UPSC Current Affairs 06 April 2026

 
Contents
1. National Maritime Day
2. United Nations Development Partnership Fund
3. Kar Saathi
4. Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
5. Rongali Bihu
6. Namo Drone Didi Yojana
7. Juang tribe
8. Purchasing Managers’ Index
9. Ganga Water Treaty
10. Rail Neer Scam
 
 

Why in News?
India celebrates 63^rd National Maritime Day every year on 5 April to honour the country's maritime heritage and the people who keep its trade moving across the oceans. 
 
About

• Theme for 2026: The official theme is "Maritime India – Empowering Progress".
• High-Level Recognition: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other national leaders have shared messages highlighting the sector's role in India's economic growth and strategic autonomy.
• National Ceremonies: The celebrations were formally inaugurated with the presentation of a commemorative lapel pin to the President and Prime Minister of India by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• New Legislation: The day is also notable this year following the recent passage of major maritime reforms, including the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024 and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, aimed at modernising colonial-era laws. 

Historical Significance

• Maiden Voyage: It commemorates 5 April 1919, when the SS Loyalty, the first Indian-owned ship, sailed from Mumbai to London.
• Breaking Monopolies: The voyage was a landmark act of defiance against the British shipping monopoly, led by the Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd.
• First Celebration: The day was first officially observed in 1964. 

Economic Impact

• Trade Volume: Approximately 95% of India’s trade by volume and 77% by value is moved by sea.
• Energy Security: Nearly 80% of India's energy imports pass through critical maritime corridors like the Strait of Hormuz.
• Global Workforce: Indian seafarers currently occupy about 12% of international seafaring jobs, with a target to reach 20% by 2030. 

Major Awards & Recognition
The government presents the Sagar Samman Awards to recognise excellence in the sector: 

• Sagar Samman Varuna Award: The highest honour for sustained, outstanding contributions.
• Award for Excellence: For consistently high-level performance in maritime duties.
• Award for Gallantry: Honours exceptional acts of bravery by Indian seafarers at sea. 

Future Goals: Maritime India Vision 2030 
Under the Maritime India Vision 2030, the government aims to: 

• Modernise Infrastructure: Enhance port capacity through the Sagarmala Programme.
• Green Shipping: Promote eco-friendly practices to reduce the carbon footprint of the maritime industry.
• Self-Reliance: Establish world-class standards in maritime education, research, and shipbuilding to achieve Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.

 
Why in News?
The Board of Directors met at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in New York on 3 April 2026 to review the entire scope of the fund's operations and take stock of nearly 90 ongoing projects.
 
About

• New Project Launches: Recent stories highlighted by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) include:
  • Jamaica: Launching rural livelihood and climate-resilient agrifood systems in March 2026.
  • The Bahamas: Activation of a Category 5 hurricane shelter in January 2026.
  • Cabo Verde: Advancing maternal and newborn health initiatives in February 2026.
• India-UN Global Capacity-Building Initiative: A new partnership launched in August 2025 between India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the UN to share Indian innovations (like digital public infrastructure) with the Global South. 

Core Objectives & Structure

• Establishment: Launched in June 2017 with a total commitment of $150 million over ten years from India.
• Management: Managed by the UNOSSC and implemented by various UN agencies like UNDP, UNICEF, and FAO.
• Target Areas: Focuses on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Thematic Reach: Supports all 17 SDGs, including health, education, climate resilience, and gender equality. 

The "Commonwealth Window"

• Specific Focus: Established in April 2018 with a dedicated $50 million to specifically aid developing countries within the Commonwealth of Nations.
• Impact: Has supported over 36 projects in 28 countries, focusing on vulnerable states with shared institutional histories. 

Principles of Operation

• National Ownership: Projects are demand-driven, meaning they respond directly to requests from the governments of the partner countries.
• Equality & Respect: Operates as a "partnership among friends" rather than a traditional donor-recipient relationship.
• Sustainability: Prioritizes building local capacity to ensure projects continue to thrive after the fund's involvement ends. 

Recent Impact Highlights (2025–2026)

• Health: Supporting 15 Caribbean nations in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B.
• Safety: Removing landmines in Senegal to make communities safer for development.
• Technology: Modernizing data systems in Moldova to build economic resilience.

 

• 24/7 AI Chatbot: Provides round-the-clock automated support for tax-related queries.
• One-Stop Portal: Consolidates all services—filing returns, e-verification, refunds, and PAN services—into a single dashboard known as Income Tax Website 2.0.
• Multilingual Support: Offers guidance in English, Hindi, and 10 regional languages to ensure accessibility for all citizens. 

• Ease of Compliance: Aims to eliminate the need for professional help for salaried individuals and small businesses with straightforward tax profiles.
• Real-Time Assistance: Helps users understand which ITR form applies to them and guides them through step-by-step filing.
• Transparency: Built to reduce friction, confusion, and potential disputes between the taxpayer and the department. 

• Citizen-First Approach: Guided by the philosophy of "Nagrik Devo Bhava" (The Citizen is God).
• Resources: Includes over 2,200 FAQs, tutorial videos, and brochures to ensure no taxpayer is left behind during the legislative shift. 

• Statutory Body: Formed under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
• Supremacy: It has the power to overrule directives issued by state governments (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, and Delhi) regarding air pollution.
• Area of Focus: Covers the entire NCR plus "adjoining areas" where pollution sources impact Delhi's air. 

• GRAP Implementation: Manages the Graded Response Action Plan, a set of emergency measures (Stage I to IV) triggered based on AQI levels.
• Flying Squads: Operates specialized teams that conduct surprise inspections at construction sites, factories, and power plants.
• Research & Standards: Sets emission standards for industries and vehicles and promotes transitions to cleaner fuels like PNG and biomass pellets. 

• Closure Powers: Can order the immediate shutdown of any polluting industrial unit or construction site.
• Fines: Authorized to impose environmental compensation fees on violators, including industries and local municipal bodies.
• Coordination: Acts as a bridge between central and state agencies to ensure a unified "airshed" approach to pollution. 

1. Goru Bihu (14 April): Dedicated to cattle. Cows are bathed in rivers with turmeric and urad dal paste and offered seasonal vegetables like gourd and brinjal.
2. Manuh Bihu (15 April): Dedicated to people. On the first day of the New Year, people wear new clothes, seek blessings from elders, and exchange Gamosas (traditional hand-woven scarves).
3. Gosai Bihu: Dedicated to household deities; people offer prayers for a prosperous year.
4. Tator Bihu: Dedicated to handlooms, highlighting the importance of weaving in Assamese culture.
5. Nangal Bihu: Dedicated to the plough and agricultural equipment.
6. Senehi Bihu: Dedicated to love and relationships; traditionally a day for young people to meet and celebrate.
7. Chera Bihu: The final day, marked by the conclusion of festivities and community feasts. 

• Bihu Dance: A high-energy folk dance performed by young men and women in traditional attire (Muga silk Mekhela Chador for women and Dhoti-Gamosa for men).
• Traditional Instruments: The rhythm is created using the Dhol (drum), Pepa (buffalo horn pipe), Gogona (jew's harp), and Toka (bamboo clapper).
• Traditional Food: Essential delicacies include Pitha (rice cakes), Laru (sweet balls of coconut or sesame), and Jolpan (breakfast of flattened rice with curd and jaggery). 

• Agrarian Roots: It marks the beginning of the sowing season.
• Inclusivity: Bihu is a secular festival celebrated by all Assamese people regardless of caste, creed, or religion.
• National Connection: It coincides with other harvest festivals in India like Baisakhi (Punjab), Poila Baisakh (West Bengal), Vishu (Kerala), and Puthandu (Tamil Nadu). 

• State Leadership: Karnataka was recently recognised as the leading state in terms of SHG members successfully completing drone pilot training.
• Budget 2026 Expansion: The Union Budget 2026-27 (presented in February) significantly increased the allocation for the DAY-NRLM (under which this scheme operates) by 20% to ₹17,280 crore to help Drone Didis transition from service providers to full-scale "enterprise owners".
• Republic Day Honour: The "Namo Drone Didi" tableau won the first prize at the 2026 Republic Day Parade, highlighting its status as a top national priority. 

• Women Empowerment: To transform rural women into "Drone Pilots," breaking traditional gender roles in agritech.
• Precision Farming: To improve agricultural efficiency through the precise spraying of pesticides and nano-fertilizers.
• Economic Growth: Each SHG is targeted to earn an additional annual income of at least ₹1 lakh through rental services. 

• Total Outlay: ₹1,261 crore for the period 2023–24 to 2025–26.
• Heavy Subsidy: The government provides 80% financial assistance (up to a maximum of ₹8 lakh) for the purchase of drones and accessories.
• Low-Interest Loans: For the remaining 20%, SHGs can access loans under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with a 3% interest subvention. 

• 15-Day Mandatory Training: Includes 5 days of DGCA-certified drone pilot training and 10 days of specialised training for agricultural nutrient application.
• Drone Assistant: A second member of the SHG (or a family member) is trained as a "Drone Assistant" to help with maintenance and repairs.
• Full Package: The drone comes with a spray assembly, 5 sets of batteries, a charger, a pH meter, an anemometer (to check wind speed), and a one-year warranty. 

• Target: Providing drones to 15,000 selected women SHGs across the country.
• LFC Coordination: Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) act as intermediaries between drone manufacturers and SHGs to ensure quality procurement and support.
• Cluster-Based Selection: Drones are deployed in areas with high demand for agricultural services and suitable terrain for drone operations.

• Classification: One of the 13 PVTGs in Odisha and one of 75 in India.
• Etymology: The word Juang literally translates to "Sons of Man" or "Man" in their dialect.
• Language: They speak Juang, which belongs to the Munda family of the Austroasiatic language group.
• Sub-groups: Divided into Thaniya (Hill Juang) and Bhagudia (Plain Juang). 

• Mandaghar: The bachelor dormitory is the heart of their social and educational life, where traditional songs and dances are passed down.
• Traditional Attire: Historically known as "Patuas" (leaf-wearers) because women once wore girdles made of leaves.
• Changu Dance: A vibrant courtship dance performed to the beat of the Changu, a large, circular, single-membrane drum.
• Beliefs: They follow animism, worshipping the Sun God (Dharam Devta) and the Earth Goddess (Basumati), while also incorporating elements of Hinduism. 

• Agriculture: Traditionally practiced shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn) known locally as Koman or Podu, though many have transitioned to settled farming.
• Craftsmanship: They are highly skilled in basket-weaving, which serves as a major source of supplemental income.
• Forest Produce: Deeply dependent on collecting Minor Forest Produce (MFP) like honey, tubers, and edible leaves. 

• Self-Governance: They maintain a traditional council headed by a Pradhan (secular head) and a Nagam (religious head). The post of Pradhan is not hereditary; leaders are chosen based on their wisdom and ability. 

• Scale of 0 to 100:
  • Above 50: Indicates expansion compared to the previous month.
  • Below 50: Indicates contraction.
  • At 50: Indicates no change.
• Survey-Based: It is derived from monthly surveys sent to senior executives (purchasing managers) at hundreds of companies.
• Types: There are separate indices for Manufacturing and Services, which are often combined into a Composite PMI. 

1. New Orders (30%) — The most important forward-looking component.
2. Output (25%) — Measures actual production levels.
3. Employment (20%) — Tracks hiring and layoff trends.
4. Suppliers' Delivery Times (15%) — Often an indicator of supply chain stress.
5. Stocks of Purchases (10%) — Measures inventory levels of raw materials. 

• S&P Global: Compiles PMI for over 40 economies worldwide (including India).
• Institute for Supply Management (ISM): Compiles the widely followed PMI for the United States.
• HSBC: recently sponsors the India-specific PMI reports, hence they are often referred to as the "HSBC India PMI". 

Feature  PMI IIP Source Survey-based (Private sector) Hard data (Government) Frequency Monthly (released on the 1st/3rd day) Monthly (released with a 6-week lag) Nature Leading Indicator (future-looking) Lagging Indicator (past performance) Coverage Qualitative (Up/Down/Same) Quantitative (Actual units produced)

• Signed December 12, 1996, for 30 years; allows mutual renewal with 5-year reviews or earlier consultations.
• Addresses disputes post-1975 Farakka Barrage construction, which diverts Ganges water to Hooghly River for Kolkata port navigability.
• Covers shared Ganges flows at Farakka (India) and Hardinge Bridge (Bangladesh) during lean/dry season: January 1 to May 31 annually.

• Flows measured in cusecs at Farakka in 10-day periods.
• Below 70,000 cusecs: Equal 50:50 split (35,000 each).
• 70,000–75,000 cusecs: Bangladesh fixed at 35,000; India gets rest.
• Above 75,000 cusecs: India up to 40,000; remainder to Bangladesh.
• Below 50,000 cusecs: Emergency consultations required.

• Joint Rivers Commission (est. 1972) oversees compliance and disputes via diplomatic talks.
• Joint Committee monitors real-time data at both points.
• Based on 1949–1988 flow data (40 years).

• India-Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers; Ganges is highly seasonal, affecting Bangladesh's agriculture and delta ecology.
• Climate change, upstream dams, and siltation demand updated, equitable terms.
• Renewal tied to Teesta talks and overall bilateral ties under current leadership.

• CIC Intervention: The CIC found that IRCTC's "mechanical" denial of information was a violation of the RTI Act.
• Transparency Concerns: An RTI applicant sought to know if bidders for current contracts were disclosing their status as accused in the original CBI and ED cases.
• Directive: IRCTC has been ordered to provide a fresh, reasoned reply explaining why it should not disclose if companies revealed their criminal investigation history during the bidding process. 

• The original scam involved a conspiracy to bypass mandatory water supply rules in premium trains. 

• The Core Fraud: Private caterers on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains were caught supplying cheap, local brands of bottled water instead of the mandatory 'Rail Neer' produced by IRCTC.
• Financial Loss: The scam caused an estimated loss of ₹19.5 crore to the Indian Railways.
• The "Profit" Margin:
  • Rail Neer Price: Caterers were meant to buy Rail Neer at ~₹10.50 and be reimbursed ~₹15 by Railways.
  • The Cheat: They instead bought local brands for ₹5 to ₹8 and still claimed the full ₹15 reimbursement.
• Major Seizures: During the 2015 investigation, the CBI recovered over ₹20–28 crore in cash from a private businessman (Shyam Bihari Agrawal) and found counterfeit currency worth ₹4 lakh at his premises.
• Key Accused:
  • Officials: Two former Chief Commercial Managers (Sandeep Silas and MS Chalia) were arrested for showing "undue favour" to private firms.
  • Companies: Firms like RK Associates and Brandavan Food Product were primary targets of the probe. 

• FIR Quashing Refusal: In July 2023, the Delhi High Court refused to quash the FIR against the private licensees, stating that the allegations of conspiracy and cheating require a full trial.
• Ongoing Trials: While some officials were granted bail early on, the cases involving criminal conspiracy (120B) and cheating (420) under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act are still active in various stages.

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