PLI Scheme
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Current affairsAASHVAST Lab: Indian Army's Air-Gapped Drone Security Testing Facility to Detect Hidden Chinese Components and Firmware ThreatsThe Indian Army inaugurated the AASHVAST Lab (Assessment and Analysis of Systems Hardware for Vulnerabilities And Security Threats) on August 14, 2026, to detect Chinese-origin components, hidden malware, GPS spoofing vulnerabilities, and unauthorised firmware in military drones. The air-gapped, read-only facility at DG EME Headquarters in Delhi represents a critical step in securing India's growing military drone fleet against supply-chain cyber threats. Current affairsNITI Aayog Launches PACT and ZET Marketplace at 5th e-FAST India Summit: Decarbonising India's Road Freight SectorNITI Aayog launched the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport (PACT) and the Zero Emission Truck (ZET) Marketplace on 7 September 2026 at the 5th e-FAST (Electric Freight Accelerator for Sustainable Transport) India Summit in New Delhi. The twin platforms target India's road freight sector, where heavy commercial vehicles — just 3–4% of the total fleet — contribute over one-third of all transport-sector carbon emissions. Current affairsMobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) 2026: MeitY's ₹62,500 Crore Push for Deep-Value Assembly and Indian BrandsThe Union Cabinet approved and MeitY notified the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) on 22 August 2026, with an outlay of ₹62,500 crore over five years (FY2026-27 to FY2030-31). The scheme goes beyond the earlier PLI for Mobile Phones by specifically incentivising domestic component sourcing (up to 1.5% bonus) and Indian-owned brand R&D (additional 3% incentive), aiming to raise India's domestic value addition in mobile manufacturing from ~15% to over 35% by 2031. Current affairsIndia's Merchandise Exports Hit Record $44.24 Billion in July 2026: Trade Data Analysis for UPSC and Banking ExamsIndia's merchandise exports reached a record US$44.24 billion in July 2026, up 19.63% year-on-year, driven by engineering goods, petroleum products, and electronics. The overall trade deficit (goods and services combined) widened 31.5% to US$15.03 billion, as imports of US$76.22 billion outpaced export gains. Cumulative April–July 2026 merchandise exports stand at US$173.78 billion (+17.04%). Current affairsIndia Crosses 300 GW Non-Fossil Fuel Power Capacity: Milestones, Breakdown, and Road to 500 GW by 2030India's installed non-fossil fuel electricity generation capacity reached 300.50 GW as of July 31, 2026 — announced by PIB on August 9, 2026. This milestone represents 54% of India's total 552 GW installed capacity and 60% progress toward the 500 GW target by 2030 committed under the Paris Agreement's Panchamrit pledges. Current affairsRBI Monetary Policy August 2026: Repo Rate Held at 5.25% for Fourth Consecutive Time, GDP Growth Forecast Raised to 6.7%The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), at its August 3–5, 2026 meeting, unanimously kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% for the fourth consecutive time, retained its neutral stance, and raised India's FY27 GDP growth forecast from 6.6% to 6.7% while lowering the CPI inflation projection to 5.0%. Governor Sanjay Malhotra cited the need for greater clarity on the inflation trajectory before any rate action. Current affairsTaxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026: Parliament Grants Tax Exemptions to FIIs, Diamond Traders, Data Centres and Investment FundsParliament has passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 — cleared by Lok Sabha on 6 August and Rajya Sabha on 10 August — replacing an Ordinance issued on 5 June 2026. The Bill grants income-tax exemptions to Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) on government securities, extends incentives for diamond and electronics manufacturing, removes restrictions on offshore investment funds, and expands data-centre tax benefits. Current affairsMines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026: Centre Curtails State Mineral Taxes, Unlocks Critical Mineral PotentialThe Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced in the Lok Sabha by Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy, proposes to restrict state governments from levying taxes, cess, or other charges on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands, remove the 50% cap on captive mine sales, allow multiple minerals in a single lease, and expand the National Mineral Exploration Trust's scope — aimed at bringing certainty and uniformity to India's critical minerals sector. Current affairsIndia Crosses 300 GW Non-Fossil Fuel Installed Electricity Capacity: A Milestone in Clean Energy TransitionIndia's installed non-fossil fuel electricity generation capacity crossed 300 GW (300.50 GW) as of 31 July 2026, announced the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on 10 August 2026. This represents 54% of total installed capacity of 552 GW and over 60% of India's Paris Agreement NDC target of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.
In previous-year questions
- India's record EV sales in July 2026 are underpinned by the government's production incentive for advanced battery manufacturing. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries has an outlay of approximately:UPSC · Current Affairs
- The Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS), notified by MeitY on 22 August 2026, carries what total financial outlay over five years (FY2026-27 to FY2030-31)?UPSC · Current Affairs