Southwest Monsoon Ends with 12% Deficit

Geography

Context

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) India’s 2026 southwest monsoon ended with 759.4 mm of rain, 12.6% below the 868.6 mm normal.

Southwest Monsoon

Onset and Retreat: The monsoon season in India generally starts in early June and lasts until September.
The onset of the monsoon is marked by the arrival of the southwest monsoon winds, which bring moisture-laden air from the Indian Ocean.
The withdrawal or retreat of the monsoon typically begins in October.
The northeast monsoon, occurring from October to December, brings rainfall to parts of southern India.
Monsoon Dynamics: Factors such as the El Niño and La Niña phenomena can influence the strength and distribution of the monsoon.
Agricultural Impact: The success of the monsoon directly influences crop yields and, consequently, the overall economy of the country.

Connect with the basics- Difference between El Niño and La Niña

Feature	El Niño (Warm Phase)	La Niña (Cold Phase)
Meaning	Spanish for “Little Boy”	Spanish for “Little Girl”
Ocean Temp.	Abnormal warming of eastern Pacific	Abnormal cooling of eastern Pacific
Trade Winds	Weaken or reverse direction	Become unusually strong
Indian Monsoon	Weakens monsoon; often leads to droughts	Strengthens monsoon; brings heavy rainfall
Winter in India	Generally warmer/milder winters	Severely cold winters in North India
Frequency	Occurs every 2–7 years; lasts 9–12 months	Occurs every 2–7 years; can last 1–3 years

Sengol

History

News

The newly released NCERT Class 9 Social Science textbook, Understanding Society and Beyond – Part 2, shows the Sengol as a symbol of righteous governance.

Sengol (or Chenkol)

Sengol/Chenkol: Traditional Tamil royal sceptre, symbolising righteousness (dharma), justice, legitimate authority and accountable governance.
Origin: Tamil Nadu; associated with the ceremonial traditions of Tamil rulers.
Historical associations: Linked with the Cholas, Madurai Nayakas (including the Meenakshi tradition) and the Sethupatis of Ramnad, who received ritually sanctified sceptres from Rameswaram temple priests.
Symbolism: Represents the ruler’s duty, service, ethical conduct and responsibility towards the people.
1947 association: According to the NCERT/Union Ministry of Culture account, Shaivite Adheenam saints presented a Sengol to Jawaharlal Nehru around Independence as a symbol of the transfer of authority from British rule to independent India.
Historical debate: Historians, including Rajmohan Gandhi, have questioned whether the Sengol was formally recognised as the official symbol of the transfer of power, noting the absence of such a record in Nehru’s and C. Rajagopalachari’s papers/writings.
Significance: Illustrates the idea of ethical and dharmic kingship in Tamil political-cultural traditions.

Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme

Economy

News

The Ministry of Textiles has extended the RoSCTL Scheme for exports of apparel/garments and made-ups for a further term of three months, from 1st October to 31st December 2026.

Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme

Launched: 2019, Ministry of Textiles.
Objective: Rebates embedded/unrefunded State and Central taxes & levies on exported textile products that are not covered under other schemes.
Principle: Zero-rating of exports → ensures taxes embedded in exported products are remitted/refunded.
Focus: Supports apparel and made-up exports, particularly MSME exporters.

Importance:

Enhances global competitiveness of India’s labour-intensive textile sector.
Supports MSME participation in global markets.
Promotes a dispersed manufacturing ecosystem across regions.
Provides policy continuity and predictability to exporters.

ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026)

Defence

News

The Second Edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) commenced at Subic Bay, Philippines.

ASEAN–India Maritime Exercise

AIME: ASEAN–India Maritime Exercise; brings together Indian Navy and ASEAN maritime forces.
Theme: “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea.”
Objective: Enhance mutual understanding, cooperation, operational coordination and interoperability.
India’s Participation – INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish participated in AIME-2026.

Significance:

Strengthens India–ASEAN maritime cooperation.
Supports India’s Act East Policy.
Advances MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
Promotes a free, open and cooperative maritime environment in the Indo-Pacific.

Increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi crops

Economy

News

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2027-28.

Minimum Support Prices (MSPs)

Definition – It is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
Announcement and Recommendation – The Cabinet Committee of Economic

Affairs announces the MSP at the start of each sowing season, taking into account the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)

Significance – MSP protects the producer- farmers against distress sale during bumper production years.

Crops Covered

The Centre announces the MSP (which is not legally guaranteed) for 22 mandated crops and Fair & Remunerative Price for sugarcane.

These include

14 kharif crops – paddy, jowar, bajra, maize, ragi, tur/arhar, moong, urad, groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, sesamum, niger seed, cotton,
6 rabi crops – wheat, barley, gram, masur/lentil, rapeseed and mustard, and safflower
2 commercial crops – Jute and Copra

Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane

Recommended by – Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
Objective – to assure margins on account of profit and risk to farmers, irrespective of the fact whether sugar mills generate profit or not.

SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

Polity

Context

The Calcutta High Court has observed that casteist abuses on social media can attract the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, saying the “public view” under the Act cannot be confined to physical venues only.

SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

Enacted: 1989; came into force in 1990.
Aim: Prevent atrocities against SCs/STs and provide speedy justice, relief and rehabilitation.
Key features:
- Defines and penalises specific atrocities.
- Special/Exclusive Special Courts for speedy trials.
- Protection and rights for victims and witnesses.
- Relief and rehabilitation for victims.
2015 Amendment: Expanded offences and strengthened victim/witness safeguards.
2018 Amendment: No preliminary enquiry for FIR registration and no prior approval for arrest under the Act.
Significance: Legal safeguard against caste-based violence and discrimination.

‘Beamline for Schools’ Competition

Science and Technology

Context

A group of Indian school students is among the five winning teams of the 13th edition of the ‘Beamline for Schools’ competition.

Beamline for Schools Competition

Organised by: CERN for high-school students worldwide.
Aim: Allows students to conduct experiments using a particle beamline.
Beamline: Facility providing high-energy beams of subatomic particles for experiments.
Example experiment: Study pion charge exchange—conversion of charged pions into neutral pions when interacting with light atoms like lithium and beryllium.
Pions: Subatomic particles with positive, negative or zero charge.

CERN

Full form: European Organization for Nuclear Research.
Location: Near Geneva, Switzerland, Franco-Swiss border.
Established: 1954 for peaceful cooperation in fundamental research.
Governance: Managed by Member States through the CERN Council.
LHC: World’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
Higgs boson: Major role in its 2012 discovery, supporting the Higgs mechanism of particle mass.

Bond Yield

Economy

Context

The yield on the 30-year US Treasury bond hit the highest level in around 25 years.

About

Meaning: Return an investor expects from holding a bond.
Inverse relationship: Bond Price ↑ → Yield ↓; Bond Price ↓ → Yield ↑.
Rise in yield: Usually indicates investors demand higher returns, often due to inflation concerns, higher interest-rate expectations or increased government borrowing.

Impact of higher yields:

Increases government borrowing costs.
Can attract capital towards bonds, affecting capital flows and exchange rates.
Higher benchmark yields can raise borrowing costs globally.