UPSC current affairs · Tuesday

Current Affairs, 31 March 2026

7 issues picked from 43 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

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin. PMAY-G has completed 2.99 crore rural houses; target is 4.95 crore by 2029.
WTO 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). MC14 in Yaoundé ended with fisheries talks extended, e-commerce moratorium unresolved, and India blocking IFD incorporation.
Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing. India issues over 56% of all Nagoya Protocol compliance certificates worldwide, far ahead of France.
Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan. Five States get JJM 2.0 funds after meeting MoU and validation conditions; first compliance-linked release.
eGramSwaraj and SabhaSaar. eGramSwaraj payments cross ₹3 lakh crore; SabhaSaar AI meeting tool now covers 23 languages.
CBIC Courier and E-commerce Export Reforms. CBIC removes the ₹10 lakh courier export cap and adds a Return to Origin facility from 1 April 2026.
Advance Pricing Agreements (APA). CBDT signed a record 219 APAs in FY 2025-26; total now 1,034.

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin

GS2 Welfare schemesGS3 InfrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 31 March 2026, PIB published a progress note on PMAY-G. As of 26 March 2026, 2.99 crore of 3.90 crore sanctioned houses were complete, against a cumulative target of 4.95 crore by 2029.
What it is: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) is a Centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development. It gives financial help to eligible rural households without a pucca house to build one. It replaced the earlier Indira Awaas Yojana in 2016, and a second phase (2.0) is now under way.

Handover: First instalment of 3 lakh houses worth ₹3,600 crore was handed over to Andhra Pradesh under PMAY-G 2.0 at Burripalem village, Guntur district.
3D printing pilot: The country's first pilot housing project using 3D concrete printing has 177 houses and costs ₹14 crore.
Allocation raised: Andhra Pradesh was first deemed eligible for 76,000 houses; the Centre raised this to 3 lakh after the Chief Minister's request.
Construction time: The 3D-printed houses are expected to be completed within six months.
Implementing ministry: PMAY-G is run by the Ministry of Rural Development as a Centrally sponsored scheme, with costs shared between Centre and states.
Predecessor: PMAY-G replaced Indira Awaas Yojana from April 2016.
Target and progress: The target is 4.95 crore houses. Approvals for 3.91 crore have been given and over 3.05 crore are complete.
Women's ownership: Nearly 75 per cent of sanctioned houses are in the name of women or in joint ownership.
Convergence: Houses are linked with amenities such as roads, electricity, drinking water, LPG connections and toilets through convergence with other schemes.
Start date: The scheme has been implemented since 1 April 2016.
Minimum house size: Houses must be at least 25 sq. m., with a dedicated area for hygienic cooking.
Inspections and audits: Block officers inspect about 10% of houses and district officers 2% at each stage. Each Gram Panchayat holds a social audit at least once a year.
Toilet support through convergence: Beneficiaries get Rs 12,000 for a toilet from SBM(G), the employment scheme or another dedicated source.
IT platform: AwaasSoft is the web-based MIS that covers beneficiary identification, sanction, fund release and monitoring.

Don’t confuse with PMAY-G vs PMAY-Urban: PMAY-G (Rural Development Ministry) serves rural households; PMAY-Urban (Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry) serves urban poor.

Don’t confuse with PMAY-G vs Indira Awaas Yojana: IAY was the older rural housing scheme; PMAY-G replaced it in 2016.

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 yourselfMains

True or false?

1 of 13

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

1.The first instalment of 3 lakh houses under PMAY-G 2.0 handed over to Andhra Pradesh was worth ₹3,600 crore.
2.The 3D concrete-printing housing pilot launched in Andhra Pradesh comprises 177 houses.
3.The 3D-printed housing pilot is expected to be completed within two years.
4.Andhra Pradesh was initially considered eligible for 76,000 houses under the scheme before the allocation was increased.
5.PMAY-G is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
6.PMAY-G replaced the Indira Awaas Yojana.
7.PMAY-G is a Central Sector scheme fully funded by the Centre.
8.PMAY-G has been implemented since 1 April 2016.
9.The minimum size of a house under PMAY-G is 25 sq. m., including a dedicated area for hygienic cooking.
10.Under PMAY-G, financial assistance is released through the Gram Panchayat in cash to the beneficiary.
11.PMAY-G is a Centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development.
12.Every Gram Panchayat must conduct a social audit of the scheme at least once in five years.
13.District officers inspect 10% of houses at each stage, while block officers inspect 2%.

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

Source: PIB Headquarters, 31 Mar, 11:27 IST · Release 287180

Issue page →

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

International relations

WTO 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14)

GS2 International organisationsGS3 TradePrelims and Mains

Why in news: The WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) ended on March 30, 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Ministers extended fisheries subsidy talks, but there was no consensus on the e-commerce moratorium, and India declined to accept the IFD Agreement into the WTO.
What it is: The Ministerial Conference is the WTO's highest decision-making body. It brings together trade ministers of all members and meets at least once every two years. MC14 was hosted by Cameroon, and the WTO works by consensus, so one member can block a decision.

Venue and date: MC14 was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and closed on March 30, 2026.
Fisheries subsidies: Ministers agreed to keep negotiating, aiming to give recommendations to MC-15 on comprehensive disciplines under Article 12 of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
IFD Agreement: India did not agree to bring the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement into the WTO as an Annex 4 (plurilateral) agreement.
E-commerce moratorium: No consensus was reached on extending the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. The General Council in Geneva will take it up next.
Decision-making: The WTO takes decisions by consensus, and the Ministerial Conference meets at least once every two years.
Phase II focus: The Ministerial Decision sets the course of Phase II negotiations on fisheries subsidies relating to overcapacity and overfishing.
India's priorities: India sought a 25-year transition period for developing countries, stronger disciplines on distant-water fleets, a permanent carve-out for small-scale fishers, and per capita subsidy intensity as the basis.
Principles invoked: India grounded its stance in SDG 14.6, S&DT, CBDR-RC and the Polluter Pays Principle.
Status of the Conference: The Ministerial Conference is the WTO's highest decision-making body and meets at least once every two years.
Fisheries Subsidies Agreement: The opening session marked the entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 15 September 2025.
India's position on reform: India wants reform to be transparent, inclusive and Member-driven, keeping development at the core and upholding non-discrimination, consensus-based decision making and equity.
Ministerial Conference: It is the topmost decision-making body of the WTO, meeting at least once every two years. The General Council acts for it between sessions.
WTO: The WTO was established on 1 January 1995 and is headquartered in Geneva. It replaced GATT.
Dates and venue: MC14 is to be held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 26 to 29 March 2026.
Chair: Cameroon's Trade Minister, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, chairs the conference.
Agenda: Items include WTO reform, the E-Commerce Work Programme and Moratorium, Investment Facilitation for Development, fisheries subsidies, and agriculture and development.
India's asks: India wants a permanent solution on public stockholding, effective S&DT, and a restored binding dispute settlement mechanism.
Legal basis: The WTO was set up by the Marrakesh Agreement (1994), in force from 1 January 1995, with headquarters in Geneva.

Don’t confuse with Ministerial Conference vs General Council: The Ministerial Conference is the top body and meets at least every two years. The General Council acts between sessions and will now take up the e-commerce moratorium.

Don’t confuse with Annex 4 (plurilateral) vs multilateral agreements: Plurilateral agreements in Annex 4 bind only members that accept them. Multilateral agreements bind all members.

Don’t confuse with Phase I vs Phase II: Phase I of the fisheries subsidies work covered the 2022 Agreement's core disciplines (e.g. on IUU fishing). Phase II deals with the remaining issues such as overcapacity and overfishing.

Don’t confuse with WTO vs GATT: GATT (1947) was a treaty with no institution. The WTO (1995) is a permanent organisation covering goods, services and intellectual property.

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.

Why it matters

India used MC14 to press its core positions: public stockholding, the special safeguard mechanism, cotton, and consensus-based decisions.
Outcomes on fisheries and e-commerce shape India's livelihood interests and digital trade policy.
Phase II rules will shape how India can support its fishers and its marine resources.
India's stand voices a wider developing-country demand for fair, equity-based trade rules.
MC14 is a forum to shape WTO reform, where India can defend development priorities and consensus-based decisions.
The meeting allows India to hold bilateral talks on FTAs such as those with Chile, Peru, the EU and New Zealand.
MC14 shows whether multilateral trade rules can be reformed amid rising protectionism and bilateral deals.
Outcomes on public stockholding and fisheries subsidies bear on India's farmers, food security and fishers.

Problems

The dispute settlement system remains dysfunctional, and reform talks are in an impasse.
Consensus rules let one member block deals, while plurilateral deals add fragmentation.
Balancing livelihood support for small fishers with curbs on overfishing.
Bridging gaps between big industrial fishing nations and developing countries on transition periods and S&DT.
Consensus decision-making is slow, and members differ on reform, so outcomes are hard to reach.
Developing countries fear reform could weaken special and differential treatment and policy space.
Consensus-based decisions let a few members block outcomes, and the Appellate Body remains non-functional.
Developed and developing members differ on S&DT, the digital trade moratorium and plurilateral agreements like IFD.

Way forward

Restart WTO reform on a time-bound basis with milestones, through member-driven processes.
Give small-scale fishers in developing countries fair treatment in subsidy disciplines, and settle the public stockholding issue permanently.
Secure a permanent carve-out for artisanal fishers with disciplines aimed at distant-water fleets.
Strengthen domestic conservation steps such as seasonal fishing bans and better data on stocks.
Pursue reform through an inclusive, Member-driven process that keeps development central.
Keep consensus and non-discrimination while restoring a functioning dispute settlement system.
Pursue WTO reform that keeps non-discrimination, S&DT and a binding two-tier dispute settlement.
Seek a permanent PSH solution while keeping policy space for digital trade, and align FTAs with WTO rules.

Put in your answer

India's fishing ban: India cited its 61-day annual fishing ban as proof of conservation.

Fishers supported: India said fisheries support more than 9 million fishermen, mostly small and traditional.

S&DT stand: India said special and differential treatment must not be diluted in the name of reform.

India's subsidy figure: India cited about USD 15 per fisher family a year, against tens of thousands elsewhere, to argue its subsidies are low.

Livelihood base: The fisheries sector supports more than 9 million fisher families, mainly small and artisanal.

SDG 14.6: The SDG target on prohibiting harmful fisheries subsidies is the basis of the WTO talks.

Fisheries Subsidies Agreement: The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies entered into force on 15 September 2025, an example of a concluded WTO multilateral outcome.

India's reform principles: India urged reform that is transparent, inclusive and Member-driven, keeping development at its core.

India's FTA push: India has concluded FTAs with the UK and Oman and is negotiating with New Zealand and the EU.

PSH and MSP link: India argues a permanent PSH solution is critical because many farmers are low-income and depend on the MSP system.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 17

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

1.The WTO Ministerial Conference meets at least once every two years.
2.India supported incorporating the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement into the WTO as an Annex 4 agreement.
3.Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement covers plurilateral agreements, which bind only the members that accept them.
4.MC14 was hosted by a country in South Asia.
5.The Ministerial Conference is the topmost decision-making body of the WTO.
6.The Ministerial Conference of the WTO meets at least once every five years.
7.The WTO is headquartered in Geneva.
8.The 14th Ministerial Conference was held in Yaounde, Cameroon.
9.The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies entered into force on 15 September 2025.
10.The WTO was established in 1985 as the successor to the GATT.
11.Decisions in the WTO Ministerial Conference are normally taken by majority vote.
12.The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO.
13.MC14 is being hosted by Cameroon in Yaoundé.
14.The WTO was established by the Marrakesh Agreement, and its headquarters is in Geneva.
15.At the WTO, the General Council, not the Ministerial Conference, is the top decision-making body.
16.India has asked that distant water fishing nations reduce their fishing capacities progressively.
17.India has concluded Free Trade Agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Union in the recent period.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 31 Mar, 18:43 IST · Release 287204

Issue page →

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

International relations

Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing

GS3 Environment and BiodiversityGS2 International agreementsPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 31 March 2026, the Environment Ministry said India leads the world in issuing Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) under the Nagoya Protocol, with 3,561 of 6,311 certificates.
What it is: The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing is a treaty under the Convention on Biological Diversity. It sets rules for access to genetic resources and for fair sharing of benefits from their use. It was adopted in 2010 at Nagoya, Japan, and came into force in 2014. India implements it through the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

What an IRCC proves: An IRCC is evidence that Prior Informed Consent was obtained and Mutually Agreed Terms were set between user and provider.
Indian institutions: The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 works through the National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees.
Legal basis: The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity, adopted in 2010 and in force since 2014.

Don’t confuse with Nagoya Protocol vs Cartagena Protocol: Nagoya concerns access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources. Cartagena concerns biosafety in handling living modified organisms.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 31 Mar, 08:53 IST · Release 287170

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan

GS2 Welfare schemesGS3 Rural water supplyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 31 March 2026 the Jal Shakti Ministry said ₹1,561.53 crore was released to five States for 2025-26 under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, after they met new compliance conditions including signing reform-linked MoUs.
What it is: Jal Jeevan Mission is the Centre's flagship scheme, run by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, to give every rural household a tap water connection. Jal Arpan is a reform under it: the formal handover of completed water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees for operation and maintenance.

Jal Arpan: Formal handover of completed rural water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs, after a prescribed trial run period.
Coverage: More than 15.96 crore rural households, over 82% of rural households, have tap connections.
Jal Arpan module: Developed by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation; keeps a digital record of scheme handover.
Sujalam Bharat: Geotagging of water supply assets and sources under JJM 2.0 to build a digital inventory.
Launch: Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 with the target of tap water to all rural households by 2024.
Summit dates and venue: The first Departmental Summit is on 1-2 September 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi.
Purpose of the summit model: It is a new platform to strengthen cooperative federalism through Centre-State collaboration. It is the first of a series of such summits.
Four thematic pillars: Timely implementation of water infrastructure projects, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari-Catch the Rain, source sustainability of drinking water, and operation and maintenance of rural water supply under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
Who attends: Political leaders and senior officials from the Union and State Governments take part.
Outcome presentation: States will present outcomes and action plans to the Prime Minister in the valedictory session.
Nodal ministry: Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
JJM 2.0 approval: JJM 2.0 was approved on 10 March 2026. Its strategy centres on source sustainability, groundwater recharge and greywater management.
Water security in the VB-G RAM G Act: The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 names water security as one of its four thematic focus areas.
SBM(G) 2.0 focus: SBM(G) 2.0 focuses on scientific management of solid and liquid waste.
Planning vehicle: Convergence is to be done through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, aligned with Village Action Plans under JJM 2.0 and SBM-G 2.0.
Geo-tagging and tools: Works must be registered and geo-tagged on the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack. States are to use tools such as Yuktdhara, water budgeting and hydrogeological assessments.
Institutional step: The officer in charge of Rural Water Supply or the Public Health Engineering Department is to join the State-level Steering Committee under the Act.
Launch and aim: Launched on 15 August 2019 to give every rural household a functional tap connection on a regular, long-term basis.
Service standard: The Mission targets 55 litres per capita per day of water meeting the BIS 10500 standard, at affordable service charges.
Har Ghar Jal certification: 188 districts, 1,090 blocks, 1.01 lakh Gram Panchayats and 2.04 lakh villages are certified Har Ghar Jal.
Extension: The Union Government has extended the Mission till December 2028.
Signatories: MoUs were signed with four States (Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland) and one UT (Puducherry).
Model mandated: The MoU requires a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based and community-centred model of rural water governance.
JJM 2.0 priorities: Focus is on sustaining infrastructure, tap functionality, water quality, source sustainability, O&M, community ownership and regular monitoring.
Institutions: Collectors are to hold regular District Water and Sanitation Mission meetings, which help prepare Village Action Plans and certify Panchayats as capable institutions.
Conditions before fund release: States must sign the MoU, get schemes validated against the Sujalam Bharat GIS-linked Asset Registry, certify compliance with CPHEEO design norms, and reconcile expenditure financially.
Jal Utsav: A three-tier annual community campaign: Jal Mahotsav nationally, Rajya Jal Utsav or Nadi Utsav in States, and Lok Jal Utsav at Gram Panchayat level.
MoU count: Meghalaya is the twelfth State to sign a Reform-Linked MoU under JJM 2.0.
Cabinet approval: JJM 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
Extended deadline: The original deadline of May 2024 has been extended to December 2028.
Outlay: The Cabinet approved an additional outlay of ₹1.51 lakh crore for the Mission.
Local role: Gram Panchayats and VWSCs are to manage and operate in-village water supply systems; District Water Sanitation Missions prepare village action plans and issue panchayat certifications.
Implementing ministry: JJM is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Jal Mahotsav 2026: A 15-day nationwide campaign from 8 March (International Women's Day) to 22 March (World Water Day), with Jal Arpan of assets to Gram Panchayats.
Key reform areas: Assured service delivery with defined performance standards, clear accountability at State, district and Gram Panchayat levels, and long-term sustainability through source protection.
Implementing body: JJM is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, jointly with States.
New end date: The Mission is extended up to December 2028 with a higher financial outlay.
MoU model: The MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based, community-centred model of rural water governance.
Implementing department: The Mission is run by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, through the National Jal Jeevan Mission.
Original launch: JJM was launched in 2019 with the aim of tap water to every rural household by 2024.
Funding pattern: JJM is a centrally sponsored scheme; the Centre-State share is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other States.
Start and aim: Running since August 2019, JJM aims at assured tap water to every rural household in partnership with States.
Extended phase: The extended phase focuses on infrastructure quality and O&M through Jan Bhagidhari, with separate MoUs signed with States/UTs.
Functionality assessment 2024: An independent third-party assessment found 76% of household tap connections functional, judged on quantity, quality and regularity.
Federal division: Drinking water is a state subject; States handle planning, approval, implementation and O&M, and the Centre gives technical and financial help.
Reform areas in MoU: The reform-linked MoU covers 11 structural reform areas, including institutional architecture, service utility framework, water quality governance and source sustainability.
Jal Arpan condition: A key MoU condition is that completed piped schemes be handed over to Gram Panchayats/VWSCs and the community through Jal Arpan.
Decision Support System: The MoU provides for the DSS platform, developed by DDWS, as a digital planning tool at district and GP levels for source sustainability, integrated with Sujalam Bharat and national water datasets.
Mission extension: JJM has been extended till December 2028 with an enhanced outlay.
Reform areas: The MoU covers 11 structural reform areas, such as service utility framework, water quality governance and source sustainability.
Sujal Gaon ID: A scheme-based unique digital identifier for mapping rural piped water supply assets. 1.64 lakh IDs are created across 31 States/UTs, linked to 67,000 Sujalam Bharat IDs.
Conditions for central funds: Central funds depend on four requirements: signing the MoU, creating Sujal Gaon IDs, timely financial reconciliation, and notifying State O&M policies.
Funding modes: Upfront payment, reimbursement and Viability Gap Funding (for annuity-based PPP models in BWSs). No central help for retrofitting schemes.
Har Ghar Jal declaration: A Gram Panchayat can declare itself Har Ghar Jal only after the State has set up adequate in-village operation and maintenance mechanisms.
Target and MoUs: All 19.36 crore rural households are to get tap connections by December 2028, with separate MoUs with States/UTs.
Water quality standard: BIS:10500 is the benchmark for water supplied under JJM; arsenic and fluoride affected habitations get priority.
Quality monitoring funds: States/UTs can use up to 2% of their annual JJM allocation for water quality monitoring and surveillance.
Nal Jal Mitra: Nal Jal Mitra Programme, run with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, trains villagers as scheme operators and for minor repairs.
Implementing agency: The scheme is run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through its Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): JJM targets rural household tap connections; AMRUT covers urban water supply and sewerage.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen): JJM is for drinking water supply; SBM-G is for sanitation. Both run under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Jal Arpan hands over completed water supply schemes to local bodies for operation and maintenance. Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari is a community-participation drive on water conservation and rainwater harvesting.

Don’t confuse with JJM vs SBM(G): JJM provides tap water to rural homes. SBM(G) deals with rural sanitation and waste management. Both are run by DDWS.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs JJM: Jal Arpan is only the handover of completed schemes for operation and maintenance. JJM is the whole mission.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Jal Shakti Abhiyan: JJM provides household tap connections in rural areas. Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a water conservation and rainwater harvesting campaign.

Don’t confuse with JJM vs Swajaldhara/NRDWP: Earlier programmes such as Swajaldhara and NRDWP focused on habitation-level coverage; JJM targets household tap service delivery.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Sankalp: Jal Arpan is the formal handover of water assets to Gram Panchayats. Jal Sankalp is Arunachal Pradesh's gap-funding effort for source sustainability.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Utsav: Jal Arpan is the commissioning and formal handover of schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs. Jal Utsav is an annual community campaign for maintenance and review.

Don’t confuse with Sujalam Bharat vs Meri Panchayat: Sujalam Bharat is the digital asset and service-area mapping framework. Meri Panchayat is the application that reflects citizen feedback from Jal Seva Aankalan.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Sanchay: JJM provides tap water to rural homes; Jal Sanchay is the water conservation push that supports source sustainability.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs AMRUT: JJM covers rural households; AMRUT focuses on urban water supply and sewerage.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Mahotsav: Jal Arpan is the handover of water assets to local bodies; Jal Mahotsav is a community campaign during which such handovers were held.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Shakti Abhiyan: JJM is a tap connection scheme; Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a water conservation campaign.

Don’t confuse with Jal Shakti Abhiyan vs Jal Jeevan Mission: Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain is a water conservation campaign for source sustainability; JJM is the tap connection scheme.

Don’t confuse with Jal Seva Aankalan vs Jal Arpan: Jal Seva Aankalan records service delivery responses at GP level. Jal Arpan is the handover of schemes.

Don’t confuse with Sujal Gaon ID vs Sujalam Bharat ID: Sujal Gaon ID identifies a scheme. Each Sujalam Bharat ID combines a scheme's infrastructure ID and service area ID, and Sujalam Bharat is the wider national digital architecture.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Arpan: JJM is the overall scheme for rural tap connections; Jal Arpan is a reform under it for handing over completed schemes to GPs/VWSCs.

Don’t confuse with JJM vs Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin): JJM provides piped drinking water; SBM (Gramin) is the sanitation programme, with which JJM converges for grey-water reuse.

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

Handing schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs builds community ownership and supports the 73rd Amendment's local self-governance.
Geotagging and digital records improve monitoring and planning of rural water assets.
Institutionalises Centre-State dialogue on water, a State subject, supporting cooperative federalism.
Focus on operation and maintenance and source sustainability addresses the gap between creating tap connections and delivering reliable water.
Joint planning of water, sanitation and livelihood works can cut duplication and make better use of funds.
Source sustainability and groundwater recharge work can make tap water services last.
Reduces women's and girls' time spent fetching water, aiding health, education and livelihoods.
Moves rural water policy from creating assets to delivering a regular service.
Moves the mission from asset creation to reliable, accountable service delivery.
Strengthens decentralised governance by giving Gram Panchayats and VWSCs charge of O&M.
Linking funds to MoUs, validation and reconciliation brings accountability and performance-based release.
Focus on O&M and community ownership aims at lasting service, not just connections.
Shifts focus from building pipelines to sustainable service delivery.
Strengthens decentralisation by giving Gram Panchayats and VWSCs charge of operation and maintenance.
Shifts focus from building pipes to reliable, safe water, which supports health, hygiene and women's time savings.
Reform-linked MoUs bind States to accountability, strengthening cooperative federalism.
Shifts focus from creating pipelines to assured, regular, quality service.
Strengthens Panchayats and community ownership in water management, advancing decentralisation.
Tap water at home reduces the time women spend fetching water and lowers waterborne disease.
Cuts across health, gender and rural development goals, and supports SDG 6.
Shifts focus from building taps to assured service delivery, quality and long-term sustainability.
Gram Panchayat-led management gives local bodies ownership of water assets.
Shifts the Mission from creating tap connections to assured, lasting service delivery.
Gives Gram Panchayats and communities ownership of rural water systems.
Digital IDs enable source-to-tap tracking, real-time monitoring and transparency.
Conditional, milestone-based funding ties central money to State reforms and long-term service delivery.
Shifts focus from building pipes to reliable service delivery, aiming at assured 24x7 rural supply.
Reduces women's drudgery and improves health, with women and girls the main beneficiaries.
Tap water at home cuts the drudgery of fetching water, which falls mostly on women.
Safe supply in arsenic and fluoride areas reduces waterborne disease and health costs.
Community ownership through GPs and VWSCs builds local self-government.

Problems

Gram Panchayats may lack technical skills and funds to run and maintain schemes.
Source sustainability and water quality (contamination) remain concerns even after tap connections.
Water is a State subject, so outcomes depend on State follow-through; summit commitments are not binding.
Weak source sustainability, groundwater depletion and thin local capacity for operation and maintenance can leave connections without water.
Several departments and levels of government must coordinate, and capacity at Gram Panchayat level is uneven.
Source depletion and poor operation and maintenance can undercut tap connections.
Sustaining sources and keeping schemes functional after tap connections are installed.
Ensuring water quality and community capacity to operate and maintain systems.
Difficult terrain, forest clearances and NoCs delay pipelines (Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh).
Source sustainability and lack of perennial sources, as in Tamil Nadu, threaten tap functionality.
Water is a State subject, so success depends on State accountability and capacity.
Sustaining source and O&M after handover to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs is difficult.
Operation and maintenance of in-village systems needs funds and capacity at village level.
Quality, accountability and source sustainability must be ensured.
Sustaining O&M depends on user charges and local capacity, which vary across villages (₹40 to ₹100 per household in the villages featured).
Source sustainability and water quality remain at risk without groundwater recharge and regular testing.
Panchayats need funds, skills and the power to levy user charges for operation and maintenance.
Source sustainability, water quality and corruption in works threaten long-term functionality.
Functionality lags coverage: only 76% of connections were functional in 2024, with quality and regularity gaps.
Scarce sources, geogenic contamination, difficult terrain, limited technical capacity and rising costs slow delivery.
Local bodies may lack technical skills and funds to run and maintain schemes.
Source sustainability and water quality (arsenic, fluoride) need continuous monitoring.
Weak capacity and finances of Gram Panchayats to run and maintain schemes.
Source sustainability and water quality, especially in water-scarce and varied hydro-geological areas.
Water is a State subject, so delivery depends on State capacity and accountability; delays have arisen from technical shortcomings.
Oversized or non-compliant works raise costs, and States must bear that expenditure.
Sustaining operation and maintenance and source sustainability after handover, with weak Gram Panchayat finances and capacity.
Last-mile coverage of the remaining households and ensuring water quality and State-wise delivery.
Water source sustainability and groundwater depletion threaten long-term supply.
Reported connections may not mean regular, quality-assured supply; functionality must be checked.
Weak capacity of Gram Panchayats for operation, maintenance and tariff collection; Central outlay is almost used up.

Way forward

Train and fund VWSCs, with user charges for operation and maintenance.
Strengthen source recharge and regular quality testing, with women-led surveillance.
Set time-bound, monitored targets for agreed action points, with digital monitoring and regular review.
Strengthen Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees with funds, training and tariff support for asset management.
Build Gram Panchayat capacity for planning, water budgeting and asset upkeep.
Use geo-tagged data to monitor assets and check that convergent works are completed.
Strengthen source sustainability through groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting.
Build Gram Panchayat and VWSC capacity, with regular water quality testing and surveillance.
Notify State O&M policies and certify Panchayats as capable institutions.
Invest in spring rejuvenation, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and community water quality monitoring.
Build Gram Panchayat and VWSC capacity for O&M and tariff or financing arrangements.
Use Sujalam Bharat data and Jal Seva Aankalan feedback to monitor and fix service gaps.
Link JJM with MGNREGA and conservation works to strengthen water sources.
Enforce accountability measures in the MoUs and build local capacity.
Ensure Gram Panchayats and VWSCs are trained and funded to run schemes, with defined performance standards.
Link supply with source protection, rainwater harvesting, grey water reuse and aquifer recharge, backed by technology-based monitoring.
Build Panchayat capacity and allow user charges with support for poor households.
Strengthen source recharge, quality testing and third-party audit of assets.
Shift to O&M and sustainability through community ownership (Jan Bhagidhari, Jal Arpan) and State MoUs.
Strengthen source sustainability, monitoring through IoT sensors and dashboards, and local skills such as Nal Jal Mitra.
Build GP capacity and skilling, and ensure sound operational and financial models such as user charges.
Use digital tools like DSS and citizen feedback to track service delivery and source health.
Train and fund GPs and VWSCs, and set up service utility arrangements.
Use digital tools like the DSS and citizen feedback to track quality and sources.
Strengthen Gram Panchayat-led O&M, source sustainability and recharge, and community oversight.
Enforce technical specifications, financial reconciliation and quality checks through the State MoUs.
Strengthen GPs and VWSCs with training, tariff or user-charge systems and funds for upkeep.
Use digital mapping and monitoring for accountability, and converge with groundwater recharge and source-sustainability programmes.
Strengthen source recharge by converging with watershed, MGNREGA-type and Finance Commission funds.
Train and pay local operators such as Nal Jal Mitras and enforce independent quality testing with public data.
Secure enhanced funding for extension to 2028 and link it to service-delivery outcomes.

Put in your answer

JJM coverage: Over 15.96 crore rural households (82%+) have tap connections.

Geotagging: 2,691 water supply assets, including around 700 sources, were geotagged on the day.

Departmental Summit as cooperative federalism example: A new Centre-State platform where States present action plans to the Prime Minister, for answers on cooperative federalism and governance.

Community-led water governance: Discussions cover asset management and strengthening community-led water governance, useful for answers on decentralised service delivery.

Convergence tools: Geo-tagging on the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack and geospatial planning tools such as Yuktdhara are named for convergent planning.

Local planning example: Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans are the unit for integrated planning of water security.

Community role: Gram Panchayats, VWSCs and Self-Help Groups are meant to manage and sustain rural water supply assets.

Reform-linked MoUs: Use as an example of cooperative federalism tied to governance reforms and community ownership.

Arunachal catchment law: Arunachal Pradesh has an Act for protection and management of drinking water catchment areas, with community participation.

Compliance-linked release: ₹1,561.53 crore went to five States, the first performance-based, compliance-linked release.

Extended timeline: JJM deadline extended from May 2024 to December 2028.

Meghalaya example: Meghalaya, once among the lowest in rural tap coverage, reached 83.59% coverage.

Community-managed example: Tepla village in Ambala collects ₹40 per household per month as user charges for operation and maintenance.

Reform-linked MoU: Centre-State MoUs tie JJM 2.0 to Panchayat-led O&M reforms, an example of cooperative federalism.

Jan Bhagidari: The MoU seeks stronger community participation (Jan Bhagidari) for sustainable operation and maintenance of rural water supply.

Functionality gap: The 2024 assessment found 76% of tap connections functional on quantity, quality and regularity.

Health benefit claim: The Minister cited a WHO study that universal household tap water could prevent close to 4 lakh diarrhoeal deaths annually.

Reform-linked federal model: The MoU ties Centre-State cooperation to 11 structural reforms, an example of conditional cooperative federalism.

Community model: The MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based, community-centred model of rural water governance.

Cooperative federalism example: State-specific MoUs with conditional, milestone-based central funding show how the Centre links funds to reforms.

WHO health estimate: WHO estimated 5.5 crore hours saved daily for women and 400,000 diarrhoeal deaths prevented.

Jal Arpan handbook: A 15-day trial run with GP and VWSC members precedes handover of schemes, supported by dashboards and Jal Seva Ankalan.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 56

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

1.Jal Arpan involves the formal handover of completed rural water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees.
2.The Jal Arpan digital module was developed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
3.Under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, Sujalam Bharat is used for geotagging of rural water supply assets.
4.Water quality testing demonstrations during Jal Arpan used Field Test Kits.
5.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.
6.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2014 to provide tap water to every rural household.
7.The Jal Arpan module now provides Har Ghar Jal certificates only in Hindi and English.
8.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 and is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
9.JJM 2.0 shifts the mission from an infrastructure-centric approach to a service delivery model.
10.Under JJM 2.0, States can receive funds without signing any MoU, as long as the schemes are completed.
11.Schemes are validated against the Sujalam Bharat GIS-linked Asset Registry before funds are released to States.
12.Jal Utsav is organised in three tiers, with Lok Jal Utsav held at the State level.
13.Meghalaya is the twelfth State to sign a Reform-Linked MoU under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
14.Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026.
15.The Cabinet has approved an additional outlay of ₹1.51 lakh crore for the Mission.
16.Under the reform-linked MoU, District Water Sanitation Missions are headed by the State Water Resources Secretary.
17.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through its Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
18.Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended till December 2028 with the approval of the Cabinet.
19.Jal Mahotsav 2026 was a 15-day campaign running from International Women's Day to World Water Day.
20.JJM 2.0 aims to move from a service-delivery approach to an infrastructure-creation approach.
21.The Guidelines say source sustainability is secondary to service delivery, so convergence on water conservation is optional.
22.The Union Cabinet approved Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 on 10 March 2026.
23.Under JJM 2.0 the Mission period has been extended up to December 2028.
24.The reform-linked MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based model of rural water governance.
25.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2019.
26.The MoUs under JJM 2.0 were signed with Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Goa.
27.Jal Jeevan Mission has been implemented since August 2019 by the Centre in partnership with States.
28.At the start of the Mission, about half of rural households had tap water connections.
29.Under JJM, responsibility for operation and maintenance of drinking water schemes lies with the State/UT governments.
30.The functionality assessment of tap connections under JJM is carried out by an independent third-party agency selected on standard statistical sampling.
31.The 2024 Functionality Assessment judged tap connections functional on quantity, quality and regularity, and found about 76% functional.
32.Jal Jeevan Mission is administered by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
33.Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
34.The reform-linked MoU signed by Uttar Pradesh covers 11 key structural reform areas.
35.Under the MoU, completed piped water schemes are to be handed over to Gram Panchayats or Village Water and Sanitation Committees through the Jal Arpan process.
36.The Decision Support System platform under the MoU was developed by the NITI Aayog for planning at district and GP levels.
37.Jal Utsav is a two-tier annual campaign held only at the national and State levels.
38.Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended till December 2028 with an enhanced outlay.
39.Under the MoU, completed piped water supply schemes are to be handed over to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs through the Jal Arpan process.
40.The Decision Support System platform was developed by the Ministry of Rural Development.
41.Jal Utsav includes Lok Jal Utsav at the Gram Panchayat level.
42.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
43.Jal Seva Aankalan is a Union-level audit carried out by the Ministry, with results published on the Jal Shakti portal.
44.The Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended up to December 2028 under JJM 2.0.
45.A Gram Panchayat may declare itself 'Har Ghar Jal' as soon as pipelines are laid, without any check on maintenance arrangements.
46.The central assistance approved for JJM has been raised from Rs 2.08 lakh crore to Rs 3.59 lakh crore.
47.Jal Utsav is a biennial event led by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to inaugurate new schemes.
48.In 2019, about 17 per cent of rural households had tap water connections, the baseline for JJM.
49.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
50.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 to provide potable water to every rural household.
51.Under JJM, Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees plan, implement, operate and maintain in-village water supply systems.
52.Under JJM, the benchmark for quality of piped water is the standard set by the World Health Organization.
53.States and UTs may use up to 2% of their annual JJM allocation for water quality monitoring and surveillance.
54.Under Jal Arpan, the handbook on community-managed piped water systems mandates a 15-day trial run involving GPs and VWSC members before handover.
55.Since drinking water is a Union subject, the Centre alone funds and builds JJM schemes.
56.Community water purification plants under JJM are meant as an interim measure in arsenic and fluoride affected habitations until compliant piped schemes are commissioned.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Jal Shakti, 31 Mar, 13:37 IST · Release 287187

Issue page →

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

Scheme

eGramSwaraj and SabhaSaar

GS2 Governance and Panchayati RajGS3 Digital governancePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 31 March 2026, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj said over ₹3 lakh crore (cumulative) has been paid through eGramSwaraj, and that SabhaSaar now works in 23 Indian languages, up from 13.
What it is: eGramSwaraj is a web portal of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for planning, accounting and payments by Panchayati Raj Institutions. It was built under the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project and links to PFMS. SabhaSaar is the Ministry's AI voice-to-text tool that summarises Gram Sabha meetings into minutes, attendance, resolutions and action points.

eGramSwaraj link to PFMS: The portal was developed under the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project and is integrated with PFMS, so payments go directly to vendors in real time with digital traceability.
FY 2025-26 payments: PRIs transferred ₹53,342 crore through the eGramSwaraj-PFMS interface in 2025-26.
Constitutional basis of Panchayats: Panchayati Raj Institutions get constitutional status from Part IX of the Constitution, inserted by the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992.

Don’t confuse with eGramSwaraj vs PFMS: eGramSwaraj is the Panchayat-level planning, accounting and payment portal. PFMS is the Centre's wider public fund tracking system that it links to.

Don’t confuse with Gram Sabha vs Gram Panchayat: Gram Sabha is the body of all registered voters of a village. Gram Panchayat is its elected executive body.

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: Standing digital governance tools for panchayats. Facts are mostly routine usage figures, so a question is unlikely.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, 31 Mar, 10:05 IST · Release 287175

Issue page →

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

Economy

CBIC Courier and E-commerce Export Reforms

GS3 Economy: External sectorPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 31 March 2026, the CBIC announced reforms for e-commerce exports and courier trade, effective 1 April 2026, following the Union Budget 2026-27 announcement. They remove the ₹10 lakh cap on courier export consignments and add a Return to Origin facility.
What it is: Courier exports and imports in India are governed by customs regulations framed under the Customs Act, 1962. CBIC, under the Ministry of Finance, administers them. The Express Cargo Clearance System is the electronic platform for clearing courier consignments.

Value cap removed: The ₹10 lakh per-consignment limit on commercial courier exports is removed. Such shipments no longer have to move by air or sea cargo because of value.
Return to Origin (RTO): Goods uncleared or unclaimed for over 15 days at International Courier Terminals can be returned to origin by a simplified procedure. Prohibited, restricted or enforcement-hold goods are excluded.
Re-import of returned goods: A risk-based approach replaces consignment-wise verification for re-import of returned or rejected goods. A dedicated return module is added to the Express Cargo Clearance System.
Legal instruments: The Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations 2010 and the Courier Imports and Exports (Clearance) Regulations, 1998 were amended. Notifications 33/2026 and 34/2026-Customs (N.T.) carry the changes.
Who administers: CBIC is the apex body for customs and indirect taxes and works under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

Don’t confuse with CBIC vs CBDT: CBIC handles customs, GST and central excise. CBDT handles direct taxes such as income tax.

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: Removal of the Rs 10 lakh courier export cap and a Return to Origin mechanism are lasting trade reforms, but they are too narrow for a likely question.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Finance, 31 Mar, 17:20 IST · Release 287201

Issue page →

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

Economy

Advance Pricing Agreements (APA)

GS3 Economy: TaxationPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 31 March 2026, the CBDT said it signed a record 219 Advance Pricing Agreements in FY 2025-26, taking the total since inception to 1,034. It also noted Finance Act 2026 changes to Safe Harbour Rules.
What it is: An Advance Pricing Agreement is an agreement between the tax authority and a taxpayer. It fixes in advance the pricing method and arm's length price for the taxpayer's international transactions with associated enterprises, for a set number of years. It reduces transfer pricing disputes. A bilateral APA also involves the treaty partner's tax authority.

Cumulative total: The total is 1,034 APAs: 750 unilateral and 284 bilateral.
Period and benefit: APAs fix the arm's length price of international transactions in advance for up to five years. BAPAs also protect against double taxation.

Don’t confuse with Unilateral vs bilateral APA: A unilateral APA is between the taxpayer and the Indian tax authority only. A bilateral APA also involves the treaty partner's authority and gives relief from double taxation.

Don’t confuse with APA vs Safe Harbour: An APA is a negotiated, taxpayer-specific agreement. Safe Harbour prescribes fixed margins for specified categories of transactions, as a faster and cheaper option.

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: APAs are a lasting tax-certainty tool. The news gives records and counts, but economy terms are tested on concept, so a question is unlikely.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Finance, 31 Mar, 20:25 IST · Release 287210

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

Dunagiri, fifth Project 17A (Nilgiri class) stealth frigate, was delivered to the Navy on 30 Mar 2026 from GRSE, Kolkata.
Sanshodhak, the fourth and last Survey Vessel (Large), was delivered to the Navy at GRSE Kolkata on 30 Mar 2026.
MoD signed a Rs 1,950 crore contract with BEL on 31 Mar 2026 for two Mountain Radars for the IAF, designed by DRDO's LRDE under Buy (Indian-IDDM).
Nyaya Setu, a multilingual voice-first AI legal assistant built by the Digital India BHASHINI Division, was unveiled at the DISHA programme.
Malwan, second of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Cochin Shipyard, was delivered to the Navy on 31 Mar 2026.
Shachi, first of eleven Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels, was launched at GSL, Goa on 31 Mar 2026.

Source: PIB, 31 Mar

What we left out: 30 of 43 releases

Ceremonies and campaigns (5)
Same issue as another release (2)
Greetings and tributes (7)
Meetings without a decision (1)
Routine naval visits (1)
Speeches without a decision (9)
Same issue as on file (2)
Routine MoUs (1)
Routine data (1)
Routine election procedure (1)

Practise the day’s news

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

1Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-GraminMCQ · 13 true or false
2WTO 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14)MCQ · 17 true or false · Mains
3Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharingMCQ · 6 true or false
4Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal ArpanMCQ · 56 true or false · Mains

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin has completed 2.99 crore of 3.90 crore sanctioned houses and aims for a cumulative 4.95 crore rural houses by 2029. Discuss the main provisions of the scheme and critically examine the challenges in meeting this target.

From: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin

Write and get it marked

Keep reading

The day before

Monday, 30 March 2026Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 · Census 2027 · Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) and 8 more

The day after

Wednesday, 1 April 2026National Biodiversity Authority and Access and Benefit Sharing · Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 · Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and 9 more

All days

Practice · 4 Mains question