The Registrar-General of India (RGI) announced that the 2027 Census will be the country's first digital Census, conducted in two phases, with data collected electronically via mobile apps and a dedicated web portal for self-enumeration. This digital approach is expected to ensure early availability of Census data, unlike previous exercises that took 2-3 years. The Census will involve a focused publicity campaign and a three-tier training structure for enumerators. Administrative boundaries will be frozen from January 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. The 2027 Census will also enumerate the caste of household members and can be used as the basis to redraw Lok Sabha constituencies after 2026.
The 2027 Census will be India's first digital Census, utilizing mobile apps and a dedicated web portal for data collection and self-enumeration.
The digital methodology aims to ensure early availability of Census data, addressing delays experienced in previous exercises.
The Census will be conducted in two phases: Houselisting and Housing Census (April 2026) and Population Enumeration (February 2027).
Exam Points
The 2027 Census will be India's first digital Census.
The Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) phase will start from April 2026.
The Population Enumeration (PE) phase will start in February 2027.
A conflict between two ethnic armed groups, the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-H), in Myanmar has forced approximately 4,000 Chin people to seek refuge in Mizoram, India. The refugees, primarily women and children, are taking shelter in Zokhawthar and Vaphai villages, crossing the border at Zokhawthar and the Tiau river. Local villagers and NGOs are providing basic needs. This influx adds to over 30,000 refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh already living in Mizoram, alongside 5,000 Kuki-Zo people displaced by Manipur ethnic violence since 2023. The conflict is over control of strategic border trade areas, with both groups being part of the People's Defence Force resisting Myanmar's military junta.
Around 4,000 Chin people from Myanmar have taken refuge in Mizoram due to armed conflict between ethnic groups.
The conflict involves the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-H) fighting for control of border trade areas.
The refugees are concentrated in Zokhawthar and Vaphai villages, with local support for their basic needs.
Exam Points
Approximately 4,000 Chin people from Myanmar have taken refuge in Mizoram.
Refugees crossed the border at Zokhawthar and the Tiau river.
Over 30,000 refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh were already in Mizoram.
The Kerala government has filed an admiralty suit in the High Court seeking ₹9,531 crore in compensation for marine and coastal pollution, loss of livelihood for fishers, and remediation measures following the sinking of the container vessel MSC Elsa-3. The vessel, owned by MSC Shipping Company, sank off the Alappuzha coast on May 25, carrying 643 containers, including hazardous cargo and plastic pellets (nurdles). The incident caused an oil slick, plastic nurdles washing ashore (60 tonnes collected), and led to a severe crash in the fisheries market. Six carcasses, including dolphins and a whale, suspected to have died from exposure to microplastics and toxic substances, were found. The claim includes ₹8,626.12 crore for pollution damage, ₹378.48 crore for environmental restoration, and ₹526.51 crore for economic loss to fishers.
Kerala government is seeking ₹9,531 crore in compensation for marine pollution caused by the sinking of MSC Elsa-3.
The vessel carried hazardous cargo and plastic nurdles, leading to an oil slick and significant coastal contamination.
The pollution has severely impacted the fisheries market and is suspected to have caused marine animal deaths.
Exam Points
Kerala government seeks ₹9,531 crore compensation.
The incident involved the container vessel MSC Elsa-3, which sank off Alappuzha coast on May 25.
The claim is filed under the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017.
India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined to 93 (2019-21), but significant disparities exist across states, with Kerala having the lowest (20) and Assam the highest (167). The article highlights "three delays" contributing to maternal deaths: delay in recognizing danger and seeking care, delay in transportation to health facilities, and delay in initiating specialized care at health facilities. Systemic deficiencies include high vacancies of specialists in community health centres, lack of blood banks, and inadequate management of postpartum bleeding, obstructed labour, and hypertensive disorders. The author emphasizes the need for a differential approach across states, focusing on basic tasks in Empowered Action Group (EAG) states and fine-tuning quality in southern states, advocating for a Confidential Review of Maternal Deaths model.
India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has decreased, but regional disparities remain significant.
Maternal deaths are often attributed to "three delays": seeking care, transportation, and receiving timely specialized care at health facilities.
Systemic issues like specialist vacancies, lack of blood banks, and inadequate management of obstetric emergencies contribute to high MMR.
Exam Points
India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) for 2019-21 was 93 per 1,00,000 live births.
Kerala has the lowest MMR at 20, while Assam has the highest at 167.
The "three delays" concept by Deborah Maine of Columbia University is crucial for understanding maternal deaths.
Kerala has recently detected two Nipah virus cases, including one fatality, highlighting the urgent need for a robust "One Health" programme. Nipah is a highly transmissible viral infection with a mortality rate of 40-75%, making prevention and awareness crucial as there is no effective treatment. Fruit bats are the natural reservoirs, and contaminated fruits are suspected to spread the virus. The article stresses the importance of monitoring climate change-related factors and anthropogenic activities that destroy natural habitats, as these contribute to zoonotic spillover. India has experienced several Nipah outbreaks since 2001, with Kerala regularly reporting cases. A comprehensive One Health approach is needed to address Nipah and other pathogens capable of transitioning from animals to humans.
Recent Nipah virus cases in Kerala underscore the critical need for a "One Health" programme to prevent zoonotic spillover.
Nipah virus is a highly transmissible infection with a high mortality rate (40-75%), emphasizing prevention as the primary course of action.
Fruit bats are natural reservoirs for Nipah, with transmission often linked to consuming contaminated fruits.
Exam Points
Nipah virus has a mortality rate ranging between 40% and 75%.
India has recorded several Nipah outbreaks since 2001.
Kerala has reported Nipah outbreaks regularly since 2018.
India's coastlines are experiencing profound social and economic disruption due to climate change, with rising seas, saltwater intrusion, and unregulated development displacing communities dependent on agriculture and fishing. Displaced populations are forced into precarious urban informal labour markets, lacking legal protection. Examples include Satabhaya in Odisha and communities in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Kerala. Industrial and infrastructural expansion, coupled with inadequate environmental clearances, exacerbate ecological degradation. The absence of a coherent legal framework for climate-induced migration leaves these communities vulnerable. While constitutional rights and environmental justice jurisprudence exist, their translation into robust, community-centric frameworks is lacking. Coastal communities have shown resilience through protests against destructive projects, highlighting the need for a rights-based approach in climate adaptation strategies.
Climate change impacts, including rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion, are causing significant displacement and social disruption in India's coastal regions.
Displaced populations often end up in informal urban labour markets, facing exploitation and lacking legal protections.
Unregulated industrial and infrastructural development, along with inadequate environmental clearances, worsen ecological degradation and community vulnerabilities.
Exam Points
Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the right to life and dignity.
Relevant acts mentioned include the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notifications, including 2019, are relevant frameworks.
Women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India significantly contribute to employment and GDP, yet they face persistent challenges, particularly limited access to formal credit. Despite government schemes like Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), women-led MSMEs experience a credit gap of about 35%, compared to 20% for men. This disparity forces them to rely on riskier informal credit sources. Factors contributing to this include lack of awareness about schemes, low financial literacy, and perceived risk due to insufficient collateral or property ownership. Women-led informal micro-enterprises (IMEs) also struggle with formal credit due to lack of documentation, though the Udyam Assist Portal aims to address this by facilitating formal recognition. Administrative inefficiencies in scheme implementation further exacerbate these issues, despite increased liquidity in the banking system.
Women-led MSMEs in India face a significant credit gap (35%) compared to men (20%), hindering their growth and financial independence.
Despite government initiatives like Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), a substantial portion of sanctioned funds does not reach women-led MSMEs.
Lack of awareness, low financial literacy, and perceived risk due to insufficient collateral are major barriers for women entrepreneurs.
Exam Points
MSMEs contributed nearly 30% to India's GDP in 2024, with a target of 35%.
Women-owned businesses account for up to 20% of all registered MSMEs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India, during its BRICS presidency in 2026, will work to give the grouping a "new form," emphasizing "Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability." He stated that India would take the forum forward in the spirit of "people-centricity and humanity first," mirroring its approach during the G-20 chairmanship where Global South issues were prioritized. Modi highlighted the need for global cooperation to combat common threats, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as an example where solutions require joint efforts. He also shared India's position on Artificial Intelligence governance, advocating for equal priority to addressing concerns and encouraging innovation. Modi held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, discussing trade linkages, digital technology, critical minerals, healthcare, and space.
India will assume the BRICS presidency in 2026 and aims to redefine the grouping with a focus on "Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability."
The Indian approach will prioritize "people-centricity and humanity first," similar to its G-20 chairmanship.
PM Modi stressed the importance of global cooperation to address common threats, drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exam Points
India will take over the BRICS presidency in 2026.
PM Modi made the announcement at the BRICS summit in Rio De Janeiro.
India's proposed new form for BRICS is "Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability."
The Union Social Justice Ministry is seeking additional funds for its National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme for marginalized students, as a fund crunch has led to provisional award letters for 66 selected candidates being made "subject to availability of funds" for the 2025-26 cycle. Out of 125 available slots, only 106 students were selected, and only the first 40 will receive firm award letters. This situation arises despite the scheme receiving its highest allocation in five years (₹130 crore), because a portion of the annual budget is used for students continuing studies from previous years. The Ministry is currently evaluating the scheme's performance to decide on its continuation. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment had previously noted issues with scholarship amounts and the need to increase slots.
The Social Justice Ministry is facing a fund crunch for the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme for marginalized students.
Provisional award letters for 66 selected students for the 2025-26 cycle are contingent on fund availability.
Despite a record allocation of ₹130 crore, funds are insufficient due to ongoing support for students from previous years.
Exam Points
The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme is administered by the Union Social Justice Ministry.
The scheme is for Scheduled Castes; Denotified, Semi-Nomadic, and Nomadic Tribes; landless agricultural labourers; and traditional artisans.
For 2025-26, 106 students were selected for 125 available slots.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, currently on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, had a telephone conversation with ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan and other senior officials. The ISRO Chairman inquired about Shukla's well-being and the scientific experiments being conducted. He emphasized the importance of meticulously documenting all experiments and activities for valuable insights into India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. Shukla's ISS mission is executed under the ISRO-Axiom Spaceflight agreement. The Gaganyaan programme aims to demonstrate India's capability to launch a crewed spacecraft into low earth orbit, and the experience gained from this mission is crucial for its success. Shukla expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ISRO team.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, on the ISS via the Axiom-4 mission, conversed with ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan and other officials.
The discussion focused on Shukla's well-being and the scientific experiments being conducted on the ISS.
Documentation of experiments is crucial for India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
Exam Points
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission.
The Gaganyaan programme aims to launch a crewed spacecraft into low earth orbit.
Shukla's ISS mission is under the ISRO-Axiom Spaceflight agreement.
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