Current Affairs — 1 August 2026

1. Samudra Manthan — National Offshore Exploration Scheme

Core Context

India imports over 85% of its crude oil requirement, making energy security a persistent strategic concern. To boost domestic hydrocarbon output and cut import dependence, the government has launched a mega offshore exploration mission that integrates exploration, drilling, infrastructure and skill development under a single umbrella.

Latest Developments

• The Union Cabinet approved Samudra Manthan, the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, with an outlay of about Rs 84,084 crore, to run till March 2031.

• The scheme aims to raise India's domestic oil and gas production from around 62 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent (MMTOE) to 80 MMTOE annually.

• ONGC will lead deepwater exploration, planning to drill around 150 deepwater wells over seven years to tap nearly 5,600 MMTOE of estimated deepwater and ultra-deepwater hydrocarbon potential.

• The mission covers the entire value chain — geological and geophysical surveys, deep-sea drilling, scientific research, production infrastructure, digital monitoring, domestic manufacturing and skill development.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• India's exploration licensing framework rests on the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) and the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP).

• Key offshore sedimentary basins: Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin, Mumbai Offshore Basin, Cauvery Basin, Kutch-Saurashtra Basin and Andaman Basin.

• MMTOE stands for Million Metric Tonnes of Oil Equivalent, a common unit for comparing energy content across fuels.

• ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

• India's crude oil import dependence stands at roughly 85-88%, a recurring fact in energy security questions.

2. Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY)

Core Context

India's solar expansion targets face a growing constraint of land scarcity for ground-mounted solar parks, particularly in densely populated states. Floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) technology installed atop reservoirs, dams, lakes and industrial ponds helps overcome this constraint while also reducing water evaporation.

Latest Developments

• Cabinet approved PM-SSY, a Central Sector Scheme with a total outlay of Rs 5,070 crore.

• Target: 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity along with 10,000 MWh of co-located battery energy storage.

• Projects will be sanctioned from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, with financial support disbursed up to FY 2032-33.

• Central assistance of Rs 1 crore per MW is offered post-commissioning, along with up to Rs 50 lakh for feasibility studies.

• The scheme is expected to cut about 10 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually and generate 16,000-17,000 jobs.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• Distinguish floating solar (FSPV) from ground-mounted and rooftop solar in terms of land use and water-conservation co-benefits.

• Related schemes: PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (rooftop solar for households) and PM-KUSUM (solar for farmers).

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

• Connects to India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) target for non-fossil fuel-based electricity capacity.

3. Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) — Seventh Draft Notification

Core Context

The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's eight biodiversity hotspots, has faced repeated delays in receiving a final Ecologically Sensitive Area notification since the Kasturirangan Committee submitted its report in 2013, largely due to opposition from state governments over developmental restrictions.

Latest Developments

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued its seventh draft notification proposing to declare about 56,825.7 sq km of the Western Ghats across six states as an Ecologically Sensitive Area.

• Proposed state-wise coverage: Gujarat 449 sq km, Maharashtra 17,340 sq km, Goa 1,461 sq km, Karnataka 20,668 sq km, Tamil Nadu 6,914 sq km, and Kerala 9,993.7 sq km.

• If finalised, the notification would prohibit or strictly regulate new mining, large townships, red-category polluting industries and new thermal power plants across nearly 3,000 villages.

• The public has been given 60 days to submit objections and suggestions before a final notification is issued.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The Kasturirangan Committee (High Level Working Group, 2013) recommended about 37% of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive, moderating the earlier Gadgil Committee (Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, 2011) recommendation of nearly 64%.

• The Western Ghats span six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

• "Red category" industries, as classified by the Central Pollution Control Board, refers to the most heavily polluting industries.

• The Western Ghats were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

4. Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026

Core Context

The EPI is a biennial ranking that benchmarks countries on environmental health, ecosystem vitality and climate performance, and is closely watched as an indicator of a nation's sustainability trajectory ahead of global climate negotiations.

Latest Developments

• India ranked 176th out of 177 countries in the EPI 2026, with a score of 22.46 — the second-lowest globally, ahead only of Laos.

• Estonia topped the index with a score of 74.79.

• The index assessed 177 countries across 47 indicators grouped into 12 issue categories under three broad policy objectives: environmental health (25% weight), ecosystem vitality (45% weight) and climate change mitigation (30% weight).

• India ranked last among the South Asian countries assessed.

• Poor air quality, continued dependence on coal, weak ecosystem protection and biodiversity loss were cited as key reasons; Indian experts have also questioned the index's methodology and weightages.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The EPI is jointly compiled by researchers from Yale University and Columbia University.

• It is released once every two years.

• Remember the three broad policy objectives and their approximate weightages for objective-type questions.

• India has repeatedly contested its low EPI rankings on methodological grounds — a recurring theme in India's environmental governance debates.

5. SHANTI Framework — India's Maritime Security Doctrine

Core Context

The Indo-Pacific and Bay of Bengal region has become central to India's strategic outlook amid rising great-power competition. India has been articulating successive maritime frameworks, such as SAGAR, to project itself as a net security provider in the region.

Latest Developments

• The External Affairs Minister introduced SHANTI — Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity — during the launch of India's campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term.

• SHANTI is positioned as a normative, shared-responsibility framework for regional maritime security rather than a rigid military alliance.

• It seeks to build resilience against transnational maritime challenges such as illegal fishing, cyber threats and marine pollution.

• The Bay of Bengal is envisaged as the first theatre to operationalise SHANTI before extending it across the wider Indo-Pacific, with BIMSTEC expected to serve as an institutional vehicle.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• Compare with earlier maritime doctrines: SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region, 2015) and MAHASAGAR.

• BIMSTEC member countries: India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

• UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) underpins India's stated position on freedom of navigation and a rules-based maritime order.

• India has previously held non-permanent UNSC seats; its most recent term was 2021-22.

6. Revamped Khelo India Scheme

Core Context

Khelo India, launched in 2018, is India's flagship scheme for grassroots-to-elite sports development. With India's growing ambitions around hosting and excelling at the Olympics, the government has substantially scaled up the programme.

Latest Developments

• Cabinet approved a revamped Khelo India Scheme along with enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs), with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 — nearly eight times the earlier cycle's outlay.

• Of this, Rs 29,054 crore is earmarked for Khelo India and Rs 7,387 crore for ANSFs.

• New components include Khelo India Feeder Schools and Utkrishta Vidyalayas, along with a nearly ten-fold expansion of the athlete pool through the "Emerging Khelo India Athletes" category.

• ANSF support will fund coaching, sports science, modern equipment, foreign experts, training camps and participation in international competitions.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• Khelo India was launched in 2018 by merging existing sports schemes; the nodal ministry is the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

• Related sports initiatives: Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), National Sports University (Manipur), and the Fit India Movement.

• Khelo India Games are held in School Games, University Games, Winter Games and Para Games categories.

7. Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Core Context

The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 governs the compulsory registration of these vital events in India, feeding into electoral rolls and various welfare and identity databases.

Latest Developments

• The Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amid Opposition protests, and the bill now moves to the Rajya Sabha.

• The Bill was introduced on 29 July 2026 and cleared by the Lok Sabha on 31 July 2026.

• It revises the procedure for registering births and deaths reported after the prescribed period, creating separate mechanisms for registrations delayed beyond one year and beyond two years, with delayed registrations requiring magisterial approval.

• The amendment aims to encourage timely reporting of vital events and streamline the registration process.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The original Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 was last significantly amended in 2023, enabling the birth certificate to serve as a single document for school admission, driving licence, voter list, Aadhaar, government jobs and marriage registration.

• The Registrar General of India (RGI) coordinates registration of births and deaths nationally and also functions as the Census Commissioner of India.

• Distinguish this framework from the National Population Register (NPR) and Aadhaar, which are often confused in objective questions.

8. MSP Procurement of Moong — Madhya Pradesh Farmer Protest

Core Context

Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a market intervention mechanism that insures farmers against sharp price falls, and disputes over its implementation frequently trigger farmer agitations, reviving the larger debate on a legal guarantee for MSP.

Latest Developments

• Farmers in Madhya Pradesh protested over the state's decision to procure only a limited quantity of summer-sown moong (green gram) at MSP.

• Following the protests, the state government agreed to raise the procurement ceiling from 25% to 60% of the estimated moong produce.

• The episode has reignited debate on structural reforms needed in India's MSP regime, including calls for a legal guarantee of MSP raised by farmer organisations in recent years.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• MSP is announced by the government based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), covering 22 mandated crops plus a fair and remunerative price for sugarcane.

• Moong (green gram) is grown as both a Kharif and a Zaid (summer) pulse crop.

• NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation) and state-level agencies typically undertake MSP procurement of pulses and oilseeds under the Price Support Scheme (PSS).

• The Swaminathan Committee (National Commission on Farmers) recommended MSP be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production — the widely cited "C2+50%" formula.

9. INS Nipun — Second Indigenous Diving Support Vessel

Core Context

Diving Support Vessels (DSVs) are specialised naval ships that support deep-sea diving, submarine rescue and underwater engineering operations, reflecting India's push toward indigenous naval shipbuilding under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Latest Developments

• The Indian Navy received Nipun, its second indigenously built Diving Support Vessel, constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited at Visakhapatnam.

• DSVs like Nipun strengthen India's submarine rescue and deep-sea diving support capabilities.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, is a Mini Ratna public sector shipyard under the Ministry of Defence.

• India's submarine rescue capability also includes Deep Submergence Rescue Vessels (DSRVs).

• Compare with other indigenous shipbuilding programmes such as Project 17A frigates and Project 75 submarines for comparison-based questions.

10. The Debate on a More Humane Education System

Core Context

Repeated instances of student distress linked to high-stakes competitive examinations and coaching-centre pressures have renewed calls for education reforms that prioritise student well-being alongside academic rigour.

Latest Developments

• Public commentary and policy discussion around building a more humane education system gained attention, advocating holistic, multi-dimensional assessment instead of reliance on a single high-stakes examination.

• Key demands include decentralised admissions, stronger examination security to prevent paper leaks, regulation of the private coaching industry, and stronger student mental health support systems.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasises holistic, multidisciplinary education and lower-stakes board examinations, including a proposal to hold exams twice a year.

• Guidelines for the regulation of coaching centres were issued by the Ministry of Education in 2024.

• This theme links to GS Paper 2 (Education, Governance, Social Justice) and can also appear as a case-study angle in GS Paper 4 (Ethics).