Daily PIB Summary for 26ᵗʰ June 2026

1 . Bhawaiya Folk Tradition

• The Vice-President of India, released the book “Sanskritir Ratna Bhandar: Bhaowaiyar Itibritto” (Bhawaiya: A Cultural Treasure and Its Historical Journey)
• Bhawaiya is a captivating traditional folk music and dance form originating from Northen Bengal(especially the Koch Rajbangshi community), Assam and parts of Bangladesh.
• Believed to have originated in the 16^th century, deeply intertwined with the agrarian lifestyle, seasonal festivals and riverine plains of the Kamrup.
• Theme:- The lyrics are largely non-denominational. They feature the perspective of women lamenting the absence of their husbands or reflect the experiences of professions like mahouts(elephant drivers), gariyals(cart drivers) and mahishals(buffalo herders).
• Traditionally accompanied by the Dotara(a four stringed lute) alongside the Sarinda(a bowed instrument), flutes and dhol.
• Uses two emotional tones: Slow melancholic and Chatka ( a faster, skipping and more lively rhythm)

2. SHATAYU

• SHATAYU = Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training for Your Utility.
• Launched by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• Managed by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD).
• Digital platform connecting trained geriatric caregivers with senior citizens requiring care.
• Enables self-registration of trained caregivers to expand the national caregiver database.
• National Institute of Social Defence (NISD)
  • Autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
  • Apex training and capacity-building institute in the field of social defence.
  • Conducts training of geriatric caregivers, caregivers for persons with disabilities, and other social welfare functionaries.

3. REPM Scheme

• Schemes to promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM)
• Approved by the Union Cabinet on 26 November 2025.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI).
• To establish 6,000 Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) integrated manufacturing capacity for Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets in India.
• Build the complete value chain from NdPr (Neodymium-Praseodymium) oxide to finished permanent magnets.
• REPMs are primarily made using Rare Earth Elements (REEs) such as: Neodymium (Nd) + Praseodymium (Pr) + Dysprosium (Dy) + Terbium (Tb)
• Rare Earth Elements: Group of 17 elements: 15 Lanthanides + Scandium + Yttrium
• The total duration of the scheme will be 7 years from the date of award.
• Sintered rare earth permanent magnets, primarily composed of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) or samarium-cobalt (SmCo) alloys, are the strongest types of permanent magnets commercially available.
• They are manufactured using powder metallurgy techniques, including pressing and heating (sintering) of fine alloy powders to create dense, powerful magnets
• Neodymium Magnets (NdFeB): These are the most common and powerful type of rare earth magnet, known for their exceptional magnetic strength and relatively lower cost compared to SmCo magnets. They are, however, brittle and susceptible to corrosion, which is why they are typically coated or plated (e.g., with nickel, zinc, or epoxy) for protection. They have lower temperature stability than SmCo magnets.
• Samarium-Cobalt Magnets (SmCo): Developed earlier than NdFeB magnets, SmCo magnets are valued for their high-temperature stability and superior corrosion resistance, making them ideal for aerospace, military, and high-temperature industrial applications. They are more expensive due to the higher cost of cobalt and the complex manufacturing process.

4. Ponduru Khadi

• Traditional hand-spun and handwoven Khadi from Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh was recently awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
• GI registration facilitated by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
• Unique Features
  • Made from locally grown short-staple cotton.
  • Cotton is hand-ginned using a traditional fish-jawbone comb (Valuga).
  • Yarn is hand-spun on a traditional charkha.
  • Known for its fine texture, softness and durability.
• Governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
• Administered by the GI Registry, Chennai.
• GI registration is valid for 10 years and is renewable.

5. Netra AEW&C

• Netra = Indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C)
• Developed by DRDO (Centre for Air Borne Systems – CABS) in collaboration with IAF and Indian industry.
• Recently received Final Operational Clearance (FOC) from DRDO.
• Mounted on Embraer EMB-145
• Equipped with indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
• AEW&C: Medium-range airborne surveillance and command platform.
• AWACS: Larger platform with 360° radar coverage, longer endurance and wider surveillance range.