ADR Report on Political Funding (FY 2024–25)
NATIONAL
Why in News:
A report by Association for Democratic Reforms analysing donations above ₹20,000 declared to the Election Commission of India highlights trends in political funding and accountability.
Key Highlights
– Total donations to national parties increased by 161% to ₹6,648 crore
– Bharatiya Janata Party received ₹6,074 crore
– Accounts for over 91% of total donations
– Marked a 171% increase from previous year
– 92.18% contributions from business sector
– Only 7.61% from individual donors
– Prudent Electoral Trust was the largest donor
– Contributed ₹2,413 crore to:
– Bharatiya Janata Party
– Indian National Congress
– Aam Aadmi Party
– Major share went to BJP
– Highest donations from Delhi
– Followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat
– Bahujan Samaj Party continued its 19-year trend of declaring zero donations above ₹20,000
UPSC/BPSC
Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G)
NATIONAL
Why in News:
As of March 2026, Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin has completed nearly 3 crore houses, moving toward its target of 4.95 crore houses by 2029.
Key Highlights
• Aims to achieve “Housing for All” in rural India
• Provides pucca houses with basic amenities to:
– Houseless families
– Families living in kutcha/dilapidated houses
About PMAY-G
Selection Process
– Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data
– Gram Sabha verification
– Geo-tagging of beneficiaries
Cost Sharing Pattern
UPSC/BPSC
INS Aridhaman (India’s 3rd SSBN)
NATIONAL
Why in News:
India is advancing its sea-based nuclear deterrence with INS Aridhaman, the 3rd nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) of the Arihant-class.
Key Highlights
• INS Aridhaman is the third SSBN after:
– INS Arihant (2016)
– INS Arighaat (2024)
• Developed under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) Project
• Approximate displacement: 7,000 tonnes
Enhanced Capabilities
– K-15 SLBM (700 km range)
– K-4 SLBM (3,500 km range)
Previous Submarines
– Commissioned in 2016
– Established sea leg of nuclear triad
– Completed first deterrence patrol in 2018
– Commissioned in 2024
– United States
– Russia
– United Kingdom
– France
– China
UPSC/BPSC
Revision of LWE (Naxal-Affected) District Classification
NATIONAL
Why in News:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has revised the classification of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts, reflecting a major decline in the Red Corridor and aligning anti-Naxal strategy with current ground realities.
Key Highlights
• New Classification System:
– Replaces “most affected districts” category
– Introduces:
• LWE Affected Districts
• Districts of Concern
• Legacy & Thrust Districts
• Current Status (2026):
– LWE Affected Districts:
• Bijapur (Chhattisgarh)
• West Singhbhum (Jharkhand)
– District of Concern:
• Kanker (Chhattisgarh)
– Legacy & Thrust Category:
• Remaining 35 districts across 9 states
• Earlier Scenario:
– Districts like Bijapur, Sukma, Narayanpur were earlier in “most affected” category (till 2025)
• Decline of Red Corridor:
– Reduced from 200+ districts (2005)
– To just 2 districts (2026).
UPSC/BPSC
Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana (Delhi)
NATIONAL
Why in News:
The Government of Delhi has introduced the Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana (notified on 30 March 2026) to support girls’ education and financial security, replacing the earlier Ladli Scheme.
Key Highlights
• The scheme provides financial assistance from birth to higher education
• Aims to ensure education continuity and long-term financial support for girls
• Benefits are linked to educational milestones
Financial Benefits (Stage-wise)
• ₹11,000 at birth
• ₹5,000 each at:
– Class 1
– Class 6
– Class 9
– Class 11
– Class 12
• ₹10,000 for completion of 1-year diploma
• ₹20,000 for completion of 2–3 year diploma courses
• Up to ₹25,000 for completion of 4-year graduation course
• Total benefit: ₹61,000
• Matures to around ₹1.20 lakh with interest
UPSC/BPSC
Sudarshan Pattnaik Appointed Brand Ambassador for Census 2027
NATIONAL
Why in News:
The Government of India has appointed Sudarshan Pattnaik as the brand ambassador for Census 2027, as announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Key Highlights
• Sudarshan Pattnaik is an internationally acclaimed sand artist from Odisha
• The move aims to increase public awareness and participation in Census 2027
About Census 2027
Two Phases of Census
• Timeline: April to September 2026
• Focus on collecting data related to:
– Housing conditions
– Availability of amenities
– Household assets
• Includes a 15-day self-enumeration window before field visits
2. Phase II: Population Enumeration
• Timeline: February 2027
• Focus on individual-level data such as:
– Demographics
– Education
– Migration patterns
– Fertility details
UPSC/BPSC
CBSE Curriculum on AI & Computational Thinking Launched
NATIONAL
Why in News:
Dharmendra Pradhan launched the CBSE Curriculum on Computational Thinking (CT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on 2 April 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Key Highlights
• The curriculum is designed for students from Class 3 to Class 8
• It focuses on introducing Computational Thinking (CT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at an early stage
• The initiative aims to build foundational digital and problem-solving skills
• It promotes logical reasoning, coding basics, and AI awareness among young learners
• Aligns with India’s vision of digital education and future-ready workforce
UPSC/BPSC
IRDAI Retains Systemically Important Insurers (FY 2025–26)
NATIONAL
Why in News:
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has retained three insurers as systemically important institutions for FY 2025–26, highlighting their critical role in India’s financial stability.
Key Highlights
• The three systemically important insurers are:
– Life Insurance Corporation of India
– New India Assurance Company Limited
– General Insurance Corporation of India
• These companies are considered too important to fail due to their size, market share, and interconnectedness
• Their stability is crucial for policyholders, financial markets, and overall economic health
• IRDAI closely monitors these entities to ensure risk management and financial resilience
UPSC/BPSC
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