CA-26/03/2026

• The Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is India's upcoming indigenous space station, intended to serve as a permanent orbital laboratory for scientific research and a stepping stone for human missions to the Moon. 

• Industrial Partnerships: In early 2026, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) to domestic Indian industries for the fabrication and realization of the first module's structure.
• SPADEX Missions: ISRO announced plans for advanced docking experiments (SPADEX-2 and SPADEX-3) to test critical rendezvous and docking technologies required for the station.
• Cabinet Approval: In September 2024, the Union Cabinet officially expanded the Gaganyaan Programme to include the development and launch of the first BAS module (BAS-01).

• 2028: Target for launching the first module, BAS-01 (Base Module), weighing approximately 10 tonnes.
• 2035: Target for the station to be fully operational with all five modules.

• The station will consist of five modules: Base, Core, Science, Lab, and Common Working modules.
• Total estimated mass once completed is approximately 52 tonnes.

• It will orbit at an altitude of 400–450 km above Earth in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• The orbital inclination is set at approximately 51.5°.

• Designed to accommodate 3–4 astronauts for durations of 3 to 6 months.
• For short durations, it may support a maximum of 6 crew members.

• Serve as a hub for microgravity research in fields like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and materials science.
• Provide advanced Earth observation for disaster monitoring and climate studies.

• The total funding for the expanded Gaganyaan Programme, which now includes BAS-01, has been increased to ₹20,193 crore.
• The specific cost for the development and launch of the first module is estimated at ₹1,763 crore over four years (2025–2028).

• ISRO is incorporating international standards for its subsystems to ensure interoperability with other global space agencies for potential joint missions.

• Core Objective: Developed by ISRO to ensure strategic autonomy, particularly after the US denied India GPS data during the 1999 Kargil War.
• Coverage Area: Provides accurate positioning over India and a region extending up to 1,500 km beyond its borders.
• Services Provided:
  • Standard Positioning Service (SPS): Open for civilian use with an accuracy of approximately 5–10 metres.
  • Restricted Service (RS): An encrypted signal for strategic and military users.
• Satellite Configuration:
  • Designed for a constellation of 7 active satellites.
  • Uses a combination of Geostationary (GEO) and Geosynchronous (IGSO) orbits to ensure constant coverage over the Indian subcontinent.
• Second-Generation (NVS Series) Upgrades:
  • Indigenous Atomic Clocks: Transitioning from imported Swiss clocks to homegrown Rubidium atomic clocks to improve reliability.
  • Longer Lifespan: Increased mission life of 12 years compared to the 10-year life of the first generation.
  • New Frequency (L1): Broadcasts in L1, L5, and S bands for better performance in congested urban areas and forests.
• Mandatory Use: Since 2019, NavIC-based tracking is mandatory for commercial vehicles in India.
• International Recognition: Recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as part of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System.

• Logistics Partnership with India Post: On March 25, 2026, TRIFED signed an MoU with the Department of Posts to boost tribal e-commerce. This partnership includes Speed Post services with a "Book Now Pay Later" (BNPL) facility and API integration for seamless order tracking.

• Bharat Tribes Fest 2026: TRIFED is currently hosting a 12-day national festival (March 18–30, 2026) at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi. The event features over 1,000 artisans from 730+ tribes and, for the first time, includes an International Pavilion with participants from Australia, Fiji, and Vietnam.
• Launch of 'RISA: Timeless Tribal': A new premium brand, RISA, was launched during the festival. It features collaborations between renowned designers and tribal artisans to integrate traditional textiles like Eri Silk and Kotpad Cotton into global fashion.
• CSR Conclave 2026: This event aimed to bridge the gap between corporate houses and tribal entrepreneurs through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. 

• Establishment: Founded in 1987 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984.
• Dual Role: Functions as both a market developer and a service provider for tribal products.
• Retail Network: Operates the Tribes India brand with 120+ retail outlets across India.
• Major Schemes:
  • Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY): Focuses on value addition of forest produce through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs). Each centre groups roughly 300 tribal gatherers into Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
  • MSP for MFP: A flagship scheme providing a Minimum Support Price for forest produce to protect tribals from middleman exploitation.
  • Tech for Tribals: A capacity-building program in association with premier institutes like IITs and IIMs to impart entrepreneurship skills to tribal gatherers.
• Aadi Mahotsav: TRIFED's flagship annual festival that celebrates tribal culture, crafts, and cuisine on a national scale.
• Digital Presence: Markets authentic products globally through the Tribes India E-portal and collaborates with platforms like Meesho for wider reach.

• NESIDS-OTRI stands for North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme - Other Than Road Infrastructure)

• Structure: NESIDS was restructured in 2022-23 into two distinct components: NESIDS-Roads (for physical connectivity) and NESIDS-OTRI (for all other social and physical infrastructure).
• 100% Central Funding: As a Central Sector Scheme, it is fully funded (100%) by the Government of India, requiring no financial contribution from the state governments.
• Target Sectors: NESIDS-OTRI focuses on non-road sectors, including:
  • Social Infrastructure: Primary and secondary healthcare and education.
  • Physical Infrastructure: Water supply, power, solid/liquid waste management, and telecommunications.
  • Economic/Misc: Industrial development, civil aviation, sports, and conservation of iconic water bodies.
• Project Scale: It generally considers projects with a size between ₹5 crore and ₹50 crore.
• Predecessor Schemes: The OTRI component subsumes uncompleted projects from older schemes like the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) and the Hill Area Development Programme (HADP).
• Administration: It is directly administered by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), whereas the Roads component is often handled through the North Eastern Council (NEC).
• Monitoring Mechanism: Projects are tracked via the Gati Shakti Portal and inspected by Field Technical Support Units (FTSU). For projects over ₹20 crore, government engineering colleges in the region act as Third Party Technical Inspection (TPTI) agencies. 

• Primary Objective: To provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India, allowing residents to use their property as a financial asset for taking bank loans.
• Technology Used: Employs survey-grade drones and a Continuous Operating Referencing System (CORS) network to create high-resolution digital maps with high accuracy.
• Economic Impact: The total surveyed rural land is estimated to be valued at approximately ₹132 lakh crore, highlighting the scheme's potential to unlock massive rural capital.
• Dispute Resolution: By clearly demarcating property boundaries with GPS precision, the scheme significantly reduces long-standing land-related litigations.
• Social Empowerment:
  • Women's Rights: Many states (e.g., MP, Haryana, J&K) have mandated co-ownership for women in the property cards to enhance their social and financial security.
  • Marginalized Groups: Protects vulnerable communities (SC/ST, sharecroppers) from encroachment by providing formal legal titles.
• Local Governance: Empowers Gram Panchayats to better assess and collect property tax, creating a sustainable revenue stream for local development.
• Global Recognition: The model was showcased at the World Bank Land Governance Conference in May 2025 as a global best practice for land digitisation.
• Accessibility: Property cards are available digitally via the DigiLocker app, ensuring easy access and transparency.

• Launched on March 24-25, 2026, by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari (Road Transport & Highways) and Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways) in New Delhi. Aimed at accelerating Road Over Bridges (ROBs) construction amid India's infrastructure push, reducing approval delays from 12 months to 3-4 months (70-75% cut).

• Full Form: Portal for Rail-Road Inspection & Stages Management – Steel Girders (PRISM-SG).
• Purpose: Digitizes end-to-end processes for ROB steel girders, including Quality Assurance Plans (QAP), Welding Procedure Specification Sheets (WPSS), fabrication inspections, document submission, scrutiny, query resolution, approvals, inspection scheduling, and report uploads with photos/test results.
• Stakeholders: Integrates Road Owning Departments, Indian Railways, contractors, fabricators, and inspection agencies on one platform with real-time monitoring and full audit trail.

• Reduces coordination failures and paper-based delays.
• Enhances transparency, efficiency, and project predictability.
• Supports faster railway infrastructure and road connectivity.
• Context: Part of broader MoRTH efforts; unrelated to other PRISM acronyms (e.g., SERB research or pension systems).

• Males: Increased from 70.9% (2019) to 75% (2024).
• Females: Increased from 21.8% (2019) to 25% (2024).
• Average Time: Male participants spend 473 minutes daily on paid work, while female participants spend 341 minutes.

• Housework: Women spend 289 minutes a day on average on unpaid domestic services, while men spend only 88 minutes—a gap of over 200 minutes.
• Caregiving: 41% of women participate in caregiving compared to 21.4% of men. Women spend 140 minutes daily on these roles, versus 74 minutes for men.

• 89.3% of children (aged 6–14) engage in learning activities, spending an average of 413 minutes per day.

• Indians (aged 6+) spend 11% of their day on culture, leisure, and mass media, up from 9.9% in 2019.
• Approximately 708 minutes daily are spent on self-care and maintenance (including sleep and hygiene).

• Coverage: Covered 1,39,487 households and 4,54,192 persons aged 6 years and above.
• Methodology: Used 30-minute time slots to record activities over a 24-hour reference period via Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI). 

• Launch: Officially launched on March 25, 2022, following an announcement in the Union Budget 2022-23.
• Core Objective: To promote "Vocal for Local" by providing fixed stalls, kiosks, or portable trolleys at stations for showcasing and selling indigenous products.
• Product Categories: Outlets sell a variety of local goods, including:
  • Handicrafts/Artifacts: Bamboo crafts, pottery, and wood carvings.
  • Textiles: Handloom sarees (e.g., Kancheepuram, Silk), Chikankari garments, and Zari work.
  • Food Products: Spices, local sweets, tea, coffee, and traditional pickles or preserves.
• Allotment Process: Stalls are allotted on a rotational basis (typically for 15 days to 3 months) to ensure wider participation.
• Nominal Fees: Applicants pay a small registration fee (approximately ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 including GST) for their temporary tenure.
• Eligibility: Open to individual artisans, weavers, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and micro-enterprises registered under MSME or bodies like TRIFED and KVIC.
• Infrastructure: Indian Railways provides standardized, uniquely designed outlets—developed in collaboration with the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad—to maintain a consistent look while reflecting local heritage.

• Core Legislation: Drug regulation is currently governed by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, though it is set to be replaced by the more comprehensive Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill.
• Streamlined Clinical Research (2026): New NDCT (Amendment) Rules, 2026 have introduced a "Prior-Intimation" pathway, replacing mandatory test licences for non-commercial manufacturing. This is expected to save up to 90 days in the drug development cycle.
• Digital Compliance: All applications are being shifted to the SUGAM portal, making digital documentation and tracking mandatory for license holders.
• Harsher Penalties: The proposed new law introduces strict monetary fines—the greater of ₹15 lakh or three times the value of confiscated drugs—and up to life imprisonment for manufacturing spurious drugs that cause death.
• Focus on Medical Devices: Medical devices are now being treated as a distinct category from drugs, with a new Medical Devices Technical Advisory Board and risk-based classification systems.
• Quality Standards: Schedule M was recently revised to integrate WHO-Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), with full compliance for small and medium manufacturers required by late 2025.

• Integration with Export Promotion Mission (EPM): As of March 2026, the scheme has been functionally integrated into the broader Export Promotion Mission (EPM), a unified ₹25,060 crore framework launched to streamline India’s export competitiveness.

• Create awareness on export-import procedures, incentives, and opportunities.
• Build capacity through mentoring, training, and handholding for first-time exporters.
• Promote entrepreneurship in international trade, targeting youth, women, and MSMEs.

• Announced on October 13, 2011; implemented during the 12th Five-Year Plan with a budget of Rs. 23.23 crore over four years.
• Run by DGFT officers as "Niryat Bandhus" via orientation programs, counselling, and outreach.

• Export-import documentation, customs procedures, and trade finance.​
• Market identification, international marketing, e-commerce, quality standards, and risk management.​
• Linkages with export promotion councils and government incentives under Foreign Trade Policy.​

• Trained thousands annually, enabling MSMEs to become first-time exporters and reducing compliance errors.
• Integrated digital tools and e-governance for broader reach.​
• Boosted export culture among startups and students.

1. It is planned as a permanent orbital laboratory for scientific research.
2. It will consist of three modules once completed.
3. It is part of the expanded Gaganyaan Programme.

• Statement 1 Correct
• Statement 2 Incorrect (It has 5 modules)
• Statement 3 Correct

1. It provides global navigation coverage similar to GPS.
2. It uses a combination of GEO and IGSO satellites.
3. At least four satellites are required for accurate positioning.

• Statement 1 Incorrect (NavIC is regional, not global)
• Statement 2 Correct
• Statement 3 Correct

1. It was established under the Companies Act, 2013.
2. It implements the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana.
3. It operates the Tribes India retail network.

• Statement 1 Incorrect (Established under Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984)
• Statement 2 Correct
• Statement 3 Correct

1. It uses drones and CORS technology for mapping rural land.
2. It is applicable only to urban areas.
3. It enables property owners to use land as a financial asset.

• Statement 1 Correct
• Statement 2 Incorrect (It is for rural areas)
• Statement 3 Correct

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