PIB digest for Monday, 26 October

Monday, 26 October10 briefs

• Lok Sabha Speaker Inaugurates 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026

  Lok Sabha Secretariat · IR

  The Lok Sabha Speaker inaugurated the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026 at Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi, emphasizing the empowerment of parliaments for people-centric development and global cooperation. The two-day forum focuses on four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.

  This event is significant for UPSC as it highlights India's role in multilateral groupings like BRICS, parliamentary diplomacy, and global governance issues concerning the Global South, falling under International Relations.

  Key objectives

  • Inaugurate the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026 at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi.
  • Strengthen parliamentary engagement to advance people-centric development, global peace, sustainability, and international cooperation.
  • Deliberate on four interconnected pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.

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• Department of Commerce Extends RELIEF Initiative

  Ministry of Commerce & Industry · Economy

  The Department of Commerce has extended Component II of the RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) initiative under the Export Promotion Mission until March 31, 2027. The extension provides 95% risk coverage and premium protection for exporters facing geopolitical disruptions in West Asia.

  This scheme extension is important for UPSC General Studies Paper III (Economy - Foreign Trade and Export Promotion), illustrating government interventions to protect international trade and export resilience amid geopolitical and maritime disruptions.

  Key objectives

  • Extends Component II of the RELIEF initiative until March 31, 2027, via Notification No. 37/2026-27.
  • Provides 95 per cent risk coverage to encourage exporters to obtain ECGC cover for shipments to specified regions.
  • Protects eligible exporters' payable premiums against increases beyond pre-disruption levels.
  • Covers FCL, LCL, and reefer containers, while explicitly excluding energy shipments.

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• TRAI Recommendations on Application-based Linear TV Distribution

  Ministry of Communications · Governance

  The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released recommendations on an Authorisation Framework for Application-based Linear Television Distribution (ALTD) Services, including Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) Services. The framework proposes integrating ALTD services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, with light-touch licensing, grievance redressal, and audience measurement integration.

  This decision illustrates the evolving regulatory challenges in India's digital broadcasting sector, highlighting the intersection of telecommunications law, media governance, and consumer protection under UPSC syllabus themes like government policies and interventions for development in various sectors.

  Key objectives

  • Introduce ALTD Service as a distinct sub-category under Television Channel Distribution Services via Section 3(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
  • Propose a light-touch authorisation framework with an application processing fee of ₹10,000, a one-time entry fee of ₹1 lakh, 20 years validity, and no authorisation fee, bank guarantee, or security deposit.
  • Mandate OEMs and OS providers to distribute only authorised ALTD applications via a Master ALTD app repository maintained by MIB.
  • Integrate ALTD viewership into the television audience measurement framework.

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• Raksha Mantri Calls for Aatmanirbharta 2.0 at SWAVLAMBAN 2026

  Ministry of Defence · Security

  At the fifth edition of SWAVLAMBAN 2026, the Defence Minister called for 'Aatmanirbharta 2.0' in the defence sector to build advanced, cost-effective technologies and resilient supply chains. The event highlighted significant milestones under the iDEX initiative, including naval contracts exceeding Rs 1,900 crore and 41 Acceptance of Necessity cases worth over Rs 3,500 crore.

  This release is important for UPSC General Studies Paper III (Security), illustrating India's progress, challenges, and strategic policy shifts toward indigenous defence manufacturing and technological self-reliance.

  Key objectives

  • Call for 'Aatmanirbharta 2.0' focusing on top-end technologies, robust R&D, and resilient supply chains at SWAVLAMBAN 2026.
  • Highlighting naval contracts worth over Rs 1,900 crore and 41 Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) cases worth over Rs 3,500 crore.
  • Emphasizing a 'Dual Technology Roadmap' for civil and military requirements and inter-service jointness.
  • Noting that over 4,000 proposals were submitted against 229 Indian Navy challenges under the iDEX initiative.

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• DAC Clears Defence Proposals Worth Rs 2.12 Lakh Crore

  Ministry of Defence · Security

  The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved capital acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 2,12,000 crore on October 26, 2026, to enhance the capabilities of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Approximately 82% of these procurements will be sourced from the Indian Industry.

  This development is significant for UPSC as it highlights India's strategic push towards indigenous defense manufacturing (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and modernization of its armed forces under the security syllabus theme.

  Key objectives

  • Accordion of Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 2,12,000 crore by the Defence Acquisition Council.
  • Around 82% of total procurements are designated to be made from the Indian Industry to promote indigenous capabilities.
  • Procurements include various defense systems, vehicles, helicopters, and platforms for the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.

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• MoRTH Updates Rules for Flex Fuel Vehicles

  Ministry of Road Transport & Highways · Environment

  The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to facilitate the adoption of E85 and E100 flex fuel vehicles. The rules update emission certification provisions and aim to reduce crude oil import dependence and greenhouse gas emissions.

  This notification illustrates India's policy shift towards alternative fuels and clean energy transition under environmental governance and sustainable development.

  Key objectives

  • Notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to support the adoption of E85 and E100 flex fuel vehicles.
  • Defined E85 as a petrol and ethanol blend containing up to 85 per cent ethanol by volume.
  • Stated that domestically produced ethanol can reduce dependence on imported crude oil and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Clarified that E85/E100 is restricted to specifically designed and certified vehicles and does not require existing vehicle owners to switch or modify their vehicles.

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• TDB-DST Supports Manastu Space for Green Propulsion

  Ministry of Science & Technology · Science & Tech

  The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology signed an agreement to provide ₹116 crore financial support to Manastu Space Technologies for developing indigenous green propulsion technology for satellites and launch vehicles.

  This agreement illustrates India's push towards indigenous deep-tech development and commercial space capabilities, directly relevant to the UPSC syllabus topic of achievements of Indians in science & technology and indigenous space technology.

  Key objectives

  • Provide ₹116 crore financial support through Optionally Convertible Debt (OCD) under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund.
  • Develop a scalable, integrated green propulsion system using hydrogen peroxide-based green propellant for satellites and launch vehicles across the 5 mN to 300 N thrust class.
  • Advance the green propulsion technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-6 to TRL-9.

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• Monthly Flash Report on Infrastructure Projects 2026

  Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation · Infrastructure

  The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released its Monthly Flash Report tracking 1,853 Central Sector infrastructure projects worth ₹37.56 lakh crore as of September 2026 via the PAIMANA platform. The report highlights a cumulative expenditure of ₹17.73 lakh crore, with Transport and Logistics and Energy sectors dominating the monitored portfolio.

  This report illustrates the mechanism of infrastructure governance, project monitoring, and public expenditure tracking in India, which is crucial for studying infrastructure economics and government policies in the UPSC syllabus.

  Key objectives

  • Tracks 1,853 Central Sector infrastructure projects worth ₹37.56 lakh crore as of September 2026 using the PAIMANA platform.
  • Total cumulative expenditure on ongoing projects stands at ₹17.73 lakh crore (approx. 47.21% of total project cost).
  • Transport & Logistics and Energy sectors account for 83.4% of total monitored projects.

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• ASUSE 2027–28 Aligns with Financial Year

  Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation · Economy

  The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation announced that the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2027–28 will shift its schedule from the calendar year to the financial year (April to March) and introduce new policy-focused questions regarding female entrepreneur constraints, energy use, investment trajectories, and handloom/handicraft establishments.

  This update matters for UPSC General Studies III (Indian Economy, mobilization of resources, and growth & development), as reliable official statistics on the unincorporated non-agricultural sector are critical for effective policy formulation, national accounting, and understanding employment trends.

  Key objectives

  • Align the survey period of ASUSE 2027–28 with the financial year (April 2027 to March 2028).
  • Introduce new policy-focused questions capturing gender-specific constraints of female entrepreneurs, electricity sources, investment trajectories over longer periods, and handloom/handicraft/power-loom establishment details.
  • Maintain district-level estimates generation by participating States and preserve continuity in quarterly estimates.

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• Catch the Rain and Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Campaign

  PIB Backgrounder · Environment

  The Catch the Rain campaign and Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiatives promote nationwide water conservation through rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and community participation. An impact evaluation study estimated that these interventions resulted in 2.43 billion cubic metres of groundwater recharge.

  This initiative highlights community-led resource management and climate resilience, directly aligning with UPSC General Studies Paper III syllabus themes of environmental conservation, water security, and sustainable development.

  Key objectives

  • Focuses on rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and water-body restoration.
  • Constructed over 1.55 crore artificial recharge and storage structures under the JSJB initiative.
  • Integrates community participation (Jan Andolan) with convergence of various government schemes.

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