2 Nov – 8 Nov 202626 Oct – 1 Nov 202619 Oct – 25 Oct 202612 Oct – 18 Oct 20265 Oct – 11 Oct 202628 Sep – 4 Oct 202621 Sep – 27 Sep 202614 Sep – 20 Sep 20267 Sep – 13 Sep 202631 Aug – 6 Sep 2026
Weekly at a glance
- Mon 28 Sep — MP Cabinet's ₹13,790 cr package, Project Cheetah at 56, and Russia's backing for India's UNSC seat lead today's affairs.
- Tue 29 Sep — MP Cabinet clears Rs 13,790 crore package (140 sports complexes, big irrigation & judiciary push); India fires up its first port-based e-methanol plant at Kandla; Kuno's cheetah count rises to 56.
- Wed 30 Sep — MP grants 20% ex-Agniveer quota and a ₹24,500 cr package; Project Cheetah turns 4 at Kuno; India's net FDI hits a 5-year high
- Thu 1 Oct — Ladli Behna's 40th instalment lifts MP welfare spend, four Madhya Pradesh monuments enter UNESCO's tentative list, and India's Q1 FY27 GDP races to 7.8%
- Fri 2 Oct — MP Cabinet clears ₹24,500 cr & 20% Agniveer quota; Ladli Behna crosses ₹65,000 cr; nation marks Gandhi Jayanti & 12 years of Swachh Bharat
All topics — key facts for revision
28 September 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH MP Cabinet clears ₹13,790 crore package: 8 key decisions
- ₹962.50 crore for Mukhyamantri Sports Complexes in all 140 assembly constituencies, with permanent helipads.
- ~₹4,968 crore for three irrigation projects (Suthalia, Javad-Nimach micro-irrigation, Parvati-Rinsi) covering 88,000+ hectares over five years.
- Over ₹4,000 crore (2026-31) for judicial services — High Court ₹2,015.6 cr, Family Courts ₹1,000 cr, Gram Nyayalaya ₹554.6 cr, Legal Aid ₹524 cr.
- 2,800 MW thermal power via competitive bidding; ₹969.87 cr for commercial-tax/e-Registry reforms.
- Earlier September 2026 cabinets cleared cumulative proposals of about ₹42,490 crore for state development.
MADHYA PRADESH Project Cheetah crosses 56 as Kuno welcomes 4 new cubs
- Total 56 cheetahs: 36 born in India (over 60%) and 20 imported from Namibia, South Africa & Botswana.
- India-born female KGP12 gave birth to 4 cubs at Kuno National Park in Sep 2026.
- Project Cheetah began 17 Sep 2022 (8 from Namibia); 12 more from South Africa arrived 18 Feb 2023.
- Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is the second home; expansion to Rajasthan & Gujarat under discussion.
- MP holds India's largest forest cover and is the 'Tiger State'; Kuno lies in Sheopur district.
MADHYA PRADESH Ladli Behna Yojana stays MP's flagship women's welfare push
- Monthly transfer of ₹1,250, being raised in phases toward ₹1,500.
- About 1.29 crore women beneficiaries across the state.
- DBT to bank accounts; 40th instalment released in 2026.
- Eligibility: married/widowed/divorced/abandoned women, age 21-60, within income limits.
MADHYA PRADESH Ujjain gears up for Simhastha 2028; road widening under way
- State has approved about ₹25,000 crore of Simhastha 2028 works; up to 40 crore devotees expected.
- About 272 structures along the alignment demolished for road widening in Ujjain (Sep 2026).
- Simhastha is held every 12 years on the banks of the Kshipra (Shipra) river at Ujjain.
- Ujjain hosts the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
ECONOMY 'Soybean State' MP anchors MSP procurement of wheat & pulses
- MP is the 'Soybean State' (largest soybean producer) and famed for Sharbati wheat.
- Rabi 2026-27 state wheat procurement price set at about ₹2,600/quintal, incl. a ₹40 bonus over central MSP.
- Around 1.9 million (19 lakh) farmers registered for MSP wheat procurement.
- Key crops: soybean, wheat, gram/pulses; Narmada, Chambal & Betwa basins anchor irrigation.
POLITY Right to vote: statutory or fundamental? Debate revives
- Right to vote is presently a statutory right under Section 62, RPA 1951, not a fundamental right.
- In Goa, 97 eligible voters were reportedly deleted and officers could not override the software.
- Key rulings: Kuldip Nayar (2006) — statutory; Rajbala (2015) — constitutional; Anoop Baranwal (2023) dissent linked voting to Articles 19(1)(a) & 21.
- Roll deletions can cascade into loss of welfare-scheme access tied to electoral status.
IR Russia backs India & Brazil for permanent UNSC seats
- Russia backs India & Brazil; opposes Germany & Japan, citing a 'path to militarism'.
- G4 = India, Brazil, Germany, Japan; countered by the Uniting for Consensus bloc.
- African Union seeks seats via the Ezulwini Consensus.
- Reform needs a 2/3 UNGA majority + all five P5 ratifications (Article 108); China is yet to back India.
ENVIRONMENT COP31 (Antalya) faces heat over sidelined fossil-fuel exit
- Unusual split presidency: Türkiye hosts, Australia is vice-president.
- Listed priorities: electrification (~20%→35% by 2035), oceans, circular economy — fossil-fuel phase-out is absent.
- India targets 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030 and net zero by 2070, anchored on CBDR.
- Loss-and-damage financing remains a sticking point for developing nations.
IR UNGA declaration shields island states from sea-level rise
- Declaration freezes maritime baselines under UNCLOS even if coastlines retreat.
- Protects statehood, fishing rights and seabed resources of small island states (Fiji, Tuvalu, Vanuatu).
- Non-binding UNGA consensus but influential in shaping customary international law.
- Relevant to India's Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar, Sundarbans and long coastline.
SOCIETY NCRB 2024: rape-trial pendency rises, conviction stays low
- 29,536 rape cases registered in 2024 (~84 per day).
- Trial backlog rose from 1.39 lakh (2018) to 1.86 lakh (2024) — about 90% of the trial pool.
- Of 20,587 trials disposed in 2024, only ~8% convictions (421); about 68% acquittals.
- BNSS mandates investigation and trial within about two months each — largely directory.
SOCIETY Poompuhar dives reveal ancient Chola port's ocean trade
- Finds include a West Asian 'torpedo jar' fragment, four terracotta ring wells and 250+ ceramic fragments.
- Located at the mouth of the Cauvery in Mayiladuthurai district; habitation dated to 5th-4th century BCE.
- City likely submerged by floods/tsunami around the 3rd-4th century CE.
- Traded within a network linking Arikamedu, Pattanam and Korkai.
29 September 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH MP Cabinet Clears Rs 13,790 Crore Development Package
- Total package: Rs 13,790 crore for the 16th Finance Commission period (1 April 2026 - 31 March 2031).
- Rs 962.50 crore for Mukhyamantri Sports Complexes in all 140 targeted assembly constituencies, with permanent helipads at main grounds.
- Nearly Rs 4,968 crore for 3 major irrigation projects (Suthalia & Parvati-Rinsi in Rajgarh; Javad-Nimach micro-irrigation), adding 88,000+ hectares.
- 2,800 MW thermal power to be procured via competitive bidding.
- Rs 4,000+ crore for the judiciary: High Court (Rs 2,015.6 cr), Family Courts (Rs 1,000 cr), Gram Nyayalaya (Rs 554.6 cr), Legal Aid Board (Rs 524 cr).
MADHYA PRADESH GIS-2027 Push: MP Bags Rs 20,193 Crore Fresh Investment Proposals
- Fresh proposals worth Rs 20,193 crore with an estimated 27,592 direct & indirect jobs.
- GIS-2027 is scheduled for January 2027; previous GIS-2025 drew proposals exceeding Rs 33 lakh crore.
- Focus sectors: semiconductors, data centres, IT & AI, textiles, defence manufacturing, renewable energy.
- PM MITRA Textile Park, Dhar reported 90% plot allocation soon after its foundation.
- MP infrastructure cited: 5 lakh km road network, 8 airports, 6 international container facilities.
ENVIRONMENT Project Cheetah: Kuno's Cheetah Count Rises to 56
- Kuno cheetah population rose to 56 after an India-born cheetah delivered 4 cubs.
- Cheetah CCB-2 relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (Mandsaur-Neemuch), the second cheetah home.
- Project Cheetah launched 17 September 2022 with cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa — world's first intercontinental big-cat translocation.
- MP is India's 'Tiger State' and now the only state with cheetahs; Kuno lies in the Sheopur district.
- Other big-cat parks: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura.
MADHYA PRADESH Ladli Behna Yojana: 40th Installment of Rs 1,500 to 1.25 Crore Women
- 40th installment of Rs 1,500 each transferred to about 1.25 crore women (~Rs 1,835 crore total).
- Scheme launched in 2023; provides monthly financial assistance to eligible women aged 21-60.
- Payments made via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
- Festive-month top-ups have earlier raised some installments (e.g. Rakhi) above the base Rs 1,500.
- One of India's largest state-run women's cash-transfer schemes by beneficiary count.
MADHYA PRADESH MP Fast-Tracks Simhastha 2028 Preparations at Ujjain
- Simhastha (Kumbh) at Ujjain is held every 12 years; the next is in 2028.
- Held on the banks of the Shipra (Kshipra) river; Ujjain hosts the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga.
- Government targets road widening, riverfront and crowd-management infrastructure for lakhs of pilgrims.
- Ujjain was the ancient capital of Avanti / Malwa and a historic centre of astronomy (prime meridian).
- Part of MP's push to position itself as a leading spiritual-tourism destination.
SCI-TECH India Launches First Port-Based e-Methanol Plant at Kandla
- Location: Deendayal Port, Kandla (Gujarat) on 75 acres.
- Joint venture: Deendayal Port Authority (76%) and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd (24%).
- Total investment Rs 2,300 crore; capacity 150 tonnes/day (Phase-I 50 TPD, Phase-II 100 TPD).
- Expected to create 3,500+ direct & indirect jobs.
- Supports India's Net Zero by 2070 target and green maritime fuel goals.
SCI-TECH India Flags Off Its First LNG-Powered Train from Sabarmati
- Flagged off from Sabarmati (Ahmedabad Division, Western Railway), Gujarat.
- Dual-fuel traction: LNG substitutes up to 40% of diesel consumption.
- Uses two 1,400 HP power cars with 2,200-litre cryogenic tanks (-162 degC).
- Estimated fuel saving of about Rs 23.9 lakh per 8-coach train per year.
- Cuts particulate matter, NOx and CO2 versus conventional diesel.
POLITY Is the Right to Vote a Fundamental Right? Debate Renewed
- In India, voting is currently a statutory/legal right (Representation of the People Act, 1951), not a fundamental right.
- The 61st Constitutional Amendment (1988) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years.
- The Kuldip Nayar (2006) verdict held voting to be a statutory right.
- ECI announced nine reform decisions — including mandatory meeting minutes and an independent ECINet review committee.
- Advocates cite Article 25 of the ICCPR and stronger protection against arbitrary deletions.
IR UNGA Adopts Landmark Declaration on Sea Level Rise
- Adopted by consensus at the 81st UN General Assembly.
- Co-facilitated by Australia and Cabo Verde.
- Affirms a presumption of continued statehood for nations losing land to the sea.
- Supports fixed maritime baselines under UNCLOS, so zones do not shrink as coastlines retreat.
- Prioritises protection of displaced people and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
DEFENCE IAF Hosts Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Jodhpur
- Hosted at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan; theme 'Power in Partnership'.
- Participating nations included the US, Australia, France, Germany, UAE, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
- The F-35 joined for its first operational participation, alongside Rafale, Su-30MKI and HAL Tejas.
- Focus on 5th-generation combat training, sensor fusion, stealth tactics and beyond-visual-range operations.
- Included an International Defence Aviation Seminar and aerospace-industry engagement.
30 September 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH MP grants 20% reservation to ex-Agniveers in uniformed services
- 20% horizontal quota in Police Constable, Special Armed Force, Jail Guard, Forest Guard, Excise Constable
- Also 20% interest subsidy on agriculture loans for Agniveers + recruitment age/physical relaxations
- Part of the wider ₹24,500 crore cabinet package
- Flows from the central Agnipath scheme (2022) — 4-year military tenure
POLITY ₹24,500 cr MP package: schools, hospitals, roads and irrigation
- Guest-teacher honorarium ₹5,329.17 cr (2026–31) for 76,000+ teachers; free uniforms via DBT ₹348 cr (Classes 1–8)
- Health infra ₹3,245.80 cr (2026–31); CIMS Chhindwara ₹953.69 cr; Singrauli hospital 450→605 beds
- Damoh–Katni 4-lane road — 105.10 km, ₹4,470.30 cr
- Rural Development Fund ₹3,580.22 cr; judicial infra ₹1,342.48 cr
MADHYA PRADESH Ujjain readies for Simhastha 2028; Kanh Diversion duct cleared
- Simhastha is held every 12 years at Ujjain on the Kshipra river
- About ₹25,000 cr infra; a 3,300-hectare 'spiritual city' planned
- 12–40 crore devotees expected over the mela
- Mahakaleshwar — one of 12 Jyotirlingas; Mahakal Lok corridor already built
ENVIRONMENT Project Cheetah turns four; India's cheetah count reaches 57
- 57 cheetahs in India; Kuno 54 (17 free-ranging + 37 in bomas)
- Gandhi Sagar sanctuary (Mandsaur/Neemuch) — 3 cheetahs (second home)
- 9 Botswana cheetahs arrived Feb 2026; India-born cubs since Mar 2023
- India is the only country with the cheetah, tiger, lion, leopard & snow leopard
MADHYA PRADESH MP the farm powerhouse: 'Soybean State' drives Krishak Kalyan year
- India's largest soybean producer — the 'Soybean State'
- Premium Sharbati wheat (GI tag, Sehore/Vidisha belt); top gram (chana) & pulses
- Record wheat MSP procurement at ₹2,600+/quintal
- Bhavantar Bhugtan support for paddy; Narmada valley irrigation
POLITY Pashudhan Bima Portal launched for digital livestock insurance
- Available in 11 regional languages plus Hindi and English
- Enables digital application, real-time monitoring & faster claims
- Aligns with the govt's doubling farmer income push
- Directly relevant to MP's large dairy & cattle economy
ECONOMY SEBI's new 'PRIM' route lets portfolio managers invest in mutual funds
- PMS can now invest client funds in mutual fund schemes
- Minimum ticket size stays ₹25 lakh
- Up to 10% of client AUM in investment-grade unlisted debt
- Also opens access to IPOs & primary debt issuances
ECONOMY Sagarmala arm floats India's first Blue Bond (₹600 crore)
- Target ₹600 crore (₹500 cr base + green shoe)
- 10-year tenor; rated AA+
- Proceeds fund ports, shipping & coastal projects
- A milestone in India's sustainable / thematic bond market
DEFENCE KAZIND-2026: 9th India–Kazakhstan military exercise begins
- Held 28 Sep – 11 Oct 2026
- Indian contingent led by a Garhwal Rifles battalion (60 members)
- Focus: counter-terrorism in semi-urban & mountainous terrain
- Strengthens India–Central Asia strategic ties
SCI-TECH India's first orbital data centre planned by TakeMe2Space
- Two 100 kg satellites to a 500 km sun-synchronous orbit
- Each carries 10 NVIDIA Thor GPUs, 100 TB storage, 1.5 kW power
- Linked via optical inter-satellite links
- Target launch ~late 2028 — data processing in orbit
1 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH Ladli Behna Yojana releases 40th instalment to 1.25 crore women
- 40th instalment of about Rs 1,835 crore transferred to roughly 1.25 crore women
- Each beneficiary receives Rs 1,500 per month (raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500)
- Total transfers under the scheme have crossed Rs 65,396 crore since its June 2023 launch
- FY 2026-27 budget outlay for the scheme is about Rs 23,883 crore
- Delivered through DBT to curb leakages; a flagship women-centric welfare programme of MP
MADHYA PRADESH Four Madhya Pradesh sites enter UNESCO's tentative list
- MP entries: Bagh Cave Paintings (4th-6th c., Gupta-era Buddhist murals)
- Udaigiri Caves (4th-5th c., early Vaishnava rock-cut iconography)
- Chambal Valley Temples (8th-11th c., Nagara architecture, Gurjara-Pratihara era)
- Ginnorgarh Fort (15th-18th c., a Gond tribal capital with hybrid architecture)
- India now has 78 sites on the Tentative List and 43 inscribed World Heritage Sites
ENVIRONMENT India's cheetah population reaches 52, anchored at MP's Kuno
- Total population 52: Kuno National Park (Sheopur) 49 and Gandhi Sagar WLS 3
- 32 of these are cubs or juveniles born in India
- 9 cheetahs were brought from Botswana in February 2026 for genetic diversity
- Earlier batches came from Namibia (Sep 2022) and South Africa (Feb 2023)
- Nauradehi WLS (MP) and Banni grasslands (Gujarat) are planned future sites
MADHYA PRADESH MP Cabinet clears Rs 42,490-crore infrastructure & welfare package
- Combined proposals cross Rs 42,490 crore for infrastructure plus welfare
- Focus on roads, health, irrigation and public-service delivery
- Part of MP's push toward a larger, Viksit (developed) state economy
- Capital spending intended to crowd-in private investment and jobs
- Complements flagship welfare transfers such as Ladli Behna
MADHYA PRADESH MP, the 'Soybean State', backs oilseed farmers on price support
- MP is India's leading soybean producer — the 'Soybean State'
- Soybean procured at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under central oilseed procurement
- Price-deficit (Bhavantar-type) payments bridge the gap when mandi prices fall below MSP
- MP is also a top producer of wheat (incl. Sharbati), gram/pulses in the Narmada belt
- Oilseed procurement supports lakhs of registered farmers across central India
ECONOMY MP sharpens investment pitch for 'Viksit' state economy
- MP drew record investment interest after its Global Investors Summit (Bhopal, Feb 2025)
- Lakhs of crores in investment intentions span industry, energy and services
- Industrial corridors, data centres and renewable energy are priority sectors
- Rewa ultra-mega solar park anchors MP's clean-energy and pumped-hydro push
- State aims to scale toward a trillion-dollar-plus 'Viksit MP' economy
POLITY Digital fraud surges; cyber-justice gaps come under scrutiny
- Cybercrime cases rose 17.9% (2023 to 2024); over 1.01 lakh cases recorded
- Conviction rate remains below 18% despite rising case numbers
- Over 80% of victims suffered financial loss; threats include deepfakes and 'digital arrest' scams
- Key bodies: I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre), CERT-In, NCIIPC
- Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) and the 1930 helpline aid rapid response
ENVIRONMENT FAO COFO-28 spotlights forests; India's cover at 25.17%
- India's forest & tree cover is 82.74 million hectares — 25.17% of its land area
- India ranks 9th in total forest area and 3rd in net annual forest gain
- Forests remove about 150 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year (2021-25)
- Bonn Challenge: 21.76 of 26 million-hectare restoration target met
- Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover among Indian states
SOCIETY World Tourism Day 2026 puts AI on the travel agenda
- Tourism contributes about 5.22% to India's GDP
- Tourism employment rose from 6.94 crore (2019-20) to 8.46 crore (2023-24)
- Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASHAD and SASCI drive destination development
- e-Visa now extended to 172 countries; cruise passenger traffic up 328% in a decade
- MP's Mahakal (Ujjain), Khajuraho and Sanchi are marquee heritage-tourism draws
DEFENCE 2nd ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) concludes
- Indian Navy fielded INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish
- Partner ships included BRP Jose Rizal, BRP Tarlac and RSS Justice
- Drills covered HADR, maritime domain awareness and logistics cooperation
- Included boarding operations, helicopter cross-deck landings and medical evacuation
- Advances the 'Women, Peace & Security' agenda at sea
2 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →MADHYA PRADESH MP Cabinet approves ₹24,500 crore; Sugam Transport Scheme & 20% Agniveer quota cleared
- New Sugam Transport Scheme approved to build an organised state public-transport system (a 21-year-old demand).
- 20% reservation for Agniveers in Forest, Home, Jail and other services.
- ₹3,313 cr for Health Dept projects; ₹372 cr medical college in Singrauli; 105-km Damoh–Katni road.
- Students of Classes 1–8 to get ₹600 via DBT in place of uniforms; grain at ₹1/kg for nomadic hostel students.
- Kshipra river cleanup cleared ahead of Simhastha-2028.
MADHYA PRADESH Ladli Behna Yojana: 40th instalment lifts total transfers past ₹65,000 crore
- ₹1,835 crore transferred to over 1.25 crore women in a single instalment (13 Sep 2026).
- Monthly benefit now ₹1,500 (raised from ₹1,000 → ₹1,250 → ₹1,500 since June 2023).
- Scheme targets women aged 21–60; aims at financial self-reliance.
- Cumulative outlay has crossed ₹65,000 crore since launch.
MADHYA PRADESH Bhavantar revived for soybean: price-gap support for the 'Soybean State'
- MSP ₹5,328/quintal; modal market rate at Neemuch about ₹3,698/quintal.
- Price gap (~₹1,630/quintal) paid directly to farmers' accounts.
- MP is India's largest soybean producer — the 'Soybean State'.
- Registration and procurement routed through mandis with weighing & payment facilities.
ENVIRONMENT Project Cheetah completes four years: 52 cheetahs, 32 India-born cubs at Kuno
- Total 52 cheetahs: 49 at Kuno National Park (MP), 3 at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.
- 32 cubs born in India since the project began.
- 9 cheetahs brought from Botswana on 28 Feb 2026 (after Namibia 2022 & South Africa 2023).
- Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952; this is the world's first intercontinental large-carnivore translocation.
SOCIETY Simhastha Kumbh 2028: Ujjain gears up with ₹25,000 cr infrastructure push
- About ₹25,000 crore infrastructure outlay planned for the mega-event.
- An estimated 40 crore devotees expected over the fair.
- Works include 22 bridges, new ghats, Kshipra cleanup and road–rail–air connectivity.
- Ujjain is home to Mahakaleshwar (one of 12 Jyotirlingas); Simhastha is held roughly every 12 years.
POLITY Gandhi Jayanti & Shastri Jayanti observed; Swachh Bharat Mission turns 12
- 2 October 1869 — birth of M.K. Gandhi; also observed globally as the International Day of Non-Violence.
- 2 October 1904 — birth of Lal Bahadur Shastri, coiner of 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'.
- Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on 2 October 2014 — now 12 years.
- Gandhi's principles of Satyagraha and Ahimsa anchor the day's commemorations.
ECONOMY RBI holds repo rate at 5.25% ahead of 5–7 October policy review
- Repo rate 5.25% (cut by 25 bps in December 2025, held since).
- SDF 5.00%, MSF & Bank Rate 5.50%; stance remains neutral.
- CPI inflation about 4.82% (Aug 2026); FY27 projections near 5.0%.
- Governor Sanjay Malhotra heads the six-member MPC.
IR India–Japan summit launches first joint defence co-development & AI partnership
- Leaders launched the first India–Japan defence co-development initiative.
- A dedicated AI partnership and expanded economic security cooperation announced.
- Builds on the Special Strategic and Global Partnership (since 2014).
- Both are members of the Quad (with the US and Australia).
POLITY Supreme Court issues notice on PIL against MDR on large UPI payments
- Notice issued to Centre, RBI and payment bodies on the MDR-on-UPI PIL.
- MDR is the fee a merchant pays on digital transactions; UPI is currently zero-MDR.
- At issue: cost to small merchants vs. sustainability of the payments ecosystem.
- UPI is run by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
IR BRICS Summit 2026 to be hosted by India; leaders' bilaterals in focus
- India hosts the BRICS Summit 2026; key bilateral meetings lined up.
- BRICS has expanded beyond Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa to new members.
- Agenda spans trade, payments, de-dollarisation debates and reform of global institutions.
- India emphasises reformed multilateralism and Global South priorities.
Prelims rapid-fire — 30 facts
| Kuno National Park — Project Cheetah's first home — is in Sheopur district, MP. |
| Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga at Ujjain sits on the Kshipra (Shipra) river. |
| India's non-fossil capacity target: 500 GW by 2030; net zero by 2070. |
| Article 108 of the UN Charter governs its amendment (needs all P5 + 2/3 UNGA). |
| Sharbati wheat, a premium variety, is grown in Madhya Pradesh. |
| NCRB functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. |
| Kuno National Park (cheetahs) lies in MP's Sheopur district; the 2nd cheetah home is Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. |
| The 16th Finance Commission (chair Arvind Panagariya) covers the award period 2026-31. |
| Sharbati wheat of Sehore (MP) carries a GI tag; MP is India's leading wheat & soybean state. |
| India's first port-based e-methanol plant is at Kandla (Deendayal Port), Gujarat. |
| The 61st Constitutional Amendment (1988) lowered the voting age to 18 years. |
| Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 was held at Jodhpur; theme 'Power in Partnership'. |
| Bodhana Sivanandan (11) becomes the youngest-ever Woman Grandmaster (England), at the 46th Chess Olympiad, Samarkand. |
| Air India climbs 27 places to 57th at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2026; Singapore Airlines is No. 1. |
| India finishes 10th at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 with 6 silver and 20 Medallions for Excellence. |
| HAL–SkyPulse: a ₹2,491 cr framework for 30 light civil helicopters (HEMS, disaster response, UDAN). |
| 9th India International Water Week 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam; theme 'Climate Resilient Water Management'. |
| 30 September — International Translation Day (feast of St. Jerome, patron of translators). |
| Kuno National Park, home of Project Cheetah, lies in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. |
| Ladli Behna beneficiaries currently receive Rs 1,500 per month via DBT. |
| Madhya Pradesh is India's largest soybean producer — the 'Soybean State'. |
| India has 43 inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 78 on the Tentative List. |
| I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) works under the Ministry of Home Affairs. |
| India's forest & tree cover stands at 25.17% of its geographical area. |
| Kuno National Park — the cheetah reintroduction site — is in MP's Sheopur district. |
| MP is India's largest soybean producer; Sharbati wheat is its famed GI variety. |
| Narmada is the longest river flowing through MP; it rises at Amarkantak. |
| Repo rate currently 5.25%; CPI target band is 4% ± 2%. |
| Swachh Bharat Mission launched 2 Oct 2014; 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' — Lal Bahadur Shastri. |
| Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar is one of 12 Jyotirlingas; Simhastha recurs about every 12 years. |
Data points of the period
8.2%
India real GDP growth
Q1 FY2026-27 (Apr-Jun) — among the fastest of major economies, powered by manufacturing & services.
Q1 FY2026-27 (Apr-Jun) — among the fastest of major economies, powered by manufacturing & services.
7.8%
India's GDP growth, Q1 FY27 (Apr-Jun 2026)
India's real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27, beating expectations despite external headwinds — among the fastest for major economies. (official government data)
India's real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27, beating expectations despite external headwinds — among the fastest for major economies. (official government data)
₹/USD 7.35 billion
India's Net FDI — July 2026
A five-year high, up 64% YoY; gross inflows USD 14.58 bn. Communication, financial & computer services drew ~60% of equity.
A five-year high, up 64% YoY; gross inflows USD 14.58 bn. Communication, financial & computer services drew ~60% of equity.
7.8%
India's Q1 FY27 GDP growth
India's real GDP expanded 7.8% year-on-year in Q1 (Apr-Jun) of FY27, beating estimates on the back of services and fixed investment — the headline macro number MPPSC aspirants should track alongside MP's state-economy push.
India's real GDP expanded 7.8% year-on-year in Q1 (Apr-Jun) of FY27, beating estimates on the back of services and fixed investment — the headline macro number MPPSC aspirants should track alongside MP's state-economy push.
₹26.6 lakh crore
MADHYA PRADESH — INVESTMENT INTENT (GIS 2025)
Investment intentions mobilised around the Global Investors Summit, as MP targets a GSDP of about ₹248.6 lakh crore by 2047–48 and positions itself as a rising industrial destination.
Investment intentions mobilised around the Global Investors Summit, as MP targets a GSDP of about ₹248.6 lakh crore by 2047–48 and positions itself as a rising industrial destination.
10 practice MCQs — MPPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. Consider the following statements about Project Cheetah: 1. Kuno National Park is in Madhya Pradesh. 2. The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. 3. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is a designated second home for cheetahs. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: D
All three are correct. Kuno (Sheopur, MP) is the first home, the cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952, and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is the designated second reintroduction site.
All three are correct. Kuno (Sheopur, MP) is the first home, the cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952, and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is the designated second reintroduction site.
Q2. The 'Ladli Behna Yojana', often in the news, is associated with which state and delivery mechanism?
- Rajasthan — food coupons
- Madhya Pradesh — Direct Benefit Transfer
- Uttar Pradesh — subsidised loans
- Gujarat — in-kind rations
Show answer
Answer: B
Ladli Behna Yojana is Madhya Pradesh's flagship women's welfare scheme, transferring monthly cash directly to bank accounts through DBT.
Ladli Behna Yojana is Madhya Pradesh's flagship women's welfare scheme, transferring monthly cash directly to bank accounts through DBT.
Q3. Consider the following statements about Project Cheetah in Madhya Pradesh: 1. Kuno National Park is located in the Sheopur district. 2. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as the second home for cheetahs. 3. The cheetahs reintroduced in India belong to the Asiatic subspecies. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: A
Kuno is in Sheopur district and Gandhi Sagar is the second cheetah home, so statements 1 and 2 are correct. The reintroduced cheetahs are of the African subspecies (from Namibia and South Africa), not Asiatic, so statement 3 is wrong.
Kuno is in Sheopur district and Gandhi Sagar is the second cheetah home, so statements 1 and 2 are correct. The reintroduced cheetahs are of the African subspecies (from Namibia and South Africa), not Asiatic, so statement 3 is wrong.
Q4. With reference to the recently launched e-methanol plant, consider the following: 1. It is India's first port-based e-methanol production facility. 2. It is located at the Deendayal (Kandla) Port in Gujarat. 3. e-methanol is produced by combining green hydrogen with captured carbon dioxide. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: D
All three are correct: it is India's first port-based e-methanol plant, located at Deendayal (Kandla) Port, Gujarat, and e-methanol combines green hydrogen with captured CO2 to serve as a low-carbon shipping fuel.
All three are correct: it is India's first port-based e-methanol plant, located at Deendayal (Kandla) Port, Gujarat, and e-methanol combines green hydrogen with captured CO2 to serve as a low-carbon shipping fuel.
Q5. With reference to Project Cheetah, consider the following statements: 1. Kuno National Park lies in the Chambal river basin. 2. The first cheetahs introduced in 2022 were brought from South Africa. Which of the statements is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: A
Kuno is on the Chambal basin (Sheopur, MP), so 1 is correct. The first 8 cheetahs (Sep 2022) came from Namibia; South African cheetahs arrived in Feb 2023, so 2 is wrong.
Kuno is on the Chambal basin (Sheopur, MP), so 1 is correct. The first 8 cheetahs (Sep 2022) came from Namibia; South African cheetahs arrived in Feb 2023, so 2 is wrong.
Q6. The 'PRIM' route recently notified is associated with which of the following?
- Livestock insurance
- Portfolio Managers investing in Mutual Funds
- Blue bonds
- Helicopter manufacturing
Show answer
Answer: B
PRIM = Portfolio Managers investing in Mutual Funds, a new SEBI route with a ₹25 lakh minimum ticket.
PRIM = Portfolio Managers investing in Mutual Funds, a new SEBI route with a ₹25 lakh minimum ticket.
Q7. With reference to Project Cheetah, consider the following statements: 1. Kuno National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh. 2. The cheetahs introduced in India have been brought only from Namibia. 3. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the sites holding cheetahs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B
Kuno NP is in Madhya Pradesh (1 correct) and Gandhi Sagar WLS also holds cheetahs (3 correct). Cheetahs have come from Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, not only Namibia (2 incorrect).
Kuno NP is in Madhya Pradesh (1 correct) and Gandhi Sagar WLS also holds cheetahs (3 correct). Cheetahs have come from Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, not only Namibia (2 incorrect).
Q8. The Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana is associated with which of the following?
- Free electricity to all farmers in Madhya Pradesh
- Monthly cash transfer to eligible women in Madhya Pradesh
- Crop insurance for soybean growers
- Interest-free education loans for tribal students
Show answer
Answer: B
Ladli Behna Yojana provides a monthly cash transfer (currently Rs 1,500) to eligible women in Madhya Pradesh through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Ladli Behna Yojana provides a monthly cash transfer (currently Rs 1,500) to eligible women in Madhya Pradesh through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Q9. With reference to the Ladli Behna Yojana of Madhya Pradesh, consider the following: 1. It provides a monthly cash benefit through Direct Benefit Transfer. 2. The monthly amount has been raised to ₹1,500. 3. It is aimed primarily at women in the age group 21–60 years. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: D
The scheme is a DBT-based monthly cash transfer (now ₹1,500) targeting women aged 21–60; all three statements are correct.
The scheme is a DBT-based monthly cash transfer (now ₹1,500) targeting women aged 21–60; all three statements are correct.
Q10. Project Cheetah, often in the news, is primarily associated with which of the following protected areas in Madhya Pradesh?
- Kanha National Park
- Kuno National Park
- Bandhavgarh National Park
- Panna National Park
Show answer
Answer: B
Cheetahs translocated from Africa were released at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district; Gandhi Sagar is being developed as a second home.
Cheetahs translocated from Africa were released at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district; Gandhi Sagar is being developed as a second home.
Mains practice questions
- Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a national leader in wildlife conservation even as it pursues infrastructure-led growth. Discuss with reference to Project Cheetah and the state's forest resources. (250 words)
- "Direct cash-transfer schemes for women, such as Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana, have become central to state welfare politics." Critically examine their impact on women's empowerment and state finances. (250 words)
- Welfare-plus-capex state budgets, as seen in Madhya Pradesh's recent ₹24,500 crore cabinet package, must balance social spending with fiscal prudence. Discuss.
- "Direct cash transfers to women have become the centrepiece of welfare politics in Madhya Pradesh." Examine the economic rationale and the fiscal sustainability concerns of such schemes with reference to the Ladli Behna Yojana. (15 marks, 250 words)
- "Price-deficiency payment schemes such as Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana can protect farmers without the fiscal burden of physical procurement." Critically examine in the context of Madhya Pradesh's oilseed economy. (GS-III)
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