27th March 2026

Explanation - PRISM-SG (Portal for Rail-Road Inspection & Stages Management – Steel Girders) Portal aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and inter-agency coordination in infrastructure development. Features — It has been developed to digitise key approval and inspection processes related to the construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and also includes Quality Assurance Plan (QAP), Welding Procedure Specification Sheet (WPSS) and fabrication stage inspection of steel girders. It enables end-to-end online submission of documents, scrutiny, raising and resolution of queries, approvals, scheduling of inspections, and uploading of inspection reports, supported by a complete audit trail and real-time monitoring capabilities. It provides an integrated digital platform that brings together all key stakeholders, including Road Owning Departments, Indian Railways, contractors, fabricators, and inspection agencies. Significance — It will help to reduce the approval and inspection timeline from approximately 12 months to about 3 to 4 months. It will play a critical role in ensuring timely completion of RoBs and Railway Bridges, strengthening infrastructure delivery and enhancing connectivity across the country.

Explanation - The IVFRT platform is aimed at integrating and streamlining immigration, visa issuance, and foreigner registration processes in India through a secure, technology-driven framework. It was approved for a period of five years from 2026 to 2031. It was originally approved in 2010; the project has undergone multiple phases of expansion and extension. The latest approval comes in the backdrop of the recently enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Features of IVFRT Scheme — The scheme will concentrate on three broad areas: Emerging technology innovations, transformation of core infrastructure and optimisation of technology enabled service delivery. The scheme will modernise the immigration and visa ecosystem through adoption of emerging technologies, including mobile-based services and self-service kiosks for seamless and secure passenger movement. It will upgrade and expand core infrastructure across Immigration Posts, FRROs, and Data Centres to build a resilient and scalable system nationwide. It will optimise technology and service delivery by introducing unified digital platforms, revamping core application architecture, and strengthening network and deployment frameworks for improved efficiency and user experience.

Explanation - The refreshed and expanded UDAN framework focuses on strengthening regional aviation infrastructure, making air travel affordable, and supporting airlines to operate in difficult terrains. Out of the 30,000 crore proposed — Rs. 18,000 crore is allocated for new airport development, including greenfield airports, refurbishment of existing airstrips, and construction of heliports in hilly areas. Rs. 12,000 crore is earmarked for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to encourage airlines to operate flights on regional routes despite low initial demand. The scheme will particularly target — Hilly and remote regions, Aspirational districts, North-Eastern states, Small towns with limited or no air connectivity. Evolution of the UDAN Scheme - The UDAN scheme was launched in October 2016 as part of the National Civil Aviation Policy, with the objective of democratising air travel by making flights accessible to the "common citizen." PM Modi inaugurated the first UDAN flight from Shimla to Delhi in April 2017. Since then, 649 out of 915 valid routes have been operationalised. These routes have connected 92 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes, facilitating over 1.56 crore passengers across 3.23 lakh UDAN flights. Despite progress, several identified airports remain non-operational due to land, technical, or regulatory hurdles, necessitating a redesigned approach.

Explanation - Key Highlights of India's 2035 NDC Targets - Expansion of non-fossil energy capacity — Target: 60% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035. Current status: India already achieved about 52% (2025). Target was to achieve 50% by 2030. Sources include: Solar, wind, hydro, biomass, nuclear. Indication: Early achievement of 2030 target (50%), showcasing rapid renewable expansion. Reduction in emissions intensity — Target: 47% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP (from 2005 levels) by 2035. Current progress: 36% reduction achieved (2005–2020) and the 2030 target is 45% reduction. Enhancement of carbon sink — Target: 3.5–4 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent carbon sink. Current progress: About 2.3 billion tonnes achieved by 2021 (2.5–3 bn tonnes to be achieved by 2030). Focus on afforestation, reforestation, and ecosystem restoration.

Explanation - Key Highlights of India's 2035 NDC Targets - Expansion of non-fossil energy capacity — Target: 60% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035. Current status: India already achieved about 52% (2025). Target was to achieve 50% by 2030. Sources include: Solar, wind, hydro, biomass, nuclear. Indication: Early achievement of 2030 target (50%), showcasing rapid renewable expansion. Reduction in emissions intensity — Target: 47% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP (from 2005 levels) by 2035. Current progress: 36% reduction achieved (2005–2020) and the 2030 target is 45% reduction. This reflects continued emphasis on energy efficiency and low-carbon growth. Enhancement of carbon sink — Target: 3.5–4 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent carbon sink. Current progress: About 2.3 billion tonnes achieved by 2021 (2.5–3 bn tonnes to be achieved by 2030). Focus on afforestation, reforestation, and ecosystem restoration.