PIB Current Affairs 28 July 2026

Polity & GovernanceHighquizQuiz

Public Examinations Amendment Bill 2026 Doubles Jail Term, Raises Fines for Cheating

•The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced in the Lok Sabha, proposes to raise the punishment for individuals resorting to unfair means from 3-5 years' imprisonment to 5-10 years, and the maximum fine from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
•For service providers, the maximum fine rises from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore and the debarment period from 4 to 8 years; punishment for their directors/senior management rises to 5-10 years (from 3-10 years), with fines up to ₹5 crore (from ₹1 crore).
•Punishment for organised examination crime rises from 5-10 years to 7-10 years' imprisonment, with the maximum fine increased from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.

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Schemes & CommitteesLowquizQuiz

313 PACS Godowns Completed Under World's Largest Grain Storage Plan

•Under the World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector, 1,015 PACS have been identified for godown construction; work is complete in 313 PACS, creating 1.80 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of storage capacity.
•The Plan integrates convergence of the AIF, AMI, SMAM and PMFME schemes at PACS level; AMI's subsidy for PACS was raised from 25% to 33.33% and construction cost norms revised upward, with an extra one-third subsidy for ancillary infrastructure.
•FCI has mapped a storage requirement of ~26.03 LMT across 216 potential PACS locations in 18 States/UTs, offering 9-year uniform hiring assurance for warehouses of 2,500 MT+ capacity (1,671 MT+ in NE/hilly regions).

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

Devolution Index 2024 Ranks States on Panchayat Empowerment; ₹2.83 Lakh Crore Released Under 15th FC

•The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released 'Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States — An Indicative Evidence-Based Ranking, 2024' in February 2025, introducing a Devolution Index ranking States/UTs on six dimensions — Framework, Functions, Finances, Functionaries, Capacity Enhancement, and Accountability.
•During the 15th Finance Commission award period (FY2020-21 to FY2025-26), ₹2,82,632 crore has been released against a total allocation of ₹2,97,555 crore to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
•Under the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA, since FY2022-23), ₹3,601.77 crore has been released over five years; 1.66 crore+ Elected Representatives trained; 90.73% of PRIs (2,40,435 of 2,64,998) generated audit reports in FY2024-25 via the eGramSwaraj-PFMS-AuditOnline digital ecosystem.

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EconomyLowquizQuiz

Government Imposes Sugar Dealer Stock-Holding Limits from 1 August 2026

•The government will impose stock-holding limits on sugar dealers nationwide from 1 August 2026 to 30 November 2026, to curb hoarding, speculative 'paper trade' and artificial scarcity behind recent ex-mill price rises.
•Dealers must declare and weekly update their stock position via the Department of Food and Public Distribution's online portal (foodstock.dfpd.gov.in).
•The government says demand-supply fundamentals do not support the recent price rise and has assured adequate domestic sugar availability.

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

₹24,736 Crore Shipbuilding Assistance Scheme, ₹25,000 Crore Maritime Development Fund Launched

•The Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS), an extension of the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy, has an outlay of ₹24,736 crore to offset Indian shipyards' cost disadvantage versus global yards; guidelines were issued on 26.12.2025.
•The Maritime Development Fund (MDF), with a ₹25,000 crore corpus, comprises the Maritime Investment Fund (₹20,000 crore) and Interest Incentivisation Fund (₹5,000 crore); MDF guidelines were issued on 20.02.2026, and SBI Ventures Limited was appointed Fund Manager for the MIF on 26.05.2026.
•Both schemes align with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV 2047), which targets India in the top 10 shipbuilding/ship-owning nations by 2030 and top 5 by 2047.

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EnvironmentMediumquizQuiz

India Becomes World's Top Ship-Recycling Nation, Alang Yard Handles 35.4% Global Share

•In 2025, India became the world's leading ship-recycling nation with 35.4% of global volume; the Alang-Sosiya Yard (Gujarat, established 1982-83) handles 98% of India's ship recycling, with 128 operational plots and 4.5 million LDT/year capacity — over 8,900 ships (71+ million LDT) recycled since inception.
•The yard employs about 15,000 directly and supports 1.5 lakh+ people indirectly; a 35-bed Level III Trauma Centre run by the Indian Red Cross Society has treated 4.79 lakh+ patients as of June 2026.
•India has aligned domestic law with the Hong Kong Convention (entered into force June 2025) via the Recycling of Ships Act 2019, Rules 2021 and Regulations 2026; 115 Alang plots have achieved HKC compliance so far.

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EconomyHighquizQuiz

32 Operational National Waterways Span 5,155 km; Cargo Movement Nearly Doubles in FY26

•India has 32 operational National Waterways spanning 5,155 km; year-wise NW development funding rose from ₹425.43 crore (2021-22) to ₹1,074.48 crore (2025-26, unaudited).
•Cargo movement on National Waterways nearly doubled to 218.24 million tonnes in 2025-26 from 108.79 MMT in 2021-22, with NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly) alone carrying 84.78 MMT.
•Passenger traffic on NWs rose from 7.64 crore (2024-25) to 10.56 crore (2025-26); ferry services operate on 23 of the 32 waterways.

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InternationalMediumquizQuiz

First Direct Commercial Freight Train Links Kolkata Port to Nepal's Biratnagar

•Indian Railways operated its first-ever direct commercial container freight train — 40 wagons carrying canola — from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard, Nepal, under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, eliminating transshipment at the border.
•The service builds on the broad-gauge Jogbani (India)-Biratnagar (Nepal) rail link, jointly inaugurated by PM Modi and Nepal's PM in June 2023; the revised Rail Transit Protocol followed a Letter of Exchange signed in November 2025.
•Direct rail movement is expected to cut transit time, logistics costs and cargo handling for India-Nepal cross-border trade, benefiting exporters, importers and logistics operators.

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EconomyHighquizQuiz

India's Exports Scale Record $863.1 Billion in FY2025-26 on FTA Trade

•India recorded highest-ever exports in FY2025-26 at $863.1 billion — merchandise $441.8bn + services $421.3bn — driven by strong FTA-partner trade with UAE, UK and Australia.
•Under India-UAE CEPA (in force since 1 May 2022), 4.45 lakh Certificates of Origin have been issued; tariff lines exported to UAE rose from 7,546 (FY2021-22) to 8,053 (FY2025-26), worth $37.3 billion.
•Under India-Australia ECTA (in force since 29 December 2022), Certificate of Origin issuance rose from 1,482 (FY2020-21) to an average of ~45,527/year; tariff lines rose from 5,396 to 5,668, worth $7.2 billion.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

4.84 Lakh Raids in 2025 Curb Fertilizer Black-Marketing; Potash Self-Reliance Push

•The government reported 4,84,663 raids conducted in 2025 against fertilizer black-marketing/hoarding, leading to 17,392 show-cause notices, 6,941 licence suspensions/cancellations and 847 FIRs; urea MRP remains ₹242/45kg bag under the Urea Subsidy Scheme.
•Under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme (in force since 1 April 2010), DAP is kept at ₹1,350/50kg via additional support of ₹3,500/tonne for Kharif 2026; P&K fertilizer grades covered under NBS rose from 22 (2021) to 28.
•To cut potash-import dependence, Potassium Derived from Molasses (PDM) — notified under the Fertilizer Control Order 1985 in 2009, inducted into NBS from 13.10.2021 — gets ₹345/tonne subsidy for Kharif 2026; GSI has established 456.52 million tonnes of potash resource in Rajasthan/Punjab since the 2015 MMDR Amendment Act.

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EnvironmentLowquizQuiz

91.1% of India's Marine Fish Stocks Found Sustainable: ICAR-CMFRI

•ICAR-CMFRI's Marine Fish Stock Status of India (2022) publication found 91.1% of 135 assessed marine fish stocks in India's EEZ to be sustainable, with no palpable decline in trawl-based landings during 2021-2025.
•Fisheries is a State subject; coastal States enforce their own Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRA) governing zoning, mesh-size, seasonal bans, and gear restrictions within 12 nautical miles.
•PMMSY supports Turtle Excluder Devices, sea ranching, artificial reefs, deep-sea vessel acquisition and mariculture/seaweed farming to protect traditional fishers and inshore stocks.

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

PMMSY Approves ₹21,461 Crore for Fisheries Development Over Six Years

•Over the last six years, the Department of Fisheries has approved PMMSY projects worth ₹21,461 crore (Central share ₹9,571 crore) across 34 States/UTs, releasing ₹6,206 crore so far; fish production rose from 141.64 lakh tonnes (2019-20) to a record 197.75 lakh tonnes (2024-25).
•PMMSY, running since FY2020-21, has been continued till September 2026 in its existing form, with ₹2,500 crore allocated for FY2026-27; NITI Aayog's evaluation recommended its continuation.
•Under the Group Accidental Insurance Scheme (GAIS), an average of 35.74 lakh active fishers are enrolled annually, with cover of ₹5 lakh for death/total disability, ₹2.5 lakh for partial disability and ₹25,000 hospitalisation support — sharply higher than under the erstwhile Blue Revolution scheme.

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EconomyHighquizQuiz

IIP Growth Accelerates to 7.3% in June 2026, Led by Electrical Equipment and Auto

•India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 7.3% year-on-year in June 2026 (Quick Estimate), up from 5.1% in May 2026, driven by 7.8% growth in Manufacturing and 10.6% in Electricity & Gas Supply.
•The IIP stands at 123.1 (Base 2022-23=100), against 114.7 in June 2025; Mining & Quarrying grew a modest 1.0%, while Water Supply/Sewerage/Waste Management grew 6.1%.
•19 of 23 NIC-2-digit manufacturing industry groups recorded positive growth; the top contributors were Electrical Equipment (34.0%), Motor Vehicles/Trailers (17.5%), and Food Products (10.8%).

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EconomyMediumquizQuiz

PAIMANA Portal Tracks 1,847 Infrastructure Projects Worth ₹40.54 Lakh Crore

•As of June 2026, MoSPI's PAIMANA portal tracks 1,847 Central Sector infrastructure projects worth ₹150 crore and above, with a total revised cost of ₹40.54 lakh crore, across 17 Central Ministries/Departments.
•Cumulative expenditure stands at ₹21.97 lakh crore (54.18% of revised cost); 709 projects (~39%) have crossed 80% physical progress, while 337 (~19%) have crossed 80% financial completion.
•Transport & Logistics dominates with 1,341 projects worth ₹22.32 lakh crore (55% of total cost); Ministry of Road Transport & Highways leads with 1,022 projects worth ₹9.89 lakh crore.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PM Surya Ghar Rooftop Solar Crosses 48 Lakh Households, PM-KUSUM Convergence Widened

•Since its launch in February 2024, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG:MBY) has installed 39,72,447 rooftop solar (RTS) systems benefiting 48,02,717 households (as on 22.07.2026), with 18.71 lakh systems installed in FY2025-26 alone, adding 6.7 GW capacity.
•18.93 lakh+ beneficiaries have reported zero electricity bills in some months after installing RTS; expenditure has risen from ₹7,822.92 crore (FY2024-25) to ₹16,166.23 crore (FY2025-26), with ₹10,392.48 crore spent in FY2026-27 so far.
•Affordability measures include higher subsidy for the first 2 kWp, collateral-free bank loans at 5.75% p.a. (repo+50bps) for 10 years, and RESCO/Utility-Led Aggregation models.

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Important DaysHighquizQuiz

Health Ministry Marks Eight Years of NVHCP on World Hepatitis Day 2026

•The Health Ministry observed World Hepatitis Day 2026 (theme 'Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down') on 28 July, marking eight years of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), launched on World Hepatitis Day 2018 to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 (SDG Target 3.3).
•Since inception, NVHCP has screened over 21 crore beneficiaries and treated more than 6 lakh patients free of cost, and now runs 1,153 treatment centres including 70+ specialised sites — surpassing its one-treatment-centre-per-district target.
•Hepatitis B birth-dose coverage has crossed 92%, though only around 65% of pregnant women are currently screened for Hepatitis B — the Ministry has urged States/UTs to reach 100% screening. 7.64 crore pregnant women have been screened and 2.24 lakh newborns of Hepatitis B-positive mothers given HBIG.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras Save Citizens ₹45,000 Crore in 12 Years

•As on 30 June 2026, 20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) are operational nationwide (up from 80 in 2014), offering 2,110 medicines and 315 surgicals/devices at 50-80% cheaper than branded prices, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
•PMBJP sales reached ₹2,252.19 crore MRP value in FY2025-26 (up from ₹7.29 crore in 2014), and citizens have saved an estimated ₹45,000 crore over the last 12 years compared to branded-medicine prices.
•Assam has 202 JAKs as on 30.06.2026, led by Cachar district (40 Kendras); on average, 15 lakh people visit Jan Aushadhi Kendras daily nationwide.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

NPPA Fixes Ceiling Prices for 935 Scheduled Drugs Under DPCO 2013

•Government told Rajya Sabha that drug prices are regulated under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order 2013 (DPCO 2013), based on the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy 2012; NPPA has fixed ceiling prices for 935 scheduled formulations (as on 23.07.2026) drawn from the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2022.
•NLEM 2022 lists 388 medicines under 29 therapeutic categories; retail prices of 3,845 new drugs have also been fixed by NPPA till 23.07.2026.
•For non-scheduled formulations, manufacturers cannot raise MRP by more than 10% in a preceding 12-month period; NPPA can also fix prices under Para 19 in extraordinary/public-interest circumstances.

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Banking & FinanceHighquizQuiz

PSB Gross NPA Hits Historic Low of 1.9%, RRBs Post Record ₹10,177-Crore Profit in FY26

•Gross NPAs of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) fell to a historic low of 1.9% as of 31.3.2026, from 7.3% in FY2022, while net profit rose to a record ₹1.98 lakh crore and aggregate business crossed ₹283 lakh crore, the Finance Ministry told the Rajya Sabha.
•MSME loans grew 19.6% and retail loans 19.8% year-on-year in FY2025-26, with Capital Adequacy (CRAR) improving to 16.6%.
•Separately, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) posted their highest-ever consolidated net profit of ₹10,177 crore in FY2025-26, with total deposits of ₹7,68,621 crore and CRAR of 15.0%, per NABARD data placed before Rajya Sabha the same day.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

₹119 Crore Released Under ₹2,254-Crore National Forensic Infrastructure Scheme

•The Home Ministry told Parliament that ₹119.09 crore has been released and utilised so far under the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES), which has a total outlay of ₹2,254.43 crore for FY2024-25 to FY2028-29.
•NFIES funds 9 new campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (₹1,309.13 crore) and 7 new Central Forensic Science Laboratories (₹860.3 crore), with 6 CFSLs to be co-located with NFSU campuses.
•NFSU campuses are already functioning from transit buildings in Nagpur, Raipur, Khordha, Chengalpattu and Jaipur; land has been allotted at five of the nine approved sites.

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

Cell Broadcast Alert System Integrates Five Agencies for Disaster Warnings

•The Cell Broadcast Alert System for disaster warnings runs on the Integrated Alert System (SACHET), based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
•It integrates five Warning Generating Agencies — IMD, Central Water Commission (CWC), INCOIS, Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) and Forest Survey of India (FSI) — with State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) of all States/UTs.
•Geo-targeted alerts for cyclone, tsunami, flash floods, lightning, avalanche, cloudburst and other short-lead-time disasters are pushed in the local language to all mobile handsets and networks in the affected area.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Government Releases Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029)

•The Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) was released on 26 June 2026, laying out a three-year national roadmap against illicit drug trafficking and abuse, to be implemented by Central Ministries/Departments and States/UTs on defined timelines.
•It rests on four focus areas — Enforcement (Intelligence & Operations), Precursors & Synthetic Drugs Control, Demand & Harm Reduction, and Capacity Building & Coordination.
•States and Districts are expected to prepare their own 3-year roadmaps aligned with the national plan, strengthening the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism and the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

Vibrant Villages Programme-I: 1,248 Projects Sanctioned Across Five Border States

•Home Ministry told the Lok Sabha that under Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I), a combined 1,248 projects worth ₹3,065.32 crore have been sanctioned across Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand, of which 316 are completed.
•VVP-I has identified 662 priority villages for comprehensive development, and ₹953.47 crore has been released to the States/UT so far.
•111 road projects worth ₹2,481.93 crore have been sanctioned for all-weather connectivity to 134 unconnected villages; 528 villages now have 4G connectivity, 625 piped water, and 621 grid/off-grid electricity.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

I4C's CFCFRMS Saves ₹11,158 Crore in Cyber Fraud Across 32.8 Lakh Complaints

•Home Ministry told the Lok Sabha that the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS), run by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), has saved more than ₹11,158 crore across 32.80 lakh complaints till 30 June 2026.
•More than 15.75 lakh SIM cards and 5.77 lakh IMEIs linked to cyber fraud have been blocked, and I4C's Suspect Registry has flagged 32.08 lakh mule accounts, declining transactions worth ₹25,698 crore.
•A Standard Operating Procedure now governs NCRP-CFCFRMS complaint handling, and a Money Restoration Module plus a Grievance Redressal Module have been functional since April 2026.

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

India's AYUSH Exports Cross $1.25 Billion; Yoga Diplomacy Expands via 100+ MoUs

•Since the UN adopted 21 June as International Day of Yoga in 2014 (on India's proposal), the Ministry of AYUSH has signed 27 Country-to-Country MoUs, 16 Ayush Chair MoUs and 57 Institute-to-Institute MoUs to promote Yoga and AYUSH systems globally, offering 104 annual scholarship slots to foreign nationals.
•WHO and the Ministry of AYUSH jointly developed a Technical Report on Training in Yoga, setting international training standards; new MoUs were signed in 2025 (with Mongolia's Yoga Federation) and 2026 (with a Réunion-based cultural body) for academic collaboration.
•India's AYUSH product exports grew from $869.81 million (FY2020-21) to $1,251.25 million (FY2025-26) — a CAGR of 7.54% — led by Extracts ($593.06 million) and Medicinal & Aromatic Plants ($456.34 million).

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Science & TechMediumquizQuiz

Bharat 6G Alliance Reviews Progress; India's 3GPP Participation Surges

•The Communications Minister reviewed the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA)'s progress, three years after PM Modi released the Bharat 6G Vision document (22 March 2023) targeting India as a front-line 6G contributor by 2030; B6GA operates through seven specialised Working Groups.
•B6GA member organisations hold 7,700+ 5G/6G patent filings (4,400+ foreign); India's participation in 3GPP rose from 717 delegates (2020) to 1,787 (2025), with technical contributions rising from 196 to 2,943 over the same period.
•5G Lab Excellence Awards (January-June 2026 performance) were presented across four categories; IIITDM Kurnool secured first position in all four.

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

PM-AJAY Continuation Proposed With Enhanced Outlay for 2026-31; ₹4,277 Crore Released So Far

•The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has proposed continuing PM-AJAY from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an enhanced financial outlay; since its 2021-22 launch, the Centre has released ₹4,276.62 crore (up to 2025-26) across 30 States/UTs, with ₹1,100.09 crore released in 2025-26 alone.
•A NITI Aayog DMEO evaluation found PM-AJAY has significantly improved infrastructure, electricity, banking access, healthcare, education and livelihoods in SC-dominated areas.
•Under the Adarsh Gram component, 3,112 villages have been identified since 2018-19, with 3,111 declared Adarsh Gram in Tamil Nadu alone.

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Schemes & CommitteesHighquizQuiz

PM E-DRIVE Incentivises 23.2 Lakh EVs; India's EV Penetration Rises to 8.2%

•Under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme (₹10,900 crore outlay, notified 29.09.2024), 23,22,878 EVs have been incentivised with ₹2,281.94 crore reimbursed to OEMs, as on 22.07.2026; EV penetration has risen from 0.7% (FY2019-20) to 8.2% (FY2025-26).
•Its predecessor, FAME-II (2019-2024, ₹11,500 crore outlay), supported about 16.72 lakh EVs and deployed 5,197 e-buses; the PLI-Auto Scheme (₹25,938 crore, approved 23.09.2021) has attracted ₹44,326 crore investment and generated 67,820 jobs.
•The PLI Scheme for ACC Battery Storage (₹18,100 crore, 50 GWh target) has awarded 40 GWh capacity to four firms and established a 1.4 GWh Giga-scale plant; a new Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (₹7,280 crore, 6,000 MTPA target) had its RFP published 20 March 2026.

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Ranks & ReportsHighquizQuiz

India Becomes World's 2nd-Largest Seafarer Supplier; Government Launches Mission 20%

•Per the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, India has become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers with 311,936 professionals — 12.16% of the global seafaring workforce — up from fifth place and 5.2% in 2015, behind only the Philippines.
•Indian officers number 140,718 (13.41% of the world's officer workforce); Indian ratings number 171,218 (11.29% of global ratings); global seafarer supply stands at 2.57 million against demand of 2.55 million.
•The Government has launched 'Mission 20%' to raise India's global seafarer share from 12.16% to 20% — one in five seafarers worldwide — via expanded training capacity, industry-academia partnerships and greater opportunities for women.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

3.46 Crore SHG Women Become 'Lakhpati Didis' Under DAY-NRLM

•Under DAY-NRLM, 10.08 crore rural households have been mobilised into ~92 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs); more than 3.46 crore SHG members have become 'Lakhpati Didis', earning at least ₹1 lakh/year sustainably for 4+ seasons/cycles.
•SHGs have accessed ₹13.41 lakh crore in bank credit since 2013-14; the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) has supported 4.32 lakh enterprises (as of June 2026).
•10.05 crore households and 92 lakh SHGs are mapped on the DAY-NRLM digital platform, with total credit disbursement of ₹13,41,852.66 crore recorded via the SHG Bank Linkage Portal.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PMAY-G Continued to FY2028-29 for 2 Crore More Rural Houses; 97.48 Lakh Sanctioned

•The Union Cabinet approved continuing PMAY-G during FY2024-25 to FY2028-29 for construction of 2 crore additional rural houses; of the 1.22 crore national target allocated, 97.48 lakh houses have been sanctioned so far.
•Since FY2024-25, ₹49,407.96 crore central share has been released, with ₹88,426.76 crore utilised (including State matching share).
•Reported delay factors include beneficiary unwillingness, migration, succession disputes, land-allotment delays, elections, and delayed fund releases from State treasuries.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

PMGSY Builds 1.32 Lakh km of Roads, 5,110 Bridges Over Five Years

•Over the last five years, PMGSY has completed 1,31,589 km of road length (18,814 roads, 5,110 bridges) at an expenditure of ₹1,07,942 crore (including State share); under PMGSY-I, 99.7% of 1,63,275 sanctioned habitations (1,62,845) now have connectivity.
•Launched 25 December 2000, PMGSY targets all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations; PMGSY-IV (launched September 2024) targets about 25,000 more habitations, prioritising those under VVP-II.
•Quality and transparency tools include OMMAS (online monitoring), GPS-enabled Vehicle Tracking Systems, eMARG (performance-based maintenance payments), and a QR-code-based digital road identity linked to the Meri Sadak app and CPGRAMS.

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Polity & GovernanceHighquizQuiz

VB-G RAM G Act Replaces MGNREGA, Guarantees 125 Days of Rural Employment

•The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025 came into force on 1 July 2026 across rural India, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005; all States/UTs have notified and begun implementing the scheme.
•The Act preserves the statutory, demand-driven right to 125 days of guaranteed wage employment per rural household per year (up from MGNREGA's 100 days) and to unemployment allowance, while adding sustainable livelihood, durable-asset, water-security, climate-resilience and technology-governance goals.
•From 1 July 2026, over 99.5% of workers who demanded employment have been offered it; 5.20 crore persondays generated across 8.46 lakh worksites as on 22.07.2026.

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Polity & GovernanceMediumquizQuiz

Draft Pesticides Management Bill 2026 to Replace Insecticides Act 1968

•The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has drafted the Pesticides Management Bill, 2026, aligned with the Jan Vishwas Act, to update the existing pesticide regulatory framework.
•The draft Bill was circulated to Ministries/States on 30.12.2025 and placed in the public domain on 07.01.2026 for stakeholder comments (manufacturers, dealers, farmers, NGOs), including on data protection.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

1.89 Crore Farmers, 2.78 Lakh Traders Registered on e-NAM Platform

•As on 30 June 2026, 1.89 crore farmers and 2.78 lakh traders are registered on e-NAM (National Agriculture Market), the all-India electronic trading portal integrating physical APMCs; inter-State trade grew from 563 MT (₹37 lakh) in 2018-19 to 2,984.3 MT (₹14.28 crore) in 2025-26.
•Under the Central Sector Scheme for 10,000 FPOs (launched 2020), all 10,000 FPOs have been registered, with cumulative turnover crossing ₹20,340 crore.
•Under the Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) Scheme, 12,353 storage projects (369.18 lakh MT capacity) and 6,901 non-storage projects have been sanctioned over the last decade; MIDH has created about 1.76 lakh post-harvest infrastructure units.

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Schemes & CommitteesMediumquizQuiz

FSSAI Introduces Perpetual Licence Validity, Free Registration for Street Vendors

•FSSAI has issued over 74.33 lakh active food business licences/registrations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006; it introduced perpetual validity for licences/registrations (ending periodic 1-5 year renewals) and free 5-year registration for street food vendors.
•Street vendors registered under the Street Vendors Act, 2014 now get 'deemed registration' under FSSAI to avoid dual compliance; Tatkal licensing for low-risk categories (wholesalers, distributors, transporters, etc.) has been in effect since 28 June 2024.
•In 2025-26, over 2.23 lakh food samples were analysed and more than 40,000 non-conforming samples detected, showing continued enforcement alongside the simplification drive.

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AB-PMJAY Now Pan-India; 29 Lakh Portability Claims Worth ₹8,384 Crore

•AB-PMJAY is now operational across all 36 States/UTs; as on 30 June 2026, 29.05 lakh inter-state portability hospital admissions worth over ₹8,383.97 crore have been authorised, enabled by Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras at empanelled hospitals.
•Launched September 2018, AB-PMJAY provides ₹5 lakh/family/year cover; beneficiary base expanded from 10.74 crore (2018) to 12 crore families (Jan 2023), plus about 37 lakh ASHA/Anganwadi worker families (March 2024) and 6 crore senior citizens aged 70+ (4.5 crore families) irrespective of socio-economic status.
•Under Health Benefit Package 2022 (HBP-2022), cashless treatment covers 1,961 procedures across 27 specialties, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.

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Home Ministry Details Justice-Centric Provisions of the New Criminal Law Sanhitas

•A Lok Sabha reply from the Home Ministry sets out the 'justice-centric' provisions of the three new criminal-law Sanhitas — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), all 2023, in force since 1 July 2024.
•Victim-centric changes include Zero FIR, a free copy of the FIR, mandatory case-progress updates within 90 days, and document supply to both victim and accused within 14 days.
•New reformative measures include community service as punishment for minor offences, an expanded scope for summary trials, and trial in absentia for proclaimed offenders.

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Textile Ministry Details PLI, NTTM, NHDP Schemes and Record FY26 Exports in Lok Sabha

•Lok Sabha replies from the Ministry of Textiles detail the PLI Scheme for Textiles, the National Technical Textiles Mission (and its GREAT start-up scheme), the National Handloom Development Programme, and India's FY2025-26 textile export performance.
•PLI-Textiles was revised in October 2025 — new HSN codes, a 50% cut in the minimum investment threshold and a lower turnover criterion — after which MSMEs made up 68% of Round-3 applications.
•India's textile & apparel exports (incl. handicrafts) touched a record ₹3,25,339 crore in FY2025-26, growing in over 100 countries, backed by 16 in-force FTAs including the India-UK CETA.

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PIB Backgrounder: India's Tiger Conservation Leadership Ahead of International Tiger Day

•PIB released a Backgrounder ahead of International Tiger Day (29 July) highlighting India's status as home to nearly 70% of the world's wild tigers.
•India's tiger population, per the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2022, stands at 3,682 across 58 tiger reserves in 18 states covering ~84,500 sq km (2.56% of India's area).
•The backgrounder details India's institutional architecture (Project Tiger, NTCA), tech-driven monitoring (M-STrIPES, AI camera-trap tools) and global partnerships (Global Tiger Forum, International Big Cat Alliance, ITHCP).

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PIB Current Affairs — 28 July 2026

Public Examinations Amendment Bill 2026 Doubles Jail Term, Raises Fines for Cheating

313 PACS Godowns Completed Under World's Largest Grain Storage Plan

Devolution Index 2024 Ranks States on Panchayat Empowerment; ₹2.83 Lakh Crore Released Under 15th FC

Government Imposes Sugar Dealer Stock-Holding Limits from 1 August 2026

₹24,736 Crore Shipbuilding Assistance Scheme, ₹25,000 Crore Maritime Development Fund Launched

India Becomes World's Top Ship-Recycling Nation, Alang Yard Handles 35.4% Global Share

32 Operational National Waterways Span 5,155 km; Cargo Movement Nearly Doubles in FY26

First Direct Commercial Freight Train Links Kolkata Port to Nepal's Biratnagar

India's Exports Scale Record $863.1 Billion in FY2025-26 on FTA Trade

4.84 Lakh Raids in 2025 Curb Fertilizer Black-Marketing; Potash Self-Reliance Push

91.1% of India's Marine Fish Stocks Found Sustainable: ICAR-CMFRI

PMMSY Approves ₹21,461 Crore for Fisheries Development Over Six Years

IIP Growth Accelerates to 7.3% in June 2026, Led by Electrical Equipment and Auto

PAIMANA Portal Tracks 1,847 Infrastructure Projects Worth ₹40.54 Lakh Crore

PM Surya Ghar Rooftop Solar Crosses 48 Lakh Households, PM-KUSUM Convergence Widened

Health Ministry Marks Eight Years of NVHCP on World Hepatitis Day 2026

20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras Save Citizens ₹45,000 Crore in 12 Years

NPPA Fixes Ceiling Prices for 935 Scheduled Drugs Under DPCO 2013

PSB Gross NPA Hits Historic Low of 1.9%, RRBs Post Record ₹10,177-Crore Profit in FY26

₹119 Crore Released Under ₹2,254-Crore National Forensic Infrastructure Scheme

Cell Broadcast Alert System Integrates Five Agencies for Disaster Warnings

Government Releases Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029)

Vibrant Villages Programme-I: 1,248 Projects Sanctioned Across Five Border States

I4C's CFCFRMS Saves ₹11,158 Crore in Cyber Fraud Across 32.8 Lakh Complaints

India's AYUSH Exports Cross $1.25 Billion; Yoga Diplomacy Expands via 100+ MoUs

Bharat 6G Alliance Reviews Progress; India's 3GPP Participation Surges

PM-AJAY Continuation Proposed With Enhanced Outlay for 2026-31; ₹4,277 Crore Released So Far

PM E-DRIVE Incentivises 23.2 Lakh EVs; India's EV Penetration Rises to 8.2%

India Becomes World's 2nd-Largest Seafarer Supplier; Government Launches Mission 20%

3.46 Crore SHG Women Become 'Lakhpati Didis' Under DAY-NRLM

PMAY-G Continued to FY2028-29 for 2 Crore More Rural Houses; 97.48 Lakh Sanctioned

PMGSY Builds 1.32 Lakh km of Roads, 5,110 Bridges Over Five Years

VB-G RAM G Act Replaces MGNREGA, Guarantees 125 Days of Rural Employment

Draft Pesticides Management Bill 2026 to Replace Insecticides Act 1968

1.89 Crore Farmers, 2.78 Lakh Traders Registered on e-NAM Platform

FSSAI Introduces Perpetual Licence Validity, Free Registration for Street Vendors

AB-PMJAY Now Pan-India; 29 Lakh Portability Claims Worth ₹8,384 Crore

Home Ministry Details Justice-Centric Provisions of the New Criminal Law Sanhitas

Textile Ministry Details PLI, NTTM, NHDP Schemes and Record FY26 Exports in Lok Sabha

PIB Backgrounder: India's Tiger Conservation Leadership Ahead of International Tiger Day