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04 June 2026

National News

1. PM SVANidhi Scheme Completes Six Years

Summary

The Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme has completed six years since its launch on 1 June 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conceived as a lifeline for urban street vendors whose livelihoods were wiped out by the lockdown, it has since matured into India’s flagship micro-credit-plus-social-security instrument for the urban informal economy — and was substantially restructured and extended till 2030 by the Union Cabinet in August 2025.

Key takeaways at the six-year mark:

• Central Sector micro-credit scheme — 100% Centrally funded, jointly run by MoHUA and the Department of Financial Services (DFS), with SIDBI as the implementation agency.
• Collateral-free, progressive working-capital loans in three tranches, each higher tranche unlocking automatically on timely repayment of the previous one.
• Restructured & extended (Aug 2025) — lending period pushed from 31 December 2024 to 31 March 2030, outlay of ₹7,332 crore to cover 1.15 crore vendors (including 50 lakh new beneficiaries).
• Enhanced loan slabs — first tranche ₹10,000 → ₹15,000, second ₹20,000 → ₹25,000, third unchanged at ₹50,000.
• Digital-first design — 7% interest subsidy on timely repayment, monthly cashback on UPI transactions, and a UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card for vendors who repay their second loan.
• Coverage widened beyond statutory towns to census towns and peri-urban areas.
• “SVANidhi se Samriddhi” convergence component links vendors and families to 8 welfare schemes in saturation mode via monthly Lok Kalyan Melas.

Background & Concept

What is PM SVANidhi? A Central Sector Scheme launched in June 2020 by MoHUA with the DFS under the Ministry of Finance — the government’s first-of-its-kind response to the pandemic shock on street vendors, a cash-based, informal segment outside the formal credit net.

The design is a behavioural one: extend a small collateral-free working-capital loan, reward timely repayment with a larger next loan plus an interest subsidy, and reward digital transactions with cashback — nudging vendors toward formal credit and a digital footprint that builds the credit history needed to mainstream them.

Beneficiaries are identified through the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, via a Certificate of Vending (CoV) or Letter of Recommendation (LoR) issued by Urban Local Bodies / Town Vending Committees.

Key Milestones

Stage	Date	Development
Launch	1 June 2020	Scheme launched during COVID-19 for urban street vendors
Tranche design	2020	Loans of ₹10,000 → ₹20,000 → ₹50,000 introduced
SVANidhi se Samriddhi	2021	Convergence component for welfare-scheme linkage launched
Recognition	2022–2023	Govt Process Re-engineering award (2022); PM’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2023)
Original deadline	31 Dec 2024	Original lending window ends
Restructuring	27 Aug 2025	Cabinet extends scheme to 2030, revises loan slabs, adds RuPay Credit Card
Six years	June 2026	Scheme completes six years of implementation

Key Features

Three-Tranche Progressive Lending (post-restructuring):

• Tranche 1 — up to ₹15,000 (earlier ₹10,000)
• Tranche 2 — up to ₹25,000 (earlier ₹20,000), on timely/early repayment of the first
• Tranche 3 — up to ₹50,000 (unchanged), on timely/early repayment of the second

Collateral-free: No security required; credit risk covered by a credit guarantee on a portfolio basis managed by SIDBI.

Interest Subsidy: 7% per annum on timely repayment, credited quarterly — rewarding discipline, not default.

Digital Cashback: Monthly cashback (up to ₹100) for digital transactions, building a verifiable transaction history.

UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card (new): For vendors who repay their second loan — a step toward formal credit cards for the informal sector.

Capacity Building (new): Training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital skills, marketing; FSSAI food-safety training for food vendors.

Expanded Coverage (new): Beyond statutory towns to census towns and peri-urban areas, phased.

About the Key Institutions

MoHUA — Nodal ministry; owns the policy, the SVANidhi platform, and the SVANidhi se Samriddhi drive.

DFS — Under the Ministry of Finance; facilitates loan and credit-card access through banks and their ground-level functionaries.

SIDBI — The implementation agency; manages the IT platform, the Credit Guarantee Trust, and disbursement of interest subsidy and cashback. SIDBI is the principal development financial institution for the MSME sector, established in 1990.

Linked Frameworks & Convergence

Street Vendors Act, 2014 — Statutory backbone for identifying beneficiaries (CoV/LoR) and regulating vending zones via Town Vending Committees.

“SVANidhi se Samriddhi” — the 8 convergence schemes:

#	Scheme	Purpose
1	PMJJBY	Life insurance ₹2 lakh, ages 18–50, premium ₹436/year
2	PMSBY	Accident insurance ₹2 lakh, ages 18–70, premium ₹20/year
3	PMJDY	Zero-balance account, RuPay debit card, accident & life cover
4	BoCW Registration	Welfare-board benefits for construction workers
5	PM Shram Yogi Maandhan	Voluntary pension for unorganised workers, ₹3,000/month after 60
6	ONORC	Portability of ration entitlement across India
7	JSY	Cash incentive for institutional deliveries, esp. in LPS states
8	PMMVY	Maternity benefit ₹5,000 for first child (PMMVY 2.0 adds second child if female)

Keywords & Definitions

▸ PM SVANidhi: Central Sector micro-credit scheme launched 1 June 2020 by MoHUA for urban street vendors; restructured and extended to March 2030.

▸ Central Sector Scheme: 100% funded and implemented by the Union Government — distinct from a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, which is cost-shared with the states.

▸ Working Capital Loan: Short-term credit financing day-to-day operations (stock, inputs), not fixed assets.

▸ Collateral-free Loan: Extended without borrower security; risk covered by a portfolio-level credit guarantee.

▸ Credit Guarantee (portfolio basis): A fund covers a defined share of aggregate defaults across the whole portfolio, not each loan individually.

▸ Interest Subsidy / Subvention: Government bearing part of the borrower’s interest — here 7% p.a. on timely repayment, paid quarterly.

▸ SVANidhi se Samriddhi: Convergence component linking vendors and families to 8 welfare schemes in saturation mode via Lok Kalyan Melas.

▸ Lok Kalyan Mela: Camps linking beneficiaries to multiple welfare schemes at a single point.

▸ CoV / LoR: Certificate of Vending / Letter of Recommendation issued by ULBs/TVCs under the Street Vendors Act, 2014.

▸ Street Vendors Act, 2014: Law for protection of livelihood and regulation of street vending; provides the survey, CoV, and vending-zone framework.

▸ SIDBI: Principal development financial institution for MSMEs (est. 1990); implementation agency managing the IT platform and Credit Guarantee Trust.

▸ UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card: RuPay card usable over UPI; introduced in 2025 for vendors who repay their second loan.

▸ Census Town: Meets urban criteria (population, density, non-agricultural workforce) but lacks a statutory urban local body — now within PM SVANidhi’s coverage.

▸ Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Shared digital systems (UPI, Aadhaar) enabling services at scale; PM SVANidhi’s cashback rides on UPI.

Question Section (MCQs)

Q1. Consider the following statements about PM SVANidhi:

1. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme cost-shared between the Centre and the States.
2. It was launched in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. It is jointly administered by MoHUA and the Department of Financial Services. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Under the restructured scheme (2025), the three progressive loan tranches are: (a) ₹10,000 / ₹20,000 / ₹50,000 (b) ₹15,000 / ₹25,000 / ₹50,000 (c) ₹15,000 / ₹30,000 / ₹50,000 (d) ₹20,000 / ₹40,000 / ₹60,000

Q3. Regarding the 2025 restructuring:

1. Lending period extended from 31 Dec 2024 to 31 March 2030.
2. Coverage expanded to census towns and peri-urban areas.
3. A UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card was introduced for vendors who repay their first loan. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The implementation agency managing the Credit Guarantee Trust is: (a) NABARD (b) RBI (c) SIDBI (d) National Housing Bank

Q5. Beneficiaries are primarily identified through documents issued under: (a) MSMED Act, 2006 (b) Street Vendors Act, 2014 (c) Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 (d) Aadhaar Act, 2016

Q6. Which are correctly matched (Scheme — Benefit)?

1. PMJJBY — Life insurance ₹2 lakh
2. PMSBY — Accident insurance ₹2 lakh
3. PM Shram Yogi Maandhan — Pension ₹3,000/month after 60
4. PMMVY — Maternity benefit ₹5,000 for first child (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. The interest subsidy on timely repayment is: (a) 5% p.a. (b) 7% p.a. (c) 9% p.a. (d) 12% p.a.

Q8. “SVANidhi se Samriddhi” primarily aims to: (a) Increase loan size (b) Provide collateral (c) Link vendors and families to other welfare schemes in saturation mode (d) Regulate vending zones

Q9. Consider:

1. Loans are collateral-free.
2. Higher tranches unlock automatically on timely repayment.
3. Cashback incentives encourage digital transactions. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The outlay approved for the restructured scheme (to 2030) and its targeted beneficiaries are, respectively: (a) ₹5,000 crore and 1 crore (b) ₹7,332 crore and 1.15 crore (c) ₹10,000 crore and 2 crore (d) ₹7,332 crore and 50 lakh

Answer Key with Explanations

▸ Q1 → (b) 2 and 3 only. PM SVANidhi is a Central Sector Scheme (100% Centrally funded), not Centrally Sponsored — so Statement 1 is wrong. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.

▸ Q2 → (b) ₹15,000 / ₹25,000 / ₹50,000. Post-2025: first tranche raised ₹10,000→₹15,000, second ₹20,000→₹25,000, third unchanged. Option (a) is the original slab.

▸ Q3 → (a) 1 and 2 only. Statement 3 is wrong — the RuPay Credit Card is for vendors who repay their second loan, not the first.

▸ Q4 → (c) SIDBI. It runs the IT platform and manages the Credit Guarantee Trust Fund.

▸ Q5 → (b) Street Vendors Act, 2014. Via CoV or LoR issued by ULBs/Town Vending Committees.

▸ Q6 → (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4. All four pairings are correct.

▸ Q7 → (b) 7% per annum, credited quarterly on timely repayment.

▸ Q8 → (c) Link vendors and families to 8 welfare schemes in saturation mode via Lok Kalyan Melas.

▸ Q9 → (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three are core design features.

▸ Q10 → (b) ₹7,332 crore and 1.15 crore vendors (including 50 lakh new), up to 31 March 2030.

2. Project UDAYAK

Source: PIB

Summary

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated the 37th Raising Day of Project UDAYAK on 1 June 2026 at Doomdooma, Assam. Project UDAYAK is a specialised territorial project of the BRO responsible for developing and maintaining strategic roads, bridges, helipads, and border fencing in some of the most remote and difficult terrain of Northeast India — chiefly the easternmost districts of Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam, along the LAC with China and the Indo-Myanmar border.

Key takeaways:

• 37th Raising Day marked at Doomdooma with Swachhata Abhiyan, road safety awareness, a run and walkathon, medical and dental camps, and a Sainik Sammelan.
• Road network: Entrusted with over 1,457 km of road network in the easternmost regions of Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam.
• Name meaning: “Udayak” means the Rising Sun — the first rays of the rising sun in India fall within the project’s area of responsibility (AOR).
• Strategic frontier: Builds connectivity along the LAC and the Indo-Myanmar border, including border fencing to curb insurgency and illegal movement.
• 2025 milestones: 12 bridges, one road and one helipad were inaugurated by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh in 2025.
• Civil-military integration & disaster response in remote tribal border hamlets.

Background & Concept

What is Project UDAYAK? A territorial project of the BRO that constructs and maintains strategic roads, bridges, helipads, and border fencing in the easternmost districts of Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam — connecting remote frontier villages to the LAC and the Indo-Myanmar border.

It was sanctioned by the government on 23 May 1989, after which Udayak was established on 1 June 1990, with headquarters at Doomdooma in the Tinsukia district of Assam — created during a period of heightened civil unrest and insurgency in Northeast India. Two task forces — 48 BRTF and 752 BRTF — were carved out of Projects Vartak and Sewak respectively to form the two executive arms of the Project. The name “Udayak” (Rising Sun) reflects its location at India’s eastern extremity.

Note on dating: Several current-affairs sources say “established 1989” (the sanction year), while the BRO counts the 1 June 1990 raising. Counting the raising year as the first, 2026 is the 37th Raising Day — both facts are correct; just be precise about sanction (1989) vs. raising (1990).

Snapshot — Key Facts

Indicator	Detail
Project	UDAYAK — a territorial project of the BRO
Meaning	“Rising Sun”
Sanctioned	23 May 1989
Raised	1 June 1990, at Doomdooma, Assam
Headquarters	Doomdooma, Tinsukia district, Assam
Parent organisation	Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Ministry of Defence
Task forces	48 BRTF (from Project Vartak) & 752 BRTF (from Project Sewak)
Road network	Over 1,457 km
37th Raising Day	1 June 2026

Geographic Coverage

State	Key Districts
Arunachal Pradesh (eastern districts)	Anjaw, Lohit, Dibang Valley, Longding, Tirap, Changlang
Assam	Areas linked to the eastern Arunachal frontier (HQ at Doomdooma)

The 48 BRTF is stationed near Tezu (Lohit) and the 752 BRTF at Roing (Lower Dibang Valley).

Strategic Frontier Coverage

Border	Nature
LAC with China	India’s de facto eastern Himalayan frontier, especially in Arunachal Pradesh (claimed by China as “South Tibet”)
Indo-Myanmar Border	About 1,643 km long, of which around 520 km lies in Arunachal Pradesh

Project UDAYAK is currently building roads and border-fencing infrastructure along the Indo-Myanmar border — strengthening national security amid the government’s 2024 decision to fence the entire Indo-Myanmar border and end the Free Movement Regime (FMR).

Other Key Areas of Work

Area	Detail
Border Fencing	Fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border to curb insurgency and illegal movement
Civil-Military Integration	Medical/dental camps, Swachhata Abhiyan, road-safety awareness in remote border hamlets
Disaster Response	Restoration of roads damaged by landslides, floods, and earthquakes
Tribal Outreach	Engagement with local tribal communities of eastern Arunachal Pradesh

Notable strategic bridges built include the Passighat Bridge (763.5 m over the Siang), Brahmakund Bridge (410 m over the Lohit), Noadhing Bridge (637.6 m), and Diffo Bridge (426.6 m).

About the BRO

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) — Established on 7 May 1960, it develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and in friendly neighbouring countries (e.g., Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan’s Zaranj–Delaram road). It functions under the Ministry of Defence (administratively since 2015) and executes work primarily through the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF). It is headed by the Director General Border Roads (DGBR).

BRO projects across the frontier (for context):

• Arunachal Pradesh: Vartak, Arunank, Udayak, Brahmank
• Ladakh: Himank, Beacon, Deepak, Vijayak, Yojak
• Sikkim: Swastik · Mizoram: Pushpak · Nagaland: Sewak · Assam & Meghalaya: Setuk

Keywords & Definitions

▸ Project UDAYAK: A territorial project of the BRO (raised 1 June 1990, HQ Doomdooma) building strategic infrastructure in easternmost Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam; name means “Rising Sun.”

▸ Border Roads Organisation (BRO): Road-construction force (est. 1960) under the Ministry of Defence, building strategic roads in border areas and friendly nations; works through the GREF.

▸ GREF (General Reserve Engineer Force): The workforce/cadre through which the BRO executes its construction tasks.

▸ BRTF (Border Roads Task Force): The executive field unit of a BRO project; UDAYAK comprises 48 BRTF and 752 BRTF.

▸ Line of Actual Control (LAC): The de facto boundary between India and China; in the eastern sector it runs along Arunachal Pradesh.

▸ Indo-Myanmar Border: ~1,643 km border passing through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram; ~520 km lies in Arunachal Pradesh.

▸ Free Movement Regime (FMR): Arrangement that allowed border residents to cross the Indo-Myanmar border up to a set distance without a visa; being scrapped alongside full border fencing.

▸ Area of Responsibility (AOR): The geographic zone assigned to a project/unit for development and maintenance.

▸ DGBR (Director General Border Roads): The head of the BRO.

▸ Doomdooma: Town in Tinsukia district, Assam — headquarters of Project UDAYAK.

Question Section (MCQs)

Q1. Project UDAYAK is a territorial project of which organisation, and under which ministry does it function? (a) NHAI — Ministry of Road Transport (b) BRO — Ministry of Defence (c) CPWD — Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (d) NBCC — Ministry of Home Affairs

Q2. The name “Udayak” signifies: (a) The guardian of the frontier (b) The Rising Sun (c) The highest peak (d) The eternal river

Q3. Consider the following statements about Project UDAYAK:

1. It was sanctioned in 1989 and raised on 1 June 1990.
2. Its headquarters is at Doomdooma in Assam.
3. Its two task forces, 48 BRTF and 752 BRTF, were carved out of Projects Vartak and Sewak. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which of the following districts fall within Project UDAYAK’s area of responsibility?

1. Anjaw 2. Lohit 3. Dibang Valley 4. Changlang (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Project UDAYAK develops strategic infrastructure along which of the following frontiers?

1. Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China
2. Indo-Myanmar border
3. Indo-Bangladesh border (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Consider the following statements about the Border Roads Organisation (BRO):

1. It was established in 1960.
2. It functions under the Ministry of Defence.
3. It undertakes road construction only within India’s territory. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q7. The Indo-Myanmar border passes through which of the following Indian states?

1. Arunachal Pradesh 2. Nagaland 3. Manipur 4. Mizoram (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. Match the BRO project with its primary region of operation: A. Himank — 1. Sikkim B. Swastik — 2. Ladakh C. Vartak — 3. Mizoram D. Pushpak — 4. Arunachal Pradesh (a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3 (b) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3 (d) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

Q9. Project UDAYAK’s two executive task forces were carved out of which two existing BRO projects? (a) Himank and Beacon (b) Vartak and Sewak (c) Swastik and Setuk (d) Arunank and Brahmank

Q10. In 2025, the infrastructure inaugurated under Project UDAYAK by the Raksha Mantri included: (a) 5 tunnels and 2 airstrips (b) 12 bridges, one road, and one helipad (c) 20 km of border fencing only (d) 3 hydropower projects

Answer Key with Explanations

▸ Q1 → (b) BRO — Ministry of Defence. Project UDAYAK is a territorial project of the Border Roads Organisation, which functions under the Ministry of Defence.

▸ Q2 → (b) The Rising Sun. It was named “Udayak” because the first rays of the rising sun in India fall within its area of responsibility (easternmost India).

▸ Q3 → (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three are correct — sanctioned 1989, raised 1 June 1990 at Doomdooma; task forces 48 BRTF and 752 BRTF were drawn from Projects Vartak and Sewak.

▸ Q4 → (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4. Its AOR covers Anjaw, Lohit, Dibang Valley, Longding, Tirap, and Changlang in eastern Arunachal Pradesh.

▸ Q5 → (a) 1 and 2 only. It works along the LAC and the Indo-Myanmar border. The Indo-Bangladesh border is unrelated to UDAYAK’s eastern AOR — Statement 3 is wrong.

▸ Q6 → (a) 1 and 2 only. Statement 3 is wrong — the BRO also builds roads in friendly neighbouring countries (e.g., Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan). It was established in 1960 and is under the Ministry of Defence.

▸ Q7 → (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4. The ~1,643 km Indo-Myanmar border runs through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.

▸ Q8 → (a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3. Himank — Ladakh; Swastik — Sikkim; Vartak — Arunachal Pradesh; Pushpak — Mizoram.

▸ Q9 → (b) Vartak and Sewak. The 48 BRTF was carved from Project Vartak and the 752 BRTF from Project Sewak.

▸ Q10 → (b) 12 bridges, one road, and one helipad, inaugurated by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh in 2025.

3. Government Launches ₹200-Crore MAHA Water Mission

Summary

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh (MoS, Independent Charge, Science & Technology) and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil jointly launched the MAHA Water Mission on 1 June 2026 at the National Workshop on R&D in Water (Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi). MAHA stands for Missions for Advancement in High-impact Areas. It is a five-year, ₹200-crore initiative jointly funded by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, designed to bridge the gap between fundamental research and field deployment by funding technology development, validation, and commercialisation of high-impact water solutions.

Key takeaways:

• ₹200 crore over five years, jointly funded by ANRF and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Grant size: up to ₹20 crore to selected multidisciplinary consortia, usable for technology development, field assessment, validation, and deployment.
• ISRO partnership: an MoU signed between the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Space/ISRO brings satellite/geospatial data for water-resource mapping, groundwater assessment, and irrigation planning.
• Beneficiaries: startups, MSMEs, universities, national laboratories, research institutions, and industry partners — reflecting ANRF’s goal of democratising research funding.
• One of several MAHA missions: ANRF has launched MAHA missions in electric vehicles, drones, medical technologies, 6G communications and water.
• Also launched that day: the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari – Citizen Tracking and Reporting (JSJB-CTR) Portal and App.

Background & Concept

What is the MAHA Water Mission? A national mission under the MAHA (Missions for Advancement in High-impact Areas) framework of the ANRF, focused on the water sector. Its core purpose is to create an integrated innovation pathway — from fundamental research → technology development → field validation → commercialisation — so that promising water solutions actually reach the ground rather than remaining in the lab.

The driving idea is ANRF’s mandate to democratise research funding: ensuring that national missions, scientific resources and innovation support are no longer confined to a limited number of institutions, but reach startups, MSMEs, smaller universities, and innovators across the country. Funding flows to multidisciplinary consortia rather than single institutions, encouraging collaboration between academia, industry, and grassroots stakeholders.

Snapshot — Key Facts

Indicator	Detail
Mission	MAHA Water Mission (Missions for Advancement in High-impact Areas)
Launched	1 June 2026, New Delhi
Launched by	Dr Jitendra Singh (MoS S&T) & C.R. Patil (Jal Shakti Minister)
Outlay	₹200 crore over five years
Grant size	Up to ₹20 crore per consortium
Funded by	ANRF + Ministry of Jal Shakti (jointly)
Tech partner (via MoU)	Department of Space / ISRO
Beneficiaries	Startups, MSMEs, universities, labs, research bodies, industry

Structure & Roles

Institution	Role
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)	Research funding, coordination, and the MAHA mission framework
Ministry of Jal Shakti	Nodal water-sector ministry; on-ground reach and co-funding
Department of Space / ISRO	Satellite and geospatial data for water mapping, groundwater assessment, irrigation planning (via MoU)

Five Priority Themes

#	Theme
1	Water Resource Assessment and Sustainable Management
2	Drinking Water (Quality and Access)
3	Water Quality and Ecological Health
4	Water Use Efficiency and Circular Economy
5	Climate Resilience and Adaptation

Also Launched at the Workshop

• MoU between the Department of Water Resources and Department of Space/ISRO — institutionalising the use of satellite technology and geospatial applications for water management.
• JSJB-CTR Portal and App — Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (Citizen Tracking and Reporting) — a citizen-participation platform for water-conservation monitoring.

About the Key Institutions

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) — Apex national research-funding body established under the ANRF Act, 2023, which subsumed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). It seeds, grows, and promotes R&D across natural sciences, engineering, and allied fields, with a planned corpus of ₹50,000 crore (2023–28), of which a large share is to be mobilised from non-government/private sources. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio President of its Governing Board; the Union Ministers of Science & Technology and Education are ex-officio Vice-Presidents.

Ministry of Jal Shakti — Created in 2019 by merging the erstwhile Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation with the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation. It has two departments — the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation — and runs flagship programmes like the Jal Jeevan Mission, Namami Gange, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain.

Keywords & Definitions

▸ MAHA Water Mission: A ₹200-crore, five-year ANRF–Ministry of Jal Shakti mission (launched 1 June 2026) to develop and deploy high-impact water solutions; MAHA = Missions for Advancement in High-impact Areas.

▸ MAHA (Missions for Advancement in High-impact Areas): ANRF’s mission-mode funding framework operating across strategic sectors — EVs, drones, medical tech, 6G, and water.

▸ ANRF (Anusandhan National Research Foundation): Apex R&D-funding body set up under the ANRF Act, 2023; subsumed SERB; PM is ex-officio President; planned ₹50,000-crore corpus (2023–28).

▸ SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board): Statutory body (est. 2008) for funding research, now subsumed into ANRF.

▸ Ministry of Jal Shakti: Union ministry (formed 2019) consolidating water functions; runs Jal Jeevan Mission, Namami Gange, etc.

▸ Multidisciplinary Consortium: A grouping of academia, labs, startups, and industry that jointly applies for and executes a research grant — the funding unit for this mission.

▸ Geospatial / Satellite Data: Earth-observation and location-based data (here from ISRO) used for water-resource mapping, groundwater assessment, and irrigation planning.

▸ JSJB-CTR: Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari – Citizen Tracking and Reporting Portal and App, for public participation in water conservation.

▸ Department of Space / ISRO: India’s space agency and its parent department; the MoU partner providing geospatial support.

▸ Lab-to-Field / Commercialisation Pathway: The progression from research to validated, deployable, market-ready solutions — the mission’s central aim.

Question Section (MCQs)

Q1. In the MAHA Water Mission, “MAHA” stands for: (a) Mission for Advanced Hydrological Assessment (b) Missions for Advancement in High-impact Areas (c) Maharashtra Water and Hydrology Authority (d) Mission for Aquifer and Hydel Augmentation

Q2. Consider the following about the MAHA Water Mission:

1. It has an outlay of ₹200 crore over five years.
2. It provides up to ₹20 crore per multidisciplinary consortium.
3. It is jointly funded by ANRF and the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The role of the Department of Space / ISRO in the MAHA Water Mission is primarily to: (a) Co-fund the entire mission equally with ANRF (b) Provide satellite and geospatial data for water-resource mapping (via an MoU) (c) Approve grant proposals (d) Operate drinking-water treatment plants

Q4. Consider the following statements about the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF):

1. It was established under the ANRF Act, 2023.
2. It subsumed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
3. The Prime Minister is its ex-officio President. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The Ministry of Jal Shakti was formed in 2019 by merging: (a) The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture (b) The Ministry of Water Resources (incl. Ganga Rejuvenation) and the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation (c) The Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Urban Affairs (d) The Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Department of Space

Q6. Besides the MAHA Water Mission, which of the following sectors has ANRF launched MAHA missions in?

1. Electric Vehicles 2. Drones 3. 6G Communications 4. Medical Technologies (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. The portal/app also launched alongside the MAHA Water Mission was: (a) Jal Jeevan Dashboard (b) JSJB-CTR (Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari – Citizen Tracking and Reporting) (c) Namami Gange Tracker (d) Atal Bhujal Portal

Q8. Which of the following is NOT one of the five priority themes of the MAHA Water Mission? (a) Drinking Water (Quality and Access) (b) Water Use Efficiency and Circular Economy (c) Inter-Linking of Rivers (d) Climate Resilience and Adaptation

Q9. The MAHA Water Mission directs its grants primarily to: (a) Individual senior scientists only (b) State governments (c) Multidisciplinary consortia of academia, labs, startups, and industry (d) Foreign research institutions

Q10. Match the institution with its role in the MAHA Water Mission: A. ANRF — 1. Nodal water-sector ministry, on-ground reach B. Ministry of Jal Shakti — 2. Research funding and coordination C. Department of Space / ISRO — 3. Satellite/geospatial data for water mapping (a) A-2, B-1, C-3 (b) A-1, B-2, C-3 (c) A-3, B-1, C-2 (d) A-2, B-3, C-1

Answer Key with Explanations

▸ Q1 → (b) Missions for Advancement in High-impact Areas. MAHA is ANRF’s mission-mode framework; the Water Mission is its water-sector component.

▸ Q2 → (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three are correct — ₹200 crore over five years, up to ₹20 crore per consortium, jointly funded by ANRF and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

▸ Q3 → (b) ISRO’s role is to supply satellite/geospatial data (water mapping, groundwater assessment, irrigation planning) under an MoU with the Department of Water Resources — it is not an equal co-funder.

▸ Q4 → (d) 1, 2 and 3. ANRF was set up under the ANRF Act, 2023, subsumed SERB, and has the PM as ex-officio President of its Governing Board.

▸ Q5 → (b) Jal Shakti (2019) merged the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation with the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation.

▸ Q6 → (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4. ANRF’s MAHA missions span EVs, drones, medical technologies, 6G communications, and water.

▸ Q7 → (b) JSJB-CTR. The Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari – Citizen Tracking and Reporting Portal and App was launched at the same workshop.

▸ Q8 → (c) Inter-Linking of Rivers. The five themes are resource assessment/management, drinking water, water quality/ecology, water-use efficiency/circular economy, and climate resilience — inter-linking of rivers is a separate programme, not a MAHA theme.

▸ Q9 → (c) Funding goes to multidisciplinary consortia, in line with ANRF’s democratisation goal.

▸ Q10 → (a) A-2, B-1, C-3. ANRF — research funding/coordination; Jal Shakti — nodal water ministry; ISRO — satellite/geospatial data.

4. India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)

Source: SRS Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality

Summary

India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) — maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births — has improved marginally to 87 in 2022-24, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin released by the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner (RGI), Ministry of Home Affairs. The headline story is a near-stall in national progress after two decades of sharp decline. Even so, India’s MMR has halved from 167 in 2011-13 to 87 in 2022-24, and the country has surpassed its National Health Policy goal of an MMR of 100 set for 2020, keeping it on track for the SDG 3.1 target of under 70 by 2030.

Key takeaways:

• Latest value: India’s MMR has declined to nearly 87 maternal deaths per one lakh live births per the latest SRS Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality (2022-24).
• Near-stall: an improvement of just ~1 point from the previous period — slower than the historically steep decline.
• Long arc: UN-MMEIG estimates India’s MMR fell from 560 per lakh in 1990 to nearly 80 in 2023 — an 86% decline, well above the global average reduction of 48%.
• Assam milestone: Assam recorded an MMR of 84, falling below India’s 87 for the first time.
• Persistent disparities: large states like Uttar Pradesh remain far above the national average, while southern states are well below.
• SDG track: on course for SDG 3.1 (<70 by 2030), but the slowing pace is a concern.

Background & Concept

What is MMR? The Maternal Mortality Ratio is the number of maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births in a given period. A maternal death (per WHO/ICD) is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management — but not from accidental or incidental causes.

It is a critical barometer of women’s reproductive health and the strength of a health system, capturing antenatal care, institutional delivery, emergency obstetric care, and postnatal support.

MMR vs MM Rate (don’t confuse): MMR = maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births; the Maternal Mortality Rate = maternal deaths per 1,00,000 women aged 15–49 (the reproductive-age population). MMR is the headline indicator.

Snapshot — Two-Decade Trend

Period	MMR (per 1,00,000 live births)
2007-09	212
2011-13	167
2014-16	130
2018-20	97
2019-21	93
2021-23	88
2022-24	87

Targets

Indicator	Target
SDG 3.1	Reduce global MMR to < 70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030
National Health Policy (NHP), 2017	MMR of 100 by 2020 — achieved (India is now below it)

State-Level Performance (per the bulletin)

Category	States
Strong improvers	Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Telangana (cut MMR by 11–29 points)
Moderate improvers	Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (≈10 points each)
High-birth states improving	Bihar, Madhya Pradesh
Worsening	Jharkhand (biggest rise), Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat
Highest MMR	Uttar Pradesh at 154 — nearly twice the national average

Many of the lagging states fall within the Empowered Action Group (EAG) — Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand (with Assam often grouped alongside) — high-focus states for health interventions.

Regional & Global Comparison

India vs	Status
China, Sri Lanka, Bhutan	Ahead of India (lower MMR)
Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam	Ahead of India
Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar	Behind India (higher MMR)
Sub-Saharan Africa	Very high MMR — pulls the global average up

About the Source

Sample Registration System (SRS) — A large-scale demographic survey run by the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (RGI), under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It provides reliable estimates of fertility and mortality indicators (birth rate, death rate, IMR, MMR) at the national and state levels through a dual-record system of continuous enumeration plus periodic survey. It is the primary official source for India’s MMR.

Causes & Key Interventions

Major causes of maternal death: haemorrhage, sepsis/infection, hypertensive disorders (pre-eclampsia/eclampsia), unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour.

Flagship interventions that have driven the decline:

• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) — conditional cash transfer promoting institutional delivery.
• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) — free delivery, drugs, diagnostics, transport, and diet in public facilities.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) — assured free antenatal check-ups on the 9th of every month.
• SUMAN (Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan) — assured, dignified, free maternal and newborn care.
• LaQshya — improving quality of care in labour rooms and maternity OTs.
• ASHA / ANM workforce and the broader RMNCAH+ (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health) strategy.

Keywords & Definitions

▸ Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): Maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births in a given period — India’s headline maternal-health indicator (87 in 2022-24).

▸ Maternal Death: Death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, from pregnancy-related (not accidental) causes.

▸ Maternal Mortality Rate: Maternal deaths per 1,00,000 women aged 15–49 (distinct from the Ratio).

▸ SRS (Sample Registration System): RGI’s demographic survey; the official source for MMR, IMR, and related indicators.

▸ RGI (Registrar General of India): Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

▸ SDG 3.1: UN Sustainable Development Goal target to cut global MMR below 70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030.

▸ National Health Policy (NHP) 2017: Set an MMR target of 100 by 2020 — since achieved.

▸ EAG (Empowered Action Group) States: High-focus states (Bihar, Jharkhand, MP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, UP, Uttarakhand) with weaker health indicators.

▸ UN-MMEIG: UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group — produces international MMR estimates.

▸ JSY / JSSK / PMSMA / SUMAN / LaQshya: Key Government of India maternal-health schemes targeting institutional delivery, free care, antenatal check-ups, and quality of care.

Question Section (MCQs)

Q1. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is defined as the number of maternal deaths per: (a) 1,000 live births (b) 10,000 live births (c) 1,00,000 live births (d) 1,00,000 women aged 15–49

Q2. India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio data is primarily sourced from: (a) National Family Health Survey (NFHS) (b) Sample Registration System (SRS), Registrar General of India (c) Census of India (d) WHO Global Health Observatory

Q3. As per the latest SRS bulletin (2022-24), India’s MMR stood at approximately: (a) 97 (b) 93 (c) 87 (d) 70

Q4. The SDG 3.1 target related to maternal mortality is to reduce the global MMR to below: (a) 50 (b) 70 (c) 100 (d) 130

Q5. A “maternal death,” as per WHO, refers to the death of a woman while pregnant or within how many days of termination of pregnancy? (a) 28 days (b) 42 days (c) 60 days (d) 90 days

Q6. Consider the following statements:

1. The MMR is measured per 1,00,000 live births.
2. The Maternal Mortality Rate is measured per 1,00,000 women in the reproductive age group (15–49).
3. India has already met the National Health Policy 2017 target of MMR 100. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q7. Which of the following are Government of India schemes aimed at improving maternal health?

1. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)
2. Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK)
3. PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)
4. SUMAN (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. The SRS is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, which functions under the: (a) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (b) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (c) Ministry of Home Affairs (d) NITI Aayog

Q9. As per the latest bulletin, the state with India’s highest MMR (nearly twice the national average) is: (a) Bihar (b) Madhya Pradesh (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) Assam

Q10. Which of the following neighbouring/regional countries are generally ahead of India (i.e., have a lower MMR)?

1. China 2. Sri Lanka 3. Pakistan 4. Bhutan (a) 1, 2 and 4 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer Key with Explanations

▸ Q1 → (c) 1,00,000 live births. MMR is maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births. Option (d) describes the Maternal Mortality Rate, not the Ratio.

▸ Q2 → (b) SRS, Registrar General of India. The SRS bulletin is the official source for India’s MMR.

▸ Q3 → (c) 87. The 2022-24 SRS bulletin reports India’s MMR at 87.

▸ Q4 → (b) 70. SDG 3.1 targets a global MMR below 70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030.

▸ Q5 → (b) 42 days. A maternal death covers the period of pregnancy and up to 42 days after its termination, from pregnancy-related causes.

▸ Q6 → (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three are correct — the Ratio is per live births, the Rate is per women 15–49, and India has surpassed the NHP 2017 target of MMR 100.

▸ Q7 → (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4. JSY, JSSK, PMSMA, and SUMAN are all maternal-health initiatives.

▸ Q8 → (c) Ministry of Home Affairs. The RGI (which runs the SRS) functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

▸ Q9 → (c) Uttar Pradesh, reported at 154 — nearly twice the national average.

▸ Q10 → (a) 1, 2 and 4 only. China, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan are ahead of India; Pakistan lags behind India (higher MMR).

5. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

Source: News on Air / PIB

Summary

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has crossed a landmark milestone of over 90 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs) generated across India. ABDM is a flagship national digital public infrastructure (DPI) project, implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, launched in September 2021. It functions as a single, unified digital highway linking citizens, doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, diagnostic centres, and insurers into an integrated, transparent, and interoperable framework — giving citizens ownership of their lifelong, longitudinal health records.

Key takeaways:

• 90+ crore ABHAs — ABHA is a 14-digit unique digital health identity letting citizens securely store, access, and share medical records with consent.
• Consistent growth: cumulative ABHA creation rose from 14.7 crore (2021) to 30.4 crore (2022), 50.6 crore (2023), 72.2 crore (2024), 84.5 crore (2025), before crossing 90 crore in 2026.
• State leaders: Uttar Pradesh leads with over 15.3 crore ABHAs, followed by Rajasthan and Maharashtra (each crossing 7 crore).
• Full saturation achieved in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
• Broad-based: women account for nearly 49.75% of total ABHA holders.
• One of the world’s largest digital health identity programmes, built on six foundational building blocks.

Background & Concept

What is ABDM? A flagship digital public infrastructure initiative to create a seamless, interoperable digital health ecosystem. It began as the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), piloted in six UTs on 15 August 2020, and was rolled out nationally as ABDM on 27 September 2021 by the Prime Minister.

ABDM’s vision is to bridge the information gap between public and private healthcare, create a single source of truth for health data, and give citizens full ownership of their records. Crucially, it follows a federated, consent-based architecture — health data stays with the provider that generated it, and is shared only with the patient’s explicit, electronic, revocable consent (a “data minimisation” model rather than a central data lake). The NHA CEO, Dr Sunil Kumar Barnwal, noted that as adoption deepens, ABHA will enable continuity of care, reduce dependence on physical records and support a more seamless, transparent and citizen-centric healthcare delivery system.

Snapshot — ABHA Growth Trajectory

Year	Cumulative ABHAs
2021	14.7 crore
2022	30.4 crore
2023	50.6 crore
2024	72.2 crore
2025	84.5 crore
2026	90+ crore (milestone)

Aim

(a) Build an integrated, transparent, interoperable digital health infrastructure for India. (b) Bridge the public–private divide in healthcare data. (c) Create a single source of truth for health records. (d) Give citizens ownership and consent-based control of their lifelong health records.

Six Foundational Building Blocks

Component	What it does
ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account)	14-digit unique digital health identifier; the master key to link and share medical history
Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR)	Verified central database of doctors, nurses, paramedics — modern and traditional medicine
Health Facility Registry (HFR)	Master registry of public & private hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, pharmacies
Health Information Exchange & Consent Manager (HIE-CM)	Routes medical records with explicit, electronic, revocable patient consent
Unified Health Interface (UHI)	Open network protocol for teleconsultations, diagnostics, and digital health services
National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX)	Digital platform to standardise and speed up health insurance claim settlements

About the Key Institutions

National Health Authority (NHA) — The apex implementing agency for ABDM and for PM-JAY (the health-insurance arm of Ayushman Bharat). It functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is the successor to the National Health Agency.

Ayushman Bharat — the three components (for context):

1. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (formerly Health & Wellness Centres) — comprehensive primary care.
2. PM-JAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) — health-insurance cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for eligible beneficiaries (the world’s largest such scheme).
3. ABDM — the digital backbone linking the ecosystem (this mission).

Keywords & Definitions

▸ ABDM (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission): Flagship DPI for an interoperable digital health ecosystem; launched Sept 2021, implemented by NHA under MoHFW.

▸ ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account): A 14-digit unique digital health ID enabling consent-based linking and sharing of health records (formerly “Health ID”).

▸ NDHM (National Digital Health Mission): ABDM’s earlier name; piloted 15 August 2020 in six UTs.

▸ Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Shared, interoperable digital systems (e.g., UPI, Aadhaar, ABDM) that enable services at population scale.

▸ Longitudinal Health Record: A continuous, lifelong record of a person’s health across providers and time.

▸ Federated / Consent-based Architecture: Data stays with its generator and is shared only with the patient’s explicit, revocable consent — no central data lake.

▸ HPR / HFR: Healthcare Professionals Registry / Health Facility Registry — verified master directories of providers and facilities.

▸ HIE-CM: Health Information Exchange & Consent Manager — the consent-routing layer for sharing records.

▸ UHI (Unified Health Interface): Open protocol enabling teleconsultation, e-pharmacy, diagnostics, and other digital services.

▸ NHCX (National Health Claims Exchange): Platform to standardise and speed up health-insurance claim settlement.

▸ NHA (National Health Authority): Apex agency implementing ABDM and PM-JAY under MoHFW.

▸ PM-JAY: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana — the insurance arm of Ayushman Bharat (₹5 lakh/family/year).

Question Section (MCQs)

Q1. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is implemented by which agency, under which ministry? (a) NITI Aayog — PMO (b) National Health Authority — Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (c) MeitY — Ministry of Electronics and IT (d) ICMR — Ministry of Science and Technology

Q2. The Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) is a unique digital health identifier of how many digits? (a) 10 (b) 12 (c) 14 (d) 16

Q3. Consider the following statements about ABDM:

1. It was launched nationally in September 2021.
2. It is a digital public infrastructure (DPI) project.
3. It stores all citizens’ health data in a single central database. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which of the following is NOT one of the six foundational building blocks of ABDM? (a) Health Facility Registry (HFR) (b) Unified Health Interface (UHI) (c) National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) (d) National Pension System (NPS)

Q5. The National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) is designed primarily to: (a) Maintain a registry of doctors (b) Standardise and speed up health-insurance claim settlements (c) Provide teleconsultation services (d) Issue ABHA numbers

Q6. As of 2026, the cumulative number of ABHAs generated under ABDM crossed: (a) 50 crore (b) 72 crore (c) 84 crore (d) 90 crore

Q7. The three components of Ayushman Bharat are:

1. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Health & Wellness Centres)
2. PM-JAY (health insurance)
3. ABDM (digital mission)
4. PM SVANidhi (street-vendor credit) Which are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. Match the ABDM building block with its function: A. ABHA — 1. Registry of hospitals and clinics B. HFR — 2. 14-digit health identifier C. HIE-CM — 3. Open protocol for teleconsultation/diagnostics D. UHI — 4. Consent-based routing of health records (a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3 (b) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3 (d) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

Q9. Under ABDM’s architecture, a patient’s health records are shared: (a) Automatically with all registered providers (b) Only with the patient’s explicit, revocable electronic consent (c) With insurers without consent (d) Only on a court order

Q10. Which state leads the country in ABHA creation, with over 15 crore accounts? (a) Maharashtra (b) Rajasthan (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) Bihar

Answer Key with Explanations

▸ Q1 → (b) ABDM is implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

▸ Q2 → (c) 14. ABHA is a 14-digit unique digital health identity.

▸ Q3 → (a) 1 and 2 only. Statement 3 is wrong — ABDM uses a federated, consent-based model where data stays with the provider; there is no single central data lake. It launched in September 2021 and is a DPI project.

▸ Q4 → (d) National Pension System (NPS). NPS is a pension scheme, unrelated to ABDM. The six blocks are ABHA, HPR, HFR, HIE-CM, UHI, and NHCX.

▸ Q5 → (b) NHCX standardises and speeds up health-insurance claim settlements.

▸ Q6 → (d) 90 crore. Cumulative ABHAs crossed 90 crore in 2026 (up from 84.5 crore in 2025).

▸ Q7 → (a) 1, 2 and 3 only. Ayushman Bharat = Ayushman Arogya Mandirs + PM-JAY + ABDM. PM SVANidhi (street-vendor credit) is unrelated.

▸ Q8 → (a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3. ABHA (14-digit ID); HFR (facility registry); HIE-CM (consent-based record routing); UHI (teleconsultation/diagnostics protocol).

▸ Q9 → (b) Sharing requires the patient’s explicit, electronic, revocable consent — the cornerstone of ABDM’s privacy-by-design model.

▸ Q10 → (c) Uttar Pradesh, leading with over 15.3 crore ABHAs.

6. BrahMos Missile

Summary

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed that India has signed a deal with Vietnam to export the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and negotiations are in the final stages with Indonesia. The Vietnam agreement is estimated to be worth around ₹5,800 crore and is expected to include coastal defence missile systems, an initial stock of missiles, training assistance and logistical support. BrahMos is a long-range, universal supersonic cruise missile — launchable from land, sea, sub-sea, and air — built by BrahMos Aerospace, a 1998 joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM).

Key takeaways:

• Vietnam deal signed (₹5,800 crore) — confirmed at Shangri-La, though a formal public announcement is still awaited; Indonesia is next in line.
• Philippines was the first foreign buyer — a USD 375 million contract in 2022, with deliveries already begun; first batch delivered 2024, second in April 2025.
• Operation Sindoor showcase — the missile’s combat performance in the 2025 India–Pakistan exchange boosted its export appeal.
• ASEAN / Indo-Pacific strategic play — exports target nations with South China Sea disputes with China (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines), deepening India’s regional defence footprint.
• “Fire and Forget” supersonic missile (~Mach 2.8) — hard for modern air defences to intercept due to sustained supersonic speed and sea-skimming flight.
• Wider interest from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, South Africa, Qatar, Oman, Brazil, and the UAE.

Background & Concept

What is BrahMos? A state-of-the-art, two-stage, universal supersonic cruise missile developed by BrahMos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian joint venture set up in 1998. The name fuses two rivers — Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia). It is derived from the Russian P-800 Oniks/Yakhont anti-ship missile family.

It operates on a “Fire and Forget” principle — once launched, it needs no further guidance from the operator — and maintains supersonic speed throughout its flight (unlike subsonic cruise missiles like the Tomahawk). Combined with a sea-skimming terminal approach as low as 5 metres, this gives air-defence systems very little reaction time, making interception extremely difficult.

It is a “universal” missile because a common core can be configured for land, ship, submarine, and air launch platforms.

Missile Profile

Indicator	Detail
Name origin	Brahmaputra (India) + Moskva (Russia)
Joint venture	BrahMos Aerospace (1998), DRDO + NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM)
JV ownership	India 50.5% : Russia 49.5%
Type	Universal, long-range supersonic cruise missile
Operating principle	Fire and Forget
Speed	About Mach 2.8 (~3 times the speed of sound)
Range	~290 km (base/export variant); extended versions up to ~400–800 km after India joined MTCR (2016)
Warhead	Conventional, 200–300 kg
Cruise altitude	Up to 15 km; as low as 5 m (sea-skimming)
Propulsion	Two-stage: solid-propellant booster + liquid-fuelled ramjet sustainer
Launch system	Transport Launch Canister (TLC)
Guidance	Inertial Navigation System (INS) + satellite (GPS/GLONASS/NavIC) + active radar terminal seeker

Key Features

• Supersonic throughout flight — sustains ~Mach 2.8 from launch to impact, unlike subsonic cruise missiles, giving higher kinetic energy and far less interception window.
• Fire and Forget — autonomous post-launch; no operator guidance needed.
• Universal platform compatibility — land, ship, submarine, and air-launched variants.
• Low radar signature & sea-skimming — terminal dive as low as 5 m makes detection late and interception hard.
• High precision & lethality — pinpoint accuracy with a kinetic + conventional warhead capable of penetrating hardened/ship targets.
• Two-stage propulsion — a solid booster accelerates it to supersonic speed, then a liquid ramjet sustains cruise.

Variants

• BrahMos (land/ship/sub) — the operational baseline across the Indian Army, Navy, and shore batteries.
• BrahMos-A (air-launched) — fired from the Su-30MKI, India’s first air-launched supersonic cruise capability.
• BrahMos-ER (Extended Range) — longer-reach version enabled after India’s MTCR membership (2016).
• BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) — lighter, smaller, stealthier; intended for wider platform integration, including more fighters.
• BrahMos-II (hypersonic) — under development, targeting hypersonic (Mach 5+) speeds.

About the Key Players

BrahMos Aerospace — Indo-Russian JV (1998) that designs, develops, and manufactures the missile; India (DRDO) holds 50.5% and Russia (NPOM) 49.5%. A new production and integration facility in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor) was inaugurated in 2025.

DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) — India’s premier military R&D agency under the Ministry of Defence; the Indian partner in the JV.

NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM) — Russian rocket/missile design house; the Russian partner, source of the underlying Oniks/Yakhont technology.

Keywords & Definitions

▸ BrahMos: Indo-Russian two-stage supersonic cruise missile (Brahmaputra + Moskva); built by BrahMos Aerospace, a 1998 DRDO–NPOM joint venture.

▸ Cruise Missile: A guided missile that flies a sustained, largely level, self-propelled course to its target (vs. a ballistic missile’s arcing trajectory).

▸ Supersonic vs. Subsonic: BrahMos cruises at ~Mach 2.8 (supersonic) throughout flight, unlike subsonic cruise missiles (e.g., Tomahawk), giving less interception time.

▸ Fire and Forget: A missile that requires no further operator guidance after launch, using onboard guidance to reach the target.

▸ Ramjet: An air-breathing jet engine with no moving compressor; efficient only at supersonic speeds — used as BrahMos’s second-stage sustainer.

▸ Sea-skimming: Flying at very low altitude (here as low as 5 m) over water to evade radar detection.

▸ DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation — India’s military R&D agency under the Ministry of Defence.

▸ NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM): Russian missile design bureau; Russian partner in BrahMos Aerospace.

▸ MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime): Export-control regime limiting missiles capable of >300 km range / >500 kg payload; India joined in 2016, enabling longer-range and export BrahMos variants.

▸ Transport Launch Canister (TLC): Sealed container that stores, transports, and launches the missile.

▸ Operation Sindoor (2025): India–Pakistan military exchange in which BrahMos was reportedly used against Pakistani targets.

▸ Shangri-La Dialogue: Asia’s premier inter-governmental defence summit, held annually in Singapore (organised by the IISS).

Question Section (MCQs)

Q1. The BrahMos missile is a joint venture between India’s DRDO and which Russian entity? (a) Almaz-Antey (b) NPO Mashinostroyeniya (c) Roscosmos (d) Sukhoi

Q2. Consider the following statements about BrahMos:

1. Its name combines the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
2. It is a subsonic cruise missile.
3. It operates on a “Fire and Forget” principle. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The BrahMos missile can be launched from which of the following platforms?

1. Land 2. Ship 3. Submarine 4. Aircraft (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Which country was the first foreign buyer of the BrahMos missile? (a) Vietnam (b) Indonesia (c) Philippines (d) Thailand

Q5. The BrahMos uses which propulsion configuration? (a) Single-stage solid propellant (b) Solid-propellant booster + liquid-fuelled ramjet sustainer (c) Twin liquid rocket stages (d) Turbofan engine

Q6. Consider the following statements regarding the 2026 BrahMos export developments:

1. India confirmed a signed deal with Vietnam at the Shangri-La Dialogue.
2. The reported Vietnam deal is worth around ₹5,800 crore.
3. The agreement with Indonesia had already been formally announced and delivered. Which are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q7. India’s ability to develop extended-range BrahMos variants was facilitated by its membership of: (a) NSG (b) MTCR (c) Wassenaar Arrangement (d) Australia Group

Q8. The approximate cruising speed of the BrahMos missile is: (a) Mach 0.8 (b) Mach 1.5 (c) Mach 2.8 (d) Mach 5

Q9. The Shangri-La Dialogue, where the Vietnam deal was confirmed, is held annually in: (a) Singapore (b) Hanoi (c) Jakarta (d) New Delhi

Q10. Match the variant with its description: A. BrahMos-A — 1. Hypersonic version under development B. BrahMos-ER — 2. Air-launched (Su-30MKI) C. BrahMos-NG — 3. Extended-range version D. BrahMos-II — 4. Lighter, next-generation version (a) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1 (b) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1 (d) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4

Answer Key with Explanations

▸ Q1 → (b) NPO Mashinostroyeniya. BrahMos Aerospace (1998) is a JV between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPOM; India holds 50.5%, Russia 49.5%.

▸ Q2 → (b) 1 and 3 only. Statement 2 is wrong — BrahMos is supersonic (~Mach 2.8), which is precisely what makes it hard to intercept. The name and the Fire-and-Forget principle (1 and 3) are correct.

▸ Q3 → (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4. It is a “universal” missile, launchable from land, sea, sub-sea, and air platforms.

▸ Q4 → (c) Philippines. The Philippines signed the first foreign-export contract (~$375 million, 2022); deliveries began in 2024.

▸ Q5 → (b) Two-stage: a solid-propellant booster accelerates it to supersonic speed, then a liquid-fuelled ramjet sustains the cruise.

▸ Q6 → (a) 1 and 2 only. Statement 3 is wrong — the Indonesia pact was described as being in the final stages, not formally announced and delivered. The Vietnam deal confirmation and the ~₹5,800 crore figure are correct.

▸ Q7 → (b) MTCR. India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016, removing the 290 km export/range constraint and enabling extended-range variants.

▸ Q8 → (c) Mach 2.8 — roughly three times the speed of sound.

▸ Q9 → (a) Singapore. The Shangri-La Dialogue is the annual IISS-organised defence summit held in Singapore.

▸ Q10 → (a) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1. BrahMos-A (air-launched, Su-30MKI); BrahMos-ER (extended range); BrahMos-NG (next-gen, lighter); BrahMos-II (hypersonic, under development).