PIB & RBI Official
Daily Current Affairs Digest & PIB Summary β 2 November 2026
π― Target Exams: UPSC CSE, State PCS, RRB NTPC/JE/Section Controller, BPSC, SSC CGL, IBPS PO, Teaching
π Sources: PIB Delhi, MeitY, RBI Bulletins, Bihar Industries Dept
π High-Yield Exam Index Today
- UPSC & State PCS (GS-3 Science & Technology): National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) Phase-3 β AIRAWAT AI Supercomputing Grid & C-DAC Exascale Architecture.
- Railways & Tech (RRB NTPC / JE / Section Controller): Kavach 4.0 Dual-Ring Fault-Tolerant OFC Loop Architecture & Automatic Train Operation (ATO) Testing.
- BPSC State Special (Bihar Civil Services / TRE): Bihar Textile & Leather Policy 2026 & Muzaffarpur Mega PM MITRA Hub Allocation.
- Banking & SSC (IBPS / RBI / SSC CGL): RBI Scale-Based Regulation (SBR) Norms for Upper-Layer Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC-UL).
1. National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) Phase-3: AIRAWAT & Exascale AI Grid
Context: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) announced the operational readiness of 24 new high-performance computing (HPC) nodes under National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) Phase-3, powered by C-DACβs AIRAWAT AI infrastructure.
π PIB Fact File: Key Parameters of National Supercomputing Infrastructure
| Feature Parameter | Scheme Specification |
|---|---|
| Implementing Agencies | Jointly implemented by C-DAC (Pune) and IISc (Bengaluru) under MeitY and DST. |
| AIRAWAT AI System | AI supercomputing platform installed at C-DAC Pune, ranked among the top global AI supercomputers (peak capacity > 13 Petaflops). |
| Indigenization Milestone | Powered by Indiaβs home-grown RUDRA server boards and Trinetra interconnect technology. |
| Target Computational Capacity | Scaling national supercomputing grid capacity beyond 60 Petaflops across 30+ premier academic/research institutions. |
Key Exam Takeaways:
- National Knowledge Network (NKN): All NSM supercomputers are connected via the high-speed 100 Gbps backbone of the NKN.
- Applications Domain: Supports climate modeling, genomic sequencing, drug discovery, computational fluid dynamics, and national security AI algorithms.
2. Kavach 4.0 Fault-Tolerant Dual-Ring OFC & Automatic Train Operation (ATO)
Context: Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) issued updated technical parameters for implementing Dual-Ring OFC Fault-Tolerant Loops integrated with Automatic Train Operation (ATO) functions under Kavach 4.0.
βοΈ Technical Notes for RRB NTPC, JE & Section Controller
- Dual-Ring Redundancy: Trackside optical fiber cables laid in closed loops on both sides of the railway embankment ensure uninterrupted signal routing even if a cable is cut or severed.
- ATO Grade-2 Integration: Enables automated acceleration, motoring, and precise platform stopping, while leaving safety doors and driver oversight to the Loco Pilot.
- Zero-Latency Radio Telemetry: Maintains continuous 700 MHz LTE-R radio handshake between trackside station towers and moving loco-Kavach units.
3. Bihar Textile & Leather Policy 2026: Muzaffarpur & Madhubani Cluster Hubs
Context: The Bihar Industries Department approved an additional βΉ600 Crore incentive disbursement under the Bihar Textile and Leather Policy 2026, positioning Muzaffarpur and Madhubani as major garmenting export clusters.
π― High-Yield Points for BPSC Prelims & Mains
- Muzaffarpur Garment Cluster: Developed as a plug-and-play apparel park employing over 15,000 workers, particularly returning migrant artisans.
- Capital Investment Subsidy: Provides up to 15% capital subsidy (max βΉ10 Crore) for unit setup, along with βΉ5,000/month employment subsidy per local worker for 5 years.
- Madhubani Handloom & Khadi Hub: Dedicated GI-tagged Mithila handloom and tussar silk processing units supported under BIADA leasehold terms.
4. RBI Scale-Based Regulation (SBR) Norms for Upper-Layer NBFCs (NBFC-UL)
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued updated regulatory compliance directions for Upper Layer Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC-UL) under its 4-tiered Scale-Based Regulation (SBR) framework.
- 4-Tier SBR Architecture: Categorizes NBFCs into Base Layer (NBFC-BL), Middle Layer (NBFC-ML), Upper Layer (NBFC-UL), and Top Layer (NBFC-TL).
- Capital & Listing Mandates: NBFC-UL entities must maintain a minimum Common Equity Tier 1 (CET-1) capital ratio of 9% and complete mandatory public stock exchange listing within 3 years of identification.
π Target Practice Questions
Q1. Which indigenous server board architecture has been developed by C-DAC to power supercomputers under the National Supercomputing Mission?
(a) Vikram (b) Rudra (c) Param (d) Shakti
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: (b) Rudra
Explanation: βRUDRAβ is Indiaβs indigenously designed server board developed by C-DAC for building HPC cluster systems under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).
Q2. What is the minimum Common Equity Tier 1 (CET-1) capital ratio mandated by the RBI for Upper-Layer NBFCs (NBFC-UL) under Scale-Based Regulation?
(a) 6% (b) 7.5% (c) 9% (d) 11.5%
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: (c) 9%
Explanation: Under the RBIβs Scale-Based Regulation framework, Upper-Layer NBFCs are required to maintain a minimum Common Equity Tier 1 (CET-1) ratio of 9% to ensure financial stability.
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