PIB Snippets
5 Topics
UPSC Prelims & Mains
PIB Snippets — August 30, 2026
Today’s official releases — 10 years of PMFBY, the Per Drop More Crop micro-irrigation push, Divyangjan empowerment through early prevention, the 4th India-Argentina Joint Trade Committee, and a DRI crackdown on synthetic drugs
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Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) — 10 Years
News Context
- A PIB release marked 10 years of PMFBY — since Kharif 2016, over 92.46 crore farmer applications insured and claims of over ₹2.06 lakh crore paid; Budget 2026-27 allotted ₹12,200 crore.
- West Bengal (Kharif 2026) and Bihar (Rabi 2026-27) are rejoining the scheme.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Launched 18 February 2016 under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare; replaced NAIS and Modified NAIS.
- Farmer’s premium cap: 2% Kharif, 1.5% Rabi, 5% commercial/horticultural; balance shared 50:50 (Centre:State), 90:10 for NE/Himalayan States.
- PMFBY 2.0 (2020): enrolment made 100% voluntary for all farmers, including loanees.
Covered
Yield losses, prevented sowing (up to 25%), post-harvest losses (14 days), localised calamities.
Not Covered
War, nuclear risks, riots, theft, and preventable/man-made losses.
Tech stack: NCIP, YES-TECH (remote-sensing yield estimation), WINDS (weather data), DigiClaim, and the Krishi Rakshak Helpline (14447) support digital delivery.
Source: PIB
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Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) & Micro-Irrigation
News Context
- PDMC has brought over 115 lakh hectares (~8.11% of net sown area) under micro-irrigation as of July 2026; states now get flexibility to build water storage structures like diggis and farm ponds.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Subsidy: 55% for small/marginal farmers, 45% for others, up to 5 hectares; usable again after 7 years.
- Evolution: Micro Irrigation Scheme (2006) → NMMI (2010-11) → NMSA component (2014-15) → PDMC under PMKSY (2015-22) → now under PM-RKVY (from 2022-23).
- PMKSY motto: “Har Khet Ko Pani” and “Per Drop More Crop”; components span the Ministries of Jal Shakti, Agriculture, and Rural Development.
Drip Irrigation
On-line (uneven spacing) or in-line (fixed intervals) emitters deliver water slowly to roots.
Sprinkler Irrigation
Water sprayed under pressure like rainfall — portable, micro, mini, and large-volume rain-guns.
Impact: NITI Aayog (2020-21) found 10–69% income gains and 30–70% higher water-use efficiency from micro-irrigation adoption.
Source: PIB
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Preventing Avoidable Disabilities & Divyangjan Empowerment
News Context
- At the “Matri Shakti Sammelan” (organised by SAKSHAM), Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed that empowering mothers helps in the early detection and prevention of disabilities through antenatal care, nutrition and timely screening.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Census 2011: PwDs = 2.68 crore (2.21%) of population — widely believed an undercount (WHO/World Bank estimate 5-8%).
- RPwD Act, 2016 (in force 19 April 2017) is India’s main disability law, based on the UNCRPD; recognised disabilities raised from 7 to 21; benchmark disability 40%; reservation 4% in jobs, 5% in higher education.
- Government is setting up Cross-Disability Early Intervention Centres for identification and support from infancy.
Significance: reflects India’s shift from a charity/medical model to a rights-based, inclusive model of disability — key schemes include Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, UDID and ADIP.
Source: PIB
🤝
India–Argentina Relations & 4th JTC Meeting
News Context
- The 4th India-Argentina Joint Trade Committee met on 24 August 2026 in Buenos Aires; both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in lithium, energy, agriculture, pharma, digital and space.
- Bilateral trade crossed USD 6.5 billion in 2025 (+17% annually); India is Argentina’s 5th-largest trading partner.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Argentina is part of the “Lithium Triangle” with Chile and Bolivia; KABIL (NALCO + Hindustan Copper + MECL JV) runs India’s first overseas lithium mining project in Catamarca province.
- India-MERCOSUR PTA: signed 2004, in force since 2009 — offers tariff concessions on select goods (vs an FTA, which removes most tariffs).
Source: PIB
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DRI Crackdown on Synthetic Drugs
News Context
- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 18 kg of Amphetamine and MDMA in Bengaluru and Pune under the NDPS Act, 1985; nearly 150 kg of ATS seized in five operations in a fortnight.
Key Facts for Prelims
- DRI — India’s apex anti-smuggling intelligence agency, established 1957, under CBIC, Ministry of Finance; motto “Invisible Presence & Visible Results.”
- Narcotic vs psychotropic: narcotics dull the senses (opium, heroin); psychotropics alter mind/behaviour (amphetamines, LSD).
- The NDPS Act, 1985 led to the creation of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in 1986.
Significance: highlights “narco-terrorism” risk near the Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent, and supports the “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.”
Source: PIB
