Current Affairs, 27 May 2026

Outlay

Central share of Rs 25,530 crore in the 16th Finance Commission cycle.

Merged schemes

Two ongoing schemes are integrated: intra-State movement and FPS dealers' margin under NFSA, and SMART PDS.

Technology

Uses AI, ML, NLP and Blockchain, State Command Control Centres and ISO-certified process frameworks.

Coverage

Serves 81.35 crore persons covered under NFSA.

SMART PDS

Since 1 April 2023 it has driven digitisation of ration cards, Aadhaar seeding, e-PoS and online allocation across 36 States/UTs.

Don’t confuse with SARTHAK-PDS vs SMART PDS: SMART PDS is only the technology reform scheme; SARTHAK-PDS is the umbrella that also funds movement, handling and FPS dealers' margin.

Don’t confuse with NFSA vs TPDS: NFSA, 2013 is the law giving entitlements; TPDS is the delivery system for them.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2019Mains GS3 · Q13What reformative steps has Government taken to make food grain distribution more effective?
2. 2021Mains GS3 · Q13What are the salient features of NFSA 2013 and its impact on hunger?
3. 2022Mains GS3 · Q3What are major PDS challenges, and how can it be made effective and transparent?
4. 2004Prelims Q77Which statements on procurement, MSP and TPDS uniform central issue prices are correct?
5. 2004Prelims Q9Which statement about TPDS, Annapurna and food grain schemes is NOT correct?
6. 2001Prelims Q33Name the prices Government pays for PDS and buffer stock food grains.

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

Who prepares it

The NHA is prepared by the National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS) at NHSRC, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Method

Estimates use the System of Health Accounts 2011 (SHA 2011) framework.

Government share in THE

Government Health Expenditure as a share of Total Health Expenditure rose from 28.6% to 43.7% between 2013-14 and 2022-23.

Out-of-pocket spending

OOPE share of THE fell from 64.2% in 2013-14 to 43.4% in 2022-23.

Social security expenditure

SSE share in THE rose from 6% to 9.9%. It includes government-funded insurance, reimbursements to government employees and social health insurance.

Don’t confuse with THE vs GHE: Total Health Expenditure is all spending (government, households, insurance, others). Government Health Expenditure is only the government part.

Don’t confuse with GHE vs OOPE: GHE is public spending. OOPE is what households pay directly at the point of care, not reimbursed by any insurance.

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

1. 2015Mains GS2 · Q12Whether private sector can bridge public health coverage gaps, and what alternatives exist
2. 2024Mains GS2 · Q17How the State can curb marketisation's impact and extend grassroots public healthcare reach

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

Total foodgrain

Foodgrain output is estimated at 376.563 million tonnes, up about 5.3% from 357.732 million tonnes last year. It is the highest ever.

Rice, wheat, maize

Rice is estimated at a record 154.024 mt, wheat at 120.657 mt and maize at a record 55.093 mt.

Oilseeds

Total oilseeds are estimated at 43.059 mt. Groundnut and rapeseed & mustard are at record levels.

Sugarcane

Sugarcane is estimated at a record 500.063 mt, which is 45.452 mt above last year's 454.611 mt.

Bale weights

Cotton is counted in bales of 170 kg and jute in bales of 180 kg.

ICAR varieties

ICAR released 339 crop varieties in 2025–26 for different agro-climatic regions.

Don’t confuse with Advance vs final estimates: Advance Estimates are forecasts released in stages during the crop year. Final estimates come after the year ends and replace them.

Don’t confuse with Shree Anna vs all coarse cereals: The release gives Shree Anna (millets) at 17.584 mt and nutritious and coarse cereals at 74.472 mt. These are different totals; the second includes maize.

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.