October 25, 2026Daily Current Affairs Digest
Digital Agriculture Mission and AgriStack Platform (October 2026)
Why in News / Context: In October 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare achieved the milestone of creating 11 crore unique digital farmer IDs under the Digital Agriculture Mission.
Core Objectives:
- Establish AgriStack comprising three foundational registries: Farmers' Registry, Geo-referenced Village Maps, and Crop Sown Registry.
- Deploy the Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi DSS) integrating geospatial, weather, and groundwater data for crop yield modeling and drought/flood monitoring.
- Promote digital credit delivery (PM-KISAN, KCC), smart farming, and digital agricultural marketing via e-NAM (1,696 mandis).
Target Beneficiaries:
- All land-owning farmers and agricultural workers across India, with targeted extension services via Kisan e-Mitra (93+ lakh users) and the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS).
"What are the foundational pillars and key components of the Digital Agriculture Mission and AgriStack platform established by the Union Agriculture Ministry?"
Prism Memory Hook
STACK = Soil/Maps, Tenant inclusion, Agriculture IDs, Crop registry, Krishi DSS
Revitalisation of India's Shipbuilding Industry (October 2026)
Why in News / Context: In October 2026, official maritime data revealed that India doubled its shipbuilding order book to 1.1 million Compensated Gross Tonnage (CGT) while holding only 0.5% of the global order book.
Publishing Body:
- Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (referencing UNCTAD 2025 global maritime reviews).
Core Findings / India's Rank:
- Global Tonnage Share: Global shipbuilding output is dominated by China (54.57%), South Korea (28.02%), and Japan (12.56%), whereas India accounts for a mere 0.5%.
- Government Financial Outlay: Cabinet approved a ₹69,725-crore revitalisation package featuring the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS), Maritime Development Fund (MDF), and Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS).
- Structural Bottlenecks: High working-capital interest rates (~10.5%) and heavy equipment import dependence (50–60%).
"What is India's current share in the global shipbuilding market, and what are the key components of the ₹69,725-crore revitalisation package?"
Prism Memory Hook
SHIP = SBFAS, High import dependency (50-60%), Interest cost (10.5%), Package ₹69,725 crore
Victoria Mode (VM) and Regional Climate Zone Shifts in India (October 2026)
Why in News / Context: In October 2026, a scientific study by IMD and IITM published in MAUSAM linked regional shifts in India's climate zones between 1951–1980 and 1991–2020 to the Victoria Mode (VM).
Key Details:
- Victoria Mode Definition: A recurring ocean-atmosphere oscillation pattern characterized by warm and cool sea-surface temperatures in the North Pacific Ocean.
- Northwest India Shift: Hot, semi-arid steppe areas increased from 25.7% to 33.1%, while temperate areas declined from 25.8% to 18.7%.
- Peninsular India Shift: Semi-arid steppe contracted from 30.3% to 16.4%, whereas tropical savannah expanded from 61.6% to 75.7%.
- Regional Vulnerabilities: West Vidarbha and Marathwada shifted from savannah to steppe, heightening water stress, while Konkan and coastal Karnataka saw expansion of tropical monsoon zones.
"How does the Victoria Mode (VM) in the North Pacific Ocean influence spatial shifts in India's regional climate zones?"
Prism Memory Hook
VM = Victoria Mode, Varying North Pacific SSTs, Marathwada aridification, Monsoon zone shifts
State Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) Constitutional Framework (October 2026)
Why in News / Context: In October 2026, State Legislative Council elections across multiple states highlighted the constitutional procedures governing the upper house of state legislatures.
Key Details:
- Article 169 (Creation/Abolition): Parliament may create or abolish a Legislative Council by a simple majority, contingent on a resolution passed by the state Legislative Assembly by a special majority (non-binding on Parliament).
- Article 171 (Composition): Maximum strength is 1/3rd of the total Assembly strength; statutory minimum strength is 40 members.
- Article 172 & 173 (Tenure & Age): Permanent body with a 6-year tenure where 1/3rd of members retire every 2 years. Minimum age for membership is 30 years.
- RPA 1951 Requirement: A candidate must be an elector in an Assembly constituency of that state, and a governor's nominee must be a resident of that state.
"Under what constitutional process can a State Legislative Council be created or abolished under Article 169 of the Indian Constitution?"
Prism Memory Hook
COUNCIL = Creation Art 169, One-third max strength, Staggered 6-yr tenure, Minimum age 30
National Medical Commission (NMC) Governance Architecture (October 2026)
Why in News / Context: In October 2026, public health governance reviews examined the regulatory performance of the National Medical Commission (NMC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Definition & Statutory Basis:
- Statutory apex regulator established under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, which dissolved and replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI).
Significance & Key Structure:
- Composition: Consists of 33 members appointed by the Central Government, including 1 Chairperson, 10 ex-officio members, and 22 part-time members.
- Autonomous Boards: Functions through four specialized boards: UGMEB (Under-Graduate), PGMEB (Post-Graduate), MARB (Medical Assessment & Rating Board), and EMRB (Ethics & Medical Registration Board).
- Fee Regulation Mandate: Statutory authority to frame fee guidelines for 50% of seats in private medical institutions and deemed universities.
"What is the statutory composition of the National Medical Commission (NMC) and its regulatory power regarding private medical college fees?"
Prism Memory Hook
NMC = 33 Members, Four Autonomous Boards, Replaced MCI (2019 Act), Fee regulation for 50% seats
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Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Norms (October 2026)
Why in News / Context: In October 2026, film certification guidelines came under executive review regarding the enforcement of age-based sub-categories.
Key Details:
- Statutory Authority: Functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting governed by the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983.
- Mandatory Certification: Public exhibition of films without CBFC certification is strictly prohibited under Indian law.
- Structure: Headed by a Chairperson with 12–25 members and 9 regional offices, assisted by Advisory Panels serving 2-year terms.
- Certification Categories: Grants U (Universal), UA (Parental Guidance), A (Adults Only), and S (Restricted to special classes/professions like doctors or farmers).
- 2023 Age Sub-Categories: Introduced UA 7+, UA 13+, and UA 16+ to align parental guidance with global standards.
"Which statute governs the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and what are the new sub-categories introduced under the 2023 Amendment?"
Prism Memory Hook
CBFC = Cinematograph Act 1952, 9 Regional offices, S-category restricted, UA 7+/13+/16+ sub-categories
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Parliamentary Oversight (October 2026)
Why in News / Context: In October 2026, parliamentary proceedings highlighted the role of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in auditing CAG reports on public expenditure.
Key Details:
- Historical Genesis: Oldest standing parliamentary committee in India, established in 1921 under the Government of India Act, 1919.
- Composition & Term: Comprises 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha) elected for a 1-year term via proportional representation.
- Chairperson Convention: Appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha; since 1967–68, a parliamentary convention dictates appointing an Opposition MP as Chairperson.
- Disqualifications & Core Function: Union Ministers are ineligible for membership. Mandated to examine CAG audit reports to ensure money sanctioned by Parliament is spent legally and efficiently.
"What is the membership composition and appointment convention for the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)?"
Prism Memory Hook
PAC = 1921 origin, 22 members (15 LS + 7 RS), Opposition Chair convention, CAG report audit
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