PIB Snippets
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UPSC Prelims & Mains
PIB Snippets — August 26, 2026
Kalidasa’s legacy in a new book, e-Shram Portal’s five years, the Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026, and INS Nipun’s commissioning.
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Kalidasa — Classical Sanskrit Poet
News Context
- Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the book “Kaho Kalidasa!” by Yugul Joshi at IGNCA, New Delhi, exploring Kalidasa’s life, works and female characters.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Kalidasa, the “Shakespeare of India,” is generally placed in the Gupta Period (4th-5th century CE), often linked to Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya)’s court.
- Plays: Abhijnanashakuntalam (Shakuntala & Dushyanta), Vikramorvashiyam, Malavikagnimitram.
- Epics (Mahakavya): Raghuvamsha, Kumarasambhava.
- Lyrical poems (Khandakavya): Meghaduta (“The Cloud Messenger”), Ritusamhara.
Source: PIB
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e-Shram Portal — 5 Years
News Context
- The e-Shram Portal completed five years on 26 August 2026. Launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, it created India’s first Aadhaar-seeded National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) with over 31.89 crore registrations.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Developed by NIC; every registered worker gets a unique 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN).
- Covers home-based, self-employed and wage workers in the unorganised sector — but not EPFO/ESIC members, government employees or income tax payers.
- e-Shram One-Stop Solution (2024): Integrates 15 social security schemes, including PM-SYM, PMSBY, PMJJBY, NSAP, ONORC and PMAY-Gramin.
Total Registrations
31.89 crore; women form the majority at 54.28%.
Top Occupations
Agriculture, domestic work, construction, apparel.
Source: PIB
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Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 (CMiH 2026)
News Context
- Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy launched CMiH 2026 to strengthen the National Critical Mineral Mission, inviting students, researchers and start-ups to develop exploration and technology-intelligence solutions.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Hosted by JNARDDC, Nagpur, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Mines; idea submission deadline 20 September 2026; winners announced at India Mining Week 2026 (15-17 November).
- Critical minerals (e.g. Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, REEs) are essential for EVs, batteries, solar panels, semiconductors and clean energy tech.
- The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) covers the entire value chain from acquisition abroad to domestic production, supporting energy transition and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Source: PIB
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INS Nipun — Second Indigenous Diving Support Vessel
News Context
- The Indian Navy is set to commission Nipun, the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Nistar-class, on 31 August 2026 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Indigenously designed and built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam; delivered to the Navy on 30 July 2026.
- Strengthens deep-sea diving, submarine rescue and underwater support capabilities under Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
Source: PIB
