UPSC current affairs · Tuesday

Current Affairs, 28 July 2026

8 issues picked from 109 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

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). PIB explainer before International Tiger Day: India holds about 70% of wild tigers; NTCA and Project Tiger drive recovery.
Cell Broadcast Alert System (Integrated Alert System, CAP). Cell broadcast sends geo-targeted disaster alerts to all phones via NDMA's CAP-based platform.
National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES). NFIES funds 9 NFSU campuses and 7 CFSLs; only ₹119.09 crore released so far.
Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme. Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme, announced in Budget 2026, is being framed; existing coastal shipping incentives continue.
Sugar Stock Holding Limits (Essential Commodities Act). Centre caps sugar dealers' stocks from 1 August to 30 November 2026 to curb hoarding.
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. AB PM-JAY now operates in all 36 States/UTs, with wider coverage and portability.
PM E-DRIVE Scheme. PM E-DRIVE has incentivised 23 lakh EVs; charging and e-bus rollout still lags.
PM-AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana). PM-AJAY proposed to continue for 2026-31 with higher outlay after a positive DMEO evaluation.

Law and statutory body

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

GS3 Environment - Wildlife conservation bodiesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 July 2026, ahead of International Tiger Day (29 July), PIB published a explainer on India's tiger conservation. It covers India's share of wild tigers, the NTCA, Project Tiger, monitoring tools and global partnerships.
What it is: The National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body under the Environment Ministry. It oversees Project Tiger, approves Tiger Conservation Plans and monitors how tiger reserves are managed. It also leads the All India Tiger Estimation with the Wildlife Institute of India.

Chair and members: NTCA is chaired by the Union Environment Minister. Members include MPs, senior officials and experts.
Tiger Conservation Plan: Section 38V(3) of the Wildlife Protection Act requires each State to prepare a Tiger Conservation Plan for every tiger reserve. NTCA approves these plans.
All India Tiger Estimation: AITE is held every four years, led by NTCA with the Wildlife Institute of India. The 2022 estimate for India was 3,682 tigers.
Reserve zoning: Each tiger reserve has a Core Area (Critical Tiger Habitat) with the highest protection, and a Buffer Area that balances conservation with livelihoods.
Chair of the Authority: The Union Environment Minister is the Chairperson of the NTCA. Bhupender Yadav chaired this meeting.
Legal basis: The NTCA is a statutory body created by the 2006 amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It was constituted in 2005 on the recommendation of the Tiger Task Force.
Parliament members: Members of Parliament sit on the Authority. Two MPs, Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Harish Chandra Meena, attended this meeting.
STRIDES 2026: The report is a status assessment of conservation and management interventions across India's tiger reserves.
Management Effectiveness Evaluation: The Authority discussed a proposal for the 6th cycle of the MEE of tiger reserves. The exercise assesses how effective management is.
Tiger Conservation Foundations: The proposed Tiger Conclave would raise funds for tiger reserves through Tiger Conservation Foundations, with corporate and philanthropic partners.
Who attended: 12 Chief Wildlife Wardens and 18 Field Directors from States and tiger reserves took part.
WII roadmap: The Wildlife Institute of India Tiger Cell presented a roadmap for stocking tiger-deficient areas through active management of reserves.
Prey augmentation: Gaur and barasingha translocations were highlighted as a way to strengthen prey and support tiger recovery.
Low tiger-density reserves: Buxa, Achanakmar, Udanti-Sitanadi, Indravati and Palamau presented their preparedness for future tiger recovery.
NTCA legal basis: NTCA became statutory through a 2006 amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is chaired by the Environment Minister.

Don’t confuse with Global Tiger Forum vs International Big Cat Alliance: GTF is an intergovernmental body for tigers only, with 13 range countries, headquartered in New Delhi. IBCA covers seven big cats, and its Secretariat is also in India.

Don’t confuse with NTCA vs Wildlife Crime Control Bureau: The NTCA oversees tiger conservation and tiger reserves. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is a separate statutory body that fights organised wildlife crime.

Don’t confuse with NTCA vs Project Tiger: Project Tiger is the 1973 scheme for tiger conservation. The NTCA is the statutory authority that now oversees it.

Don’t confuse with Reintroduction vs supplementation: Reintroduction restores a species where it is locally extinct, as at Sariska. Supplementation adds animals to a surviving but low population.

Don’t confuse with NTCA vs IBCA: NTCA is a statutory body for tigers in India. The International Big Cat Alliance is a multi-country body covering seven big cat species.

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

India holds nearly 70% of wild tigers, so its governance model shapes global tiger recovery.
Tiger habitats protect forests, water and soil, giving ecological security and rural livelihoods.
Gives tiger reserves a central statutory body for oversight and standards.
Regular management evaluations and status reports support evidence-based planning.
Gives States a common scientific framework to restore tigers in empty or low-density reserves.
Lessons from Sariska and Project Cheetah can guide wider wildlife recovery.

Problems

Tiger reserves cover only about 2.56% of India's area, so tigers and people share landscapes and conflict rises.
Human–wildlife conflict is rising around tiger landscapes.
Reserves need steady funds and trained staff.
Translocation needs enough prey, secure habitat and community support, and carries risks of conflict and poor post-release survival.

Way forward

Connect reserves through wildlife corridors, and keep investing in technology monitoring and frontline staff capacity.
Set up transit rescue and rehabilitation facilities in tiger landscapes.
Draw corporate and philanthropic funds through Tiger Conservation Foundations.
Strengthen prey augmentation, habitat restoration and landscape connectivity before releases.
Use post-release monitoring and adaptive management, with State and community involvement.

Put in your answer

Tiger Task Force: Its recommendations led to the 2006 amendments to the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

STRIDES 2026: Cite it as an assessment of infrastructure, ecology and social parameters in tiger reserves, supporting evidence-based planning.

Roadmap to Rescue: Cite it as a framework for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release in tiger landscapes, to address human–wildlife interactions.

Sariska recovery: Sariska's tiger population recovered over eighteen years through habitat management and conservation interventions.

Project Cheetah: India's cheetah programme is described as the world's first inter-continental large carnivore reintroduction.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Tiger conservation is a lasting topic on file; the release is a day feature with little new for a question.

Source: PIB Headquarters, 28 Jul, 11:01 IST · Release 292016

Issue page →

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

Science and technology

Cell Broadcast Alert System (Integrated Alert System, CAP)

GS3 Disaster managementPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 July 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Lok Sabha in a written reply how the Cell Broadcast Alert System sends disaster warnings through the NDMA's CAP-based Integrated Alert System.
What it is: The Cell Broadcast Alert System sends short emergency messages to all mobile handsets in a chosen area, without needing phone numbers. It runs on the Integrated Alert System, built on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), a standard format for sharing alerts across agencies and media. NDMA implements the platform, and agencies issue the actual warnings.

Platform and owner: The system works through the Integrated Alert System based on CAP, implemented by NDMA.
Warning agencies: Five Warning Generating Agencies are linked: IMD, CWC, INCOIS, DGRE and FSI. They are integrated with the SDMAs of all States/UTs.
Who issues alerts: The warning agencies and SDMAs issue and authorise alerts. The CAP platform only disseminates them through cell broadcast.
Geo-targeting and language: Alerts are geo-targeted and translated into the State language of the target population by the SDMAs.
Coverage: Alerts reach all mobile networks and handsets in the targeted area, including remote and vulnerable areas.
Developer: CBS was developed by C-DOT under the Department of Telecommunications, with NDMA and MHA.
Platform link: CBS is integrated with the CAP-based SACHET platform for standardised alert dissemination.
Geo-targeting: Alerts can be targeted at single cell towers or clusters, and scaled to larger areas.
Reach and user control: It covers all mobile users in the area, including roamers, and users cannot disable the alerts.
Network support: It works across 2G to 5G networks.
International demonstration: C-DOT has demonstrated it in Mauritius, Cambodia, El Salvador and Sri Lanka, in line with the UN Early Warnings for All initiative.
Who built it: C-DOT, the R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications, built SACHET and is developing the indigenous Cell Broadcast system.
Standard used: SACHET is based on the Common Alerting Protocol, as recommended by the International Telecommunication Union.
Scale: Over 134 billion SMS alerts have been sent in more than 19 Indian languages.
How Cell Broadcast works: Alerts go to all mobile devices in a defined area at the same time, giving near real-time delivery.
Use cases: Cell Broadcast is meant for time-critical events such as tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning, gas leaks and chemical hazards.

Don’t confuse with Cell broadcast vs SMS: SMS goes to listed numbers one by one and can be delayed by congestion. Cell broadcast reaches all handsets in a cell tower area at once.

Don’t confuse with NDMA vs warning agencies: NDMA runs the alert platform. IMD, CWC, INCOIS, DGRE and FSI generate the warnings.

Don’t confuse with CAP vs SACHET: CAP is a standard alert format. SACHET is the Indian platform built on it.

Don’t confuse with NDMA vs C-DOT: NDMA operationalizes SACHET and the alerting agencies issue warnings. C-DOT builds the technology.

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.

Why it matters

Quick geo-targeted alerts for sudden events such as cloudbursts and flash floods can cut casualties.
It reaches people in remote areas on any network or handset, regardless of smartphone use.
Gives geo-targeted, near real-time warnings for floods, gas leaks and similar hazards, reaching roaming and last-mile users.
Indigenous technology cuts import dependence and can be shown abroad, supporting the UN Early Warnings for All aim.
Faster, area-wide warnings can save lives in sudden hazards like tsunamis and earthquakes.
Indigenous technology reduces dependence on foreign systems and supports self-reliance.

Problems

Alerts for events with very short lead times depend on accurate forecasts, and false alarms can cause alert fatigue.
Handset compatibility and the need for local-language messages can limit effective reach.
Handset support is uneven: pop-ups, loud tones and read-aloud need supported phones.
False or excessive alerts can cause panic or alert fatigue, so accuracy and local-language messages matter.
Alerts must be accurate and in local languages, or people may ignore them or panic.
Older handsets and weak network coverage may not receive broadcasts.

Way forward

Improve forecast accuracy and local-level warning, and link alerts to clear evacuation plans.
Run public awareness drives so people understand and act on alerts.
Keep regular tests and drills, and train all states and districts to issue alerts.
Set clear protocols for who may issue alerts, and combine CBS with sirens, media and community channels.
Run regular test drills and public awareness campaigns on what the alerts mean.
Integrate agency feeds through CAP so alerts are quick and authenticated.

Put in your answer

Alert system in a disaster management answer: Cite the CAP-based Integrated Alert System as an example of using technology for last-mile early warning, with five agencies linked to all SDMAs.

Nationwide test: A nationwide test alert with a distinct tone was sent to phones on launch day.

Field use: It has reached millions in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Uttarakhand, and is used for the Char Dham Yatra.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs, 28 Jul, 15:25 IST · Release 292041

Issue page →

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

Scheme

National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES)

GS3 SecurityGS2 GovernancePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 July 2026, the MoS Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar told the Lok Sabha in a written reply about progress under NFIES, a ₹2254.43 crore scheme for forensic infrastructure.
What it is: NFIES is a centrally implemented scheme of the Ministry of Home Affairs to build forensic infrastructure at identified locations. It supports new campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University and new Central Forensic Science Laboratories. It backs the push for scientific investigation in criminal cases.

Outlay and period: Total outlay is ₹2254.43 crore for FY 2024-25 to 2028-29.
Mode of implementation: The scheme is implemented centrally at identified locations.
Co-location: Six CFSLs (Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar) will sit with NFSU campuses.
Operational campuses: NFSU campuses work from transit buildings in Nagpur, Raipur, Khordha, Chengalpattu and Jaipur.

Don’t confuse with NFSU vs CFSL: NFSU is a university for forensic education and research. A CFSL is a laboratory that examines evidence in cases.

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: Scheme with outlay and locations, linked to new criminal laws; schemes are 16% of Prelims news questions but this is a niche one.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs, 28 Jul, 15:26 IST · Release 292042

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme

GS3 InfrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 July 2026 the Ministry of Shipping told the Rajya Sabha that the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme, announced in Union Budget 2026, is still at the formation stage. It also listed existing steps to promote coastal shipping.
What it is: The Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme is a proposed scheme announced in Union Budget 2026. It aims to move more freight onto coastal shipping and inland waterways, which are cheaper and cleaner than road and rail. It builds on earlier incentives such as port charge concessions and Sagarmala projects.

Target: The scheme aims to raise the share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6% to 12% by 2047.
Status: The scheme is not yet launched. It is at the formation stage.
Port charges: Coastal cargo vessels get a 40% concession on vessel and cargo-related port charges.
Bunker fuel GST: GST on bunker fuel for Indian-flag vessels was cut from 18% to 5%.
Law: The Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 was enacted to promote coastal shipping.

Don’t confuse with Ro-Ro vs Ro-Pax: Ro-Ro ships carry wheeled cargo such as vehicles and trucks. Ro-Pax ships carry vehicles along with passengers.

Don’t confuse with Coastal shipping vs inland waterways: Coastal shipping runs along the sea coast between Indian ports. Inland waterways use rivers, canals and backwaters.

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: Budget 2026 scheme to lift IWT and coastal share from 6% to 12% by 2047; still at formation stage, so few firm facts yet.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Shipping, 28 Jul, 16:39 IST · Release 292073

Issue page →

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

Economy

Sugar Stock Holding Limits (Essential Commodities Act)

GS3 EconomyGS2 Food securityPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 July 2026 the Centre imposed stock holding limits on sugar dealers across India, effective 1 August 2026 and valid up to 30 November 2026, to curb hoarding and price rise.
What it is: Stock holding limits are a market control under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. They cap how much of a commodity a trader may hold, to stop hoarding and speculation. They are used for a fixed period when prices rise without support from demand and supply.

Who is covered: The limits apply to sugar dealers, including traders and market intermediaries, across the country.
Reporting duty: Dealers must declare stocks and update their position weekly on the online portal of the Department of Food and Public Distribution.
Stated reason: The Government says the rise in ex-mill prices is not backed by demand-supply fundamentals, and that hoarding and paper trade created an artificial perception of scarcity.
Legal basis: Such stock limits are ordinarily issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, which lets the Centre regulate production, supply and distribution of essential commodities.

Don’t confuse with Stock limit vs export curbs: A stock limit caps what domestic dealers may hold. Export restrictions limit shipments abroad. Both are used to control domestic prices but act on different points.

Don’t confuse with Ex-mill vs retail price: Ex-mill price is what the mill charges at its gate. Retail price is what consumers pay after trade margins and costs.

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.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Stock limits on sugar dealers from 1 Aug to 30 Nov 2026 to curb hoarding; a price-control tool, but timed and narrow.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, 28 Jul, 16:51 IST · Release 292080

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

GS2 Health · Welfare schemesGS3 EconomyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 July 2026 the Health Ministry told the Rajya Sabha that AB PM-JAY now runs in all 36 States/UTs. It also gave data on inter-state portability and the widened beneficiary base.
What it is: Ayushman Vay Vandana is an extension of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to every citizen aged 70 years and above, whatever their income. It was launched by the Prime Minister on 29 October 2024. It is run by the National Health Authority and gives cashless hospital cover for secondary and tertiary care.

Eligibility: All citizens aged 70 and above are eligible, irrespective of socio-economic status.
Cover: Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
Top-up for covered families: Seniors in families already under PM-JAY get an extra top-up of up to ₹5 lakh a year, only for themselves.
Implementing agency: The National Health Authority implements it under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Most common procedure: Cataract surgery is the most availed procedure, about 20.1% of authorised treatments.
Highest value procedure: PTCA (coronary angioplasty) has the largest share of authorised value, about ₹649 crore.
Expansion to senior citizens: The scheme now covers all citizens aged 70 and above, irrespective of socio-economic status.
Secure Data Environment: Developed by NHA with IISc Bengaluru, it gives governed access to de-identified PM-JAY and ABDM data for research, with outputs reviewed before release.
National Health Claims Exchange: NHCX seeks to put hospitals and insurers on one common digital platform for claims.
Scale of ABDM: More than 97.8 crore ABHAs have been created and over 121 crore health records linked.
Portability recognition: Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Gujarat were recognised as top performers in claim settlement for inter-State portability.
Beneficiary identification: Families are identified from SECC 2011 deprivation and occupational criteria. Families earlier covered under RSBY are also included.
Expansion to elderly: On 11 September 2024 the scheme was extended to all citizens aged 70 and above, about 6 crore people.
Coverage: The scheme now operates in all 36 States/UTs.
Senior citizens: Citizens aged 70 and above are covered irrespective of socio-economic status: 6 crore people in 4.5 crore families.
ASHA and Anganwadi inclusion: About 37 lakh additional families of ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers and Helpers were added in March 2024.
Portability: Beneficiaries can get cashless treatment at any empanelled hospital in the country. By 30 June 2026, 29.05 lakh inter-state admissions worth over Rs 8,383.97 crore were authorised.
Base families: The original PM-JAY targets 12 crore families, the bottom 40% of the population.
Expansion: In October 2024 the scheme was extended to 6 crore senior citizens aged 70+ from 4.5 crore families, regardless of socio-economic status.
Cards issued: More than 96.73 lakh Vay Vandana cards had been created across all States and UTs by 31.12.2025.
Launch: PM-JAY was launched in 2018 and is implemented by the National Health Authority.

Don’t confuse with Vay Vandana vs PM-JAY: PM-JAY covers eligible poor and vulnerable families; Vay Vandana covers all aged 70+ regardless of income.

Don’t confuse with Vay Vandana vs Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: Vay Vandana gives hospital cover; the Digital Mission builds a digital health ID and records system.

Don’t confuse with PM-JAY vs ABDM: PM-JAY is the health assurance (insurance) scheme for hospital care. ABDM is the digital health ecosystem built on ABHA IDs and health records.

Don’t confuse with Ayushman Card vs ABHA ID: The Ayushman Card shows PM-JAY eligibility. The ABHA is a health ID that links a person's health records.

Don’t confuse with PM-JAY vs PM-ABHIM: PM-JAY pays for hospital treatment of eligible families. PM-ABHIM builds health infrastructure such as health centres, labs and critical care blocks.

Don’t confuse with ABHA vs Ayushman card: ABHA is a digital health ID for anyone under ABDM. The Ayushman card shows eligibility for PM-JAY cover.

Don’t confuse with PM-JAY vs Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: PM-JAY gives cashless hospital cover. ABDM builds digital health records and infrastructure.

Don’t confuse with PM-JAY vs Health and Wellness Centres: Health and Wellness Centres (Ayushman Arogya Mandir) give primary care. PM-JAY covers secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.

Don’t confuse with PM-JAY vs Vay Vandana: PM-JAY targets poor families by socio-economic criteria; Vay Vandana covers all citizens aged 70+ regardless of income.

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 financial protection to about 6 crore elderly, reducing out-of-pocket hospital spending.
Cashless cover reduces out-of-pocket spending for poor and elderly families.
Portability helps migrant workers use the scheme across States.
Gives cashless hospital care and cuts catastrophic out-of-pocket spending for poor families.
Moves India towards universal health coverage, with the elderly, ASHAs and gig-type urban workers brought in.
Links insurance with primary care, digital records and infrastructure under one Ayushman Bharat framework.
Portability protects migrant workers who fall ill away from home.
Cashless cover reduces out-of-pocket spending and moves India towards Universal Health Coverage.
Gives older people, who face high health costs, financial protection irrespective of income.

Problems

Cover is only for hospitalisation, so outpatient and medicine costs remain with families.
Claim processing and programme integrity need stronger checks, which is why auto-adjudication is being introduced.
Health data sharing needs consent and privacy safeguards, and ABHA adoption is yet to reach saturation.
Eligibility rests on SECC 2011 data, which may exclude newly poor families.
Uneven uptake and hospital empanelment across States, with risks of claim delays and fraud.
Cover is for inpatient care, while much household spending is on outpatient care and medicines.
States differ in how well they run the scheme, and some run their own schemes alongside it.
Empanelled hospitals may refuse patients or delay claims, so access on the ground can be uneven.
Hospital empanelment gaps and claim delays can limit access to cashless care.

Way forward

Widen coverage to outpatient care and strengthen monitoring of private hospital claims.
Strengthen NHCX, standard treatment protocols and common billing formats to improve quality and claims.
Improve continuity of care and referral systems while protecting personal data.
Update beneficiary databases and widen coverage to outpatient care.
Strengthen claim audit, grievance redress and timely payment to hospitals.
Expand public hospitals and primary care so the scheme does not rely only on private providers.
Improve awareness of portability and speed up claim settlement.
Further integrate state schemes with PM-JAY and monitor hospital conduct.
Widen empanelment and speed up claim settlement using digital systems.

Put in your answer

Beneficiary base: Around 6 crore seniors in about 4.5 crore families are targeted.

PM-JAY scale: More than 60 crore beneficiaries covered, over 13 crore hospital admissions, and treatment worth over Rs 2 lakh crore.

Standard treatment workflows: ICMR has developed more than 150 standard treatment workflows, and HTAIn under DHR assesses cost-effectiveness of health technologies.

Scale of PM-JAY: 13.25 crore admissions worth Rs 2.03 lakh crore funded, with 38,000+ empanelled hospitals.

Digital health spine: Over 97.61 crore ABHA IDs operational, linking health records across providers.

Portability data: 29.05 lakh inter-state admissions worth over Rs 8,383.97 crore were authorised by 30 June 2026.

Senior citizen expansion: The scheme covers 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 and above in 4.5 crore families, irrespective of income.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 19

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

1.Ayushman Vay Vandana is open to citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of their socio-economic status.
2.It is implemented by the National Health Authority under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
3.It covers outpatient consultations and medicines as its main benefit.
4.Senior citizens from families already covered under PM-JAY receive an additional top-up of up to ₹5 lakh per year meant only for themselves.
5.The top-up cover for seniors in covered families is shared with all family members.
6.Chronic haemodialysis is the most frequently availed procedure under the initiative.
7.Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, of which this is an extension, was launched in 2018.
8.AB PM-JAY is a centrally sponsored scheme.
9.Under AB PM-JAY, the Centre and States share funds in the ratio 60:40 for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
10.Rural beneficiaries under AB PM-JAY are identified using deprivation criteria from the Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011.
11.AB PM-JAY covers primary healthcare only, which is delivered at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
12.The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission was launched in September 2021 and is built on ABHA digital health IDs.
13.Transgender persons covered under the SMILE initiative and workers covered under NAMASTE are among the additional categories eligible under AB PM-JAY.
14.Ayushman Vay Vandana card covers senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of their socio-economic status.
15.AB-PMJAY provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
16.The Ayushman Vay Vandana card was introduced in October 2024 as an expansion of PM-JAY.
17.Female beneficiaries account for more hospital admissions than male beneficiaries under Ayushman Vay Vandana.
18.PM-JAY is implemented at the national level by the National Health Authority.
19.PM-JAY was launched in 2014 as a centrally sponsored scheme.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 28 Jul, 18:14 IST · Release 292099

Issue page →

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

Scheme

PM E-DRIVE Scheme

GS3 IndustryGS3 EnvironmentPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 July 2026, the Minister of State for Heavy Industries told Parliament about the PM E-DRIVE scheme. As of 22 July 2026, 23,22,878 EVs had been incentivised and ₹2,281.94 crore reimbursed to OEMs.
What it is: PM E-DRIVE is a Ministry of Heavy Industries scheme with a ₹10,900 crore outlay. It gives demand incentives for electric vehicles and funds public charging stations and e-buses. It took over the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024 and builds on the FAME schemes.

Objective: Faster EV adoption, charging infrastructure and an EV manufacturing ecosystem.
Outlay: The total outlay is ₹10,900 crore.
No impact assessment: The government says no formal impact assessment has been done. EV penetration rose from 0.7% in FY 2019-20 to 8.2% in FY 2025-26.
Charging allocation: ₹2,000 crore is earmarked for public EV charging infrastructure.
Approvals so far: Proposals worth ₹503.86 crore are approved for 4,874 chargers across States and CPSEs such as HPCL, IOCL and BPCL.
Karnataka approval: 1,243 chargers with an outlay of ₹123.26 crore were approved for Karnataka.
FAME-II chargers: Under FAME-II, oil marketing companies installed 8,932 chargers with ₹873.5 crore subsidy.
Unified charging app: The Ministry is developing Unified Bharat e-Charge (UBC), a single app to discover, access and pay across multiple charging networks.
e-2W extension: The electric two-wheeler segment is extended by three months, to 31 July 2026.
e-3W extension: The e-3W segment, including e-rickshaws and e-carts, is extended by two years, to 31 March 2028.
Role in the EV value chain: PM E-DRIVE gives demand-side support. The REPM scheme handles supply-side constraints, and the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) localises EV sub-systems in phases.
Nodal ministry: The scheme is run by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Don’t confuse with PM E-DRIVE vs PLI-ACC: PM E-DRIVE gives demand incentives and funds chargers and buses. The PLI scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell batteries (₹18,100 crore, 50 GWh, from 12 May 2021) supports battery manufacturing.

Don’t confuse with PM E-DRIVE vs EMPS 2024: EMPS 2024 was the earlier scheme for e-2W and e-3W. It was subsumed into PM E-DRIVE.

Don’t confuse with PM E-DRIVE vs FAME-II: FAME-II was the earlier Ministry of Heavy Industries EV subsidy scheme under which OMCs installed chargers. PM E-DRIVE is the later scheme, with ₹10,900 crore outlay.

Don’t confuse with PLI ACC vs PLI Auto vs REPM: PLI ACC (₹18,100 crore) is for battery cells. PLI Auto (₹25,938 crore) is for cleaner vehicles. REPM (₹7,280 crore) is for rare earth magnets.

Don’t confuse with PM E-DRIVE vs FAME: FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) was the earlier series of incentive schemes. PM E-DRIVE is the later scheme that builds on it.

Don’t confuse with PM E-DRIVE vs REPM scheme: PM E-DRIVE gives demand-side incentives. The ₹7,280 crore REPM scheme supports domestic making of sintered rare earth permanent magnets, a supply-side step.

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 EV scheme with charging and e-bus components; best of the EV releases, covering FAME-II successor.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, 28 Jul, 18:49 IST · Release 292122

Issue page →

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

Scheme

PM-AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana)

GS2 Welfare schemes · Scheduled CastesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 28 July 2026 the Social Justice Ministry told the Lok Sabha that the Department has proposed continuing PM-AJAY from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a higher outlay. It also cited a NITI Aayog DMEO evaluation and fund release data.
What it is: PM-AJAY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes. It merges three earlier schemes: the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, the Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan, and the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana. It works through three components: Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid, and hostels.

Components: The scheme has three main components: developing eligible villages into Adarsh Grams, Grants-in-Aid for district and State-level projects, and building and repairing hostels in higher educational institutions.
Adarsh Gram score: A village must reach a score of 70 out of 100 on socio-economic development indicators to be declared an Adarsh Gram.
Village Development Plans: Need-based plans identify gaps in infrastructure and services and promote convergence with Central and State schemes. Gap-filling aid covers needs that existing programmes cannot fully meet.
Fund release condition: No fresh Adarsh Gram funds went to Andhra Pradesh in 2023-24 to 2025-26 because of unspent balance and pending Utilisation Certificates. Releases depend on using earlier funds.
Merged schemes: PM-AJAY merged the PM Adarsh Gram Yojana, SCA to SCSP and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana, from 2021-22.
Launch year: PM-AJAY was launched in 2021-22 and runs through three components.
Funds released: Rs 4,276.62 crore was released up to 2025-26 across 30 states and UTs. States and UTs reported utilisation of Rs 3,185.072 crore.
Adarsh Gram: 3,112 villages have been identified since 2018-19 under the Adarsh Gram component.
Evaluation: The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog independently evaluated the scheme and found positive impact.
Proposed continuation: The Department proposes to continue the scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a higher outlay.
Components covered: The portal and app cover all three components: Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid and Hostels.
Adarsh Gram indicators: Model villages are monitored on 50 socio-economic indicators across 10 developmental domains.
Coverage: The dashboard records progress in over 47,000 SC-majority villages and over 4 million beneficiaries.
Fund flow: The portal is a central database linked to milestone-linked fund flows. Tracking begins once a Village Development Plan is digitally approved.
Hostel component on the app: Field inspectors upload geo-tagged, time-stamped photos at building stages to validate progress.
Scheme type and ministry: PM-AJAY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Don’t confuse with PM-AJAY vs PM-JANMAN: PM-AJAY is for Scheduled Castes under the Social Justice Ministry. PM-JANMAN targets Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and is run by the Tribal Affairs Ministry.

Don’t confuse with PM-AJAY vs PM-YASASVI: PM-AJAY is area and project based, including village development. PM-YASASVI is an education scheme for OBC, EBC and DNT students.

Don’t confuse with PM-AJAY vs PMAGY: PMAGY (Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana) was one of the three schemes merged into PM-AJAY. It is now the Adarsh Gram component.

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

Integrates infrastructure, livelihood and skills in SC-dominated villages, reducing disparities in one framework.
Village Development Plans promote convergence with other Central and State schemes.
Targets SC-dominated villages with infrastructure, education and livelihood support in one convergent scheme.
Hostels and grants-in-aid widen educational access for SC students.
Digital planning and milestone-linked fund flow can improve transparency and speed of delivery to SC beneficiaries.
Geo-tagged, real-time monitoring strengthens accountability in village and hostel works.

Problems

Unspent balances and pending Utilisation Certificates block further fund releases, as seen in Andhra Pradesh.
Many selected villages (267 in Andhra Pradesh) are yet to reach the 70-point score; gap-filling is slow.
Utilisation lags release: Rs 3,185 crore reported against Rs 4,276 crore released.
The release gives the Adarsh Gram count as 3,112 identified, with 3,111 declared in Tamil Nadu, which needs clarification and shows uneven reporting.
Poor connectivity and low digital literacy among field functionaries can limit use of the app.
Data entered through the portal may be incomplete or inaccurate, and digital tracking does not itself ensure outcomes.

Way forward

Speed up Utilisation Certificate submission and tie releases to measurable outcomes.
Strengthen convergence and monitoring so villages reach the Adarsh Gram score on time.
Speed up fund use through timely state plans and monitoring of outcomes.
Use independent evaluations such as DMEO's to fix gaps before the 2026-31 phase.
Train State and district staff and keep offline modes working in low-connectivity areas.
Verify portal data through social audits and independent evaluation of outcomes.

Put in your answer

DMEO evaluation: NITI Aayog's DMEO found improved access to infrastructure, electricity, banking, healthcare, education and livelihoods in beneficiary villages.

2025-26 release: Rs 1,100.09 crore was released under PM-AJAY in 2025-26 alone.

Digital monitoring example: The PM-AJAY portal shows how milestone-linked fund flow and geo-tagged inspections can be used in welfare delivery.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Scheme with three components (Adarsh Gram, Grants-in-Aid, Hostels) and 2026-31 continuation proposal; schemes are 16% of Prelims news questions.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 28 Jul, 19:26 IST · Release 292126

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

Amritsar became the second spoke airport under India's international Hub & Spoke aviation model, after Varanasi (25 June 2026), with Delhi as hub.
Two Indian Coast Guard policies: gender-neutral officer induction (women in SSA and PA at par) and simpler ex-gratia for families of personnel missing at sea.
First direct commercial container freight train ran from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar (Nepal) under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol.
Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2026 was circulated to States and Ministries on 30 Dec 2025 and put in public domain on 7 Jan 2026.

Source: PIB, 28 Jul

What we left out: 97 of 109 releases

Speeches without a decision (3)
Congratulatory messages (7)
Greetings and pledges (1)
Routine project sanctions (2)
Parliament reply data (28)
Same issue as another release (42)
Routine drive tests (1)
Routine data (6)
Exhibitions and routine data (1)
Routine MoUs and data (1)
Promotional case studies (1)
Webinars and events (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.

1Cell Broadcast Alert System (Integrated Alert System, CAP)MCQ · 6 true or false · Mains
2Ayushman Bharat PM-JAYMCQ · 19 true or false · Mains

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