PIB Snippets
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UPSC Prelims & Mains
PIB Snippets — October 10, 2026
Today’s official releases — the 15th AITIGA Joint Committee meeting, the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s 382nd Report on reforming the NTA, and progress under the National SC-ST Hub scheme
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15th ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee Meeting
AITIGA Review Meeting
- The 15th AITIGA Joint Committee meeting was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 6–9 October 2026 to review trade agreement negotiations.
- Members agreed to speed up pending discussions and set time-bound targets.
- The next meeting will be held in India in January 2027.
Static + Current Affairs Linkage
| Concept | Static Points for Prelims |
|---|---|
| AITIGA | A free trade agreement in goods between India and ASEAN, signed in 2009 and in force from 2010. It reduces or removes tariffs on most traded goods. |
| Services and investment pacts | Concluded separately in 2014 and in force from 2015, so AITIGA covers goods only. |
| ASEAN | Founded in 1967 by the Bangkok Declaration; headquartered in Jakarta; Timor-Leste became the 11th member in 2025. |
| Rules of Origin (ROO) | Conditions that decide whether a product qualifies for tariff concessions. India has raised concerns about third-country goods being routed through ASEAN. |
| Act East Policy | Launched in 2014, upgrading the Look East Policy (1991). ASEAN is central to it. |
| India-ASEAN ties | Became a Strategic Partnership in 2012; summit-level interaction began in 2002. |
Source: PIB
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Parliamentary Standing Committee’s 382nd Report on Reforms and Strengthening of the NTA
Panel Seeks Accountable, Tech-Secure NTA
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, chaired by Mukul Wasnik, presented its 382nd Report on “Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency (NTA)” on 9 October 2026.
- The report follows paper-leak concerns and the cancellation of NEET (UG) 2026.
Key Recommendations
- The Committee wants a Parliamentary framework to make the NTA accountable to Parliament.
- Only 23 of 39 sanctioned posts are filled, all on deputation. It recommends a permanent specialist cadre.
- It recommends a large question bank, papers set close to the exam date, and quarantine of paper-vetters.
- NEET (UG), the only major NTA exam still on pen and paper, should shift to CBT, backed by 1,000 government-owned CBT centres and at least one centre per district.
- It favours Computer Adaptive Testing in the long run, so that no fixed paper can be leaked.
- It recommends a public National Registry of Blacklisted Examination Vendors and government-owned exam centres.
- The NTA should publish an annual Equity Audit by State, gender, school board, medium and social category.
- It also suggests age and attempt limits for NEET-UG, a two-stage NEET, and regulation of coaching.
- The NTA should focus on admission tests only, add State representation to its Governing Body, and create a research wing.
- It wants the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 amended to bar rallies on exam days.
Static + Current Affairs Linkage
| Concept | Static Points for Prelims |
|---|---|
| NTA | Set up in 2017 as an autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, under the Ministry of Education. It conducts JEE Main, NEET-UG, CUET and UGC-NET. |
| Radhakrishnan Committee | A High-Level Committee led by K. Radhakrishnan (ex-ISRO chief), set up in 2024 after the NEET paper-leak row; made 101 recommendations. |
| Public Examinations Act, 2024 | Covers UPSC, SSC, railways, banking and NTA exams; provides imprisonment and heavy fines for paper leaks. |
| Department-related Standing Committees | 24 in number (16 Lok Sabha, 8 Rajya Sabha) with 31 members each and a one-year term. Their reports are recommendatory. |
Source: PIB
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National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) Scheme: Features, Components and Progress
NSSH Boosts SC/ST Enterprises
- The PIB highlighted the progress of the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) scheme, which supports SC/ST-owned MSEs through finance, training, mentoring and market linkages.
- Procurement from SC/ST-owned MSEs rose nearly 39-fold, from ₹99.37 crore (2015-16) to ₹4,013.42 crore (2025-26).
Core Facts and Components
- Launch and agency: NSSH was launched on 18 October 2016 and is run by the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC).
- Aim: Its aim is to help SC/ST entrepreneurs get finance, skills, technology and markets, especially through government procurement.
- SCLCSS: It gives a 25% subsidy (maximum ₹25 lakh) on machinery bought with a bank loan.
- SPRS: Registration with NSIC gives free tender forms and no Earnest Money Deposit (EMD).
- SMAS: It helps enterprises join trade fairs, up to 4 domestic and 2 international events a year.
- Cost reimbursements: The government returns 80% of the cost (usually up to ₹1 lakh) for loan processing fees, bank guarantee charges and testing fees.
- Other reimbursements: These cover Export Promotion Council membership (up to ₹20,000), GeM and other portal fees (up to ₹25,000), and management training (90% or ₹1 lakh).
- Business Accelerator Programme (BAP): It offers mentoring on pricing, strategy and tendering.
- Top States: The top States are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Assam.
Static + Current Affairs Linkage
| Concept | Static Points for Prelims |
|---|---|
| NSIC | A Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of MSME, established in 1955; headquartered in New Delhi. |
| Public Procurement Policy for MSEs | Central Ministries and CPSEs must buy 25% of annual purchases from MSEs, with a 4% sub-target for SC/ST-owned MSEs. |
| MSME classification (2020) | Micro: investment up to ₹1 crore, turnover up to ₹5 crore. Small: up to ₹10 crore and ₹50 crore. Medium: up to ₹50 crore and ₹250 crore. |
| GeM | Government e-Marketplace, launched in 2016, is the national online platform for public procurement. |
| Stand-Up India (2016) | Bank loans of ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore for SC/ST and women entrepreneurs, for greenfield enterprises. |
| Article 46 | A Directive Principle asking the State to promote the educational and economic interests of SCs, STs and other weaker sections. |
| Aspirational Districts Programme | Launched in 2018 to develop 112 backward districts; 24 such districts were covered by NSSH training. |
Source: PIB
