Current Affairs – April 02, 2026

{GS2 – MoM} India’s Mining Reforms Drive Record Operationalisation of Mineral Blocks

Context (TH | PIB): Ministry of Mines operationalised a record 30 mineral blocks in FY 2025–26, reflecting targeted reforms in India’s mining sector.

Landscape of India’s Mining Sector

Mining sector contributes about 2% to India’s GDP and directly employs over 1.1 million workers.
Leading State: Odisha leads with over 44% of mineral production value in FY 2025–26.
Production Trend: Coal crossed the 1 billion tonne mark for the second consecutive year in 2026.
Auction Surge: Over 200 mineral blocks were successfully auctioned in FY 2025–26, with Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu leading.

Key Reforms in India’s Mining Sector

Auction Reform: Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Amendment Acts, 2015, mandated transparent e-auctions, replacing discretionary allocations.
- MMDR Amendment Act, 2025, created regulated mineral exchanges for real-time price discovery.
Welfare Mechanism: District Mineral Foundations (DMF) use mining revenues to fund socio-economic development in mining-affected areas.
Critical Minerals: National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) was introduced to build domestic value chains for strategic minerals.
Rare Earth Corridors: Union Budget 2026–27 proposed these in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu to integrate mining, processing, and magnet manufacturing.
Financial Reform: Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2026, allow Insurance Surety Bonds instead of bank guarantees for bidders, reducing entry barriers.
Technology Adoption: National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) enables AI-based subsurface modelling with digitised geological data to enhance exploration efficiency.

Read More > National Mineral Policy 2019

{GS2 – MoRD} 10 Years of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) **

Context (PIB): Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), operating since 2016, has become one of India’s largest rural welfare programs.

It restructured the former Indira Awaas Yojana to advance the ‘Housing for All’ objective in rural India.

About PMAY-G

It is a flagship scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development for providing pucca houses with basic amenities to homeless and deprived rural households.
Extended Target: Initially aimed at building 2.95 crore houses by 2024, it now extends to FY 2028-29 with an increased total target of 4.95 crore.
Targeted Beneficiaries: Prioritises landless households, with at least 60% of targets allocated to Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) households.
Beneficiary Identification: Identifies beneficiaries through housing deprivation criteria under SECC 2011 and Awaas+ surveys, validated by Gram Sabhas.
Cost Sharing: Follows a 60:40 Centre-State ratio in plain areas, 90:10 in North-Eastern and Himalayan states, and 100% Central funding for UTs except Jammu and Kashmir.

Key Features

Housing Norms: Requires a minimum house size of 25 sq m, including a hygienic cooking area.
Ownership: House registration should primarily be in the name of the female head or jointly.
Financial Support: Beneficiaries receive Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of ₹1.20 lakh in plain areas and ₹1.30 lakh in hilly and North-Eastern states.
Scheme Convergence: Integrates with MGNREGA for 90–95 days of wage employment and with Swachh Bharat Mission–Gramin for ₹12,000 toilet subsidy.
Digital Monitoring: Each construction stage is tracked with time-stamped, geo-tagged photos on AwaasSoft, using AI anomaly detection and Aadhaar face authentication.

Key Progress and Achievements

Housing Progress: About 76.6% of sanctioned houses are completed, with over ₹4,03,886 crore transferred directly to beneficiaries.
Women’s Empowerment: About 74% of sanctioned houses are owned by women, either solely or jointly with spouses.
Livelihood Impact: Generated ~568 crore person-days of employment, with 3 lakh rural masons gaining disaster-resilient construction skills.
Landless Support: 2,68,480 landless beneficiaries received financial assistance or land.

Read More > Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

{GS2 – MoRD} Extension of RoSCTL Scheme to Boost Textile Exports **

Context (PIB): Ministry of Textiles has extended the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme for exports of apparel, garments, and made-ups until 30 September 2026.

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

RoSCTL is an export rebate scheme introduced by the Ministry of Textiles in March 2019.
Predecessor: It replaced the Rebate of State Levies (RoSL) and the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) to align textile export support with WTO norms.
Purpose: Scheme neutralises hidden domestic taxes so that such taxes are not exported along with goods.
Tax Coverage: It reimburses non-GST embedded taxes, including state levies like fuel VAT, mandi tax, electricity duty, stamp duty and central levies like fuel excise.
Eligibility: RoSCTL covers exporters of ready-made garments under HSN Chapters 61 and 62, as well as made-up textile products under Chapter 63.
Implementation: It is implemented by the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.
Benefit Form: Rebates are issued as transferable and tradable e-scrips via the ICEGATE portal.
Redemption: Exporters may use these e-scrips to pay Basic Customs Duty on any imported goods.
Exclusion: The scheme is mutually exclusive with RoDTEP. Exporters cannot claim both benefits on the same product.

Textile Sector in India

GDP Share: The textile and garment sector contributes about 2% to India’s GDP and about 8% to total merchandise exports.
Employment: It is the second-largest employer after agriculture, providing direct livelihoods to over 45 million people.
Market Size: The domestic textile and apparel market is valued at $174 billion and is projected to reach $350 billion by 2030.
Export Rank: India is the 6^th largest textile exporter, with about 4% share in the world textile trade.
Largest Segment: Ready-Made Garments (RMG) form the largest export segment, accounting for about 45% of total textile exports.
Vision 2030: India aims for $100 billion in textile and apparel exports by 2030, up from the current $37.7 billion.
FDI Policy: The sector permits 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the automatic route.

Read More> India’s Textile Industry

{GS2 – Governance} LS Passes Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill 2026

Context (TH): Lok Sabha passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, to promote “Ease of Doing Business” and “Ease of Living” by decriminalising minor offences.

Legislative Footprint: It amends 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts under 23 Ministries.

Key Provisions of the Bill

Decriminalisation: The Bill decriminalises 717 provisions involving technical and procedural defaults.
Adjudicatory Shift: Designated Adjudicating Officers, including Deputy Commissioners, will determine penalties for covered offences instead of criminal courts.
Administrative Power: Central Ministries may appoint designated officers to conduct inquiries, summon evidence, and impose penalties directly.
Compounding: Entities can settle specified violations through compounding (paying a prescribed amount) instead of court trials.
Inflation Adjustment: Fines and penalties will increase by 10% of their prescribed minimum amount every three years to preserve the deterrent value of penalties.
Warning Mechanism: Warning notices may precede financial penalties for first-time or minor infractions.

{GS3 – IE} Income-Tax Act 2025 Came into Effect on April 1, 2026

Context (DDN): Income-Tax Act, 2025, came into force on April 1, 2026, replacing the over six-decade-old Income-tax Act, 1961.

Objective: It aims to modernise the taxation framework to simplify administration, improve compliance, and enhance taxpayer experience.
Revenue Stability: The act remains revenue-neutral, ensuring that structural changes do not affect overall tax collections.

Key Provisions of Income-Tax Act 2025

Structural Rationalisation: The Act reduces sections from 819 to 536, and chapters from 47 to 23 to simplify the tax compliance.
Drafting Reform: Over 1,200 provisions are rewritten in plain language, removing complex legal terminology and jargon.
Unified Terminology: The concepts of Previous Year and Assessment Year are merged into a single uniform term: Tax Year.
Tax Framework: Separate sub-sections are maintained for Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) for corporates and Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT) for non-corporate taxpayers.
Digital Assets: Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) formally include cryptocurrencies and tokenised assets as taxable capital assets.
Search Powers: Authorities can access a Virtual Digital Space, including email servers and social media, during search operations.
Return Flexibility: Taxpayers can now file an Updated Return (ITR-U) up to 4 years from the end of the Tax Year, extending the previous 2-year limit.
TDS Consolidation: Provisions for Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) are consolidated under Section 393, replacing earlier scattered placement for easier reference.
Settlement Mechanism: A Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) is established for out-of-court settlement of small and medium taxpayers.
Assessment Mode: Faceless collection of information and tax assessment receives statutory backing under the Act.
Policy Continuity: Tax rates, penalties, and fundamental definitions remain unchanged from the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Read More> India’s Taxation System

{GS3 – IE} RBI Extends Export Realisation Timeline

Context (IE): Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the deadline for realising and repatriating export proceeds from 9 months to 15 months from the date of shipment.

INR Exports: For exports invoiced in Indian Rupees, the realisation period is extended to 18 months.
Policy Rationale: West Asia conflict is causing ships to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing transit times by 10-14 days and extending payment cycles.
Credit Extension: The 450-day export credit benefit has now been extended to cover all disbursals made until 30 June 2026.
Advance Payments: Exporters now have 3 years (previously 1 year) to complete shipments against advance payments received.

About Export Realisation

Export realisation requires exporters to repatriate or realise the full monetary value of goods, software, or services exported from India within a legally stipulated period.
Objective: It routes all export payments through official banking channels to maintain the stability of India’s foreign exchange reserves.
Legal Basis: The framework operates under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, with the RBI as the designated monitoring authority.
Tracking Tool: Export Data Processing and Monitoring System (EDPMS) is RBI’s central system through which banks monitor the full lifecycle of every export transaction.
Non-Compliance: Failure to realise export proceeds within the stipulated period is a civil offence under FEMA Section 13.

{GS3 – IE} Telangana Passed a Platform-Based Gig Workers Bill **

Context (IE): Telangana Legislative Assembly passed the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2026.

Welfare Board: The bill establishes the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Welfare Board to manage a dedicated welfare fund for registered workers.
Welfare Fee: Aggregator platforms must contribute 1%-2% of transaction value to the welfare fund.
Worker ID: Every registered gig worker receives a Unique Identification Number (UID) for seamless access to government schemes across different platforms.
Algorithmic Transparency: Platforms must disclose how tasks are allocated and how worker ratings affect available work.
Termination: Aggregators must give a written reason and a 7-day notice before terminating a worker, except in cases of immediate safety threats.
Grievance Redressal: The bill establishes a two-tier dispute resolution mechanism
- Internal Dispute Resolution Committees (IDRCs) are mandatory for platforms with over 100 workers.
- The government will appoint Grievance Redressal Officers to resolve disputes within 30 days.

Regulatory Framework for India’s Gig Workers

Code on Social Security, 2020, is the primary national law that formally recognised “gig workers” and “platform workers” for the first time in India.
Legal Definition: A gig worker is defined as an individual undertaking work outside the conventional employer-employee relationship.
Aggregator Levy: The Code mandates that digital aggregators contribute 1%-2% of annual turnover to a Social Security Fund, capped at 5% of total worker payments.
State Laws: Labour is a concurrent subject, enabling states to enact dedicated gig worker laws independently of central legislation.
India’s First: Rajasthan passed India’s first dedicated gig worker law in 2023, establishing a Welfare Board and a transaction-based fee for a social security fund.

Read More> Gig Economy

{GS3 – Agri} Agricultural Credit in India **

Context (FE): NABARD highlighted agricultural credit flow as structurally robust, projecting it to exceed ₹32.5 lakh crore in FY 2025-26.

NABARD

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development was established in 1982 as India’s main statutory bank for agriculture and rural development.
It was established on the recommendation of the CRAFICARD Committee, chaired by B. Sivaraman.
It doesn’t lend directly to farmers but offers refinance to Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), and cooperative institutions.

Current Agri-Credit Composition

Credit Pattern: It is skewed towards short-term loans (~60%) with low long-term investment credit, limiting capital formation.
Regional imbalance: Southern states receive 48% of credit despite only 17% of cropped area, while the East (8.2%) and Central India (13.7%) remain under-financed.
Exclusion: Landless labourers, tenant farmers, and sharecroppers remain excluded from formal credit due to the absence of clear land titles for collateral.

About India’s Agri-Credit Framework

RBI governs agricultural credit and establishes Priority Sector Lending (PSL) norms, while NABARD manages its operations.
Institutional Sources: Formal credit is provided by SCBs (over 70%), RRBs, and Cooperative Systems.
- The cooperative system includes PACS, DCCBs, and State Cooperative Banks for short-term credit, and Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs) for long-term investment credit.
Non-Institutional Sources: Informal lenders like moneylenders and traders account for nearly 28%.

Key Credit Mechanisms and Government Schemes

PSL Mandate: RBI mandates 18% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) to be allocated to agriculture.
KCC: Launched in 1998, the Kisan Credit Card provides timely short-term credit for crop and allied activities (Animal Husbandry and Fisheries).
Interest Support: The Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) provides loans at 7%, reducible to 4% with prompt repayment.
Capital Formation: Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) support long-term agricultural asset creation.

{GS3 – S&T} Mahi Banswara Nuclear Power Project *

Context (ET): Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has approved excavation work for Units 1 and 2 of the Mahi Banswara Nuclear Power Project.

Location: Banswara district of Rajasthan.
Implementing Agency: Anushakti Vidyut Nigam Limited.
Capacity: The project consists of 4 units (700 MW each) with a total capacity of 2800 MW.
Technology: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) using natural uranium and heavy water.
Objective: Aims to boost nuclear energy capacity, enhance clean energy supply, and strengthen India’s energy security.

Anushakti Vidyut Nigam Limited is a joint venture of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and NTPC Limited to develop nuclear power projects in India.
It is responsible for building, owning, and operating nuclear power plants, supporting India’s clean energy and nuclear expansion goals.

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

AERB is India’s nuclear regulatory authority, responsible for ensuring safety in nuclear and radiation facilities.
Established in 1983 by the Government of India under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
It functions under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and oversees nuclear power plants, research reactors, and radiation applications.
AERB also regulates radiation use in medicine, industry, and research to ensure safe handling and operation.

{Prelims – A&C} Samrat Samprati *

Context (IE | JS): PM Modi recently inaugurated the Samrat Samprati Museum in Koba, Gujarat, as a dedicated centre for Jain heritage preservation.
Emperor Samprati was the grandson of Ashoka and ruled the Maurya Empire around 230–215 BCE.
He adopted Jainism under the monk Suhastin (Suhastisuri) at Ujjain.
Titled “Jain Ashoka” for patronising Jainism, he was also known as Indrapalit, Sangat, and Vigatashok.
Literary Sources: Jain texts like Parishistaparva by Hemachandra, Sampratikatha, and Prabhavakcharita, along with Samprati Nripa Charitra, record his life and reign.
Temples: Jain traditions attribute building ~1.25 temples and installing 12.5 million icons to him.
Religious Outreach: He sent monks to promote Jainism throughout South India and also founded Jain centres in Iran and the Arab regions.

{Prelims – S&T} Kaynes Semiconductor Plant *

Context (NOA): PM Modi inaugurated the Kaynes semiconductor plant at Sanand in Gujarat.

It is an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility established under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
It manufactures Intelligent Power Modules (IPMs), essential components for automotive, electric vehicles, and industrial automation.
Significance: It marks an Indian firm’s entry into the global semiconductor value chain, strengthening India’s high-tech manufacturing base.

ISM was launched in 2021 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to build a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem.

{Prelims – S&T} Antariksh Venture Capital Fund

Context (PIB): The Antariksh Venture Capital Fund is India’s first dedicated fund that provides financial support to space-tech startups.

Management: Managed by SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd with a total corpus of ₹1,005 crore.
Regulatory Approval: The fund is registered with SEBI as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund.
Investor: The primary investor is Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
Investment Timeline: Funding for selected startups is expected to begin in early FY2027.
Objective: Aims to enhance innovation, private participation, employment generation, and strengthen India’s position in the global space economy.

Alternative Investment Funds are privately pooled investment vehicles regulated by SEBI that invest in assets beyond traditional stocks and bonds (e.g., startups, private equity, infrastructure).

Read More > India’s Space Economy

{Prelims – S&T} SCAN Network Linked to Parkinson’s Disease Progression

Context (TH): Recent research has identified that the Somato-Cognitive Action Network (SCAN) plays a central role in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Parkinson’s disease is a long-term, progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system that primarily impacts motor control.

SCAN is an interconnected brain network that links cognitive intention and internal physiological states directly with physical movement.
Hyperconnectivity: In PD, SCAN SCAN becomes overly connected with deeper brain regions, obstructing smooth signal flow.
Specificity: This abnormal SCAN wiring appears only in PD and was not seen in other motor disorders.
Biomarker Role: SCAN hyperconnectivity correlates with symptom severity; increased signal disruption links to worse tremors, rigidity, and instability.
Key Implication: The discovery allows for more precise therapeutic treatment of PD through targeted neuromodulation and brain stimulation.

Read More > Parkinson’s Disease

{Prelims – PIN World} Bab el-Mandeb at Risk as Houthis Join West Asia Conflict *

Context (IE): The Houthi movement in Yemen has entered the US-Israel-Iran conflict, raising the risk of disruption to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Houthis are a Shia Islamist political-military movement based in northern Yemen & part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance”.

About Bab el-Mandeb

Bab el-Mandeb is a narrow maritime chokepoint between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, separating Yemen from Djibouti and Eritrea.
Connectivity: The strait connects the Red Sea to the north with the Gulf of Aden to the south.
Suez Gateway: It forms the southern gateway to the Suez Canal, linking the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea.
Perim Island: Yemen’s Perim Island divides the strait into a wider western channel for international shipping and a shallower eastern channel for local navigation.
Alternative Route: Vessels forced to avoid the strait must reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding roughly 6,000 km and 10-14 days.
Military Presence: Djibouti hosts one of the world’s highest concentrations of foreign military bases near this strategic passage.
Etymology: Bab el-Mandeb means “Gate of Tears” in Arabic, reflecting its historical reputation for hazardous navigation.
Strategic Significance: Bab el-Mandeb is a vital maritime chokepoint linking the Indian Ocean–Red Sea–Suez route, making it critical for global trade, energy flows, and India’s connectivity with Europe.