Daily notes mapped to syllabus topics, with “Asked before” PYQs and original practice MCQs.
A PIB backgrounder of 31 August 2026 reviews the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, approved in 2018 with ₹3,660 crore for nine years and run by DST. Its 25 Technology Innovation Hubs and 4 Technology Translation Research Parks have enabled 1,146 technologies, 1,136 start-ups and 5,824 fellowships, and it supports the BharatGen AI effort.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NM-ICPS; TIHs.
31 Aug 2026
On 30 August 2026 the National Biodiversity Authority disbursed ₹5.68 crore under Access and Benefit-Sharing to State Biodiversity Boards, UT Biodiversity Councils and a research institution. Most of it relates to okra, cucumber and watermelon accessed by seed companies. Okra alone accounted for ₹3.51 crore to 32 boards. Total ABS disbursed has crossed ₹191 crore.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ABS; Nagoya Protocol.
30 Aug 2026
The Department of Fisheries announced on 30 August 2026 that the Vice President would release "Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031", a Strategic Action Plan for ornamental fisheries, at Agatti, Lakshadweep, on 31 August. The plan gives a uniform framework for scientific management, biosecurity, quality and regulatory compliance across the ornamental fish value chain.
UPSC angle: Prelims: places in news (Agatti).
30 Aug 2026
During the Prime Minister's state visit to Uzbekistan on 29 and 30 August 2026, the two leaders agreed to raise ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They set up a Foreign Ministers led mechanism, a working group on non-tariff barriers, and steps towards a preferential trade agreement. India will fund US $1 million of Aral Sea greening.
UPSC angle: Mains: India's Connect Central Asia policy.
30 Aug 2026
On 30 August 2026 the Department of Fertilizers described a new phase of the Integrated Fertilizer Management System, built by NIC. It covers over 14 crore Aadhaar-linked buyers and 2.5 lakh retailers and supports a subsidy of nearly ₹2 lakh crore a year. It now links to farmer and land data, app-based booking, vehicle tracking and electronic bills.
UPSC angle: Prelims: fertiliser DBT.
30 Aug 2026
A PIB backgrounder of 30 August 2026 uses AISHE data to show a decade of change in higher education. Between 2014-15 and 2023-24 universities rose from 760 to 1,289, enrolment from 3.42 crore to 4.50 crore, and GER from 23.7 to 30 per cent. Female GER reached 31.2 per cent, ahead of male GER.
UPSC angle: Prelims: AISHE; NEP GER target.
30 Aug 2026
A PIB backgrounder of 29 August 2026 reviews ten years of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, launched on 18 February 2016. From Kharif 2016 to Rabi 2025-26 it insured over 92.46 crore farmer applications and paid claims above ₹2.06 lakh crore. The Union Budget 2026-27 gives it ₹12,200 crore, and 25 States and UTs run it in Kharif 2026.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PMFBY premium rates.
29 Aug 2026
A PIB backgrounder of 29 August 2026 says the Per Drop More Crop scheme has brought over 115 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation by July 2026, about 8.11 per cent of the net sown area. It funds drip and sprinkler systems, giving 55 per cent aid to small and marginal farmers and 45 per cent to others, now under PM-RKVY.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PDMC under PMKSY.
29 Aug 2026
On 29 August 2026 the Petroleum Ministry explained that the price paid for compressed biogas under GOBARdhan is ₹2,110 per MMBtu, about 43 per cent above the earlier ₹1,478. Support of ₹10 per kg cuts the cost to be recovered to about ₹1,895, and a much larger gas pool keeps the impact on consumers negligible.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CBG feedstocks; SATAT.
29 Aug 2026
The 4th India-Argentina Joint Trade Committee met in Buenos Aires on 24 August 2026, led by the Commerce Secretary. Trade crossed USD 6.5 billion in 2025, and India is Argentina's fifth-largest trading partner. The talks covered KABIL's lithium mining in Catamarca, market access for Indian farm goods and Argentina's move to upgrade India's pharma status.
UPSC angle: Prelims: lithium triangle.
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