Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 28&29 June, 2026

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
28&29 June, 2026

National Affairs

1. India Ranks 13th Globally in QS World Future Skills Index 2027

Source: Times of India

Context

India has been ranked 13th globally (out of 89 economies) with an overall score of 89.4 out of 100 in the QS World Future Skills Index 2027, released by QS Quacquarelli Symonds on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. The United States topped with 99.2, followed by Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. India leads all lower-middle-income economies and South Asia, scored a perfect 100 in Economic Capacity (highest globally), and ranked 5th globally in Future of Work readiness. However, the report flagged a major gap: India ranks 74th in workforce readiness and 73rd in Human Capital, revealing a mismatch between economic momentum and job-ready talent. The QS report projects that successful AI adoption could add up to $500 billion to India’s economy by 2030.

What is the QS World Future Skills Index 2027?

• Released by: QS Quacquarelli Symonds (UK-based global higher-education analytics firm).
• Date of Release: 24 June 2026 (Wednesday).
• Edition: 2nd edition (pilot in 2025).
• Economies Covered: 89.
• Purpose: Assess country readiness for the future of work in an AI-driven labour market.

What does the Index measure?

Four main indicators:

Indicator	What it measures
Skills Alignment	Industry-graduate skills match
Academic Readiness	Higher-education preparedness
Future of Work	AI/digital/green economy readiness
Economic Transformation	Macro-readiness for transition

Plus: Economic Capacity (GDP, investment, infrastructure).

How did India rank across categories?

Category	India’s Rank	India’s Score
Overall	13th	89.4
Economic Capacity	1st (highest globally)	100
Future of Work	5th	96.0
Economic Transformation	14th	—
Skills Alignment	18th	—
Academic Readiness	22nd	—
Human Capital	73rd	—
Workforce Readiness	74th	—
Digital-Skills Penetration	2nd	—

What is India’s broader positioning?

• Top-ranked lower-middle-income economy.
• #1 in South Asia.
• Largest IT workforce globally: 5.8 million professionals.
• Largest tertiary-educated population.
• AI-related investments: ~$90 billion.

What is the global Top 10 (per the Index)?

Rank	Country	Score
1	United States	99.2
2	Australia	—
3	United Kingdom	—
4	Germany	—
5	Canada	—

What are India’s allied skilling initiatives?

• Skill India Mission (2015) under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) — currently PMKVY 4.0.
• Digital India (2015).
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (NITI Aayog, 2018).
• IndiaAI Mission (₹10,372 crore, approved March 2024).
• Startup India (2016).

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to the QS World Future Skills Index 2027, consider the following statements:

1. The Index was released by QS Quacquarelli Symonds in June 2026 and covers 89 economies.
2. India was ranked 13th overall with a score of 89.4 out of 100.
3. The United States topped the Index with a score of 99.2.
4. The Index measures only higher-education performance, with no labour market data.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the Index combines higher-education performance with labour market data and employer expectations — it is NOT limited to higher education only.)

Q2. With reference to India’s category-wise performance in QS WFSI 2027, consider the following statements:

1. India scored a perfect 100 in Economic Capacity, the highest globally.
2. India ranked 5th globally in the Future of Work indicator.
3. India ranked 73rd in Human Capital and 74th in Workforce Readiness.
4. India ranked 1st globally in Human Capital.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; India ranked 73rd in Human Capital, NOT 1st.)

Q3. With reference to India’s positioning in the report, consider the following statements:

1. India is the top-ranked lower-middle-income economy in the Index.
2. India leads all South Asian economies.
3. India has the world’s largest IT workforce with about 5.8 million professionals.
4. India ranked last (89th) among economies covered.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; India ranked 13th globally, NOT 89th.)

Q4. With reference to the projected economic impact of AI in India, consider the following statements:

1. Successful AI adoption could add up to $500 billion to India’s economy by 2030 as per the QS report.
2. India would need a talent pool of over 350 million AI-literate professionals by 2030, according to the IBM-IndiaAI joint study.
3. India’s AI-related investments stand at approximately $90 billion.
4. The Government of India has not launched any flagship AI mission.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the IndiaAI Mission with ₹10,372 crore outlay was approved in March 2024.)

Q5. With reference to the Top 5 economies in the QS WFSI 2027, consider the following statements:

1. The United States topped the rankings with a score of 99.2.
2. The top 5 includes the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada.
3. India ranked among the top 5 in the Future of Work indicator.
4. China topped the QS WFSI 2027.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the United States topped the Index, NOT China.)

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the National Strategy for AI was released by NITI Aayog in 2018, NOT the RBI.)

Answer Key

1. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Index uses both education and labour market data.
2. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: India is 73rd in Human Capital, not 1st.
3. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: India is 13th overall, not 89th.
4. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: IndiaAI Mission approved March 2024 with ₹10,372 cr.
5. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: US topped, not China.

Exam Relevance

Exam	Relevance
RBI Grade B (Phase I + II)	High — ESI on India’s AI economy, skilling, future of work, global indices (recurring GA topic)
NABARD Grade A	High — Rural skilling, future workforce
SIDBI / SEBI / IRDAI Grade A	Medium — Skills and digital transformation
Banking (SBI PO, IBPS, RBI Assistant)	High — General Awareness on global indices
UPSC Prelims & Mains	High — GS-II (Social sector, schemes), GS-III (Economy, S&T, AI), Essay
State PCS	Medium-High — Current Affairs
SSC, Railway, Insurance	High — Indices, India’s rankings

2. India Launches “Operation Amistad”

Source: News on Air

Context

In response to two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening (followed by a 4.9-magnitude aftershock on Friday off the northern coast) — killing 920+ people and injuring 4,300+ in northern Venezuela — the Government of India on Friday, 26 June 2026 launched “Operation Amistad” (“Amistad” = friendship in Spanish) — a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission. Announced by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar, the mission deployed two Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft carrying a 41-member medical team from the Indian Army’s 60 Para Field Hospital (including 9 military doctors), an Indian Army Field Hospital unit, ~35 tonnes of relief supplies, 6 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment, and two BHISHM Cubes (modular portable hospitals under India’s Aarogya Maitri Project). The aircraft covered nearly 14,300 km — one of the farthest humanitarian deployments ever undertaken by India — reaffirming India’s positioning as a global first responder and strengthening its Latin American/Global South humanitarian diplomacy under the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ethos.

What is Operation Amistad?

• Type: Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission.
• Meaning: “Amistad” = “Friendship” in Spanish.
• Donor Nation: India (via MEA + Indian Armed Forces).
• Recipient Nation: Venezuela.
• Aim: Search-and-rescue, emergency medical care, humanitarian relief.

What is BHISHM Cube?

• Full Form: Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri.
• Under: Project Aarogya Maitri.
• Type: Rapidly deployable, modular, portable field hospital.
• Setup Time: Minutes — no existing infrastructure needed.
• Capacity: Up to 200 patients per Cube (2 Cubes = 400 patient capacity).
• Equipment: Portable ventilators, surgical instruments, oxygen support, trauma care kits.
• Capabilities: Emergency trauma care, complex surgeries, intensive care.
• Indigenously developed.

What is Aarogya Maitri?

• A health-aid initiative launched by India to provide emergency medical supplies, equipment, and indigenously developed portable healthcare infrastructure (BHISHM Cubes) to countries in distress due to natural disasters or humanitarian crises.
• Announced by PM Modi at the Voice of Global South Summit (January 2023).
• Operationalised under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in coordination with MEA, Armed Forces, and partner PSUs/private organisations.

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to Operation Amistad launched by India in June 2026, consider the following statements:

1. Operation Amistad is a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission launched by India in response to devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.
2. The mission deployed two Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft covering nearly 14,300 km.
3. The mission included a 41-member medical team from the Indian Army’s 60 Para Field Hospital.
4. “Amistad” is a Spanish word meaning “war”.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; “Amistad” means “Friendship” in Spanish, NOT “war”.)

Q2. With reference to the BHISHM Cube, consider the following statements:

1. BHISHM stands for “Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri”.
2. It is a rapidly deployable modular portable field hospital developed under India’s Aarogya Maitri Project.
3. Each BHISHM Cube can treat up to 200 patients and can be operational within minutes.
4. The BHISHM Cube was developed by a foreign multinational company and imported by India.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the BHISHM Cube is INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED, NOT imported from a foreign multinational.)

Answer Key

1. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Amistad means “friendship”, not “war”.
2. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: BHISHM Cube is indigenous, not imported.

3. Govt to Launch e-Sushrut@Clinic

Source: The Hindu

The Union Health Ministry is set to launch e-Sushrut@Clinic — a lightweight, cloud-based Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to help small outpatient clinics, sub-centres, and primary health centres (PHCs) that struggle with manual processes and lack of affordable digital solutions. Large HMIS systems have been too complex and costly for small facilities, and despite many private HMIS players, demand for a government-backed affordable solution had persisted (especially from ABDM microsite participants and States/UTs). The platform is being rolled out under a MoU between the National Health Authority (NHA) and C-DAC signed in August 2025 in the presence of Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, with C-DAC handling maintenance and upgradation.

What is e-Sushrut@Clinic?

• A lightweight, cloud-based HMIS designed specifically for small outpatient clinics.
• A lighter version of C-DAC’s flagship e-Sushrut HMIS (which runs at 17 AIIMS + 4,000+ health facilities nationwide).
• ABDM-enabled; integrates Health Facility Registry (HFR) + Health Professionals Registry (HPR).
• Accessible from any device; no technical expertise needed.
• Use cases: patient registration, billing, prescriptions, diagnostics, telemedicine, pharmacy, nursing modules.

Who built it and who rolls it out?

• Developed by: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
• Rolled out by: National Health Authority (NHA) under MoU signed August 2025.
• C-DAC Noida Executive Director: Shri Vivek Khaneja.
• Union Health Secretary: Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava.

What is the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)?

• A flagship mission launched by PM Narendra Modi on 27 September 2021.
• Aim: Develop India’s integrated digital health infrastructure bridging gaps among healthcare stakeholders through “digital highways”.
• Implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA).
• Builds an interoperable digital health ecosystem.

What are the 4 key building blocks of ABDM?

Building Block	Role
ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account)	14-digit unique health ID for every citizen
HPR (Healthcare Professionals Registry)	Comprehensive database of doctors, nurses, paramedics, AYUSH practitioners
HFR (Health Facility Registry)	Database of public + private health facilities
UHI (Unified Health Interface)	Open protocol for digital health services (similar to UPI)

What is the National Health Authority (NHA)?

• Implementing agency for the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
• A society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• HQ: New Delhi.

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to the e-Sushrut@Clinic, consider the following statements:

1. e-Sushrut@Clinic is a lightweight, cloud-based Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) designed for small outpatient clinics.
2. It has been developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
3. It is being rolled out by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) framework.
4. The platform is designed only for large multi-specialty private hospitals.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; e-Sushrut@Clinic is designed for small outpatient clinics, sub-centres, and PHCs — NOT large multi-specialty hospitals.)

Q2. With reference to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), consider the following statements:

1. ABDM was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 27 September 2021.
2. It is implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
3. Its four building blocks include ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account), HPR (Healthcare Professionals Registry), HFR (Health Facility Registry), and UHI (Unified Health Interface).
4. The ABHA is a 12-digit unique health ID for every Indian citizen.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; ABHA is a 14-digit unique health ID, NOT 12-digit.)

Answer Key

1. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Designed for small clinics, not large hospitals.
2. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: ABHA is 14-digit, not 12-digit.

Exam Relevance

UPSC Prelims & Mains

High — GS Paper II (Government schemes, Health policy, ABDM); GS Paper III (Digital infrastructure)

4. Govt Launches AI-Enabled “Rural Internal Audit Portal”

Source: TH

Context

Union Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday, 28 June 2026 launched the “Rural Internal Audit Portal” at the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan (RGVS) 2026 held at Pusa Campus, New Delhi — ahead of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar & Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] rollout from 1 July 2026. The AI-enabled portal is a first-of-its-kind unified digital platform for end-to-end management of internal audits — covering both risk-based and compliance audits. Conceived by the Office of the Chief Controller of Accounts (CCA), Ministry of Rural Development, the platform was developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The portal was piloted in Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh on 1 April 2025, and all core modules became operational from October 2025. The Office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance issued Office Memorandum No. I-104/3/2024-ITD-CGA/E-19878/621A dated 9 December 2025 granting in-principle approval for pan-Civil-Ministry rollout across all Pr. CCA / CCA / CA offices — positioning the Rural Internal Audit Portal as a benchmark for internal audit governance across the Government of India.

What is the Rural Internal Audit Portal?

• A first-of-its-kind unified digital platform for end-to-end management of internal audits.
• Covers two audit types:
  • Risk-based audits.
  • Compliance audits.
• AI-enabled: intelligent audit planning, risk identification, predictive analytics.
• Replaces fragmented, paper-intensive, manual audit practices.

Who built it?

Entity	Role
Office of the Chief Controller of Accounts (CCA), MoRD	Conceptualised the Portal
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)	Implementing ministry
National Informatics Centre (NIC)	Developed + hosts the digital platform

What are the Portal’s standout features?

Feature	Detail
Map View Module (geospatial)	Visualisation of audit coverage, team deployment, identifies never-audited units for targeted intervention
Role-Based Access	Auditors, auditees, approving authorities, programme divisions, States, districts, certified internal auditors
Centralised Audit Repository	Digital records, ATRs, observations, compliance responses
Real-Time Analytics Dashboards	Audit coverage, pending observations, ATR compliance, financial irregularities
AI/ML Integration (progressive)	Risk scoring, pattern recognition, predictive analytics, intelligent audit planning
Multilingual Interface	Accessibility across India
Paperless	Reduces manual records, accelerates approvals

What is the technology architecture and security framework?

• Hosted on NIC infrastructure.
• Modern stack: Git-based version control, CI/CD pipelines (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment).
• Three environments: Development, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and Production.
• Security: Role-based access control, centralised monitoring, secure API-based integrations, complete audit logging, periodic security assessments, daily backups, disaster recovery protocols.
• Future-ready: integrates AI, advanced analytics, ML for audit prioritisation + decision support.

What is VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar & Ajeevika Mission, Gramin)?

• Statutory basis: VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 (assented by President).
• Replaces: MGNREGA, 2005.
• Effective from: 1 July 2026.
• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).

Key Features of VB-G RAM G Act, 2025

Feature	Detail
Guaranteed Workdays	125 days per rural household per FY (up from MGNREGA’s 100)
Eligibility	Adult members of rural households for unskilled manual work
No-Work Period	60 days aggregated during peak sowing/harvest (ensures availability of agri labour)
Effective Work Period	305 days
Wage Disbursement	Weekly (within fortnight)
Planning Unit	Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, spatially integrated with PM Gati Shakti
National Aggregation	Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack

What is the Office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA)?

• Principal Accounting Adviser to GoI.
• Functions under Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
• Constitutional mandate: derived from Article 150 of the Constitution.
• Current CGA: Shri S.S. Dubey (1989 batch ICAS officer).
• Responsibilities: Establishes/maintains management accounting system; prepares Union Finance Accounts and Appropriation Accounts (Civil); Internal Audit + Exchequer Control; reconciles cash balances with RBI; coordinates Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS).

What is the Office of the Chief Controller of Accounts (CCA)?

• Operates under each central ministry/department.
• Handles payments, accounts, internal audit, financial advice.
• Falls under the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
• Reports through Principal CCA (Pr. CCA) → CGA.

What is the National Informatics Centre (NIC)?

• Premier IT services organisation of GoI.
• Under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Established: 1976.
• HQ: CGO Complex, New Delhi.
• Provides e-governance infrastructure (data centres, networking, cloud, software development) to central + state govts.

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to the Rural Internal Audit Portal launched on 28 June 2026, consider the following statements:

1. The Portal was launched by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan at Pusa Campus, New Delhi.
2. The Portal was conceived by the Office of the Chief Controller of Accounts (CCA), Ministry of Rural Development.
3. The Portal was developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
4. The Portal covers only compliance audits and excludes risk-based audits.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the Portal covers both risk-based AND compliance audits.)

Q2. With reference to the development journey of the Rural Internal Audit Portal, consider the following statements:

1. The Portal was piloted in Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh, on 1 April 2025.
2. All core modules of the Portal became operational from October 2025.
3. The Office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) issued an Office Memorandum on 9 December 2025 granting in-principle approval for rollout across all Pr. CCA/CCA/CA offices of Civil Ministries.
4. The Portal was developed entirely by a private-sector consultancy.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the Portal was developed by the Ministry of Rural Development in collaboration with NIC (Government of India organisation) — NOT a private-sector consultancy.)

Q3. With reference to Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G], consider the following statements:

1. VB-G RAM G is statutorily backed by the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025.
2. It replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005.
3. It guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year, up from 100 days under MGNREGA.
4. The Act provides for wage disbursement on a quarterly basis.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the Act mandates weekly wage disbursement (in any case, not later than a fortnight) — NOT quarterly.)

Q4. With reference to the Office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), consider the following statements:

1. The CGA is the Principal Accounting Adviser to the Government of India.
2. The CGA functions under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
3. The CGA’s mandate is derived from Article 150 of the Constitution.
4. The CGA is an independent constitutional body like the CAG.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the CGA is an executive office under the Department of Expenditure — NOT an independent constitutional body. The CAG (Article 148) is the constitutional body, NOT the CGA.)

Answer Key

1. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Covers both risk-based and compliance audits.
2. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Built by MoRD + NIC (govt), not private consultancy.
3. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Wages weekly, not quarterly.
4. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: CGA is executive office; CAG is the constitutional body (Article 148).

Exam Relevance

Exam	Relevance
RBI Grade B (Phase I + II)	Critical — ESI on Public Financial Management, CGA, Internal Audit, MGNREGA reform; FM on accounting + audit standards
NABARD Grade A	Critical — Direct subject — Rural employment, MGNREGA → VB-G RAM G, rural audit
SIDBI / SEBI / IRDAI Grade A	Medium — Govt scheme + PFM awareness
Banking (SBI PO, IBPS, RBI Assistant)	High — Government schemes, DBT linkages
UPSC Prelims & Mains	Very High — GS-II (Governance, Schemes), GS-III (Rural Economy, PFM), Essay
State PCS	High — Rural development, MGNREGA reform

5. DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing)

Source: PIB

Context

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) on 28 June 2026 released a comprehensive backgrounder on DIKSHA — Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing — the Government of India’s national digital platform for school education. Launched on 5 September 2017 (Teachers’ Day) by then Vice-President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, DIKSHA is spearheaded by NCERT in collaboration with the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) under the Ministry of Education, and is hosted on NIC infrastructure. It is built on Sunbird, an MIT-licensed open-source technology stack with 100+ micro-services. DIKSHA is a key component of the PM e-Vidya initiative (declared part of Atmanirbhar Bharat in May 2020) and was declared “One Nation, One Digital Platform” for school education. The platform now supports 135 languages (128 Indian + 7 foreign), hosts over 614 Virtual Laboratories, and has been adopted by all States, Union Territories, CBSE, NIOS, and Kendriya Vidyalayas. The platform is explicitly recognised in NEP 2020 clauses 2.60 and 23.60 as the national repository for foundational literacy and numeracy and teacher professional development content.

What is DIKSHA?

• Full Form: Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing.
• Type: Open-source national digital platform for school education.
• Launched: 5 September 2017 (Teachers’ Day) by VP Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu.
• Spearheaded by: NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training).
• Developed by: CIET (Central Institute of Educational Technology) — a constituent unit of NCERT.
• Hosted on: NIC (National Informatics Centre) infrastructure.
• Ministry: Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India.

What is its status?

• Declared “One Nation, One Digital Platform” for school education in May 2020 under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Key component of PM e-Vidya initiative.
• Adopted by: All States, UTs, CBSE, NIOS, Kendriya Vidyalayas.
• Coverage: K-12 (Foundational Literacy and Numeracy → Senior Secondary).

What are the key features?

Feature	Detail
QR-Coded Energised Textbooks	Physical NCERT books → linked to videos, interactives, teacher guides
Media-Rich Content	2D/3D animations, AR experiences, simulations, virtual labs, sign language videos
Inclusive Features	DAISY format (Digital Accessible Information System), text-to-speech, Indian Sign Language (ISL) videos for differently-abled learners
Practice + Assessment	Unlimited practice questions, adaptive assessments, competency-based question banks
Teacher Professional Development	Via NISHTHA + state-specific TPD modules — self-paced, certified training
Offline Access	Content downloadable; preloaded on Smart Class boards by States/UTs
Virtual Laboratories	614+ virtual labs for critical thinking, creativity
Mobile App	Available on Android + iOS for students, teachers, parents
PM e-Vidya DTH-TV Integration	One Class, One Channel (Classes 1-12); QR-linked to DIKSHA

What is PM e-Vidya?

• A comprehensive initiative of the Ministry of Education for multimodal digital education.
• Declared part of Atmanirbhar Bharat package in May 2020 (COVID response).
• Components:
  • DIKSHA (One Nation, One Digital Platform).
  • One Class, One Channel — 12 DTH-TV channels for Classes 1-12.
  • Radio, Community Radio, Podcasts (Shiksha Vani).
  • Special e-content for visually + hearing impaired.
  • Top 100 university online courses.

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing), consider the following statements:

1. DIKSHA was launched on 5 September 2017 by the then Vice-President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu.
2. It is spearheaded by NCERT in collaboration with the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET).
3. It is built on Sunbird, an MIT-licensed open-source technology stack.
4. DIKSHA is a proprietary platform developed exclusively by a private MNC.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; DIKSHA is an OPEN-SOURCE platform built on Sunbird (MIT-licensed), developed by NCERT/CIET (Government of India), NOT a proprietary platform from a private MNC.)

Q2. With reference to DIKSHA’s place in the digital education ecosystem, consider the following statements:

1. DIKSHA is a key component of the PM e-Vidya initiative under the Ministry of Education.
2. DIKSHA was declared “One Nation, One Digital Platform” for school education in May 2020 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
3. DIKSHA has been adopted by all States, UTs, CBSE, NIOS, and Kendriya Vidyalayas.
4. DIKSHA is administered by the Reserve Bank of India.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; DIKSHA is administered by NCERT/CIET under the Ministry of Education, NOT the RBI.)

Q3. With reference to DIKSHA’s features and accessibility, consider the following statements:

1. DIKSHA features QR-coded Energised Textbooks that link physical NCERT books to digital content.
2. DIKSHA includes inclusive features like the DAISY format, text-to-speech, and Indian Sign Language videos for differently-abled learners.
3. As per the latest PIB release (June 2026), DIKSHA supports 135 languages, including 128 Indian and 7 foreign languages.
4. DIKSHA only works with active internet connectivity and does not support offline access.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; DIKSHA supports BOTH online and offline access — content can be downloaded in advance and States/UTs preload it on Smart Class boards.)

Answer Key

1. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: DIKSHA is open-source, not proprietary.
2. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Administered by NCERT/CIET, not RBI.
3. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Supports both online and offline.

Exam Relevance

UPSC Prelims & Mains

Very High — GS-II (Schemes, Education Policy, Governance), Essay on Education/Digital India

Agriculture

1. APEDA Facilitates First Commercial Export of GI-Tagged Rewa Sundarja Mango

Source: PIB

Context

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, facilitated the first commercial export of GI-tagged Rewa Sundarja Mangoes from Madhya Pradesh to the UAE on 26 June 2026. The 1-metric-tonne consignment was exported by M/s Salt Range Foods Pvt. Ltd., sourced from M/s Seondha Farmer Producer Company Limited and farmer Shri Sonu Gupta of Govindgarh, Rewa district, MP. Packing was done at the APEDA-facilitated pack house of Trisagar FPC in Bhadohi, UP, and the consignment was shipped via Varanasi Airport. Farmers received ₹150/kg — a premium of ₹40-50/kg over the local rate of ₹100-110/kg. The Rewa Sundarja variety received its GI tag in 2023.

What is the key announcement?

• Product: GI-tagged Rewa Sundarja Mango (GI tag year 2023).
• Origin: Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh.
• Destination: UAE.
• Facilitator: APEDA.

What is APEDA?

• Full Form: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.
• Type: Statutory body.
• Established: 13 February 1986 under the APEDA Act, 1985 (Act No. 2 of 1986).
• Ministry: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• HQ: NCUI Building, August Kranti Marg, Hauz Khas, New Delhi.
• Regional Offices: 15 (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Chennai, Kochi, Tripura, Srinagar, Jammu, Ladakh).
• Chairman: Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS.
• Replaced: Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).

What are APEDA’s key mandates?

• Export promotion of 17 scheduled product categories covering 802 HS codes at 8-digit level (fruits & vegetables, meat & poultry, dairy, cereals, processed food, honey, alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, floriculture, herbal & medicinal plants, etc.).
• Basmati Rice included in the Second Schedule of APEDA Act.
• Monitors import of sugar.
• Secretariat for National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
• Cashew Kernels, Cashewnut Shell Liquid, Cardanol added in June 2021.

What is the Geographical Indications (GI) Act, 1999?

• Full Title: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• Enacted: 30 December 1999; came into force 15 September 2003.
• Purpose: Legal protection for products with geographical origin-linked qualities.
• Compliance With: WTO TRIPS Agreement (Articles 22-24).
• Validity: 10 years; renewable indefinitely for further 10-year periods.
• Penalty for Infringement: Up to 3 years jail + ₹2 lakh fine.

Who administers GI in India?

• Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai.
• Under the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM).
• CGPDTM operates under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

What is a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) / Farmer Producer Company (FPC)?

• Collective entity of primary producers (farmers).
• FPC registered under Part IX-A of the Companies Act, 2013.
• Aim: Scale, market access, bargaining power.
• Central Scheme: “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs” (launched 29 February 2020, ₹6,865 crore outlay).
• Implementing Agencies: SFAC, NABARD, NCDC.

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to APEDA, consider the following statements:

1. APEDA is a statutory body established on 13 February 1986 under the APEDA Act, 1985.
2. APEDA functions under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
3. APEDA replaced the erstwhile Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).
4. APEDA also functions as the Secretariat for the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(All four statements are correct.)

Q2. With reference to India’s agri-export performance and APEDA targets, consider the following statements:

1. APEDA’s scheduled product exports in FY 2024-25 stood at an all-time high of approximately USD 28.59 billion.
2. APEDA has set a target of exporting USD 55+ billion of scheduled products by 2030.
3. Total India agri exports in FY 2024-25 stood at approximately USD 51.9 billion, with APEDA accounting for about 55%.
4. APEDA’s scheduled product exports in FY 2024-25 already crossed USD 100 billion.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; APEDA’s scheduled product exports in FY 2024-25 stood at USD 28.59 billion, NOT USD 100 billion. The $100 billion is the broader agri-export aspirational target.)

Answer Key

1. (d) All four — all statements correct.
2. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: APEDA exports USD 28.59 billion, not USD 100 billion.

Exam Relevance

Exam	Relevance
NABARD Grade A	Critical — Direct subject — APEDA, FPOs, agri-exports, rural value chains

2. NABARD-BIRD Three-Day Training on “Geographical Indications (GI) and Post-GI Initiatives for Livelihood” Begins at Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh

Source: NABARD

Context

A three-day Capacity Building Programme on Geographical Indications (GI) and Post-GI Initiatives for Livelihood began at Hotel Namlau, Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, running through 19 June 2026. The programme is organised by the Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Kolkata — one of NABARD’s training institutes (serving the Eastern + North-Eastern Region). Participants include NGOs, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Organic Farmer Producer Organisations (OFPOs), and other stakeholders from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The inaugural session was attended by MLA Namsai Shri Chau Zingnu Namchoom as Chief Guest, District Planning Officer Dr. Keshab Sarmah, NABARD DGM Shri Vivek Anand, BIRD Kolkata Programme Director Dr. Bhawana Pal, and NABARD AGM Shri Kamal Roy. The training focuses on GI registration procedures, post-GI livelihood initiatives, branding strategies, IPR awareness, market development, and case studies — citing Khaw Tai (Khamti Rice), a GI-tagged Arunachal variety, as a key example for scaling up production while maintaining quality.

What is BIRD?

• Full Form: Bankers Institute of Rural Development.
• Promoted by: NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).
• Three BIRD institutes:
  • BIRD Lucknow — premier/apex training institute (est. 1983).
  • BIRD Kolkata — focuses on Eastern + North-Eastern Region (est. 1984).
  • BIRD Mangaluru — third institute (est. November 1984).
• Mandate: Training, research, consultancy in agriculture + rural development banking.
• Clients: Commercial Banks, RRBs, Cooperative Banks, IAS officers, IES officers, NGOs, FPOs.

What is NABARD’s role in GI promotion?

Role	Detail
GI Registration Facilitation	Helping FPOs/artisans apply for GI tags
Post-GI Interventions	Capacity building, branding, packaging, quality standardisation, market linkages, IPR awareness
FPO Support	Equity grants, refinance, training
Rural Livelihood Promotion	Income enhancement for farmers, artisans, producer groups

What is Khaw Tai (Khamti Rice)?

• A chewy sticky rice variety from the Namsai region of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Cultivated by the traditional Khampti tribal farmers.
• GI-tagged (granted in 2024 batch of Arunachal GI registrations).
• District Planning Officer noted: GI is only a milestone; commercial success depends on scaling production while maintaining quality.

What is the local example cited — Namsai Fresh?

• Brand of locally produced ghee from Namsai.
• Effective branding + promotion has driven increased market demand.
• Cited as a model for value addition + market linkage.

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to the NABARD-BIRD Capacity Building Programme on GI held at Namsai (17-19 June 2026), consider the following statements:

1. The three-day programme was organised by BIRD, Kolkata — one of NABARD’s training institutes.
2. The programme brought together NGOs, FPOs, and OFPOs from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
3. The inaugural session was attended by MLA Namsai Shri Chau Zingnu Namchoom as Chief Guest.
4. The programme focused exclusively on private sector trade, with no government participation.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the programme included government officials, FPOs, NGOs, and stakeholders — NOT exclusively private sector.)

Q2. With reference to the Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), consider the following statements:

1. BIRD is promoted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
2. BIRD Lucknow, established in 1983, is the premier/apex training institute.
3. BIRD Kolkata serves the Eastern and North-Eastern Region of India.
4. BIRD is administered directly by the Reserve Bank of India.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; BIRD is promoted and administered by NABARD, NOT directly by the RBI. NABARD itself is under the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services.)

Q3. With reference to NABARD’s role in GI promotion mentioned at the Namsai training, consider the following statements:

1. NABARD facilitates GI registration and post-GI interventions for FPOs and artisans.
2. Post-GI interventions include capacity building, branding, packaging, quality standardisation, market linkages, and IPR awareness.
3. The aim is to improve incomes of farmers, artisans, and producer groups by helping them capture greater value from traditional products.
4. NABARD does not engage in any IPR or branding-related work.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; NABARD’s post-GI interventions explicitly include IPR awareness and branding.)

Q4. With reference to Khaw Tai (Khamti Rice) cited at the Namsai training, consider the following statements:

1. Khaw Tai is a chewy sticky rice variety from the Namsai region of Arunachal Pradesh.
2. It is cultivated by the traditional Khampti tribal farmers.
3. It is a GI-tagged variety from Arunachal Pradesh.
4. GI registration alone guarantees commercial success without any need for production scale-up or quality standardisation.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; the DPO Dr. Keshab Sarmah explicitly emphasised that commercial success depends on scaling up production while maintaining quality — GI registration alone is just a milestone.)

Answer Key

1. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Programme included govt + private + NGOs.
2. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: BIRD under NABARD, not RBI directly.
3. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: NABARD explicitly does IPR + branding work.
4. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: GI alone is only a milestone; scale + quality essential.

Exam Relevance

NABARD Grade A

Critical — Direct subject — NABARD’s GI work, BIRD, FPOs, post-GI interventions

3. “Jasdan Patari” Traditional Wooden Handicraft from Rajkot District, Gujarat Receives Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

Source: Times of India

Context

The centuries-old “Jasdan Patari” handicraft of Jasdan town and taluka, Rajkot district, Gujarat has been officially granted Geographical Indication (GI) tag registration in June 2026 — adding another distinctive product to Saurashtra’s cultural heritage. The Patari (also called Patara) is a brass-ribbed wooden chest typically made of teak wood with 8+ drawers, traditionally covered with brass and copper (now also white metal), strengthened with thick black metal pieces and embossed with thin white metal decoration. Used historically for storage and as dowry/trousseau carriers, fine examples can be seen in the Hingolgadh Castle and Gondal Palace museum collections. The GI tag recognises Jasdan as a leading craft centre for embellished wooden chests and ornate jewel boxes, strengthening the rural artisan economy and adding to Gujarat’s growing GI basket, which already includes Sankheda Furniture, Kutch Embroidery, Rajkot Patola, Patan Patola, Tangaliya Shawl, Kutch Ajrakh, Gir Kesar Mango, Bhalia Wheat, and others.

What is the Jasdan Patari?

Aspect	Detail
Type	Brass-ribbed wooden chest with embellishments
Local Names	Patara / Patari
Primary Material	Teak wood
Metal Embellishments	Traditionally brass + copper; now also white metal
Strengthening	Thick black metal pieces on edges
Decoration	Thin white metal pieces embossed on wood
Lining	Brass strips + brass stoppers
Traditional Use	Storage + dowry/trousseau carriers
Museum Collections	Hingolgadh Castle and Gondal Palace

Where is it produced?

• Jasdan town and surrounding villages in Rajkot district, Gujarat.
• Markets: Main market + Lathi Bazaar of Jasdan.
• Smaller versions of pataras and jewel boxes also sold at Udhyog Bharati and Khadi Plaza, Gondal.

What other crafts does Rajkot district have?

Craft	Description
Rajkot Patola	Single ikat saris (GI-tagged)
Meenakari Furniture	Painted lacquered wooden furniture
Silver Jewellery + Silverware	Soni Bazaar, Palace Road, Rajkot
Block Printing	Jetpur (in district)

What other GI-tagged products does Gujarat have?

Category	GI-Tagged Products
Handicraft	Sankheda Furniture, Agates of Cambay, Kutch Embroidery, Tangaliya Shawl, Surat Zari Craft, Kachchh Shawls, Patan Patola, Warli Painting, Jamnagari Bandhani, Rajkot Patola, Pethapur Printing Blocks, Pithora, Mata ni Pachhedi, Kutch Rogan Craft, Gharchola Craft, Gujarat Suf Embroidery, Ahmedabad Sodagari Block Print, Surat Sadeli Craft, Bharuch Sujani Weaving, Kutch Ajrakh
Agricultural	Gir Kesar Mango, Bhalia Wheat, Kachchhi Kharek

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to the recently GI-tagged Jasdan Patari, consider the following statements:

1. Jasdan Patari is a centuries-old handicraft from Jasdan town and taluka in Rajkot district, Gujarat.
2. It is a brass-ribbed wooden chest typically made of teak wood, with eight or more drawers.
3. It has been traditionally used for storage and as dowry/trousseau carriers.
4. Jasdan Patari is a textile handicraft made of silk and zari.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; Jasdan Patari is a wooden chest handicraft (with brass/copper/white metal embellishments), NOT a textile silk/zari handicraft.)

Q2. With reference to Jasdan Patari and the Saurashtra craft tradition, consider the following statements:

1. Jasdan is located in Rajkot district of Gujarat, in the Saurashtra region.
2. Fine examples of Jasdan Patari can be seen in the museum collections of Hingolgadh Castle and Gondal Palace.
3. The patari was traditionally an essential part of a bride’s trousseau in Saurashtra culture.
4. Jasdan Patari has its origin in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

(Statement 4 is wrong; Jasdan Patari originates in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, NOT Vidarbha (Maharashtra).)

Answer Key

1. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Jasdan Patari is a wooden chest, not silk/zari textile.
2. (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Jasdan Patari originates in Saurashtra, not Vidarbha.

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