UPSC Current Affairs 01 October 2026

 
Contents
1. Green Energy Corridor Phase-III scheme
2. Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Rabi Crops
3. ASEAN-INDIA MARITIME EXERCISE (AIME-2026)
4. CAG-BHASHINI Anuvaad
5. FAO Committee on Forestry
6. Mandar Instrument
7. National Coastal Mission (NCM 2.0)
8. India-Kuwait Media Connect (IKMC)
 
 

 
Why in News?
The Union Cabinet has approved the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) scheme on 30 September 2026., also known as the PM DHARA (Developing Harmonized and Accelerated Renewable Energy Access) scheme.
 
Financial Outlay & Government Support

• Total Project Outlay: ₹1,86,405 crore allocated to scale up India's green grid.
• Central Financial Support: The Central Government will provide ₹54,082 crore in financial assistance to help keep power tariffs affordable for citizens by offsetting transmission charges.
• Budget Split:
  • ₹1,36,378 crore for developing Intra-State Transmission Systems (InSTS).
  • ₹50,000 crore for setting up Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

Targets & Capacity

• Power Evacuation: Designed to evacuate up to 135 Gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy across various States and Union Territories.
• Battery Storage Capacity: Incorporates the deployment of 50 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) of BESS. Storage will be set up at developer locations or critical grid intersections to manage non-solar hours and peak demands.
• Implementation Timeline: The targeted completion window spans from FY 2026-27 to FY 2032-33.

Implementation & Execution Model

• Project Models:
  • All new Greenfield projects will be awarded via the Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) mode under a Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (BOOM) framework.
  • Existing Brownfield upgradation and grid-strengthening work will operate on a Cost Plus Basis (CPB).
• Nodal Agencies: State Transmission Utilities (STUs) will serve as the primary implementing agencies alongside private Transmission Service Providers (TSPs).

Strategic Objectives & Benefits

• Long-Term Energy Vision: A major stepping stone toward achieving India's goal of 900 GW of installed non-fossil fuel capacity by 2035.
• Grid Flexibility: Resolves major clean energy issues like intermittency (wind/solar fluctuations), peak-hour power curtailment, and local grid congestion.
• Job Creation: Expected to generate substantial direct and indirect employment opportunities across power infrastructure construction, domestic battery manufacturing, and long-term grid operations.
• Environmental Impact: Enhances India's energy security while actively reducing the country's carbon footprint through sustainable growth.

FAQs
 
Q1. What is Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III)?

Ans. GEC-III, also known as PM DHARA, is a scheme approved on 30 September 2026 to strengthen India’s green power transmission infrastructure. It aims to evacuate up to 135 GW of renewable energy and deploy 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
 
Q2. What is the financial outlay of GEC-III?

Ans. The total project outlay is ₹1,86,405 crore, including ₹54,082 crore in Central Financial Support. The scheme will be implemented during FY 2026-27 to FY 2032-33.
 
 
 
 
Why in News?
On 30 September 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all six mandated rabi crops for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2027–28.
 
Key Information

• The 1.5 Times Cost Mandate: The revised prices align directly with the Union Budget 2018–19 directive to fix MSPs at a level of at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.
• Targeted Return Margins: The approved MSPs guarantee a profit margin ranging between 50% and 106% over production costs. The highest margin return is for Wheat (106%), followed closely by Rapeseed & Mustard (96%) and Lentils (92%).
• Highest Absolute Increase: Safflower received the sharpest absolute hike, jumping by ₹675 per quintal, followed by Rapeseed & Mustard with an increase of ₹413 per quintal.
• Total Fiscal Support: The Union Government estimates an overall payout of ₹90,962 crore to farmers, targeting a procurement of 324 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of produce during this marketing cycle.
• Crop Diversification Objective: By offering highly remunerative prices for oilseeds and pulses (like safflower, mustard, and lentils), the policy actively promotes crop diversification away from traditional, water-intensive staples.

Breakdown of Approved Rabi MSP Rates (per Quintal)

Rabi Crop	New MSP (2027–28)	Absolute Hike	Profit Margin Over Cost
Safflower	₹7,215	₹675	50%
Lentil (Masur)	₹7,390	₹390	92%
Rapeseed & Mustard	₹6,613	₹413	96%
Gram (Chana)	₹5,958	₹83	59%
Wheat	₹2,610	₹25	106%
Barley	₹2,286	₹136	58%

 
What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)?

• Price Safety Net: MSP is a guaranteed price floor established by the Central Government. It acts as an agricultural safety net, ensuring that farmers do not suffer heavy financial losses even if market supplies surplus and open-market prices plummet.
• Formulation Bodies: The pricing is comprehensively assessed and recommended twice a year by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) before the respective sowing cycles. The final approval is executed by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
• Scope of Crops: The government officially announces MSP for 22 mandated crops (14 Kharif/monsoon crops, 6 Rabi/winter crops, and 2 commercial crops) alongside a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) specifically designated for sugarcane.

FAQs
 
Q1. What is the MSP?

Ans. Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a price floor announced by the Central Government to protect farmers from severe losses when market prices fall. MSP recommendations are made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and final approval is given by the CCEA.
 
Q2. Which Rabi crop received the highest absolute MSP increase for RMS 2027-28?

Ans. Safflower received the highest absolute increase, with an increase of ₹675 per quintal, taking its MSP to ₹7,215 per quintal.
 
 
 
Why in News?
The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) has officially commenced at Subic Bay, Philippines, marking a significant milestone in regional naval diplomacy. The naval drill formally started on 28 September 2026 and will run until 2 October 2026.
 
Key Information

• Edition: This is the 2nd edition of AIME. The inaugural exercise was co-hosted by Singapore in 2023.
• Theme: It is being conducted under the theme “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea”.
• Host Countries: The 2026 edition is co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Philippine Navy.

• India: Represented by advanced frontline warships INS Sahyadri (stealth frigate) and INS Kulish (missile corvette).
• ASEAN Nations: Includes naval forces and assets from ASEAN members, including specific ships like BRP Jose Rizal, BRP Tarlac (Philippines), and RSS Justice (Singapore).

• Venue: Subic Bay and off the coast of the Zambales province, Philippines.
• Geopolitics: Located strategically near the South China Sea, the drills reinforce the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific region.

Structure of the Exercise
The week-long drill is divided into two distinct execution phases:

• The Harbour Phase: Focuses on professional synergy through Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck operational synchronization, community outreach, and cultural/sporting events.
• The Sea Phase: Transitions to active practical training at sea, including boarding operations, helicopter cross-deck landings, and complex medical evacuation exercises.

Focus Areas & Objectives

• Interoperability: Designed to build trust, bridge variations in naval doctrines, and enhance maritime coordination.
• Non-Traditional Threats: Drills include specific frameworks to counter anti-piracy, illegal fishing, and maritime terrorism.
• HADR & MDA: High-level emphasis on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) alongside strengthening shared Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).

Strategic Alignment for India

• Act East Policy: The naval engagement is a direct extension of India’s Act East Policy, expanding deep-security footprints in Southeast Asia.
• MAHASAGAR & IPOI: It aligns directly with India's vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
• ASEAN Centrality: Reaffirms New Delhi's recognition of ASEAN as the central pillar for peace and stability in the wider Indo-Pacific maritime ecosystem.

FAQs
 
Q1. Where and when is AIME-2026 being conducted?

Ans. The second edition of AIME-2026 is being conducted at Subic Bay and off the coast of Zambales, Philippines, from 28 September to 2 October 2026.
 
Q2. What are the major focus areas of AIME-2026?

Ans. The exercise focuses on naval interoperability, maritime domain awareness, HADR, anti-piracy operations, combating illegal fishing and maritime terrorism, along with professional exchanges and practical sea training.
 
 
   
Why in News?
On September 30, 2026, the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) officially launched "CAG-BHASHINI Anuvaad," a customized, AI-enabled document translation solution.
 
About CAG-BHASHINI Anuvaad

• Core Purpose: It is designed specifically to translate official CAG documents and complex, specialized audit-related reports into various Indian regional languages.
• Developers: The platform was built by the BHASHINI Division under the Digital India Corporation (DIC), operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Key Technical Features:
  • Consistent Terminology: Calibrated to handle technical, financial, and legal auditing vocabulary accurately.
  • Contextual Translation: Avoids literal translations by understanding document context to improve output quality.
• Security & Data Sovereignty: The system includes strict built-in protocols for controlled access, ensuring data sovereignty and high confidentiality for sensitive government files.
• Human Oversight: The platform is explicitly built to complement existing translation workflows rather than replace them, keeping human reviewers in the loop to verify accuracy before final output.
• Citizen Accessibility: According to CAG chief K. Sanjay Murthy, the ultimate goal is to ensure that critical public audit findings reach everyday citizens in local and regional languages they can easily comprehend.
• Broad Ecosystem Capabilities: The underlying BHASHINI ecosystem has expanded to support 36 Indian text languages, 23 Indian voice languages, and 35 international languages, aiding public services ranging from agriculture to conversational grievance portals.

FAQs
 
Q1. What is CAG-BHASHINI Anuvaad?

Ans. It is an AI-enabled document translation solution launched by the Digital India BHASHINI Division and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) to translate official audit documents into Indian regional languages.
 
Q2. Does CAG-BHASHINI Anuvaad completely replace human translators?

Ans. No. The platform is designed to complement existing translation workflows, with human reviewers retained to verify the accuracy of translated documents.
 

   
Why in News?
The 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 28) is being held from 28 September to 2 October 2026 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy under the theme "Forests for food, resilience and prosperity".
 
About the Committee on Forestry (COFO)

• Overview: Established in 1971 by the FAO Conference, it comprises 128 Member Nations and meets biennially.
• Governance: Reports to the FAO Council on budgets and the FAO Conference on policy, guided by six Regional Forestry Commissions.

• Policy & Assessment: Provides strategic direction, oversees flagship reports like SOFO and the Global Forest Resources Assessment, and supports dryland ecosystems.
• Global Alignment: Coordinates with international efforts including the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Highlights from the SOFO 2026 Report

• Degradation & Restoration: Notes 1.56 billion hectares of degraded global land, with 91 countries committed to restoring 190 million hectares.
• Action Pillars: Emphasizes food security integration, innovation, sustainable management, and secure land tenure.

Key Highlights Showcased by India at COFO 28

• Rankings & Cover: Ranks 9th globally in total forest area and 3rd in net annual gain, with cover spanning 25.17% of geographical area.
• Key Initiatives: Highlighted targets under the Bonn Challenge, Plant4Mother campaign, Aravalli Green Wall Project, and MISHTI mangrove initiative.

FAQs
 
Q1. What is the FAO Committee on Forestry?

Ans. The Committee on Forestry (COFO) was established in 1971 by the FAO Conference. It comprises 128 Member Nations and meets biennially to provide strategic direction on forestry-related issues.
 
Q2. What is the theme of COFO 28?

Ans. The 28th Session of COFO, held from 28 September to 2 October 2026 in Rome, is being conducted under the theme “Forests for food, resilience and prosperity.”
 
 
   
Why in News?
The traditional musical instrument Mandar of Jharkhand is in the news because the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai has officially granted it a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
 
About the Mandar Instrument

• Type of Instrument: It is an ancient, traditional double-headed percussion instrument (a type of drum).
• Cultural Roots: It is deeply integrated into the folk music, tribal life, and identity of both tribal (such as the Oraon community) and non-tribal communities across Jharkhand.
• Primary Craft Centre: The heart of traditional Mandar manufacturing is located in Jarjatta village, within the Raidih block of the Gumla district. 

Key Design & Structural Features

• Clay and Leather Construction: Unlike a traditional dhol or dholak, the hollow, cylindrical body of the Mandar is crafted from locally sourced red clay/soil that features a slight bulge in the middle.
• Unequal Drumheads: The two open sides of the clay body are covered in leather. The right opening is smaller and produces high tones, while the larger left opening produces a deep bass tone.
• Tensioning Cords: The leather faces are tightly secured and held in place using braided leather cords or strings.
• Kiran Coating: A unique, specialized tuning paste coating known as Kiran is applied to the smaller drumhead opening, giving the instrument its distinct resonant sound.

Cultural and Economic Significance

• Festivals and Celebrations: It is the primary instrument played during major local festivals, crop celebrations, and tribal folk dances, including Sarhul, Karma, Jhumar, and weddings.
• Performance Style: Musicians traditionally sling the instrument over their shoulder with a rope, moving and dancing rhythmically while beating the drum.
• Economic Protection: The newly acquired GI status protects local artisans from cheap imitations, preserves tribal heritage, and provides a legal platform to market Jharkhand's craftsmanship globally.
• Other GI Products from Jharkhand: The Mandar joins other prominent recognized products from the state, including Hazaribagh's Sohrai-Khovar painting (Jharkhand's first GI tag) and Koderma's Kesariya Kalakand.

FAQs
 
Q1. What is the Mandar instrument?

Ans. The Mandar is a traditional double-headed percussion instrument of Jharkhand. It has a hollow cylindrical body made from locally sourced red clay/soil, with leather-covered drumheads.
 
Q2. Why is the Mandar in the news?

Ans. The Mandar received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai. Its traditional manufacturing centre is Jarjatta village in Gumla district, and it is associated with festivals such as Sarhul, Karma and Jhumar.
 
 
 
Why in News?
On 30 September 2026, Union Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the Implementation Guidelines for National Coastal Mission 2.0 (NCM 2.0) in New Delhi.
 
Overview & Financial Outlay

• Nature of the Scheme: It is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Central Government.
• Financial Outlay: The government has approved a dedicated budget of ₹767 crore.
• Implementation Timeline: The mission spans a 6-year period from 2025-26 to 2030-31.
• Subsumption of NCM 1.0: It will completely subsume the first phase (NCM 1.0), which ran from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

• The scheme will be executed across nine coastal States and four Union Territories (UTs) in India.
• It demands active coordination and collaborative efforts between the Central Government and coastal States/UT administrations.

Objectives

• Coastal Resilience: Bolstering the capacity of India’s coastal ecosystems to withstand climate hazards and environmental changes.
• Blue Economy: Unlocking the commercial potential of India's maritime sectors in a sustainable manner, aligned with the PM's vision of the "Blue Chakra".
• Viksit Bharat @2047: Driving sustainable development to contribute toward India’s long-term goal of becoming a fully developed nation by 2047.

Primary Areas of Action
The implementation guidelines outline several priority action items to protect marine environments:

• Vulnerability Assessment: Determining high-risk coastal zones exposed to climate change effects like sea-level rise.
• Ecosystem Restoration: Restoring degraded environments like mangroves, coral reefs, and sand dunes.
• Pollution Management: Curbing waste and plastic dumpage along coastal ecosystems and water bodies.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Safeguarding endangered marine life and habitats.
• Sustainable Tourism: Promoting environmentally friendly hospitality practices, such as upgrading beaches via the Beach Environment & Aesthetic Management Service framework.
• Spatial Planning & Capacity Building: Enhancing data-driven spatial coastal mapping and training local stakeholders for sound ecological management.

FAQs
 
Q1. What is National Coastal Mission 2.0?

Ans. NCM 2.0 is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Central Government, aimed at strengthening India's coastal resilience, conserving marine ecosystems and promoting a sustainable blue economy.
 
Q2. What is the financial outlay and implementation period of NCM 2.0?

Ans. The mission has an approved outlay of ₹767 crore and will run for six years from 2025-26 to 2030-31. It subsumes NCM 1.0, which operated from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
 
 
 
Why in News?
The India-Kuwait Media Connect (IKMC) is in the news because it was officially launched by the Embassy of India in Kuwait on 30 September 2026.
 
Key Information

• Core Theme: The initiative operates under the central focus of “Partnership, Perspectives and Possibilities”.
• Primary Objective: It serves as a specialized platform aimed at deepening engagement and strengthening regular dialogue between India and the Kuwaiti media fraternity.
• Information Sharing: IKMC will provide the Kuwaiti press with streamlined, regular access to official information and facilitate communication regarding India, the Indian Embassy’s activities, and overall bilateral relations.
• Showcasing Indian Growth: A key component of the platform is to highlight India’s advancements in infrastructure, technology, digital capabilities, economic innovation, and development to a wider audience in Kuwait.
• Monthly Press Interactions: As part of this rollout, the Indian Embassy plans to institutionalise monthly press conferences. This will offer Kuwaiti media representatives a route for direct interaction with Embassy officials to receive updates on matters of mutual interest.
• Visual Identity: The official IKMC logo was also unveiled by Ambassador Paramita Tripathi during the launch event.
• Diplomatic Significance: The initiative emphasizes the critical role of media in fostering mutual cultural understanding, building greater public awareness, and strengthening longstanding historic ties between India and Kuwait.

FAQs
 
Q1. What is the objective of India-Kuwait Media Connect?

Ans. IKMC is a platform launched by the Embassy of India in Kuwait to deepen engagement and regular dialogue between India and the Kuwaiti media fraternity.
 
Q2. What activities are planned under IKMC?

Ans. The initiative will provide Kuwaiti media with regular access to official information and institutionalise monthly press conferences with Embassy officials. It will also showcase India's developments in infrastructure, technology, digital capabilities and economic innovation.
 

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