Current Affairs, 28 September 2026

Delivery channel

Benefits go to farmers directly by DBT through the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP).

Incentive rate

A one-time incentive of up to 40% of premium, for one crop cycle.

Pond limits

For ponds: ₹25,000 per hectare, capped at ₹1,00,000 for up to 4 hectares; farms under one hectare get pro-rata.

Extra for SC, ST, women

SC, ST and women beneficiaries get an additional 10% of the incentive payable to the General Category.

Claim timelines

Claims must be settled within 30 days for shrimp culture and 45 days for other aquaculture.

Don’t confuse with PMMSY vs PM-MKSSY: PMMSY is the broader fisheries scheme (2020) with a productivity target of 5 tonnes per hectare. PM-MKSSY, approved in 2024, is a sub-scheme with the aquaculture insurance incentive.

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. 2016Mains GS3 · Q10Need for crop insurance and salient features of PMFBY
2. 2017Mains GS3 · Q15Significance of crop insurance for small and marginal farmers
3. 2018Mains GS1 · Q15Blue revolution: problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India
4. 2026Prelims Q38FAO's Four Betters for Blue Transformation: which combination is correct

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

Membership

IWC has 89 member governments.

India's membership

India has been an IWC member since 1981.

Domestic protection

Cetaceans in Indian waters get the highest legal protection under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Arabian Sea humpback whale

India gives particular importance to this whale, identified among 25 species for focused conservation.

Don’t confuse with IWC vs CITES: IWC manages whaling and whale conservation under the 1946 convention. CITES regulates international trade in endangered species.

Don’t confuse with IWC vs CMS: CMS (Bonn Convention) protects migratory species across range states. IWC is specific to whales and whaling.

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.

1. 2023Mains GS2 · Q20Role of IMO in protecting marine environment and maritime safety
2. 2021Prelims Q56Global Ocean Commission licences and seabed mining in international waters
3. 2019Prelims Q40Statements on mandatory Ramsar wetland conservation and 2010 Wetlands Rules

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

Chair

The Secretary, Ministry of Steel, chairs the Council.

Control

The SISC works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel. The release does not say it is set up by a statute.

Functions of the Council

It assesses the safety situation, approves safety standards and recommended practices, and reviews serious accidents, accidents and near misses.

Technical arm

The Steel Industry Safety Directorate (SISD) will cover areas such as process safety, blast furnaces, coke ovens, fire engineering and disaster management.

Role of the Directorate

The SISD carries out safety audits, investigates serious incidents, keeps accident data and issues standards suited to Indian conditions.

Don’t confuse with SISC vs DGMS: DGMS is the existing statutory regulator for mine safety. SISC is a new industry-level body under the Steel Ministry and is a member-based forum for the steel sector.

Don’t confuse with SISC vs SISD: The Council is the apex body that decides. The Directorate is its technical and professional support arm that audits, investigates and drafts standards.

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.

Plantation completion norm

Provisional completion certificate needs plantation on at least 80% of the RoW earmarked for plantation.

Plantation scale

Over 3.61 crore saplings were planted across about 1.32 lakh km of NHs in the last five years.

Miyawaki method

A dense-planting technique that packs trees and shrubs closely for fast, forest-like growth in small spaces.

Bio-bitumen

Developed by CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-IIP from rice straw by pyrolysis. A 100-metre trial was laid on NH-40 in Meghalaya.

Coverage threshold

Provisional completion needs plantation on at least 80% of the Right of Way earmarked for plantation.

Survival rate in O&M

O&M and annuity payments in EPC, HAM and BOT Annuity projects depend on keeping at least 90% survival throughout the O&M period.

Shortfall penalty

Any shortfall must be listed with completion timelines, and money is withheld under the agreement until the target is met.

Replacement of dead plants

Dead plants must be replaced with plants of similar age and growth to keep the plantation uniform.

Governing standards

Plantation must follow the Green Highways Policy, 2015 and IRC:SP:21-2009, besides MoRTH and NHAI guidelines.

Don’t confuse with Miyawaki method vs compensatory afforestation: Miyawaki is a dense-planting technique to raise green cover. Compensatory afforestation is a legal duty to replace forest land or trees lost to a project.

Don’t confuse with Plantation vs transplantation: Plantation means planting new saplings. Transplantation means moving existing trees to another site when felling is needed.

Don’t confuse with PCC vs PCOD: Provisional Certificate of Completion (PCC) is used for completion of works; Provisional Commercial Operation Date (PCOD) is used for the date tolling or commercial operation may begin. The new plantation threshold applies to both.

Don’t confuse with Coverage vs survival: 80% is the minimum area of earmarked ROW planted; 90% is the minimum survival of saplings.

Environment: Prelims tests bodies, programmes and the law behind them; Mains asks why plans fall short.

1. 2016Mains GS3 · Q14Measures to mitigate environmental impacts like rehabilitation when planning major projects
2. 2015Mains GS2 · Q10Strengthening NGO role in environmental protection works and constraints
3. 2018Mains GS2 · Q6Policy contradictions among sectors causing inadequate environmental protection
4. 2017Mains GS2 · Q16Role of Self-Help Groups in development and government promotion measures
5. 2016Prelims Q33Aim of Green India Mission: restoring forest cover and climate response
6. 1996Prelims Q63Which programmes are included in the National Forest Policy of 1988 (afforestation, reforestation)

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

Seven pillars

PRAHAAR has seven pillars: Prevention, Response, Aggregating Internal Capacities, Human Rights, Attenuating Conditions for Terrorism, Aligning International Efforts, and Recovery & Resilience.

Who attended

The conference included the Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, heads of CAPFs/CPOs, DGsP of 15 States and ATS chiefs of all States/UTs.

Extradition Portal

A new Extradition Portal was launched to speed up efforts to bring fugitives back from abroad.

Fugitives returned

From 2019 to 2026, 288 fugitive criminals were brought back from 36 countries.

Shahzad Bhatti network

The network was declared a terrorist organisation under UAPA.

Time horizon

The Home Minister called for a strong PRAHAAR mechanism for the next 10 years, reaching down to the Thana level.

Don’t confuse with PRAHAAR vs NIA: PRAHAAR is a policy framework with seven pillars. The NIA is a statutory central agency that investigates scheduled offences under the NIA Act, 2008.

Don’t confuse with Extradition vs deportation: Extradition is the formal handover of a fugitive under a treaty or arrangement with another state. Deportation is the removal of a person by a state from its own territory.

Defence: Prelims tests exercises (with whom), equipment (who makes it) and firsts.

1. 2025Mains GS3 · Q9How terrorism manifests in India, and counter-measures adopted by the State
2. 2019Mains GS3 · Q19Analyse amended UAPA and NIA Act changes; human rights opposition to UAPA
3. 2021Mains GS3 · Q20Analyse terrorism's causes and linkages; suggest measures to eradicate it

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

Parent scheme

Livestock insurance is an activity under the National Livestock Mission, run by DAHD.

Portal functions

The portal covers policy issuance, premium management, claim processing, beneficiary verification and real-time monitoring.

Users on the platform

Farmers, State Governments, Insurance Companies and implementing agencies share one interface.

Coverage so far

More than 30 lakh animals have been insured during the year, per the Secretary (AHD).

Risks covered

Cover is described as protection against mortality, disease outbreaks, accidents, natural calamities and other unforeseen risks.

Functions

One integrated platform for policy issuance, claim processing, monitoring and reporting for animals insured under the scheme.

Languages

The portal will work in 11 regional languages besides Hindi and English.

Implementing body

The scheme belongs to the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

Aim

Make insurance services more transparent, efficient and accessible, and support real-time monitoring and data-driven management.

Don’t confuse with Livestock insurance vs PMFBY: PMFBY insures notified crops against yield loss. Livestock insurance covers animals under the National Livestock Mission.

Don’t confuse with Livestock Insurance Scheme vs crop insurance (PMFBY): The livestock scheme insures animals and is run by DAHD. PMFBY insures crops and is run by the Agriculture Ministry.

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. 2015Mains GS3 · Q2How can livestock rearing be promoted to generate non-farm rural employment and income in India?
2. 2016Mains GS3 · Q10Why does Indian agriculture need crop insurance, and what are PMFBY's salient features?
3. 2017Mains GS3 · Q15What is the significance of crop insurance for small and marginal farmers?
4. 2026Prelims Q96Which statements on aviation insurance, including hull cover and passenger compensation liability, are correct?
5. 2025Prelims Q30Statements on Rashtriya Gokul Mission for indigenous cattle and buffalo conservation

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