The Daily Digest

UPSC

Namami Gange Programme

The Namami Gange Programme (NGP) has marked significant progress in its mission to rejuvenate the sacred River Ganga
Environmental Pollution & Degradation The Namami Gange Programme (NGP) has marked significant progress in its mission to rejuvenate the sacred River Ganga .
It was launched in 2014 with a Rs 20,000 crore budget until 2021 , and now extended to March 2026 with Rs 22,500 crore (total: Rs 42,500 crore).

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has completed more than a decade of irrigation-led agricultural transformation by expanding irrigation coverage, promoting water-use efficiency and supporting sustainable water man…
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has completed more than 10 years of advancing irrigation-led agricultural transformation in India.
About: Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana was launched in 2015 to enhance access to water for farming, expand the cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve water-use efficiency, and promote sustainable water…

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UPSC

Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan (DAJA) as the largest-ever tribal empowerment and outreach campaign.
Government Policies & Interventions The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan (DAJA), the largest-ever tribal empowerment campaign , reaching over 1 lakh tribal villages across 31…
It follows a camp-based, community-driven model, involving district administrations, youth volunteers, CSOs, and tribal leaders.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)

India relies heavily on edible oil imports, which met 56% of domestic demand (15.66 million tonnes) in 2023-24. To tackle this import dependence, the Government launched the National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO) throug…
Government Policies & Interventions For Prelims: Edible Oil , NMEO-Oil Palm , NMEO-Oilseeds , Yellow Revolution , WTO , Cooperatives , FPOs , Intercropping .
For Mains: Status of Oilseeds production, consumption and imports in India.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

World Bank Group Launches 1st Digital Strategy

The World Bank Group launched its first digital strategy to expand affordable internet access, strengthen digital services and skills, promote AI readiness and create jobs in developing countries.
Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology The World Bank Group (WBG) launched its first comprehensive Digital Strategy in Seoul, South Korea, to expand affordable digital connectivity, digital skills, artificial i…
Digital Divide: Over 2 billion people remained offline globally in 2025 , with internet usage at only 23% in low-income countries, compared to 94% in high-income countries.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Unlocking the Agricultural Potential of Forest Rights Act Lands

The Forest Rights Act, 2006, provides forest-dwelling communities with legal rights over forest land, but limited access to credit, irrigation and agricultural schemes restricts its potential
Government Policies & Interventions For Prelims: Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 , Millets, Gram Sabha , Kisan Credit Card , PM-KISAN , TRIFED For Mains: Forest Rights Act, 2006, Tribal rights, Sustainable agriculture and…
Despite millions of tribal and forest-dwelling families receiving land titles, a lack of convergence with mainstream agricultural schemes has kept these lands underutilized, hindering the true economic empowerment of ma…

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Farmers Producer Organisation

With increasing attention on the role of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in addressing the persistent marketing and income challenges of small farmers, critical reflections have emerged on the real progress, struct…
Government Policies & Interventions For Prelims : Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) , Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) , Cooperatives , e-NAM , Agri-tech Startups , For Mains : Status, concerns and way f…
The development of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) has been a critical step towards empowering small farmers in India.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Sankalp Se Siddhi: Mission Van Dhan

Sankalp Se Siddhi: Mission Van Dhan
Government Policies & Interventions Recently, the Minister of Tribal Affairs reviewed various initiatives under ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi-Mission Vand Dhan’, by TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of In…
The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) came into existence in 1987.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Reforming India’s Cybersecurity Architecture

CERT-In warns of AI-driven cyber threats, highlighting the need for proactive defence, continuous monitoring and stronger institutional coordination to secure digital infrastructure.
Role of External State & Non-State Actors Challenges to Internal Security Through Communication Networks This editorial is based on " Unknown vulnerabilities: on the cybersecurity advisory by CERT-In " published in The…
The article highlights that India must strengthen cyber resilience through continuous vulnerability assessment, timely patching and improved threat detection.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Centre Proposes Special Article 371 Framework for Ladakh

The Union Government has proposed a customized self-governance framework under Article 371 for Ladakh, offering constitutional safeguards for land, tribal culture, and local employment without extending the Sixth Schedu…
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released the official minutes of its meetings with civil society groups from Ladakh, revealing a breakthrough agreement.
The Centre has proposed a unique, customized model of self-governance under Article 371 for the Union Territory of Ladakh .

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Kamchatka Peninsula

Five earthquakes hit near the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia
Five earthquakes hit near the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, a tectonically active region, with the strongest measuring 7.4 in magnitude.
Kamchatka Peninsula: It lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire , positioned between the Sea of Okhotsk to the west and the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea to the east.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

H-1B Visa Fee Hike

The US President signed an executive order requiring companies to pay USD 100,000 per H-1B visa, a move likely to heavily impact tech firms reliant on skilled workers from India and China
Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests For Prelims: H-1B visa , STEM , Remittances , 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue , General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) , WTO , AI , Quantum Computing .
For Mains : Impact of global protectionism on Indian IT, and strategies for managing external economic shocks while boosting domestic skill development and innovation.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

A Secure Indian Ocean

A Secure Indian Ocean
Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests Recently, India has proposed to convene an open debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on enhancing maritime security.
The objective of this debate is to highlight effective international maritime cooperation to respond holistically to natural and manmade threats to maritime security.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology

Recently, India and the United States have taken a significant step towards strengthening their strategic partnership and driving technology and defense cooperation. Under the iCET, the two nations have unveiled a roadm…
Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests For Prelims: Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) , OpenRAN network technology , QUAD , NATO , AI , quantum computing , semiconductors F…
Under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) , the two nations have unveiled a roadmap for enhanced collaboration in high-technology areas.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

NISAR Satellite

The NASA-ISRO NISAR Earth observation satellite was launched by ISRO from Sriharikota
Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite , an Earth observation miss…
About: NISAR, jointly developed by ISRO and NASA, is the first satellite mission to use dual-frequency radar (L-band and S-band) from a single platform, with advanced microwave imaging capabilities including polarimetri…

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

India Calls for Stronger Safeguards Against WMD Proliferation

India called for stronger international safeguards against WMD proliferation, highlighting emerging technologies, non-state actors and the need for global cooperation
Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests Recently, India called for stronger safeguards against Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) proliferation and terrorist access to sensitive technolo…
India’s Position: India reaffirmed its commitment to the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) , emphasising stronger inte…

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022

Recently, the Government of India introduced in the Lok Sabha the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022.
Important International Institutions For Prelims: United Nations Security Council, Financial Action Task Force, Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty of 1968, Biological Weapons Convention of 1972, Chemical Weapons Conventio…
Recently, the Government of India introduced in the Lok Sabha the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

AI Standards Body and Agentic Misalignment Risks

Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI have reportedly begun discussions on creating a shared, industry-led AI standards body to address emerging AI risks.
Effects of Globalization on Indian Society For Prelims: Artificial Intelligence , Agentic Misalignment, Large Language Models , Phishing For Mains: Self-regulation vs statutory regulation of emerging technologies, India…
The discussions come amid growing concerns over agentic misalignment and the broader AI risk spectrum .

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Earthquake Strikes Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, a tectonically active region known for its volcanoes, mountain ranges and location along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Recently, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at a reported depth of 152 km.
Location: The Kamchatka Peninsula lies in Russia’s Far East, between the Sea of Okhotsk to the west and the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea to the east.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Strait of Hormuz

Under Operation Midnight Hammer, the US targeted major Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, which are central to Iran’s nuclear program. In retaliation, Iran’s parliament approved a proposal to clo…
Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests Under Operation Midnight Hammer , the US targeted three key Iranian nuclear facilities ( Natanz , Isfahan, and Fordow ).
In retaliation, Iran's parliament approved a proposal to close the Strait of Hormuz .

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

India Joins Artemis Accords

Recently, India's Prime Minister announced India's decision to join the Artemis Accords during the visit to the United States
Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology For Prelims: Artemis Accords , International Space Station , Outer Space Treaty of 1967 , United Nations , Space Launch System , Chandrayaan-3 mission , Gaganyaan Recently…
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will collaborate to send Indian astronauts, trained at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to the International…

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

LAHDC (Amendment) Regulation, 2026

The President promulgated the LAHDC (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, while the proposed UT-level elected body has sparked debate over the L-G’s final authority over legislative and regulatory decisions
Issues Relating to Development The President of India promulgated the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, extending Hill Councils to all eight districts of Ladakh.
Subsequently, 100 elected constituencies were notified across the eight councils.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

I2U2 Initiative

I2U2 initiative is a new grouping of India, Israel, USA and UAE. In the grouping’s name, ‘I2’ stands for India and Israel, whereas ‘U2’ stands for USA and the UAE.
Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests For Prelims: I2U2 initiative, Abraham Accords, QUAD For Mains: Groupings and Agreements including India and affecting India’s interest As part of…
Background: I2U2 was initially formed in October, 2021 following the Abraham Accords between Israel and the UAE, to deal with issues concerning maritime security , infrastructure and transport in the region.

drishtiias.com23d ago

UPSC

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is a US-led initiative that aims to strengthen economic partnership among participating countries to enhance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and comp…
Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests Bilateral Groupings & Agreements For Prelims: Indo-Pacific, Quad, Paris Agreement, CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements) For Mains…
This economic initiative came a day before the second in-person summit of the Quad leaders (India, the US, Australia and Japan) in Tokyo.

drishtiias.com23d ago

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