Learn Thru Practice — UPSC current affairs and the syllabus, source by source

Daily UPSC Prelims prep from PIB press releases and The Hindu — rated current affairs turned into exam-grade MCQs, with NCERT notes and practice.

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PIB

Bureau of Indian Standards Hallmarking
This PIB backgrounder explains the BIS hallmarking system for gold and silver jewellery, including mandatory gold hallmarking since 2021, digital traceability, and over 65 crore articles hallmarked. Questions on BIS, mandatory hallmarking and HUID have a clear factual hook for consumer-protection and standards topics.
CAPEX Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing
The newly approved CAPEX Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing has an outlay of ₹2,814 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. It gives a 30% capital subsidy for two lithium and two nickel processing plants. A new scheme on critical minerals, a priority policy area, with concrete figures is very likely Prelims material.
Department of Rural Development and DAHD Join Hands to Boost Fodder Production, Strengthen Livestock Infrastructure and Support Rural Livelihoods under VB–G RAM G
The Department of Rural Development and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying issued a joint advisory to States/UTs. It lets funds under VB–G RAM G (the new rural employment framework that replaced MGNREGA) be used for fodder, pasture, dairy and veterinary works, and lists 22 permissible works linked to Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans. The new scheme's scope and how it converges with other schemes is a clear factual hook for Prelims.
Cabinet approves ‘Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research (VISTAR)’, a central sector scheme for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31
The Cabinet approved VISTAR (Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research), a central sector scheme for FY 2026-31 with an outlay of Rs 4,371.10 crore. A new named scheme with an acronym, a defined period and a nodal ministry (MoSPI) is classic Prelims material, for example a question on its expansion, its scheme type or its ministry.
Cabinet Approves Capex Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing with an Outlay of Rs.2,814 Crore for Lithium and Nickel processing
The Cabinet approved a Capex Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing, with Rs 2,814 crore over five years for lithium and nickel processing. Critical minerals are a frequent Prelims theme, and a question could test the outlay, the minerals covered or the link to supply-chain concentration.
Cabinet approves Rs.14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding Scheme for development of 92 GWh Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems
The Cabinet approved Viability Gap Funding of Rs 14,500 crore for 92 GWh of grid-scale storage: 30 GWh of battery storage (BESS), 60 GWh of pumped storage and 2 GWh of emerging technologies. BESS must meet a domestic content requirement. The VGF mechanism, the pumped-storage share and renewable-energy integration all give clean factual hooks for a question.
Cabinet creates a pathway for all Agniveers to be absorbed in Defence Forces
The Cabinet has restructured the Agnipath scheme. 25% of Agniveers will still get regular enrolment on merit, the rest will be offered a further two-year engagement, and after that all will be enrolled, apparently as reservists. This is a significant policy change to a flagship defence recruitment scheme, with clear numbers a question could test.
Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav releases Guidelines for Designation of India’s Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (I-OECMs), 2026, at CBD COP-17 in Yerevan, Armenia
India released guidelines for designating Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (I-OECMs) at CBD COP-17 in Yerevan. OECMs, the 30x30 target and CBD COPs are core Prelims environment topics.
Cabinet Approves Capex Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing with an Outlay of Rs.2,814 Crore for Lithium and Nickel processing
This is the Ministry of Mines' copy of the Cabinet approval for the Rs 2,814 crore capex support scheme for lithium and nickel processing. It is rated the same as prid 2332476 because it is a new scheme in the high-priority critical minerals area.
Cabinet approves Rs.14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding Scheme for development of 92 GWh Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems
This is the Ministry of Power's copy of the Rs 14,500 crore VGF scheme for 92 GWh of grid-scale storage (BESS, pumped storage and emerging technologies). The facts are the same as in prid 2332474, so it gets the same rating.
Publications (Volume I and Summary Results of Factory Sector) of Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024-25 (Survey period: October 2025 to June 2026) November, 2026
MoSPI released Volume I and the factory-sector summary results of the Annual Survey of Industries 2024-25. Manufacturing corporate-sector GVA grew 9.28%, NVA per factory rose 6.59% and GVA per person engaged rose 2.25%. ASI is a major national statistical release, and Prelims regularly tests its conducting agency, coverage and headline indicators.
Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026: A Modern Rulebook for India’s Skies
This PIB backgrounder explains the Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026, the new rules for civil aviation that likely follow from the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, which replaced the Aircraft Act, 1934. It also says operational airports grew from 74 in 2014 to 166. New rules under a renamed colonial-era law, plus clear figures like these, are typical Prelims material on regulatory reforms and the bodies involved (DGCA, BCAS, AAIB).

The Hindu

Agniveers get option for extension; pathway to join army as regular soldiers
The Union Cabinet has approved an additional two-year engagement period for a section of Agniveers, creating a pathway for all cadets under the Agnipath scheme ...
What the BRICS carbon market partnership needs
On September 12, at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, the New Delhi Declaration confirmed that BRICS members look forward to implementing the Memorandum of Un...
PAC meet calls for closer scrutiny of public spending, quicker action on audit findings
A conference of Public Accounts Committee Chairpersons from Parliament and 25 State legislatures has called for closer scrutiny of public spending, quicker acti...
Cess levied on sales tax falls within State’s ambit, says SC
The Supreme Court held on Wednesday that an additional tax levied by a State legislature on the sale or purchase of goods will not fall outside the State’s comp...
ECI separates online form for registration of fresh voters and SIR declaration
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has separated Form 6, used for fresh voter registration, and an accompanying declaration in its online version in States ...
SC seeks govt. reply on law giving lifelong immunity to CEC
The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Union government on petitions challenging the constitutionality of a specific provision in the Chief E...
Cabinet okays ₹14,500 cr. VGF scheme for large scale energy storage
The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for the development of grid-scale energy storage systems for the period 2026-2...
UN panel’s report says genocide continues in Gaza
The Commission of Inquiry says Israeli violations include widespread or systematic attacks directed against the Palestinian civilian population, state policy, and the fact that the security forces knew the acts constituted part of an attack against the civilian population and so intended them; it emphasises harm inflicted on children is not incidental but forms part of a pattern of intentional violence
How U.S. midterm poll results could shape geopolitical options for India
Republicans have faced losses but it is unclear whether Trump will seek an early exit from the Iran war; the victory of candidates from immigrant families could temper anti-immigrant rhetoric; tariffs and trade deal other areas of interest
Govt. seeks to cut access to substandard medicines
The Union Health Ministry has proposed amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, to immediately suspend the manufacturing licences of drugs declared Not of Standard ...
Fast-track special courts scheme extended till 2031
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a five-year extension of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for fast-track special courts (FTSCs), including exclusive...
Anaemia burden — iron alone is no solution
India’s anaemia burden is not in doubt. The fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) found that more than half of women and about two-thirds of young childr...

Learn Thru Practice — UPSC current affairs and the syllabus, source by source

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