Daily Current Affairs - 20th April 2026
- Kaushal
- 1 day ago
- 12 min read
Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary | Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill 2026 Defeat, Delimitation Bill Withdrawal, Illegal Sand Mining in Chambal Sanctuary, NBA Access & Benefit Sharing Reforms, Phytoremediation Water-Neutral Railway Depot, Uttarakhand Hanging Glaciers Risk Study, Mesothermic Fishes & Ocean Warming, BHAVYA Industrial Parks Scheme, RELIEF Export Support Scheme, Scarborough Shoal Dispute, NMEDT Mineral Exploration Reform and more.
Table of Content
MISCELLANY
Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill, 2026
The Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill, 2026 was defeated in the Lok Sabha as it failed to secure the required special majority (two-thirds of members present and voting plus majority of total membership) needed for constitutional amendments.
Following this defeat, the government withdrew the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which were linked to similar reforms.
The bill faced opposition, particularly from southern and north-eastern states, as it was perceived to reduce their parliamentary representation based on the 2011 Census, raising concerns of regional imbalance.
Key Provisions of the 131st Amendment Bill
The bill proposed to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 members, including 815 seats for states and 35 for Union Territories, significantly expanding representation.
It sought to amend Article 334A to enable immediate implementation of one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, which was earlier introduced through the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023.
The bill also proposed to amend Article 82 by removing the condition that delimitation must be based on the first Census after 2026, thereby allowing delimitation using earlier Census data (such as 2011).
About Delimitation Bill, 2026
The Delimitation Bill, 2026 aimed to repeal and replace the Delimitation Act, 2002, updating the legal framework for redrawing constituencies.
It proposed that the Union Government would constitute a Delimitation Commission (DC), chaired by a sitting or former Supreme Court judge, to ensure independence.
The bill specified that delimitation would be based on the latest available Census at the time of Commission formation, effectively implying the use of 2011 Census data.
Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026
This bill sought to extend similar delimitation-related changes to Union Territories, including Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring uniformity in representation.
Constitutional Amendment Process (Article 368)
Under Article 368, a constitutional amendment bill can be introduced in either House of Parliament, initiating the amendment process.
It must be passed by a special majority in both Houses—majority of total membership and two-thirds of members present and voting.
Additionally, amendments affecting federal provisions require ratification by at least half of the state legislatures, ensuring state participation in constitutional changes.
Nominated Members & Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
For the first time, a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha has been elected as Deputy Chairman for the third consecutive term, marking a notable development in parliamentary practice.
About Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
Under Article 89 of the Constitution, the Deputy Chairman is elected by the Rajya Sabha from among its members, ensuring internal democratic selection.
The Deputy Chairman performs the duties of the Chairman (Vice-President of India) when the office is vacant or when the Vice-President acts as President, ensuring continuity in parliamentary functioning.
About Nominated Members
As per Article 80 of the Constitution, the Rajya Sabha can have a maximum of 250 members, including 12 members nominated by the President of India.
These nominated members are selected from fields such as literature, science, art, and social service, bringing specialised expertise into legislative discussions.
Powers and Functions of Nominated Members
Nominated members can fully participate in debates and discussions, contributing to law-making and policy deliberation.
However, they cannot vote in Presidential elections, as they are not elected representatives of states.
They are allowed to vote in Vice-Presidential elections, as this election involves members of both Houses of Parliament.
They may join a political party within six months of taking their seat, after which anti-defection rules apply.
Notably, no nominated member has so far been included in the Council of Ministers, reflecting a convention in executive appointments.
Illegal Sand Mining & National Chambal Sanctuary
The Supreme Court of India has warned of strict action against illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, directing Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to install CCTV cameras on mining routes and GPS tracking on vehicles and machinery to improve monitoring.
Factors Contributing to Illegal Sand Mining
A major driver is the booming construction sector, where sand has become the second most consumed natural resource after water, due to rapid urbanisation.
There is a strong preference for river sand over alternatives like manufactured sand (M-sand), as its grain size and texture are considered ideal for concrete binding.
Regulatory challenges also contribute, since sand is classified as a minor mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, placing it under state jurisdiction, leading to lack of uniform national regulation.
Additional factors include difficulty in monitoring remote areas and the presence of a politico-criminal nexus (organized “sand mafia”), which facilitates illegal extraction.
Impacts of Rampant Sand Mining
Environmentally, excessive sand mining alters river morphology (natural shape and flow of rivers), causing bank collapse, erosion, and channel instability.
It also leads to water quality deterioration, as mining can mobilise pollutants like heavy metals and phosphates into water bodies.
There is significant biodiversity and habitat loss, disrupting fish breeding and migration patterns and affecting aquatic ecosystems.
Sand mining reduces the natural flood regulation capacity of rivers, increasing vulnerability to storms, cyclones, and coastal hazards.
It damages public infrastructure, as riverbed degradation destabilises bridges, pipelines, and protective structures.
Additionally, it results in loss to the state exchequer, as illegal mining bypasses royalties, taxes, and environmental fees.
About National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary
The National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, established in 1979, is a protected area along the Chambal River near the tri-junction of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
It is home to important species such as the Gharial (critically endangered crocodilian), along with crocodiles, Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle, and Ganges River Dolphin, making it ecologically significant.
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) & ABS Framework
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has strengthened the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BDA) through a new framework focusing on streamlined Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) fund utilisation and revised repository guidelines.
Key Features of the New Framework
Under ABS fund utilisation, when biological resources are sourced from identifiable institutions or repositories (traceable sources), 25–40% of the ABS funds are allocated to them, while the remaining 60–75% is shared with local communities through State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs).
In cases where resource origin is unidentifiable (such as through intermediaries or traders), the ABS funds are directly utilised for biodiversity conservation and management, ensuring broader ecological benefits.
The framework also introduces revised repository guidelines, including the promotion of digital records (electronic documentation systems) to improve traceability and identification of biological resources.
What is Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)?
Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) refers to the mechanism by which genetic resources are accessed and the benefits arising from their use are fairly shared between users (researchers/companies) and providers (local communities/countries).
The global framework for ABS is governed under the Convention on Biological Diversity, which promotes conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit sharing.
Key international instruments include the Bonn Guidelines and the Nagoya Protocol (2010), which provide detailed mechanisms for implementing ABS principles.
In India, ABS is implemented through the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and further regulated by the Access and Benefit Sharing Regulations, 2025, ensuring legal and institutional enforcement.
Dung Beetle
Research shows that Dung beetles navigate via the Milky Way.
About Dung Beetle
They are terrestrial insects that feed on the feces of large herbivores.
Navigation: Certain dung beetles navigate at night using the Milky Way, moving in straight lines while rolling dung balls.
They rely on polarised light patterns and the diffuse glow of the night sky rather than individual stars.
Bauxite Mining Conflict and Resource Profile
Clashes were reported in Rayagada over the construction of a 3-km approach road to the Sijimali bauxite mine, reflecting tensions between development and local rights.
The conflict is linked to the broader “Mali” (hill) protection movement, where tribal communities have alleged that Gram Sabha consent (village assembly approval under law) was obtained fraudulently, raising governance concerns.
About Bauxite
Bauxite is the primary ore of aluminium, consisting mainly of hydrated aluminium oxide, along with minor components such as iron oxide, silica, and titania.
In India, major reserves are concentrated in Odisha (41%), followed by Chhattisgarh (20%), Andhra Pradesh (12%), Gujarat (8%), and Jharkhand (6%), indicating regional concentration of resources.
Globally, the top bauxite-producing countries include Australia, Guinea, China, and Brazil, with India ranking as the 5th largest producer, highlighting its strategic importance in the aluminium sector.
Phytoremediation and Water-Neutral Railway Facility
The Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad has become India’s first “water-neutral” railway facility, achieving this by treating and reusing wastewater through phytoremediation (plant-based purification technique).
About Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation is a type of bioremediation (use of living organisms to clean pollutants) that employs plants, microalgae, and seaweeds to remove or neutralize toxic substances such as heavy metals from soil and water.
It is considered a sustainable and eco-friendly technology, as it uses natural biological processes instead of chemical or energy-intensive methods.
Common examples of phytoremediation plants include water hyacinth, duckweed, and water lettuce, which absorb and break down pollutants.
Bioremediation Techniques
In-situ bioremediation involves treating contaminants directly at the site of pollution, using methods such as bioventing (supplying air to stimulate microbes) and bioaugmentation (adding specific microbes to enhance degradation).
Ex-situ bioremediation involves removing contaminated material and treating it elsewhere, using techniques like landfarming (spreading soil for microbial treatment) and bioreactors (controlled treatment systems).
Hanging Glaciers in Uttarakhand
A recent study has identified 219 hanging glaciers in the Alaknanda basin of Uttarakhand, many of which have unstable ice volumes and high avalanche potential, raising concerns about mountain hazards.
About Hanging Glaciers
A hanging glacier is a glacier that ends abruptly at the edge of a steep slope or cliff, rather than extending down into a valley floor like typical valley glaciers.
Unlike valley glaciers that flow gradually downhill, hanging glaciers transfer ice mainly through icefalls (sudden downward movement of ice) and avalanches, feeding the glacier systems below.
Due to their position and structure, they are inherently unstable, making them prone to sudden break-off events (ice collapse).
These break-offs can trigger Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs—sudden release of water from glacial lakes) if falling ice hits glacial lakes, or may even block rivers, creating downstream flood risks.
Mesothermic Fishes and Ocean Warming
Rapid ocean warming is forcing mesothermic fishes to migrate towards cooler waters, where availability of suitable prey is lower, creating a double ecological stress (habitat shift + food scarcity).
About Mesothermic Fishes
Mesothermic fishes are species that can partially regulate their body temperature, retaining metabolic heat (heat generated through internal processes) to keep parts of their bodies warmer than surrounding seawater.
This adaptation allows them to maintain higher activity levels and predatory efficiency compared to fully cold-blooded fishes.
Examples include the Great White Shark and tunas, which are among the most efficient marine predators.
Other Types of Fishes
Ectothermic fishes (cold-blooded) form the majority of fish species, relying entirely on the external aquatic environment to regulate body temperature.
Endothermic fishes are relatively rare and can fully regulate their internal body temperature through metabolic processes, similar to warm-blooded animals.
Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA)
The Government has notified the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) scheme to accelerate industrial infrastructure development and investment in India.
Key Features of the Scheme
The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, acting as the nodal authority.
Its primary objective is to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks (ready-to-use manufacturing zones with pre-built infrastructure and approvals) in partnership with States, Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and the private sector.
The scheme will run for six years (2026–27 to 2031–32) with a total outlay of ₹33,660 crore, reflecting large-scale investment commitment.
Implementation Mechanism
The sponsoring agency for each project will be either a State/UT government or a Central PSU, ensuring shared responsibility.
A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be formed between the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust under DPIIT and the state nodal agency, acting as the executing entity.
The SPV will own, plan, construct, operate, and maintain the industrial park assets, ensuring long-term sustainability and management.
Financial Support Structure
The scheme provides equity funding up to ₹1 crore per acre (₹50 lakh per acre for private developer-led parks) for infrastructure development.
This funding covers core infrastructure (roads, utilities, drainage, ICT systems), value-added infrastructure (factory sheds, laboratories, warehousing), and social infrastructure (worker housing and amenities).
Additionally, up to 25% of project cost is provided for external infrastructure, ensuring last-mile connectivity and integration with existing networks.
Significance of BHAVYA Scheme
It enhances ease of doing business by offering pre-approved land, ready infrastructure, and single-window clearances, reducing delays for investors.
The scheme is expected to generate large-scale employment, creating direct and indirect jobs across manufacturing, logistics, and services sectors.
It promotes regional industrial growth through cluster-based development (grouping related industries together), enabling synergy among industries, suppliers, and service providers.
It also emphasizes sustainable and future-ready industrial design, aligned with initiatives like PM GatiShakti, focusing on multimodal connectivity and green energy integration.
River Basin Management (RBM) Scheme
The River Basin Management (RBM) Scheme has been extended for five more years (2026–27 to 2030–31) during the 16th Finance Commission period, with an estimated cost of ₹2183 crore fully funded by the government, reflecting continued focus on water resource management.
Objectives of the RBM Scheme
The scheme aims to ensure protection, improvement, and sustainable use of water resources across river basins, promoting long-term water security.
It seeks to develop both surface water and groundwater resources, ensuring balanced utilisation.
It undertakes surveys, investigations, and preparation of basin master plans (comprehensive planning documents for river systems).
The scheme facilitates planning of irrigation, hydropower, and multipurpose projects, enhancing economic and resource efficiency.
It also promotes integrated water resource development for multiple uses, including navigation, agriculture, and ecological conservation.
About RBM Scheme
The RBM Scheme was launched in 2014 as a Central Sector Scheme, meaning it is fully funded and implemented by the Central Government.
It is administered by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, which oversees water resource policies.
The scheme focuses on strategically important but underdeveloped regions, particularly the North Eastern Region and the Indus Basin in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, due to their role in national water security and cross-border water management.
These regions are prioritised for flood control, erosion management, and ecological stability, given their vulnerability and strategic importance.
Institutional Structure
The scheme operates through two major components, including the Brahmaputra Board, which focuses on basin-level planning and flood management in the North Eastern Region.
The second component is the Investigation of Water Resources Development Scheme (IWRDS), which supports technical planning and execution.
Under IWRDS, the Central Water Commission (CWC) conducts surveys, investigations, and prepares Detailed Project Reports (DPRs—technical feasibility reports) for major river basins like Indus and Brahmaputra.
Additionally, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) undertakes national-level water planning, especially under the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) programme (linking rivers to redistribute water).
Key Areas of Action under RBM
The scheme focuses on basin planning, involving preparation and updating of long-term master plans for sustainable water use.
It includes flood and erosion management, using structural and bio-engineering measures (natural and engineered solutions) to protect land and infrastructure.
It promotes drainage development, improving water flow in waterlogged areas to enhance land productivity.
It also supports community-based interventions, combining scientific and indigenous knowledge for better water management, ecosystem restoration, and spring-shed management (protection of natural water sources).
Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) Scheme
The Government has expanded the coverage of the RELIEF Scheme in response to disruptions caused by the West Asia crisis, aiming to support Indian exporters facing rising trade risks.
About RELIEF Scheme
The RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) Scheme is a time-bound intervention under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), designed to address short-term export challenges.
Its primary objective is to help Indian exporters manage high freight costs, rising insurance premiums, and war-related export risks, ensuring continuity in international trade.
The scheme is implemented by ECGC Ltd., a government-owned entity under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which provides export credit risk insurance.
Key Features of RELIEF Scheme
The scheme offers targeted support to MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) by providing reimbursements for high logistics costs and additional surcharges, easing financial pressure.
It ensures end-to-end export cycle coverage, including shipment planning, insurance support, and risk mitigation, helping exporters navigate uncertain global conditions.
Scarborough Shoal
China deploys ships to block disputed South China Sea (SCS) Scarborough Shoal.
About Scarborough Shoal
It is a disputed atoll in the SCS, claimed by both China and the Philippines as part of their territory.
Strategic importance: Located along major sea lanes with rich fishing grounds and potential resources.
Other disputed islands in the SCS: Paracel, Spratly Island, etc.
National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT)
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has flagged critical gaps in the functioning of the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT).
About NMEDT
It is a statutory trust set up to boost mineral exploration in India, especially for deep-seated and critical minerals.
Established: under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
Objective: Accelerate and strengthen mineral exploration.
Funding Mechanism: a levy equivalent to 3% of the royalty paid by holders of mining leases .
Governance structure
Governing Body: Headed by Union Minister of Mines.
Executive Committee: Headed by Secretary, Ministry of Mines.
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