29th April 2026

Explanation -
It is a proposed 11,000 MW hydropower project on the Siang River near the Geku Village in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Siang River is the upper course of the Brahmaputra.

It is envisioned as one of India's largest hydropower reservoirs and as a strategic countermeasure to China's proposed 60,000 MW super dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) in Tibet's Medog County.

This project aims to not only harness hydropower but also to control flooding and erosion downstream in the upper Brahmaputra basin.

The area is primarily inhabited by the Adi Tribe, an indigenous community with a strong connection to the Siang River.

Developers: Jointly undertaken by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO).

Explanation -
Sahayog Portal is an online platform launched in 2024 to help remove illegal content from the internet quickly.

It allows government agencies to send takedown notices directly to social media platforms and other online intermediaries.

It operates under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, giving it legal backing.

It ensures that intermediaries act fast while retaining safe harbour protections.

Nodal Ministry: Union Home Ministry

Features of Sahayog Portal —

• Centralised Communication: Connects government agencies, state/UT nodal officers, and 65 online intermediaries in a single platform.
• Automated Takedown Notices: Sends quick, documented notices to intermediaries for prompt removal of unlawful content.
• Legal Backing: Operates under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, ensuring legal enforcement and consequences for non-compliance.
• Separate from Section 69A: Focuses on intermediaries' responsibility to disable unlawful content rather than government blocking powers.

Explanation -
The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar was instituted to felicitate meritorious children, individuals and institutions of the country.

These awards are given under two categories - Bal Shakti Puraskar and Bal Kalyan Puraskar.

• While the Bal Shakti Puraskar aims to give recognition to children who have achieved extraordinarily in various fields including innovation, scholastic, sports, art & culture, social service and bravery,
• the Bal Kalyan Puraskar is given as recognition to Individuals and Institutions, who have made an outstanding contribution towards service for children in the field of child development, child protection and child welfare.

The Awards are given by the Hon'ble President of India in Darbar Hall, Rashtrapati Bhavan in the week preceding Republic Day every year.

Hon'ble Prime Minister of India also felicitates the Awardees.

The Awardees of Bal Shakti Puraskar also take part in Republic Day Parade on the 26th of January on Rajpath, New Delhi.

Explanation -
The Strait of Hormuz was originally controlled by the wealthy Kingdom of Hormuz, a major trade hub linking India, Persia, Arabia, and East Africa.

In 1515, the Portuguese Empire seized Hormuz Island and transformed it into a fortified toll point, dominating and taxing lucrative spice and silk trade routes throughout the 16th century.

By the early 17th century, rising competition led the English East India Company to challenge Portuguese control.

In 1622, a strategic alliance between the British, the Dutch East India Company, and the Safavid ruler Shah Abbas I successfully defeated the Portuguese, ending nearly a century of Iberian dominance over the strait.

Explanation -
ISP aims to track short-term movements in the services sector. It will be similar in concept to IIP but for services. It will be developed by the National Statistical Office (NSO).

What Will the ISP Cover?
The approach paper studies 40+ service sub-sectors, including:

• Trade (wholesale & retail)
• Transport
• Banking and insurance
• Communication
• Hotels and restaurants
• Real estate
• Professional and technical services
• Entertainment and recreation

Focus is on availability of output data and price deflators.

Methodology and Global Alignment —
Based on international best practices. Includes methods for:

• Data standardisation
• Use of price deflators (to adjust for inflation)

What Data Sources Will the ISP Use?
MoSPI plans to draw from three key data sources:

• GST Network (GSTN) Data — Provides information on production and outward supplies across different sectors and will serve as the primary data source for monitoring services sector output. However, sectors exempt from GST — such as health and education — cannot be captured through this route.
• Administrative Data from Ministries and Organisations — Sector-specific data from relevant government bodies will supplement GSTN data for sectors not covered by GST.
• Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) — MoSPI's own enterprise survey, currently being conducted, will provide additional granularity.

It should be note that all three data sources exclude the informal services sector. The excluded segments — due to data unavailability — account for nearly 33% of total GVA of the services sector.

Specifically, health and education (which will be excluded until ASISSE results are available) alone account for nearly 10% of services sector GVA.

How Will Output be Adjusted for Prices?
To convert nominal output into real output (adjusted for price changes), a Producer Price Index (PPI) would ideally be used — as it measures the prices received by producers.

However, since India does not yet have a comprehensive PPI, MoSPI plans to use non-food CPI and sub-sector specific CPI as proxies in the interim.

DPIIT is currently working on revising the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and developing a full Producer Price Index (PPI).

A Working Group has recommended methodologies for compiling PPIs for services sub-sectors like Banking, Insurance, Securities, Pensions, Air Transport, Railways, and Telecom.