Blog

Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority

Governance

In News

• The Government of India, the Government of Nagaland, and representatives of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) have signed a historic agreement for the creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).

Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority

• FNTA will cover six districts — Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak and Shamator inhabited by eight major Naga tribes.
• Objective – The agreement provides for devolution of powers enhancing administrative and developmental autonomy.
• Mini-Secretariat – It is headed by an Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary-level officer.
• Significance – It aims to promote balanced regional development, financial autonomy, and participatory decision-making in a historically underdeveloped region.
• Note – However, the arrangement does not dilute Article 371(A) of the Constitution, which safeguards Naga customary practices, land rights, and social institutions.

Vizhinjam Port

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

News

• Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala has risen to the 83rd position globally in container handling, reflecting the rapid scale-up of India’s newest deep water transshipment hub.

Vizhinjam Port

• Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
• Key Features: One of the deepest ports in India.
  • Capable of handling Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs).
  • Developed under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model.
  • Significance: Efficient cargo movement, reduces India’s dependence on foreign ports like Colombo (Sri Lanka), Singapore, and UAE for transshipment, strengthens India’s maritime security

International Space Station (ISS)

(Science and Technology)

Context

• The International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled to be de-orbited in 2030, marking the end of nearly three decades of continuous human presence in space.

International Space Station (ISS)

• It is a modular, habitable, microgravity laboratory in low Earth orbit, orbiting 400 km above Earth.
• It was launched in 1998, and has been continuously inhabited since 2000, making it one of the longest-running human space missions in history.
• It is operated collaboratively by five major space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan) and CSA (Canada).

Key Features:

• It is the largest human-made structure in space, with a mass exceeding 400,000 kg, and a structure nearly 109 meters long.
• Power is supplied by solar arrays generating tens of kilowatts of electricity.
• The ISS plays a crucial role in studying the effects of long-term space radiation and microgravity on the human body, helping scientists understand bone loss, muscle atrophy, and immune system changes.

NDMA’s First-ever Guidelines For Identification of Disaster Victims

Syllabus: GS3/Disaster Management

In News

• Recently, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has released the country’s first-ever Standard Operating Procedure with guidelines for the identification of victims in the event of “mass fatality incidents”.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

• Headed by – Prime Minister of India.
• It is the apex body for Disaster Management in India.
• It was established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• Objective – It is responsible for formulating policies, plans, and guidelines for disaster management and promoting an ethos of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response.

CAR T-cell therapy

(Science and Tech)

In News

• Researchers at IIT Bombay addressed a critical challenge in CAR T-cell and other adoptive T-cell transfer (ACT) therapies.

T-cells

• They are white blood cells that act as the body’s frontline defenders, detecting and destroying infections or abnormal cells like cancer, and coordinating other immune cells to respond—making them crucial for immunotherapy.

CAR T-cell therapy

• It is an advanced treatment that modifies a patient’s T-cells to more effectively attack cancer.
• Doctors first collect T-cells from the patient’s blood and then introduce a gene that gives them special receptors called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs).
• These receptors function like GPS, directing the T-cells to locate and target cancer cells.
• After engineering, the T-cells are expanded in the lab and then infused back into the patient’s body.
• NexCAR19 is the world’s first humanised CAR-T therapy developed in India by ImmunoACT.

Benefits

• Targeted Precision: : CAR-T cell therapy Specifically attacks cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, reducing side effects compared to chemotherapy.
• Personalised Treatment: CAR-T cell therapy Uses the patient’s own T-cells, engineered to target their unique cancer, enhancing effectiveness.
• Long-Lasting Effects: Engineered T-cells can persist in the body, providing extended protection against cancer recurrence.
• Reduced Hospitalisation & Costs: Fewer hospital stays and less supportive care needed, leading to potential cost savings.
• Advances in Cancer Treatment: Opens new avenues in immunotherapy, expanding treatment options and research possibilities.
• Technological Evolution: Continuous development of CAR constructs allows targeting of diverse cancers and combination therapies.
• Affordability: Indigenous therapies like NexCAR19 in India make CAR-T treatment more accessible and cost-effective.

Agni-3 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile

Syllabus:GS3/Defence

In News

• India successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable Agni-3 ballistic missile from Chandipur, Odisha, with a strike range exceeding 3,000 km.

Agni-3 ballistic missile

• Developed by – Defence Research and Development Organisation.
• Strike range– 3,000 km.
• Uniqueness – It is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.

Agni

• It is India’s indigenously developed long-range missile system by DRDO
• Agni-I to Agni-IV: Range 700–3,500 km, payload 12–40 kt, developed in 1990s, deployed mid-2000s.
• Agni-V: Three-stage solid-fuel, MIRV-capable, range up to 5,000 km, potentially intercontinental (5,500+ km).
• Agni-P: Two-stage solid-fuel, weight 11,000 kg, range 1,000–2,000 km, incorporates advanced propulsion/navigation, can carry high-explosive, thermobaric, or nuclear warheads.

NAMASTE Scheme

(Schemes)

In News

• For the first time, the Union government has released nationwide enumeration data of waste-pickers under the NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme.

National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)

• Launched in – July 2023
• Financing – Central Sector Scheme
• Implemented by – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs,

Objectives:

• Zero fatalities in sanitation work.
• All sanitation operations to be performed by skilled workers.
• No direct contact with human faecal matter.
• Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers.

Key Interventions:

• Profiling: Digital profiling of Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
• Safety: Providing PPE kits, safety devices, and training to workers.
• Empowerment: Capital subsidy for purchasing sanitation machinery to become “sanipreneurs”.
• Health: Occupational safety training and health insurance.
• Significance: Aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and promotes the dignity and safety of sanitation workers.

Lake Urmia

Syllabus: GS1/Places in News

In News

• Iranian authorities have resorted to cloud seeding to induce artificial rainfall over the Lake Urmia basin amid Iran’s worst drought in decades.

Lake Urmia

• It is situated in the Azerbaijan region of northwestern Iran and lies between East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan provinces.
• High evaporation rates make it extremely saline.
• Uniqueness – It is the largest lake in the Middle East.
• Designated a Ramsar wetland and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the lake has shrunk dramatically since the 1990s.

Rafah border

(Places in news)

News

• Israel has reopened the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt for limited civilian movement after months of closure.
• The crossing has largely been closed since the Gazan side was captured by Israeli forces in May 2024.

Why is Rafah important to Gaza?

• Location: Rafah border is located on the Gaza–Egypt border, which was recognized by the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty.
• Significance: The Rafah Border Crossing or Rafah Crossing Point is the sole crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

FORGE Initiative

Syllabus: GS2/ IR

In News

• India has expressed support for the FORGE Initiative at the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by the United States in Washington DC.

FORGE Initiative

• It is a multilateral international cooperation framework aimed at de-risking global critical mineral supply chains by bringing together like-minded countries.
• It has been created as a successor to the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP).
• Significance – to reduce over-dependence on a few dominant suppliers, build trusted, transparent and resilient critical mineral ecosystems

Sarus Cranes Census data

Environment

In News

• The population of sarus cranes in Uttar Pradesh has gone up by 634 or 3.1% in a year, as per a government census.

Sarus crane

• It is the tallest flying bird in the world standing 152-156 cm tall with a wingspan of 240cm.
• Nature: It is a social creature, found mostly in pairs or small groups of three or four.
• It is Known to mate for life with a single partner, its breeding season coincides with heavy rainfall in monsoon.
• Habitat and Distribution: The Sarus habitat is outside protected areas, in natural wetlands with low water depth, marshy and fallow areas and agricultural fields.
• The Sarus crane has three disjunct populations in the Indian sub-continent, south-east Asia and northern Australia.
• In the Indian subcontinent, it is found in northern and central India, Terai Nepal and Pakistan.
• It was once a common site in the paddy fields of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Assam.
• But now it is mainly concentrated in Uttar Pradesh.
• Ecological Role : They play a vital role in ecological balance by controlling the population of harmful insects. Sarus is omnivorous, feeding on fish and insects, as well as roots and plants.
• Protection status : Listed in Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and as Vulnerable on IUCN Red List

Exercise KHANJAR

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The 13th edition of the India–Kyrgyzstan joint military exercise KHANJAR has begun in Sonitpur district of Assam.

Exercise KHANJAR

• It is an annual training event conducted alternately between India and Kyrgyzstan since 2011.
• Objective – to enhance interoperability between the Special Forces of both nations, with a focus on joint operations in urban warfare and counter-terrorism scenarios under the United Nations mandate.

Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)

(Welfare Schemes)

In Context

• A recent controversy erupted over alleged misuse of MPLADS funds and critics demanding the scheme should be discontinued.

Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)

• It is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 1993,
• Implementation – Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Objective: To enable Members of Parliament (MPs) to recommend works for the creation of durable community assets based on locally felt needs such as drinking water, sanitation, roads, public health infrastructure.
• Funds alloted: Each MP is entitled to ₹5 crore per year under MPLADS.
• It requires MPs to recommend at least 15% of funds for SC-inhabited areas and 7.5% for ST-inhabited areas annually.
• Non Lapsable Fund: MPLADS funds are non-lapsable, meaning unutilised funds are carried forward to subsequent years, ensuring continuity of projects.
• Geographical coverage: Lok Sabha MPs can recommend works within their constituencies, Rajya Sabha MPs within their state of election, and nominated MPs anywhere in the country.
• Exceptions: MPs may recommend up to ₹25 lakh per year outside their constituency/state, and up to ₹1 crore for an affected district during natural calamities.

Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, superseding the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026

• The rules have been notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and will come into full effect from April 1, 2026.
• The rules provide for the levy of environmental compensation based on the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle for non-compliance, including cases of operating without registration, false reporting, submission of forged documents or improper solid waste management practices.
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will prepare the relevant guidelines, while State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees will levy the environmental compensation.

Major Features

• Four-stream Segregation of Solid Waste at Source has been made mandatory under the SWM Rules, 2026.

1. Wet waste includes kitchen waste, vegetables, fruit peels, meat, flowers, etc., which shall be composted or processed through bio-methanation at the nearest facility.
2. Dry waste comprises plastic, paper, metal, glass, wood and rubber, etc., and shall be transported to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for sorting and recycling.
3. Sanitary waste includes used diapers, sanitary towels, tampons and condoms, etc., which shall be securely wrapped and stored separately.
4. Special care waste includes paint cans, bulbs, mercury thermometers and medicines, etc., which shall be collected by authorised agencies or deposited at designated collection centres

• Clear definition of Bulk Waste Generators: Bulk Waste Generators include entities with a floor area of 20,000 square metres or more, or water consumption of 40,000 litres per day or more, or solid waste generation of 100 kg per day or more.
• Faster Land Allocation for Waste Processing and Online Monitoring of Complete Solid Waste Management
• Duties of Local Bodies and Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs): Under the revised rules, local bodies must collect, segregate, and transport solid waste in coordination with Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).

New START Treaty

Syllabus: GS2/IR

In News

• Experts caution that the expiry of the New START Treaty would eliminate the last remaining legally binding constraint on the nuclear arsenals of the world’s two largest nuclear powers.

New START Treaty

• Abbreviation- Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

START-I treaty –

• It was signed between the US and the former USSR in 1991 and came into force in 1994.
• It limited each side to 6,000 nuclear warheads and 1,600 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) but expired in 2009.
• It was succeeded by the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT, also called the Treaty of Moscow) and later by the New START treaty (signed in 2010 & entered into force in 2011).

New START treaty

• It caps the number of deployed strategic warheads at 1,550 on each side, with no more than 700 deployed ground- or submarine-launched missiles and bomber planes, and 800 launchers.

Implications of Expiration

• Without a treaty, Russia and the US could freely expand their arsenals, risking a renewed nuclear arms race amid global tensions.
• The absence of a framework heightens nuclear risks and removes the transparency and stability that arms control agreements provide.

Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)

Syllabus: GS2/Governance/GS3(Economy)

In News

• PM VIKAS has allocated targets to train about 1.51 lakh beneficiaries through Project Implementing Agencies across States and UTs.

Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)

• Financing – Central Sector Scheme
• Implementation – Ministry of Minority Affairs
• It converges five erstwhile schemes vi ‘Seekho Aur Kamao’, ‘Nai Manzil’, ‘Nai Roshni’ and ‘USTTAD’ & ‘Hamari Dharohar’ .
• Aim – It focuses on upliftment of six notified minority communities through skill development; entrepreneurship and leadership of minority women; and education support for school dropouts.

Do you know?

• Six officially recognized minority groups in India —Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Zoroastrians (Parsis)—on socio-economic fronts.

India has Entered an Elite Group of Possessing SFDR Technology

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

In News

• DRDO successfully demonstrated Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, advancing India’s long-range air-to-air missile capabilities.

Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR)

• SFDR is a missile propulsion system that uses a ramjet engine to provide sustained thrus
• Unlike traditional rockets, it is an air-breathing system, meaning it does not carry an onboard oxidizer, using atmospheric oxygen instead.
• Since ramjets only function at high speeds, the missile is first launched using a nozzle-less solid booster to reach supersonic speeds (Mach 2+).

Strategic Significance for India

• Long-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (LRAAM): SFDR will power the Astra Mark-3, enabling it to intercept high-speed, maneuvering enemy aircraft at ranges exceeding 150–300 km.
• Expanded “No-Escape Zone”: Because the missile stays “powered” until the very end, it can perform high-G turns near the target, making it nearly impossible for an enemy jet to out-maneuver it.
• Surface-to-Air Application: It can be adapted for futuristic SAM systems (like the proposed SAM-X) to defend against hypersonic or highly agile cruise missiles.

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) has sanctioned ₹80,224.15 crore in loans for over 1.5 lakh projects, mobilising investments of ₹1.27 lakh crore since 2020.

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

• It is a central sector scheme
• Objective – to mobilize medium and long-term debt financing for the development of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.
• It focuses on strengthening agri-logistics, reducing post-harvest losses, promoting modern storage, processing and value-addition facilities and improving farm-gate level infrastructure for efficient supply chains.

2026 Delhi Declaration

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• India hosted the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers Meeting

India–Arab League Engagement

• The Arab League, officially known as the League of Arab States.
• It was established in Cairo in 194
• Member states – 22.
• The India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is the highest institutional mechanism guiding India’s engagement with the Arab League.
• India holds observer status in the Arab League, which represents countries across West Asia and North Africa.

Highlights of the Delhi Declaration

• The Delhi Declaration reiterates support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan, Libya and Somalia.
• Sudan: UAE is accused of backing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has fought the Sudanese state since 2023 and formed a parallel government in 2025; the Declaration aligns with Sudan and condemns civilian atrocities.
• Somalia: Israel alone recognises Somaliland; UAE’s 2025 recognition of Somaliland passports diverges from Arab League consensus. India firmly rejected recognition and backed Somalia’s territorial integrity.
• Yemen: India and the Arab League explicitly condemned Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, marking a shift from India’s earlier indirect language post-2023.
• Support for Yemen’s unity aligns with Saudi actions against the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council.

Gyan Bharatam

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

In News

• Over 7.5 lakh manuscripts have been digitized under Gyan Bharatam, of which 1.29 lakh manuscripts are accessible on the Gyan Bharatam Portal.

Gyan Bharatam Mission

• Purpose – The mission aims to preserve and protect manuscripts found across the country.
• Objective: To undertake the “survey, documentation and conservation” of more than one crore manuscript heritage lying with academic institutions, museums, libraries, etc.
• Significance of Mission: Preserving historical value, unveiling ancient Indian knowledge to the world, ensuring longevity and round-the-clock access to Manuscripts, etc.

Basic terms – Manuscripts

• A manuscript is a handwritten composition on paper, bark, palm leaf etc. dating back at least 75 years that has significant scientific, historical or aesthetic value.
• g. Bakhshali manuscript (Third or fourth century A.D.), an ancient Indian mathematical text written on birch bark, is considered to be the earliest recorded example of use of zero.
• India possesses an estimated 10 million manuscripts in 80 ancient scripts like Brahmi, Kushan, Gaudi, Lepcha, and Maithili.

Other initiatives for manuscript conservation in India

• National Manuscripts Mission (NMM): Launched In 2003, by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to locate and preserve manuscripts.
• National Library of India, Kolkata: It has about 3600 rare and historically important manuscripts.
• Asiatic Society of Bengal: Founded on Jan. 15, 1784, by Sir William Jones, undertakes digitization of ancient manuscripts.

National Integration Council

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Recently, there was a demand for the revival of the National Integration Council during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha.

National Integration Council

• Established in – 1961.
• Objective: To promote national integration, communal harmony, and unity in diversity, and to address issues that threaten the country’s social cohesion.
• Composition: Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of States and UTs, Leaders of major political parties, Eminent public figures, thinkers, and representatives of civil society.

Key Functions:

• Discusses and recommends measures to combat communalism, casteism, regionalism, separatism, and extremism.
• Advises the government on policies to strengthen constitutional values, secularism, and social harmony.
• Acts as a forum for consensus-building on sensitive national issues.
• Nature: It is an advisory body (not statutory, not constitutional).
• Its recommendations are non-binding.
• Meetings: Not held regularly; convened as and when required depending on national circumstances.
• The National Integration Council has not had a meeting since 2013.

Bharat-VISTAAR

Syllabus: GS2/Governance; GS3/Agriculture

Context

• The Union budget 2026-27 has proposed ‘Bharat-VISTAAR’ (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources)

Bharat-VISTAAR

• It is a multilingual AI tool that aims to provide information to farmers in their own language on crop planning, packages of practices and pests, weather forecasts, markets, scheme information, eligibility, application, and grievance.
• It shall integrate the AgriStack portals and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) package on agricultural practices with AI systems.
• Significance – This will enhance farm productivity, will lead to better farmer decision making and reduce risk through customized advisory support for the farmer.
• The Finance Minister allocated Rs 150 crore for the Bharat-VISTAAR for the next financial year (2026-27).

Additional information – AgriStack portal

• It is a centralized digital ecosystem developed by the Government of India to streamline agricultural services.
• It creates a unique Farmer ID (similar to Aadhaar) that links a farmer’s identity, land records, and crop data into one secure digital “passport”.

Core Components

• Farmer Registry: A database providing unique digital identities to farmers.
• Crop Sown Registry: A standardized national database tracking seasonal crop patterns.
• Geo-referenced Village Maps: Precision mapping that links land parcels with geographic coordinates.

Key Benefits

• Direct Benefits: Faster access to PM-KISAN subsidies, crop insurance (PMFBY), and Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans.
• Paperless Access: Once registered, land records are digitally verified, reducing the need for physical documents in future applications.
• Market Connectivity: Direct links to buyers and real-time market price updates via platforms like e-NAM.

GOBARdhan Scheme

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The GOBARdhan scheme is contributing significantly to the rural economy by creating employment opportunities, increasing farmers’ income, developing a manure and bio-energy supply chain, and supporting rural infrastructure development.

Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) scheme

• It was launched in 2018 under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)
• Objective – It aims to positively impact village cleanliness and generate wealth and energy from cattle and organic wast
• Significance – The main focus of GOBAR-Dhan is to keep villages clean, increase the income of rural households, and generate energy and organic manure from cattle waste.

Carbon Capture Push in Union Budget 2026

(Environment)

Context

• The Union Budget 2026–27 announced a ₹20,000 crore push for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) over five years to support India’s climate transition.

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)

• CCUS refers to technologies that capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and power generation.
• The captured CO₂ is either stored underground in geological formations or utilised in products such as chemicals, fuels, or construction materials.

CCUS supports India’s commitment to:

• Achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
• To reduce emission from industries such as steel, aluminium, cement and fertilizers.
• If these industries decarbonise their production processes, they may escape the tax burden under Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

India’s Emission Reductions Commitments

• India has launched the LiFE mission (Lifestyle for Environment) and updated its NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) under the Paris Agreement.

Under its updated NDC 2022, India pledges:

1. 45% reduction in emissions intensity (amount of CO₂ per unit of GDP) by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
2. 50% of installed electricity capacity will come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
3. Creating a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (GtCO₂e) by increasing forests and tree cover.

Thaipusam

Culture

News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted everyone with a blessed Thaipusam.

Thaipusam

• The name “Thaipusam” is a combination of “Thai” (the Tamil month) and “Poosam,” the star at its highest point during the festival.
• It is celebrated on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai.
• It is a Hindu festival celebrated to honour Lord Murugan (also known as Lord Kartikeya), the Hindu god of war, victory, and wisdom, while also being a symbol of courage, determination, and spiritual growth.
• It is widely celebrated by the Tamil community in Tamil Nadu India and across the world, especially in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia.

India–US Signed Trade Agreement

(IR)

In News

• India and the United States have announced a new trade deal, lowering tariffs and setting ambitious targets for bilateral trade.
• In August 2025, the US had levied tariffs up to 50% (25% reciprocal + 25% additional duty) linked to India’s Russian oil imports.

About the India–US Trade Deal

• Tariff reduction: US reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods reduced from 25% to 18%, effective immediately.
• Additional 25% duty withdrawn, which had earlier been imposed.
• US claims on broader commitments: The US asserts the deal includes zero tariffs and non‑tariff barriers for US goods and that India committed to buy over $500 billion of US products across energy, tech, agriculture, coal,
• India will progressively reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers against US goods.

Importance of the Deal

• It strengthens India–US ties amid global geopolitical shifts, especially regarding China.
• Helps counter China’s dominance in global trade and manufacturing.
• Lower tariffs could improve competitiveness for Indian exporters (farmers, MSMEs, entrepreneurs) and attract investment.
• This would support Make, Design and Innovate in India for the world.
• Diversifying oil imports may reduce India’s dependence on Russia, though at higher costs.
• It would help stabilize the rupee amid global economic uncertainty.
• It will position India as a key partner in US-led trade and security frameworks.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission

Government Policy & Intervention

Context

• The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY NRLM) is transitioning into a new phase, often referred to as NRLM 2.0, and prepares for the next five-year cycle (2026–27 to 2030–31).

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana

• Launch: It was launched in 2010 by restructuring the earlier Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), the initiative was renamed in 2016 as Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• Financing – It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Aim – to reduce rural poverty through self-employment and skilled wage employment.
• Women Centric Model: The mission promotes economic independence by linking women to credit, markets, and technology through SHGs and federations.