📰 PIB Notes for UPSC – 11 June 2026
Daily PIB Current Affairs | UPSC & SSC Exam Preparation
Today's PIB Notes for UPSC covers 9 key topics —
NHRC Suo Motu on Vizag Steel Plant Blast, 12 Years of Social Justice Ministry,
SARTHI for ITI Transformation, Panchayati Raj at e-Governance Awards 2026,
OSOP for Divyangjan Vishwakarma Artisans, India at 114th ILC Geneva,
13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum, India-Nepal UPI-NPI Remittance Linkage, and
BIS Standard IS 20201:2026 for Community Seed Banks.
Each topic includes simplified notes, prelims extra points & an interactive MCQ —
ideal for UPSC Prelims & SSC CGL.
NHRC
NHRC Suo Motu – Blast at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL)
📝 Key Notes
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
❓ MCQ Practice
- NHRC took suo motu cognizance of explosion at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), Andhra Pradesh on 8 June 2026.
- Casualties: 8 workers dead, 6 severely injured (burn injuries).
- Incident: In 'Steel Melting Shop' — ladle carrying ~150 tonnes of liquid steel at ~1600°C exploded.
- Workers' union alleged management ignored safety protocols.
- NHRC issued notice to AP Chief Secretary; report within 2 weeks.
- Report to include: health status of injured + ex-gratia payment details.
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
- NHRC = National Human Rights Commission — statutory body under Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
- NHRC Chairman must be a retired Chief Justice of India.
- Suo Motu = NHRC can take cognizance on its own based on media reports without formal complaint.
- RINL = Navratna PSU under Ministry of Steel; operates Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (India's first shore-based integrated steel plant; commissioned 1992).
- NHRC cannot investigate Armed Forces violations directly — only seeks reports from MoD.
- Ex-Gratia = Voluntary goodwill payment (not legally mandated compensation).
❓ MCQ Practice
Q. NHRC was established under which Act?
NHRC is a statutory body established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. Its Chairman must be a retired Chief Justice of India.
Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
SARTHI – Strategic Advisory Body for ITI Transformation
📝 Key Notes
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
❓ MCQ Practice
- SARTHI = Strategic Advisory and Reforms Taskforce for Holistic ITI Transformation.
- First meeting: 12 June 2026, Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
- Chaired by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, MoS (IC) Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
- Apex advisory mechanism under CTS (Craftsmen Training Scheme).
- CTS network: 13,888 ITIs (3,326 Govt + 10,562 Private); 169 NSQF-compliant trades.
- Agenda: National ITI Grading Framework, All India ITI Skill Competition, women's participation, technology-enabled assessment, instructor development.
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
- ITI = Industrial Training Institute; primary vocational training institution in India under CTS.
- NSQF = National Skills Qualifications Framework — 10-level competency framework; notified 2013.
- DGT = Directorate General of Training — apex body regulating ITIs under MSDE.
- PMKVY 4.0 = Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana — flagship skill certification scheme.
- India's demographic dividend peak: ~2041 — skilling critical to harness young workforce.
- Skill India Mission launched 2015 — aimed to train 500 million people by 2022.
❓ MCQ Practice
Q. 'SARTHI', recently in news, is related to which sector?
SARTHI = Strategic Advisory and Reforms Taskforce for Holistic ITI Transformation — an apex advisory body under Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) by Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj
National e-Governance Awards 2026 – Panchayati Raj Wins Gold & Silver
📝 Key Notes
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
❓ MCQ Practice
- 4 Panchayati Raj initiatives selected in NAeG 2026 out of 17 projects across 7 categories.
- Awards at 29th National Conference on e-Governance, Jaipur (1–2 July 2026).
- Theme: "Viksit Bharat 2047: AI-Enabled, Data-Driven and Secure Digital Governance".
- Organized by: DARPG + MeitY + Govt of Rajasthan.
- Incentive: Gold = ₹10 lakh | Silver = ₹5 lakh.
| Award | Awardee | State |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Gold | Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) – MoPR | National |
| 🥇 Gold | Kadepur GP, Sangli (AI, Blockchain, GIS; 1,355 online services) | Maharashtra |
| 🥈 Silver | Bijoy Nagar GP, West Tripura (PAI Score 88.55; 100% women digital literacy) | Tripura |
| 🥇 Gold | e-Aarogya Dhamni – ZP Nandurbar (tribal area healthcare) | Maharashtra |
- PAI = measures GP performance on 9 themes of LSDGs (Localized Sustainable Development Goals).
- Kadepur GP — only GP in India with formal policies on AI, Blockchain, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology & Robotics.
- NAeG 2026: 1.65 lakh+ GPs from 30 states participated.
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
- DARPG = Dept of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances — nodal dept for NAeG awards.
- 9 LSDG themes: Poverty-free, Healthy, Child-friendly, Water-sufficient, Clean & Green, Self-sufficient infrastructure, Socially just, Good governance, Women-friendly panchayat.
- 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1992) — gave constitutional status to PRIs; 11th Schedule lists 29 subjects.
- eGramSwaraj Portal — unified portal for GP planning, accounting & reporting.
- SVAMITVA Scheme — property cards for rural households using drone mapping.
❓ MCQ Practice
Q. The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) assesses Gram Panchayats on how many LSDG themes?
PAI evaluates GPs on 9 themes of Localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) — including poverty-free, healthy, child-friendly, water-sufficient, clean & green villages etc.
Ministry of MSME
OSOP Initiative – Divyangjan Vishwakarma Artisans at Railway Stations
📝 Key Notes
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
❓ MCQ Practice
- PM Vishwakarma (PMV) = flagship scheme; 3 pillars: Samman, Samarthya, Samriddhi.
- OSOP (One Station One Product) — dedicated retail outlets at high-footfall railway stations for Divyangjan artisans.
- Till date: 28 Divyang beneficiaries across 12 states; trades: Cobbler, Sculptor, Carpenter, Doll Maker, Metal Smith, Basket Maker, Tailor.
- Shri Ajeet Sharma (Metalsmith, near Deoghar): earned ₹19,000 in 15 days.
- Goal: Economic self-reliance and social empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan).
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
- PM Vishwakarma launched: 17 September 2023 (Vishwakarma Jayanti); ₹13,000 crore over 5 years; covers 18 traditional trades.
- Divyangjan = term for Persons with Disabilities; coined by PM Modi; replaced 'Viklang'.
- RPwD Act, 2016 — recognizes 21 types of disabilities (earlier 7); 4% reservation in govt jobs.
- Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) — launched 2015 for disability-accessible infrastructure.
- India's PwD population: ~2.68 crore (Census 2011) — ~2.21% of total population.
❓ MCQ Practice
Q. PM Vishwakarma scheme is built on three pillars. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
The three pillars of PM Vishwakarma are Samman (dignity), Samarthya (capability) and Samriddhi (prosperity). Swavalamban is not one of them.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
India at 114th International Labour Conference – Geneva 2026
📝 Key Notes
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
❓ MCQ Practice
- MoS Shobha Karandlaje led Indian delegation at 114th ILC, Geneva, Switzerland.
- India consolidated 29 Central Labour Laws → 4 Labour Codes (guided by principle of Antyodaya).
- Key stats:
- Youth Employability: 34% (2014) → 56% (2025)
- Unemployment rate: 6% (2017) → 3.1% (2025)
- Women's Workforce Participation: 22% → 38.8%
- Social protection coverage: 19% (2015) → 64.3% (2025) — 940 million people
- Digital labour infra: National Career Service Portal + e-Shram Portal as scalable Digital Public Goods.
- ILO DG: Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo; bilateral meetings with Rwanda & Sri Lanka on side-lines.
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
- ILO = International Labour Organization — UN specialized agency; HQ: Geneva; founded 1919; only tripartite UN body (govts + employers + workers).
- 4 Labour Codes: Code on Wages 2019, Industrial Relations Code 2020, Code on Social Security 2020, Occupational Safety Code 2020.
- Antyodaya = "upliftment of the last person" — concept by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
- e-Shram Portal — national database of unorganised workers; launched Aug 2021; 30 crore+ registrations.
- India is founding member of ILO (since 1919); ratified 47 ILO Conventions.
❓ MCQ Practice
Q. India consolidated how many Central Labour Laws into 4 Labour Codes?
29 Central Labour Laws were consolidated into 4 Labour Codes — Code on Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum – New Delhi 2026
📝 Key Notes
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
❓ MCQ Practice
- 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum opened by Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister of H&UA.
- Venue: Sushma Swaraj Bhavan, New Delhi | Under India's BRICS Chairship 2026.
- Theme: "Cities for People: BRICS Cooperation for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures".
- India hosts for the 4th time — earlier: New Delhi (2013), Visakhapatnam (2016), Virtual (2021).
- BRICS nations present: Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE.
- Bilateral: India-Russia — finalizing MoU on Sustainable Urban Development.
- Publication released: "India's Urban Transformation: Stories of Change".
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
- BRICS expanded in 2024 — new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE (Saudi Arabia & Argentina also invited).
- India holds BRICS Chairship in 2026.
- Smart Cities Mission — 100 cities; launched 2015 by MoHUA.
- AMRUT 2.0 — covers 500 cities; water supply, sewerage, urban greenery focus.
- Kartavya Path = renamed from Rajpath in September 2022; India Gate to Vijay Chowk.
- PMAY-U = Housing for all urban poor; target 1.12 crore homes.
❓ MCQ Practice
Q. India is hosting the BRICS Urbanisation Forum for which time in 2026?
India hosts the BRICS Urbanisation Forum for the 4th time in 2026. Previous editions were held in New Delhi (2013), Visakhapatnam (2016), and Virtually (2021).
Ministry of Finance
India-Nepal Cross-Border Remittance – UPI linked with NPI
📝 Key Notes
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
❓ MCQ Practice
- India & Nepal launched P2P cross-border remittance mechanism on 6 June 2026.
- Linkage: India's UPI ↔ Nepal's NPI (National Payments Interface).
- Enables: real-time, seamless, secure instant transfers via mobile apps & digital wallets.
- Technical execution: NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) + Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL).
- Benefits: No physical cash border crossing; faster transfers; financial inclusion; merchant benefits.
- UPI accepted in 9 countries: Singapore, UAE, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia.
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
- UPI = Unified Payments Interface — launched April 2016 by NPCI; operates 24×7 via VPA.
- NPCI = National Payments Corporation of India — set up 2008; also operates RuPay, IMPS, FASTag, BBPS.
- NIPL = NPCI International Payments Limited — subsidiary driving UPI globally.
- First bilateral real-time UPI linkage: Singapore (PayNow-UPI) — launched Feb 2023.
- India-Nepal: Open border under Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1950.
- India's digital payment transactions crossed 100 billion in FY 2023-24.
❓ MCQ Practice
Q. Which was the FIRST country to establish a bilateral real-time payment linkage with India's UPI?
Singapore was the first country — PayNow-UPI bilateral real-time payment linkage was launched in February 2023, as a world-first.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs
IS 20201:2026 – BIS Standard for Community Seed Banks
📝 Key Notes
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
❓ MCQ Practice
- BIS released IS 20201:2026 — Community Seed Bank Management – Requirements.
- Formulated by: Biodiversity Sectional Committee (EED 06), BIS.
- Purpose: Standardised framework for Community Seed Banks (CSBs) to conserve indigenous/traditional crop varieties.
- Aligns with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) & PM Modi's agricultural biodiversity vision.
- Requirements cover: Seed collection, viability testing, drying, storage, documentation, regeneration, risk management.
- Developed under convenorship of ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR).
- Voluntary certifiable standard; available free of cost on BIS portal.
- Supports NFSNM (National Food Security and Nutrition Mission) — ₹50 lakh one-time assistance for CSBs.
⭐ Prelims Extra Points
- BIS = Bureau of Indian Standards — National Standards Body; under BIS Act, 2016; under Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
- CSBs = Decentralised local repositories for farmers to conserve & exchange traditional seeds.
- SDG 2 = Zero Hunger — includes sustainable agriculture & seed diversity targets.
- PPV&FR Act, 2001 — protects farmers' right to save, use, sow, resow, exchange & sell seeds.
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002 — implements Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- India is one of the world's 12 Megadiverse Countries — rich in plant genetic resources.
- Nagoya Protocol (2010) — Access and Benefit Sharing of genetic resources; India ratified 2012.
❓ MCQ Practice
Q. IS 20201:2026, released by BIS, relates to which subject?
IS 20201:2026 provides requirements for Community Seed Bank Management to conserve indigenous crop varieties and align with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
