| TOPICS | SUBJECT | PAPER |
| THE SUB-MISSION ON AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION (SMAM) SCHEME FOR 2025-26 | SCHEME | PRELIMS |
| MAHENDRAGIRI | ART AND CULTURE | PRELIMS |
| GOVT. APPROVES FIFTH EDITION OF CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME, EXTENDS COVER TO AIRLINES | SCHEME | PRELIMS |
| IN RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS IN WEST ASIA | ECONOMY | PRELIMS |
| SEMICONDUCTOR PROJECTS UNDER INDIA SEMICONDUCTOR MISSION (ISM) | TECHNOLOGY | MAINS GS 3/PRELIMS |
| THE PROCUREMENT OF FIVE GROUND-BASED MOBILE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS | TECHNOLOGY | PRELIMS |
| THE PREVENTION OF INSULTS TO NATIONAL HONOUR ACT, 1971 | POLITY | PRELIMS |
| SUPERCONDUCTING QUANTUM COMPUTERS | TECHNOLOGY | PRELIMS |
| THE INDIAN SUGAR AND BIO ENERGY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (ISMA | NATIONAL BODIES | PRELIMS |
| INDIA’S SERVICES SECTOR GROWTH HITS 5-MONTH HIGH IN APRIL AS DOMESTIC MARKET FUELS ACTIVITY, PMI SHOWS | ECONOMY | PRELIMS |
| THE RAMALINGESHWARA GROUP OF TEMPLES | ART AND CULTURE | PRELIMS |
| INDIA’S ACT EAST POLICY (AEP) | INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | PRELIMS |
| THE ASIA LOW CARBON BUILDINGS TRANSITION (ALCBT) PROJECT | NATIONAL BODIES | PRELIMS |
| GOODS, SERVICES EXPORTS UP 4.59% TO $863.11 BILLION IN FY26 | ECONOMY | PRELIMS |
| TELUGU INSCRIPTION DATING BACK TO THE 16TH CENTURY FOUND AT BUGGA RAMALINGESWARA TEMPLE IN TADIPATRI | ART AND CULTURE | PRELIMS |
| THE CEC AND OTHER ELECTION COMMISSIONERS BILL, 2023 | POLITY | PRELIMS |
| THE 2026 ARCHERY WORLD CUP | SPORTS | PRELIMS |
| India’s energy security amid conflicts | ECONOMY | MAINS GS3 IN NF STACK PREMIUM |
THE SUB-MISSION ON AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION (SMAM) SCHEME FOR 2025-26
The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme for 2025-26
- The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), a centrally sponsored initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, aims to boost farm mechanization across the country, enhance farm power availability, and provide subsidies for agricultural machinery.
- The subsidy structure supports SC, ST, small and marginal farmers, and women beneficiaries with a 50% subsidy, while other beneficiaries receive a 40% subsidy.
- Farmers can apply for subsidized implements through the GOSUGAM portal, and the subsidy amount is directly credited to their accounts via DBT mode.
MAHENDRAGIRI
- Mahendragiri (Yard 12654), the sixth ship of Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) and fourth ship of the class built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), was delivered to the Indian Navy on 30 Apr 2026 at MDSL, Mumbai. The delivery marks a significant milestone in achieving self-reliance in warship design and construction.
- Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB)
GOVT. APPROVES FIFTH EDITION OF CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME, EXTENDS COVER TO AIRLINES
- the Union Cabinet, has approved the ECLGS 5.0 scheme to provide targeted credit support to Indian airlines.
- The scheme aims to provide credit guarantee coverage of 100% for MSMEs and 90% for non-MSMEs as well as airline sector, to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) for the amount in default under the additional credit facility extended to the eligible borrowers to tide over any short-term liquidity mismatches, against the backdrop of ongoing West Asia situation.
- The longer 7-year loan tenure, along with the option to convert up to 50% of interest into a Funded Interest Term Loan (FITL), is expected to ease immediate repayment pressure and improve cash flows and liquidity.
IN RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS IN WEST ASIA
In response to the crisis in West Asia, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday (May 5, 2026) approved the fifth edition of its Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme, under which it will provide additional credit guarantees to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and non-MSMEs, including airline companies.
SEMICONDUCTOR PROJECTS UNDER INDIA SEMICONDUCTOR MISSION (ISM)
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved two more semiconductor projects under India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) which includes country’s first commercial Mini/Micro-LED display facility based on GaN (Gallium Nitride) Technology and a semiconductor packaging facility.
The two approved proposals will set up semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Gujarat with a cumulative investment of around Rs.3,936 crore and are expected to generate cumulative employment for 2,230 skilled professionals.
THE PROCUREMENT OF FIVE GROUND-BASED MOBILE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
The Ministry of Defence on Tuesday (May 5, 2026) signed a ₹1,476-crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Hyderabad, for the procurement of five Ground-Based Mobile Electronic Systems for the Indian Army.
The deal, inked under the Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category.
THE PREVENTION OF INSULTS TO NATIONAL HONOUR ACT, 1971
Insults to Indian National Flag and Constitution of India.Whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, difiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or 1 [otherwise shows disrespect to or brings] into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
SUPERCONDUCTING QUANTUM COMPUTERS
advanced hardware, superconducting quantum computers are vulnerable to errors caused by ionizing radiation from space or the environment. Radiation particles interfere with the chip substrate (the silicon base the processor is built on), which leads to the creation of rogue particles (quasiparticles) that disrupt the qubits, the basic units of quantum computers
THE INDIAN SUGAR AND BIO ENERGY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (ISMA
ISMA is the apex association of private sugar mills and the largest consortium of sugar and bio-energy manufacturers in India. ISMA has been serving as the voice of the Indian sugarcane industry and the 55 million farmers associated with it for the last 93 years across regional, national, and international policy deliberations, as well as facilitating innovation and capacity building in the areas of sustainability, agriculture, green transition, and labour welfare
INDIA’S SERVICES SECTOR GROWTH HITS 5-MONTH HIGH IN APRIL AS DOMESTIC MARKET FUELS ACTIVITY, PMI SHOWS
India’s services sector growth climbed to a five-month high of 58.8 in April with new orders and output expanding at quicker rates, as firms indicated a shift from international to domestic suppliers amid the West Asia crisis
THE RAMALINGESHWARA GROUP OF TEMPLES
- The Ramalingeshwara group of temples (also spelt Ramalingeshvara or Ramalingesvara and sometimes referred to as Rameshvara group), situated in Avani town of the Kolar district, Karnataka state, India, is constructed in the dravida style.
- the temple is an ornate 10th-century Nolamba dynasty
INDIA’S ACT EAST POLICY (AEP)
Launched in 2014, India’s Act East Policy (AEP) is a proactive, strategic shift from the earlier “Look East Policy” (1991), focusing on intensified economic, security, and cultural partnerships with ASEAN nations and East Asia. It promotes sustainable development in Northeast India as a, gateway to Southeast Asia, prioritizing connectivity, maritime security, and counterbalancing regional challenges
THE ASIA LOW CARBON BUILDINGS TRANSITION (ALCBT) PROJECT
- The Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT) Project is a five-year initiative aimed at facilitating the nationwide transition towards Low Carbon Buildings (LCBs) across five Asian countries namely Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The project focuses on the successful implementation of technical, planning, and institutional tools for LCBs, streamlined by key public and private sector stakeholders, resulting in direct emissions reductions by 2028.
- Supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), Government of Germany under the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
- In India, the project is being implemented across the states of Kerala, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh with support from State Designated Agencies and subnational governments under the guidance of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India.
- Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization. It is dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies.
GOODS, SERVICES EXPORTS UP 4.59% TO $863.11 BILLION IN FY26
- The country’s goods and services exports rose 4.6% to an all-time high of $863.11 billion during 2025-26,
- despite global economic uncertainties, according to revised commerce ministry data.
- Merchandise exports grew 0.93% to $441.78 billion in the last fiscal year from $437.70 billion in 2024-25, the data showed.
- The biggest contribution to export growth came from the services sector, which continued to witness strong international demand.
TELUGU INSCRIPTION DATING BACK TO THE 16TH CENTURY FOUND AT BUGGA RAMALINGESWARA TEMPLE IN TADIPATRI
Carving on the north wall of the Anantapur district temple records obeisance paid by Basavappa, son of Satram Cheruvupalli Kalayya from Mahimaluru in Udayagiri Seema; historian MyNaa Swamy dates it to either 1574 or 1634 CE
THE CEC AND OTHER ELECTION COMMISSIONERS BILL, 2023
Context: SC:the Chief Justice of India’s (CJI) involvement in the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) was only meant to last until Parliament came up with a law.
- The Bill replaces the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991. It provides for the appointment, salary, and removal of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).
- The CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will consist of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and Leader of Opposition/leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha.
Key Issues and Analysis
- The selection process of the Election Commission may be dominated by the government, which has implications for its independence.
- Accepting the Selection Committee’s recommendations in spite of a vacancy in its constitution may effectively lead to a monopoly of government members in selecting candidates.
- Making the CEC and EC’s salary equivalent to the Cabinet Secretary may lead to government influence as it is fixed by the government. This is unlike the salary of a Supreme Court judge which is fixed through an Act of Parliament.
- CECs and ECs also perform quasi-judicial functions. Limiting these posts to senior bureaucrats may exclude other suitable candidates.
THE 2026 ARCHERY WORLD CUP
The 2026 Archery World Cup, also known as the Hyundai Archery World Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the 20th edition of the international archery circuit organised annually by World Archery
India’s energy security amid conflicts
https://www.thehindu.com/news/indias-energy-security-amid-conflicts/article70944392.ece