Daily PIB Summary for 21ˢᵗ July 2026

1 . National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM)

Syllabus Mapping: GS1: Indian Culture | Art & Culture

• The National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) continues to expand the coverage of the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) To improve the authenticity and validation of cultural data, the Ministry of Culture has initiated convergence with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, enabling data collection and verification through Gram Sabhas and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
• National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) was launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Culture as part of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
• The mission aims to create a national digital repository of India’s cultural assets, artists, art forms and heritage resources, while preserving both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
• Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) is the flagship initiative under NMCM for village-level cultural mapping across India.
• MGMD documents: Oral traditions and folklore + Folk and tribal art forms + Festivals and fairs + Traditional occupations + Local cuisines + Languages and dialects + Heritage sites and monuments + Prominent personalities and artisans.
• Data validation is carried out through Gram Sabhas, enhancing the authenticity of village-level cultural information.
• The National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) is implemented by the Ministry of Culture through the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). IGNCA serves as the nodal agency for creating and maintaining the national digital repository of India’s cultural assets.
• The cultural mapping exercise covers both:
• Tangible Heritage – monuments, heritage buildings, archaeological sites.
• Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) – performing arts, rituals, oral traditions, festive events, traditional craftsmanship and knowledge systems.

2. RBI’s Framework for Self-Regulatory Organisation(s) in the FinTech Sector (SRO-FT)

Syllabus Mapping: GS3: Indian Economy; Banking & Financial Sector; Financial Technology (FinTech)

• The SRO-FT Framework was issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 30 May 2024.
• It seeks to establish and enforce regulatory standards for the FinTech sector.
• It promotes ethical conduct, market integrity, transparency and accountability among member entities.
• The framework provides a mechanism for dispute resolution within the FinTech ecosystem.
• RBI issued the Master Directions on Digital Payment Security Controls in February 2021 prescribing minimum security standards for internet banking, mobile banking and card payments.
• NPCI provides an AI/ML-based fraud monitoring solution for UPI transactions.
• MeitY notified the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the DPDP Rules, 2025.
• RBI introduced the Regulatory Sandbox framework in August 2019 for testing innovative financial products and services in a controlled regulatory environment.
• MHA operates the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and Helpline 1930 for reporting cybercrimes, including illegal loan apps.
• The SACHET Portal and State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC) facilitate complaints relating to illegal deposit collection.
• RBI conducts eBAAT (electronic-Banking Awareness and Training) programmes to spread awareness about cyber frauds and risk mitigation.

3. SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise)

Syllabus Mapping: GS2: Government Policies & Interventions; Social Justice; Welfare of Vulnerable Sections

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment informed that the SMILE Scheme is operational in 216 cities across the country and aims to achieve a ‘Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat’ (Begging-Free India) through comprehensive rehabilitation. Under the approved implementation plan for FY 2026–31, the scheme targets 295 cities and the rehabilitation of 35,000 persons engaged in begging by 2030–31.
• It is an umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• The scheme includes the Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging.
• The Beggary component is currently operational in 216 cities across the country. The target is to expand coverage to 295 cities during FY 2026–31.
• The rehabilitation target under the approved Standing Finance Committee (SFC) plan is 35,000 persons by FY 2030–31.
• More than 10,200 persons engaged in the act of begging have been rehabilitated so far.
• The scheme focuses on metropolitan cities, religious places, tourist destinations and historical places.
• It adopts a convergence-based approach involving the Central Government, State Governments, Union Territories, District Administrations, Urban Local Bodies, Municipal Corporations and implementing agencies.
• The rehabilitation process includes identification, rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of persons engaged in begging into mainstream society.
• The SMILE-Beggary National Portal enables registration, monitoring and tracking of rehabilitation centres and shelter homes for better implementation and transparency.
• The scheme is supported through revised operational guidelines, capacity-building initiatives, and community participation to ensure sustainable socio-economic rehabilitation.

4. NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations)

Syllabus Mapping: GS2: E-Governance; Land Reforms • GS3: Urban Development; Geospatial Technology

• The Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, clarified that NAKSHA is a GIS-based urban land parcel mapping initiative under the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP). It is a mapping exercise to modernise urban land records and does not alter existing ownership rights, land titles or property boundaries.
• It aims to create accurate GIS-based urban land records for better land governance and urban planning.
• The project seeks to improve property ownership transparency, reduce land disputes, and strengthen municipal administration.
• It is only a land mapping exercise and does not confer, modify or extinguish ownership rights.
• Existing land titles, property boundaries and official land records remain legally valid during the survey process.
• Absence of a landowner during the survey does not affect ownership rights; claims are verified through multiple stages, including public scrutiny.
• The project is distinct from land acquisition and does not authorise the Government to acquire private land.
• It is also not intended to increase property taxes; its primary purpose is to develop an accurate geospatial database.

5. Revised Index of Core Industries (ICI)

Syllabus Mapping: GS3: Indian Economy; Industrial Growth; Infrastructure

• The Ministry of Commerce & Industry released the first Index of Core Industries (ICI) under the new series with Base Year 2022–23. The revised series replaces the 2011–12 base year, expands the basket from eight to nine core industries by including Iron Ore, and will henceforth serve as the official ICI series.
• The revised ICI is aligned with the new Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series (Base: 2022–23).
• The Steel Index is now compiled using Gross Production instead of Net Production to improve consistency.
• The Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA), DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry compiles and releases the ICI.
• The nine core industries are: Coal + Crude Oil + Natural Gas + Refinery Products + Fertilisers + Steel + Cement + Electricity + Iron Ore.
• The overall ICI grew by 5.0% (Provisional) in June 2026 over June 2025, compared with 2% growth in May 2026.
• Weights of all core industries have been revised in line with the latest industrial structure and 2022–23 Gross Value Added (GVA)