1 . Green Hydrogen – Emerging Pillar of India’s Clean Energy Transition
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Energy | Infrastructure | Environmental Pollution | Science and Technology | Industrial Development
- Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water through electrolysis using renewable electricity. It can decarbonise sectors where direct electrification is difficult, reduce fossil fuel imports and support India’s Net Zero target by 2070.
- The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) was approved in January 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore. It targets at least 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of annual green hydrogen production by 2030, potentially rising to 10 MMT with export demand.
- India’s Green Hydrogen Standard, notified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in August 2023, sets an emissions ceiling of 2 kg CO₂-equivalent per kg of hydrogen, measured on a well-to-gate basis as a 12-month average.
- An electrolyser uses renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen at the cathode and oxygen at the anode. Around 9 litres of demineralised water are required per kg of hydrogen, according to MNRE. The hydrogen is subsequently dried, purified and compressed.
- Green hydrogen can replace fossil-fuel-based hydrogen already used in fertiliser production and petroleum refining, while supporting hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron ore in steelmaking. Other applications include heavy-duty transport, railways, shipping, limited blending in city gas networks and energy storage.
- Green ammonia and green methanol can serve as lower-emission fuels and industrial feedstocks. Their use in shipping and exports depends on production costs, safety requirements, engine compatibility and supporting infrastructure.
- India’s first indigenous hydrogen-powered train was inaugurated on 17 July 2026 on the Jind–Sonipat section. The 10-car trainset can carry around 2,600 passengers, supported by a hydrogen storage facility at Jind with a capacity of nearly 3,000 kg.
- The Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme, with an outlay of ₹17,490 crore up to 2029–30, supports domestic electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production.
- Deendayal Port (Kandla), V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tuticorin) and Paradip Port have been recognised as hubs. An indigenous 1 MW green hydrogen plant was commissioned at Kandla Port in July 2025. Four Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters have been awarded at Jodhpur, Odisha, Pune and Kerala.
- Eligible green hydrogen and green ammonia plants commissioned by 31 December 2030 receive a waiver of inter-state transmission charges for 25 years. The policy framework also provides for renewable electricity banking for up to 30 days and Open Access within 15 days, subject to applicable provisions.
- India’s Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme, launched in April 2025, provides a framework for monitoring, verification and certification, with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency accrediting agencies. Green ammonia and green methanol standards have also been notified.
- The Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership supports public–private R&D. Nine startups had been approved for total funding of ₹22 crore.
- By 2030, the Mission aims to mobilise over ₹8 lakh crore in investment, reduce cumulative fossil-fuel imports by approximately ₹1 lakh crore, create over 6 lakh jobs and help avoid nearly 50 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. These are projected outcomes, alongside the target of 5 MMT annual production capacity.
2. Cabinet Approves Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS)
Syllabus Mapping: GS-III: Industrial Policy | Infrastructure | Logistics and Supply Chain Management | Employment Generation
- The Union Cabinet has approved the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS) with a budgetary outlay of ₹10,000 crore up to FY 2039–40 under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, the scheme aims to establish a globally competitive container manufacturing ecosystem in India, reduce import dependence and strengthen supply-chain resilience.
- The scheme supports both greenfield facilities and the brownfield expansion of existing container manufacturing units, encouraging domestic production and improving India’s capacity to meet shipping and logistics requirements.
- Interest Subvention Assistance has an allocation of ₹859 crore and provides interest subvention of 3% per annum on eligible term loans for setting up new manufacturing facilities and expanding existing capacities.
- Operational Expenditure Assistance, with the largest allocation of ₹8,891 crore, provides financial assistance for containers manufactured to global shipping standards and sold by eligible manufacturers. It seeks to bridge the cost gap and improve the price competitiveness of domestically manufactured containers.
- Testing and Certification Assistance, allocated ₹150 crore, will support common testing facilities, including dynamic longitudinal impact testing, to strengthen quality assurance and compliance with international requirements.
- The scheme aims to increase India’s annual domestic container manufacturing capacity by around ten-fold to 7.5 lakh TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), creating the potential to develop India into a global export hub for quality shipping containers.
- By strengthening domestic manufacturing, CMPS is expected to improve the resilience of maritime and logistics supply chains and support ancillary industries such as corner castings, specialised steel, wooden frames and paints.
- The scheme envisages approximately 3,000 direct jobs and over 50,000 indirect jobs, linking industrial expansion with employment generation and the development of domestic manufacturing capabilities.
3. Cabinet Approves Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM VGSY)
Syllabus Mapping: GS-II: Panchayati Raj | Decentralisation | E-Governance | Accountability and Transparency | GS-III: Inclusive Growth and Rural Development
- The Union Cabinet has approved Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM VGSY) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 2026–27 to 2030–31, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat and co-terminus with the Sixteenth Finance Commission period.
- The scheme has an outlay of ₹7,395.55 crore, It will cover all States and Union Territories, including traditional rural local government institutions in areas where Panchayats do not exist.
- Around 32 lakh elected representatives, Panchayat functionaries and other stakeholders across more than 55 lakh Panchayats and Traditional Local Bodies are expected to benefit directly. Each coordinated awareness-generation exercise will reach at least 1 crore citizens.
- The scheme places Gram Panchayats at the centre of local development planning, seeking to integrate village priorities, Central and State Government interventions, and available financial resources. It aims to connect national development priorities with local needs through participatory and evidence-based planning.
- PM VGSY will support the preparation of 55 lakh holistic Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) annually through the eGramSwaraj Portal. .
- The scheme will use existing digital, training and outreach platforms, including PANCHAM, an AI-enabled, multilingual, two-way communication platform available in 17 Indian languages. Gram Sabhas and other Panchayat forums will facilitate informed discussions on Government schemes and national initiatives in the context of local development needs.
- Capacity building and digital handholding will strengthen the ability of elected representatives and Panchayat functionaries to undertake holistic planning, communicate with citizens, manage resources and make progress towards locally relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- PM VGSY will support at least 55 lakh online audit plans annually and timely completion of the corresponding audits through AuditOnline. Improved accounting, public disclosure and mobilisation of Own Source Revenue (OSR) are intended to strengthen financial accountability and promote more self-reliant Panchayats.
- The scheme is aligned with the Sixteenth Finance Commission’s recommendation of around ₹4.35 lakh crore in grants for Rural Local Bodies during 2026–27 to 2030–31. Strengthening Panchayat capacity is intended to help translate these financial resources and national initiatives into locally relevant development outcomes.
- Implementation will be undertaken through State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, which will submit Annual Action Plans for appraisal and approval by the designated Central Empowered Committee. Existing institutional, digital and capacity-building systems will support implementation; no permanent posts will be created, although need-based contractual personnel may be engaged at State, District and Block levels.
4. Punah Bharan Mobile Application for Scientific Groundwater Recharge Planning
Syllabus Mapping: GS-I: Geographical Features and Water Resources | GS-III: Conservation of Resources | Environmental Pollution
- The Union Minister of Jal Shakti launched the Punah Bharan Mobile Application, developed by BISAG-N in collaboration with the National Water Mission (NWM) under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti. It aims to support scientific planning for groundwater recharge.
- The mobile application enables users to identify potential artificial groundwater recharge zones within a radius of up to 3 km and explore suitable recharge structures according to local conditions.
- The associated web portal provides village-level Artificial Recharge Structure (ARS) zonation maps, Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and thematic layers to support informed decisions on groundwater recharge interventions.
- The platform uses geospatial datasets covering rainfall, groundwater levels, groundwater yield, slope and drainage to identify potential recharge areas and guide the selection of appropriate structures.
- The initiative promotes evidence-based groundwater management by integrating geospatial information into local recharge planning. It can help identify suitable intervention sites and support more systematic planning for sustainable groundwater resources.
5. INS Sahyadri Arrives at Busan for India–Republic of Korea Bilateral Naval Exercise
Syllabus Mapping: GS-II: India and its Neighbourhood | Bilateral Relations | GS-III: Security Challenges | Maritime Security- INS Sahyadri, an indigenously designed and built guided-missile stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, arrived at Busan Naval Harbour, Republic of Korea, on 26 October 2026 to participate in the India–Republic of Korea Navy (IN–RoKN) Bilateral Exercise.
- During the harbour phase, personnel from both navies will engage in professional interactions, cross-deck visits, cross-training activities and sporting events. These activities will facilitate the exchange of operational experience and best practices while fostering mutual understanding and professional ties.
- The harbour phase will be followed by coordinated maritime activities at sea involving INS Sahyadri and ROKS Munmu the Great, providing opportunities to improve operational coordination and interoperability between the two navies.
