Why in News?

The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO Courts, for five more years (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031), with an outlay of ₹3,788.04 crore.

About the Scheme

• Ministry: Ministry of Law and Justice, through the Department of Justice, with State Governments and Union Territory administrations.
• Type: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Launched: 2 October 2019, under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, and following a Supreme Court direction of 25 July 2019 in a suo motu case. The Court had directed exclusive Special Courts in districts with more than 100 pending cases under the POCSO Act, 2012.
• Duration so far: First launched for one year, then extended up to 31 March 2026.
• Outlay now: ₹3,788.04 crore, of which the Central share is ₹2,353.15 crore and the State/UT share is ₹1,434.89 crore.
• Funding source: The Central share comes from the Nirbhaya Fund.
• Beneficiaries: Women and children who are victims of rape and offences under the POCSO Act.
• Aim: Faster trials and timely justice, lower pendency and a child-friendly, victim-centric court environment.

Background

• POCSO Act, 2012: A gender-neutral law that protects children below 18 and provides for Special Courts and child-friendly procedures.
• Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018: Made penalties for rape harsher, including the death penalty for rape of a girl below 12, and set time limits for investigation and trial.
• Nirbhaya Fund: Set up in 2013, after the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, for projects to improve the safety of women.
• Related change: Rape and other sexual offences are now covered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which replaced the IPC.

Why in News?

The Union Cabinet approved the VISTAR Scheme (Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics and Research), a Central Sector Scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31, with an outlay of ₹4,371.10 crore. It will modernise India’s official statistics.

About the Scheme

• Ministry: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Type: A Central Sector Scheme.
• Period and outlay: FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, with ₹4,371.10 crore.
• Aim: A dynamic, real-time and future-ready statistical system, aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047, with timely, granular and interoperable data in AI-ready formats.
• Scope: Covers all statistical and data management activities of MoSPI. It lets the Ministry shift resources quickly to meet policy needs, across large surveys, methodology research, digital transformation and national data governance.

Three Components

• Comprehensive Statistical Operations and Strengthening of Ecosystem.
• Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) for States and UTs.
• Economic Census (EC).

Background

• Earlier scheme: The Capacity Development Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme of MoSPI, had two sub-schemes, Economic Census and Support for Statistical Strengthening. It was continued until 31 March 2026, and VISTAR takes its place.
• Economic Census: A periodic listing of all non-agricultural establishments. The 6th was in 2013-14, and the 7th was in 2019, when MoSPI partnered with Common Service Centres for field work. The 8th will come after a gap of over a decade.
• Recent upgrades: MoSPI released a new GDP series with base year 2022-23 on 27 February 2026, along with a revised CPI (base 2024) and IIP.
• Surveys named: PLFS is the Periodic Labour Force Survey, HCES the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey and ASUSE the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises.

Why in News?

The government has notified the Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026, a new rulebook for civil aviation that replaces the Aircraft Rules, 1937. It comes into force on 1 January 2027.

About the Rules

• Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Legal basis: Made under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, which replaced the Aircraft Act, 1934 and came into force on 1 January 2025.
• What they replace: The Aircraft Rules, 1937 and Part IX of the Aircraft Rules, 1920. They also repeal the Radio Telephone Operator (Restricted) Certificate and Licence Rules, 2025, subject to savings.
• Structure: 220 rules in eight chapters and six schedules, covering registration, airworthiness, licensing, aerodromes, air navigation and operations.
• Regulator: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
• Why now: Operational airports rose from 74 (2014) to 166 (October 2026), and rules must keep pace with aircraft technology, operations and financing.

Background

• Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024: Passed by Parliament in December 2024, assented on 11 December 2024, and in force from 1 January 2025.
• Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Act, 2025: In force from 1 May 2025. It gives effect to the Cape Town Convention (2001) and its Aircraft Protocol in India, with the DGCA as the national registry authority.
• Chicago Convention (1944): The international treaty that sets standards for civil aviation, which DGCA must follow.