PM CARES Corpus Grows 25.8% to ₹8,453 Cr, Utilisation at 0.01% of Available Funds

MHA Extends AFSPA in Parts of Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal for 6 Months from Oct 1

The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in specified areas of Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh for six months from October 1, 2026. Key data for prelims: In Manipur, 13 police stations across 5 districts are excluded from the disturbed area declaration; in Nagaland, AFSPA applies to 9 districts. This news is crucial for understanding the balance between security and civil liberties in disturbed areas.

Jal Jeevan Mission in J&K: House Committee Flags GI to HDPE Pipe Switch & PRI Sidelining in 1,252-Page Report

The J&K House Committee report exposes systemic failures in Jal Jeevan Mission implementation, including negligence in oversight, a controversial switch from GI to HDPE pipes, and sidelining of gram panchayats. Critical for understanding governance deficits in flagship schemes and the importance of monitoring mechanisms.

MoTA Directs States for Jan Sunwai Camps at Adi Sewa Kendras Ahead of Independence Day

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has directed all states to hold 'Jan Sunwai' camps at Adi Sewa Kendras from August 13-15 for doorstep delivery of tribal welfare schemes. This initiative is part of the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, launched in September 2025, aiming to build grassroots tribal leadership. This is a crucial governance push for tribal welfare, linking directly to schemes like PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA.

IYRP 2026: Rangelands Covering 50% Earth; Need for Portable Governance for India's Pastoralists

2026 is International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP). The article examines challenges pastoral communities face due to fixed-address welfare delivery, highlights Forest Rights Act recognition of grazing rights, and advocates for 'portable governance' to ensure continuity of education, health, and veterinary services despite seasonal mobility.

RGI Adopts Open-Ended Caste Census Format; 46.7 Lakh Names Expected as in 2011

The Registrar General of India has decided to use an open-ended question for the caste census, avoiding a drop-down menu. This mirrors the 2011 SECC format that produced 46.7 lakh unverified caste names, raising concerns about data quality. The decision comes amid political pressure and RSS opposition to using state lists.

Centre Reduces NEET-SS Qualifying Percentile to 30%; 1,857 Seats in Stray Round

The Centre, following Supreme Court directives, reduced the NEET-SS qualifying percentile from 50% to 30% for 2025 admissions, triggering a stray round for 1,857 vacant super-speciality seats. The decision also partially restored Tamil Nadu's in-service quota, highlighting the persistent crisis of vacancies in high-stakes medical entrance exams and the judicial push for optimal resource utilization.

Delhi Master Plan 2047 Tabled at DDA: 5-Year Delay, Yamuna O-Zone Policy & 1,511 Colonies Regularisation

The Delhi Master Plan 2047, delayed by 5 years, is finally tabled at DDA for approval. The plan addresses Yamuna O-Zone regulation, regularisation of 1,511 unauthorised colonies, and new TOD and slum rehabilitation policies. This is critical for understanding urban governance, environmental regulation, and Delhi's development trajectory — a hot topic for UPSC Prelims and Mains.

Punjab Passes 3 Digital University Bills, UGC Compliance Dispute, Min Corpus ₹20 Cr

Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed three Bills to establish private digital open universities (Cloud University, MS Digital University, Physicswallah Digital University), sparking opposition over alleged UGC regulation violations. These self-financed universities require a minimum corpus of ₹20 crore, reserve 15% seats for Punjab domiciled students, and rely on the Governor's assent and UGC recognition to operate.