UPSC current affairs · Wednesday

Current Affairs, 4 February 2026

8 issues picked from 113 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

Semicon 2.0 (India Semiconductor Mission). Ten semiconductor projects approved under Rs 76,000 crore Semicon India Programme; pilot production begun in four units.
Small Modular Reactors (BSMR-200, SMR-55) and Nuclear Energy Mission. BARC designs indigenous SMRs under Nuclear Energy Mission; AERB says existing safety rules mostly suffice.
Chemical Parks Scheme and CCUS (Budget 2026-27). Budget 2026-27 funds three plug-and-play Chemical Parks (Rs 600 crore) and CCUS (Rs 20,000 crore).
Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan. Scheme rewards top nutrition-performing Gram Panchayats with Rs 1 lakh each, judged on Poshan Tracker data.
Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD. Centre lists Assam tourism projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, SASCI and ACA schemes.
Enemy Property Act, 1968. Enemy properties worth Rs 2,930 crore sold; government eases auction rules to speed up monetisation.
Landslide Risk Mitigation Scheme. LRMS gave Rs 43.91 crore to four States; a Rs 1,000 crore national landslide project covers 15.
Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023. CBFC certified 71,963 films in five years; cuts only for statutory violations, appeal lies to High Court.

Scheme

Semicon 2.0 (India Semiconductor Mission)

GS3 Science and technologyGS3 EconomyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 4 February 2026 the Government told Lok Sabha that 10 projects worth about Rs 1.6 lakh crore are approved under the Semicon India Programme, and that pilot production has started in 4 units.
What it is: The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is the programme under MeitY to build a domestic chip ecosystem. ISM 1.0 began in 2021 and backed fabs, ATMP/OSAT units and chip design. ISM 2.0 is the next phase and widens support to materials, machines, research and talent.

Six pillars of ISM 2.0: Design; Machines and Materials; more fabs; ATMP/OSAT industry; R&D; and Talent Development.
ISM 1.0 timeline: Planned as a six-year programme, it met its objectives in four years.
Plants under ISM 1.0: Twelve plants were approved under ISM 1.0, and five have started commercial production.
Expected design companies: The Minister estimated at least 200 chip design companies would emerge under ISM 2.0.
Nodal ministry: ISM sits under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Approval and outlay: The Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 on 15 July 2026 with an outlay of Rs 1,27,500 crore.
Semicon 1.0 outlay: Semicon 1.0 was approved in December 2021 with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore.
Semicon 1.0 units: Twelve units were approved: one silicon fab, one silicon carbide fab, one GaN Micro LED display fab and nine ATMP/OSAT units. Five have begun commercial production.
Concentration of production: Taiwan produces over 60% of global chips and nearly 90% of advanced chips.
Six pillars: Design; Machines and Materials; more Fabs; ATMP/OSAT; R&D; Talent Development.
Nodal agency: ISM invites applications, appraises them, recommends applicants and oversees implementation.
C-DAC role: ISM may implement the design and deployment categories with C-DAC's help.
Duration: Projects generally run up to six years. Applications stay open initially for three years.
Funding and review: MeitY makes budget provisions; a mid-term assessment follows three years of implementation.
Design incentive: Pillar 1 includes a Deployment-Linked Incentive (DLI) for chips, IPs and SoCs.
Outlay: Semicon 2.0 has a total budget outlay of Rs.1,27,500 crore.
ISM 1.0 manufacturing: Twelve manufacturing units were approved with over Rs.1.64 lakh crore investment: one silicon fab, one SiC fab, one GaN Micro LED display fab and nine packaging units.
Commercial production: Micron, Kaynes and CG Semi have started commercial production.
Projects approved: Two new projects, both in Gujarat, were cleared. One is a compound semiconductor fab with ATMP at Dholera; the other is an OSAT unit at Surat.
Crystal Matrix Limited, Dholera: It will make Mini/Micro-LED display modules and offer GaN foundry services, including epitaxy on 6-inch wafers.
Suchi Semicon, Surat: An OSAT facility for discrete semiconductors, with capacity of 1033.20 million chips a year.
ISM tally: Approved projects under ISM now total 12, with cumulative investment of about Rs 1.64 lakh crore.
Design support: Government design infrastructure support covers 315 academic institutions and 104 start-ups.
OSAT meaning: OSAT stands for Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test: firms that package and test chips made by fabs.
Talent target: The 10-year target is to train 85,000 engineers in semiconductor design, and the minister says good progress was made in four years.
EDA tool access: EDA tools backed by firms such as Synopsys, Cadence and Siemens are available in 315 academic institutions.
Fabrication of student chips: Student-designed chips are fabricated and tested at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali.
Expansion under Semicon 2.0: The programme will grow from 315 to 500 universities.
EDA tools: 350 universities have been given access to EDA tools, used by 65 thousand engineers.
ISM 2.0 aims: It targets production of equipment and materials, design of full-stack Indian IP, and stronger supply chains.

Don’t confuse with Fab vs fabless: A fab makes chips on wafers. A fabless firm only designs chips and uses a foundry to make them.

Don’t confuse with ATMP vs OSAT: ATMP is Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging; OSAT is Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test. Both handle the post-fabrication stage.

Don’t confuse with Fab vs ATMP/OSAT: A fab makes the chip on wafers; ATMP/OSAT packages and tests the finished chip.

Don’t confuse with ISM 1.0 vs Semicon 2.0: ISM 1.0 (2021) backed fabs, packaging and design. Semicon 2.0 adds machines, materials, advanced R&D and deeper talent building.

Don’t confuse with Compound vs silicon semiconductors: Compound semiconductors like GaN combine elements and suit power, RF and optoelectronics. Silicon is a single-element material used in most logic chips.

Don’t confuse with ISM vs SCL Mohali: ISM is the national programme under MeitY. SCL Mohali is a government fab laboratory used to make the student chips.

Don’t confuse with C2S vs fab incentives: C2S is about design talent and startups. Fab and ATMP/OSAT subsidies are separate parts of ISM.

Don’t confuse with EDA tools vs tapeout: EDA tools are software used to design chips. Tapeout is the final design submission for fabrication.

Don’t confuse with ISM vs ECMS: ISM backs chip fabs, packaging, design, equipment and materials. ECMS supports electronic components and sub-assemblies manufacturing.

Don’t confuse with ISM vs PLI for electronics: ISM is a semiconductor-specific mission. PLI schemes give production-linked incentives on sales across electronics products.

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

Support across the whole value chain can cut import dependence and build strategic resilience in chips.
Design strength and talent can move India from design services to owning chip IP and products.
Cuts import dependence, as India spent about USD 150 billion on chip imports in FY17-FY25.
Builds the full value chain and supports supply chain resilience and strategic autonomy.
Creates high-value jobs and supports strategic sectors such as space and defence.
Strengthens supply-chain resilience and national security in a critical technology.
Covers the full value chain, including equipment, materials and talent, not just fabs.
Can create 50,000-60,000 direct jobs, according to the Minister.
Cuts import dependence and strengthens supply chain resilience and national security.
Builds upstream capacity in materials, machines and design IP, not just assembly.
Supports growth across sectors such as automobiles, telecom, electronics and aerospace.
Adds compound semiconductor and display capability, reducing import dependence in a strategic technology.
Creates skilled jobs and builds a Gujarat cluster at Dholera and Surat.
Builds a skilled design workforce, which is a key gap in India's chip ecosystem.
Open-access EDA tools lower cost for students and startups across the country.
Reduces import dependence in a strategic input for electronics, defence and autos.
Builds jobs and a full chain from design to packaging, and spreads units across states.
Reduces import dependence in chips and strengthens supply chains.
Equipment, materials and IP move India beyond assembly into deeper value chains.

Problems

Fabs need heavy capital, steady power and ultra-pure water, and depend on imported machines and materials.
Only five of twelve approved plants are producing, and the talent trained is below the design target of 85,000.
Chip manufacturing is highly complex, capital-intensive and needs long, steady policy support.
Production is concentrated in a few economies, so India depends on trusted partners for tools and technology.
Only five of twelve approved units were producing by 2026, so execution and talent remain gaps.
Chip fabs need very large capital, water, power and skilled staff.
India depends on imported equipment and materials, and global competition for subsidies is heavy.
Projects take years to deliver, and fiscal support is large.
Fabs need huge capital, water, power and ultra-pure inputs, with long gestation.
India's current nodes (28nm-110nm) lag leading-edge global technology.
Dependence on foreign technology partners and a shortage of skilled engineers.
Chip fabs need heavy capital, water, power and skilled workers, and face global competition.
Dependence on imported materials, equipment and technology persists.
Trained designers may leave for foreign firms, so retention is a risk.
Training must be matched by fabs and industry jobs to be useful.
Fabs need large capital, water, power and scarce skilled talent.
Most approved projects are packaging, and India depends on foreign technology partners.
Fabs need heavy capital, water, power and a mature supplier base.
Shortage of skilled chip designers and process engineers.

Way forward

Localise materials and equipment and keep strong partnerships with trusted countries.
Link research, industry and academia so design talent leads to products and IP.
Sustain long-term funding and speed up approvals and execution of approved units.
Build the machines, materials and talent base while deepening trusted international partnerships.
Link R&D to industry so design work grows into products made in India.
Build equipment and materials suppliers alongside fabs.
Link talent training to industry needs and speed up approvals.
Use the mid-term review to correct design and funding gaps.
Develop advanced nodes through R&D tie-ups with leading centres in India and abroad.
Build supplier clusters for gases, chemicals and equipment alongside fabs.
Align training in universities with industry needs such as clean room and fab skills.
Build the supply chain of materials, gases and equipment through ISM 2.0.
Link design, talent and manufacturing so projects reach commercial scale.
Link academic training with industry internships and local fabs.
Support design startups to turn student chips into products.
Build materials, equipment and talent base, as ISM 2.0 intends.
Speed up project execution and anchor demand through domestic chip design.
Build industry-linked research and training centres with steady funding.
Develop local equipment and materials clusters alongside fabs.

Put in your answer

ISM 1.0 execution record: Five of twelve approved plants are in commercial production, and the first phase ended ahead of schedule.

Semicon 1.0 progress: Twelve units approved with over Rs 1.64 lakh crore investment; five are producing.

Design talent: India employs nearly 20% of the global chip design workforce.

Talent target: India reached its target of 85,000 semiconductor engineers in four years against a 10-year plan; a further one lakh is targeted.

Design by students: Students from Tier-II and Tier-III cities have designed more than 250 chips.

Market share: Close to 10% of the global semiconductor market is expected to be in India in the coming years.

ISM 1.0 investment: Twelve approved manufacturing units carry over Rs.1.64 lakh crore of investment.

Design ecosystem: 24 design projects approved for support; 105 start-ups/MSMEs given EDA tool access.

Talent pipeline: About 68,000 students trained on EDA tools across 315 universities.

ISM scale: 12 approved projects with about Rs 1.64 lakh crore investment show the mission's progress.

Execution status: Two projects have begun commercial shipments from India, and two more are expected to follow soon.

EDA programme scale: Over 1.85 crore hours of EDA tool use recorded; called the world's largest open-access EDA programme.

Jobs demand: As the global industry reaches USD 2 trillion, about 2 million skilled professionals will be needed.

Investment scale: 10 approved projects carry about Rs 1.6 lakh crore of envisaged investment.

ECMS: ECMS has drawn investment commitments at double its target, with outlay now proposed at Rs 40,000 crore.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 19

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

1.Semicon 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2026 with an outlay of Rs 1,27,500 crore.
2.The Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), which develops flight-grade chips for satellites and launch vehicles, is located in Mohali.
3.Silicon, the most widely used semiconductor material, is obtained from silica found in sand.
4.The India Semiconductor Mission is the nodal agency for Semicon 2.0.
5.ISM may implement the design and deployment categories with the assistance of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing.
6.Semicon 2.0 will initially accept applications for ten years.
7.The scheme's mid-term assessment will be conducted after five years of implementation.
8.Semicon 2.0 has a total budget outlay of Rs.1,27,500 crore.
9.The India Semiconductor Mission functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
10.The Semicon India Programme has a total outlay of Rs 76,000 crore.
11.Of the 10 projects approved under the programme, 8 are fabs and 2 are packaging units.
12.The India Semiconductor Mission is the nodal agency for appraisal and recommendation of semiconductor projects under the programme.
13.The Tata Electronics fab in Gujarat is being set up in technology partnership with a company from South Korea.
14.The Micron facility in Gujarat is meant for assembly and test of both DRAM and NAND products.
15.The India Semiconductor Mission functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
16.ISM 2.0 is meant to produce equipment and materials and design full-stack Indian IP.
17.The Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme was launched in April 2025.
18.The ECMS outlay is proposed to be increased to Rs 40,000 crore.
19.The India Semiconductor Mission is an independent body set up by an Act of Parliament.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of Electronics & IT, 4 Feb, 14:37 IST · Release 283388

Issue page →

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

Science and technology

Small Modular Reactors (BSMR-200, SMR-55) and Nuclear Energy Mission

GS3 Energy and nuclear technologyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 4 February 2026, the Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh told the Lok Sabha that BARC is designing SMRs (BSMR-200, SMR-55) under the Nuclear Energy Mission, with lead units at Tarapur.
What it is: Small Modular Reactors are nuclear reactors of smaller output, built in standard modules and meant for captive power, replacing retiring fossil plants and serving off-grid sites. BARC, under the Department of Atomic Energy, is designing Indian versions such as BSMR-200 and SMR-55. Their cost is expected to fall with standard designs and scale.

BSMR-200: A 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor; lead unit proposed at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station site, Maharashtra.
SMR-55: A 55 MWe SMR whose lead unit is proposed at Tarapur.
Hydrogen reactor: A high temperature gas cooled reactor of up to 5 MWth is planned for hydrogen generation at BARC Vizag, Andhra Pradesh.
Cost: The tentative cost of the BSMR-200 demonstration unit is about Rs 27 crore per MWe; it should fall after standardisation and economy of scale.
Regulatory fit: AERB concluded that its existing framework can generally regulate SMRs, except a few technology-specific aspects.

Don’t confuse with MWe vs MWth: MWe is electrical output; MWth is thermal output. BSMR-200 and SMR-55 are rated in MWe, the hydrogen reactor in MWth.

Don’t confuse with AERB vs DAE/BARC: AERB is the safety regulator; BARC, under DAE, designs the reactors.

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.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Department of Atomic Energy, 4 Feb, 18:24 IST · Release 283460

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Chemical Parks Scheme and CCUS (Budget 2026-27)

GS3 IndustryPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 4 February 2026, PIB explained the Union Budget 2026-27 scheme to help States set up three Chemical Parks, with Rs 600 crore in BE 2026-27. The Budget also announced Rs 20,000 crore for CCUS.
What it is: The Chemical Parks scheme is a new Budget 2026-27 scheme to help States build three dedicated chemical and petrochemical clusters, chosen through a challenge route. Each park will offer plug-and-play land and shared utilities, common environmental facilities and coordinated governance. It builds on earlier cluster models such as Plastic Parks, Bulk Drug Parks and PCPIRs.

Number and selection: The scheme supports States in setting up three Chemical Parks, chosen through a challenge-based mechanism.
Outlay: Rs 600 crore is allocated in BE 2026-27 for the parks.
Model: Parks follow a cluster-based, plug-and-play model with shared infrastructure and standard environmental compliance facilities.
First of its kind: This is the first dedicated budgetary support for chemical park infrastructure.
CCUS allocation: Rs 20,000 crore is announced for CCUS technologies across key industries, including chemicals, over five years.

Don’t confuse with Chemical Parks vs PCPIRs: Chemical Parks are new, State-led parks chosen by challenge. PCPIRs are larger delineated investment regions, now at Visakhapatnam, Dahej and Paradeep.

Don’t confuse with Plastic Parks vs Bulk Drug Parks: Plastic Parks (scheme 2013-14) serve plastic processing. Bulk Drug Parks (2020) serve API manufacturing.

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: New Budget scheme with numbers, but a scheme only announced. Schemes make 16% of news-linked Prelims questions; too new to expect a question.

Source: PIB Headquarters, 4 Feb, 10:43 IST · Release 283356

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan

GS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 4 February 2026 the Women and Child Development Minister told Rajya Sabha how the Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan, launched 26 December 2024, picks and rewards top Gram Panchayats on nutrition.
What it is: The Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan is a Women and Child Development initiative that runs a positive competition among Gram Panchayats to cut malnutrition. Panchayats are nominated and judged on Anganwadi data from the Poshan Tracker. Winners get an incentive grant that must be spent on nutrition and Anganwadi activities.

Launch: The Abhiyaan was launched on 26 December 2024 to speed progress towards a malnutrition-free Bharat.
Nomination cap: States and UTs nominate top Gram Panchayats using Poshan Tracker data, up to 10% of the Gram Panchayats in each State/UT.
Incentive: The top 1000 qualified Gram Panchayats get Rs 1 lakh each as an incentive grant.
Split of the grant: Half goes to nutrition activities at Anganwadi Centres such as Poshan Vatikas and value addition to supplementary nutrition. A quarter goes to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, and a quarter to the Gram Panchayat for mobilisation and enrolment.
Assessment tool: The framework is outcome-oriented and data-driven, using Poshan Tracker indicators.

Don’t confuse with Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan vs Poshan Abhiyaan: Poshan Abhiyaan is the broader national nutrition mission. The Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan is a reward-based competition among Gram Panchayats that uses Anganwadi data.

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 launch date, eligibility and Rs 1 lakh incentive split; a lesser-known sub-initiative of Poshan 2.0, so a question is unlikely.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Women and Child Development, 4 Feb, 13:22 IST · Release 283362

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD

GS3 Tourism infrastructurePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 2 February 2026, the Tourism Minister told Lok Sabha that the Ministry has sanctioned projects in Assam under Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, SASCI, ACA and other central schemes.
What it is: Swadesh Darshan is a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, launched in 2014-15, to develop themed tourist circuits in States and UTs. PRASHAD, launched in 2014-15, develops pilgrimage and heritage sites. Swadesh Darshan 2.0 shifts the focus from circuits to sustainable destinations.

Swadesh Darshan 2.0: The revamped scheme aims at sustainable and responsible destinations, with a tourist and destination centric approach, framed in consultation with States/UTs.
CBDD: Challenge Based Destination Development is a sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 for holistic development of destinations across the tourist value chain.
ACA: Assistance to Central Agencies gives support to bodies such as ITDC, WAPCOS, BECIL, ASI and Port Trust of India for tourism infrastructure.
CBSP: Capacity Building for Service Providers gives education, training and certification to hospitality service providers, to help move from informal to formal jobs.
Homestays: Budget 2025-26 announced collateral-free institutional credit through Mudra Loans for homestays.
Launch: Swadesh Darshan was launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism.
Scale: 76 projects worth Rs 5,290.33 crore have been sanctioned under thematic circuits.
Uttar Pradesh status: Projects on the Ramayana and Buddhist Circuits in Uttar Pradesh are physically complete.
Who develops destinations: Destination planning and development is mainly the responsibility of the State or UT government. The Centre's scheme complements this.
SASCI iconic centres: Under SASCI, the 'Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development in Shrawasti' project was sanctioned in 2024-25 for Rs 80.24 crore.
Funding type: Swadesh Darshan is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.
Type of schemes: Swadesh Darshan, SD 2.0, PRASHAD and others are ongoing Central Sector Schemes of the Ministry of Tourism.
PRASHAD project in Assam: PRASHAD funds the Kamakhya Temple and pilgrimage destination development in and around Guwahati.
How funds flow: States, UTs or Central Agencies prepare proposals. Aid depends on guidelines, conditions and availability of funds.
Stated objectives: The schemes aim at holistic, sustainable infrastructure to boost tourism, conserve culture, create jobs and strengthen local economies.

Don’t confuse with Swadesh Darshan vs PRASHAD: Swadesh Darshan develops themed tourist circuits and now destinations; PRASHAD develops pilgrimage and heritage sites.

Don’t confuse with CBSP vs ACA: CBSP trains tourism service providers; ACA funds Central agencies for infrastructure.

Don’t confuse with Swadesh Darshan vs SASCI iconic centres: Swadesh Darshan covers thematic circuits. The SASCI scheme develops iconic tourist centres to global scale, with capital investment support to States.

Don’t confuse with SASCI vs ACA: SASCI gives special assistance to States for capital investment. ACA assists Central Agencies for tourism infrastructure.

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

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Tourism, 4 Feb, 14:32 IST · Release 283384

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Enemy Property Act, 1968

GS2 Polity and governancePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 4 February 2026 the Home Ministry told the Rajya Sabha that enemy properties worth Rs 2,930 crore had been sold by 28 January 2026, and listed steps to speed up disposal.
What it is: The Enemy Property Act, 1968 vests properties left in India by people who migrated to Pakistan or China after the wars in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI). The CEPI, under the Home Ministry, manages and disposes of them under the Act and its rules.

Disposal route: CEPI places valuation reports before the Enemy Property Disposal Committee, which recommends disposal to the Central Government.
Auction easing: Pre-bid EMD was cut from 10% to 5%. Payment time was raised from 21 to 120 days.

Don’t confuse with Enemy Property Act vs Evacuee Property laws: Evacuee property laws dealt with property left by people who moved across the border at Partition and were handled by a separate regime. The Enemy Property Act covers property of nationals of enemy countries after the 1965 war and later wars.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Law with custodian and disposal rules on the syllabus; this reply is routine monetisation data, so a fresh question is unlikely.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs, 4 Feb, 15:50 IST · Release 283393

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Landslide Risk Mitigation Scheme

GS3 Disaster managementPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 4 February 2026, the Minister of State for Home Affairs told the Rajya Sabha about the Landslide Risk Mitigation Scheme (LRMS) for four States, and a Rs 1,000 crore national project for 15 States.
What it is: The Landslide Risk Mitigation Scheme (LRMS) is a Ministry of Home Affairs scheme launched in July 2019. It gives central assistance to landslide-prone States for preparedness and for building the capacity to take up larger mitigation projects later.

States covered: LRMS was approved in 2019 for Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland and Uttarakhand.
Launch and outlay: LRMS was launched in July 2019 with a total outlay of Rs 43.91 crore, under the head of improving disaster risk governance of SDMAs/DDMAs.
Outcomes: The scheme's outcomes covered landslide mitigation, real time monitoring, awareness programmes, and capacity building and training.
National project: A separate National Landslide Risk Mitigation project of Rs 1,000 crore has been approved for 15 landslide-prone States, funded from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).

Don’t confuse with NDMF vs NDRF: The National Disaster Mitigation Fund pays for mitigation projects. The National Disaster Response Fund pays for relief and response after a disaster.

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 in four states (Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Uttarakhand), Rs 43.91 crore, plus a Rs 1,000 crore national project; disaster topics are set rarely.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Home Affairs, 4 Feb, 15:59 IST · Release 283398

Issue page →

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

Law and statutory body

Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023

GS2 Laws: film piracyGS3 Cyber and IT lawPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 4 February 2026, the Government told the Lok Sabha that the CBFC certified 71,963 films in the five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25. It said cuts are suggested only for statutory violations.
What it is: The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 amended the Cinematograph Act, 1952. It added Sections 6AA and 6AB against unauthorised recording and transmission of films, and changed the certification rules. It also set penalties for piracy and let the Government notify intermediaries hosting pirated content.

Banned acts: Sections 6AA and 6AB prohibit unauthorised recording and unauthorised transmission of films.
Penalty: Minimum 3 months jail and Rs 3 lakh fine, extendable to 3 years jail and fine up to 5% of audited gross production cost.
Notifying intermediaries: Section 7(1B)(ii) lets the Government notify intermediaries hosting pirated content under Section 79(3) of the IT Act, 2000.
Complaint mechanism: Nodal Officers of the I&B Ministry receive complaints in a prescribed format, issued by Public Notice dated 03.11.2023.
Parent Act: The amended law is the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
Nature of CBFC: CBFC is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that certifies films for public exhibition.
Grounds for cuts: Cuts or modifications are recommended only on statutory grounds such as sovereignty and integrity, security, public order, decency, morality, defamation, contempt of court or incitement to offence.
Films certified: CBFC certified 71,963 films from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
Appeal: The Act provides for an appeal against the Board's order before the High Court.
2023 amendment: The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 added Sections 6AA and 6AB against unauthorised recording and transmission of films and set penalties for piracy.

Don’t confuse with Section 79 vs Section 69A of IT Act: Section 79(3)(b) covers takedown notices to intermediaries who lose safe harbour; Section 69A lets the Government block public access on specified grounds such as sovereignty and public order.

Don’t confuse with Cinematograph Act vs Copyright Act: The Cinematograph Act deals with film certification and now recording/transmission piracy; the Copyright Act, 1957 governs copyright infringement generally.

Don’t confuse with Statutory vs constitutional body: CBFC is created by an Act of Parliament. It has no constitutional status, unlike the Election Commission.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, 4 Feb, 16:25 IST · Release 283412

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

EU's revised antimicrobial resistance rules take effect from September 2026; India is listed for aquaculture, eggs, honey and casings, with conditions for milk and poultry.
India joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (with UNIDO); the National Productivity Council is its India centre.
ECI will host a National Conference of State Election Commissioners on 24 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, the first since 1999.

Source: PIB, 4 Feb

What we left out: 102 of 113 releases

Speeches without a decision (2)
Same issue as another release (48)
Routine company data (1)
Routine meetings and project reviews (2)
Routine parliament replies on schemes (13)
Routine parliament replies on data (20)
Routine MoUs (2)
Ceremonies and campaigns (9)
Routine plans and campaigns (1)
Routine defence visits and exercises (3)
Local administrative decision (1)

Practise the day’s news

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

1Semicon 2.0 (India Semiconductor Mission)MCQ · 19 true or false · Mains
2Small Modular Reactors (BSMR-200, SMR-55) and Nuclear Energy MissionMCQ · 7 true or false
3Swadesh Darshan and PRASHADMCQ · 6 true or false
4Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023MCQ · 6 true or false

Keep reading

The day before

Tuesday, 3 February 2026Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G) · Minimum Support Price and CACP · PM Surya Ghar and 9 more

The day after

Thursday, 5 February 2026Four Labour Codes (in force 21 November 2025) · Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (ENPO Agreement) · PRITHVI (Prithvi Vigyan) Scheme and 9 more

All days

Practice · 4