Pratidin

UPSC current affairs, 11 September 2026

Friday. The 9 stories from The Hindu, The Indian Express and PIB that UPSC can ask about, and 16 more articles in brief, each with Prelims facts, a Mains angle and the previous-year questions on the topic.

Today's 9 stories

Polity and governanceThe Hindu, Page 12GS2Must read

How should registered unrecognised political parties be regulated?

An explainer in The Hindu on 11 September 2026 asks how Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) should be regulated. It follows a BBC News Hindi investigation which reported that six RUPPs based in Gujarat received about ₹1,700 crore in donations in 2023-24, more than the ₹1,480 crore received in all by five nationally recognised parties. A RUPP is a party registered with the Election Commission (EC) under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA) that has not won enough votes or seats to be recognised as a national or State party. The EC's list had more than 2,800 RUPPs, but only about 750 contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Prelims facts
  • Political parties register with the Election Commission under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951; recognition as a national or State party depends on the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
  • In Indian National Congress v. Institute of Social Welfare (2002), the Supreme Court held that the Election Commission has no general power to de-register a registered party.
  • The Law Commission's 255th Report recommended de-registering a party that does not contest elections for ten consecutive years.
  • A registered unrecognised party can name up to 20 star campaigners; a recognised party can name up to 40.
  • An ADR report of July 2025 found 2022-23 annual reports publicly available for only 26% of registered unrecognised parties.

Read the full story, model answer and deep dive

EconomyThe Hindu, Page 15GS3GS1Must read

NSO releases first district-level estimates of the unincorporated non-farm sector

The National Statistics Office (NSO) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released India's first district-level estimates for the unincorporated non-agricultural sector, drawn from the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025. It is the first release of district-level estimates from a national survey and covers 757 districts. The survey covers establishments in manufacturing, trade and other services that are not registered as companies: proprietorships, partnerships (excluding limited liability partnerships), cooperatives, and societies or trusts. Data were collected through Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) under a multi-stage stratified sampling design. Lakshadweep, Chandigarh and Delhi were treated differently because of their sampling design or because UT-level data already serve the purpose.

Prelims facts
  • The NSO's ASUSE 2025 release is the first set of district-level estimates from a national survey, covering 757 districts.
  • All-India GVA per worker in the unincorporated non-agricultural sector is ₹1,56,539, and 280 districts exceed it.
  • Women's share of the sector's workers is 29% nationally, highest in Nirmal, Telangana (78%) and lowest in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand (6.7%).
  • The top 50 districts account for nearly one-third of unincorporated establishments, workers and GVA.
  • ASUSE covers proprietorships, partnerships (excluding LLPs), cooperatives and societies or trusts in manufacturing, trade and other services.

Read the full story, model answer and deep dive

Environment and geographyThe Hindu, Page 16GS1GS3GS2Must read

Bihar floods despite a 27% rain deficit, and the Ganga, not Nepal, is behind it

Floods in Bihar had affected about 40.51 lakh people in 2,157 villages across 14 districts by 9 September 2026, even though the State recorded a 27% rainfall deficit between 1 June and 8 September. The Hindu reports that this year's pattern was unusual. In most years, the rivers that flow in from Nepal, such as the Bagmati, Kamla, Kosi and Gandak, swell first and flood north Bihar. This time the Ganga rose first, fed by heavy rain upstream around Allahabad and Varanasi and by discharge from neighbouring States. Heavy, localised rain within Bihar in September, 31% above normal, made things worse.

Prelims facts
  • By 9 September 2026, floods had affected about 40.51 lakh people in 2,157 villages across 14 Bihar districts despite a 27% rain deficit from 1 June to 8 September.
  • In 2026 the Ganga rose before the Nepal-fed rivers (Bagmati, Kamla, Kosi, Gandak), causing a backwater effect on tributaries such as the Gandak and the Punpun.
  • The Farakka Barrage, on the Ganga in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, became operational in 1975 to divert water to the Hooghly for Kolkata port.
  • The India-Bangladesh Ganga water treaty was signed on 12 December 1996 by H.D. Deve Gowda and Sheikh Hasina for 30 years and expires in December 2026.

Read the full story, model answer and deep dive

International relationsThe Hindu, EditorialGS2GS3

Editorial: What the U.S.-Canada trade rupture teaches India

The Hindu's editorial 'Rude lessons' (11 September 2026) looks at how the relationship between the United States and Canada, one of the world's most closely integrated, has slid into a trade dispute, and what India should learn from it. The editorial recalls that the two countries established free trade in automobiles and parts in 1965, expanded it into a full free trade agreement in 1989 and folded it into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which came into force on 1 January 1994 with Mexico. NAFTA was replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on 1 July 2020. The editorial notes that Canada supplies 70% of the oil refined in the American Midwest and 60% of U.S. aluminium demand.

Prelims facts
  • The Canada-U.S. Automotive Products Agreement (Auto Pact) was signed in January 1965 by Lester B. Pearson and Lyndon B. Johnson.
  • The Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement came into force on 1 January 1989 and was superseded by NAFTA, in force from 1 January 1994.
  • The USMCA replaced NAFTA on 1 July 2020; it has a 16-year term with a joint review every six years, and runs to 1 July 2036.
  • On 1 July 2026 the U.S. announced it would not renew the USMCA, leaving it subject to annual reviews.
  • The editorial notes India accepted an 18% tariff arrangement with the U.S. in February 2026.

Read the full story, model answer and deep dive

Science and technologyThe Hindu, Page 14GS3

Mercury may have shrunk by up to 23 km in diameter, about 30% more than thought

A study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, reported in The Hindu on 11 September 2026, suggests that Mercury has shrunk more than scientists believed. Using data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, which orbited the planet in the 2010s, researchers including scientists at the German Aerospace Center estimate that Mercury's diameter may have contracted by up to 23 km (about 14 miles), roughly 30% more than earlier estimates. Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System, with an equatorial radius of about 2,439.7 km, and the innermost, taking about 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun. It has been contracting since it formed about 4.5 billion years ago.

Prelims facts
  • A study in Geophysical Research Letters using MESSENGER data estimates Mercury's diameter has shrunk by up to 23 km, about 30% more than earlier estimates.
  • Mercury's core occupies about 57% of its volume, compared with 17% for Earth; cooling of this large core drives global contraction.
  • Lobate scarps are long cliff-like thrust faults formed as Mercury's crust is squeezed by contraction.
  • BepiColombo, an ESA-JAXA mission launched on 20 October 2018, is expected to enter Mercury's orbit in November 2026.
  • MESSENGER orbited Mercury from 18 March 2011 until it crashed onto the surface on 30 April 2015.

Read the full story, model answer and deep dive

Polity and governancePIB, Government releaseGS2GS3Must read

Centre launches DILRMP 3.0 guidelines for a GIS-based land records system, 2026-31

Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the operational guidelines for the third phase of the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP 3.0) in New Delhi on 11 September 2026. The phase runs from 2026 to 2031. The nodal body is the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) in the Ministry of Rural Development. DILRMP is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Centre; under the new guidelines, money will be released to States linked to performance and tracked in real time through an upgraded DILRMP-MIS portal and the Public Financial Management System (PFMS). The phase aims to move from simply digitising records to a GIS-enabled system that joins records, maps, registration and revenue courts.

Prelims facts
  • DILRMP 3.0 (2026-2031) guidelines were launched on 11 September 2026 by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
  • The nodal body is the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development; DILRMP is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% central funding.
  • Bhu-Aadhaar, the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN), is a 14-digit ID for each geo-referenced land parcel.
  • 75 Sub-Registrar Offices are to become Registration Seva Kendras at a cost of ₹37.5 crore.
  • NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations) is DoLR's urban land survey pilot.

Read the full story, model answer and deep dive

International relationsThe Hindu, Page 18GS2GS1GS3Must read

Houthis seize Yemen's Red Sea port of Mokha, close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Yemen's Houthi movement took control of Mokha, a port city on the Red Sea coast, on 10 September 2026, after forces allied with Yemen's internationally recognised government withdrew. Mokha lies in Taiz Governorate and is the first port north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, about 80 km away, the narrow gate between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Government-aligned forces had held the city since they captured it in February 2017. Reports described the capture as the Houthis' largest territorial gain since the truce period that began in 2022, and The Hindu reported that it came in an offensive begun in early September 2026, after the conflict relapsed into war in July 2026.

Prelims facts
  • The Houthis captured Mokha, a Red Sea port in Yemen's Taiz Governorate, on 10 September 2026; government-aligned forces had held it since February 2017.
  • Mokha is the first port north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is about 26 km wide at its narrowest.
  • The strait separates Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula from Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa; Perim island splits it into two channels.
  • Houthi attacks on shipping began on 19 November 2023 with the seizure of Galaxy Leader; the U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian began on 18 December 2023.
  • Mokha dominated the world coffee trade from the 16th to the 19th century and gave its name to 'mocha' coffee.

Read the full story, model answer and deep dive

EconomyThe Hindu, Page 13GS3GS2

Op-ed: Fast growth, weak jobs and India's risk of a middle-income trap

An opinion article in The Hindu argues that India, despite being the world's fastest-growing major economy, risks falling into the 'middle-income trap'. The term, coined by World Bank economists Indermit Gill and Homi Kharas in 2007, describes countries that grow out of poverty on cheap labour and basic industry but then stall before becoming rich. They face a double squeeze: rising wages erode their edge over poorer rivals, while they lack the technology to compete with advanced economies. South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore are usually cited as economies that escaped, while Brazil and South Africa have stayed in the middle-income range for decades. The article points to South Korea and China as countries that invested heavily in technical education.

Prelims facts
  • The term 'middle-income trap' was coined by World Bank economists Indermit Gill and Homi Kharas in 2007.
  • World Development Report 2024 counted 108 middle-income countries and found only 34 middle-income economies have become high-income since 1990.
  • The WDR 2024 '3i' strategy is investment, then investment plus infusion of foreign technology, then investment, infusion and innovation.
  • WDR 2024 estimated India would need 75 years to reach a quarter of U.S. per capita income.
  • Manufacturing has stayed at about 14% to 17% of GVA for over two decades, and India's GERD is about 0.64% of GDP.

Read the full story, model answer and deep dive

International relationsThe Hindu, Page 16GS3GS2

India-U.S. Army exercise Yudh Abhyas opens its 22nd edition with a counter-drone focus

The 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas, the annual exercise between the Indian Army and the United States Army, has begun. This year's drills focus on high-altitude warfare, long-range precision fires (striking targets far away with guided rockets and artillery), counter-drone capabilities and integrated multi-domain operations. The U.S. side includes Arctic-trained soldiers of the 11th Airborne Division, based at Fort Wainwright in Alaska, and the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force, a unit built around precision fires and joint command-and-control. The exercise has a command post exercise (CPX), in which staffs plan and direct operations on maps and networks, and a field training exercise (FTX) with troops on the ground, ending in a combined live-fire demonstration using rocket systems.

Prelims facts
  • Yudh Abhyas is an annual India-U.S. Army exercise that began in 2004; the 2026 edition is the 22nd.
  • The 2026 edition focuses on high-altitude warfare, long-range precision fires, counter-drone capabilities and multi-domain operations.
  • The U.S. Army deployed its Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (MLIDS) in India for the first time.
  • U.S. participants include the 11th Airborne Division (Fort Wainwright, Alaska) and the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force.
  • India and the U.S. signed GSOMIA (2002), LEMOA (29 August 2016), COMCASA (September 2018) and BECA (2020).

Read the full story, model answer and deep dive

Every other article worth knowing

The Hindu

Canada's envoy expects India-Canada trade deal to be finalised by the end of 2026

The Hindu, Page 1GS2GS3Prelims

Canadian High Commissioner Christopher Cooter said India and Canada expect to finalise a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2026, timed with Prime Minister Modi's planned visit to Canada in December. CEPA negotiations were formally relaunched in March 2026. India has encouraged Canadian investors to look at sectors such as banking, fintech, insurance, semiconductors and rare earths, and the two countries are considering talks on a Bilateral Investment Treaty.

Prelims facts
  • India-Canada bilateral trade is about $8 billion, with a target of $70 billion a year by 2030.
  • Canadian institutional investors hold about $80 billion of investments in India.
Mains angle

GS2 bilateral relations: the relaunched CEPA and a possible Bilateral Investment Treaty mark a reset in India-Canada economic ties and feed answers on India's trade agreement strategy.

Source summary

Op-ed: How the U.S. war on terror strengthened Iran in West Asia

The Hindu, Page 10OpinionGS2

The author argues that the U.S. Global War on Terror, by removing the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001 and Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003, eliminated Iran's adversaries and left strategic vacuums that Tehran filled through proxies and militias. According to the piece, Iran built an 'Axis of Resistance' linking it with Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, and deployed its elite Quds Force to coordinate Baghdad's defence against ISIS, while defending the Assad government in Syria and securing supply routes to Hezbollah.

Prelims facts
  • The 'Shia Crescent' refers to an arc of Iranian influence across Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
  • The 'Axis of Evil' designation dates to 2002, under U.S. President George W. Bush.
Mains angle

GS2 effect of the policies of other countries on India's interests: the author argues that regime change in Afghanistan and Iraq reshaped the West Asian balance of power in Iran's favour.

Source summary

Ladakh to get a unique elected body with powers but not statehood, says Chief Secretary

The Hindu, Page 16GS2Prelims

Ladakh's Chief Secretary said the Union Territory will get a sui generis elected body with legislative, executive and financial powers instead of statehood, possibly through a new constitutional provision such as Article 371(K), which the Centre has reportedly proposed. Talks on September 9 focused on the division of powers between the existing hill councils and the proposed body. The Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance said no concrete progress was made.

Prelims facts
  • Ladakh became a Union Territory without a legislature in 2019, after its bifurcation from Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Ladakh's local bodies have been demanding inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Mains angle

GS2 federalism and special provisions: the choice between an Article 371-type provision and Sixth Schedule status frames the debate on autonomy and safeguards for Ladakh.

Source summary

The Indian Express

Xi Jinping to attend BRICS summit in New Delhi and hold bilateral talks with Modi

Indian Express, Page 1GS2Prelims

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, his first visit to India in seven years, and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi. The two countries are working towards launching a Strategic Economic Dialogue on trade and investment issues. They will review the recent boundary talks between the Special Representatives; persistent issues include visa restrictions for Indian businesses and challenges in sharing transboundary river data.

Prelims facts
  • The 25th round of India-China Special Representatives talks, held in Beijing, agreed on two new border military hotlines and two new meeting points for military commanders.
  • The Special Representatives for the boundary talks are Ajit Doval and Wang Yi.
  • Xi and Modi last met in India in October 2019; their meetings at Kazan (October 2024) and Tianjin (August 2025) contributed to troop disengagement along the LAC.
Mains angle

GS2 India-China relations: summit-level talks, new border hotlines and a proposed Strategic Economic Dialogue show the stabilisation of ties since the LAC standoff, while visa and river-data issues remain open.

Asked before

2024 · GS3 · 15 marks India has a long and troubled border with China and Pakistan fraught with contentious issues. Examine the conflicting issues and security challenges along the border. Also give out the development being undertaken in…

How to use it: New hotlines and meeting points agreed at the 25th round of Special Representatives talks illustrate current mechanisms for managing the contentious India-China border.

Source summary

PM invites France and other partners to join India's space programme

Indian Express, Page 8GS3GS2Prelims

In a video address to the International Space Summit in Paris, organised by France, Prime Minister Modi invited France and other countries to partner in India's space plans, citing the idea of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. ISRO has launched 430 payloads for 34 countries, and India aims to set up an indigenous space station by 2035 and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040. India-France space cooperation dates to the 1960s.

Prelims facts
  • The Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) was established in 1963 near the magnetic equator.
  • Megha-Tropiques and SARAL are joint India-France satellite missions.
Mains angle

GS3 space technology and GS2 bilateral ties: international partnerships support India's long-term targets of a space station and a crewed lunar mission.

Asked before

2019 · GS3 · 10 marks What is India's plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme?

How to use it: India's target of an indigenous space station by 2035, alongside an astronaut on the Moon by 2040, gives the current timeline for India's space station plan.

Source summary

ICMR study suggests Indian women may be genetically predisposed to endometriosis

Indian Express, Page 12GS2GS3Prelims

A genome-wide study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the first of its kind in India, indicates that Indian women may be genetically predisposed to endometriosis. India is estimated to bear 25% of the global burden of the condition, which affects 10% of women of reproductive age. It involves tissue of the uterine lining growing outside the uterus, causing severe menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain and fatigue, and often infertility.

Prelims facts
  • Diagnosis of endometriosis is delayed by four to 12 years on average globally, a problem the WHO has highlighted.
  • The ICMR genome-wide study is the first of its kind in India.
Mains angle

GS2 health: long diagnostic delays for a common women's health condition, and the value of indigenous genomic research in enabling earlier diagnosis and better treatment.

Source summary

Op-ed: BRICS as a bridge for India and a platform for the Global South

Indian Express, Page 13OpinionGS2Prelims

The piece argues that over two decades BRICS has become a platform for the Global South, pressing for reform of international institutions and fostering economic independence, and calls the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) game-changers. It says de-dollarisation through local currency trade aims to reduce exposure to dollar liquidity crunches and U.S. monetary policy shocks, and that India seeks to be a bridge between Western and developing economies.

Prelims facts
  • Intra-BRICS trade grew about 13 times, from $84 billion in 2003 to $1.17 trillion in 2024.
  • BRICS financial mechanisms include the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement.
Mains angle

GS2 India and global groupings: the piece presents BRICS as a reformist, pluralist platform for a multipolar order, with India positioning itself as a bridge between the West and the developing world.

Asked before

2026 · GS2 · 10 marks "BRICS acts as a powerful counterweight in global governance, actively amplifying the voice and influence of the Global South." Explain the role of BRICS in projecting itself as an alternative to other groupings.

How to use it: Pressure for reform of global institutions, the NDB and CRA, and local-currency trade show how BRICS projects itself as an alternative grouping amplifying the Global South.

Source summary

Nirmal in Telangana has the highest share of women in the informal workforce, at 78%

Indian Express, Page 15GS1GS3Prelims

District-level data from the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025 of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation show that 78% of informal workers in Telangana's Nirmal district are women, the highest in the country, against an all-India average of 29%. Neighbouring Nanded district in Maharashtra has 31%. Women in high-participation districts often receive lower emoluments than the national average.

Prelims facts
  • Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district has the lowest share of women in the informal workforce, at 6.7%.
  • The ASUSE 2025 release gives estimates for 757 districts and is the first release of district-level estimates.
Mains angle

GS1 women and work: high female shares in informal work combined with lower emoluments feed answers on the quality of women's employment and the use of district data in policy.

Source summary

RBI Governor asks fintechs to treat customer data as a fiduciary responsibility

Indian Express, Page 15GS3Prelims

Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said fintechs should treat data as a fiduciary responsibility rather than merely a business asset, calling personal financial and non-financial data more valuable than capital. He warned against exploiting regulatory gaps and against 'scaling first and seeking clarity or forgiveness later', and cited the Account Aggregator framework as a model of consent-based, purpose-limited data sharing.

Prelims facts
  • Under the Account Aggregator framework, no entity can access a customer's underlying data without explicit consent.
Mains angle

GS3 financial sector regulation: consent-based data sharing and warnings against monetising consumer data frame the balance between fintech innovation and consumer trust.

Source summary

Why Manipur's demand for a 1951 baseline for the NRC is contentious

Indian Express, Page 16ExplainedGS2GS3Prelims

Manipur's Home Minister said 1951 would be the baseline year for updating the National Register of Citizens in the State, subject to the Centre's approval. The date is linked to the abolition of Manipur's permit system in 1950 and the first Census of independent India in 1951. Meitei and Naga organisations back it, while the Kuki-Zo Council opposes it, citing enumeration difficulties and possible exclusion of indigenous communities. Migration after Myanmar's 2021 military coup and the 2027 Census and delimitation have sharpened the demand.

Prelims facts
  • The Assam NRC used March 25, 1971 as its cut-off date, rooted in the Assam Accord.
  • When Manipur operationalised the Inner Line Permit system in 2022, it chose 1961 as the base year.
  • The Manipur People's Protection Bill, 2018 proposed 1951 as the baseline but did not become law.
Mains angle

GS2 and GS3: the choice of cut-off date pits concerns over migration against the risk of excluding long-settled residents who lack 1951 records, especially in conflict-affected areas.

Asked before

2019 · GS3 · 15 marks Cross-border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the various challenges currently emanating across the India-Myanmar…

How to use it: Migration into Manipur after Myanmar's 2021 military coup, which has sharpened the demand for a 1951 NRC baseline, is a challenge across the India-Myanmar border beyond insurgent movement.

Source summary

BRICS at 20: growing economic weight, payment links and internal divisions

Indian Express, Page 16ExplainedGS2Prelims

Ahead of the 18th summit in New Delhi, the 11-member BRICS accounts for about 36.8% of global GDP in PPP terms, above the G7's share of below 29%. The expansion has also brought divisions: a May 2026 Foreign Ministers' meeting failed to agree on a joint declaration because of conflict between Iran and the UAE. China and Russia view BRICS as a counterweight to Western dominance, while India and Brazil prioritise economic and reform-oriented goals.

Prelims facts
  • The New Development Bank had approved about $44 billion across 141 projects by mid-2026.
  • The proposed BRICS Pay system aims to link national payment systems such as UPI, CIPS, SPFS and Pix for trade settlement in national currencies.
  • Special Rupee Vostro Accounts are among the mechanisms used to settle bilateral trade in national currencies.
Mains angle

GS2 India and global groupings: expansion has added economic weight but also geopolitical contradictions, which India must manage as chair.

Source summary

Press Information Bureau

Centre amends E-Commerce Rules: helpline integration, dark patterns and a 30-day prior price

PIBGovernment releaseGS2GS3Prelims

The government amended the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 through the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026. Platforms must integrate with the National Consumer Helpline for grievance redressal, clearly disclose sponsored listings, and show as the 'prior price' the lowest price offered in the preceding 30 days. Marketplaces must give seller and product details, including importer details and country of origin for imported goods. The rules take effect on January 1, 2027.

Prelims facts
  • The E-Commerce Rules rest on the framework of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
  • Platforms must comply with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, including yearly self-audits.
Mains angle

GS2 and GS3 consumer protection in digital markets: price transparency, dark-pattern rules and helpline integration show the regulatory response to manipulative online practices.

Source summary

India plans to become a hub for ship ownership, leasing and maritime finance at GIFT City

PIBGovernment releaseGS3Prelims

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said India aims to become a global hub for ship ownership, leasing and maritime finance, with GIFT City as the platform. Reforms allow GIFT IFSC-based companies to own foreign-flag vessels. The government has committed Rs 25,000 crore to the Maritime Development Fund, expected to catalyse up to Rs 1.5 lakh crore of investment by 2030, and Rs 24,736 crore to the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) 2.0.

Prelims facts
  • 38 ship lessors are registered, leasing 43 vessels, of which 24 fly the Indian flag.
  • The summit was organised by IFSCA with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Mains angle

GS3 infrastructure and investment: building ship leasing and maritime finance at GIFT IFSC, backed by dedicated funds, is part of India's push to develop its maritime sector.

Source summary

DEPwD, ALIMCO and EkStep Foundation to launch Purple Dots platform for persons with disabilities

PIBGovernment releaseGS2Prelims

DEPwD, ALIMCO and the EkStep Foundation signed an MoU to launch the 'Purple Dots - UBI Initiative', a digital platform linking persons with disabilities to employment, assistive technology and skill development. It creates digital profiles for persons with disabilities stating their needs, and for employers, service providers and NGOs listing opportunities and resources, connected through open and interoperable digital infrastructure. It aims to move disability inclusion from fragmented access to seamless discovery, linkage and participation.

Prelims facts
  • UBI in the Purple Dots initiative stands for Unified Benefits Interface.
Mains angle

GS2 welfare of vulnerable sections: digital public infrastructure that matches persons with disabilities to jobs, assistive devices and skilling.

Source summary

BRICS backgrounder: 11 members, India's fourth chairship and the 18th summit theme

PIBGovernment releaseGS2Prelims

A PIB backgrounder notes that BRICS now has 11 members representing 49.5% of the world's population and 40% of global GDP. India holds the chairship for the fourth time in 2026, after 2012, 2016 and 2021, and hosts the 18th Summit under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Indonesia joined in the 2024-2025 expansion.

Prelims facts
  • The BRIC concept dates to 2001; the grouping was formalised in 2006 and South Africa joined in 2010.
  • BRICS has 10 partner countries.
  • BRICS financial arrangements include the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement.
Mains angle

GS2 India and global groupings: the chairship lets India shape BRICS priorities on Global South interests, development finance, technology and food and energy security.

Asked before

2025 · Prelims Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS: I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan. II. Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS. III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was…

How to use it: Indonesia is among the six countries that joined BRICS as members in the 2024-2025 expansion, relevant to the statement on its full membership.

Source summary

PMMSY: fish production reaches a record 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25

PIBGovernment releaseGS3Prelims

A PIB note on the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in 2020 with a total outlay of Rs 20,750 crore, says fish production rose from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to a record 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, and fisheries exports from Rs 46,663 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 73,890 crore in 2025-26. The scheme has created employment for 58 lakh persons and received a record Rs 2,500 crore in BE 2026-27.

Prelims facts
  • The PM-MKSSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana) sub-scheme has an outlay of Rs 6,000 crore to formalise the fisheries sector.
  • PMMSY has approved 12 Integrated Aquaparks and seaweed cultivation projects worth Rs 198.17 crore.
  • PMMSY has supported 2,195 Fish Farmers Producer Organisations.
Mains angle

GS3 blue economy and allied sectors: output, export and employment gains under PMMSY illustrate fisheries as a growth and livelihood sector.

Source summary