Daily Current Affairs Digest & PIB Summary β 24 October 2026
π High-Yield Exam Index Today
- UPSC & State PCS (GS-2/GS-3): Expansion of PM-DevINE & Vibrant Villages Programme 2.0 for North-East & Border Infrastructure.
- Railways & Tech (RRB NTPC / JE / Section Controller): Amrit Bharat Station Scheme 2.0 β Digital station twin architecture & passenger safety modules.
- BPSC State Special (Bihar Civil Services / TRE): Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy 2026 & Food Processing Cluster Package.
- Banking & SSC (IBPS / RBI / SSC CGL): RBI Framework for Offline Programmable Functionality in Digital Rupee (e-βΉ-P).
GS-2 & GS-3: Governance & Border Infra
1\. PM-DevINE & Vibrant Villages Programme 2.0: Border Area Development Boost
Context: The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued joint operational guidelines for the synchronized implementation of PM-DevINE (Prime Ministerβs Development Initiative for North East Region) and Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) 2.0.
π PIB Fact File: Scheme Comparison for Civil Services
| Parameter | PM-DevINE Scheme | Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of DoNER | Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) |
| Geographic Scope | 8 North-Eastern States | Northern Border Blocks (Arunachal, HP, UT, Ladakh, Sikkim) |
| Primary Focus | Social development & infrastructure gap funding | Preventing out-migration from border villages & tourist hubs |
Key Exam Takeaways:
- 100% Central Funding: Both schemes operate as 100% Central Sector Schemes.
- Convergence Model: Overlapping border blocks will now utilize single-window digital monitoring under PM Gati Shakti NMP.
RRB Ops & Tech Focus
2\. Amrit Bharat Station Scheme 2.0: Digital Twin & Safety Integration
Context: Ministry of Railways has announced phase 2 extensions under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS), integrating 3D Digital Twin mapping and IoT-based station management across 1,320 major stations.
βοΈ Technical Notes for RRB NTPC, JE & Section Controller
- Digital Twin Technology: Real-time 3D spatial replica of station layout used for crowd control, train movement optimization, and emergency evacuation.
- Roof Plaza Concept: Creation of elevated concourses over tracks to separate arriving and departing passenger flows.
- Section Controller Linkage: Direct telemetry feedback from station signals to Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) centers.
BPSC State Special
3\. Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy 2026: Food Processing Focus
Context: The Bihar Department of Industries launched the revised Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (Food Processing Sector) 2026 aimed at capitalizing on Biharβs agricultural surplus in makhana, maize, litchi, and banana production.
π― High-Yield Points for BPSC Prelims & Mains
- Capital Subsidy: 35% capital subsidy (up to βΉ10 Crore) for setting up mega food parks in North Bihar districts (Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Katihar).
- Makhana Export Hub: Dedicated GI-tagged Makhana Cluster established in Darbhanga with radiation processing facilities.
- Employment Subsidy: State government to reimburse 50% of ESI/EPF contributions for local workers for 5 years.
Banking & Economy
4\. RBI Digital Rupee (e-βΉ): Offline & Programmable Functionality Rollout
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced operational frameworks allowing offline peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers and programmable targeted payouts using Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC / e-Rupee).
- Offline Mechanism: Uses Near Field Communication (NFC) protocols allowing digital rupee transactions in areas with zero internet connectivity.
- Programmability Feature: Enables government agencies to restrict subsidy usage to designated ends (e.g., agricultural fertilizer purchase only).
π Target Practice Questions
Q1\. Which Ministry is the nodal implementation agency for the βPM-DevINEβ scheme?
(a) Ministry of Home Affairs Β Β (b) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
(c) Ministry of Rural Development Β Β (d) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation: PM-DevINE is administered directly by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER). The Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), on the other hand, is under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Q2\. In which district has the Bihar State Government announced a GI-tagged Makhana Export Cluster under the Industrial Policy 2026?
(a) Patna Β Β (b) Gaya Β Β (c) Darbhanga Β Β (d) Bhagalpur
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: (c) Darbhanga
Explanation: Darbhanga has been selected as the dedicated cluster hub for Mithila Makhana processing, packaging, and export infrastructure.