Centre Notifies National Sports Governance Rules, 2026
Polity and Governance
In News
- The Union Government has notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026, under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
Objectives of the Rules
- To professionalise and standardise the functioning of National Sports Bodies (NSBs).
- To ensure meaningful participation of athletes in sports administration.
About the Rules
- Inclusion of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs): Minimum 4 SOMs must be included in the General Body of every National Sports Body.
- Gender representation mandate is 50% of the SOMs must be women sportspersons.
- SOM Eligibility Tiers: In the Tiered criteria, 10 Tiers have been prescribed, starting from sportspersons who have won a gold, silver or bronze medal in the Summer Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or Winter Olympic Games, to sportspersons who have won a gold, silver or bronze medal in the National Games or a National Championship.
- Disqualification Criteria: Convicted individuals facing imprisonment are barred from General Body membership, Executive Committee elections, or Athletes Committees.
- Governance Framework: The National Sports Board oversees recognition, affiliate registration, and inquiries into governance or fund misuse.
- Election Framework: The National Sports Election Panel shall maintain a minimum strength of 20 members at all times to oversee the conduct of elections for National Sports Bodies.
EU Countries Approved the Mercosur Agreement
International
In News
- The European Union has approved a long-delayed trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc, despite strong opposition led by France and concerns from farmers across Europe.
Basics – Mercosur
- Mercosur is a South American trade bloc formed in 1991,
- Member countries – Brazil,Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, with Bolivia as the newest full member,
- Mandate – It aims for free trade and economic integration.
- Note – Venezuela, once a member, has been suspended indefinitely.
EU–Mercosur Free Trade Agreement
- It is the EU’s largest ever in terms of tariff reductions, eliminating over €4 billion in duties on EU exports.
- Trade between the two blocs stands at €111 billion, with the EU exporting machinery, chemicals and transport equipment, and importing mainly agricultural products and minerals.
- Under the deal, Mercosur will remove duties on 91% of EU exports over 15 years, while the EU will eliminate duties on 92% of Mercosur exports within 10 years.
- Both sides retain quotas on sensitive agricultural goods, though the EU will increase beef import quotas and Mercosur will allow duty-free cheese imports.
DRDO Successfully Flight-Tests Third-Generation MPATGM
Security
Context
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight-tested the third-generation Fire & Forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile, or MPATGM, with top attack capability against a moving target.
Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile
- The fire-and-forget missile was developed indigenously by DRDO.
- ‘Fire and forget’ type of missile – It refers to a weapon system that locks onto a target before launch and does not require further guidance from the operator after firing.
- It is equipped with state-of-the-art indigenous technologies, including an Imaging Infrared homing seeker, tandem warhead, all-electric control actuation system, fire control system, propulsion system and a high-performance sighting system.
- The missile is capable of day and night combat operations and can effectively defeat modern main battle tanks.
- It can be launched from a tripod as well as a military vehicle launcher.
38th India-France Strategic Dialogue
International
Context
- India and France reaffirmed their strategic partnership during the 38th India-France Strategic Dialogue, co-chaired by National Security Adviser and Diplomatic Adviser to the French President.
India-France Relations
- India–France Strategic Partnership: It was launched on 26 January 1998 and is India’s first-ever Strategic Partnership.
- Rafale Fighter Jets: India procured 36 Rafales from Dassault Aviation.
- Scorpene Submarines (Project P-75): Collaboration with France’s Naval Group, 6 submarines built in India; latest is INS Vaghsheer.
- Recently both nations formally concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to procure 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
- Joint Exercises: Shakti, Varuna, FRINJEX-23.
- Economic Cooperation: Within the European Union, France remains India’s fifth-largest trading partner, following the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Germany.
- The process of enabling Unified Payment Interface (UPI) has been successful in France.
- Joint missions: TRISHNA (satellite mission), MDA systems, ground station support.
- International Solar Alliance (ISA): Co-founded by India and France in 2015 to promote solar energy worldwide.
Valley of Flowers
Geography & Environment
Context
- A fire has been raging near the Valley of Flowers forcing the Forest Department to seek the help of the Air Force.
Valley of Flowers
- Location- It is situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand inside the Valley of Flowers National Park, which is part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
- It is called the Valley of Flowers because the entire valley comes alive with thousands of blooming flowers during the monsoon.
- It was declared a National Park in 1982. In 2005, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its unmatched beauty and unique alpine ecosystem.
- The valley was officially discovered by British mountaineer Frank Smythe in 1931 when he accidentally reached the location.
NPS Vatsalya Scheme, 2025
Government Schemes
In News
- The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has issued guidelines for the NPS Vatsalya Scheme, 2025, expanding the National Pension System (NPS) framework to enable early-life pension inclusion for minors.
NPS Vatsalya Scheme, 2025
- It is a pension savings scheme for minors under the National Pension System.
- It allows a parent or legal guardian to open and operate an NPS account on behalf of a child.
Key Features
- Eligibility: Indian citizens below 18 years of age.
- Account Type: Individual pension account in the name of the minor.
- Operation: Managed by parent/guardian until the child attains majority.
- Conversion: On turning 18, the account is converted into a regular NPS account.
- Minimum Contribution: Minimum initial and annual contribution of ₹250 and no maximum limit on contributions.
- Investment: Funds invested through Pension Fund Managers (PFMs) as per NPS guidelines.
- Source: PIB
Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters
International
In News
- Senior Indian diplomat DB Venkatesh Varma has been nominated by the UN Secretary General to chair the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters for the 2026–27 term, marking the first time an Indian will hold the position.
Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters
- It was established in 1978.
- Composition – The Board comprises fifteen members, with the Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research serving as an ex officio member.
- Functions : It advises the Secretary-General on issues related to arms limitation and disarmament
NIRANTAR Platform
Economy
In News
- The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change chaired a meeting of the National Institute for Research & Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience (NIRANTAR).
NIRANTAR
- Established under – It is a platform of institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) aimed at improving coordination and collaboration.
- Objective – Its four verticals focus on research, assessment, and utilisation of resources, particularly bioresources, to ensure their sustainable use for development.
- Significance – The NIRANTAR platform can play a key role in ensuring bioresources sustainable use for development.
Quick Commerce Platforms to stop 10-minute Service
Economy
Context
- Indian quick commerce firms Swiggy and Zepto have changed the branding of their quick commerce operations to stop promoting it as a “10-minute” service following a government order.
- The move is aimed at ensuring greater safety, security and improved working conditions for gig workers.
Gig Workers
- According to Code on Social Security, 2020, a gig worker is a person who performs work or participates in work arrangements and earns from such activities, outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship.
- According to Niti Aayog, 7 million workers are engaged in the gig economy (2020–21), which is expected to expand to 2.35 crore by 2029–30.
Initiatives for Gig workers in India
- Code on social Security 2020: Envisages various benefits to gig workers e.g. life and disability cover, accident insurance etc.
- E-Shram Portal: Establishes a National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW) and aims to enhance employability and provide them with social security scheme benefits.
- Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2024: Establish a gig workers welfare board, call for a welfare fee etc
Pufferfish Poisoning
Geography & Environment
News
- Scientists have confirmed India’s first case of pufferfish poisoning, drawing attention to a largely unrecognised riverine health risk.
Pufferfish
- It belongs to the order Tetraodontiformes
- Locally known as – Toadfish, patkafish, balloonfish and fugu.
- Global catalogues list approximately 190–193 valid species.
- It is omnivorous and benthic in habitat and Freshwater pufferfish species reported from India are often endemic to specific geographical areas and serve as indicators of healthy river ecosystems.
Status in India
- Indian waters currently support eight genera and 32 species of pufferfish.
- Their distribution is specific to certain regions and river systems, primarily the Western Ghats and major basins such as the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Mahanadi.
- IUCN Red List status : The dwarf pufferfish is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List
Ministry of Rural Development Launches National Campaign on Entrepreneurship
Polity and Governance
In News
- A National Campaign on Entrepreneurship was launched to strengthen non-farm livelihoods for rural women under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
- The campaign aims to train 50,000 Community Resource Persons (CRPs) on enterprise promotion and impart Entrepreneurship.
Government Steps To Foster Rural Entrepreneurship
- Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): Implemented by KVIC, it provides subsidies up to 35% on project costs (higher in rural areas) for new micro-enterprises in manufacturing and services, targeting unemployed youth and artisans with loans up to Rs. 25 lakh.
- ASPIRE Scheme: Launched by MSME, it funds Livelihood Business Incubators (LBIs) in rural areas with up to Rs. 1 crore for infrastructure, skill programs, and innovation support to nurture agro-rural startups.
- Lakhpati Didi Initiative: “Lakhpati Didi” designates SHG women achieving ₹1 lakh+ annual household income (₹10,000+ monthly) over four seasons/cycles via farm/non-farm activities.
Additional Information – DAY-NRLM
- Launch: 2011 (restructured from Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY)).
- NRLM was renamed as DAY-NRLM in 2016.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
- Funding Pattern: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (60:40; 90:10 for NE & Himalayan states)
- Objective: Reduce poverty by enabling poor rural households to access sustainable livelihoods and enhanced incomes.
Core Strategy:
- Universal mobilisation of rural poor women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
- Capacity building, access to credit, and livelihood diversification
Key Focus Areas:
- Farm livelihoods
- Non-farm livelihoods and enterprises
- Financial inclusion and social empowerment
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