PIB Snippets
4 Topics
UPSC Prelims & Mains
PIB Snippets — September 15, 2026
Today’s official releases — Great Indian Bustard conservation in Kachchh, India-MERCOSUR’s e-Certificates of Origin protocol, the coir industry’s rural enterprise push, and India’s growing data centre infrastructure
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Great Indian Bustard Conservation: Kachchh Habitat and Soft Release Centre
News Context
- The Union Environment Minister visited the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) habitat at Naliya in Kachchh, Gujarat — inaugurated a GIB Soft Release Centre, launched the Sayara Van Kavach afforestation initiative, and reviewed mangrove plantation under the MISHTI programme.
Key Facts for Prelims
- GIB is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world and India’s most critically endangered bird species — the flagship species of grassland ecosystems, mainly found in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- Sayara Van Kavach: developed over 9.46 sq km using the Miyawaki method (dense, multi-layered, fast-growing native forests); 10,000+ saplings across 47 native species suited to saline, low-water Kachchh conditions.
Miyawaki Method
Technique developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki — native species planted closely together for rapid, forest-like growth in small areas.
MISHTI
“Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes” — a government programme for mangrove restoration, coastal protection and local livelihoods.
Source: PIB
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India-MERCOSUR Sign First Additional Protocol on Electronic Certificates of Origin
News Context
- India and MERCOSUR signed the First Additional Protocol to their Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), allowing electronic Certificates of Origin — a step towards paperless trade and modernised customs procedures.
Key Facts for Prelims
- MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) is a South American regional trade bloc — main members: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay — functioning as a customs union.
- The new protocol amends Article 16 of Annex III (Rules of Origin) of the PTA, giving electronic Certificates of Origin the same legal validity as paper-based ones.
- A Certificate of Origin certifies the country where a traded product was manufactured — important for claiming preferential tariff benefits under trade agreements like the India-MERCOSUR PTA.
Source: PIB
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Coir Industry: From Coconut Husk to Rural Enterprise
News Context
- The Ministry of MSME highlighted how the coir industry is transforming into a source of rural entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment and sustainable livelihoods, supported through the Coir Board and PMEGP.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Organised coir production began in 1859, with the first coir factory set up in Alappuzha, Kerala.
- India is the world’s largest producer of coir, accounting for 80%+ of global coir fibre production; women make up ~80% of workers in fibre extraction and spinning.
- Coir Board is a statutory body under the Ministry of MSME; Central Coir Research Institute (CCRI) drives innovation, including eco-friendly coir rail-wheel-axle packaging cups as an HDPE plastic alternative.
Coir Vikas Yojana (CVY)
Covers technology/research, skill development, women’s training, and domestic/international market promotion.
PMEGP
Credit-linked subsidy scheme helping entrepreneurs set up micro-enterprises (including coir-based) via bank loan support and subsidy.
Source: PIB
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Data Centres in India: Building Digital Infrastructure for the Future
News Context
- The Government of India highlighted the rapid growth of data centres, now critical digital infrastructure supporting banking, e-Governance and online services — backed by fiscal incentives and clean-energy initiatives.
Key Facts for Prelims
- NIC operates National Data Centres at Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar, plus 37 smaller data centres at state capitals.
- Installed data-centre power capacity grew from ~375 MW in 2020 to 1.57 GW as of August 2026, projected to reach nearly 8 GW by 2030.
- Union Budget 2022-23 granted data centres “Infrastructure Status” (like highways/airports); Union Budget 2026-27 gave a tax holiday for eligible foreign cloud service providers until 2047.
Exam trap: “Infrastructure Status” for data centres was granted via Union Budget 2022-23, not the more recent 2026-27 Budget — the 2026-27 Budget’s contribution was the foreign cloud service provider tax holiday.
Source: PIB
