NITI Aayog releases a policy report on Revitalising Apprenticeship Ecosystem

• The report provides critical insights, and outlines actionable recommendations to strengthen the apprenticeship system as a cornerstone of India’s skilling and employment strategy.
• Apprenticeships are formal vocational education and training schemes that combine learning in education or training institutions with substantial work-based learning in companies.

Key Highlights of Report

• Current Status: 51,133 Active Establishments under NAPS (FY 2024–25), and active engagements under NAP grew 27-fold from 2018-19 rising to 9.85 lakh in FY 2024–25.
• Completion rates declined to 25.47% with a high dropout rate of 35.46%.

Key Challenges

• Policy & Structural Gaps: Multiplicity of schemes, low stipend levels, and lack of standardised certification reduce effectiveness.
• Regional & Industry Disparities: Underutilisation in BIMARU and North Eastern States; low MSME participation due to compliance and ROI concerns.
• Aspirant-Level Barriers: Low women participation (~20%), weak career counselling, and social bias favouring academic pathways.

Recommendations

• Policy and Systemic Reforms: Establish National Apprenticeship Mission, consolidate apprenticeship portals, seamless mobility between education and skilling pathways.
• Structure and Governance: Introduction of Apprenticeship Engagement Index to benchmark performance, accelerating upgradation of Industry 4.0 aligned ITIs.
• Industry-facing reforms: Deepening MSME participation through cluster-based consortia, promoting a Startup Apprenticeship Programme (SAP) etc.
• Apprentice level support: Improving stipend adequacy, expanding insurance and social security coverage, enable international mobility.

Policy Framework

• Apprentices Act, 1961: Provides statutory backing for apprenticeship training and defines employer obligations.
• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) & National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS):  Incentivizes employers to engage apprentices and enhances industry academia collaboration.
• National Education Policy 2020: Promotes vocational-academic convergence and the principle of “earning while learning.”

Export Promotion Mission

• Union Commerce and Industry Minister launched seven new interventions under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to strengthen MSME exports and global competitiveness.

About Export Promotion Mission:

• The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) is a flagship initiative of the Department of Commerce aimed at empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to participate effectively in global trade.
• It adopts a holistic ecosystem approach by combining financial assistance, trade facilitation and export infrastructure support to boost India’s exports.
• Implementing Agencies: The Mission is implemented by the Department of Commerce.

Aim:

1. To enhance global market access and export competitiveness of Indian MSMEs.
2. To reduce structural barriers such as high cost of capital, logistics disadvantages and compliance challenges.
3. To promote inclusive, broad-based export growth aligned with India’s global trade ambitions.

Key Features:

• Dual framework – Niryat Protsahan & Niryat Disha: Combines financial enablers with trade ecosystem support under a digitally monitored system.
• Trade Finance Support: Includes export factoring, e-commerce credit facilities, interest subvention (2.75%) and credit guarantees for MSMEs.
• Compliance & Certification Support (TRACE): Partial reimbursement for testing, inspection and certification to meet international standards.
• Logistics & Overseas Warehousing (FLOW & LIFT): Support for overseas warehousing, e-commerce export hubs and freight cost reimbursement.
• Trade Intelligence & Capacity Building (INSIGHT): Strengthens district-level export hubs and market intelligence systems.
• MSME-focused Financial Assistance: Credit support up to ₹5 crore, interest subvention, and guarantee coverage for digital exporters.
• Market Integration: Supports initiatives like Bharat Mart in Dubai to connect exporters with GCC, Africa and European markets.

Significance:

• Strengthens MSMEs as drivers of India’s export-led growth.
• Improves access to global markets through FTAs and trade facilitation.

Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td) Vaccine

• Union Health Minister launched the Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td) vaccine at the Central Research Institute, Kasauli, to strengthen India’s national immunization programme.

About Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td) Vaccine:

• The Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td) vaccine is a booster immunization that protects individuals against tetanus and diphtheria, two potentially life-threatening bacterial infections.
• It is generally administered after childhood immunization to maintain long-term immunity.

Types:

1. Td Vaccine – Protects against tetanus and diphtheria only.
2. Tdap Vaccine – Protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough); recommended especially for pregnant women and caregivers of infants.

Key Features:

• Booster dose usually recommended every 10 years: The Td vaccine is given periodically to maintain long-term immunity as protection from childhood vaccination gradually declines over time.
• Can be administered along with other vaccines: It can be safely given during the same visit as other immunizations, improving convenience and overall vaccination coverage.
• Provides continued immunity after childhood vaccination: Acts as a booster to reinforce protection against tetanus and diphtheria during adolescence and adulthood.
• Helps prevent severe complications such as respiratory failure: By preventing infection, the vaccine reduces the risk of life-threatening outcomes linked to toxin-producing bacteria.
• Generally safe with mild side effects: Most reactions are minor and short-lived, making the vaccine suitable for routine preventive use.
• Strengthens community immunity: Higher vaccination coverage lowers infection spread, indirectly protecting vulnerable populations.

About the Tetanus and Diphtheria Diseases:

Tetanus:

• Cause and infection source: Tetanus is a bacterial disease caused by Clostridium tetani, whose spores are commonly found in soil, dust and animal waste.
• Mode of entry and symptoms: The bacteria enter through cuts or wounds and release toxins that cause severe muscle stiffness, spasms and “lockjaw.”
• Severity and prevention: Serious cases can lead to breathing failure and death, but the disease is effectively preventable through timely vaccination and booster doses.

Diphtheria:

• Cause and transmission: Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, spreading mainly through respiratory droplets.
• Major health effects: It forms a thick grey coating in the throat, which can block airways and cause serious breathing difficulties.
• Complications and control: If untreated, it may lead to heart and nerve damage, but widespread immunization has significantly reduced its incidence worldwide.

SANKALP scheme

• The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised the government over the slow implementation of the SANKALP scheme, citing delays and weak monitoring mechanisms.

About SANKALP scheme:

• SANKALP (Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion) is a flagship skill development programme aimed at improving the quality and effectiveness of short-term skill training in India.
• It focuses on strengthening institutional capacity, industry linkage and inclusion of marginalized groups through systemic reforms.

Launched in

• Launched: 19 January 2018
• Initially planned till March 2023, later extended.

Implementing Agency:

• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
• Implemented with World Bank loan assistance and support from States and industry stakeholders.

Aim:

• Improve quality and scale of skill training: To strengthen short-term skill development through better institutional frameworks and quality assurance mechanisms.
• Promote inclusive livelihood opportunities: To enhance participation of marginalized and disadvantaged groups through targeted skilling interventions.

Key Features

• Financial support: The scheme has a total outlay of ₹4,455 crore, supported by World Bank funding to strengthen India’s skill development infrastructure and reforms.
• Institutional strengthening: Focuses on improving capacity and coordination of skill institutions at Central, State and District levels for better implementation.
• Quality assurance: Introduces standards and monitoring mechanisms to ensure training programmes meet industry-relevant quality benchmarks.
• Industry linkage: Promotes partnerships with industries so that training remains demand-driven and improves job placement opportunities.
• Inclusion focus: Targets participation of marginalized and disadvantaged groups to ensure equitable access to skill development programmes.
• Performance monitoring: Uses Results Framework and Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) to track outcomes and link funding with performance.

Pax Silica initiative

• India has joined the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative, aimed at building resilient supply chains for electronics, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.

About Pax Silica initiative:

• Pax Silica is a strategic international initiative led by the United States Department of State to strengthen secure, resilient and trusted supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors, electronics and AI technologies.

History:

• Conceptualised as a response to growing concerns over supply-chain vulnerabilities and concentration of rare-earth processing.
• Held its inaugural summit in Washington D.C. in December 2025.

Aim:

• To create resilient and diversified global supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors and AI-related technologies.
• To deepen economic partnerships among like-minded countries and reduce risks from coercive or monopolistic supply

Participants:

• Signatories include: Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Singapore, UAE, United Kingdom, India (new entrant).
• Non-signatory participants: Canada, European Union, Netherlands, OECD, Taiwan.

Key Features:

• Supply chain security focus: Promotes diversification of electronics and critical mineral supply chains to reduce excessive concentration risks.
• AI and technology collaboration: Encourages cooperation across AI systems, semiconductors, data infrastructure and advanced manufacturing ecosystems.
• Critical minerals partnership: Supports coordinated refining, processing and access to rare-earth and strategic minerals needed for future technologies.
• Investment and infrastructure cooperation: Promotes shared investments and incentives to strengthen trusted industrial and technology networks.
• Trusted innovation ecosystem: Builds collaboration among governments, industries and innovators to create secure and reliable technology stacks.
• Fair market and security framework: Addresses non-market practices, unfair dumping and protects sensitive technologies and critical infrastructure.
• Private sector participation: Mobilises entrepreneurship and industry capabilities to scale innovation and strengthen economic security.
• Strategic economic alignment: Aims to align partner countries on long-term technology governance and resilient global economic architecture.

Operation Chivalrous Knight 3

• The Ruler of Ajman has launched a humanitarian air bridge to Gaza for Ramadan under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, while the UAE pledged an additional billion at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington.

About Operation Chivalrous Knight 3:

• A comprehensive, multi-phased international humanitarian mission led by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide emergency relief and infrastructure support to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
• Launched by: The operation was initiated under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
• Aim: To alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by ensuring a steady flow of food, medical supplies, and essential services to displaced families and vulnerable groups, especially during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Key Features:

• Strategic Logistics: Operates via a dedicated sea and air bridge, utilizing hundreds of flights, several transport ships, and over 300 land convoys.
• Medical Infrastructure: Includes the establishment of a field hospital within Gaza and a floating hospital in Al Arish, Egypt, to perform specialized surgeries.
• Basic Needs: Development of desalination plants in Rafah and large-scale distribution of winter clothing and Warmth and Safety kits.
• Birds of Goodness: A specific initiative within the operation focused on airdropping aid to inaccessible areas in northern Gaza.

Significance:

• It represents one of the most sustained and high-volume humanitarian responses in the region, positioning the UAE as a leading donor.
• The recent billion pledge (bringing total UAE aid to nearly billion) reinforces the shift from immediate relief toward long-term stabilization through international cooperation frameworks like the Board of Peace.

INS Krishna

• The Indian Navy launched INS Krishna, the first of three indigenous Cadet Training Ships (CTS), at the L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai.

About INS Krishna:

• The lead ship of a new class of three Cadet Training Ships (CTS) indigenously designed and built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T). It is a dedicated platform for transitioning officer cadets from theoretical shore training to practical sea operations.
• Aim: To strengthen the Navy’s training infrastructure by providing a dedicated environment for cadets to gain hands-on experience in navigation, seamanship, and ship-handling without diverting frontline warships from active duties.

Key Features:

• Classroom Capacity: Equipped with three state-of-the-art classrooms capable of accommodating 70 cadets each.
• Specialized Facilities: Features a dedicated cadet training bridge, a chart house, and integrated simulators for “watch-keeping” drills.
• Specifications: A displacement of approximately 4,700 tonnes, a length of 122 meters, a top speed of 20 knots, and an endurance of 60 days at sea.
• Accommodation: Can host 20 officers, 150 sailors, and 200 cadets (including women cadets) simultaneously.
• Defensive Suite: Armed with a 76mm naval gun, two AK-630M Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), and 12.7mm stabilized remote-controlled guns.

Significance:

• Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Built under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, it showcases India’s self-reliance in warship design and private-sector shipbuilding.
• Naval Diplomacy: The ship will be used to train cadets from Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs), enhancing international maritime cooperation.

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

• India assumed the Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) during the 9th Conclave of Chiefs held in Visakhapatnam in February 2026.

About Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):

• The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a voluntary, inclusive and multilateral maritime forum that promotes cooperation among navies of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Established in:

• Established in 2008.
• Initiated by the Indian Navy to strengthen maritime cooperation among Indian Ocean littoral states.

History:

• India held the inaugural chairmanship (2008–2010).
• Successive chairmanships included UAE, South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Iran, France and Thailand.
• In 2026, India reassumed chairmanship, signalling renewed momentum for regional maritime cooperation.

Members:

• Around 25 member nations from the Indian Ocean Region.
• Includes observer countries and other maritime partners, with participation spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Aim:

1. To enhance collaboration among regional navies for maintaining peace, stability and secure sea lanes in the Indian Ocean.
2. To promote interoperability, professional exchanges and coordinated responses to humanitarian and security challenges.

Key Functions:

• Conducts Conclaves of Chiefs of Navies for strategic dialogue: Provides a high-level platform where naval leaders discuss regional maritime challenges, security cooperation and future collaborative strategies.
• Facilitates maritime exercises (IMEX): Organises joint drills and officer interactions to improve interoperability, operational understanding and confidence among participating navies.

Operates through three specialised Working Groups:

Dedicated groups translate strategic decisions into practical cooperation in key maritime domains.

1. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): Develops coordination mechanisms and best practices for rapid response during natural disasters and humanitarian crises at sea.
2. Maritime Security (MARSEC): Focuses on tackling piracy, terrorism, trafficking and other non-traditional maritime threats through shared experiences and cooperation.
3. Information Sharing & Interoperability (IS&I): Enhances real-time information exchange and compatible procedures to improve joint maritime operations and situational awareness.

• Promotes maritime domain awareness: Encourages sharing of maritime data and coordinated surveillance to ensure safer sea lanes and effective monitoring of activities.
• Strengthens institutional collaboration: Uses digital systems, training programmes and workshops to improve continuous engagement and long-term institutional cooperation among navies.

Supreme Court''s (SC) directions on the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules 2026

• Comprehensive directions issued to enforce the upcoming SWM Rules 2026 (will come into effect on April 1, 2026).
• SC reiterated that the right to a clean and healthy environment is an intrinsic part of Article 21 of the Constitution.
• The Court noted that despite having 2000-year-old heritage sites, poor waste management and a lack of civic cleanliness severely discourage tourism in India.

Key Directions

• Four-Stream Segregation: Pollution Control Boards to expedite infrastructure for four-stream segregation – Wet, Dry, Sanitary and Special Care waste and immediate communication of rules to Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs).
• Role of Elected Representatives:  Councillors, Mayors, Corporators, or Ward Members are designated as the lead facilitators for source-segregation education and have a statutory duty to enrol every citizen in the implementation of SWM Rules, 2026.
• Strict Enforcement and Penalties: Failure to comply with the rules will no longer be treated as a mere administrative lapse. The Court established three tiers of enforcement:
• Tier 1: Immediate imposition of fines for initial non-compliance by generators or local authorities.
• Tier 2: Continued disregard will result in criminal prosecution under environmental laws.
• Tier 3: Prosecution will extend to all responsible persons, including officials who neglect their oversight duties.
• Legacy Waste: A separate, time-bound action plan must be activated to address, treat, and remedy legacy waste dumpsites.

Directions to be issued by MoEFCC under EP Act (1986): 

• Through District Collectors, conduct infrastructure audits of solid waste management.
• Every local body must declare an outer time limit for 100% compliance.

Merchandise Trade Indices

• Merchandise Trade Indices have been revised to better reflect the evolving structure of India’s trade and changing global trade patterns.

About Merchandise Trade Indices

• Compiled and published: By the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Purpose: Measure changes in the unit values (prices) and quantities of India’s exports and imports over time.
• Base Year Revision: From FY 2012–13 to FY 2022–23
• Indices Compiled: Various indices are compiled across multiple classifications, like Export Unit Value Index, Import Unit Value Index, Terms of Trade, etc.

Terms of Trade includes

• Net Terms of Trade/ commodity Terms of Trade: Ratio of export prices to import prices.
• Gross Terms of Trade: Ratio of physical quantity of import to physical quantity of export.
• Income Terms of Trade: Net Terms of Trade multiplied by quantity of export.

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)

• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the US President lacked the authority to impose broad import tariffs on trade partners under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977.
• After court order, US President has signed a proclamation using an alternative law — Trade Act of 1974 — which would allow him to impose a new 10% temporary tariff on goods from all countries.

About IEEPA

• Purpose:  Allows the President to act against unusual and extraordinary external threats to National security, Foreign policy, Economy.
• Historically used for: Economic sanctions, Freezing foreign assets.