Daily filter — 18 March 2026
12 exam-worthy stories from the day's PIB releases · interactive view
🎮 Law & Judiciary · LAW track
New Act Prohibits All Online Money Games in India
The **Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025** prohibits all forms of online money games.
- The Gaming Act prohibits all online money games, regardless of skill or chance.
- It bans advertising, promotion, and financial transactions for such games.
- Violations for offering games can lead to 3 years imprisonment or 1 crore fine.
- Online Gaming Authority of India will regulate and classify permissible games.
- The Act aims to promote e-sports and online social games in India.
💡 Remember: Online Gaming Act, 2025 = no online money games, Online Gaming Authority = regulates.
Source: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting · PIB PRID 2241804
⚖️ Law & Judiciary · LAW track
Cinematograph Act, 2023 Bolsters Anti-Piracy Framework
The **Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023** strengthens legal measures against film piracy, with recent actions targeting online platforms.
- The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 enhances anti-piracy legal framework.
- Piracy can lead to 3 months to 3 years imprisonment and a fine up to 5% of production cost.
- The Government notified Telegram App on 11.03.2026 to remove 3,142 channels.
- Access to approximately 800 websites hosting pirated content has been disabled.
💡 Remember: The 2023 Cinematograph Act enables 3-year jail and 5% fine for piracy, leading to 3,142 Telegram channels and 800 websites being targeted.
Source: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting · PIB PRID 2241712
🏭 Economy · UPSC track
Cabinet Approves Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) for Industrial Parks
The Union Cabinet approved **BHAVYA** with ₹33,660 crore to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks, boosting manufacturing.
- BHAVYA allocates ₹33,660 crore to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks.
- Industrial parks will range from 100 to 1000 acres, with up to ₹1 crore per acre financial support.
- The scheme aims to reduce entry barriers for investors with pre-approved land and ready infrastructure.
- It will be implemented in partnership with states and private sector players.
- The scheme is aligned with PM GatiShakti Principles for multimodal connectivity.
💡 Remember BHAVYA (₹33,660 cr, 100 parks) is a new plug-and-play industrial development scheme for Viksit Bharat.
Source: Cabinet · PIB PRID 2241785
🗳️ Polity & Governance · LAW track
ECI Deploys 25 Lakh Personnel for 5 State Elections
The Election Commission of India has deployed extensive personnel to ensure violence-free and inducement-free elections across 5 States/UTs.
- Over 25 lakh election officials are deployed for elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
- This includes nearly 15 lakh Polling Personnel and 8.5 lakh Security Personnel.
- Over 17.4 crore electors are eligible to vote, with 1 official for every 70 electors.
- 1,111 Central Observers (557 General, 188 Police, 366 Expenditure) are deployed across 832 Assembly Constituencies.
- Personnel are deemed on deputation to ECI per Section 28A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
- Voters can contact 2.18 lakh BLOs via ECINet App or call 1950 for complaints.
💡 Remember: 25 lakh+ personnel, including 1,111 Central Observers, are deployed for 5 state elections under Sec 28A RPA, 1951.
Source: Election Commission · PIB PRID 2241667
🏭 Economy · UPSC track
Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) for Industrial Parks
The Union Cabinet has approved **BHAVYA** scheme with ₹33,660 crore to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks.
- The BHAVYA scheme aims to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks.
- An allocation of ₹33,660 crore is approved for the scheme.
- Financial support of up to ₹1 crore per acre will be provided for infrastructure.
- Industrial parks will range from 100 to 1000 acres in size.
- The scheme was approved on 18 MAR 2026 by the Union Cabinet.
- Project selection will be undertaken through a challenge mode.
💡 For the exam: BHAVYA (₹33,660 Cr) builds 100 plug-and-play industrial parks (100-1000 acres) with up to ₹1 Cr/acre financial support.
Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry · PIB PRID 2241814
⚖️ Law & Judiciary · LAW track
India Bolsters Forensic Capabilities with New Initiatives
The Ministry of Home Affairs is strengthening forensic science and infrastructure to support new criminal laws and improve investigations.
- NAFIS has a database of 1.26 crore fingerprint records, adding 90,000 monthly since August 2022.
- Under NFIES, 07 CFSLs are operational; 07 more have been approved for new states.
- The CyTrain portal has trained over 1,42,025 police and judicial officers by 31.01.2026.
- A National Forensic Data Centre is approved under 'Safety of Women' for forensic data stockpiling.
💡 NAFIS, NFIES, CyTrain, and the National Forensic Data Centre are key initiatives for India's forensic advancements.
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs · PIB PRID 2241681
💧 Environment · UPSC track
Cabinet Approves Small Hydro Power Development Scheme
The Union Cabinet has approved a new scheme to boost small hydro power projects across India from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.
- The Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme has an outlay of Rs.2584.60 crore.
- The scheme aims for installation of 1500 MW capacity Small Hydro Power Projects.
- It will support projects with capacity between 1-25 MW, benefiting hilly and North Eastern states.
- North Eastern states get Rs.3.6 crore per MW or 30% project cost, up to Rs.30 crore.
- Other states get Rs.2.4 crore per MW or 20% project cost, up to Rs.20 crore.
- An amount of Rs.30 crore is for detailed project report preparation for 200 projects.
- The scheme targets 51 lakh person days of employment during construction.
💡 Remember: The SHP scheme, from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, has a Rs.2584.60 crore outlay for 1500 MW capacity, with varying subsidies for different states.
Source: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy · PIB PRID 2241812
🏛️ Polity & Governance · UPSC track
Panchayati Raj Devolution Index and eGramSwaraj Progress
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released a Devolution Index and highlighted the progress of eGramSwaraj in strengthening grassroots governance.
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released "Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States - An Indicative Evidence-Based Ranking, 2024" in February 2025.
- The Devolution Index ranks States/UTs under Part-IX based on six dimensions: Framework, Functions, Finances, Functionaries, Capacity Enhancement, and Accountability.
- As of March 11, 2026, 2,54,604 Gram Panchayats (96.36%) uploaded their Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) on eGramSwaraj.
- eGramSwaraj is integrated with PFMS for payments, GeM for procurement, and BHASHINI for multilingual access.
💡 Remember: The Devolution Index assesses Panchayat empowerment across six dimensions, while eGramSwaraj digitizes planning and payments, linking with PFMS, GeM, and BHASHINI.
Source: Ministry of Panchayati Raj · PIB PRID 2241697
🗺️ Schemes & Welfare · UPSC track
SVAMITVA Scheme: Drone Surveys Completed in 3.29 Lakh Villages
The **SVAMITVA Scheme** is progressing, completing drone surveys in 3.29 lakh out of 3.44 lakh targeted villages by March 11, 2026.
- Drone survey completed in 3.29 lakh villages as of March 11, 2026.
- 3.10 crore property cards prepared for 1.87 lakh villages.
- 2.65 crore property cards have been distributed nationwide.
- Uttar Pradesh prepared 1.15 crore and distributed 1.01 crore property cards.
- Scheme aims to demarcate rural inhabited land using drone survey and CORS technology.
💡 SVAMITVA surveys are nearly done, with millions of property cards prepared and distributed by March 2026.
Source: Ministry of Panchayati Raj · PIB PRID 2241691
🛣️ Polity & Governance · LAW track
New Rules Strengthen Digital Toll Enforcement on National Highways
The Government of India has notified amendments to the **National Highways Fee Rules, 2026** to strengthen digital enforcement of toll collection.
- The National Highways Fee (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 came into effect from 17th March 2026.
- It defines "unpaid user fee" for vehicles recorded by Electronic Toll Collection (ETC).
- An e-notice system will recover unpaid fees via SMS, email, apps or an online portal.
- Unpaid user fee is twice the toll, but only original fee is due if paid within 72 hours.
- Grievances must be submitted within 72 hours and disposed of within five days.
- Unpaid fees beyond 15 days will be recorded in VAHAN system for service restrictions.
💡 The 2026 National Highways Fee Rules (effective March 17, 2026) introduces e-notices for unpaid digital tolls, charging 2x the fee (or original if paid within 72 hours), with VAHAN integration.
Source: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways · PIB PRID 2242020
🤝 Schemes & Welfare · LAW track
SMILE-Beggary Scheme: Rehabilitation for Impoverished Individuals
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing the SMILE-Beggary scheme to rehabilitate individuals engaged in begging.
- The SMILE-Beggary scheme aligns with NHRC recommendations from June, 2024.
- District Authorities/ULBs identify high-density begging areas, including pilgrimage and tourist spots.
- Shelter homes provide registration, documentation (Aadhaar), bank accounts, and healthcare.
- Beneficiaries receive education, skill development, and linkage to welfare schemes.
- The scheme is implemented with State Governments, District Authorities, and NGOs.
💡 For the exam: SMILE-Beggary is a central scheme for rehabilitating individuals from begging, focusing on identification, shelter, documentation, and skill development with state and NGO partnership.
Source: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment · PIB PRID 2241900
📊 Reports & Indices · UPSC track
MoSPI Releases SDG Bulletins on Planet and Prosperity
The **Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation** (MoSPI) released two thematic SDG Bulletins on **March 18, 2026**, in Patna, Bihar.
- The bulletins, 'Planet in Focus' and 'Delivering Prosperity at Scale', align with the 2030 Agenda pillars.
- India achieved universal, fully sustained Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across all districts.
- Share of renewable energy in total installed electricity capacity increased from 16.02% in 2015–16 to 22.13% in 2024–25.
- Carbon intensity of the power sector declined from 61.45 tonnes CO₂ in 2015–16 to 40.52 tonnes in 2022–23.
💡 For the exam: Remember MoSPI's 'Planet' and 'Prosperity' SDG bulletins highlight India's ODF status, rising renewable energy, and declining carbon intensity.
Source: Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation · PIB PRID 2241767