation of offences be completed within two months and trial within three months of filing the charge sheet.
15.Under the proposed Section 12B, appeals against Special Fast Track Court orders lie to the Supreme Court within sixty days.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, 27 Jul, 18:46 IST · Release 292002

Issue page →

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

Scheme

National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)

GS2 Polity and Governance - LegislaturesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs told the Rajya Sabha that 33 of 37 State/UT Legislatures have signed NeVA MoUs and 21 have become digital.
What it is: The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is a Mission Mode Project that makes the work of State and UT Legislatures paperless. It puts House business, such as questions, notices, bills and reports, on one digital platform. It is run by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, and States sign MoUs to adopt it.

MoU coverage: 33 of the 37 State/UT Legislatures have signed MoUs to implement NeVA.
Digital houses: 21 Legislative Houses have been transformed into digital Legislatures, including two Councils (Bihar and Uttar Pradesh).
Central assistance: Central financial assistance of ₹138.17 crore has been disbursed to these Houses.
Language tools: Public portals have BHASHINI AI translation into the 22 Scheduled Languages and English.
Hosting and security: NeVA is hosted on NIC Meghraj 2.0 cloud, with a Disaster Recovery site, security audits and two-factor login.
Nodal ministry: NeVA is implemented by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Adoption: 33 of 37 State/UT Legislatures have signed MoUs for NeVA.
Funding: Funded on the CSS pattern; total outlay Rs 673.94 crore, Centre's share limited to Rs 423.60 crore.
Technical support: The Central Project Management Unit (CPMU) gives technical support and capacity building to Legislatures.

Don’t confuse with NeVA vs Digital Sansad: NeVA serves State/UT Legislatures. Digital Sansad is the Parliament's own digital platform.

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 Parliamentary Affairs, 27 Jul, 15:48 IST · Release 291957

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Gyan Bharatam Mission

GS1 Art and culturePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, the Culture Minister told the Lok Sabha about Gyan Bharatam's centres, survey results, digitisation and funding.
What it is: Gyan Bharatam Mission is a Ministry of Culture initiative announced in Union Budget 2025-26 to survey, document, conserve and digitise India's manuscripts. It works through partner centres and builds a National Digital Repository for access by scholars and the public.

Origin and ministry: Announced in Union Budget 2025-26; run by the Ministry of Culture.
Outlay: The Standing Finance Committee sanctioned Rs 491.66 crore for 2025-2031.
Delivery structure: Works through Cluster Centres and Independent Centres; States/UTs act as Nodal Coordinating Authorities.
Digital access: Over 8 lakh manuscripts are digitised; over 4.40 lakh are on the Gyan Bharatam portal in view mode.
Centre network: The Mission is to set up a nation-wide network of Cluster Centres and Independent Centres, chosen on set criteria such as size of collection, capacity, manpower and regional representation.
Digitisation: Over 8 lakh manuscripts are digitised nationally; over 3.90 lakh are on the Gyan Bharatam portal in view mode.
Funding to centres: Centres get financial help as grant-in-aid for manuscript work.
Scope: It covers manuscripts irrespective of script, language, dialect, tradition, community or location.
Nodal ministry: Gyan Bharatam is run by the Ministry of Culture and was announced in Union Budget 2025-26.
Ministry: Gyan Bharatam is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Culture.
Outlay and period: The Standing Finance Committee sanctioned Rs 491.66 crore for 2025-2031.
Components: Survey and registration, technology infrastructure and partnership, documentation, conservation, digitisation, publication, capacity building and research.
Announced: The mission was announced in Union Budget 2025-26.
Abhilekh-Patal: The National Archives of India runs the Abhilekh-Patal portal to digitise and give online access to archival records.

Don’t confuse with Gyan Bharatam Mission vs National Mission for Manuscripts: The National Mission for Manuscripts (2003) was an earlier Ministry of Culture mission on manuscripts. Gyan Bharatam is the 2025-26 Budget initiative with a wider survey and digital repository focus.

Don’t confuse with Cluster vs Independent Centre: Both are Mission partner centres receiving grant-in-aid; they are two types in the network.

Don’t confuse with Gyan Bharatam vs Abhilekh-Patal: Gyan Bharatam covers manuscripts; Abhilekh-Patal is the National Archives of India's portal for archival records.

Don’t confuse with Gyan Bharatam vs Adopt A Heritage 2.0: Adopt A Heritage 2.0 involves partners in visitor amenities at protected monuments, not manuscripts.

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

True or false?

1 of 14

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

1.Gyan Bharatam Mission was announced in Union Budget 2025-26 as an initiative of the Ministry of Culture.
2.The Standing Finance Committee has sanctioned Rs 491.66 crore for the Mission for the period 2025-2031.
3.The National Manuscript Survey under the Mission was launched in March 2026 across all States and Union Territories.
4.The Mission is limited to manuscripts in Sanskrit and other classical languages.
5.The Mission operates only through government institutions, excluding private custodians and religious institutions.
6.One objective of the Mission is to build a National Digital Repository.
7.All digitised manuscripts on the Mission's portal are available for download and unrestricted use.
8.Gyan Bharatam Mission is to build a network of Cluster Centres and Independent Centres.
9.Centres under the Mission are selected partly on regional representation and institutional capacity.
10.The National Manuscript Survey under the Mission was launched in March 2026.
11.The Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Education.
12.Centres under the Mission are funded through loans rather than grant-in-aid.
13.Manuscripts on the Gyan Bharatam portal are currently open to the public in view mode.
14.The Mission covers only Sanskrit manuscripts.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Culture, 27 Jul, 16:14 IST · Release 291966

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Kosi-Mechi Intra-State Link Project

GS1 GeographyGS3 IrrigationPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, the Jal Shakti Ministry told Rajya Sabha that the Kosi–Mechi link is under PMKSY-AIBP with central assistance of Rs 3,652.56 crore, due by March 2029.
What it is: The Kosi–Mechi Intra-State Link links the Kosi river with the Mechi river within Bihar. It aims to carry Kosi water to irrigate areas in the Mahananda basin. It is funded under the PMKSY-AIBP, a central scheme that supports priority irrigation projects.

Funding: Balance cost of works is Rs 6,143.22 crore, with central assistance of Rs 3,652.56 crore under PMKSY-AIBP.
Timeline: The project is due for completion by March 2029.
Joint Project Office: JPO-SKSKI was set up in 2003 to prepare DPRs for the Sapta-Kosi and Sun-Kosi Kamla Diversion projects.
Flood aid: Bihar received Rs 206.77 crore over three years under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme.
Indo-Nepal committee: No meeting of the Indo-Nepal Joint Committee was held in 2025-26.

Don’t confuse with Intra-state vs inter-state link: Kosi–Mechi lies wholly within Bihar; inter-state links such as Ken–Betwa cross state borders.

Don’t confuse with PMKSY-AIBP vs FMBAP: AIBP funds irrigation projects; the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme funds flood control and anti-erosion works.

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 Jal Shakti, 27 Jul, 16:19 IST · Release 291971

Issue page →

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

Scheme

National Coal Gasification Mission

GS3 EnergyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, the Ministry of Coal told the Rajya Sabha that about 22.6 MTPA of coal gasification capacity is operational or under implementation, against the 100 MT by 2030 target. A new ₹37,500 crore scheme was approved on 13 May 2026.
What it is: The National Coal Gasification Mission aims to convert domestic coal and lignite into syngas, which is used for synthetic natural gas, chemicals, fertilisers and hydrogen. It is run by the Ministry of Coal. It seeks to cut import dependence and make cleaner use of coal.

Mission target: 100 MT of coal gasification capacity by 2030.
Coal linkage support: New auction sub-sector for syngas production at power-sector floor price; linkage tenure extended to 30 years.
Revenue share rebate: 50% rebate in revenue share for coal used for gasification.
UCG block auction: Floor price for UCG coal block auction cut to 2% from 4% for underground mining.

Don’t confuse with Surface vs underground gasification: The ₹37,500 crore scheme covers surface coal/lignite gasification; underground coal gasification (UCG) is supported through a separate framework, pilot exemptions and reduced block auction floor price.

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 Coal, 27 Jul, 17:12 IST · Release 291981

Issue page →

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

Scheme

National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme

GS2 HealthPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, PIB published a explainer on India's drive to combat hepatitis by 2030 under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP). It describes free testing and treatment and links with other national health programmes.
What it is: The National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) is a Health Ministry programme begun in 2018. It aims at prevention, screening and treatment of viral hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. It works by linking with existing programmes rather than running a separate system.

Launch year: The programme was launched in 2018 to provide screening and treatment services.
Viruses covered: NVHCP covers all five hepatitis viruses, A to E.
Free services: Free diagnostics and drugs are provided for hepatitis B and C management.
Surveillance of A and E: Hepatitis A and E are acute and outbreak prone, so they are tracked through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme.
Digital records: Patient management and monitoring use a paperless system, the NVHCP-MIS portal.

Don’t confuse with Hepatitis A/E vs B/C: A and E spread by contaminated food and water and are usually self-limiting. B and C spread through blood and body fluids and can become chronic, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Don’t confuse with Hepatitis B vs C prevention: Hepatitis B has a vaccine, given under the Universal Immunization Programme. Hepatitis C has no vaccine but is curable with antivirals.

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: Lasting health programme with a 2030 elimination goal. Scheme facts are testable, but this release gives few precise numbers. Schemes drew 52 of 327 news-linked Prelims questions.

Source: PIB Headquarters, 27 Jul, 10:45 IST · Release 291946

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)

GS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told the Rajya Sabha (Unstarred Question 913) about PMJVK's spending, third-party studies and mandatory quality audits.
What it is: PMJVK is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. It builds community infrastructure in Minority Concentration Areas. It covers health, education, skills, drinking water, sanitation, sports and other sectors.

Type of scheme: PMJVK is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme run by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Demand-driven funding: There is no State-wise or UT-wise allocation. Funds are released against eligible project proposals that meet the guidelines.
Independent studies: IIPA conducted an evaluation study and DMEO, NITI Aayog conducted an impact-cum-assessment study. They flagged awareness, fund flow, monitoring and asset maintenance as areas to improve.
Quality assurance: Third Party Quality Assurance is mandatory for all PMJVK projects in States and UTs.

Don’t confuse with Centrally Sponsored vs Central Sector scheme: In a Centrally Sponsored Scheme the Centre and States share the cost and States implement it. A Central Sector scheme is fully funded and run by the Centre.

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: Centrally sponsored scheme for minority concentration areas; demand-driven and testable. Spending figures are routine, so no question is set here.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Minority Affairs, 27 Jul, 14:57 IST · Release 291953

Issue page →

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

Scheme

PM-NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme)

GS2 Welfare schemes - SkillingGS3 EmploymentPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, the Skill Development Ministry gave the Lok Sabha the salient features of NAPS-2, with apprentice numbers up to 30 June 2026, stipend revision and an AJNIFM evaluation.
What it is: NAPS is a central scheme to promote apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The Government shares part of the stipend that establishments pay apprentices. Since 2022-23 it runs as NAPS-2 across the country.

Stipend support via DBT: The Government pays its share of the stipend straight into apprentices' bank accounts. This ensures transparency and timely payment.
Portal and TPAs: The apprenticeshipindia.gov.in portal handles the process end to end. Empanelled Third Party Aggregators help mobilise apprentices and establishments, especially MSMEs.
Outcome evidence: An AJNIFM evaluation found that around 72% of apprentices were offered full-time jobs after training.
Implementing agency: The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, will implement the extended intervention.
Outlay: ₹57.58 crore is earmarked for FY 2026–27, met from the North-Eastern Region component of PM-NAPS.
Pilot results: Apprenticeship engagement in the region rose 51 per cent, from 15,562 in FY 2024–25 to 23,470 in FY 2025–26.
Legal basis: Apprenticeship training in India is governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961.

Don’t confuse with Apprenticeship vs Skill India courses: Apprenticeship is on-the-job training in an establishment under a contract and a stipend. Short-term skilling courses such as PMKVY are classroom-based training.

Don’t confuse with PM-NAPS vs NATS: Both support apprenticeships. NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme) is the older scheme, run by the Ministry of Education, and covers graduate, technician and diploma apprentices. PM-NAPS is run by MSDE.

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: Issue on file. NAPS-2 features: partial stipend support via DBT under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Worth a card; question unlikely as the news is routine.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 27 Jul, 15:57 IST · Release 291962

Issue page →

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

Science and technology

Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH)

GS2 GovernanceGS3 Digital public infrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, the Skill Ministry told the Lok Sabha that the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) now hosts PMKVY 4.0, NAPS, JSS and the AI-skilling SOAR courses, and gave enrolment figures.
What it is: Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) is a Digital Public Infrastructure for skilling run by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. It puts training, assessment, certification, jobs and entrepreneurship services on one platform that training providers, employers and schemes can join.

Launch: SIDH was launched on 13 September 2023 as a DPI for skilling under MSDE.
Interoperability: It is mobile-first and links with National Career Service, eShram, DigiLocker and BHASHINI.
SOAR: Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) was launched by MSDE through NCVET. Its courses are online, self-paced and NSQF-aligned, and are offered by NCVET-recognised Awarding Bodies.
Credit link: SOAR courses are credit-linked under the National Credit Framework, and credits are integrated with the Academic Bank of Credits.
Onboarding numbers: Over 7,000 training providers, over 68,000 employers and more than 1.5 crore candidates are onboarded, along with more than 70 assessment agencies.
Integrations: SIDH is linked with DigiLocker, e-Shram, the National Career Service, UIDAI and PFMS.
Gig workers: No separate priority category exists for gig and platform workers. They are covered under existing schemes, and the eShram link helps reach them.
Schemes under Skill India Mission: MSDE delivers training through PMKVY, the Jan Shikshan Sansthan scheme, NAPS and the Craftsman Training Scheme run through ITIs.

Don’t confuse with NCVET vs NSDC: NCVET is the regulator that recognises awarding bodies and sets quality norms. NSDC is a public-private body that funds and promotes training providers.

Don’t confuse with NCrF vs ABC: The National Credit Framework sets credit norms across school, higher and vocational learning. The Academic Bank of Credits stores the credits earned.

Don’t confuse with SIDH vs Skill India Mission: The Skill India Mission is the umbrella effort with schemes such as PMKVY and NAPS. SIDH is the digital platform that supports delivery of those schemes.

Don’t confuse with eShram vs National Career Service: eShram is a national database of unorganised workers, including gig workers. NCS is a job-matching portal. SIDH links to both.

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.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Digital public infrastructure launched 13 September 2023, interoperable with eShram, DigiLocker and BHASHINI. Lasting topic; question unlikely.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 27 Jul, 15:59 IST · Release 291963

Issue page →

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

Place in the news

Kalpasar Project (Gulf of Khambhat)

GS1 GeographyGS3 Water resourcesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 July 2026, the Jal Shakti Ministry told Rajya Sabha that the Kalpasar Project's Detailed Project Report is at an advanced stage of finalization, with Indo-Dutch technical cooperation under way.
What it is: Kalpasar is a proposed Gujarat Government project to dam the Gulf of Khambhat on India's western coast. It would form a large freshwater reservoir from the rivers that drain into the Gulf. The aim is to supply water to the water-scarce Saurashtra region.

Project aim: A dam across the Gulf of Khambhat would create one of the world's largest coastal freshwater reservoirs, easing water scarcity in Saurashtra.
Road-rail link: A highway-cum-rail corridor over the dam would cut the Bhavnagar-Surat distance from about 356 km to about 177 km.
Renewable energy: About 2,470 MW of hybrid renewable capacity is planned on reclaimed land that is submerged at high tide. The power would pump freshwater for irrigation.
DPR and Dutch cooperation: The DPR is at an advanced stage of finalization. Indo-Dutch cooperation covers coastal engineering, hydraulic modelling, salinity management, climate resilience and water management.
Location: The Gulf of Khambhat lies on Gujarat's coast, between the Saurashtra peninsula and the mainland of south Gujarat. It receives rivers such as the Narmada, Tapi, Mahi and Sabarmati.

Don’t confuse with Gulf of Khambhat vs Gulf of Kutch: Both are inlets on Gujarat's coast. Khambhat is in the east of the Saurashtra peninsula and Kutch is in the north-west. Kalpasar is in Khambhat.

Places in the news: 26 Prelims questions since 2013, rising (12% of news questions in 2022–26); they test location and why it matters.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Proposed dam across the Gulf of Khambhat for freshwater; DPR at an advanced stage, with Indo-Dutch cooperation. Places seldom reach Mains.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Jal Shakti, 27 Jul, 16:17 IST · Release 291969

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

Keshav Chandra (IAS, 1995 batch, AGMUT) has assumed charge as Secretary, Ministry of Mines.
Maharashtra is the first State eligible for the second RKVY instalment, after using about Rs 260 crore of Rs 335 crore, above the 75% benchmark.
ESIC has extended the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (unemployment relief) from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
A task force for the toy sector will aim at a 5% share of the global toy market by 2032; a Toy Sector Playbook was launched.

Source: PIB, 27 Jul

What we left out: 54 of 70 releases

Speeches without a decision (2)
Sports congratulations (4)
Ceremonies and campaigns (4)
Same issue as another release (10)
Local case study (1)
Routine contract dispute (1)
Routine list and data (1)
Routine scheme details (12)
Routine data (4)
Sports feature (1)
Same issue on file (5)
Meetings and consultations (2)
Routine parliament reply (3)
Routine MoUs (1)
Workshops and webinars (1)
Other releases (2)

Practise the day’s news

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

1IndiaAI MissionMCQ · 7 true or false
2India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)MCQ · 13 true or false · Mains
3Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024MCQ · 15 true or false · Mains
4National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)MCQ · 6 true or false
5Gyan Bharatam MissionMCQ · 14 true or false
6Kosi-Mechi Intra-State Link ProjectMCQ · 6 true or false
7National Coal Gasification MissionMCQ · 5 true or false

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

The Safe & Trusted AI pillar of the IndiaAI Mission funds work on bias, privacy, explainability and deepfakes, and the India AI Governance Guidelines propose a risk-based framework instead of a single AI law. Examine the main provisions of the IndiaAI Mission and critically analyse the challenges India faces in ensuring safe and trusted AI.

From: IndiaAI Mission

Write and get it marked

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