UPSC Current Affairs 12 August 2026

• Kala Namak (also called Kalanamak or Buddha Rice) is an aromatic, non-basmati rice variety.
• Traditionally cultivated in the Terai belt of eastern Uttar Pradesh, especially in districts such as Siddharthnagar, Gonda, Basti, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar, Maharajganj and Sant Kabir Nagar.
• Associated with the Buddhist heritage of the region; often referred to as “Buddha Rice” because of its historical cultivation in areas linked to Gautam Buddha.
• In December 2024, 36 farmers from Gonda district were granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kala Namak rice, providing legal protection and brand value.

• Grain type: Medium to long, aromatic, with a distinctive fragrance and taste.
• Plant characteristics: Traditionally tall, late-maturing varieties; newer high-yielding, climate-resilient lines are being tested.
• Nutritional profile:
  • Low glycaemic index (GI), making it suitable for diabetics.
  • Relatively higher protein and fibre compared to many common rice varieties.
  • Rich in micronutrients such as iron and zinc.
• Often promoted as a health rice or superfood for diabetic and health-conscious consumers.

• Export policy:
  • In April 2024, the Government of India allowed duty-free export of up to 1,000 metric tonnes of Kala Namak rice through six specified customs stations, including Varanasi, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Mumbai), and land customs stations at Sonauli, Nepalganj Road and Barh in UP.
  • Exports were previously prohibited; this move aims to boost farmer incomes and promote the GI-tagged product globally.
• Cultivation expansion:
  • Under the ODOP scheme, the area under Kala Namak cultivation in Siddharthnagar has expanded from about 2,642 hectares to around 18,000 hectares by early 2026.
  • The state government, through APEDA and district administrations, is promoting branding, packaging and market linkages.
• Price and income impact:
  • Farm-gate prices have risen sharply, with reports indicating that farmers now earn more than three times the profit compared to common rice varieties.
  • Increased demand in domestic premium markets and selective exports has improved price realisation.
• Regional revival:
  • In July 2026, farmers in Bardiya district, Nepal (across the border from UP) also began collective cultivation of Kala Namak to conserve and revive this traditional aromatic rice, which had nearly disappeared.

• Farmer income: Higher prices and export opportunities can improve the economic viability of traditional rice farming.
• Agro-biodiversity: Supports conservation of indigenous rice varieties in the face of high-yielding but less diverse modern cultivars.
• Health and nutrition: Low-GI, nutrient-rich rice aligns with public health goals for diabetes and non-communicable diseases.
• Cultural diplomacy: “Buddha Rice” links agriculture with India’s Buddhist heritage and soft power in Asia.
• GI and ODOP model: Illustrates how GI tagging combined with ODOP can create a branded, market-oriented value chain for traditional products.

• Yield constraints: Traditional varieties often have lower yields and are more susceptible to lodging and pests.
• Quality consistency: Maintaining genetic purity, aroma and grain quality at scale requires strict seed systems and post-harvest management.
• Market risks: Dependence on premium niches and exports can expose farmers to price volatility and trade policy changes.
• Competition: Potential conflicts or confusion with similar aromatic rice from neighbouring regions and countries.

• Agarwood (also called oud, gaharu, heeng) is a resinous, aromatic wood formed in certain trees of the genus Aquilaria* (mainly Aquilaria malaccensis* in India) when they are infected by specific fungi.
• Agarwood oil (oud oil) is extracted from this resin-impregnated wood through hydro-distillation.
• It is one of the most expensive natural raw materials used in:
  • Perfumery (especially in the Middle East and luxury fragrance markets)
  • Incense and attar
  • Traditional medicine (Unani, Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine)
  • Religious and cultural rituals.
• Often described as “liquid gold”, pure aged oud oil in India typically sells between ₹8 lakh and ₹15 lakh per litre, with premium international grades reaching several crore rupees per litre.

• Export quota increase (2025–2027):
  • The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has increased the annual export limits for artificially propagated agarwood and agar oil for the period 2024–25 to 2026–27:
    • Agarwood chips/powder: from 25,000 kg to 1,51,080 kg.
    • Agar oil: from 1,500 kg to 7,050 kg.
  • Exports are permitted from states including Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Karnataka and Kerala, with specified state-wise quotas.
  • Exports require licences and certification that the material is from artificially propagated sources, verified by the State Forest Department.
• Tripura’s push:
  • Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced plans to raise Tripura’s agarwood industry turnover from about ₹100 crore to ₹2,000 crore, through:
    • Common processing centres
    • Pursuit of a Geographical Indication (GI) tag
    • A sixfold increase in the export quota for agarwood oil.
  • Tripura expects to export around 75,000 kg of agar chips and 1,500 kg of agar oil in the current financial year.
• Agarwood Export Promotion Cell:
  • Constituted in May 2026 under the Ministry of Commerce, involving CHEMEXCIL and SHEFEXCIL, to focus on export promotion, exporter facilitation and market development.
• Budget and institutional support:
  • The Union Budget 2026–27 included explicit support for agarwood cultivation and processing, recognising it as a high-value agri-forestry and livelihood opportunity, especially in the North-East.

• High value, low volume: Agarwood oil’s extremely high price per unit weight makes it attractive for remote and hilly areas with limited industrial options.
• Livelihood generation: Supports small and marginal farmers, tribal communities and self-help groups in plantation, harvesting, processing and allied activities.
• Import substitution and export potential: India currently imports significant quantities of oud oil and agarwood products; domestic production can reduce imports and capture part of the global luxury fragrance market.
• North-East development: Aligns with broader strategies to promote high-value horticulture, agro-forestry and bio-resources in the North-Eastern Region.
• Cultural diplomacy: Oud is deeply embedded in West Asian and Islamic cultural practices; Indian agarwood can strengthen trade and cultural linkages with Gulf countries.

• Long gestation period: Trees take several years (often 5–7+ years) before they can be induced to produce resinous wood, requiring patient capital and risk management.
• Quality and standardisation: Variability in resin content, distillation methods and oil quality can affect market reputation and price realisation.
• Regulatory complexity: Strict controls under forest laws and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) require careful compliance to avoid illegal trade.
• Market risks: Dependence on luxury and niche markets exposes producers to global demand fluctuations and branding challenges.
• Ecological risks: Without proper regulation, there is a risk of illegal harvesting from wild trees and biodiversity loss.

• Classification of enterprises as micro, small and medium based on investment and turnover thresholds.
• Voluntary registration of MSMEs with the District Industries Centre or relevant authority.
• Establishment of Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Councils (MSEFCs) to adjudicate delayed-payment disputes.
• Provisions for reference to MSEFCs, conciliation, arbitration and recovery of dues.

• The Bill removes fixed investment and turnover thresholds from the statute.
• It empowers the Central Government to notify criteria for classifying enterprises as micro, small or medium based on:
  • Investment in plant and machinery or equipment, and
  • Turnover.
• This allows the government to update thresholds through notification in response to inflation, sectoral changes and economic conditions, without requiring fresh legislation.

• Mandates the creation of a national digital portal for free, voluntary registration of MSMEs.
• Aims to:
  • Simplify registration
  • Improve data accuracy
  • Enable better targeting of schemes and benefits
  • Reduce dependence on physical, district-level processes.

• Requires all Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to route their invoice settlements for MSME procurement through the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS).
• TReDS is an electronic platform that enables discounting of MSME invoices, allowing suppliers to receive early payment from financiers at a discount, while the buyer pays the financier later.
• Expected outcomes:
  • Faster realisation of receivables
  • Reduced working-capital stress
  • Improved credit flow to MSMEs.

• Time-bound dispute resolution: Prescribes clearer timelines for filing references, conciliation and arbitration before MSEFCs to ensure faster adjudication.
• Empowerment of Facilitation Councils: Allows state governments to constitute additional MSEFCs with streamlined membership criteria to handle growing caseloads.
• Enforcement of awards: Provides that:
  • Any mediated settlement or arbitration award in favour of an MSME can be recovered as arrears of land revenue.
  • Recovery can be effected through District Collectors, Deputy Commissioners or other designated authorities where the buyer’s assets are located.
• Interim payment during appeal:
  • If a buyer files an application to set aside an MSEFC order and the matter remains pending for more than six months, the court is empowered to direct payment of at least 50% of the awarded amount to the MSME supplier.
  • This addresses the problem of MSMEs being starved of cash during prolonged litigation.5. Decriminalisation and Graded Civil Penalties

• The Bill seeks to decriminalise certain procedural and technical defaults under the MSMED Act.
• Replaces some criminal penalties with a graded civil penalty framework, aligned with broader ease-of-doing-business reforms.
• Aims to reduce fear of prosecution for minor non-compliances while maintaining deterrence for serious violations.

• Enhances the rule-making powers of the Central and State Governments to prescribe:
  • Manner and process of registration
  • Operational details of Facilitation Councils
  • Procedures for conciliation, arbitration and recovery.
• Allows greater flexibility to adapt the law to technological and administrative changes.

• Liquidity support: Mandatory TReDS for CPSEs and faster dispute resolution directly address the chronic problem of working-capital blockage due to delayed payments.
• Ease of doing business: Digital registration, decriminalisation and flexible classification reduce compliance burden and regulatory uncertainty.
• Enforcement teeth: Recovery as land-revenue arrears and interim payment provisions strengthen the practical enforceability of MSME dues.
• Policy agility: Removing fixed thresholds from the statute allows the government to recalibrate MSME definitions quickly in response to economic changes.
• Data-driven governance: A unified digital portal can improve monitoring, scheme delivery and evidence-based policy making for the sector.

• Implementation capacity: Effectiveness will depend on the capacity of MSEFCs, revenue authorities and TReDS platforms to handle increased volumes.
• Buyer compliance: Ensuring that all CPSEs and large buyers genuinely integrate with TReDS and do not find workarounds.
• Awareness and access: Many micro and small enterprises, especially in informal and rural sectors, may need support to use digital portals and formal dispute mechanisms.
• Risk of over-regulation: Excessive procedural requirements or complex rules could offset some ease-of-doing-business gains if not carefully designed.

• A PPC is a distinctive postal postmark featuring a picture, design or line drawing representing a tourist, religious, historical or otherwise important place, person, flora or fauna.
• Unlike an ordinary date-stamp, a PPC is intended for continuous use at a designated post office and has significant value for philately and heritage promotion.

• The PPC was introduced at the Thiruvananthapuram Fort Post Office to highlight the temple's cultural and architectural importance.
• The temple is renowned for its Dravidian architectural style, monumental gopuram, carved granite corridors, murals and traditional wooden architectural elements.
• A Premium Special Cover was released alongside the PPC, providing an additional philatelic record of the heritage site.

• Cultural Diplomacy: Uses postal communication and philately to showcase India's diverse heritage.
• Heritage Promotion: Creates greater public awareness of historically and culturally important sites.
• Philatelic Value: PPCs serve as collectible records of India's cultural, historical and natural heritage.
• Tourism: Linking important landmarks with postal heritage can support heritage tourism and local cultural promotion.
• Documentation: Provides a continuing visual representation of important national and regional symbols.

• Location: Kalaburagi (formerly Gulbarga), northern Karnataka.
• Period: Built and expanded in the 14th century under the Bahmani Sultanate, which made Gulbarga its first capital.
• The fort is a centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• It exemplifies Deccan Indo-Islamic architecture, blending Persian, Turkish and local Deccan traditions.

• Fortification: Massive stone walls with bastions, ramparts and multiple gateways.
• Moat: Historically, a water-filled moat surrounded the fort, enhancing its defensive capability; restoration of this moat is a key part of the current proposal.
• Internal structures: The fort complex includes:
  • Palaces
  • Mosques
  • Granaries
  • Water bodies and stepwells
  • The Swayambhu Someshwara Temple, an ancient Shiva temple within the fort precincts, which has occasionally been at the centre of access and worship-related disputes.
• The fort’s layout reflects medieval military planning, with layered defences and controlled access points.

• Conservation push (2026):
  • The MP’s proposal under AMRUT 2.0 aims at:
    • Desilting and restoring the moat
    • Developing gardens, walkways and landscape
    • Improving environmental conditions around the monument
    • Positioning Kalaburagi Fort as a heritage-tourism asset.
• Encroachments:
  • Over the years, unauthorised constructions have emerged in the regulated area around the fort, in violation of ASI norms (100–200 metre prohibited/restricted zones around national monuments).
  • The Karnataka High Court has, in past hearings, expressed dissatisfaction over delayed action on removing encroachments and has sought reports from district authorities.
• Access and communal sensitivities:
  • The presence of the Swayambhu Someshwara Temple inside the fort has led to occasional tensions over worship rights and access, especially around festivals such as Mahashivratri.
  • In February 2026, police prevented large groups from entering the fort for temple worship on Mahashivratri, leading to protests and some arrests, amid concerns about law and order.
• Ongoing conservation work:
  • Earlier phases of conservation and moat desilting have been undertaken at an estimated cost of several crore rupees, with suggestions to integrate fish farming in the moat and improve fencing and lighting.

• Historical value: Kalaburagi Fort is a key monument of the Bahmani era, reflecting the political and cultural rise of the Deccan Sultanates.
• Architectural value: Illustrates the evolution of fortification techniques and Indo-Islamic architecture in the Deccan.
• Tourism and local economy: Proper conservation and presentation can boost heritage tourism, local livelihoods and city branding.
• Urban heritage planning: The site is a test case for balancing monument protection, urban growth, encroachment removal and community sensitivities.

• On 8 August 2026, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh dedicated Prakriti Gyan Dham, described as India’s first dedicated Eco-Educational Hub, to the nation at the Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre (MPBC), Banthra, Lucknow.

• Developed by: CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow, under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research.
• Core idea: It functions as a “living laboratory”, connecting scientific research with experiential learning, environmental awareness and public participation.
• Major focus areas: Biodiversity conservation, botanical heritage, ecological education, sustainable development and nature-based learning.
• The initiative aims to bring scientific institutions closer to society by demonstrating how research, technologies and scientific knowledge can address everyday environmental and livelihood challenges.

• Experiential Learning: Provides students and visitors opportunities to understand ecology and biodiversity through direct interaction with nature rather than classroom-based learning alone.
• PAaVan Path: A dedicated nature-learning component designed to facilitate awareness about plants, biodiversity and ecological processes.
• Science–Society Connect: Creates a platform where students, researchers, educators and the public can interact with scientific institutions.
• Botanical Heritage: Promotes awareness and conservation of India’s rich plant diversity and traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity.
• Digital & Immersive Learning: Uses modern educational approaches to make environmental science more accessible and engaging.

• Environmental Literacy: Strengthens awareness of biodiversity, climate change and sustainable resource use among younger generations.
• Conservation: Helps transform biodiversity conservation from a purely institutional activity into a participatory public movement.
• NEP 2020 Linkage: Supports experiential, multidisciplinary and environment-oriented learning.
• Sustainable Development: Can contribute to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Science Communication: Demonstrates the shift from “science within laboratories” to “science for society”, a theme emphasised during its inauguration.

• On 11 August 2026, the Centre reported that 20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are operational across India under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), highlighting the rapid expansion of affordable generic-medicine outlets. Odisha alone has 881 Kendras.
• The latest government updates also indicate that the scheme has generated estimated savings of around ₹45,000 crore for citizens over 12 years, reflecting its role in reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure.

• Launched: 2008 as the Jan Aushadhi Scheme; revamped in 2015 and renamed PMBJP in December 2016.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Department of Pharmaceuticals.
• Implementing Agency: Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI).
• Objective: Provide quality-assured generic medicines, surgical products and medical consumables at affordable prices through dedicated Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
• Medicines are generally available at 50–80% lower prices than comparable branded medicines.

• Product Basket: As of December 2025, the scheme covered around 2,110 medicines and 315 surgical/medical consumable products, covering major therapeutic categories such as cardiovascular, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer and anti-infective medicines.
• Jan Aushadhi Suvidha: Affordable sanitary napkins are provided at ₹1 per pad, supporting menstrual hygiene and women's health.
• Entrepreneurship: Individual entrepreneurs can establish Kendras, creating local employment while expanding access to medicines.
• Expansion Target: Government aims to reach 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras by March 2027.

• Healthcare affordability: Reduces medicine expenditure, particularly for economically vulnerable households and patients requiring long-term treatment.
• Universal Health Coverage: Supports the goal of making essential healthcare more accessible and equitable.
• Generic medicine ecosystem: Encourages public acceptance and wider use of quality-assured generic medicines.
• Inclusive entrepreneurship: Special incentives for women, SC/ST communities, Divyangjan and ex-servicemen encourage wider participation in the network.

• Stock availability: Ensuring uninterrupted availability of medicines, especially for chronic diseases, remains important.
• Awareness and trust: Greater public awareness about the therapeutic equivalence and quality of generic medicines is needed.
• Last-mile access: Expansion must reach remote and underserved regions rather than concentrating only in urban markets.

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