UPSC Prelims
Facts & Figures
Multi-Topic Digest
24 July 2026 — Prelims Pinpointer
Prelims Pinpointer: 24 July 2026
In This Digest
Kutki (Picrorhiza Kurroa)
News Context
- Farmers in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, adopted sustainable Kutki cultivation.
- The initiative began under the Himalayan Bioresource Mission in 2022.
- It now spans nearly 180 farmers across Mandi district.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Picrorhiza kurroa is locally known as Kutki.
- It is a medicinal herb native to the Himalayas, growing at 2,700 to 4,500 metres.
- The medicinal part is the stolon, not the root — roots are fibrous and have no medicinal value.
- Destructive wild harvesting by uprooting entire plants caused population decline.
Conservation Status: Kutki is categorised as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and listed under CITES Appendix II, which permits trade only under regulated conditions with export permits.
Source: The Hindu
UMEED Portal & Waqf Amendment Act 2025
News Context
- The Minority Affairs Ministry informed Lok Sabha that 6.17 lakh Waqf properties were validated on the UMEED Central Portal-2025.
- Of 7,99,978 properties initiated, 6,17,102 were approved, 91,623 remain pending, and 91,253 were rejected.
Initiated
7,99,978
Approved
6,17,102
Rejected
91,253
UMEED Portal: Key Facts
- UMEED stands for Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development.
- It is a centralised digital platform to register Waqf properties across India, developed under the UMEED Act, 1995.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Minority Affairs. Registrations are facilitated by respective State Waqf Boards.
- The portal manages the complete lifecycle of Waqf properties — registration, verification, survey by Collector, mutation, and annual account audits.
Portal Features
Digital inventory with geo-tagging, online grievance redressal, transparent leasing tracking, GIS mapping integration, and public access to verified records.
Waqf: Core Concept
A permanent dedication of movable or immovable property by a Muslim person for religious, pious, or charitable purposes. Once dedicated, it cannot be sold, gifted, or inherited.
Waqf Amendment Act 2025: Key Changes
- Amended the Waqf Act, 1995, introducing a “Waqf by User” concept requiring formal documentation for Waqf designation.
- Properties registered under women’s names cannot be declared as Waqf.
- Non-Muslim members were included in State Waqf Boards for greater representation.
- The District Collector now has the power to survey and verify Waqf property claims.
- Waqf properties are managed by State Waqf Boards under the Central Waqf Council, the apex body overseeing Waqf administration in India.
Source: The Hindu
Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)
News Context
- The Supreme Court permitted the TTZ Authority to process around 400 pending MSME applications.
- In October 2024, the SC had placed a moratorium on new industrial approvals in the TTZ.
Key Facts for Prelims
- TTZ is a designated area of 10,400 sq. km around the Taj Mahal, shaped like a trapezoid — hence the name.
- It was created as per Supreme Court directions to prevent pollution.
- It covers Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras, Etah (UP) and Bharatpur (Rajasthan).
- TTZ contains three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri.
- Only non-polluting, environment-friendly micro and small industries are permitted.
Industrial Zone Classification
Legal Context: TTZ was established following the M.C. Mehta vs Union of India case, in which the SC directed protection of the Taj Mahal from industrial air pollution. The TTZ Authority regulates all industrial and developmental activities in the zone.
Source: HT
Credit-Deposit Ratio at 62-Year High
News Context
- India’s credit-deposit ratio stood at a 62-year high of 82.6% in Q1FY27.
- Loans grew at 18.6% YoY to ₹219.3 lakh crore, while deposits grew at 13.3% YoY to ₹265.4 lakh crore.
CD Ratio
82.6% (62-Yr High)
Loan Growth
18.6% YoY
Deposit Growth
13.3% YoY
Definition & Key Facts
- Credit-deposit ratio measures the relationship between a bank’s lending and its deposits — calculated by dividing total loans by total deposits.
- A higher ratio means more deposits are being lent out as credit; a lower ratio means more deposits are held in reserve or invested.
- It is an important measure of a bank’s liquidity and lending capacity.
Reasons for the High CD Ratio
- Banks had excess investments on their balance sheets over the last five years, which were redeployed into loans.
- Banks’ capital is at a lifetime high, which gets lent out, while the investment book grew slower than the loan book.
Source: The Hindu
Project Kusha Long-Range SAM
News Context
- DRDO conducted the maiden flight test of the Long-Range SAM “Kusha” at APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
- The missile successfully intercepted an electronic target simulating aerial threats.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Project Kusha is an indigenous Extended Range Air Defence System — a long-range SAM developed by DRDO.
- It has three variants: M1 (150 km), M2 (250 km), and M3 (350-400 km). All elements, including missiles and radars, were developed indigenously.
- It will reduce dependence on the Russian S-400 Triumf (range: 400 km).
- It contributes to Mission Sudarshan Chakra, India’s nationwide security shield.
Threat Coverage and Operational Role
- It counters fighter aircraft, stealth platforms, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats.
- It integrates with IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System) of the IAF.
- It complements QRSAM, VSHORADS, and directed-energy weapons in India’s defence architecture.
Source: Indian Express
Plastic Currency Notes in India
News Context
- A RBI subsidiary tender revealed plans for a trial of plastic notes after 15 years.
- BRBNMPL (Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Pvt Ltd) invited bids for 3.4 crore polymer sheets.
Global Plastic Currency: Key Facts
- Plastic banknotes were first issued by Australia in 1988.
- They are now used in over 50 countries, including the UK, Canada, and New Zealand.
- Neighbours like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore also use plastic currency.
Advantages of Plastic Currency Notes
- Plastic notes last two to six times longer than paper notes, reducing manufacturing frequency and printing costs.
- They have significant environmental benefits, as they can be granulated and recycled into products like compost bins.
- For every four new notes supplied, RBI destroys three soiled paper notes; plastic notes reduce this frequency.
- Counterfeit rates have fallen in countries using polymer currency.
India Context: Counterfeit notes detected in 2025-26 rose to 2.3 lakh pieces, up from 2.17 lakh in 2024-25.
Source: Indian Express