PIB & RBI Official
Daily Current Affairs Digest & PIB Summary β 4 November 2026
π― Target Exams: UPSC CSE, State PCS, RRB NTPC/JE/Section Controller, BPSC, SSC CGL, IBPS PO, Teaching
π Sources: PIB Delhi, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, RBI Bulletins, BIADA Releases
π High-Yield Exam Index Today
- UPSC & State PCS (GS-3 Agriculture & Environment): Operationalization of PM-PRANAM Scheme & Bio-Fertilizer Subsidy Rebalancing.
- Railways & Tech (RRB NTPC / JE / Section Controller): Vande Bharat Sleeper Rake Validation (160 km/h) & Kavach 4.0 High-Speed Track Telemetry.
- BPSC State Special (Bihar Civil Services / TRE): Bihar Agro-Processing Corridor & Khagaria Mega Food Park Industrial Allocation.
- Banking & SSC (IBPS / RBI / SSC CGL): RBI Card-on-File Tokenization (CoFT) Mandate & Cyber Risk Controls for Digital Merchant Transactions.
1. PM-PRANAM Scheme: Restructuring Fertilizer Subsidies & Promoting Bio-Inputs
Context: The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers released the annual evaluation report for PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth), highlighting a 12% national reduction in chemical urea consumption.
π PIB Fact File: Key Parameters of PM-PRANAM Framework
| Feature Parameter | Scheme Specification |
|---|---|
| Budgetary Allocation | No separate budget. Funded by savings generated from chemical fertilizer subsidy reductions. |
| State Incentive Share | 50% of total subsidy savings passed back to State Governments as a direct financial grant. |
| Grant Utilization Rule | 70% of state grant funds reserved for asset creation (bio-fertilizer plants & organic processing); 30% for rewarding village panchayats and SHGs. |
| Core Alternate Inputs | Promotes Fermented Organic Manure (FOM), Liquid Nano Urea, and Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ βΉ1,500/MT for organic fertilizers. |
Key Exam Takeaways:
- Soil Health Restoration: Rebalances NPK ratio (ideal 4:2:1) by preventing excessive nitrogenous (Urea) over-application.
- Fiscal Savings: Reduces central government subsidy burden while encouraging decentralized bio-fertilizer production hubs.
2. Vande Bharat Sleeper Rakes (160 km/h) & Kavach 4.0 High-Speed Integration
Context: Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) successfully conducted 160 km/h speed trial runs for the first 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper Trainset on the KotaβNagda testing section.
βοΈ Technical Notes for RRB NTPC, JE & Section Controller
- Distributed Power Technology: Uses self-propelled distributed traction motors mounted under 50% of coaches, eliminating separate heavy locomotives.
- Kavach 4.0 Speed Distance Braking: Embedded Loco-Kavach calculates dynamic braking curves for 160 km/h high-speed deceleration ahead of signal aspect changes.
- Kevlar Crashworthy Structure: Designed with crash energy management (CEM) nose cones and automatic plug doors for sealed aerodynamic operation.
3. Bihar Food Processing Policy: Khagaria Mega Food Park Industrial Allotment
Context: The Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) sanctioned land allotments for 12 new food processing units at the Khagaria Mega Food Park (Mansi), focusing on maize and makhana value addition.
π― High-Yield Points for BPSC Prelims & Mains
- Mansi Mega Food Park (Khagaria): Biharβs primary central-assisted mega food park established to process agricultural produce from Kosi and Mithila belts.
- Maize Value Addition: Khagaria leads Bihar in per-acre maize yield; units will produce starch, liquid glucose, and bio-cornflakes.
- BIADA Incentives: 35% capital subsidy (up to βΉ10 Crore) along with single-window NOC approvals within 15 working days.
4. RBI Master Direction: Card-on-File Tokenization (CoFT) for Digital Merchants
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expanded the operational scope of Card-on-File Tokenization (CoFT) to cover cross-border e-commerce payments and commercial card networks.
- Data Security Mechanism: Replaces actual 16-digit debit/credit card details with an encrypted alternate code (Token) unique to a specific card, token requester, and device.
- Zero Plaintext Storage: Digital merchants are prohibited from storing actual card numbers, expiry dates, or CVVs on their servers, preventing data leakages.
- Issuer-Level Tokenization: Allows cardholders to generate CoFT tokens directly through their bankβs mobile application.
π Target Practice Questions
Q1. Under the PM-PRANAM scheme, what percentage of the subsidy savings achieved by a State is returned to it as a central grant?
(a) 25% (b) 50% (c) 75% (d) 100%
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: (b) 50%
Explanation: Under PM-PRANAM, 50% of the total subsidy savings generated by a State through reduced chemical fertilizer consumption is returned to that State as a direct grant.
Q2. In which district of Bihar is the central-assisted Mega Food Park situated at Mansi?
(a) Purnia (b) Begusarai (c) Khagaria (d) Darbhanga
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: (c) Khagaria
Explanation: The Mega Food Park is located in Mansi, Khagaria district of Bihar, serving as a primary processing hub for regional maize and agricultural produce.
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