UPSC current affairs · Saturday

Current Affairs, 7 March 2026

4 issues picked from 35 PIB releases · about 2 minutes each · written by UPSC Grade, each fact checked against its PIB release or by a second model

How to readRead “Why in news” and “What it is” for every issue. Open For Prelims or For Mains for the exam you’re preparing for, then Test yourself at the foot of each card. Half the news questions in Prelims are answered from background, not the news itself.

In 60 seconds

National Green Hydrogen Mission (SIGHT Mode 2B). MNRE sets emission limits defining 'green' ammonia and methanol under the Green Hydrogen Mission.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). PMBJP now has over 18,000 Kendras selling cheap generic medicines; target is 25,000 by March 2027.
Semicon 2.0 (India Semiconductor Mission). Under Semicon 2.0, chip-design training will expand from 315 to 500 universities.
Advance Authorisation and DFIA Schemes. DGFT automatically extends export obligation deadlines to August 31, 2026 for Advance Authorisation and EPCG holders.

Scheme

National Green Hydrogen Mission (SIGHT Mode 2B)

GS3 EnergyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 27 February 2026 MNRE notified Green Ammonia and Green Methanol Standards for India; the release was issued on 7 March 2026.
What it is: The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to make India a global hub for producing, using and exporting green hydrogen and its derivatives. SIGHT (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition) is its incentive programme. Mode 2B supports green hydrogen production at refineries.

Objective: NGHM aims to make India a global hub for production, usage and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
SIGHT: SIGHT stands for Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition. Mode 2B covers refinery green hydrogen production.
Implementation model: Projects run on Build Own Operate basis through private developers, who make project-specific investments.
Nodal ministry: The Mission is run by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Outlay: The Mission was launched in 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore.
Targets: The Mission targets 5 MMT of green hydrogen capacity, backed by 125 GW of dedicated renewable energy capacity.
Certification portal: The GHCI portal, developed by MNRE, supports certification and compliance under the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India.
Electrolyser manufacturing: Incentives have gone to 15 companies for 3,000 MW per annum of indigenous electrolyser capacity.
State policies: Six states have notified dedicated green hydrogen policies, seven have integrated hydrogen into existing policies, and four more are finalising theirs.
Mission outlay: The Mission has an outlay of ₹19,744 crore.
2030 target: The Mission targets at least 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen a year by 2030.
Who ran the bidding: SECI ran competitive bidding for supply of green ammonia to fertiliser units.
Allocation: About 7,24,000 tonnes per annum was allocated to developers, linked to 13 fertiliser units.
Prices: The lowest discovered price is about ₹49.75 per kg, in a range of ₹49.75 to 64.74 per kg.
Forex savings: Savings of about $2.5 billion over 10 years are expected by replacing imported grey ammonia in non-urea fertiliser units.
Notifying body: MNRE notified the standards on 27 February 2026 under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Renewable energy definition: Renewable energy includes stored or grid-banked renewable electricity.
Verification: Measurement, monitoring, verification and certification methods will be issued separately by MNRE.
Project cost: The jetty is approved at an estimated ₹797.17 crore.
Capacity: The facility will handle 4.0 million tonnes per annum.
Port support: The Port Authority gives capital support of 20% of the cost, ₹159.43 crore, during construction.
Timeline: The project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
Other cargo: The jetty will also handle other liquid cargo to ensure use during the early phase of the green hydrogen sector.

Don’t confuse with Green vs grey hydrogen: Green hydrogen is made by electrolysis of water using renewable power. Grey hydrogen is made from natural gas or other fossil fuels and emits CO2.

Don’t confuse with BOO vs BOT: In BOO the developer keeps ownership of the asset. In BOT, it is transferred to the authority after a fixed period.

Don’t confuse with SIGHT vs the Mission: SIGHT is the incentive programme within the Mission, not the Mission itself.

Don’t confuse with Green vs grey ammonia: Green ammonia is made from hydrogen produced by electrolysis using renewable power. Grey ammonia is made from fossil fuels, and India imports it for fertilisers.

Don’t confuse with Biogenic vs non-biogenic emissions: The thresholds count only non-biogenic greenhouse gas emissions, not those from biological sources.

Don’t confuse with Green hydrogen vs green ammonia: Ammonia is a derivative made from green hydrogen. It is easier to store and ship.

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

Replaces fossil-fuel-based grey hydrogen in refineries, cutting emissions and import dependence.
Builds domestic demand that supports energy security and net-zero goals.
Cuts import dependence on fossil fuels and ammonia, and supports industrial decarbonisation.
Certification builds buyer trust and prepares Indian green hydrogen for export markets.
Replaces imported grey ammonia, saving foreign exchange and improving fertiliser supply security.
Decarbonises a hard-to-abate sector and builds a domestic green hydrogen market.
Gives industry and investors clarity and supports exports of green fuels.
Helps decarbonise fertilizers, shipping, power and heavy industry.
Export logistics for green hydrogen and ammonia support the Mission's export-hub goal.
Links Odisha's emerging production clusters to global markets and attracts investment and jobs in eastern India.

Problems

Green hydrogen costs more than grey hydrogen, so refineries depend on incentives.
Needs large supply of cheap renewable power and electrolyser capacity.
Green hydrogen costs more than grey hydrogen, so demand depends on subsidies and mandates.
Needs large renewable capacity, electrolysers, storage and transport infrastructure.
Green ammonia must reach a price that fertiliser units and subsidy budgets can sustain against grey ammonia.
Large renewable power, electrolysers and water are needed to deliver the allocated volumes.
Certification methodologies are still to be issued, leaving some uncertainty.
Export buyers may apply different standards, so mutual recognition is needed.
Demand is uncertain in the early phase, so the jetty must also carry other liquid cargo.
Handling hydrogen derivatives needs specialised safety systems, and green hydrogen costs remain high.

Way forward

Scale up domestic electrolyser manufacturing and renewable capacity.
Create demand through purchase obligations and long-term offtake in refineries and fertiliser.
Align state policies with the Mission and build hubs with shared infrastructure.
Create demand through offtake obligations and mutual recognition of certification abroad.
Keep long-term offtake contracts and extend them to other hard-to-abate sectors such as refineries and steel.
Build domestic electrolyser manufacturing and renewable capacity.
Issue the measurement and certification framework quickly.
Seek recognition of the standards with major importing markets.
Match port capacity with production clusters and firm offtake agreements.
Set safety and certification standards for handling hydrogen derivatives.

Put in your answer

Energy security link: Domestic green hydrogen is expected to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and support net-zero objectives.

Import substitution example: Green ammonia supply agreements of 6.7 lakh MTPA for 11 fertiliser plants reduce import dependence.

Industry example: JSW commissioned a 3,600 MTPA green hydrogen plant in November 2025.

Forex savings: About $2.5 billion saved over 10 years by substituting imported grey ammonia in non-urea units.

Target sectors: Standards aim to decarbonise fertilizers, shipping, power and heavy industry.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 21

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

1.The National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched in 2023 with an outlay of about ₹19,744 crore.
2.The Mission aims for 5 MMT of annual green hydrogen production capacity, supported by 125 GW of dedicated renewable energy capacity.
3.The Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India has been developed by the Ministry of Power.
4.Under the Mission, incentives have been awarded to 15 companies for 3,000 MW per annum of domestic electrolyser manufacturing capacity.
5.Agreements have been signed for the supply of green ammonia to 11 fertiliser plants under the Mission.
6.Contracts for 30,000 MTPA of green hydrogen supply have been awarded to refineries including IOCL, BPCL, HPCL and NRL.
7.The Mission targets about 5 million tonnes of annual carbon emission reduction.
8.Six states have notified dedicated green hydrogen policies, and all other states have integrated hydrogen into their existing policies.
9.The National Green Hydrogen Mission has an outlay of ₹19,744 crore.
10.The Mission targets at least 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen production per annum by 2030.
11.The competitive bidding for green ammonia supply to fertiliser units was conducted by NTPC Limited.
12.The green ammonia agreements exchanged have a tenure of 10 years.
13.The expected foreign exchange savings arise from replacing imported grey ammonia in urea-based fertiliser units.
14.SIGHT is the programme under the Mission that incentivises green hydrogen production through transparent competitive bidding.
15.The lowest discovered price of green ammonia in the bidding was about ₹49.75 per tonne.
16.The Green Ammonia and Green Methanol Standards for India were notified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
17.The emission limit for green methanol is the same as that for green ammonia.
18.The emission thresholds are calculated as an average over the preceding 12-month period.
19.Carbon dioxide for green methanol may be sourced only from biogenic sources.
20.Renewable electricity stored in an energy storage system or banked with the grid counts as renewable energy for producing green ammonia and methanol.
21.The notification itself prescribes the detailed certification methodology, and tenders issued earlier must be re-aligned to the standards.

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

Source: PIB, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, 7 Mar, 11:00 IST · Release 285307

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)

GS2 Health schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 7 March 2026, the 8th Janaushadhi Diwas was observed at the end of Janaushadhi Saptah 2026, and PIB published a explainer on PMBJP, which now has over 18,000 Kendras.
What it is: PMBJP is a scheme of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It sells quality generic medicines at much lower prices through Jan Aushadhi Kendras. The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) is the implementing agency.

Implementing agency: PMBI under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, runs the scheme.
Quality assurance: Medicines come only from WHO-GMP compliant manufacturers, and each batch is tested in NABL-accredited labs.
Target: 25,000 Kendras by March 2027 through a franchise-based model.
Price advantage: JAK medicines are about 50% to 80% cheaper than equivalent branded alternatives.
Generic prescribing rule: Paragraph 1.5 of the 2002 Indian Medical Council Regulations requires physicians to prescribe drugs by generic names, legibly and preferably in capital letters.

Don’t confuse with Normal vs special incentive: Normal incentive is up to Rs 5 lakh (20% of monthly purchases, cap Rs 20,000 a month); the special incentive is a separate one-time Rs 2 lakh for reimbursing furniture and IT equipment.

Don’t confuse with PMBJP vs Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: PMBJP sells cheap generic medicines through outlets; PM-JAY is a health insurance scheme for hospitalisation.

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 Headquarters, 7 Mar, 13:49 IST · Release 285315

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Semicon 2.0 (India Semiconductor Mission)

GS3 Science and technologyGS3 EconomyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 7 March 2026, the Ministry of Electronics & IT said Delhi-NCR institutions are training students in chip design under the Chips to Startups (C2S) programme of the India Semiconductor Mission. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the EDA programme will grow from 315 to 500 universities under Semicon 2.0.
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, 7 Mar, 13:38 IST · Release 285313

Issue page →

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

Scheme

Advance Authorisation and DFIA Schemes

GS3 Economy · Foreign tradePrelims and Mains

Why in news: On March 6, 2026, DGFT issued a Public Notice automatically extending the Export Obligation period to August 31, 2026 for certain Advance Authorisations and EPCG Authorisations. It was announced on March 7, 2026, citing disruptions to global shipping and supply chains.
What it is: The Advance Authorisation and Duty-Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) schemes let exporters import inputs duty-free if the inputs are physically incorporated in export products. DGFT runs them under the Foreign Trade Policy. Authorisations follow Standard Input Output Norms (SION), and sector-specific Norms Committees fix norms where none exist.

Administered by: DGFT runs both the Advance Authorisation and DFIA schemes under the Foreign Trade Policy.
What the schemes allow: Duty-free import of inputs that are physically incorporated in export products.
Basis of authorisation: Authorisations are generally issued against notified SION. Where SION is absent, self-declared norms are examined and finalised by Norms Committees.
Norms Committees: Seven are operational under DGFT. They include technical authorities and domain experts from relevant Ministries.
Capacity increase: Ten more technical members were nominated, raising Technical Authorities from 12 to 22.
Outcome: From January to 7 April 2026, 38 meetings took up 3,925 cases and disposed of 1,770.
No application or fee: Exporters need not apply or pay any composition fee.
Schemes covered: Applies to Advance Authorisation, including Annual Requirement and Special Advance Authorisation, and to EPCG.
Compliance check: DGFT Regional Authorities verify EO compliance when issuing the EODC, or at closure or regularisation.

Don’t confuse with Advance Authorisation vs DFIA: Both allow duty-free import of inputs for exports under DGFT. DFIA is a separate authorisation scheme, so do not treat the two names as the same thing.

Don’t confuse with SION vs ad-hoc norms: SION are notified standard norms. Ad-hoc norms are fixed by Norms Committees when no SION exists.

Don’t confuse with Advance Authorisation vs EPCG: Advance Authorisation covers duty-free import of inputs used in export products. EPCG covers import of capital goods against an export obligation.

Don’t confuse with EO extension vs composition fee: The new extension is automatic and free. The existing FTP route lets exporters seek extensions on paying a composition fee.

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: Temporary export obligation extension to 31 August 2026 on an issue on file; time-bound relief, so unlikely to be asked.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 7 Mar, 18:18 IST · Release 285330

Issue page →

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

Quick facts

The 70th Commission on the Status of Women session is at UN Headquarters, New York; MoS Savitri Thakur attends 9-12 March 2026, with an IBSA Fund side event.

Source: PIB, 7 Mar

What we left out: 30 of 35 releases

Ceremonies and campaigns (5)
Condolences and greetings (4)
Same issue as another release (6)
Speeches without a decision (7)
Hackathons and events (1)
Seminars and workshops (4)
Routine defence exercises (1)
Political statements (2)

Practise the day’s news

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

1National Green Hydrogen Mission (SIGHT Mode 2B)MCQ · 21 true or false
2Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)MCQ · 8 true or false
3Semicon 2.0 (India Semiconductor Mission)MCQ · 19 true or false · Mains

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