Mining & Resources
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) Incentive Scheme
βΉ1,500 crore scheme approved for FY 2025β26 to FY 2030β31. Features: 20% Capex subsidy, Opex incentives on incremental sales. Caps: βΉ50 crore (large), βΉ25 crore (small). Targets: 270 kt recycling, 40 kt minerals, βΉ8,000 cr investment, ~70,000 jobs.
Governance
UPSC Centre of Excellence
Proposed as a repository and knowledge hub of best practices, SOPs, innovations, and learnings across UPSC and State PSCs. Will benefit wider national recruitment bodies. Not a training institute or exam-conducting body.
Energy
Chhattisgarh Power Sector Growth
Capacity grew from 1,400 MW (2000) to 30,000 MW. Plans to add another 30,000 MW. PM inaugurated 1,320 MW plant. Joint HQ of state power companies in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar.
Labour & Law
Maharashtra Working Hours Amendment
Cabinet cleared changes to Factories Act, 1948 and Maharashtra Shops & Establishments Act, 2017. New limits: 10 hours/day generally, up to 12 hours in industries. Aligns with reforms in other states.
Health
WHO Suicide Mortality Assessment
Suicide accounts for >1 in 100 deaths (~7.27 lakh in 2021). Rates fell 35% since 2000. Current trajectory: Only ~12% reduction by 2030, far short of one-third target.
International
India-Japan Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM)
Established under Article 6.2 of Paris Agreement. Enables internationally transferred mitigation outcomes. Strengthens carbon trading and catalyses green investments between India and Japan.
Trade
India-EFTA Trade Agreement (TEPA)
First-of-its-kind FTA with legally binding sustainability clauses. EFTA: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein. Signed 10 March 2024, effective 1 October 2025.
Economy
FDI Inflows Q1 FY26
FDI equity inflows rose 15% to USD 18.62 billion (AprβJun). Total FDI: USD 25.2 bn. US inflows tripled to USD 5.61 bn. Top sectors: Software, services, autos, renewables. Leading states: Karnataka, Maharashtra.
Technology
IIT Jodhpur’s Scene Text Recognition under Bhashini
VL2G team led by Prof. Anand Mishra developed text recognition for 13 Indian languages. Part of Bhashini initiative. Enables multilingual navigation, real-time translation. Also restoring manuscripts via deep learning with IGNCA.
Sports
World Boxing Championships β Liverpool
Historic first: Men’s and women’s events held together under new governing body World Boxing. India’s squad: Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg). Men’s team led by Sumit Kundu.