Q.1) Which state government has announced the launch of ‘Rani Durgavati Yojana’ for girls in its February 2026 budget?
Ans > Chhattisgarh
- Scheme Launch: The Chhattisgarh state government announced the ‘Rani Durgavati Yojana’ for girls as part of its February 2026 state budget — a girl child welfare and empowerment scheme providing financial support, educational incentives, and social security benefits to girls from economically weaker sections to promote gender equity and reduce girl-child discrimination in the state.
- About Rani Durgavati: Rani Durgavati (1524-1564) was the brave queen of the Gond kingdom of Garha-Mandla (present-day Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh) who valiantly fought against Mughal forces led by Asaf Khan and sacrificed her life rather than surrender. She is revered as one of India’s greatest warrior queens and a symbol of courage, dignity, and resistance — making her an inspiring name for a girl-empowerment scheme.
- About Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh, carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, is one of India’s youngest states. Rich in natural resources (coal, iron ore, bauxite) and biodiversity, it has a large tribal population (approximately 32% — among India’s highest). The state faces challenges in education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment, making girl-focused welfare schemes particularly important.
- Girl Child Schemes Ecosystem: India has a network of girl-centric schemes at central and state levels: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, CBSE Udaan, Kanyashree (WB), Ladli Behna (MP), and now Rani Durgavati Yojana (Chhattisgarh). These collectively target sex-ratio improvement, school enrollment, dropout prevention, child marriage elimination, and financial independence for girls.
Q.9) Which state has launched ‘Mission Basundhara 3.0’ to distribute land pattas to tribal landless families?
Ans > Assam
- Mission Launch: The Assam government launched ‘Mission Basundhara 3.0’ — the third phase of its landmark land rights mission aimed at distributing land pattas (ownership documents) to tribal, indigenous, and landless families across Assam, ensuring their legal land rights and security of tenure on land they have been cultivating for generations without formal documentation.
- About Mission Basundhara: Mission Basundhara (meaning ‘Earth Mission’ in Assamese) was first launched under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s government. Mission Basundhara 1.0 and 2.0 together distributed over 10 lakh land pattas to landless families. Mission Basundhara 3.0 expands coverage to include more tribal communities, char (riverine island) residents, and forest-dwelling families whose land rights have historically been unresolved.
- Land Rights in Assam: Assam faces unique land tenure complexities — including large char (riverine) populations displaced by Brahmaputra floods, tribal communities in forest-fringed areas, tea garden worker communities, and indigenous Assamese (Khilonjia Bongal/Assamese people) whose land ownership has been contested for generations. Land pattas provide legal security, access to bank credit, and protection from eviction.
- Forest Rights Act Connection: Mission Basundhara 3.0 works in conjunction with the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, which recognises forest-dwelling tribal and other traditional forest dwellers’ rights over land they have occupied. Together, these frameworks address the historical injustice of landlessness among India’s most marginalised communities — a key prerequisite for their economic and social empowerment.
Q.13) Which state has launched ‘Project HANUMAN’ to reduce human-wildlife conflict?
Ans > Andhra Pradesh
- Project Launch: The Andhra Pradesh state government launched ‘Project HANUMAN’ — an innovative and technology-driven initiative to reduce human-wildlife conflict in forest-fringe areas of the state, particularly addressing crop raiding by wild animals (elephants, wild boars, monkeys), human casualties from predator attacks, and retaliatory killings of wildlife by affected farming communities.
- About the Project: Project HANUMAN (the specific acronym stands for the initiative’s components) uses a combination of: AI-powered early warning systems (cameras, sensors detecting animal movement), SMS/app alerts to farmers near forests, trained rapid response teams, solar-powered electric fencing around vulnerable agricultural fields, and community awareness programmes to help people coexist safely with wildlife.
- Human-Wildlife Conflict in India: Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is one of India’s most pressing conservation and rural livelihood challenges. Each year, approximately 500+ people are killed in elephant-human conflicts, thousands of cattle are lost to tigers and leopards, and millions of rupees of crops are destroyed by wildlife raids. HWC generates resentment against conservation, leading to retaliatory poaching and poisoning of wild animals.
- Andhra Pradesh’s Wildlife: Andhra Pradesh is home to significant wildlife populations — including elephants (Nallamala forests), tigers (Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, the largest in India by area), leopards, sloth bears, and extensive bird life. As forest areas shrink and wildlife populations recover, conflicts with the expanding human footprint are inevitable — making Project HANUMAN a critical conservation governance tool.
Q.16) Which state government has announced financial assistance of ₹25,000 on the birth of the third child to check the ‘Falling Fertility Rate (TFR)’?
Ans > Andhra Pradesh
- Policy Announcement: The Andhra Pradesh government announced financial assistance of ₹25,000 for families on the birth of their third child — a pro-natalist policy response to Andhra Pradesh’s dramatically falling Total Fertility Rate (TFR), which has dropped to approximately 1.6 — well below the 2.1 replacement level needed to maintain a stable population.
- About TFR (Total Fertility Rate): Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the average number of children a woman would have over her reproductive lifetime. A TFR of 2.1 is considered the ‘replacement level’ — below which a population begins to shrink over time. India’s national TFR was 2.0 (NFHS-5, 2019-21), but Southern states like Kerala (1.8), Tamil Nadu (1.8), and Andhra Pradesh (1.6) are well below replacement level.
- Demographic Challenge: South India’s low TFR is creating long-term demographic concerns — workforce shrinkage, ageing population, rising old-age dependency ratios, and potential reductions in Parliamentary representation (after delimitation) for southern states. Andhra Pradesh’s incentive-based approach mirrors policies in countries like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore that also face below-replacement fertility rates.
- India’s Demographic Divide: India presents a striking demographic contrast — northern states like UP, Bihar, and Rajasthan still have TFRs above replacement level, while southern states face below-replacement fertility. This divergence has significant implications for India’s future economic geography, workforce distribution, political representation, and social welfare planning across the country.
Q.17) Which state has launched the ‘MeHEALTH’ mobile app to provide easy access to healthcare services?
Ans > Kerala
- App Launch: The Kerala government launched the ‘MeHEALTH’ mobile application — a comprehensive digital health platform enabling citizens to book doctor appointments at government hospitals, access health records, consult specialists via telemedicine, track medicines from government pharmacies, and receive health alerts — reflecting Kerala’s long tradition of health sector leadership in India.
- Kerala’s Health Excellence: Kerala is India’s model state for public healthcare — with health indicators (life expectancy 77 years, infant mortality rate 6 per 1,000, maternal mortality ratio 19 per 1 lakh) comparable to developed nations. This ‘Kerala Model’ of development prioritises human development over GDP growth, making it a global case study in achieving high health outcomes even at moderate income levels.
- Digital Health in India: India’s National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), now implemented as Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), aims to create a unified digital health ecosystem with ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) IDs, digital health records, and telemedicine platforms for all citizens. Kerala’s MeHEALTH integrates with this national framework while also leveraging Kerala’s own advanced e-health infrastructure.
- Telemedicine Revolution: India’s telemedicine usage exploded during COVID-19 — eSanjeevani (India’s national telemedicine platform) has conducted over 30 crore consultations. Digital health apps like Kerala’s MeHEALTH reduce physical visits, cut waiting times, improve medicine adherence, and extend specialist care reach to remote areas — addressing healthcare access equity, particularly important for Kerala’s geographically dispersed population.
Q.20) Which state has launched the ‘herSTART 5.0’ program to support women entrepreneurs?
Ans > Gujarat
- Program Launch: Gujarat launched ‘herSTART 5.0’ — the fifth edition of its flagship women entrepreneurship programme operated through the herSTART platform of Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC). The programme provides women entrepreneurs with mentorship, seed funding access, business development support, networking opportunities, and market linkages to scale their ventures.
- About herSTART: ‘herSTART’ (a portmanteau of ‘her’ + ‘start’) is Gujarat’s dedicated startup programme exclusively for women founders, incubated at GUSEC (Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council). Previous editions have supported hundreds of women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds — including technology, food processing, textile, handicrafts, healthcare, and social enterprises — providing structured incubation support.
- Women Entrepreneurship in India: India has approximately 1.4 crore women-owned enterprises (MSME census) — but they face significant structural barriers: limited access to formal credit, lack of collateral, social constraints, and gaps in business mentorship. India’s WEP (Women Entrepreneurship Platform, NITI Aayog) and state-level programmes like herSTART are systematically addressing these barriers to unlock women’s entrepreneurial potential.
- Gujarat’s Startup Ecosystem: Gujarat has built one of India’s strongest state-level startup ecosystems — with over 12,000 DPIIT-recognised startups, iCreate (International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology), and multiple incubators. As a state with a strong Vaishya/business tradition, Gujarat has embraced startup culture and now actively promotes women-led ventures through programmes like herSTART, creating a more inclusive innovation economy.
Q.2) In which state did Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launch India’s first ‘State Innovation Mission (SIM)’ in February 2026?
Ans > Tripura
- Historic Launch: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India’s first-ever ‘State Innovation Mission (SIM)’ in Tripura — making Tripura the pioneering state to establish a dedicated state-level innovation mission modelled on the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) at the national level, aimed at building a grassroots innovation ecosystem in Northeast India.
- About State Innovation Mission: The State Innovation Mission (SIM) is designed to replicate the success of the national Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) at the state level — establishing Atal Tinkering Labs in schools, incubators in colleges, mentorship networks for student innovators, and connecting local entrepreneurs with startup funding and markets. The SIM will coordinate innovation activities across all government departments in Tripura.
- About Dr. Jitendra Singh: Dr. Jitendra Singh is Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, and Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences. He oversees CSIR, DST, DBT, and ISRO policies at the cabinet level. He is an endocrinologist by training and represents Udhampur constituency in Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha.
- Tripura’s Innovation Potential: Tripura — India’s second smallest state in the Northeast — has made remarkable economic progress under recent governance, with rising GDP, improving infrastructure, and India’s second highest rubber production. Its 70% forest cover, unique biodiversity, indigenous crafts (bamboo, cane, weaving), and growing digital connectivity create unique opportunities for innovation in sustainable products, eco-tourism, and natural resources value addition.
Q.3) From which city did Prime Minister Narendra Modi launch the nationwide ‘HPV Vaccination Campaign’?
Ans > Ajmer, Rajasthan
- Campaign Launch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide ‘HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccination Campaign’ from Ajmer, Rajasthan — a landmark public health initiative to vaccinate girls aged 9-14 years against HPV, the primary cause of cervical cancer, which kills approximately 77,000 Indian women every year — making India the country with the highest cervical cancer burden globally.
- About HPV and Cervical Cancer: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally and is responsible for nearly 99% of cervical cancer cases. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women. Vaccination of girls before sexual debut (ages 9-14) with the HPV vaccine provides nearly 90% protection against the HPV strains responsible for most cervical cancers.
- HPV Vaccine in India: India’s own indigenously developed HPV vaccine ‘Cervavac’ — produced by Serum Institute of India — was approved for use in India in 2022 at a fraction of the cost of imported HPV vaccines. Cervavac’s availability makes universal HPV vaccination financially feasible in India’s public health programme, with government providing it free through the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) for eligible girls.
- Ajmer as Launch Site: Ajmer in Rajasthan was chosen as the launch venue — likely because Rajasthan is one of India’s larger states where expanding HPV vaccination would have significant public health impact, and Ajmer has symbolic cultural significance as a major religious and educational centre. A high-profile launch from Ajmer signals the government’s commitment to women’s preventive healthcare across India’s heartland states.
Q.4) Where has Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the ‘National Monetization Pipeline (NMP) 2.0’?
Ans > New Delhi
- NMP 2.0 Launch: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the ‘National Monetization Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0)’ in New Delhi — a comprehensive asset monetisation framework targeting ₹10-12 lakh crore worth of brownfield public infrastructure assets for monetisation over the period 2026-31, building on the original NMP 1.0 (launched August 2021, targeting ₹6 lakh crore over 2021-25).
- About National Monetisation Pipeline: The National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) involves monetising existing, operational government-owned infrastructure assets — highways, railways, airports, ports, power grids, gas pipelines, warehouses, stadiums, and telecom towers — through structured instruments like Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), toll-operate-transfer (TOT), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and outright leases to private players for a defined period.
- NMP 1.0 Performance: NMP 1.0 (2021-25) aimed to monetise ₹6 lakh crore of assets. Key sectors included roads (NHAI InvIT), railways (station redevelopment, freight terminals), power transmission (PowerGrid InvIT), natural gas (GAIL pipelines), airports, and sports stadiums. While not all targets were fully met, NMP 1.0 pioneered asset monetisation as a mainstream infrastructure financing tool in India.
- About FM Nirmala Sitharaman: Nirmala Sitharaman serves as India’s Union Finance Minister since 2019 — the first full-time female Finance Minister of India. She has delivered 7 consecutive Union Budgets, focusing on infrastructure investment (PM Gati Shakti), fiscal consolidation, digital public infrastructure, and green energy transition. Her economic philosophy emphasises supply-side reforms, capital formation, and sustainable fiscal management.
Q.15) Which ministry has launched the ‘VB G RAM G’ Youth Digital Campaign in March 2026?
Ans > Ministry of Rural Development
- Campaign Launch: The Ministry of Rural Development launched the ‘VB G RAM G’ (Vibrant Gram — Vibrant Rural India) Youth Digital Campaign in March 2026 — a social media and grassroots digital awareness initiative targeting rural youth to make them aware of the government’s flagship rural development schemes, digitally empower them as local change agents, and crowdsource development ideas from India’s 6 lakh villages.
- Ministry of Rural Development: The Ministry of Rural Development oversees India’s most critical poverty alleviation and rural empowerment programmes: MGNREGS (world’s largest employment guarantee programme), PMGSY (rural roads), PMGSY (housing — PMAY-G), PMJSY (drinking water), PMFBY (crop insurance), and the DAY-NRLM (National Rural Livelihoods Mission — over 10 crore SHG women members). These programmes collectively touch the lives of nearly 70 crore rural Indians.
- Rural Youth Engagement: India has approximately 20 crore rural youth aged 15-29 — a demographic dividend that remains significantly underutilised due to limited education, skill gaps, and economic opportunities in villages. The VB G RAM G campaign aims to channel rural youth energy towards local governance participation, digital literacy, entrepreneurship under PMEGP (Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme), and leadership in gram sabhas and panchayat bodies.
- Digital Rural India: India’s rural digital infrastructure has transformed dramatically — BharatNet has connected 2+ lakh gram panchayats with broadband, Common Service Centres (CSCs) provide digital services in 5+ lakh villages, and Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM trinity) has enabled direct benefit transfer of ₹38+ lakh crore in subsidies. VB G RAM G rides this digital infrastructure wave to connect rural youth with opportunities and governance participation.
Q.11) Which women-centric welfare scheme of the Delhi government was launched by President Draupadi Murmu in March 2026?
Ans > All of the above (Free LPG Cylinder Scheme, Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Scheme, ‘My Capital My Right’, and Pink National Common Mobility Card)
- Multiple Scheme Launch: President Draupadi Murmu launched four women-centric schemes of the Delhi government simultaneously in March 2026: (1) Free LPG Cylinder Scheme — free cooking gas cylinders for eligible women, (2) Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Scheme — financial empowerment for girls reaching adulthood, (3) ‘My Capital My Right’ — awareness of urban rights for women, and (4) Pink National Common Mobility Card — subsidised/free public transport for women in Delhi.
- Significance: The simultaneous launch of four schemes by the President of India reflects both the political significance of women’s welfare in Delhi’s governance and the new Delhi government’s focus on gender-inclusive urban development. Delhi has a large female population with specific needs around safety, mobility, economic opportunity, and household energy access — all addressed by these four complementary schemes.
- Pink NCMC (National Common Mobility Card): The Pink National Common Mobility Card is a one-card solution for Delhi’s women to access all public transport (Metro, DTC buses, intercity buses) — building on Delhi Metro’s existing free ride facility for women. The ‘pink’ branding signals its women-centric focus and integrates with India’s ONE NATION ONE CARD transport interoperability framework.
- About President Draupadi Murmu: Draupadi Murmu became India’s 15th President in July 2022 — the first person from a tribal (Adivasi) community and the second woman to hold the office. A former teacher and politician from Odisha’s Santhali tribal community, her presidency is symbolically powerful for India’s scheduled tribes and marginalized communities. Her launching of women-welfare schemes reflects the constitutional priority given to gender equality.
Q.14) Which Union Minister announced the launch of ‘ASMITA Athletics League’ across India on the occasion of International Women’s Day?
Ans > Raksha Nikhil Khadse
- Launch: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse announced the launch of the ‘ASMITA Athletics League’ on International Women’s Day (8 March) — a nationwide women’s athletics competition league designed to identify grassroots female athletic talent, provide competitive exposure, and create a pathway for women athletes from rural and tribal backgrounds to reach national and international competition.
- About ASMITA: ‘ASMITA’ (meaning self-respect/identity in Hindi) is an athletics league exclusively for women — modelled on the success of leagues like the Pro Kabbadi League and Hockey India League in creating mass participation and spectator interest. The ASMITA league focuses on track and field events, held across districts and states, providing women athletes a structured domestic competition calendar.
- About Raksha Nikhil Khadse: Raksha Nikhil Khadse is a BJP politician from Maharashtra representing Raver constituency in Lok Sabha. As Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, she is responsible for promoting sports culture, managing national sports federations, and overseeing the Khelo India programme. She is the daughter-in-law of veteran NCP leader Eknath Khadse.
- Women in Indian Athletics: Indian women’s athletics has been experiencing a golden era — with PT Usha (India’s greatest woman sprinter), Hima Das (Dhing Express), Neeraj Chopra inspiring a generation, and athletes like Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles), Parul Chaudhary (3000m steeplechase), and Annu Rani (javelin) winning medals at Asian Games and World Championships. ASMITA aims to build the next generation of champions from the grassroots up.
Q.19) Which state government announced the “Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana” to waive crop loans up to ₹2 lakh?
Ans > Maharashtra
- Scheme Announcement: The Maharashtra government announced the ‘Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana’ — a farm loan waiver scheme providing relief on crop loans up to ₹2 lakh for eligible farmers in the state, addressing the agricultural distress faced by Maharashtra’s 1.5 crore farming families due to drought, unseasonal rains, and low commodity prices.
- About Ahilyadevi Holkar: ‘Punyashlok’ Ahilyadevi Holkar (1725-1795) was the legendary Maratha queen of the Holkar dynasty of Malwa — universally revered as one of India’s greatest rulers. Known for her extraordinary administrative wisdom, compassion, justice, and religious philanthropy (she built or renovated hundreds of temples across India, including at Kashi, Mathura, Ayodhya, and Dwarka), she is a symbol of ideal governance and is celebrated with the title ‘Punyashlok’ (She Who is Remembered in Holy Verses).
- Maharashtra’s Farmer Distress: Maharashtra has one of India’s highest farmer suicide rates — particularly in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions where cotton and soybean farmers face chronic debt, drought, and price volatility. Farmer loan waivers have been a recurrent political response to this crisis, with Maharashtra having announced multiple waivers across party governments. The ₹2 lakh ceiling targets small and marginal farmers most in need.
- Loan Waiver Economics: Farm loan waivers provide immediate distress relief but are economically debated — critics argue they create moral hazard (reducing loan repayment culture), strain state finances, and don’t address structural issues (irrigation, MSP, crop insurance). Supporters argue they are essential safety nets for farmers trapped in a debt-crop cycle with no other recourse. Maharashtra’s fiscal health (already stressed) makes the funding and targeting of this waiver particularly significant.
Q.5) Who launched Improvements RailTech Portal and e-RCT Digitization under Indian Railways’ ’52 Improvements in 52 Weeks’ initiative?
Ans > Ashwini Vaishnaw (Union Minister of Railways)
- Initiative Launch: Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw launched Improvements RailTech Portal and Improvement e-RCT Digitization under Indian Railways’ ambitious ’52 Improvements in 52 Weeks’ initiative — a structured programme to deliver one major operational, technological, or passenger experience improvement every week for a year, transforming India’s vast railway network into a world-class system.
- About 52 Improvements Initiative: The ’52 Improvements in 52 Weeks’ is a comprehensive transformation programme spanning: technology upgrades (RailTech Portal, AI-based maintenance, digital ticketing improvements), operational efficiency (e-RCT digitisation, station redevelopment, freight automation), passenger amenities (Wi-Fi expansion, clean station rankings, Divyaang facilities), and safety systems (Kavach anti-collision deployment, track monitoring AI).
- RailTech Portal: The RailTech Portal (#3) is an open innovation platform where technology companies, startups, and individual inventors can propose solutions to Indian Railways’ specific operational challenges — from freight management to station safety to passenger information systems. It democratises railway technology development and accelerates adoption of cutting-edge solutions through a structured procurement and piloting framework.
- Indian Railways Facts: Indian Railways is one of the world’s largest railway networks — 68,000+ km of track, 7,500+ stations, 13,000+ trains daily, carrying 24 million passengers every day. With an annual capital expenditure exceeding ₹2.5 lakh crore, Railway is the single largest capital expenditure item in India’s Union Budget — central to PM Gati Shakti’s vision of seamless multimodal transport infrastructure.
Q.8) Where did PM Narendra Modi inaugurate India’s first semiconductor Assembly, Test and Packaging (ATMP) facility?
Ans > Sanand, Gujarat
- Historic Inauguration: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first semiconductor Assembly, Test and Packaging (ATMP) facility at Sanand in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad district — a watershed moment for India’s semiconductor ambitions. The facility, set up by Tata Electronics in collaboration with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC), marks India’s entry into the global semiconductor supply chain.
- About ATMP: Assembly, Test and Packaging (ATMP) — also called Advanced Packaging — is the downstream stage of semiconductor manufacturing where fabricated chips (from a fab) are assembled into functional packages, electrically tested, and prepared for integration into electronic devices. While ATMP is less complex than front-end fabrication (wafer manufacturing), it is a critical and rapidly growing segment as advanced 3D packaging becomes central to AI chip performance.
- India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): The India Semiconductor Mission was launched in December 2021 with a ₹76,000 crore incentive package. Three projects have been approved: (1) Tata Electronics ATMP + Fab (Sanand, Gujarat & Dholera), (2) CG Power-Renesas ATMP (Sanand), and (3) Micron Technology ATMP (Sanand). Sanand has emerged as India’s first semiconductor cluster — strategically located near Ahmedabad with excellent connectivity and infrastructure.
- Why Semiconductors Matter: Semiconductors (chips) are the foundation of the modern digital economy — powering smartphones, computers, EVs, defence equipment, medical devices, and AI systems. India currently imports 100% of its chips (~$24 billion annually). Building domestic semiconductor capacity is essential for supply chain security (as the COVID-era chip shortage devastated global industries), Atmanirbhar Bharat, and positioning India as a trusted semiconductor supplier for the global market.
Q.10) Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three major inland waterway projects on ‘National Waterway-2’ built on which river?
Ans > Brahmaputra
- Inauguration: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three major inland waterway infrastructure projects on National Waterway-2 (NW-2) — built on the mighty Brahmaputra River in Assam — as part of the government’s vision to develop India’s 111 national waterways as an alternative to road and rail freight, reducing logistics costs and carbon emissions.
- National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra): National Waterway-2 covers the Brahmaputra River from Dhubri (Assam-Bangladesh border) to Sadiya — a stretch of approximately 891 km. It is one of India’s most strategically important waterways, connecting Assam and the Northeast to Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port and ultimately to global shipping through the Bay of Bengal. NW-2 development is critical for Northeast India’s economic integration.
- About Brahmaputra: The Brahmaputra is one of the world’s largest rivers by volume — originating as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, entering India at Arunachal Pradesh, flowing through Assam, and joining the Ganga in Bangladesh (where it is called Jamuna). It carries more water than the Amazon during peak season and is prone to devastating floods. The river is central to Assam’s ecology, culture, economy, and strategic security.
- India’s Inland Waterways Vision: India’s Jal Marg Vikas (Inland Waterways Development) programme, implemented by IWAI (Inland Waterways Authority of India), targets development of 111 national waterways covering 20,000+ km. Water transport is 3-5 times cheaper than road transport for bulk cargo and has a significantly lower carbon footprint — making it essential for India’s logistics competitiveness and green freight transition under PM Gati Shakti.
Q.12) In which state has India’s first integrated Divyang Sahayak portal for AI-based grievance redressal been launched?
Ans > Maharashtra
- Portal Launch: Maharashtra launched India’s first integrated ‘Divyang Sahayak Portal’ — an AI-powered grievance redressal and service delivery portal specifically designed for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan). The portal provides disability-specific services, accessible interface design, voice navigation, and AI-based complaint routing to ensure that the 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in India can access government services without barriers.
- Divyangjan in India: ‘Divyangjan’ (persons with divine abilities — a term coined by PM Modi to replace the older term ‘viklang’) number approximately 2.68 crore according to the 2011 census (likely much higher in 2026). The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 recognises 21 categories of disabilities and guarantees rights including education, employment, accessibility, and social participation for persons with disabilities in India.
- About the Portal: The Divyang Sahayak Portal integrates: disability certificate applications, Unique Disability ID (UDID) card services, accessible MSME/startup registration, disability pension applications, accessible housing scheme registrations, and grievance submission — all in one accessible digital platform with voice assistance, screen reader compatibility, and simplified navigation designed for users with visual, hearing, and motor impairments.
- Maharashtra’s Digital Governance: Maharashtra is India’s most industrialised and economically significant state, and has been a leader in digital governance innovation — with projects like MahaDBT (Direct Benefit Transfer portal), Aaple Sarkar (My Government citizen portal), and now the Divyang Sahayak Portal. Maharashtra’s e-governance ecosystem serves over 12 crore citizens with digital services across health, education, revenue, and social welfare departments.
Q.6) Where did Union Minister Annpurna Devi inaugurate the renovated hostel of the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD)?
Ans > New Delhi
- Inauguration: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi inaugurated the renovated hostel building of the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) at New Delhi — providing improved residential facilities for students, trainees, and researchers attending NIPCCD’s capacity-building programmes in child development, social work, and public cooperation.
- About NIPCCD: The National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) is an apex-level autonomous institute under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Established in 1966, it undertakes research, training, documentation, and advocacy in the areas of child development, ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services), women’s empowerment, POCSO Act implementation, and social welfare administration across India.
- Renamed to ‘Savitribai Phule’: The renaming of NIPCCD to ‘Savitribai Phule NIPCCD’ honours Savitribai Phule (1831-1897) — India’s first woman teacher, pioneer of women’s education, and social reformer who, along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, founded India’s first girls’ school in Pune (1848) and dedicated her life to the education of girls, Dalits, and marginalised communities at a time when such actions required extraordinary courage.
- About Annpurna Devi: Annpurna Devi is a BJP politician from Jharkhand who serves as Union Minister for Women and Child Development in the Modi Cabinet. She oversees the ICDS programme (covering 10 crore children and 2 crore pregnant/lactating women), Mission POSHAN 2.0, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mission Shakti, and other flagship schemes for women and children across India.
Q.7) Where did Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurate the 5th Regional Conference on ‘Labour Codes’ in February 2026?
Ans > New Delhi
- Conference: Union Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 5th Regional Conference on Labour Codes in New Delhi — a consultative platform bringing together state labour ministers, industry representatives, trade unions, and legal experts to discuss the implementation status and operational challenges of India’s four new Labour Codes that consolidate 29 central labour laws.
- India’s Four Labour Codes: India passed four Labour Codes to replace 29 old central labour laws: (1) Code on Wages, 2019 — uniform minimum wage framework, (2) Industrial Relations Code, 2020 — industrial disputes and unions, (3) Code on Social Security, 2020 — ESIC, EPFO, gratuity, maternity, (4) Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 — factory safety and worker welfare. All four Codes are passed but pending notification of Rules for full implementation.
- About Labour Code Implementation: The Labour Codes represent India’s most significant labour law reform since independence — streamlining compliance, expanding social security coverage to gig/platform workers (like Ola, Swiggy, Zomato workers), and improving ease of doing business by reducing the number of labour law filings companies must make. State governments must also draft their own rules before implementation.
- Gig Economy Coverage: A landmark feature of the new Labour Codes is the inclusion of ‘unorganised workers’ and ‘platform workers’ (gig economy) under the social security framework — requiring platform companies to contribute to a social security fund for their gig workers. India has approximately 77 lakh gig workers in 2024, projected to reach 2.35 crore by 2030. This social security extension is one of the world’s first attempts to formally protect gig economy workers at scale.
Q.18) Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the IFFCO Sulphuric Acid Plant (SAP-III) at which location in March 2026?
Ans > Paradip, Odisha
- Inauguration: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the IFFCO Sulphuric Acid Plant (SAP-III) at Paradip, Odisha — a major addition to IFFCO’s fertiliser production complex at Paradip that strengthens India’s phosphatic fertiliser manufacturing capacity and reduces dependence on imported sulphuric acid, a critical raw material for single super phosphate (SSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilisers.
- About IFFCO: IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited) is India’s largest fertiliser cooperative — owned by over 36,000 cooperative societies with over 5 crore farmer members. It is one of the world’s largest fertiliser companies, producing urea, DAP, NPS, and nano fertilisers. IFFCO’s Nano Urea (launched 2021) — a bottle of liquid replacing a 45 kg urea bag — is a revolutionary product now being exported globally.
- About Paradip: Paradip is a major deepwater port city in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district on the Bay of Bengal. Paradip Port is one of India’s 13 major ports by cargo volume — particularly important for fertiliser imports (ammonia, phosphoric acid, rock phosphate) and petroleum exports. IFFCO’s large fertiliser complex at Paradip processes imported raw materials directly from ships, making port proximity a critical locational advantage.
- Fertiliser Security: Fertiliser security is a core component of India’s food security architecture. India imports approximately 40% of its fertiliser requirement — particularly phosphatic (DAP) and potassic (MOP) fertilisers. Building domestic sulphuric acid capacity (an intermediate for phosphatic fertilisers) reduces import dependence, lowers costs for farmers, and strengthens India’s agricultural input supply chain resilience under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
📌 Quick Summary — Government Schemes | March 2026
🏛️ State Government Schemes
- Chhattisgarh: ‘Rani Durgavati Yojana’ launched for girl child welfare and empowerment in Feb 2026 Budget — named after the warrior queen of Gond kingdom.
- Assam: ‘Mission Basundhara 3.0’ launched to distribute land pattas to tribal and landless families — 3rd phase; 1.0 & 2.0 distributed over 10 lakh pattas.
- Andhra Pradesh: ‘Project HANUMAN’ launched to reduce human-wildlife conflict using AI early warning systems and community alerts.
- Andhra Pradesh: Financial assistance of ₹25,000 on birth of 3rd child announced to address falling Total Fertility Rate (TFR of ~1.6 — below replacement level 2.1).
- Kerala: ‘MeHEALTH’ mobile app launched for easy digital access to government healthcare services, telemedicine, and health records.
- Gujarat: ‘herSTART 5.0’ launched (5th edition) to support women entrepreneurs through GUSEC incubation, mentorship, and seed funding.
- Maharashtra: India’s first integrated ‘Divyang Sahayak Portal’ launched for AI-based grievance redressal for persons with disabilities.
- Maharashtra: ‘Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana’ announced — farm loan waiver up to ₹2 lakh for farmers; named after legendary Maratha queen Ahilyadevi Holkar.
🏛️ Central Government Schemes & Initiatives
- Innovation (Tripura): Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India’s first ‘State Innovation Mission (SIM)’ in Tripura in February 2026.
- Health: PM Modi launched nationwide ‘HPV Vaccination Campaign’ from Ajmer, Rajasthan — to prevent cervical cancer in girls aged 9-14; India’s own Cervavac vaccine by Serum Institute of India.
- Economy: FM Nirmala Sitharaman launched ‘National Monetization Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0)’ in New Delhi — targeting ₹10-12 lakh crore asset monetisation over 2026-31.
- Railways: Ashwini Vaishnaw launched Improvement RailTech Portal & Improvement e-RCT Digitization under ’52 Improvements in 52 Weeks’ initiative.
- Rural Youth: Ministry of Rural Development launched ‘VB G RAM G’ Youth Digital Campaign in March 2026 to engage rural youth in development.
👩 Women & Social Welfare Schemes
- Delhi (President Launch): President Draupadi Murmu launched all four Delhi women-centric schemes: Free LPG Cylinder, Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Scheme, ‘My Capital My Right’, and Pink National Common Mobility Card.
- Sports: Raksha Nikhil Khadse (MoS Sports) announced ‘ASMITA Athletics League’ on International Women’s Day — nationwide women’s athletics grassroots competition league.
🏭 Infrastructure & Technology
- Semiconductors: PM Modi inaugurated India’s first semiconductor ATMP (Assembly, Test and Packaging) facility at Sanand, Gujarat — Tata Electronics + PSMC (Taiwan) joint venture under India Semiconductor Mission.
- Inland Waterways: Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three inland waterway projects on National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra River, Assam).
📈 Economy, Labour & Agriculture
- Labour: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated 5th Regional Conference on Labour Codes in New Delhi — consultative platform for India’s 4 new Labour Codes replacing 29 old laws.
- Child Development: Annpurna Devi inaugurated renovated NIPCCD hostel in New Delhi — institute renamed Savitribai Phule NIPCCD after pioneering woman educator (1831-1897).
- Fertiliser: Amit Shah inaugurated IFFCO Sulphuric Acid Plant (SAP-III) at Paradip, Odisha — strengthens domestic phosphatic fertiliser raw material production.
Government Schemes Quiz
March 2026
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