UPSC current affairs · Saturday

Current Affairs, 28 February 2026

8 issues picked from 39 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

HPV Vaccination Drive and Cervical Cancer Elimination. India launches free single-dose HPV vaccination for 14-year-old girls to prevent cervical cancer.
Project Cheetah. Nine Botswana cheetahs reach Kuno; India's cheetah population stands at 48.
Jiyo Parsi Scheme. Minority Affairs ministry reviews Jiyo Parsi Scheme and ways to reverse Parsi population decline.
Pharmacovigilance Programme of India and Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission. IPC held first national PvPI-MvPI centres' meet and launched ADR PvPI 2.0 reporting app.
PM MITRA Parks. Virudhnagar PM MITRA Park allots 190 acres to 23 investors; ₹2,192 crore pledged.
Micron ATMP Facility, Sanand (India Semiconductor Mission). Micron's Sanand chip assembly and packaging plant starts commercial production, a step in India's semiconductor push.
UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus). National UDISE+ conference pushes data integrity, APAAR-based dropout tracking, board integration and AI tools.
National Board for Wildlife and its Standing Committee. 89th SC-NBWL meeting in Bhopal reviewed 58 projects and key wildlife policy issues.

Scheme

HPV Vaccination Drive and Cervical Cancer Elimination

GS2 HealthPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 February 2026, PM Narendra Modi launched the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign for 14-year-old girls from Ajmer, Rajasthan. It gives a free single dose at government health facilities.
What it is: India's national HPV vaccination campaign gives a free single dose of the Gardasil Quadrivalent vaccine to adolescent girls at government health facilities. It sits alongside VIA-based cervical cancer screening under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). Together they follow WHO's global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.

Launch date: The nationwide campaign was launched on 28 February 2026 and runs for three months.
Target group: About 1.2 crore girls aged 14 years in all 36 States and UTs.
Vaccine and dose: A single dose of Gardasil-4 is given free at government facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, PHCs, CHCs, district hospitals and GMCs.
After the campaign: Once the three-month campaign ends, the vaccine stays available on routine immunization days.
Target group and size: The campaign targets 12 million girls aged 14 years. It was inaugurated on 28 February.
Vaccine and schedule: A single dose of Gardasil Quadrivalent over 90 days, free at designated government facilities, in line with WHO and NTAGI recommendations.
Voluntary participation: The programme is voluntary and rests on parental consent.
Digital tracking: U-WIN records each vaccination event. eVIN tracks vaccine stocks and cold-chain logistics.
WHO 90-70-90 targets for 2030: 90% of girls vaccinated against HPV, 70% of women screened, and 90% of women with cervical disease treated.
Digital platforms: U-WIN handles session planning, registration, consent and reporting; e-VIN manages vaccine stocks and logistics.
Campaign mode: A 90-day campaign, after which the vaccine moves to routine immunization session days. Voluntary, free, with parental consent.
Expert recommendation: The vaccination is recommended by WHO and India's NTAGI.
Vaccine used: Gardasil, a quadrivalent vaccine covering HPV types 16, 18, 6 and 11.
Where given: Free of cost at designated government facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, CHCs, district hospitals and medical colleges.
Procurement: Supply secured through a procurement mechanism in partnership with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.

Don’t confuse with HPV vaccination vs VIA screening: The vaccine prevents HPV infection in adolescent girls. VIA (visual inspection with acetic acid) is a screening test that detects precancerous changes in women.

Don’t confuse with U-WIN vs eVIN: U-WIN is the digital platform recording each vaccination event. eVIN tracks vaccine stocks and cold-chain logistics.

Don’t confuse with VIA vs HPV vaccination: VIA is a screening test for women aged 30-65 and detects disease early. HPV vaccination is primary prevention for adolescent girls.

Don’t confuse with U-WIN vs e-VIN: U-WIN is the digital platform for beneficiary registration, sessions, consent and records. e-VIN tracks vaccine stocks and cold chain logistics.

Don’t confuse with Gardasil-4 vs Gardasil-9 vs Cervavac: Gardasil-4 covers types 6, 11, 16, 18. Gardasil-9 covers nine types. Cervavac is an Indian-made quadrivalent vaccine. The campaign uses Gardasil-4.

Don’t confuse with NTAGI vs SAGE: NTAGI is India's national expert group advising the Health Ministry on immunization; SAGE is WHO's global advisory group.

Don’t confuse with HPV types 16/18 vs 6/11: Types 16 and 18 cause most cervical cancers; types 6 and 11 mainly cause genital warts.

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

Cervical cancer is largely preventable, so vaccination plus screening can cut cases and deaths among women.
Free delivery through public facilities, including rural areas, improves equity of access.
Cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer deaths among Indian women. Vaccination plus screening can cut this burden over time.
A free, single-dose drive supports India's alignment with WHO's global elimination goals.
Prevents a leading cancer in women, with about 1.2 crore girls in each yearly cohort.
A single dose lowers cost and logistics burden, which helps reach and coverage.
Advances India's contribution to the WHO goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem.
Cervical cancer is largely preventable; vaccination before exposure cuts future cases and deaths.
Single-dose schedule lowers cost and eases delivery, helping equity in women's health.

Problems

Parental consent and vaccine hesitancy or misinformation can lower uptake.
Reaching girls outside school and in underserved areas, and tracking them for follow-up, is hard.
Voluntary, consent-based uptake needs trust-building to counter vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
Screening coverage and follow-up treatment for those who test positive must keep pace with vaccination.
Parental consent and misinformation or hesitancy about a vaccine for adolescents may limit uptake.
Reaching out-of-school girls and remote areas within a 90-day window is hard.
Vaccination alone is not enough; screening and treatment capacity for older women remains uneven.
Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation about safety among parents.
Reaching out-of-school girls and remote areas with cold-chain and tracking.

Way forward

Run awareness drives with schools, ASHAs and community leaders to build trust.
Link vaccination with screening and treatment so prevention covers all age groups.
Use frontline health workers and U-WIN for outreach, tracking and follow-up of beneficiaries.
Link vaccination, screening and treatment so that all three WHO 90-70-90 targets are pursued together.
Run awareness drives through schools, ASHAs and Anganwadis to counter hesitancy.
Use U-WIN data to track coverage and adverse events, and follow up missed girls in routine sessions.
Link vaccination with screening and treatment under the NP-NCD for a full elimination strategy.
Run awareness drives with schools, ASHAs and community leaders, and monitor adverse events openly.
Pair vaccination with expanded cervical cancer screening and treatment under NP-NCD.

Put in your answer

Campaign coverage: Target of about 1.2 crore girls aged 14 across 36 States/UTs with a single dose.

Safety system: Vaccination sites are linked to 24x7 AEFI Management Centres for prompt handling of adverse events.

Cervical cancer burden in India: WHO's chief cited over 80,000 deaths and about 42,000 new cases annually in India.

Screening reach: Over 86 million women screened under NP-NCD shows scale of population-based screening.

Herd effect: High coverage reduces circulation of HPV strains, giving indirect protection to the unvaccinated.

Test yourselfMains

True or false?

1 of 12

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

1.Gardasil-4 protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
2.The U-WIN portal manages vaccine stocks and logistics under the campaign.
3.Vaccination is free and voluntary, and needs parental or guardian consent.
4.The vaccine is offered at both government and private health facilities in the campaign.
5.Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types, particularly 16 and 18, is the primary cause of cervical cancer.
6.Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in India.
7.The vaccine used in the national programme protects only against HPV types 16 and 18.
8.India has secured HPV vaccine supply through a procurement mechanism in partnership with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.
9.The programme is built on a two-dose schedule recommended by WHO.
10.Vaccination under the programme is voluntary and requires informed consent from parents or guardians.
11.Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in India according to GLOBOCAN 2022 data cited by the Ministry.
12.The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization is an advisory body of the World Health Organization.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 28 Feb, 15:36 IST · Release 285039

Issue page →

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

Species and protected area

Project Cheetah

GS3 Environment and BiodiversityPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 February 2026, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav released nine cheetahs from Botswana into quarantine enclosures at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. India's cheetah count is now 48, including 28 India-born cubs.
What it is: Project Cheetah is India's programme to reintroduce the cheetah, declared extinct in India in 1952. Cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa were first brought to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, in 2022. It is run by the Environment Ministry with the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

Central team: The team has the NTCA Inspector General of Forests and two officers of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
State response: Madhya Pradesh formed a Special Task Force of forest and police officers; the central team will also review security protocols and protection measures.
Extinction and reintroduction: The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952; the first cheetahs came to Kuno in 2022 from Namibia, with more from South Africa later.
Location of death site: The cheetah was found outside the protected area, in territorial forests of Morena, showing animals stray beyond Kuno's boundary.
Population: India now has 60 cheetahs, of which 41 were born in India.
Mother: KJP21 is the third Indian-born female to give birth, after Mukhi and KGP12.
Botswana lineage: The cubs' father is a Botswanan male, so a new genetic lineage begins in India.
Location: Kuno National Park is in Madhya Pradesh.
Extinction: The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. The species is Acinonyx jubatus.
Total population: India's cheetah population reached 53 after Jwala's litter.
Indian-born cubs: The number of Indian-born thriving cubs rose to 33. This was the 10th successful litter on Indian soil.
Botswana cheetahs: Nine cheetahs (6 females, 3 males) from Botswana were put in quarantine enclosures at Kuno on 28 February 2026 for acclimatisation and health monitoring.
Founder animals: Jwala is a Namibian cheetah, now a third-time mother. Gamini, from South Africa, recently had her second litter of four cubs.
New source country: Botswana is the new source of cheetahs, after Namibia and South Africa. Nine animals arrived: 6 females and 3 males.
Capture and transfer: The cheetahs were captured in the Ghanzi region of Botswana and held in quarantine at Mokolodi Nature Reserve before the transfer to India.
Transport to India: The Indian Air Force airlifted the animals from Gaborone to Gwalior. They then went by helicopter to Kuno.
Extinction in India: The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952.
Litter count: The new birth is the ninth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil.
Surviving Indian-born cubs: 27 Indian-born cubs are alive.
Mother of the cubs: Gamini is a South African cheetah and a second-time mother.
First translocation: 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa came to India in 2022-23, described as the world's first inter-continental translocation of a large carnivore.
First release: PM Modi released the first eight cheetahs on 17 September 2022.

Don’t confuse with Territorial forest vs protected area: Territorial forest divisions are ordinary State forest areas, while a national park is a protected area with stronger legal protection.

Don’t confuse with Cheetah vs leopard: The cheetah has solid black spots and tear-line marks on the face and is built for speed. The leopard has rosettes and climbs trees. The cheetah cannot roar.

Don’t confuse with Asiatic vs African cheetah: The cheetah that once lived in India was the Asiatic cheetah, now surviving only in Iran. The animals brought to Kuno are African cheetahs from Namibia, South Africa and Botswana.

Don’t confuse with Project Cheetah vs Project Tiger: Both involve the National Tiger Conservation Authority's support, but Project Cheetah is a reintroduction of an extinct species, while Project Tiger protects existing tiger populations.

Don’t confuse with African cheetah vs Asiatic cheetah: The cheetahs brought to India are African cheetahs. The Asiatic cheetah survives only in Iran in small numbers.

Species and protected areas: 12 Prelims questions since 2013; they test legal status, location and the year of designation.

Why it matters

Cheetah reintroduction is a test of India's grassland and big cat conservation capacity.
Poaching deaths affect public trust in the programme.
Births in India show the reintroduced population is breeding and becoming self-sustaining.
A new Botswana lineage widens the gene pool and reduces inbreeding risk.
Reintroduction of an extinct large carnivore aims to restore grassland and open-forest ecosystems.
Successful breeding on Indian soil shows the animals are adapting to local conditions.
Restores a lost top predator and grassland ecosystem in India.
Adds a source population outside Africa, supporting global cheetah conservation.
Restores a lost apex predator and grassland ecosystem role.
Shows India's capacity for large-scale conservation translocation.

Problems

Cheetahs range widely and leave the protected area into human-use landscapes.
Local retaliation, snares or illegal firearms threaten animals outside the park.
The founder population is small, so genetic diversity stays limited.
Cheetahs need large open grassland, and Kuno has limited space and prey.
Limited space and prey in Kuno may constrain a growing population.
Animals face risks from disease, injuries and conflict outside protected areas.
Limited space and prey base in Kuno, and the risk of animals straying out of the park.
Mortality in the early years and dependence on imports for genetic diversity.
Limited space at Kuno and the need for more sites for a viable population.
Cub and adult mortality, and human-wildlife conflict outside protected areas.

Way forward

Strengthen monitoring and community engagement around Kuno and extend protection to the wider landscape.
Ensure swift investigation and prosecution of wildlife crime.
Build more sites, such as other protected areas, and manage the animals as a metapopulation.
Improve prey base and habitat, and keep exchanging animals with African countries.
Expand the habitat through other landscapes and manage animals as a connected metapopulation.
Keep up health monitoring and continue exchange of animals with African countries.
Expand habitat to other sites such as Gandhi Sagar and build a connected metapopulation.
Continue scientific monitoring and community involvement near release sites.
Develop additional habitats and manage the cheetahs as a connected metapopulation.
Continue monitoring and veterinary care with exchanges of animals from African countries.

Put in your answer

Central probe team: The Centre sent NTCA and WCCB officers to examine the death and review security protocols.

Project Cheetah population: India has 60 cheetahs, 41 of them born in India, showing local breeding success.

Botswana partnership: International cooperation on translocation: Botswana was chosen as a new source, with an Indian delegation visiting in September 2025 to plan logistics and clearances.

Population milestone: India's cheetah population reached 48, including 28 India-born cubs, as evidence of breeding success.

Global first: The 2022-23 translocation of 20 cheetahs was the first inter-continental translocation of a large carnivore.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 28 Feb, 15:12 IST · Release 285037

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Jiyo Parsi Scheme

GS2 Welfare schemes for minoritiesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 February 2026, the Ministry of Minority Affairs held the 2nd meeting of the Jiyo Parsi Advisory Committee in Mumbai. It discussed the falling Parsi population, early marriage support and the scheme's progress.
What it is: Jiyo Parsi is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. It aims to reverse the decline in the Parsi population, a small community that is shrinking. It gives help for fertility treatment and for childcare, and funds awareness work.

Type of scheme: It is a Central Sector Scheme, run by the Union government and funded by it.
Ministry: The scheme is run by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, whose Secretary chaired the meeting.
What it funds: It supports medical help for fertility treatment, childcare assistance, advocacy and awareness, and community outreach.
Who attended: State minority welfare departments of Maharashtra and Gujarat, the Bombay and Gujarat Parsi Panchayats, and NMDFC were represented.
NMDFC role: NMDFC offers concessional loans and entrepreneurship support for startups, self-employment and skill-based enterprises.

Don’t confuse with Central Sector Scheme vs Centrally Sponsored Scheme: A Central Sector Scheme is fully funded and run by the Centre. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme is shared with states and run by 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.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Central Sector Scheme on Parsi population decline. Lasting scheme, but this meeting adds few testable facts. Schemes are 16% of news-linked Prelims questions.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Minority Affairs, 28 Feb, 15:15 IST · Release 285038

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Pharmacovigilance Programme of India and Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission

GS2 HealthPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27-28 February 2026, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and AMTZ held the first national annual meet of PvPI and MvPI regional centres at Visakhapatnam. The ADR PvPI 2.0 mobile app was launched at the meet.
What it is: The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an autonomous body under the Union Health Ministry. It sets drug quality standards through the Indian Pharmacopoeia. It also runs the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) and the Materiovigilance Programme of India (MvPI), which track adverse drug reactions and medical device events.

Meet: The meet was the first national annual meeting of PvPI and MvPI regional centres, held at AMTZ, Visakhapatnam.
New app: The ADR PvPI 2.0 Mobile Application was launched to ease reporting of adverse drug reactions and capture data in real time.
Key problems: Technical sessions flagged underreporting of adverse drug reactions, documentation gaps and weak medical device safety oversight.
Parent ministry: IPC works under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Its Secretary-cum-Scientific Director presided over the inaugural session.
Main work: IPC publishes the Indian Pharmacopoeia, the official book of drug standards in India under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Legal basis: IP is published by the IPC on behalf of the Health Ministry to meet the requirements of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. Its standards are legally enforceable.
Blood component monographs: IP 2026 includes 20 blood component monographs for transfusion medicine for the first time, under the Drugs and Cosmetics (Second Amendment) Rules, 2020.
PvPI ranking: India was ranked 123rd in contributions to the WHO pharmacovigilance database in 2009-2014. It rose to 8th in 2025.

Don’t confuse with Pharmacovigilance vs materiovigilance: Pharmacovigilance tracks adverse reactions to drugs (PvPI, via ADR Monitoring Centres). Materiovigilance tracks adverse events from medical devices (MvPI, via Medical Device Monitoring Centres).

Don’t confuse with Pharmacopoeia vs Pharmacovigilance: The Pharmacopoeia sets quality standards for drugs. Pharmacovigilance tracks adverse drug reactions after drugs are in use. The IPC does both through IP and PvPI.

Don’t confuse with IPC vs CDSCO: The IPC sets drug standards. The CDSCO, headed by the Drugs Controller General (India), regulates approval and licensing of drugs.

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.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting drug-safety bodies; first national meet and a mobile app launched. UPSC rarely asks about such bodies (statutory bodies 7 of 327 Prelims).

Source: PIB, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 28 Feb, 16:39 IST · Release 285043

Issue page →

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

Scheme

PM MITRA Parks

GS3 Industry - TextilesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 February 2026, the Board of PM MITRA Park Tamil Nadu Ltd. allotted 190.44 acres at Virudhnagar to 23 investors, with commitments of about ₹2,192 crore. The Ministry of Textiles announced this on 28 February 2026.
What it is: PM MITRA is a Ministry of Textiles scheme to build large integrated textile parks covering the whole value chain, from spinning to garments, on one site. It follows the '5F' idea (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign). Each park is developed by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in which the Centre and the state government take part.

Number of parks: Seven PM MITRA Parks are approved, on greenfield and brownfield sites.
Outlay and period: The scheme outlay is Rs 4,445 crore for 2021-22 to 2027-28.
Sites: Sites are in Tamil Nadu (Virudhnagar), Telangana (Warangal), Gujarat (Navsari), Karnataka (Kalaburagi), Madhya Pradesh (Dhar), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow) and Maharashtra (Amravati).
Employment target: Each park is expected to create about 3 lakh jobs: 1 lakh direct and 2 lakh indirect.
Progress on SPVs: Joint venture agreements are signed and SPVs set up for all 5 greenfield sites; Telangana and Maharashtra are brownfield.
First functional park: Warangal is the country's first functional PM MITRA Park, with a project cost of Rs 1695.54 crore.
Seven states: Seven parks were approved in March 2023 in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Brownfield support: Under the brownfield category, Kakatiya Mega Textile Park became eligible for Rs 200 crore development capital support and Rs 300 crore Competitive Incentive Support.
Incentive per park: Competitive Incentive Support for manufacturing units totals Rs 300 crore for each park.
Implementing body: The park is run by an SPV, PM MITRA Park, Tamil Nadu Ltd. Its Board is chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Textiles. SIPCOT and NICDC are represented on it.
Park features: The park has a 15 MLD CETP with ZLD, a 20 MW solar plant, centralised steam boilers and about 13 lakh sq ft of plug-and-play units. Its cost is ₹1,894 crore.
Concept: The scheme follows the 5F vision: Farm, Fibre, Factory, Fashion, Foreign.

Don’t confuse with PM MITRA vs PLI for textiles: PM MITRA funds shared infrastructure in parks. The PLI scheme for textiles gives incentives on sales of man-made fibre and technical textiles.

Don’t confuse with PM MITRA vs earlier textile parks (SITP): The Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP) was an older scheme of smaller parks. PM MITRA parks are larger and cover the full value chain.

Don’t confuse with PM MITRA vs old SITP: The Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP) was the earlier textile park scheme. PM MITRA is a newer and larger-scale version with greater integration.

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 Textiles, 28 Feb, 17:53 IST · Release 285046

Issue page →

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

Science and technology

Micron ATMP Facility, Sanand (India Semiconductor Mission)

GS3 Science and TechnologyGS3 IndustryPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 February 2026, PM Modi inaugurated Micron's ATMP facility in Sanand, Gujarat. The inauguration marks the start of commercial production at the plant.
What it is: Micron's Sanand unit is an Assembly, Test, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) facility. It takes processed silicon wafers and turns them into finished memory chips. It is one of the projects approved under the India Semiconductor Mission, which sits under the Semicon India programme.

Products: The plant will make D-RAM and NAND memory products. These serve data centres, AI applications and mobile devices.
Projects under Semicon India: Ten projects have been approved under Semicon India. Three more are set to begin production soon.
Next phase: The Budget announced India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, aimed at the whole value chain.
Western India clusters: Dholera and Sanand are developing as the semiconductor clusters of Western India.
Pax Silica: The Pax Silica agreement was signed during the AI Summit. It aims to make the supply chain for critical minerals more reliable.

Don’t confuse with ATMP vs fabrication (fab): A fab makes chips on wafers. ATMP takes the finished wafers and assembles, tests and packages them into usable chips.

Don’t confuse with D-RAM vs NAND: D-RAM is volatile working memory that loses data when power is off. NAND is non-volatile flash storage that keeps data.

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: Commercial production starts at Micron's ATMP plant in Gujarat under India Semiconductor Mission. Concept questions on semiconductors appear in sci-tech Prelims, but this news adds few testable facts.

Source: PIB, Prime Minister's Office, 28 Feb, 19:10 IST · Release 285053

Issue page →

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

Report or index

UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus)

GS2 EducationPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27-28 February 2026, the Department of School Education & Literacy and Odisha held a national conference on UDISE+ in Bhubaneswar. It discussed data quality, linking APAAR IDs to track dropouts and learning outcomes, and using AI in the system.
What it is: UDISE+ is a digital platform of the Department of School Education & Literacy that collects school education data from across India. It replaced the earlier UDISE system and is used for planning, policy and monitoring. It also tracks implementation of NEP 2020.

Run by: UDISE+ is developed and run by the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education.
Launch: UDISE+ was launched in 2018–19 as a data platform for evidence-based planning and monitoring.
Pupil–teacher ratio: The overall PTR is 24:1, within the NEP 2020 benchmark of 30:1.
Weak schools: Single-teacher schools fell about 3% to 1,00,843. Zero-enrolment schools fell 29% to 5,663.
Digital access: Schools with computers rose to 69.9% and with internet to 67.4%.
Proposed widening: The Additional Secretary spoke of tracking students' learning outcomes and dropouts through the APAAR ID.
Integration through API: DoSEL stressed linking other portals to UDISE+ through API to reduce the reporting burden on schools.
AI use being explored: Ideas include automated data flagging, smart verification queues, an AI helpdesk and automated school report cards.
Data covered: The data cover school infrastructure, student enrolment and teacher profiles.

Don’t confuse with PTR vs GER: PTR is students per teacher at a stage. GER is total enrolment at a stage as a share of the official age group population, and can exceed 100%.

Don’t confuse with Dropout vs retention vs transition: Dropout is the share leaving school. Retention is the share staying to a stage. Transition is the share moving from one stage to the next.

Don’t confuse with UDISE+ vs APAAR ID: UDISE+ is the school data system. APAAR ID is a student identifier that is proposed to be used with it to track students.

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: Lasting education data system linked to APAAR ID; conference news adds no new provision. Low chance of a question.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Human Resource Development, 28 Feb, 19:21 IST · Release 285055

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

National Board for Wildlife and its Standing Committee

GS3 Environment - Wildlife conservation bodiesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 February 2026, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired the 89th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife in Bhopal. It cleared 58 fresh proposals and discussed Chambal e-flows, villages in tiger reserves, grasslands and human-leopard conflict.
What it is: The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory body set up under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. It is the apex advisory body on wildlife policy and is chaired by the Prime Minister. Its Standing Committee, chaired by the Environment Minister, appraises projects in and around protected areas.

Who chaired: The Environment Minister chaired the 91st meeting of the Standing Committee at Coimbatore.
Legal basis: Wildlife clearances for projects are sought under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Species items: Agenda items covered the Greater One-horned Rhino DNA Indexing strategy, Great Indian Bustard strategy, and adding the Pygmy Hog to the Species Recovery Programme.
NBWL chair: The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister; its 7th meeting was under the PM.
Statutory status: NBWL was constituted under Section 5A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2002.
Proposals considered: 58 fresh proposals were considered, across sectors such as power lines, roads, defence, irrigation and water supply.
Policy matters: The Committee discussed e-flows in the Chambal River for dolphins and gharials, villages inside tiger reserves, grasslands and the human-leopard interface.
Chair of the Board: The full NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Chair: The 88th meeting was chaired by the Union Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav.
Defence proposals: Seventeen defence proposals, mainly in Ladakh and Sikkim, were recommended for strategic border and high-altitude infrastructure.
Process reform: The Committee reviewed the Action Taken Report, including improvement of the PARIVESH portal.

Don’t confuse with NBWL vs National Tiger Conservation Authority: NBWL is under the Wild Life (Protection) Act and advises on all wildlife policy. The NTCA is a separate statutory body for tiger conservation and tiger reserves.

Don’t confuse with NBWL vs Forest Advisory Committee: The Standing Committee of NBWL appraises projects affecting protected areas. The Forest Advisory Committee examines forest land diversion under the Forest (Conservation) Act.

Don’t confuse with NBWL vs its Standing Committee: The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister and sets broad policy advice. The Standing Committee, chaired by the Environment Minister, appraises specific projects in and around protected areas.

Don’t confuse with Advisory role: Both bodies advise and recommend. Final project decisions rest with the government.

Why it matters

It is the main national forum that balances development projects with wildlife habitat protection.
Its reviews of species plans, such as for the Great Indian Bustard and rhino, guide recovery work.
Gives a statutory check on projects near protected areas, balancing development with conservation.
Brings research institutions such as the Wildlife Institute of India into policy advice.
It is the main check on projects in and around protected areas, balancing development with conservation.
Clearing defence and border infrastructure shows how security needs are weighed against ecology.

Problems

Clearing many projects, including mining and linear infrastructure, can fragment habitats and weaken connectivity.
Mitigation measures are hard to monitor once a project is cleared.
Criticism that most project proposals are cleared, so scrutiny of ecological costs is weak.
Relocating villages from tiger reserves raises livelihood and rights issues.
Many proposals are cleared with conditions, and enforcing mitigation measures is hard.
Roads and power lines fragment habitats and affect species in sensitive areas.

Way forward

Base clearances on scientific impact studies and enforce mitigation conditions with monitoring.
Protect ecological corridors and use traditional knowledge in conservation planning.
Use independent scientific assessment and publish reasons for decisions.
Plan voluntary, rights-respecting relocation and landscape-level management of conflict.
Monitor compliance with SC-NBWL directions and publish action taken reports.
Use digital platforms like PARIVESH for faster, transparent and science-based appraisal.

Put in your answer

Balancing development and wildlife: The Standing Committee appraised projects on ecological impact, public welfare and adequacy of mitigation, showing how clearance weighs both aims.

Example of balancing development and wildlife: A medium irrigation project in Madhya Pradesh's Bundelkhand region was considered for drinking and irrigation water and for more water for wildlife and gharials.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 that clears projects near protected areas. Standing facts are testable, but this meeting is routine.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 28 Feb, 20:41 IST · Release 285061

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

New four-lane Farakka Bridge over the Ganga in West Bengal: 5.468 km, cost ₹622.04 crore, 96% complete.
Jammu and Kashmir won the Ranji Trophy for the first time.

Source: PIB, 28 Feb

What we left out: 29 of 39 releases

Speeches without a decision (6)
Same issue as another release (8)
Ceremonies and campaigns (6)
Workshops and meetings (6)
Routine reviews and advisories (1)
Condolences and ex-gratia (1)
Exhibitions and fairs (1)

Practise the day’s news

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

1HPV Vaccination Drive and Cervical Cancer EliminationMCQ · 12 true or false · Mains
2Project CheetahMCQ · 13 true or false
3PM MITRA ParksMCQ · 5 true or false

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

India has launched a nationwide single-dose HPV vaccination campaign for 14-year-old girls as part of its effort to eliminate cervical cancer. Examine the significance of this initiative for women's health in India and discuss the challenges in achieving its goals. Suggest a way forward.

From: HPV Vaccination Drive and Cervical Cancer Elimination

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