Current Affairs – May 28, 2026

{GS1 – Geo} Water Governance in Peri-Urban Areas **

Context (TH): India’s water story has witnessed remarkable progress in recent years. However, a critical gap remains in the vast and overlooked peri urban areas.

Peri-urban areas are transitional zones which are neither fully rural nor fully urban, creating an institutional vacuum in governance and service delivery.
These settlements are no longer villages, yet they are not recognised as cities either, leaving them outside the ambit of both rural and urban water governance frameworks.

Why Peri-Urban Water Governance Matters?

Rapid Urbanisation: Over the last two decades, the number of Census towns in India has jumped from 1,362 to 3,784, a staggering 178% increase. Without adequate water governance, this population boom will translate into a public health crisis, environmental degradation, and economic losses.
Urban Water Security: Peri-urban areas often serve as water recharge zones for larger cities. Their mismanagement directly threatens water security for urban populations as well.
Environmental Sustainability: With climate change intensifying erratic rainfall and heat stress, peri-urban areas are among the most vulnerable to water insecurity.
Gendered Impact: Poor water and sanitation in these zones impact women and girls disproportionately, as they bear the burden of water fetching and are more exposed to health risks from poor sanitation.

Water Challenge in Peri-Urban Areas

Infrastructure Deficits: Unlike rural areas supported by the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) or cities with piped municipal networks, peri-urban settlements rarely have reliable water infrastructure.
Sanitation: Deficient sewage and sanitation systems lead to widespread groundwater contamination, directly threatening public health.
Artificial Flooding: Unplanned, rapid construction routinely obliterates natural drainage pathways, triggering severe local waterlogging and urban flooding during monsoons.
Groundwater Depletion: Unregulated extraction of groundwater to meet growing demand is leading to rapid depletion of aquifers in peri-urban zones.

Way Forward

Institutional Recognition: Formally define and categorize peri-urban zones within state planning laws to deploy dedicated governance and funding frameworks.
Integrated Planning: Bridge the structural divide between rural and urban water schemes, ensuring infrastructure continuity across mutating city borders.
Local Body Strengthening: Empowering local bodies with funds, functions, and functionaries is essential.
Data and Mapping: Regular surveys & mapping of peri-urban areas to guide targeted interventions
Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Building drainage systems, urban wetlands and decentralised water harvesting structures to manage floods and recharge groundwater.

{GS1 – IS} High-Level Committee on Demographic Change **

Context (PIB): The Union Government has constituted a High-Level Committee on Demographic Change.

Purpose: Chaired by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar, the committee will study demographic changes arising due to illegal immigration and recommend policy measures.
The committee will examine illegal immigration, cross-border activities, abnormal settlement patterns, and structural demographic changes.

Impact of Illegal Migration

Demographic Impact: Illegal migration has altered population patterns in states like Assam and West Bengal.
Security Concerns: Increases the risk of smuggling, trafficking, terrorist infiltration, & cross-border crime.
Pressure on Resources: Migrants add pressure on jobs, housing, healthcare and welfare systems in border and urban areas.
Governance Challenges: Fake Aadhaar, voter IDs and citizenship verification issues complicate administration and law enforcement.
Humanitarian Issues: Refugees and undocumented migrants often face detention, deportation and legal uncertainty.

Measures to Tackle Illegal Migration

Strengthen Border Security: Expand smart fencing, drones and surveillance along vulnerable borders, especially the 4,000+ km India–Bangladesh border.
Improve Identification: Use biometric databases, Aadhaar verification and digitised records to detect fake identities.
Regional Cooperation: Increase coordination with Bangladesh and Myanmar on deportation and border management.
Refugee Policy: Develop a balanced legal framework for asylum seekers while safeguarding national security.
Development: Improve employment, infrastructure and governance in border regions to reduce illegal networks and local tensions.

{GS2 – MoSJE} PM-AJAY Portal and AJAY Mobile App

Context (PIB): Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the PM-AJAY Portal and AJAY App to shift the PM-AJAY scheme from paper-based to centralised digital processing.

The portal monitors and implements the scheme by digitising workflows, ensuring transparency, tracking, and milestone-linked disbursement of funds.
AJAY Mobile App removes paper-bound workflows by providing a localised, secure interface for grass-roots surveying, planning, and real-time project reporting.

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

PM-AJAY is a 100% centrally sponsored welfare scheme launched in FY 2021-22 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE).
Objective: Socio-economic upliftment, poverty reduction, and infrastructural development of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities.
Consolidation: It consolidates three former centrally sponsored initiatives into three primary pillars:
1. Adarsh Gram: Targets villages with a population of 500+ and over 40% SC representation, providing up to ₹21 Lakh per village as gap-filling funds.
2. Grants-in-Aid: Funds skill development and enterprise creation for SC households living below the poverty line through a capital subsidy of up to ₹50,000 or 50% of the asset cost, whichever is lower.
3. Hostel Construction: Finances the building and repair of residential facilities in government-funded schools and NIRF-ranked higher educational institutions to reduce dropout rates.
Funding Caps: The scheme caps Adarsh Gram funding at 50%, administrative expenses at 5%, and Hostel Construction at 2%, allocating the remainder to Grants-in-Aid.

{GS3 – Agri} SARTHAK-PDS Scheme

Context (PIB): Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved SARTHAK-PDS for 2026–2031.

SARTHAK-PDS stands for “Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in Public Distribution System”.
Objective: To strengthen the implementation of National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) through technology-driven and citizen-centric PDS reforms.
Umbrella Scheme: It integrates:
- Assistance to State Agencies for intra-state foodgrain movement & FPS dealer margins;
- Scheme for Modernisation & Reforms through Technology in PDS (SMART PDS).
Technology Features: Uses Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Blockchain, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) for monitoring and grievance redressal.
Key Reforms: Focuses on real-time monitoring, unified databases, e-PoS-based FPS automation, supply chain digitisation, and leakage reduction.

Read More> Public Distribution System

{Prelims – Agri} Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council

Context (PIB): Finance Minister addressed the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) Awards 2023–24 held in Mumbai.

TEXPROCIL was established in 1954 as the first export promotion council set up after Independence.
It is an autonomous, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting cotton textile exports from India.
Kasturi Cotton: TEXPROCIL is promoting the Indian cotton brand “Kasturi Cotton” through certification, branding and traceability initiatives.

India is the world’s sixth-largest textile exporter, with the textile sector contributing ~2.3% to GDP and ~12% of the country’s export earnings. India has set targets of USD 100 billion in textile exports and USD 250 billion in textile production by 2030.
Government Schemes: PM MITRA Parks, Samarth Scheme, Textile Expansion and Employment Scheme, Tex-Eco Initiative.

{Prelims – Agri} India’s Cold-Water Fisheries

Context (PIB): Cold-water fisheries are becoming an important pillar of India’s Blue Economy, supporting livelihoods, nutrition and ecotourism.

Cold-water fisheries are practised in high-altitude snow-fed rivers, lakes & reservoirs where water temperatures range between 5°C and 25°C. It contributes nearly 3% of inland fish production.
Major Regions: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Cold-Water Fish Species: Rainbow trout, golden mahseer and snow trout. Trout farming is generally undertaken above 1,500 metres, while mahseer culture is suitable at relatively lower elevations.
Important Schemes: Blue Revolution Scheme, PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), PM Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).

{Prelims – Agri} National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) *

Context (NOA): A national workshop on oil palm development in the Northeast was held under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).

NMEO-OP, launched in 2021, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to reduce edible oil imports by expanding domestic oil palm production.
Focus Areas: 15 states, with emphasis on the Northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Key Intervention: The Viability Price guarantee ensures farmers receive a minimum assured return directly via DBT if market prices crash.
Key Targets:
- Adding 6.5 lakh hectares of oil palm cultivation area, reaching 10 lakh hectares by 2025-26.
- Production of 11.20 lakh tonnes of Crude Palm Oil by 2025-26 and 28 lakh tonnes by 2029-30.

Current Scenario of India’s Oil Palm Sector

India imports 56% of its edible oil consumption, with palm oil accounting for the largest share.
Total oil palm coverage reached 6.20 lakh hectares by 2025.
Crude Palm Oil production in 2024-25 was about 3.80 lakh tonnes, much below the 2025-26 target due to slow adoption in non-traditional regions like the Northeast.

Major States: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala produce ~98% of domestic crude palm oil.

Read More > Oil Palm Production

{Prelims – Envi} India’s First Indigenous Hydrogen Train

Context (PIB): Indian Railways approved the rollout of the country’s first indigenous hydrogen-powered train on the Jind–Sonipat section under Northern Railway in Haryana.

Designed by Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO), and manufactured by Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, the 10-coach broad-gauge trainset is the world’s longest and most powerful hydrogen train.
India joins countries like Germany, Japan, China, and the US in exploring hydrogen rail while advancing its net-zero emissions by 2070 commitment.

Read More > Hydrogen Fuel Technology

{Prelims – Geo} Chaliyar River

Context (TH): After recent Wayanad landslides, bodies and debris were carried downstream into the Chaliyar River, leading to large-scale search operations.

Chaliyar River (Beypore River) is one of the major west-flowing rivers of Kerala, originating from the Ilambaleri hills of Nilgiri Mountains close to the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border.
Course: The river flows through Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts of Kerala before draining into the Arabian Sea near Beypore.
Tributaries: Important tributaries include Iruvanjipuzha, Cherupuzha and Kurumanpuzha.

{Prelims – IE} MachFin Mart & MoRE Programme

Context (AIR): Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) launched MachFin Mart & MoRE Programme.

MachFin Mart is a digital machinery financing marketplace for MSMEs. It helps MSMEs access modern machinery and equipment through a structured and transparent marketplace.
- Features: Supports price discovery, standardisation, technology adoption, & easier machinery financing.
Modernisation of Rural Enterprises (MoRE) Programme aims to modernise rural MSMEs through technology, infrastructure and cluster-based support.
- Coverage: The programme targets support for around 10,000 rural enterprises over the next three years.

{Prelims – Infra} Adani Battery Energy Storage System

Context (NDTV): Adani Green Energy has commissioned the world’s largest single-location Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project outside China, at Khavda, Gujarat.

The system uses advanced energy management systems and lithium-ion battery technology to improve grid stability and enable a round-the-clock green power supply.
The project is part of Adani’s 30 GW renewable energy park at Khavda, Gujarat.
BESS is a system that stores electricity in rechargeable batteries and supplies it later when demand is high or renewable energy generation is low. It helps balance fluctuations in solar & wind power and ensures 24×7 electricity supply.

{Prelims – Infra} Mekedatu Project *

Context (TH): Supreme Court dismissed Tamil Nadu’s petition to review the ruling that termed its opposition to the Mekedatu project premature.

Mekedatu is a proposed multi-purpose balancing reservoir project on the Cauvery River at Mekedatu Gorge in Karnataka. It is located near the confluence of the Cauvery and its tributary, the Arkavathi River.
Dual Purpose: The project aims to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and generate 400 MW of power.
It is estimated to submerge over 5,000 hectares of land, mostly within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tamil Nadu argues the dam will allow Karnataka to block the Cauvery delta’s natural flow, in breach of Supreme Court-upheld Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal awards.

A balancing reservoir stores excess water during periods of high supply (e.g., monsoon flows) and releases it during periods of low supply, ensuring a continuous supply despite fluctuations in river discharge.

{Prelims – IR} Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Context (DDN | NDTV): The 11^th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was hosted by India in New Delhi.

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is an informal strategic grouping of India, the US, Australia, and Japan aimed at a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Key Outcomes

Maritime Security: Launched the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration (IPMSC) & expanded the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) for real-time information sharing.
- India will host the next edition of the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission.
Infrastructure: Initiated a major port infrastructure project in Fiji under the Ports of the Future Partnership to strengthen connectivity and capacity in the Pacific Islands.
Economic Security: Operationalised the Critical Minerals Initiative Framework to strengthen supply chains through coordinated investment across mining, processing, and recycling.
Digital Connectivity: Advanced digital interoperability via 6G, the Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) infrastructure; targeted undersea cable access for all Pacific Islands Forum countries by 2026.
Energy Resilience: Launched the Quad Initiative on Indo-Pacific Energy Security to strengthen regional resilience through technology, policy, market analysis, and emergency response exercises.

{Prelims – PIN World} Pratas Island *

Context (ET): A Chinese Coast Guard ship withdrew from waters near the Pratas Islands following a two-day maritime standoff with Taiwan’s Coast Guard.

Pratas Island, also known as Dongsha Island, is a coral atoll in the northern South China Sea.
Taiwan controls the island, but China claims it as part of Guangdong Province. The atoll has no permanent civilian residents.
The atoll lies between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong, serving as a gateway between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

Context (PIB): NITI Aayog convened the first meeting of the High-Powered ‘Education to Employment and Enterprise’ (EEE) Standing Committee.

The EEE Standing Committee is a specialised panel tasked with aligning India’s education and skilling ecosystems with evolving labour market demands.
Composition: The committee comprises representatives from central ministries, state governments, industry bodies, and academia under the chairmanship of the CEO of NITI Aayog.
Objective: First proposed in the Union Budget 2026-27, it aims to help India capture 10% of the global services market by 2047.

Read More> India’s Services Sector

{Prelims – Misc} One Liner

Governance – AI Ministry (MC): Tamil Nadu constituted a dedicated Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology and Digital Services. Earlier, Kerala became the 1^st state in India to officially establish a dedicated, cabinet-level AI portfolio.
IR – Digital Nomad Visa (MINT): A digital nomad visa allows remote workers to legally stay in a foreign country while working online for a company/business based outside that country. Unlike tourist visas, digital nomad visas allow longer stays and legally permit remote work.
Initiatives – Bal Vatika Initiative (DDN): The Government of Uttar Pradesh is strengthening pre-primary education through Bal Vatika and Anganwadi-based foundational learning reforms. The initiative focuses on children aged 3–6 years under Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
Species – Cockroach Diversity (TH): Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) used DNA Barcoding to record 191 cockroach species in India, accounting for 3.8% of global cockroach diversity.
- Over 60% of India’s cockroach species are endemic to the country. Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have the highest cockroach diversity in India.
Species – Conocarpus (Conocarpus erectus) (TH): Several states have banned planting this fast-growing evergreen shrub, also called Buttonwood, native to the tropical Americas and West Africa. Its invasive roots deplete groundwater and damage infrastructure, and its pollen causes respiratory problems.