NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENTS

Jal Jeevan Mission

• Context: The Union Cabinet approved the extension of the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Jal Jeevan programme to 2028 and provisioned more money to meet its goal of providing a minimum amount of daily potable water to every rural household in the country.

• The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was introduced in 2019 with the objective of ensuring Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) that supply 55 litres of drinking water per person per day to every rural household in India by 2024.

• The mission promotes planning at the village level and encourages active involvement of local communities in making decisions related to water supply systems.
• Under the programme, at least 50% of the members in the Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) / Pani Samiti must be women, ensuring gender participation in water management.

About Jal Jeevan Mission

• • The earlier National Rural Drinking Water Programme was reorganized and merged into the Jal Jeevan Mission.

• Nodal Ministry: The mission is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

Funding Pattern (Centre–State Sharing)

• 90:10: For Himalayan States such as Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and for North-Eastern States.

• 100% Central Funding: For Union Territories.
• 50:50: For all other States in India.

Major Achievements of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

• Since the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019, more than 12 crore rural households have been provided with piped drinking water connections, compared to 3.23 crore households earlier, according to the Economic Survey 2024–25.
• States that have reached 100% tap water coverage include Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Telangana, and Mizoram.
• Union Territories with full coverage are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Puducherry, where every rural household now has access to piped drinking water.
  Current Facts
  • Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
    Madurai Airport Upgraded to International Status
    • Context: Madurai airport was officially declared an international airport, following the union cabinet’s approval and the issuance of formal orders by the Airport Authority of India.
    • Marking a major milestone for aviation connectivity in Southern Tamil Nadu.

    Major Benefits 

    • Direct international air connectivity to global destinations for the people of Southern districts of Tamil Nadu
    • Easier access for international tourists and devotees visiting Madurai and nearby pilgrimage sites
    • Boost to tourism, automobile, rubber, chemical and granite industries of the region
    • Promotion to trade and investment opportunities; contributing to local economic development

    
    Nationwide Darknet Drug Racket Busted by NCB

    • Context: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has dismantled a nationwide drug trafficking network known as “Team Kalki”, which had been operating across India through the Darknet since January 2025.

    Darknet

    • The darknet refers to a hidden section of the internet that cannot be accessed using regular web browsers or common search engines.
    • Access to this network requires special software such as Tor, along with specific configurations or permissions.
    • It provides high levels of anonymity, as users’ identities and locations are concealed through encryption techniques.
    • The darknet forms a small portion of the larger Deep Web.

    
    Anavaran System for Tracking Deforestation Stopped

    • Context: The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has reportedly stopped issuing the fortnightly alerts produced by its AI-driven Anavaran Deforestation Alert System, which was designed to track forest cover loss almost in real time.

    Anavaran Deforestation Alert System

    • Anavaran is an artificial intelligence–based platform created by the Forest Survey of India to monitor deforestation activities.
    • It analyzes satellite data along with machine learning techniques to identify areas where forest cover has been reduced.
    • The system sends alerts to State Forest Departments every 15 days to help them respond quickly to forest loss.
    • It was introduced as a pilot initiative in 2024 to improve near real-time monitoring of forests.

    Technology Used

    • The system operates on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform.
    • It processes data from Sentinel‑2 optical satellite imagery, which provides 10–20 metre spatial resolution.
    • It also uses Sentinel‑1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, allowing forest monitoring even during cloudy weather or monsoon conditions.

    
    New Welfare Schemes for Persons with Disabilities 

    • Context: During a post-budget webinar, highlighted two new initiatives — Divyang Sahara Yojana and Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana — introduced in the Union Budget 2026–27 under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

    Divyang Sahara Yojana

    • The objective of this scheme is to ensure affordable availability of advanced assistive devices for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) so that they can lead more independent lives.
    • It will support the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) in boosting production of assistive equipment by incorporating artificial intelligence and modern technologies.
    • Assistive Marts: Dedicated retail-like centres will be created where beneficiaries can view, try, and select suitable assistive devices according to their requirements.
    • Service Hubs: Existing Pradhan Mantri Divyasha-Vayoshri Kendras (PMDVKs) will be upgraded to provide evaluation, custom fitting, repair, and maintenance services.

    Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana

    • This programme focuses on providing skill development training aligned with industry needs, enabling persons with disabilities to secure respectable employment opportunities.
    • Priority Sectors: Training will be offered in areas such as Information Technology (IT), Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC), Hospitality, and Food & Beverage services.
    • Digital Linkage: The registration process for skill training will be integrated with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) and the PM-DAKSH Portal to streamline access and monitoring.

    
    SHINE App 

    • Context: The Indian Railways introduced the SHINE App on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2026) to enhance workplace safety and support women employees across the organisation. 
    • This step aims to create a safer and more supportive working environment.

    About the SHINE App

    • SHINE stands for Sexual Harassment Incident Notification for Empowerment.
    • The application enables women employees to report cases of sexual harassment directly through the Human Resources Management System (HRMS).

    Key Features

    • The SHINE app provides a dedicated digital platform for women staff in Indian Railways to submit complaints of workplace harassment quickly and securely.
    • It is integrated with the HRMS platform used by railway employees for personnel-related services.
    • Through the Employee Self-Service (ESS) portal, women employees can file complaints directly online.
    • Once submitted, the complaints are automatically forwarded to the appropriate committees responsible for addressing such issues.

    Objective

    • The initiative aims to simplify the reporting process, ensure confidential handling of complaints, and make sure that cases reach the concerned authorities promptly for action.