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Daily Current Affairs - 4th February 2026

Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary | PACS as Multipurpose Rural Growth Engines, Agriculture GVA Growth 2024–25, MPLADS Utilisation Debate, Supreme Court on WhatsApp Privacy Policy, VOPPA Order 2025, New START Treaty Concerns, DRDO Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Breakthrough, Sub-Orbital Space Tourism, Kaziranga Megaherbivore Study, Turtle Trails Conservation Debate, Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme Boost and more.

  1. Transforming PACS into Multipurpose Rural Growth Engines

  1. The Government aims to transform Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) into multipurpose rural growth engines.

  2. The objective is to establish new multipurpose PACS, dairy, and fisheries cooperatives.

  3. These cooperatives will be created to cover all panchayats and villages over the next five years.


About Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)

  1. PACS are grass-root level institutions of the short-term cooperative credit structure.

  2. They function as the last-mile link between rural borrowers and formal financial institutions.

  3. PACS connect borrowers to Scheduled Commercial Banks, which are RBI-regulated banks.

  4. They are also linked to RBI and NABARD, which oversee rural credit and banking stability.

  5. NABARD refers to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.


Current Status of PACS

  1. The number of PACS sanctioned stands at 79,630.

  2. 32,802 new PACS have been registered.

  3. 61,478 PACS have been digitised.

  4. Digitisation improves transparency, efficiency, and access to credit services.


Regulatory Framework for PACS

Multi-State PACS

  1. Multi-State PACS operate across more than one state.

  2. They fall under Entry 44 of the Union List of the Constitution.

  3. These PACS are administered by the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS).

  4. Their functioning is governed by the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.


Single-State PACS

  1. Single-State PACS operate within a single state.

  2. They fall under Entry 32 of the State List of the Constitution.

  3. These PACS are regulated by the State Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS).

  4. They function under the respective State Cooperative Societies Acts.


Potential and Significance of PACS

Agriculture Sector

  1. PACS can strengthen agricultural infrastructure and post-harvest support.

  2. This is enabled through the World’s Largest Decentralized Grain Storage Plan.

  3. The plan focuses on establishing godowns for local storage.

  4. It also promotes custom hiring centres, which provide farm machinery on rent.


Dairy Sector

  1. PACS-led cooperatives aim to enhance milk procurement by 50% over five years.

  2. This will be achieved through the registration of more than 21,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies.

  3. Increased procurement improves farmer incomes and dairy value chains.


Fisheries Sector

  1. The initiative seeks to improve market linkages and value addition in fisheries.

  2. Around 1,000 fisheries cooperative societies will be converted into Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs).

  3. FFPOs are farmer-owned entities that strengthen collective bargaining and processing capacity.


Key Initiatives for Promotion of PACS

PACS Computerization Project

  1. The Government has launched the PACS Computerization Project.

  2. The project involves computerisation under a common ERP-based national software.

  3. ERP refers to Enterprise Resource Planning systems that integrate operations digitally.


National Cooperation Policy (NCP) 2025

  1. The National Cooperation Policy (NCP) 2025 aims to expand cooperative membership.

  2. It promotes leadership roles for women and weaker sections.

  3. The policy focuses on inclusive and democratic cooperative governance.


Adoption of Model Bye-Laws

  1. Model Bye-laws are being adopted to enable PACS to function as multipurpose service centres.

  2. PACS can operate as PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, which support agricultural services.

  3. They can also function as Common Service Centres (CSCs) for digital public services.

  4. Additional functions include warehousing, custom hiring centres, and primary processing units.


Inclusive Governance Measures

Statutory Representation

  1. The Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023 mandates inclusive governance.

  2. It requires mandatory representation of women in cooperative boards.

  3. It also ensures representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/STs).

Broad-Based Inclusion

  1. Governance reforms promote the inclusion of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

  2. They also focus on small and marginal farmers.

  3. Tribal communities are included to ensure equitable participation in cooperatives.

  1. Gross Value Added (GVA)

  1. As per the Provisional Estimates (PE), the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the agriculture sector grew by 10.4% during 2024–25.

  2. Provisional Estimates refer to preliminary national accounts figures subject to later revision.


Budgetary Support to Agriculture

  1. The Government has increased the budget allocation for the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW).

  2. The allocation has been raised to ₹1.27 lakh crore for 2025–26.

  3. Higher allocation reflects policy emphasis on agricultural growth and farmer welfare.


GVA Growth in Agriculture and Allied Sectors

  1. The agriculture and allied sector includes crops, livestock, fisheries, and horticulture.

  2. GVA percentage growth at current prices has been recorded for this sector over the last five years.

  3. Current prices refer to values measured without adjusting for inflation.


About Gross Value Added (GVA)

  1. Gross Value Added (GVA) measures the value of total output produced in the economy.

  2. It is calculated by subtracting intermediate consumption from total output.

  3. Intermediate consumption refers to inputs used up in the production process.

  4. These inputs are not part of final consumption.


GVA at Basic Prices

  1. GVA at basic prices includes net production taxes.

  2. Net production taxes are taxes paid by producers minus subsidies on production.

  3. GVA at basic prices excludes net product taxes.

  4. Net product taxes are taxes on goods and services minus product-specific subsidies.

  1. MPLADS

  1. Recently, a controversy has emerged over the use of MPLADS funds.

  2. Critics argue that MPLADS funds are inefficiently utilised.

  3. Concerns have been raised regarding diversion of funds.

  4. The scheme has also been criticised for poor monitoring mechanisms.

  5. Based on these issues, some critics have suggested that MPLADS should be discontinued.


About MPLADS

  1. MPLADS is a Central Sector Scheme, meaning it is fully funded by the Union Government.

  2. The scheme was launched in 1993.

  3. It is administered by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

    • MoSPI is responsible for framing and prescribing guidelines for implementation.


Objective of the Scheme

  1. The primary objective of MPLADS is to enable Members of Parliament (MPs) to recommend developmental works.

  2. These works focus on the creation of durable community assets.

    • Examples include drinking water facilities and sanitation infrastructure.

  3. The works are selected based on locally felt needs of the community.


Implementing Mechanism

  1. MPLADS works are executed by government departments, trusts, or cooperatives.

  2. These agencies are selected by the Implementing District Authority (IDA).

  3. The IDA is responsible for planning, execution, and supervision of MPLADS works.


Funds Allocation under MPLADS

  1. Each Member of Parliament is entitled to ₹5 crore per annum under MPLADS.

  2. Lok Sabha MPs can recommend works within their Lok Sabha constituencies.

  3. Rajya Sabha MPs can recommend works within the state from which they are elected.

  4. Nominated MPs can recommend works anywhere in the country.


Special Provisions for SC/ST Population

  1. MPs are required to recommend at least 15% of MPLADS funds for Scheduled Caste (SC) inhabited areas.

  2. MPs must also allocate at least 7.5% of funds for Scheduled Tribe (ST) inhabited areas every year.

  3. If a Lok Sabha constituency has a low tribal population, MPLADS funds may be used in SC-dominated areas.

  4. In such cases, the reverse adjustment is also permitted.


Nature of the Fund

  1. MPLADS is a non-lapsable fund, meaning unused funds do not expire at the end of the financial year.

  2. Funds not released in a particular year are carried forward to subsequent years.


Exceptions to Area Restrictions

  1. MPs are allowed to recommend works worth up to ₹25 lakh per year outside their designated region.

  2. During a natural calamity, MPs can recommend up to ₹1 crore for the affected district.

  1. Supreme Court Questioned Meta and WhatsApp over Privacy Policy

  1. The Supreme Court of India questioned Meta Platforms and WhatsApp over concerns related to user privacy.

  2. The Court was hearing appeals filed by Meta Platforms and WhatsApp.

  3. These appeals challenged the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) decision.

  4. The NCLAT had upheld a ₹213.14 crore penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

  5. The penalty was related to WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy.


What is WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy

  1. WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy allows sharing of users’ data with Facebook and other group companies.

  2. The data sharing is permitted for commercial advertising and marketing purposes.

  3. The policy follows a “Take-it-or-Leave-it” framework.

  4. Under this framework, users must either consent to data sharing or delete their WhatsApp accounts.


Issues Observed in WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy

Commercial Exploitation of Personal Data

  1. The Supreme Court observed that personal data is used to analyse users’ behavioural trends.

  2. Behavioural analysis refers to studying user activity patterns to predict preferences.

  3. Meta leverages this data to gain a dominant advantage in online advertising markets.

  4. Such advantages extend across platforms like YouTube or email services.


Abuse of Dominant Position

  1. The policy was held to constitute an abuse of dominant market position.

  2. Dominant position refers to the ability of a firm to operate independently of competitive forces.

  3. WhatsApp imposed unfair conditions on users through mandatory data sharing.

  4. The policy discriminated against users who did not consent to data sharing.


Erosion of Privacy through Data Sharing

  1. The policy significantly expanded internal sharing of personal data.

  2. Data was shared with Facebook and its related companies.

  3. This sharing was done for advertising and business purposes, weakening user privacy.


Lack of Clarity and Transparency

  1. The Supreme Court noted that the policy language is complex and vague.

  2. The policy was described as unintelligible to common and economically weaker citizens.

  3. Lack of clarity undermines informed and meaningful consent.


Steps Taken in India for Data Protection

Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023

  1. India enacted the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.

  2. The Act regulates the processing of digital personal data.

  3. It balances the right of individuals to protect personal data with lawful data processing needs.

  4. The Supreme Court noted that the Act does not address “rent sharing”.

  5. Rent sharing refers to assigning economic value to users’ data shared with companies.


Judicial Oversight on Privacy

  1. In the Puttaswamy judgment (2017), the Supreme Court recognized privacy as a fundamental right.

  2. The right to privacy is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution.

  3. Article 21 guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.


Expert Committee on Data Protection

  1. The Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee (2017) examined India’s data protection framework.

  2. The committee recommended a comprehensive and robust data protection law.

  3. Its recommendations laid the foundation for subsequent data protection legislation.

  1. VOPPA Order, 2025

  1. The Government has issued show-cause notices to edible oil firms.

  2. The notices were issued for non-compliance with the VOPPA Order, 2025.


About the VOPPA Order, 2025

  1. VOPPA stands for Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (Regulation) Amendment Order, 2025.

  2. The Order is an amendment to the VOPAA Order, 2011.

  3. VOPAA refers to the Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (Regulation) Order, 2011.


Legal Basis of the Order

  1. The VOPPA Order, 2025 has been enacted under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

  2. The Act empowers the government to regulate production, supply, and distribution of essential commodities.

  3. The Order also incorporates provisions of the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008.

  4. The Act enables the government to collect data for evidence-based policymaking.


Objective of the VOPPA Order

  1. The primary aim of the Order is to regulate the production of vegetable oil products.

  2. It also seeks to ensure adequate availability of edible oils in India.


Key Characteristics of the New Order

Mandatory Registration

  1. Registration has been made mandatory for all edible oil manufacturers.

  2. The requirement also applies to processors, blenders, and re-packers.

  3. Entities must register on the National Single Window System (NSWS).

  4. They must also register on the VOPPA portal.

    • NSWS is a digital platform that facilitates single-point approvals and registrations.


Monthly Returns

  1. The Order mandates monthly submission of returns.

  2. Firms must report production data.

  3. They must disclose stock levels.

  4. Reporting of imports and sales is compulsory.

  5. Firms must also report availability of edible oil products.


Coverage of Products

  1. The Order applies to crude edible oils.

  2. It covers refined edible oils.

  3. Blended oils fall within its scope.

  4. The coverage includes vanaspati, which is hydrogenated vegetable oil.

  5. Margarine, a butter substitute made from vegetable oils, is also covered.

  1. New START Treaty

  1. Experts have warned that the expiry of the New START Treaty would remove the last legal restraint on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals.

  2. The two largest nuclear arsenals belong to the United States and Russia.


About the New START Treaty

  1. New START stands for the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

  2. The treaty was signed in 2010.

  3. It entered into force in 2011.


Objective of the Treaty

  1. The primary objective of New START is to reduce and limit strategic nuclear weapons.

  2. Strategic nuclear weapons are long-range nuclear arms designed for large-scale destruction.


Limits on Nuclear Warheads

  1. The treaty caps deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 each for the US and Russia.

  2. Deployed warheads are nuclear warheads mounted on operational delivery systems.


Restrictions on Delivery Systems

  1. New START limits the number of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).

    • ICBMs are long-range missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads across continents.

  2. The treaty also restricts Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs).

    • SLBMs are nuclear-capable missiles launched from submarines.

  3. It further limits heavy bombers, which are aircraft designed to carry nuclear weapons.

  4. These restrictions aim to prevent an unchecked arms build-up.


Significance for Global Arms Control

  1. New START serves as the last legally binding bilateral nuclear arms control treaty.

  2. It plays a key role in strengthening the global arms control regime.

  3. The treaty reinforces international nuclear non-proliferation norms.

    • Non-proliferation norms aim to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to additional states.

 

  1. SFDR Technology

  1. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology.

  2. The test was conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.


About Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Technology

  1. SFDR is an advanced missile propulsion technology.

  2. It combines the advantages of solid fuel rockets with air-breathing ramjet engines.


Concept of Ramjet Engine

  1. A ramjet is a type of air-breathing jet engine.

  2. It compresses incoming air using the forward speed of the missile.

  3. Ramjets do not use complex rotating components like compressors or turbines.


Working Mechanism of SFDR

  1. SFDR uses atmospheric oxygen for combustion.

  2. This reduces the requirement for onboard oxidisers, which are chemicals that supply oxygen in conventional rockets.


Operational Benefits

  1. The technology enables a longer engagement range.

  2. It allows sustained high-speed cruise throughout the missile’s flight.


Key Components of SFDR

  1. The system includes a booster to achieve initial speed.

  2. It consists of an SFDR motor for sustained propulsion.

  3. A controlled fuel-flow mechanism regulates combustion efficiency.


Intended Use

  • SFDR technology is primarily intended for advanced long-range air-to-air missiles.


Strategic Significance

  1. The successful demonstration places India among a limited group of countries possessing SFDR capability.

  2. This enhances India’s indigenous missile technology and defence preparedness.

  1. Sub-Orbital Tourism

  1. Blue Origin has suspended its New Shepard sub-orbital tourism programme.

  2. The suspension will last for at least two years.

  3. The decision was taken to prioritise NASA’s Artemis lunar lander development.


About Sub-Orbital Tourism

  1. Sub-orbital tourism involves short-duration spaceflights that do not complete an orbit around Earth.

  2. A sub-orbital flight crosses the 100 km Kármán line, which is widely accepted as the boundary of space.

  3. The flight reaches the edge of outer space but does not enter Earth’s orbit.


Trajectory of Sub-Orbital Vehicles

  1. Sub-orbital vehicles follow a parabolic trajectory.

  2. A parabolic trajectory is a curved flight path shaped like an arc.

  3. These vehicles do not achieve the high orbital velocity required to remain in continuous orbit.


Flight Duration

  1. Sub-orbital flights are very short in duration.

  2. The total flight time is typically around 10–15 minutes.


Experience for Passengers

  1. Passengers can observe the curvature of the Earth.

  2. They experience several minutes of weightlessness.

  3. Weightlessness occurs due to microgravity during the coasting phase.

  4. Microgravity refers to conditions where gravitational forces are extremely weak.

  1. Kaziranga National Park (NP)

  1. A study conducted by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) examined the decline and present confinement of megaherbivores.

    • Megaherbivores are large plant-eating mammals with very high body mass.

  2. The study focused especially on the Indian one-horned rhinoceros.

  3. The research used fossil evidence to trace historical species distribution.

  4. The study found that the species was once widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent.

  5. This wide distribution declined significantly after the Holocene period.

    1. The Holocene is the current geological epoch that began about 11,700 years ago.


About Kaziranga National Park

Geographical Location

  1. Kaziranga National Park is located in the Brahmaputra floodplains of Assam.

  2. It lies between the Brahmaputra River and the Karbi (Mikir) Hills.

  3. The floodplain ecosystem supports high biological productivity.


Legal and Conservation Status

  1. Kaziranga was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

  2. It is also designated as a Tiger Reserve under India’s wildlife conservation framework.


Biodiversity Significance

  1. The park hosts around two-thirds of the world’s population of one-horned rhinoceros.

  2. It provides habitat for the Bengal tiger.

  3. The park supports large populations of Asian elephants.

  4. It is home to the Asiatic water buffalo.

  5. The Eastern swamp deer is also found in the park.


Conservation History

  1. Kaziranga was established as a Reserve Forest in 1905.

  2. A Reserve Forest is a legally protected forest with restricted human activity.

  3. The park is now recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

  4. BirdLife International designates IBAs to protect critical bird habitats

  1. Turtle Trails

  1. The Union Budget proposed the development of ‘Turtle Trails’.

  2. These are planned as ecologically sustainable tourism trails along key coastal turtle nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala.


Ecological Concerns

  1. Experts have raised concerns about Arribada sites, where turtles engage in mass nesting.

  2. Arribada refers to the phenomenon where hundreds or thousands of turtles come together to lay eggs simultaneously.

  3. Artificial light and human movement at nesting sites can disorient turtles and reduce nesting success.


Conservation vs Tourism

  1. Researchers caution against building tourism infrastructure at critical rookeries like Rushikulya in Odisha.

  2. Past ecotourism initiatives in sensitive habitats have failed due to ecological disruption.

  3. Rookeries are breeding and nesting grounds for marine turtles.


Sustainability Measures

  1. Any development should follow non-invasive infrastructure principles.

  2. Initiatives should ensure low carbon impact to minimize environmental footprint.

  3. Community engagement is essential for sustainable conservation-based tourism.

  1. Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS)

  1. The ECMS has received a 75% budget increase, raising the total outlay to ₹40,000 crore.

  2. It is implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY).

Objectives

  1. The scheme aims to develop a robust electronics component manufacturing ecosystem in India.

  2. It seeks to attract global and domestic investments across the electronics value chain.

  3. ECMS also intends to integrate India’s domestic electronics industry with Global Value Chains (GVCs).


Types of Incentives

  1. Turnover-linked incentive is tied to the revenue or sales (turnover) generated by the manufacturer.

  2. Capex incentive is linked to investments in capital assets, such as machinery, buildings, equipment, or technology.

  3. Hybrid incentive is a combination of turnover-linked and capex incentives.


Tenure of Incentives

  1. Turnover-linked incentive is provided for 6 years, with a 1-year gestation period.

  2. Capex incentive is offered for 5 years.


Target Segments

  1. The scheme targets subassemblies, e.g., display module and camera module components.

  2. It also covers bare components, like multi-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs).

  3. Selected bare components include flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs).

  4. ECMS supports the supply chain ecosystem and capital equipment, including machinery used in electronics manufacturing.


Eligibility

  • Both greenfield (new) and brownfield (existing) investments are eligible under ECMS.


Electronics Sector in India

  1. Electronics production rose from ₹1.9 lakh crore (2014–15) to ₹11.3 lakh crore (2024–25), a six-fold increase.

  2. Electronics exports increased from ₹38,000 crore to ₹3.27 lakh crore, an eight-fold increase.

  3. The sector has generated around 25 lakh jobs in electronics manufacturing over the past decade.


Significance of ECMS

  1. The scheme helps build a $500 billion domestic electronics manufacturing ecosystem by 2030–31.

  2. ECMS complements the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to strengthen the domestic semiconductor and electronics ecosystem.

 


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