Daily Current Affairs Digest & PIB Summary β 28 October 2026
π High-Yield Exam Index Today
- UPSC & State PCS (GS-3 Energy & Environment): National Green Hydrogen Mission β Pilot Projects in Steel & Shipping Sectors.
- Railways & Tech (RRB NTPC / JE / Section Controller): Kavach 4.0 Dual-Redundant OFC Interlocking & Tower Telemetry Infrastructure.
- BPSC State Special (Bihar Civil Services / TRE): Bihar Logistics Policy 2026 & Kalughat Inland Waterway Terminal (Saran) Multimodal Hub.
- Banking & SSC (IBPS / RBI / SSC CGL): RBI Directive on Mandatory TReDS Onboarding for Corporate Buyers & CPSEs.
GS-3: Energy & Environment
1\. National Green Hydrogen Mission: Pilot Projects in Steel Making & Maritime Shipping
Context: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued scheme guidelines for implementing pilot projects under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), targeting decarbonization in hard-to-abate industrial sectors.
π PIB Fact File: Key Parameters of Green Hydrogen Pilot Guidelines
| Feature Parameter | Scheme Specification |
|---|---|
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) |
| Steel Sector Outlay | βΉ455 Crore allocated for blending Green Hydrogen in Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plants and blast furnaces. |
| Shipping Sector Target | Retrofitting existing tugboats to running on Green Hydrogen/Methanol & developing green bunkering at VOC Port Tuticorin. |
| Implementation Timeline | Phase-1 pilot operationalization target set for FY 2026β27 to 2029β30. |
Key Exam Takeaways:
- Mission Target: Achieving 5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) annual Green Hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
- Carbon Offset: Expected to abate nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions and reduce fossil fuel imports by over βΉ1 Lakh Crore.
RRB Ops & Tech Focus
2\. Kavach 4.0 Dual-Redundant OFC Interlocking & Track Telemetry
Context: Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) finalized technical specifications for Dual-Redundant Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) Interlocking to secure uninterrupted communication links for Kavach 4.0 Automatic Train Protection.
βοΈ Technical Notes for RRB NTPC, JE & Section Controller
- Dual-Ring OFC Topology: Station Kavach units are interconnected via two independent physical fiber paths laid on opposite sides of the trackbed to eliminate single-point fiber cuts.
- Radio Tower Spacing: UHF/LTE-R radio towers erected at 5 km intervals to provide seamless cab-signaling coverage to moving locomotives.
- Fail-Safe Protocol: Any telemetry packet loss automatically initiates target braking inside the loco cabin within milliseconds.
BPSC State Special
3\. Bihar Logistics Policy 2026: Kalughat Inland Waterway Terminal (Saran)
Context: The Bihar Department of Industries notified the Bihar Logistics & Warehousing Policy 2026, establishing the Kalughat Inland Waterway Terminal in Saran district as the stateβs principal multimodal cargo hub on National Waterway 1 (NW-1 / River Ganga).
π― High-Yield Points for BPSC Prelims & Mains
- Kalughat Terminal (Saran): Built by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to manage containerized transshipment cargo bound for Nepal and North-East India.
- Logistics Parks Subsidy: 30% capital subsidy (up to βΉ15 Crore) granted to developers setting up Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and cold chain infrastructure.
- PM Gati Shakti Alignment: Connects NW-1 water transport with National Highway NH-19 and North Eastern Railway freight networks.
Banking & Economy
4\. RBI Directive: Mandatory TReDS Onboarding for Corporate Buyers & CPSEs
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued revised operational directives requiring all Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and corporate buyers with an annual turnover exceeding βΉ250 Crore to onboard the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platform.
- TReDS Platform Utility: Institutional digital framework facilitating the discounting of trade receivables of MSME suppliers through competitive bidding by banks and factoring institutions.
- MSME Liquidity Boost: Resolves working capital lock-in for micro and small suppliers without recourse liability.
π Target Practice Questions
Q1\. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which port has been selected for developing Green Hydrogen bunkering and refueling facilities?
(a) Deendayal Port Kandla Β Β (b) V.O. Chidambaranar Port Tuticorin
(c) Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Kolkata Β Β (d) Jawaharlal Nehru Port Mumbai
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: (b) V.O. Chidambaranar Port Tuticorin
Explanation: V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Tuticorin (VOC Port) has been designated as a major pilot hub for Green Hydrogen bunkering and port craft retrofitting under MNRE guidelines.
Q2\. What is the minimum annual turnover threshold mandated by the RBI for corporate buyers to mandatorily register on the TReDS platform?
(a) βΉ100 Crore Β Β (b) βΉ250 Crore Β Β (c) βΉ500 Crore Β Β (d) βΉ1,000 Crore
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: (b) βΉ250 Crore
Explanation: RBI directives mandate that companies and CPSEs with a turnover of βΉ250 Crore and above must register on TReDS platforms to ensure prompt MSME bill discounting.