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02/02/2026

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CA-02/02/2026

• Temple Ceremonies:
  • Palani (Dindigul district): Lakhs of devotees participated in the temple car procession, chanting “Muruga, Muruga” and “Arohara.” Celestial wedding rituals and abhishekams were performed.
  • Tiruchendur (Thoothukudi district): Devotees arrived on padayatra (pilgrimage by foot). Rituals included Viswaroopa deeparadhana, Udaya Marthanda abishekam, and Theerthavari (holy dip in the sea).
• Devotional Acts:
  • Kavadi Aattam: Devotees carry decorated structures (kavadi) as an act of penance and devotion.
  • Piercing & Vows: In Malaysia and Singapore, devotees pierce their bodies with hooks, skewers, and spears as offerings of endurance and faith.
  • Offerings: Panchamirtham (a sacred mixture of fruits, honey, and ghee) is widely distributed, especially at Palani.

• Malaysia (Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur): One of the largest Thaipusam gatherings outside India, with millions of devotees.
• Singapore: Celebrated at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple with kavadi processions.
• Sri Lanka & Mauritius: Strong Tamil communities observe with temple rituals and processions.

• Announcement Date: February 1, 2026 (Union Budget 2026–27).
• Number of Hubs: Five regional hubs across India.
• Purpose:
  • Position India as a global healthcare destination.
  • Strengthen domestic healthcare infrastructure.
  • Generate employment opportunities for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.
• Facilities Included:
  • Modern hospital infrastructure.
  • Advanced diagnostics.
  • Post-treatment care and rehabilitation.
  • AYUSH centers (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy).
  • Medical value tourism facilitation centers.
  • Research and educational facilities.

• Medical Value Tourism (MVT):
  • India’s MVT sector is projected to reach $13.42 billion by 2026.
  • These hubs aim to attract international patients seeking affordable, high-quality treatment.
• Integration with AYUSH:
  • Post-COVID, Ayurveda and Yoga have gained global recognition.
  • The government is also setting up three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to strengthen research.

• Healthcare Access: Improved infrastructure for both domestic and international patients.
• Employment: Diverse opportunities for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and researchers.
• Economic Growth: Boost to tourism, hospitality, and allied industries.
• Global Branding: Strengthens India’s image as a “Heal in India” destination.

• Policy Clarity: Experts urge clear guidelines on hub operations and private sector partnerships.
• Quality Standards: Upgrading AYUSH pharmacies and drug testing labs is critical to maintain credibility.
• Equitable Access: Ensuring hubs benefit local populations, not just international patients.

• Budget Allocation: ₹40,000 crore dedicated to semiconductor development.
• Focus Areas:
  • Production of semiconductor equipment and materials.
  • Development of full-stack Indian IP for chip design.
  • Strengthening domestic supply chains to reduce import dependence.
• Research & Training: Establishment of industry-led research and training centres to build a skilled workforce.
• Expansion of Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS): Outlay increased to ₹40,000 crore to deepen electronics manufacturing.

• Move up the value chain: Support Indian companies in chip design and fabrication.
• Global competitiveness: Position India as a hub for semiconductor and display manufacturing.
• Workforce development: Train engineers and researchers in advanced semiconductor technologies.
• Supply chain resilience: Reduce reliance on imports and secure critical components.

• National Security: Chips are critical for defense, telecom, and strategic sectors.
• Economic Growth: Boosts electronics exports and reduces import bill.
• Innovation: Encourages Indian universities and startups to participate in chip design.

• High Capital Intensity: Semiconductor fabs require billions in investment.
• Global Competition: Countries like the US, Taiwan, and South Korea dominate the sector.
• Technology Gaps: India must bridge expertise in advanced nodes (below 10nm).
• Supply Chain Dependencies: Raw materials and rare earths remain globally concentrated.

• Full Form: Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources.
• Core Features:
  • Multilingual AI tool for accessibility across India’s diverse farmer base
  • Integration with AgriStack (digital farmer records) and ICAR crop practice packages
  • Real-time weather forecasts via APIs
  • Direct access to Kisan Call Centre services
  • Streamlined process to learn, apply, and track government schemes

• Data-driven decisions: AI helps farmers plan sowing, irrigation, and harvesting with reduced uncertainty.
• Risk reduction: Timely weather alerts and soil data minimize crop losses.
• Income stability: Customized advisories improve yields and market readiness.
• Accessibility: Multilingual support ensures inclusivity for farmers across regions.
• Government integration: Farmers can easily access schemes and subsidies without bureaucratic delays.

• Digital divide: Farmers without smartphones or internet access may be excluded.
• Data privacy: Integration of farmer records raises concerns about secure handling.
• Implementation speed: Success depends on rapid rollout and training at the grassroots level.
• Trust building: Farmers must be convinced to rely on AI-driven advisories.

• Customized Training Programs
  Tailored courses for different disability groups to match their abilities and industry needs.
  Example: IT and AVGC sectors offer task-oriented roles suitable for Divyangjan.
• Industry-Relevant Skills
  Focus on practical, process-driven roles in hospitality, food & beverages, and technology sectors.
• Shift from Welfare to Workforce
  Moves beyond subsidies, aiming for capability-driven inclusion, employability, and income security.
• Integration with Assistive Technologies
  Linked with the Divyang Sahara Yojana, which provides high-quality assistive devices through modern retail-style Assistive Technology Marts.

• Enhance Employability: Equip Divyangjan with skills aligned to current industry demands.
• Promote Dignified Livelihoods: Ensure opportunities beyond charity-based support.
• Inclusive Workforce Participation: Integrate persons with disabilities into mainstream economic activities.
• Technology-Driven Support: Use AI and research to improve accessibility and assistive devices.

• Economic Independence: Helps Divyangjan earn through skilled jobs.
• Social Inclusion: Encourages participation in mainstream workforce.
• Regional Benefits: States like Jharkhand have already welcomed the scheme, hoping for effective implementation.

• Launch Year: Announced in the Union Budget 2026–27.
• Duration: 10 years (long-term mission).
• Objective: Move India from occasional sporting success to consistent global competitiveness.
• Focus Areas:
  • Grassroots Development: Expanding sports participation at the school and community level.
  • Infrastructure: Upgrading training centres, stadiums, and sports facilities nationwide.
  • Coaching & Support Systems: Professionalising coaching, sports science, and management.
  • Employment & Industry: Creating jobs in coaching, sports gear manufacturing, sports management, and allied sectors.
  • Global Ambition: Preparing India for major events like the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics, for which India has bid.

• Economic Sector: Sports is now seen as a driver of employment, skilling, and industry growth, not just medals.
• Self-Reliance: Push for domestic sports goods manufacturing to reduce dependence on imports.
• Youth Empowerment: Encourages participation, fitness, and career opportunities for India’s large youth population.
• National Pride: Aims to showcase India’s potential on the global stage and strengthen soft power through sports.

• Implementation: Success depends on effective coordination between central and state governments.
• Funding: Sustained financial support is critical for infrastructure and training.
• Inclusivity: Ensuring rural and underprivileged athletes benefit equally.
• Monitoring: Transparent evaluation of outcomes (medals, participation, jobs created).

• Launched by: State Bank of India (SBI) in January 2026.
• Purpose: To enable financing for next-generation, technology-led, and sustainability-focused industries.
• Vision: To act as a coordinated ecosystem for knowledge-sharing, project appraisal, capacity building, and evidence-based policy engagement.

Sector	Importance
Renewable Energy	Supports India’s clean energy transition.
Advanced Cell Chemistry & Battery Storage	Essential for electric vehicles and energy storage.
Electric Mobility	Reduces dependence on fossil fuels, promotes sustainable transport.
Green Hydrogen & Ammonia	Emerging fuel for decarbonization.
Semiconductors	Strengthens India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem.
Decarbonisation	Helps industries reduce carbon footprint.
Smart Infrastructure	Builds resilient, tech-enabled urban systems.
Data Centre Infrastructure	Supports digital economy and cloud services.

• By 2030, these eight sectors are expected to unlock over ₹100 lakh crore in cumulative capital expenditure.
• SBI aims to strengthen risk assessment capabilities and develop innovative financing structures aligned with evolving business models and policy priorities.

• The initiative aligns with India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 (Viksit Bharat 2047).
• It will serve as a lighthouse of innovation, bridging finance, policy, and industry to accelerate India’s transformation.

• Introduced: March 30, 2016, under HELP.
• Replaced: New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP), which was in place for 18 years.
• Flexibility: Companies can carve out blocks based on data from the National Data Repository (NDR).
• Continuous EoI: Investors can submit Expressions of Interest throughout the year without waiting for government bid announcements.
• Biannual Bidding: Government consolidates EoIs and conducts formal bidding rounds twice a year.
• Data Access: Seamless access to India’s geological & geophysical (G&G) data for analysis.

• Boost Exploration & Production (E&P): Encourage private and foreign investment in India’s hydrocarbon sector.
• Reduce Import Dependence: India imports ~85% of its crude oil; OALP aims to increase domestic production.
• Transparency & Efficiency: Move away from rigid government-driven block allocation to investor-driven choices.
• Technology-Driven: Use of NDR ensures scientific block selection and faster project initiation.

Advantages	Challenges
Investor-driven block selection	High exploration risk in frontier basins
Continuous EoI submission	Offshore deep-water blocks are costly
Transparent bidding process	Global oil price volatility affects investment
Access to NDR data	Environmental & regulatory hurdles

• Energy Security: Helps India diversify and strengthen domestic hydrocarbon production.
• Investment Magnet: Attracts global oil majors and domestic players with flexible terms.
• Policy Reform: Part of India’s broader energy reforms to modernize exploration licensing.

• Lubricants:
  • Used in high-pressure, high-temperature environments (e.g., aerospace, automotive).
  • Outperforms graphite in vacuum or dry conditions.
• Electronics & Semiconductors:
  • Thin films and monolayers used in transistors, sensors, and flexible electronics.
  • Promising alternative to silicon in nanoelectronics.
• Catalysis:
  • Effective in hydrodesulfurization (removing sulfur from petroleum).
  • Emerging role in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) for clean energy.
• Energy Storage:

• Incorporated in lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors for improved performance

• Established: 1946 as the Social Commission, renamed CSocD in the 1960s.
• Parent Body: United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• Membership: Expanded over time, now 46 member states.
• Mandate:
  • Follow-up on the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action (1995).
  • Provide policy guidance on poverty eradication, social integration, and employment.
  • Serve as the UN’s central forum for reviewing and advancing social development issues.

• Theme: “Advancing Social Development and Social Justice through Coordinated, Equitable and Inclusive Policies.”
• Agenda Highlights:
  • Implementation of the Doha Political Declaration.
  • High-level dialogues on poverty, inequality, unemployment, and exclusion.
  • Negotiations and general debates on coordinated global action.

• Delegation Leader: Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur.
• Objective: Showcase India’s commitment to multilateral cooperation on social inclusion, equity, and welfare-oriented policies.
• Engagement: Opportunity for India to interact with UN agencies and other member states to share best practices and strengthen social policy dialogue.

• Persistent Inequality: Billions still face poverty and exclusion despite decades of global commitments.
• Balancing Priorities: Countries must align national policies with global frameworks while addressing local realities.
• Implementation Gap: Translating summit declarations into concrete action remains a recurring challenge.

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