Governance, Housing & Urban Development

PMAY-Urban 2.0 Housing Approval

• Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs cleared construction of 3.53 lakh+ urban houses .

• Objective: Accelerate urban affordable housing , reduce housing deficit, and support inclusive urbanisation.

• Exam linkage: Urban poverty alleviation, housing for all, Centre–State implementation architecture.

Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Agreement

• Tripartite pact signed among Union Government, Nagaland Government, and ENPO.

• Aims to address regional aspirations through decentralised administrative autonomy without altering state boundaries.

• Relevance: Federal negotiations, conflict resolution through institutional mechanisms.

Industry, Infrastructure & Manufacturing

PLASTINDIA 2026 Exhibition

• Held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (5–10 February 2026) .

• One of the world’s largest plastics industry platforms for technology, trade, and innovation.

• Exam focus: Industrial exhibitions, manufacturing competitiveness, polymer sector growth.

POWERGRID Subsidiary Merger

• Ministry of Corporate Affairs approved consolidation of 17 wholly owned subsidiaries .

• Objective: Improve operational efficiency, financial optimisation, and infrastructure coordination.

• Relevant for: PSU restructuring, corporate governance reforms.

Science, Technology & Innovation Ecosystem

Airbus Centre of Excellence at Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (Vadodara)

• Focus on aerospace skill development, research, and industry–academia collaboration .

• Strengthens domestic aviation manufacturing talent pipeline.

Startup India Expanded to Deep-Tech

• Formal recognition of deep technology startups (AI, semiconductors, advanced materials, space tech).

• Addresses long gestation, high R&D costs, and patient capital requirements.

• Exam angle: Innovation policy, technology sovereignty, startup ecosystem evolution.

Energy & Climate Policy

NITI Aayog Clean Energy Blueprint (Andhra Pradesh)

• Draft roadmap to make Andhra Pradesh a major renewable energy hub by 2035 .

• Emphasises solar, wind, green hydrogen, and grid modernisation.

• GS-III relevance: Energy transition, state-level climate strategy.

Internal Security & Digital Governance

Delhi Police “Operation Shastra”

• Citywide enforcement drive targeting misuse of social media for intimidation and misinformation.

• Illustrates evolving law-enforcement response to digital threats .

Education, Global Rankings & Social Sector

Delhi Ranked Most Affordable Global Student City

• Reflects cost advantage in higher education, living expenses, and accessibility.

• Useful for urban competitiveness and international student mobility.

Global Teacher Prize 2026

• Awarded to Indian educator Rouble Nagi at the World Government Summit.

• Recognises innovation in community-centric education.

Sports & Inclusion

Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026

• Hosted in New Delhi ; India maintained strong medal performance.

• Relevant for sports infrastructure and shooting excellence.

Para Throwball National Federation Cup

• Jharkhand women’s team secured gold.

• Demonstrates progress in inclusive sports participation.

Banking, Finance & Regulation

RBI Digital Fraud Compensation Framework

• Provides compensation up to ₹25,000 for victims of small-value digital frauds.

• Reinforces consumer protection in digital payments ecosystem.

Collateral-Free MSME Loan Limit Doubled

• Limit raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh (effective April 1, 2026).

• Supports credit flow and entrepreneurship in micro and small enterprises.

Removal of FPI Investment Cap under VRR

• Eliminates ₹2.5 lakh crore ceiling.

• Intended to attract stable foreign capital into Indian debt markets.

Blackstone Approved to Acquire Stake in Federal Bank

• RBI permitted acquisition of up to 99% stake .

• Signals openness to institutional investment under regulatory oversight.

International Cooperation & Multilateral Engagement

India’s Contribution to UN Regular Budget

• Government paid USD 35.18 million for 2026.

• Demonstrates commitment to multilateral institutions.

New York City Joined WHO GOARN

• Enhances global outbreak surveillance and emergency response coordination.

Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting (USA)

• India participated to strengthen supply-chain security for lithium, rare earths, and strategic minerals.