📋 PIB Daily Notes — 31 May 2026
UPSC · State PSC (TNPSC / MPPSC / UPPSC / BPSC / RPSC) · SSC | 9 Topics
Science & Oceanography
🌊 VP Visits CSIR–NIO, Goa
Vice President's Secretariat · 30 May 2026
- VP C. P. Radhakrishnan visited CSIR-NIO (National Institute of Oceanography), Panaji, Goa
- CSIR-NIO = ~60 years old | Director = Prof. Sunil Kumar Singh
- India's coastline = ~11,000 km — ocean key to trade, energy & security
- MoU: CSIR & Research Council of Norway — R&D + capacity building
- VP released book: "A Diamond Legacy of Oceanographic Excellence"
- Key missions: Deep Ocean Mission, Blue Economy, Green Hydrogen Mission
| Location | Panaji, Goa |
| Under | CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) |
| Coastline | ~11,000 km |
| MoU Partner | Research Council of Norway |
⚡ Exam Points (UPSC/State PSC): Deep Ocean Mission (2021) = ₹4,077 crore. CSIR under Ministry of Science & Technology. IOR = 40% of global seaborne trade. "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" = world is one family (GS4 Ethics). Goa Governor = Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju.
MCQ — Practice
Q. CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography is located in which city?
Answer: B — Panaji, Goa. CSIR-NIO = premier oceanographic research institute (~60 yrs). Don't confuse with NSTL Visakhapatnam or NIO Kochi.
Agriculture
🌾 National Kharif Conference 2026 | "Khet Bachao Abhiyan"
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare · 28–29 May 2026
- Held at PUSA Campus, New Delhi — chaired by Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- Historic first: 22 State Agriculture Ministers on one platform
- Campaign: Khet Bachao Abhiyan — balanced fertilizer use + soil health
- Ministers pledged to personally adopt natural farming on their farms
- Focus: self-reliance in pulses & oilseeds, water management
- Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat participated — advocated ZBNF
⚡ Exam Points (UPSC/State PSC): PUSA = IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute), Delhi. Kharif = sown June-July, harvested Oct-Nov (Rice, Cotton, Maize). Natural Farming / ZBNF pioneer state = Andhra Pradesh. "Khet Bachao" = Save Farms = Save Future.
MCQ — Practice
Q. National Kharif Conference 2026 was held at which campus in New Delhi?
Answer: B — PUSA Campus (IARI). 22 State Agriculture Ministers — historic first. "Khet Bachao Abhiyan" was the key campaign.
Defence
🪖 Exercise PRAGATI 2026 | 13-Nation Military Exercise
Ministry of Defence · Umroi, Meghalaya
- PRAGATI = Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth & Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region
- Maiden (1st) edition — at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya
- 13 countries, 400+ troops, 72-hour validation exercise
- Countries: India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos
- Focus: Counter-terrorism, jungle terrain, IED detection, casualty evacuation
- Defence equipment display: FICCI + Army Design Bureau (Atmanirbhar Bharat)
⚡ Exam Points (UPSC/State PSC): IOR = 40% of global seaborne trade. FICCI = Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry. Hosted by Lt. Gen. Dhiraj Seth (VCOAS). Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence = indigenization. Umroi = near Shillong.
MCQ — Practice
Q. Exercise PRAGATI 2026 was held at which location in Meghalaya?
Answer: B — Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya. Maiden (1st) edition. 13 countries, 400+ troops. Counter-terrorism in jungle/semi-mountainous terrain.
Skill Development
🏭 PM-SETU | First SIP Approved — Andhra Pradesh
Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship · 30 May 2026
- PM-SETU = Pradhan Mantri Skilling & Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs
- First Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) approved for Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster, AP
- Anchor Industry: ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) + NAMTECH
- AP = First state to operationalize industry partnership under PM-SETU
- Outlay: ₹60,000 crore | Target: 1,000 Government ITIs
- Model: Industry-led Hub-and-Spoke | Partners: ADB & World Bank
⚡ Exam Points (UPSC/State PSC): Ministry = MSDE. AIP = Anchor Industry Partner. NCoE = National Centres of Excellence. 32 States/UTs formed Steering Committees. Don't confuse: PM VIKAS = minority artisans; PM SHRI = schools upgrade.
MCQ — Practice
Q. Under PM-SETU, the first Strategic Investment Plan was approved for an ITI Cluster in which state?
Answer: B — Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster). Anchor Industry = AM/NS India. PM-SETU = ₹60,000 crore for 1,000 ITIs via Hub-and-Spoke model.
Sports
🏅 39th National Games 2027 | Meghalaya | ₹150 Cr Training Centre
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports · 30 May 2026
- Meghalaya to host 39th National Games in 2027 — reviewed by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
- ₹150 crore High-Altitude Training Centre announced for Meghalaya
- Inaugurated Multipurpose Integrated Sports Indoor Hall, Shillong
- NE = 4% population but 25% of all Khelo India Centres
- IOA President PT Usha attended | Meghalaya CM = Conrad Sangma
- NE = called "Ashtalakshmi states" (8 NE states)
⚡ Exam Points (UPSC/State PSC): Ashtalakshmi = 8 NE states (Assam, Arunachal, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim). PT Usha = first woman IOA president. MY Bharat = Mera Yuva Bharat (youth volunteers). NADA = National Anti-Doping Agency.
MCQ — Practice
Q. "Ashtalakshmi states" refers to which group of Indian states?
Answer: B — 8 North Eastern states. Ashtalakshmi = Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim. Term by PM Modi highlighting NE's potential.
Government Scheme
🛒 PM SVANidhi — Street Vendors Micro-Credit Scheme
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs + Dept. of Financial Services
- Launched: June 2020 (COVID-19) | Extended until March 2030
- Collateral-free loans — 3 tranches: ₹15,000 → ₹25,000 → ₹50,000
- Interest subsidy: 7% per annum on timely repayment
- RuPay Credit Card: up to ₹30,000 | Digital cashback: up to ₹1,600
- 75.5 lakh+ vendors benefited | ₹17,800 crore+ disbursed
- 46% women | 70% marginalised | 95% = first-time formal credit
- Income increased: avg 20% per year | Loan processing: avg 23 days
⚡ Exam Points (UPSC/State PSC): SVANidhi = Street Vendors AtmaNirbhar Nidhi. Dual ministry = MoHUA + DFS (frequently asked!). "SVANidhi se Samriddhi" links vendors to 8 welfare schemes. FSSAI trained ~6 lakh food vendors. 55L+ vendors did 841 crore digital transactions.
MCQ — Practice
Q. PM SVANidhi is jointly implemented by which two bodies?
Answer: B — MoHUA + DFS. Dual-ministry structure — frequently asked. Launched June 2020, extended to March 2030. 75.5 lakh+ beneficiaries.
Aviation & Digital India
✈️ Digi Yatra — 10 Crore Usage | 38 Airports
Ministry of Civil Aviation · 30 May 2026
- 10 crore journeys | 2.4 crore+ downloads | Active at 38 airports
- Biometric-based, paperless, contactless — no physical boarding pass
- Processing time: 15 seconds → 5 seconds per passenger
- 27 more airports next year → total 65 | New airports: Navi Mumbai, Jewar, Bhogapuram
- Languages: 11 now → 22 by year end
- Domestic traffic: <2 lakh/day (2014) → 5 lakh/day now
- Target: 50 crore passengers by 2030, 100 crore by 2040
⚡ Exam Points (UPSC/State PSC): Privacy-by-design — data on user's device only. Civil Aviation Minister = Ram Mohan Naidu. Jewar = Noida Intl. Airport (UP). Bhogapuram = AP. Navi Mumbai = Maharashtra. AirSewa = grievance redressal portal.
MCQ — Practice
Q. Digi Yatra reduced per-passenger airport entry processing time from 15 seconds to:
Answer: C — 5 seconds. 67% faster. Currently at 38 airports, 10 crore usage. Privacy-by-design: data stays on user's device.
Environment & Biodiversity
🌿 NBA — ₹21.26 Crore ABS Revenue | FY 2025-26
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change · 30 May 2026
- NBA = National Biodiversity Authority earned ₹21.26 crore via ABS in FY26
- Top sectors: Seed (₹11.75 cr) > AYUSH (₹5.56 cr) > Nutraceuticals > Pharma
- ~300 biological resources used: turmeric, amla, tulsi, ashwagandha, neem, pepper etc.
- Cumulative ABS: ₹266 crore collected | ₹145 crore disbursed
- Benefits go to: local communities, BMCs, farmers, traditional knowledge holders
⚡ Exam Points (UPSC/State PSC): NBA HQ = Chennai. Established under Biological Diversity Act, 2002. ABS = fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources. Nagoya Protocol (2010) = international framework under CBD. BMC = Biodiversity Management Committee (local level body).
MCQ — Practice
Q. The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism in India is established under which Act?
Answer: B — Biological Diversity Act, 2002. NBA HQ = Chennai. Nagoya Protocol (2010) = international framework. Seed sector = largest ABS contributor in FY26 (₹11.75 cr).
Polity
🏖️ Goa Statehood Day — May 30
Prime Minister's Office · 30 May 2026
- PM Modi greeted people of Goa on Goa Statehood Day — May 30
- Goa became a full state on May 30, 1987
- Liberated from Portuguese: December 19, 1961 — Operation Vijay
- Was Union Territory (with Daman & Diu) from 1961 to 1987
- Goa = India's smallest state by area (3,702 sq km) | Capital: Panaji
- Governor: Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju
⚡ Exam Points (UPSC/State PSC): Liberation Day = Dec 19, 1961 (Operation Vijay). Statehood = May 30, 1987. Smallest by AREA = Goa. Smallest by POPULATION = Sikkim. UNESCO Heritage = Churches & Convents of Goa. CSIR-NIO also in Panaji — both topics linked today!
MCQ — Practice
Q. On which date did Goa achieve full statehood?
Answer: C — May 30, 1987. Liberation from Portuguese = Dec 19, 1961 (Op. Vijay). UT till 1987. Smallest state by area = Goa (3,702 sq km).
⚡ Quick Revision — All Key Facts
| Topic | Key Points |
|---|---|
| CSIR-NIO | Panaji, Goa · ~60 yrs · MoU with Norway · Deep Ocean Mission · 11,000 km coastline |
| Kharif Conf. | PUSA Campus · 22 ministers · Khet Bachao Abhiyan · Natural Farming pledge · May 28-29 |
| Ex. PRAGATI | Maiden · Umroi, Meghalaya · 13 countries · 400+ troops · IOR · Counter-terror |
| PM-SETU | ₹60,000 cr · 1,000 ITIs · First SIP = AP · AM/NS India · Hub-and-Spoke |
| National Games | 39th, 2027, Meghalaya · ₹150 cr Centre · PT Usha (IOA) · Conrad Sangma |
| PM SVANidhi | June 2020 · ₹15K/25K/50K · 7% subsidy · 75.5L vendors · ₹17,800 cr · Till 2030 |
| Digi Yatra | 10 cr journeys · 38 airports · 15 sec→5 sec · 2.4 cr downloads · 22 languages |
| NBA / ABS | ₹21.26 cr FY26 · Seed largest · Nagoya Protocol · BD Act 2002 · ₹266 cr total |
| Goa Statehood | May 30, 1987 · Op. Vijay Dec 19, 1961 · Smallest by area · Capital Panaji |
