Cell Broadcast Test, SHANTI Act 2025, FEO List & 100% FDI in Insurance: Key Updates for GS-III & Polity

UPSC Key: 14 Internal EC Dissents, Tarang Shakti-26 Multinational Exercise, and AI-Driven Semiconductor Supercycle

This Indian Express 'UPSC Key' compilation covers six critical topics: unprecedented internal dissent within the Election Commission (14 objections in 10 months), the second edition of India's largest multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti-26, the Supreme Court's reaffirmation of the Bijoe Emmanuel precedent on Vande Mataram, a new Centre scheme for lithium and nickel processing, the evolution of Yemen's Houthis from a local revivalist movement to a Red Sea power, and the global semiconductor 'supercycle' driven by AI demand. Each story is mapped to UPSC syllabus with previous year questions.

80th Independence Day: PM Modi Unveils Saptadhara, AI Push, Semiconductor Projects; Key Polity & Economy Updates

This week's current affairs compilation covers PM Modi's 80th Independence Day address unveiling the 'Saptadhara' framework, AI training for 1 crore youth, approval of 12 semiconductor projects, and a talent hunt for Olympics. Other key events include BCI's controversy over NALSAR graduates, FAST-DS for foreign asset disclosure, UPI clarification on charges, India achieving 300 GW renewable capacity, and Dirac Medal awarded to Deepak Dhar.

SHANTI Act Draft Rules: Graded Nuclear Liability Caps up to ₹3,000 Cr, 5-Year Review Mechanism

The Department of Atomic Energy has released draft rules under the SHANTI Act introducing graded liability caps for nuclear operators, ranging from ₹100 crore to ₹3,000 crore based on reactor size, with a mandatory 5-year review by an expert group. This replaces the earlier flat ₹1,500 crore cap under the CLNDA 2010 and aims to attract private and foreign investment by diluting supplier liability. The Supreme Court is currently examining the adequacy of these caps and the Act's impact on compensation rights.

RDI Fund: Govt Defends Conflict Safeguards; 62% of ₹2,192 Cr Loans Went to Panel-Linked Firms

The RDI Fund, created to support deep tech companies, faces controversy as 62% of first-round soft loans (₹2,192 crore) went to firms linked to selection panel members. The government defends safeguards including super-majority voting and 10% stake disqualification, noting the second cohort has only 1 of 13 such companies. Congress seeks a parliamentary review on August 13.

SC Applies Section 498A to Live-in Relationships; NOTTO Launches Real-Time Organ Transplant Portal with Aadhaar Pledges

The Indian Express UPSC Key for August 4, 2026, covers multiple crucial topics: the Supreme Court's ruling extending Section 498A cruelty protection to live-in relationships, the launch of a real-time organ transplant portal by NOTTO, the Vikram Sarabhai Medal awarded to Annapurni Subramaniam, India's resilient fertiliser supply amid the Iran war, the science behind Europe's wildfires, and the Ceuta migrant crisis. These topics span Polity, Health, Science, Environment, and International Relations, offering direct material for UPSC Prelims and Mains.

Draft SHANTI Rules: Foreign Nuclear Tech Needs Origin-Country Approval, Operational Track Record

The DAE released draft rules under the SHANTI Act, 2025, mandating that foreign nuclear technology must have design approval from its country of origin and be operational elsewhere. The rules also introduce 'in-principle approval' for projects without a finalised site or reactor, and a single composite licence for building, owning, operating, and decommissioning nuclear plants, paving the way for private participation.

SHANTI Act Draft Rules Released: DAE Meets EDF for EPR Reactors, Targets 100 GWe Nuclear Capacity by 2047

India is opening its civil nuclear sector to private players under the SHANTI Act. DAE recently released draft rules for private participation and foreign reactor tech. A key meeting with French state-owned EDF discussed deploying EPR reactors and localising supply chains to meet the ambitious 100 GWe nuclear capacity target by 2047.

SCO Bishkek Declaration, INS Nipun, Form 7 & Distinguished Jurist: UPSC Exam Focus

The UPSC Key article for September 2, 2026, covers the SCO Bishkek Declaration, Form 7 for electoral roll deletion, commissioning of INS Nipun, and the unused provision for appointing a distinguished jurist as SC judge, along with other exam-relevant topics like GDP growth, Indus Waters Treaty, and climate-health syndemic.