Nearly 12,000 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, have not received work for three to four months, leading to protests since January 2. Similar complaints have emerged from Dungarpur, Rajasthan, where workers were told MGNREGS had been discontinued. Despite the Union government's assurance that MGNREGS would continue until the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, is rolled out, district officials claim instructions not to start new work. Workers and activists highlight the lack of clarity and the significant impact on rural household incomes, especially for women-led households.
Thousands of MGNREGS workers in Bihar and Rajasthan are protesting due to a lack of work for several months, despite government assurances.
The Union government had promised to continue MGNREGS unchanged until the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, is implemented.
District officials reportedly claim instructions not to start new MGNREGS work, contradicting the Ministry's stance, leading to confusion and uncertainty on the ground.
Exam Points
Nearly 12,000 MGNREGS workers in Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, have not received work for 3-4 months.
The new rural employment law is named Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025.
Protests in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, began on January 2 and have continued for 87 days.
The article, an analysis by Jean Drèze, argues that the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, fails to correct serious anomalies in MGNREGA wage rate determination. It highlights how MGNREGA wages have lagged behind minimum and market wages due to a real-wage freeze imposed by the central government since 2009. This has led to a "discouragement effect" and increased corruption. The new Act perpetuates this crisis by retaining central government power to set wages (Section 10) and dropping the provision for State-specific minimum wages (Section 6(2)), despite wage costs now being shared 60:40 with States.
The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, is criticized for not addressing the long-standing issue of MGNREGA wage rates lagging behind minimum and market wages.
A central government real-wage freeze since 2009, based on the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers, has led to MGNREGA wages being lower than State minimum wages.
The new Act retains the central government's power to determine wage rates (Section 10) and removes the provision for State-specific minimum wages (Section 6(2)), despite shared wage costs.
Exam Points
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) determines wage rates under Section 6.
The new law is the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB-G RAM G Act).
Wage costs under the VB-G RAM G Act are shared 60:40 between the Centre and States.
The Union Cabinet has approved a 'Modified UDAN' scheme with a sixfold higher outlay, aiming to revive regional aviation. The scheme extends the subsidy period for tier-II and tier-III routes from three to five years and shifts direct funding of subsidies to the exchequer. However, the article argues that UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) has historically failed due to weak underlying demand, insufficient infrastructure, and competition from other transport modes. The Modified UDAN scheme, despite increased financial commitment, is unlikely to create sustainable demand without revisiting route identification, nurturing strategies, and integrating with broader transport networks.
The Union Cabinet has approved a 'Modified UDAN' scheme with a sixfold higher outlay to boost regional aviation.
The modified scheme extends the subsidy period for tier-II and tier-III routes from three to five years and involves direct funding of subsidies by the government.
Critics argue that UDAN has historically failed due to weak demand, inadequate infrastructure, and competition from rail and road transport.
Exam Points
The scheme is called 'Modified UDAN' (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik).
The government has set aside ₹10,043 crore over the next decade for subsidies and ₹12,159 crore for redeveloping airstrips and building helipads.
The subsidy period for tier-II and tier-III routes has been increased from three to five years.
The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, introduced on March 25, 2026, seeks to regulate the deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to CAPFs. It mandates that 50% of Inspector General posts, 67% of Additional Director General posts, and all Special Director General and Director General posts in CAPFs be filled by IPS officers. This Bill aims to institutionalize IPS representation and counter a Supreme Court ruling (May 2025) that directed a progressive reduction of deputation posts up to Inspector General rank. The author, R.K. Vij, argues that IPS officers serve as a vital unifying link between the Union and States.
The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, mandates specific percentages of senior posts in CAPFs to be filled by IPS officers on deputation.
The Bill aims to institutionalize the historical role of IPS officers in CAPFs, countering a Supreme Court ruling that sought to reduce deputation posts.
IPS officers are considered crucial for coordination with State governments and police forces, acting as a unifying link between the Union and States.
Exam Points
The Bill is named the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026.
It mandates 50% of Inspector General posts, 67% of Additional Director General posts, and all SDG/DG posts in CAPFs for IPS deputation.
The Supreme Court ruling referenced is Sanjay Prakash and Others vs Union of India and Others (May 2025).
Anant Goenka's article emphasizes India's deep embedding in global supply chains and its vulnerability to disruptions due to heavy reliance on imported raw materials and intermediates. He highlights critical sectors like energy (85% crude oil import), food (edible oils, pulses, fertilizers), and manufacturing (electronics, pharmaceuticals). The article advocates for long-term resilience through diversification, domestic capacity building, and technological transition. Key strategies include accelerating renewable energy, expanding domestic oil/gas exploration, buffering strategic reserves, promoting crop diversification, reforming the fertilizer sector, and deepening domestic manufacturing of intermediates, especially APIs and semiconductors.
India's manufacturing ecosystem is highly dependent on imported raw materials and intermediates, making it vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions.
Critical sectors like energy, food, and manufacturing (electronics, pharma) face significant import dependence, impacting inflation and economic stability.
Securing supply chains requires a multi-pronged approach including accelerating renewable energy, expanding domestic resource exploration, and building strategic reserves.
Exam Points
India imports about 85% of its crude oil and over 50% of its gas.
India aims for 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.
Raw materials constitute 34% of India's imports, intermediates 31%, and capital goods 24%.
A new study highlights that jungle cats (Felis chaus), despite being widespread, are understudied and need conservation attention. They prefer agro-pastoral and open habitats, avoiding dense forests, and their populations are shrinking. The study, based on extensive camera-trap records, estimates India's jungle cat population at over 3 lakh, with Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha having the largest numbers. Threats include human pressure, fragmented habitats, speeding vehicles, poaching, and potential hybridisation with domestic cats. Researchers emphasize the importance of land policies recognizing the ecological value of open ecosystems and planning wildlife passageways in agro-pastoral areas.
Jungle cats (Felis chaus) are understudied and their populations are shrinking, despite being widespread across diverse habitats in Asia, including India.
The study found that jungle cats prefer agro-pastoral and open habitats, where they help control rodent populations, rather than dense forests.
Major threats to jungle cats include human pressure, habitat fragmentation, road accidents, poaching, and potential hybridisation with domestic cats.
Exam Points
Jungle cats are listed as 'least concern' on the IUCN Red List.
They are protected under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
The study estimates India's jungle cat population at over 3 lakh individuals.
The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, passed by the State Legislature, aims to prohibit unlawful religious conversions through fraudulent means. It mandates a 60-day prior notice for conversion and a post-conversion declaration, with severe punishments including imprisonment up to 10 years and hefty fines for violations. The Bill allows relatives to file complaints and declares marriages solemnized solely for unlawful conversion as null and void. Civil society organizations and opposition leaders criticize the Bill as 'regressive,' infringing on personal liberty, enabling State interference in faith and marriage, and potentially targeting interfaith relationships, while the government defends it as necessary to address forcible conversions and maintain public order.
The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, seeks to prevent unlawful religious conversions through fraudulent means.
Key provisions include a mandatory 60-day prior notice for conversion, post-conversion declaration, and severe penalties for violations, including imprisonment and fines.
The Bill allows relatives to file complaints and declares marriages for unlawful conversion null and void, with provisions for child custody and maintenance.
Exam Points
The Bill is named the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026.
It mandates a 60-day prior notice for conversion.
Punishments for violations include imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to ₹7 lakh.
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