Current Affairs — 17 September 2026

1. Article 371(K): A New Constitutional Safeguard for Ladakh

Basic Concept

Articles 371 to 371J form a special category of provisions in Part XXI of the Constitution that grant asymmetric federal arrangements to certain states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, and the north-eastern states, recognising their distinct historical, social, or tribal character. The Sixth Schedule (Article 244(2)) is a separate mechanism that protects tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram through Autonomous District Councils with powers over land, forest, and customary law. Ladakh, after the reorganisation of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, became a Union Territory without its own legislature, unlike J&K, which retained one. Since over 97% of Ladakh's population is tribal, civil society groups such as the Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance have long demanded statutory safeguards.

Core Context

The Ministry of Home Affairs is now working on a proposed Article 371(K) that would, for the first time, extend a 371-series special provision to a Union Territory rather than a full state. It would create an elected apex body with legislative and executive authority over land ownership and transfer, protection of culture and language, management of forests and natural resources, environmental regulation, and civil service matters including postings and transfers.

Latest Developments

• The proposal responds to the Leh and Kargil alliance's four-point agenda: full statehood, Sixth Schedule inclusion, a dedicated Public Service Commission with local job reservation, and two separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil.

• Article 371(K) is being designed as a UT-specific model rather than the sub-regional Autonomous District Council structure used under the Sixth Schedule, making it constitutionally distinct from existing arrangements.

• The move is being read as an attempt to balance Ladakh's strategic significance as a border region with genuine local self-governance and tribal-rights protection.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• Articles 371–371J fall under Part XXI ("Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions") of the Constitution.

• Ladakh became a Union Territory without a legislature under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

• The Sixth Schedule applies to tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram through Autonomous District Councils under Article 244(2).

2. India–Pakistan Naval Collision in the Arabian Sea

Basic Concept

India and Pakistan signed the Agreement on Prevention of Air Space Violations and for Permitting Overflights and Landings by Military Aircraft in 1991, along with related confidence-building measures (CBMs) governing naval conduct, which require warships of the two navies to maintain a minimum separation of about three nautical miles (roughly 5.6 km) when operating in international waters, precisely to avoid incidents of this kind. Such bilateral CBMs are a standard tool in international relations to reduce the risk of accidental escalation between nuclear-armed neighbours.

Core Context

On 15 September 2026, the Indian Navy's guided-missile destroyer INS Kolkata and the Pakistan Navy's offshore patrol vessel PNS Hunain collided in the Arabian Sea during what India described as a routine surveillance operation. India said the Pakistani vessel approached at high speed in an unsafe manner, while Pakistan alleged India violated the 1991 CBM through "dangerous" manoeuvring. Both countries summoned each other's senior diplomats to lodge formal protests.

Latest Developments

• India summoned Pakistan's charge d'affaires in New Delhi; Pakistan reciprocated by summoning India's top diplomat in Islamabad.

• Analysts have flagged the incident as the most serious military encounter between the two countries since their four-day conflict in May 2025.

• The episode has renewed attention on the fragility of existing India-Pakistan CBMs and the risk of unintended escalation at sea.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The 1991 India-Pakistan agreement mandates a minimum three-nautical-mile separation between warships in international waters.

• INS Kolkata is a Kolkata-class guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy.

• The collision occurred in the Arabian Sea, off India's western maritime frontier.

3. India Rejects the Pakistan–China Boundary Joint Commission

Basic Concept

Under the 1963 Sino-Pakistani Boundary Agreement, Pakistan ceded about 5,180 sq km of the Shaksgam Valley (Trans-Karakoram Tract) to China. India has never recognised this agreement, holding that the territory is part of Jammu & Kashmir/Ladakh and was under illegal Pakistani occupation at the time, giving Pakistan no legal standing to transfer it. Separately, India also disputes Chinese control over Aksai Chin, which India regards as part of Ladakh while China administers it as part of Xinjiang; a strategic highway China built through Aksai Chin in the 1950s remains a long-standing irritant in India-China relations. India's consistent position is that the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India.

Core Context

Pakistan and China formally operationalised a Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission in September 2026, holding its inaugural meeting in Islamabad. Stemming from a 2013 agreement, the Commission is meant to coordinate border management, joint surveys, trade flows, and people-to-people connectivity along the Pakistan-China boundary, including areas adjoining the Karakoram (Khunjerab) crossing that is vital to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). India's Ministry of External Affairs rejected the Commission as "completely unacceptable" and without legal foundation.

Latest Developments

• India reiterated that Pakistan has no locus standi to enter into arrangements over territory that is under its illegal occupation.

• The Khunjerab Pass, central to CPEC connectivity, lies within the disputed Shaksgam tract, making the issue directly relevant to India's opposition to CPEC.

• The rejection reaffirms India's long-standing stance that no third party can alter the status of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh through bilateral arrangements with Pakistan.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The Shaksgam Valley (Trans-Karakoram Tract) was ceded by Pakistan to China under the 1963 Sino-Pakistani Boundary Agreement.

• India objects to CPEC primarily because it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

• Aksai Chin is administered by China as part of Xinjiang but is claimed by India as part of Ladakh.

4. Centre Bans the Shahzad Bhatti Network Under UAPA

Basic Concept

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 is India's principal anti-terror law. Under Section 35, the central government can designate an organisation as a "terrorist organisation" by including it in the First Schedule to the Act if it is found to be involved in terrorism, effectively banning its activities, freezing its assets, and criminalising membership or support. This is distinct from declaring an individual a terrorist under Section 35 as amended in 2019, which allows designation of individuals as well as organisations.

Core Context

The Ministry of Home Affairs has notified the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), a Pakistan-based outfit, as a banned terrorist organisation under UAPA. The notification accuses the network of radicalising "gullible youth and local criminals," smuggling arms, explosives, and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components sourced from Pakistan Ordnance Factories, running narcotics-smuggling operations, and using digital platforms for radicalisation, while functioning as a proxy of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Latest Developments

• The ban criminalises membership, funding, and support for the network anywhere in India.

• The government cited threats to national security and communal harmony, along with involvement in terror financing and cyber-terrorism, as grounds for the designation.

• The action forms part of a continuing series of UAPA designations against cross-border terror modules operating out of Pakistan.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• UAPA, 1967 allows the Centre to ban organisations as "terrorist organisations" under its First Schedule.

• The 2019 UAPA amendment additionally empowers the government to designate individuals (not just organisations) as terrorists.

• ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) is Pakistan's premier external intelligence agency.

5. Same-Sex Partners as Medical Decision Nominees: The Delhi HC Case

Basic Concept

The Indian Medical Council Act/regulations historically limited authority to give medical consent on a patient's behalf to spouses, parents, or legal guardians, a framework that implicitly excluded same-sex partners since Indian law does not yet recognise same-sex marriage or civil unions. In its 2023 judgment (Supriyo v. Union of India), the Supreme Court declined to legalise same-sex marriage but affirmed that queer persons are entitled to dignity, privacy, and equal treatment under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution, leaving specific protections to be worked out through executive and legislative action.

Core Context

In a case filed by Arshiya Takkar, who married her partner Chand Chopra in New Zealand in 2023, the Delhi High Court is examining whether queer partners can be recognised as authorised medical representatives. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Medical Commission (NMC) have now told the court that a same-sex partner can be nominated by a competent, consenting adult to take health-related decisions, including in emergencies, and that such a mechanism can be incorporated into the existing legal and ethical framework.

Latest Developments

• The Centre's position stops short of recognising same-sex marriage but creates a patient-autonomy-based route for partner recognition in medical settings.

• The government invoked constitutional values of dignity, privacy, autonomy, equality, and personal choice while responding to the court.

• The case builds on, but does not overturn, the Supreme Court's 2023 refusal to grant marriage-equality status to same-sex couples.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The 2023 Supreme Court verdict in this area is Supriyo v. Union of India.

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) replaced the Medical Council of India as India's apex medical education and ethics regulator.

• Right to privacy, dignity, and autonomy for LGBTQ+ persons has been read into Article 21 by the Supreme Court (notably in the 2017 Puttaswamy and 2018 Navtej Singh Johar judgments).

6. Global Gender Gap Index 2026: India Holds at 131st

Basic Concept

The Global Gender Gap Index, published annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF) since 2006, measures gender-based gaps across four sub-indices: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. A score of 100% would indicate full parity between men and women; the index benchmarks how far each country is from closing this gap, not the absolute level of development.

Core Context

In the 2026 edition, India retained its 131st position among 145 countries with an overall parity score of 64.5%, below the global average of 69.2%. India performed comparatively well on Educational Attainment (96.6% parity) but continued to lag sharply on Economic Participation and Opportunity, closing only 41.2% of that gap. At the current global pace, the WEF estimates it will take approximately 120 years to close the gender gap worldwide.

Latest Developments

• India's female representation in ministerial-level positions has reportedly fallen to 5.9%, down from about 30% in 2019.

• Women hold only around 13.1% of senior leadership roles in the Indian workforce, according to the report.

• Iran, Chad, and Pakistan featured among the lowest-ranked countries in the 2026 index.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The Global Gender Gap Index is published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

• It measures gaps across four sub-indices: Economic Participation, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.

• India ranked 131st of 145 countries in the 2026 edition with a 64.5% parity score.

7. Project Cheetah: India's Cheetah Population Touches 52

Basic Concept

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) went locally extinct in India in 1952. Under the Cheetah Reintroduction Project launched in September 2022, cheetahs were translocated from Namibia and later South Africa to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, marking the world's first intercontinental large-carnivore translocation. Cheetahs are listed as Vulnerable globally by the IUCN, with the Asiatic cheetah subspecies classified as Critically Endangered, and the species is placed in CITES Appendix I. Cheetahs require open habitats such as savannahs, dry grasslands, and semi-arid scrub with clear sightlines for their characteristic high-speed hunting.

Core Context

As Project Cheetah completes four years, India's cheetah population now stands at 52, of which 32 cubs have been born domestically, reflecting sustained breeding success. Of these, 49 cheetahs are in Kuno National Park (including 17 living free-ranging in the wild) and 3 have been moved to the newer Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary as part of efforts to expand habitat and reduce density pressure at Kuno.

Latest Developments

• The programme has moved from the initial reintroduction phase into a "consolidation phase," focused on establishing a self-sustaining population.

• Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is being developed as a second core site to spread out the growing population.

• Cheetahs currently occupy only about 9% of their historical global range, underlining continuing habitat-fragmentation challenges even as India's numbers rise.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• Cheetahs went extinct in India in 1952 and were reintroduced in September 2022 under Project Cheetah.

• Kuno National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh; cheetahs have since also been moved to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

• The Asiatic cheetah subspecies is Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List; the species is listed under CITES Appendix I.

8. Gegeneophis chandgadi: A New Caecilian Species from the Western Ghats

Basic Concept

Caecilians are limbless, largely burrowing amphibians in the order Gymnophiona, often mistaken for earthworms or snakes. India, and particularly the Western Ghats (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and global biodiversity hotspot), hosts a significant share of the world's caecilian diversity, much of it still being documented. The genus Gegeneophis is found in Peninsular India.

Core Context

Researchers have formally described Gegeneophis chandgadi, a new caecilian species found in Buzawade village, Chandgad taluka, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. The species measures 105-185 mm in length with 132-135 primary body rings (annuli), has a dark flesh-coloured back, a translucent pinkish belly, and a wedge-shaped head adapted for burrowing, and was notably found inhabiting soil in village backyards rather than deep forest.

Latest Developments

• The discovery highlights that even human-modified landscapes such as village backyards in the Western Ghats can harbour undocumented amphibian diversity.

• It adds to the growing list of Gegeneophis species described from Peninsular India in recent years.

• The find reinforces the Western Ghats' status as one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biodiversity.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• Caecilians belong to the amphibian order Gymnophiona and are limbless, burrowing animals.

• The Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's biodiversity hotspots.

• Gegeneophis chandgadi was discovered in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra.

9. Djibouti Joins the Artemis Accords

Basic Concept

The Artemis Accords, launched by NASA and the US State Department in 2020, are a set of non-binding bilateral principles grounded in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, aimed at guiding civil space exploration cooperation, particularly the Artemis programme's return of humans to the Moon. Key principles include transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance, registration of space objects, release of scientific data, protection of heritage sites, orbital debris mitigation, and peaceful extraction and use of space resources. India signed the Accords in 2023.

Core Context

Djibouti has signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the 72nd signatory nation overall and the 8th African country to join, reflecting the framework's continued expansion as more countries seek a role in the emerging lunar and cislunar economy.

Latest Developments

• African participation in the Accords is growing, alongside Nigeria, Rwanda, and other earlier signatories from the continent.

• The Accords remain distinct from and are seen by critics as a parallel track to the UN's Moon Agreement, which has far fewer signatories including major spacefaring nations.

• Expanding membership strengthens the norm-setting influence of the US-led approach to lunar resource governance.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The Artemis Accords were introduced in 2020 by NASA and the US State Department.

• They are grounded in principles derived from the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

• India signed the Artemis Accords in 2023; Djibouti became the 72nd signatory and 8th African signatory in September 2026.

10. The Hidden Cost of E20 Ethanol Blending

Basic Concept

The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme aims to blend ethanol, largely produced from sugarcane and foodgrain feedstock, with petrol to cut crude oil import dependence, support farmer incomes, and reduce certain tailpipe emissions. India achieved its 20% blending (E20) target ahead of the original 2030 deadline. However, ethanol has a lower energy density than petrol, which can reduce fuel efficiency (mileage) even when pump prices for E20 and pure petrol remain similar.

Core Context

A recent study has found that E20 fuel reduces mileage by roughly 2-6% across vehicle categories, for instance dropping a motorcycle's mileage from about 50 km/l on pure petrol to roughly 47-48 km/l on E20. Because pump prices have largely stayed the same, this translates into an estimated ₹88,234 crore in extra expenditure for Indian consumers over three years, raising questions about whether the programme's environmental and economic benefits are being fairly distributed.

Latest Developments

• The findings have triggered a public debate on whether ethanol-blending targets should be paired with mileage-linked pricing or vehicle recalibration support for consumers.

• Government and industry stakeholders continue to highlight the programme's benefits, including reduced crude oil import bills and support to the sugar and grain-based ethanol industry.

• The debate feeds into broader Mains-relevant discussions on balancing energy security, farmer income, and consumer cost in biofuel policy.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• India achieved the 20% ethanol-blending (E20) target ahead of its original 2030 deadline.

• Ethanol used for blending in India is derived mainly from sugarcane and foodgrain feedstock.

• Ethanol has a lower energy density than petrol, which can reduce vehicle mileage even at blended ratios.

11. Kerala's Hazard Perception Test for Driving Licences

Basic Concept

Road safety and licensing in India are governed by the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (as amended) and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, which currently require applicants to clear a learner's test (on traffic rules) and a driving/road test (on vehicle handling). A Hazard Perception Test (HPT) is a widely used tool internationally (for example in the UK and Australia) that specifically evaluates a driver's ability to recognise developing hazards on the road, a skill distinct from basic vehicle control.

Core Context

Kerala will introduce a mandatory, computer-based HPT for driving licence applicants starting December 2026, positioned between the learner's test and the final road test. The test comprises 10 one-minute video clips, each showing at least two potential road hazards, and candidates must click/respond at the right moment to flag the danger. A minimum score of 60 out of 100 (10 marks per correct response) is required to pass.

Latest Developments

• Kerala becomes the first Indian state to formally adopt this internationally used road-safety assessment tool.

• The test is intended to reduce accidents caused by delayed hazard recognition rather than poor vehicle control alone.

• Other states are expected to watch Kerala's rollout as a possible model for national road-safety reform, relevant to India's high road-accident fatality numbers.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• Kerala is the first Indian state to introduce a mandatory Hazard Perception Test for driving licences (from December 2026).

• The HPT is placed between the learner's test and the final road/ground test in the licensing process.

• A minimum score of 60/100 is required to clear Kerala's HPT.

12. Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2026 Conferred on Anant Nag

Basic Concept

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, instituted in 1969 by the Government of India, is the highest official recognition for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. It is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, widely regarded as the "Father of Indian Cinema" for directing Raja Harishchandra (1913), India's first full-length feature film. The award is presented annually at the National Film Awards ceremony and includes a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize.

Core Context

Veteran actor Anant Nag, known for his work in Kannada as well as Hindi cinema over five decades, has been announced as the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He becomes only the second artiste from Kannada cinema to receive the honour, after Dr Rajkumar was conferred the award in 1995.

Latest Developments

• The award carries a cash purse of ₹15 lakh along with the Swarna Kamal medallion and a ceremonial shawl.

• Actress Devika Rani was the inaugural recipient of the award in 1969.

• Only two individuals have received the award posthumously in its history: Prithviraj Kapoor and Vinod Khanna.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969 and is India's highest award in cinema.

• It is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, director of Raja Harishchandra (1913), India's first feature film.

• Devika Rani was the first recipient of the award in 1969; Anant Nag is only the second Kannada-cinema personality to receive it, after Dr Rajkumar (1995).

13. PMAY-Urban 2.0: Extending "Housing for All"

Basic Concept

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), launched in 2015, aims to provide "Housing for All" in urban India through four verticals: Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC), and the Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS)/Interest Subsidy Scheme. Eligibility is generally defined by income category: Economically Weaker Sections (EWS, up to ₹3 lakh annual household income), Low Income Groups (LIG, ₹3-6 lakh), and Middle Income Groups (MIG, ₹6-9 lakh).

Core Context

As the original PMAY-U's tenure ends on 30 September 2026, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs highlighted the progress of its successor, PMAY-Urban 2.0, launched to support one crore additional families over 2024-2029. Together, the two phases have sanctioned about 1.25 crore houses, of which over one crore have already been completed.

Latest Developments

• About four in five sanctioned houses under the scheme carry a woman's name as owner or co-owner, reflecting a deliberate gender-empowerment design feature.

• PMAY-U 2.0 retains the four verticals of the original scheme, including a Beneficiary-Led Construction subsidy of up to ₹2.5 lakh and an interest subsidy of 4% on the first ₹8 lakh of a home loan.

• The scheme continues to use income-based eligibility slabs (EWS, LIG, MIG) to target beneficiaries.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• PMAY-Urban was launched in 2015; its original tenure concludes on 30 September 2026.

• PMAY-Urban 2.0 targets one crore additional families for the period 2024-2029.

• PMAY-U operates through four verticals: BLC, AHP, ARHC, and an interest subsidy scheme.

14. PM Vishwakarma Scheme Completes Three Years

Basic Concept

PM Vishwakarma is a central sector scheme, launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) on 17 September 2023 (Vishwakarma Jayanti), to support artisans and craftspeople practising 18 traditional family-based trades, such as carpenters, blacksmiths, potters, tailors, and cobblers. It has an outlay of about ₹13,000 crore for the period FY2023-24 to FY2027-28 and provides a support bundle covering recognition (PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card), skill training, toolkit incentives, collateral-free credit, and support for digital transactions and marketing.

Core Context

Marking three years since launch, the scheme has met its registration target of 30 lakh artisans. As of mid-September 2026, about 24.37 lakh beneficiaries have completed skill training, 18.16 lakh toolkit incentives worth ₹15,000 each have been disbursed, and 6.19 lakh collateral-free loans worth a combined ₹5,316 crore have been sanctioned, with roughly 30,000 artisans onboarded onto e-commerce platforms.

Latest Developments

• The scheme offers collateral-free loans in tranches of ₹1 lakh and then up to ₹3 lakh at concessional interest rates.

• Basic skill training lasts 5-7 days, with an advanced training track of 15 days for those seeking deeper skill upgrades.

• A digital transaction incentive of ₹1 per transaction is provided to encourage artisans to adopt digital payments.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• PM Vishwakarma was launched on 17 September 2023 (Vishwakarma Jayanti) by the Ministry of MSME.

• It covers 18 traditional family-based trades and has a total outlay of about ₹13,000 crore (FY24-FY28).

• The toolkit incentive under the scheme is worth ₹15,000 per beneficiary.

15. India Electric Mobility Index 2025: Delhi Tops the Chart

Basic Concept

NITI Aayog, India's premier public policy think tank, tracks state-level progress on electric mobility through the India Electric Mobility Index, which benchmarks states and UTs on indicators grouped under themes such as policy support, market development, and charging infrastructure. Central support for EV adoption in India flows through schemes like FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles), PM E-DRIVE, PM e-Bus Sewa, and Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for advanced batteries and auto components.

Core Context

The second edition of the IEMI, released in 2026, ranks 29 of 36 states and UTs across 16 indicators. Delhi retained the top position, improving its score from 77 to 84, while the median score across states rose from 36 to 40, indicating broader improvement rather than gains concentrated only at the top. Madhya Pradesh recorded the sharpest jump, climbing from 23rd to 7th place.

Latest Developments

• India's EV market share has grown from about 0.5% of new vehicle sales in 2018 to 8.25% in 2025-26.

• Central schemes have channelled over ₹92,000 crore in support across FAME, PM E-DRIVE, PM e-Bus Sewa, and PLI schemes.

• A new Unified Bharat e-Charge app has been introduced to help users discover EV charging points nationwide.

• As of 2025, EVs represent roughly 50%+ of new sales in China, 25%+ in the EU, and about 10% in the US, underlining how far India still has to go despite recent gains.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The India Electric Mobility Index is released by NITI Aayog; the 2025 edition is its second.

• Delhi topped the IEMI 2025 with a score of 84 (up from 77 in the previous edition).

• FAME, PM E-DRIVE, PM e-Bus Sewa, and PLI (for batteries/auto components) are key central EV-support schemes.

16. SEMICON India 2026 and India's Semiconductor Mission

Basic Concept

The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), housed under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), was launched in 2021 to develop a sustainable semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in India, offering fiscal support for fabrication (fab) units, display fabs, Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) units, and chip design. SEMICON India is the mission's flagship annual industry event bringing together global chipmakers, investors, and policymakers.

Core Context

At SEMICON India 2026, the government presented an updated status of the Mission: 12 semiconductor-related projects have been approved across six states, drawing investment commitments exceeding ₹1.64 lakh crore. Separately, the Semicon India Programme 2.0, approved in July 2026 with an outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore, extends fiscal support to expand India's fabrication and design capacity further.

Latest Developments

• By April 2026, 211 chips had been "taped out" (finalised for fabrication) under India's semiconductor design ecosystem, with seven fabricated at advanced process nodes.

• The ChipIN Centre, a government-backed design facilitation platform, has supported over 1 lakh engineers from 500-plus organisations.

• The push complements India's rapidly growing data-centre capacity, which rose from 375 MW in 2020 to about 1.57 GW by August 2026, with a target of 8 GW by 2030, reflecting the broader digital and electronics manufacturing ecosystem the chip mission is meant to feed.

UPSC Prelims Pointers

• The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was launched in 2021 under MeitY.

• Semicon India Programme 2.0 was approved in July 2026 with an outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore.

• OSAT stands for Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test, one of the segments supported under the Mission.

17. Practice MCQs

Practice MCQs

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Article 371(K), recently proposed for Ladakh:
1. It would be the first 371-series special provision extended to a Union Territory rather than a full state.
2. It proposes to grant an elected apex body authority over land, culture, language, and civil services in Ladakh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only

• (b) 2 only

• (c) Both 1 and 2

• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Article 371(K) is being designed specifically for Ladakh, a Union Territory without a legislature, making it the first such provision for a UT rather than a full state, and it proposes to give an elected apex body authority over land, culture, language, forests, and civil services.

Q2. The 1991 India-Pakistan agreement referred to in the context of the recent Arabian Sea naval collision requires warships of the two countries to maintain a minimum separation of:

• (a) 1 nautical mile

• (b) 3 nautical miles

• (c) 5 nautical miles

• (d) 12 nautical miles

Answer: (b) 3 nautical miles

Explanation: The 1991 India-Pakistan confidence-building agreement requires warships to stay at least three nautical miles (about 5.6 km) apart in international waters to avoid accidental encounters.

Q3. With reference to the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission recently rejected by India, consider the following statements:
1. It concerns the Shaksgam Valley, ceded by Pakistan to China under the 1963 Sino-Pakistani Boundary Agreement.
2. India has recognised the 1963 agreement but disputes its implementation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only

• (b) 2 only

• (c) Both 1 and 2

• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only

Explanation: The Commission concerns the Shaksgam Valley (Trans-Karakoram Tract), ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963. India has never recognised the 1963 agreement itself, holding that Pakistan had no legal standing to cede territory it illegally occupied.

Q4. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, under which the Shahzad Bhatti Network was recently banned, allows the central government to:

• (a) Designate only individuals, not organisations, as terrorists

• (b) Designate organisations as "terrorist organisations" by including them in its First Schedule

• (c) Ban organisations only after a state government's recommendation

• (d) Ban organisations only for offences related to narcotics trafficking

Answer: (b) Designate organisations as "terrorist organisations" by including them in its First Schedule

Explanation: UAPA, 1967 empowers the Centre to declare an organisation a "terrorist organisation" by adding it to the Act's First Schedule; a 2019 amendment additionally allows individuals to be designated as terrorists.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Global Gender Gap Index 2026:
1. It is published annually by the World Economic Forum.
2. India performed better on Educational Attainment than on Economic Participation and Opportunity.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only

• (b) 2 only

• (c) Both 1 and 2

• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: The Global Gender Gap Index is published annually by the World Economic Forum. In the 2026 edition, India scored much higher on Educational Attainment (96.6%) than on Economic Participation and Opportunity (41.2%).

Q6. Project Cheetah involves the reintroduction of cheetahs to India from which two countries?

• (a) Kenya and Tanzania

• (b) Namibia and South Africa

• (c) Botswana and Zimbabwe

• (d) South Africa and Kenya

Answer: (b) Namibia and South Africa

Explanation: Cheetahs were translocated to Kuno National Park from Namibia (2022) and later from South Africa, in what is regarded as the world's first intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore.

Q7. The Artemis Accords, which Djibouti recently joined, are grounded in the principles of which international treaty?

• (a) The Moon Agreement, 1979

• (b) The Outer Space Treaty, 1967

• (c) The Rescue Agreement, 1968

• (d) The Liability Convention, 1972

Answer: (b) The Outer Space Treaty, 1967

Explanation: The Artemis Accords, launched by NASA and the US State Department in 2020, are a set of non-binding principles explicitly grounded in and reaffirming the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.