Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) Scheme

• The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced the Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme with a corpus of ₹497 crore.
• It is a central-sector scheme under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to provide immediate support to exporters affected by geopolitical disruptions in West Asia.
• Nodal Body: Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) Ltd serves as the implementing agency.
• Objective: It aims to neutralise three cost heads that rose sharply due to the West Asia conflict:
• Logistics Surcharges: Additional freight charges imposed by carriers when ships take a longer, alternate route.
• Conflict Freight Surcharges: Extra fees charged by shipping lines for operating vessels through conflict or high-risk zones.
• War-Risk Insurance: Insurance for cargo and vessels against loss or damage in conflict zones
• Coverage: It covers shipments dispatched between February 14, 2026, and June 15, 2026, to or through 10 West Asian countries (e.g., Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar)
• Exclusions: The scheme excludes energy shipments like oil and gas, as well as “back-to-town” cargo returned to the original port.
• Review: EPM Steering Committee reviews the geopolitical situation and retains discretion to modify, continue, or withdraw the intervention.

Key Benefits under RELIEF Scheme

• Insurance: Insurance premiums for both existing and new shipments will be maintained at pre-disruption levels.
• Risk Cover: Shipments dispatched between February 14 and March 15, 2026, receive up to 100% war/political risk coverage. Future shipments receive up to 95% cover.
• Obligation: Exporters under Advance Authorisation or EPCG schemes receive an automatic extension of export obligation deadlines to August 31, 2026.
• MSME Relief: MSMEs without ECGC cover can claim 50% reimbursement on additional freight and insurance surcharges, capped at ₹50 lakh per exporter.
• Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme allows duty-free import of capital goods against an export obligation equivalent to 6 times the duty saved within 6 years.

Consumer Justice Report 2026

• Consumer Justice Report 2026 has been released by the India Justice Report to assess the capacity and functioning of consumer redressal commissions in India.
• The report aims to identify systemic gaps and recommend reforms to strengthen consumer protection mechanisms in India.
• Case Pendency: Pending cases increased by 21% (2020–2024), reaching over 5.15 lakh, showing growing stress on the system.
• Delay in Justice: Many cases exceed the 3–5-month disposal timeline under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with several pending for years.
• Vacancy Crisis: Nearly 40% of posts are vacant, with many commissions functioning without presidents or members, affecting efficiency.
• Lack of Transparency: State commissions show poor data sharing and RTI response, reducing accountability in case disposal.
• Women’s Representation: Women’s participation dropped from 35% (2021) to ~29% (2025), with very few women heading commissions.
• Judicial Intervention: The Supreme Court of India has invoked Article 142 to allow High Courts to hear consumer appeals where commissions are non-functional.

Reforms Needed

• Fill vacancies through time-bound appointments to ensure all commissions function with adequate staff and leadership, improving efficiency and case disposal rates.
• Strengthen infrastructure and transparency by better budget utilisation, digital case management, and mandatory data disclosure to enhance accountability.
• Promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) such as mediation to reduce backlog and ensure faster, cost-effective resolution of consumer disputes.

Ras Laffan–South Pars Attacks Heighten India’s Energy Concerns

• Israeli strikes on South Pars and Iranian retaliation on Ras Laffan amid escalating West Asia crisis threaten India’s energy security.
• Iran’s South Pars and Qatar’s Ras Laffan (North Field) together form a single reservoir, the world’s largest natural gas field, shared between the two nations.

Key Concerns for India

• Import Vulnerability: India imports ~90% of its crude oil and ~50% of natural gas, with Qatar providing about 40–47% of LNG and roughly one-third of LPG.
• Infrastructure Impact: Damage to LNG facilities might take 3–5 years to repair, reducing capacity by ~17% and disrupting India’s long-term contracts.
• Macroeconomic Shock: Rising crude and gas prices are increasing India’s import cost, widening the Current Account Deficit (CAD), and exerting pressure on the rupee.
• Fertiliser Stress: India’s urea industry relies on natural gas as feedstock; expensive LNG raises farm costs and increases the government’s fertiliser subsidy burdens.
• Industrial Disruption: Propane and LPG shortages are affecting fuel-dependent MSMEs in manufacturing clusters, causing output reductions and job losses.
• Climate Commitments: The supply shock weakens India’s goal of achieving a 15% natural gas share in the energy mix by 2030 for a gas-based economy.
• Diaspora Security: Attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) energy infrastructures risk the safety of the Indian diaspora and could reduce inward remittance flows.

State of Working India Report 2026

• Azim Premji University released the State of Working India 2026 report on “Youth in the Labour Market”.

Key Findings of the Report

• Dividend Peak: India is nearing the peak of its demographic dividend. The working-age population share is projected to begin declining after 2030.
• Graduate Surplus: Between 2004 and 2023, India added roughly 5 million graduates annually, but only 2.8 million entered employment.
• Enrollment Rate: India’s tertiary enrollment rate stands at 28%, comparable to countries with similar per capita incomes.
• Education Drop: The share of young men in education fell from 38% in 2017 to 34% in 2024, as income pressures pushed many to enter the workforce.
• Graduate Unemployment: Graduates accounted for 67% of unemployed youth aged 20-29 in 2023, up from 46% in 2017.
• Salaried Jobs:  Only 6.7% of male graduates secured a permanent salaried job within one year of graduating. Only 3.7% entered white-collar roles.
• Salary Trend: Entry-level salaries for young male graduates have largely stagnated since 2011. Graduates earn about twice as much as non-graduates at entry.
• Job Composition: Out of 83 million jobs added in India between 2021-22 and 2023-24, nearly 40 million were in agriculture.

NITI Aayog Publishes Report on India’s Sports Equipment Manufacturing Sector

• Context (PIB): NITI Aayog released a report titled “Realising the Export Potential of India’s Sports Equipment Manufacturing Sector”
• The report outlines a roadmap to make India a global hub for sports equipment manufacturing.

Key Findings of the Report

• Market Share: India holds 0.5% share of the $52 billion global sports equipment export market.
• Scale: MSMEs account for 90% of India’s sports equipment production.
• Clusters: Production is concentrated in clusters like Jalandhar (Punjab) and Meerut (Uttar Pradesh).
• Narrow Range: Exports are limited to cricket equipment, inflatable balls, boxing gear, and athletic or weightlifting equipment.

Structural Challenges

• Cost Gap: Indian manufacturers face a 10-20% cost disadvantage compared with China and Pakistan.
• Input Duties: High customs duties on carbon fibre, EVA foam, and polyurethane raise input costs.
• Testing Delay: Costs and delays (up to 20 weeks) in international testing and accreditation limit entry into high-value markets.
• Freight Cost: The inland locations of legacy clusters increase freight costs and extend lead times.

Strategic Roadmap

• Investment Plan: Invest ₹7,500 crore in coordinated infrastructure and ecosystem development from 2027 to 2031.
• New Clusters: Establish four greenfield clusters in port-proximate states such as Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Brand Push: Allocate ₹500 crore to promote a “Brand India” identity to enhance credibility with international buyers.
• Olympic Link: Leverage India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics to integrate local manufacturers into global procurement networks.
• Policy Cohesion: Integrate all sports goods policymaking under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports for faster decision-making.

Expanded Targets for 2036

• Export Growth: Scale sports equipment exports from $275 million to $8.1 billion, aiming for an 11% global export share.
• Export Value: Increase total sports goods export (including apparel and accessories) from $2 billion to $24 billion.
• Job Creation: Create approximately 5.4 million new jobs across MSME-led clusters

Project Insight (PI) initiative

• India’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tax governance, particularly through the Project Insight (PI) initiative, has gained attention for improving compliance and revenue mobilisation.

About Project Insight (PI) initiative:

• Project Insight is an AI-driven tax administration system that uses big data analytics to track financial transactions and detect tax evasion.

Organisation:

• Implemented by the Income Tax Department (ITD), Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

Aim:

• Enhance voluntary tax compliance: Encourage taxpayers to report accurate income through data-based nudges.
• Strengthen tax enforcement: Identify high-risk cases of tax evasion using AI and analytics.

Key Features

• INTRAC (Analytics Engine): Uses AI to create a 360° financial profile of taxpayers from multiple data sources.
• NUDGE Strategy: Sends non-intrusive reminders (SMS/email) to correct discrepancies in tax returns.
• Automated Risk Assessment: Prioritises cases based on risk level and scale of evasion, improving efficiency.

Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)

• The Lok Sabha has extended the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal till the Monsoon Session 2026.

About Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC):

• An ad-hoc (temporary) committee set up for a specific purpose and duration. It is dissolved once its report is submitted to the Parliament. A JPC is a powerful, ad-hoc legislative body comprising members from both Houses of Parliament, established to investigate specific issues of public importance or to scrutinize complex pieces of legislation.
• Established In: While joint committees have existed since Independence, the structured committee system was formally strengthened in 1993 to ensure greater executive accountability.
• Members: The size is not fixed and depends on the motion passed.
• Usually, the ratio of members is 2:1 (twice as many from Lok Sabha as from Rajya Sabha).

How it is Formed?

• A motion is moved in one House (typically Lok Sabha) and passed.
• The other House must agree to the motion.
• The members are then nominated/elected by the respective Houses.

Functions:

• In-depth Scrutiny: Examines specific bills (like the current ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill) or financial irregularities.
• Evidence Collection: It has the power to summon individuals, experts, or government officials to testify and can call for confidential documents.
• Fact-Finding: Investigates controversial matters (scams, pesticide residues, etc.) to identify regulatory loopholes.
• Recommendations: Suggests legislative or administrative changes to the government.

Significance

• Bi-partisan Scrutiny: Since it includes members from both Treasury and Opposition benches, it provides a balanced perspective on controversial issues.
• Expert Deliberation: It allows for a more detailed, technical discussion on bills that might not be possible on the floor of the House due to time constraints.
• Accountability: It acts as a check on the Executive, ensuring that government policies and actions are transparent and legally sound.

World Happiness Report 2026

• The World Happiness Report 2026 was recently published, highlighting the link between social media use and youth wellbeing.

About World Happiness Report

• Publication: Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford has been publishing the report annually since 2012, with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
• Key Parameters: It uses six indicators — GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.

Key Global Rankings

• Top Performers: Finland maintained 1st position for the ninth consecutive year, followed by other Nordic countries, Iceland and Denmark.
• Notable Outlier: Costa Rica rose to 4th position, marking the highest-ever rank for a Latin American country, driven by strong community bonds.
• Bottom Performers: Afghanistan ranked the lowest (147th), followed by Sierra Leone and Malawi.

India’s Position

• Rank: India rose to 116th from 118th in 2025 among 147 countries, with gains in social support and healthy life expectancy
• Regional Comparison: India stayed below Nepal (99th) and Pakistan (104th), but above Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.

Key Findings on Social Media Use and Well-being

• Age Trend: Youth aged 15–24 report lower life satisfaction than those 60+ in English-speaking Western regions (US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).
• Vulnerable Group: Adolescent girls spending over five hours daily on comparison-heavy platforms experience the steepest declines in mental health.
• Digital Paradox: Digital access increases happiness in developing countries like India through education and community, but overuse leads to stress.
• Optimal Threshold: Youth using social media for less than one hour daily report the highest well-being, even higher than non-users.

Banana Cluster Project

• Context (PIB): Agriculture Ministry has announced a Banana Cluster project in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.
• The cluster will develop facilities like planting material, pre-cooling units, cold chains, & food processing.
• It will promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), mechanisation, biocontrol, and quality planting material to improve yield and quality.
• Subsidies will be provided under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).

Jalgaon Banana

• Jalgaon (Maharashtra) is popularly known as the “Banana City” of India.
• It contributes 16% of India’s banana production; it is the 7th largest banana producer in the world.
• Black cotton soil, tropical climate, and widespread drip irrigation make it ideal for banana cultivation.
• In 2016, the Jalgaon Banana got the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.

Banana Cultivation in India

• Banana is native to India and is widely grown in the tropical, sub-tropical, and coastal regions of India.
• India is the largest producer of bananas in the world, with a share of around 25% in total output.
• Key Banana-Producing States: Andhra Pradesh (largest), Maharashtra, Karnataka, & Tamil Nadu.
• Banana ranks 1st in production and 3rd in area among India’s fruit crops.
• Climate: 15–35°C temperature, high humidity (75–85%), and 650–750 mm monsoon rainfall; sensitive to cold (<12°C) and strong winds.
• Soil: Grows best in deep, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter & nutrients.
• Challenges: It is a highly perishable crop vulnerable to pests, diseases, and price fluctuations.

Prambanan Temple Complex

• India and Indonesia have partnered to restore the Prambanan Temple Complex located in the Yogyakarta region of Java, Indonesia.
• Restoration will focus on preserving the interconnected heritage ecosystem, including Sewu and Plaosan temples.
• The project will use anastylosis technique by reassembling the temple with original material using minimal new material to maintain authenticity.
• The restoration reflects India’s use of heritage conservation as soft power to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia under its Act East Policy.

Prambanan Temple

• It is a 9th century Hindu temple complex dedicated to the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva).
• Constructed by the Hindu Sanjaya dynasty (~850 CE) under King Rakai Pikatan, marking the shift of the patronage from Mahayana Buddhism to Shaivite Hinduism.
• It is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia and second largest in Southeast Asia after Angkor Wat.
• Ramayana: Temple walls are decorated with intricate bas-relief carvings of the Ramayana epic.
• Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1991) for its cultural and architectural significance.

India’s Previous Restoration Projects in South-East Asia

• Angkor Wat, Cambodia: Largest Hindu temple in the world; built in the 12th century by Khmer Empire; dedicated to Vishnu; later converted to a Buddhist temple; UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS).
• Mỹ Sơn, Vietnam: Ancient temple of the Champa Kingdom (4th –13th century) in Vietnam; a Shaivite Hindu site with Shiv lingas; UNESCO WHS.
• Ananda Temple, Myanmar: 11th – 13th century Buddhist temple (Pagan Empire); considered as one of the finest examples of Mon architecture; located in the Bagan archaeological zone; UNESCO WHS.
• Vat Phou, Laos: Ancient Khmer-Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva (6th –13th century); built at the base of Phu Kao sacred mountain; later converted for Buddhist use; UNESCO WHS.

Discovery of a New “Liquid Planet” Classification

• James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations showed that Planet L 98-59 d remains in a permanent molten state, establishing a new “liquid planet” category.
• Previous Categories: Small exoplanets were classified as rocky ‘gas-dwarfs’ with hydrogen atmospheres and ‘water worlds’ with deep oceans.
• Significance: Studying its persistent magma ocean can provide insights into planetary evolution and Earth’s early molten stages.

About Planet L 98-59 d

• The exoplanet lies about 35 light-years away from Earth. It has about 1.6 times Earth’s radius and roughly 2.3 times Earth’s mass.
• It has a notably low density for its size, approximately 40% that of Earth.
• It exists in a “mushy, molten state” like molasses, where the mantle is an ocean of liquid silicate.
• Atmosphere: A thick atmosphere rich in hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) surrounds the planet, giving off a characteristic rotten-egg smell.
• Heat Retention: This atmospheric insulation and tidal heating keep the planet in a permanently molten state with surface temperatures near 1,900 °C.
• Tidal Heating: The planet’s orbital motion causes varying gravitational forces that stretch and compress its interior, generating geothermal heat through internal friction.

Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR)

• Tamil Nadu government has sealed 42 illegal resorts in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.
• Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• Connectivity: It forms a vital bridge between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats and is contiguous with Bandipur, Mudumalai, and Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserves.
• Elephant Reserve: STR forms part of the Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Elephant Reserve. It has one of the world’s largest Asian elephant populations.
• Terrain: The Landscape is highly undulating, with elevation ranging from 750 to 1,800 metres.
• Rivers: Bhavani and Moyar rivers flow through the reserve.
• Vegetation: It is part of the South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests ecoregion and contains a diverse mix of deciduous, semi-evergreen, thorn, and riparian forests.
• Key Flora: Sandalwood, Teak, Bamboo, Terminalia arjuna, etc.
• Key Fauna: Tigers, Indian Elephants, Leopards, Gaurs, Dholes, Sloth Bears, Indian Vultures, etc.
• Award: STR received the TX2 Award in 2022 for doubling its tiger population since 2010.

Record Growth in Horticulture Sector

• Horticulture has emerged as a key driver in boosting farmers’ income, with record growth in both area & production.
• Area: Total horticulture area increased to 301.36 lakh hectares in 2024–25, a 3.61% rise from the previous year, reflecting expansion across crops.
• Production: Production reached 3707.38 lakh tonnes in 2024–25 (4.51% rise), showing strong growth in overall horticulture output.
• Growth in 2025–26: First Advance Estimates project 3708.46 lakh tonnes production in 2025–26.
• Fruits & Vegetables: Fruits production was up by 4.13% & vegetables by 5.11%, forming bulk of production.
• Onion Surge: Onion production rose sharply to 307.67 lakh tonnes with major area expansion.
• High-Value Crops: Significant growth in spices, flowers, & medicinal plants.
• Policy Push: Growth driven by technology, irrigation, and market support, boosting farmer income.

National Defence Industries Conclave (NDIC) 2026

• Context (PIB): NDIC 2026, held in New Delhi, emphasised defence innovation, MSME integration, and the indigenous drone ecosystem.
• It is a national-level conclave organised by the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence, aimed at promoting advanced manufacturing and indigenisation in the defence sector.
• Theme: “Advanced Manufacturing Technologies”.
• Focus: On technologies like Drone Manufacturing, AI, robotics, additive manufacturing, digital twins, and smart materials.
• Initiatives Launched: Defence India Start-up Challenge-14 and ADITI Challenges 4.0
• Significance: Strengthens MSME participation, defence indigenisation, and Atmanirbhar Bharat and enhances technological capability and global competitiveness.
• Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) focuses on developing high-end, strategic and deep-tech defence technologies to reduce import dependence.
• Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) is an initiative under iDEX to promote innovation by start-ups, MSMEs, and innovators in the defence sector; it aims to solve real-world defence problems.

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)

• Launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Defence & implemented by Defence Innovation Organisation.
• Objective: Aims to promote innovation & indigenous technology development in defence & aerospace.
• Features & Mechanism: Engages start-ups, MSMEs, innovators, and academia and provides financial grants, mentorship, and access to testing infrastructure.
• Operates through programmes like DISC, iDEX4Fauji (i4F), SPARK and ADITI.

Sea Dragon 2026

• India has participated in the United States Navy-led exercise ‘Sea Dragon 2026’ taking place in Guam.
• It is an annual multinational exercise to strengthen anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Participants: Five Indo-Pacific nations are participating, the US, India, Australia, Japan, & New Zealand.
• Indian Asset: Indian Navy has deployed its P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for the exercise.
• Key Focus: Includes detecting, tracking, and responding to simulated and live submarine targets to improve maritime interoperability.
• Significance: It strengthens collective deterrence and ASW readiness against rising undersea threats and promotes a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

Irula Tribe

• The Irula community in Tamil Nadu is celebrating the auspicious Masi Magam festival.
• Irula (or Irular) are a Dravidian ethnic group and one of India’s oldest indigenous communities.
• Distribution: They mainly reside in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
• The community is classified as a PVTG in Tamil Nadu.
• Language: They speak Irula, a South Dravidian language closely related to Tamil and Kannada.
• IVC Link: A 2019 DNA study of Indus Valley Civilisation skeletons revealed a genetic link to the Irula.
• Livelihood: Known for traditional snake and rat catching, providing 80% of India’s anti-snake venom.
• Deity: Their primary deity is Goddess Kanniamma, closely associated with the cobra.

Masi Magam Festival

• Masi Magam is a Hindu festival observed annually during the Tamil month of Masi (February-March).
• Devotees believe that heavenly beings descend to Earth to bathe in sacred water bodies.
• Theerthavari Utsavam: Deities from temples are taken to water bodies for a ceremonial bath.