Daily filter — 25 March 2026

12 exam-worthy stories from the day's PIB releases · interactive view

🍽️ Law & Judiciary · LAW track

CCPA Bars Hotels From Levying 'LPG Charges'

The **CCPA** issued an advisory against hotels and restaurants automatically levying "LPG charges" and similar charges on consumer bills.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued an advisory on 25 MAR 2026.
It bars hotels/restaurants from levying 'LPG charges', 'gas surcharge', 'fuel cost recovery' by default.
This practice is deemed an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Such charges are considered part of business operational costs.
Consumers can lodge complaints via National Consumer Helpline (NCH) 1915 or e-Jagriti portal.

💡 The CCPA advisory under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 prohibits hotels from default "LPG charges".

Source: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution · PIB PRID 2245074

🌱 Environment · UPSC track

India Enhances Climate Ambition with New 2035 NDC Targets

India's Cabinet approved enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) for **2031-2035** to the UNFCCC, aligning with **Viksit Bharat @2047**.

Reduce Emissions Intensity of GDP by 47 percent by 2035 from 2005 levels.
Achieve 60 percent electric power capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2035.
Create a Carbon Sink of 3.5 to 4.0 billion tonnes of CO₂ eq. by 2035.
Previous 2030 targets were achieved 11 and 9 years ahead of schedule.

💡 For the exam: Remember the key 2035 targets: 47% emissions intensity reduction, 60% non-fossil power, and 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes carbon sink.

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · PIB PRID 2245213

⚖️ Law & Judiciary · LAW track

Understanding the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013

The **SH Act, 2013** aims to ensure safe working environments for all women by broadly defining key terms related to sexual harassment.

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (SH Act) was enacted.
The SH Act, 2013 covers all women, regardless of age or employment status.
It extends protection to public, private, organized, unorganized sectors, and domestic workers.
Section 2(a) defines 'aggrieved woman' broadly, covering any woman subjected to harassment.
Section 2(f) defines 'employee' to include regular, temporary, ad hoc, daily wage, and contractual workers.
Section 2(o) expansively defines 'workplace' for formal and informal sectors.
The Bombay High Court in Jaya Kodate v. Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University (2013) upheld the wide definition of 'workplace'.

💡 Remember: The SH Act, 2013 has broad definitions for 'aggrieved woman', 'employee', and 'workplace' to ensure comprehensive protection.

Source: Ministry of Women and Child Development · PIB PRID 2245028

⚖️ Law & Judiciary · LAW track

India's Enhanced Legal Framework for Child Online Safety

India has a robust and continuously evolving legal framework to protect children from online sexual abuse.

The POCSO Act, 2012 safeguards children against sexual offences, including online abuse.
The IT Act, 2000 and IT Rules, 2021 create a stringent framework for online sexual offences.
Amendments to IT Rules, 2021 came into force on February 20, 2026.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 further strengthens the framework.
Intermediaries must remove specified content within 2 hours per amended IT Rules, 2021.
As of December 31, 2025, there are 398 functional e-POCSO courts.

💡 Remember: POCSO 2012, IT Act 2000/IT Rules 2021, BNS 2023, and the 2-hour removal timeline are key.

Source: Ministry of Women and Child Development · PIB PRID 2245026

🌱 Environment · UPSC track

India's Enhanced Climate Targets (NDC 2031-2035) Approved by Cabinet

The Union Cabinet approved India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2031-2035, significantly raising climate ambition under the **UNFCCC**.

Reduce Emissions Intensity of GDP by 47 percent by 2035 from 2005 level.
Achieve 60 percent cumulative electric power from non-fossil fuel sources by 2035.
Create a Carbon Sink of 3.5 to 4.0 billion tonnes of CO₂ eq. by 2035 from 2005 level.

💡 For the exam: Remember 47% emissions intensity, 60% non-fossil power, and 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes carbon sink targets, all by 2035.

Source: Cabinet · PIB PRID 2245209

✈️ Schemes & Welfare · UPSC track

Cabinet Approves Modified UDAN Scheme with ₹28,840 Crore Outlay

The Union Cabinet has approved the launch of the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Modified UDAN, for ten years.

The scheme runs from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36 with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore.
It aims to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips.
200 modern helipads will be developed to address connectivity challenges.
Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of ₹10,043 crore is proposed for airline operators.

💡 For the exam: Modified UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme) with ₹28,840 crore outlay for 10 years for airports, helipads, and VGF.

Source: Cabinet · PIB PRID 2245096

✈️ Schemes & Welfare · UPSC track

Cabinet Approves Modified UDAN Scheme for Enhanced Regional Connectivity

The Union Cabinet approved the Modified **UDAN** scheme with ₹28,840 crore outlay to deepen regional air connectivity across India until FY 2035–36.

The scheme period for Modified UDAN is from FY 2026–27 to FY 2035–36, spanning 10 years.
Total outlay is ₹28,840 crore through budgetary support from the Government of India.
It proposes developing 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips.
Support for approximately 441 aerodromes for Operation & Maintenance (O&M) for three years.
Development of 200 modern helipads is proposed in hilly, remote, island, and aspirational regions.
₹10,043 crore is proposed as Viability Gap Funding for airline operators over 10 years.
The scheme supports indigenous aviation by procuring HAL Dhruv helicopters and HAL Dornier aircraft.

💡 For the exam: Remember Modified UDAN for ₹28,840 crore over 10 years (FY 2026–27 to 2035–36), developing 100 airports, 200 helipads, and supporting indigenous aircraft.

Source: Ministry of Civil Aviation · PIB PRID 2245471

✈️ Schemes & Welfare · UPSC track

Cabinet Approves Modified UDAN Scheme with ₹28,840 Crore Outlay

The Union Cabinet has approved a modified version of the UDAN scheme to enhance regional air connectivity across India for ten years.

The Modified UDAN Scheme is approved for ten years from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36.
Total outlay for the scheme is ₹28,840 crore, with budgetary support from the government.
It aims to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips.
200 modern helipads will be developed to improve connectivity in remote regions.
Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of ₹10,043 crore is proposed for airline operators.
The scheme also proposes procuring HAL Dhruv helicopters and HAL Dornier aircraft.

💡 Remember: The Modified UDAN Scheme is a ₹28,840 crore, 10-year plan to develop 100 airports and 200 helipads, plus VGF for operators.

Source: Ministry of Civil Aviation · PIB PRID 2245099

🌾 Schemes & Welfare · UPSC track

Grain Storage Plan Progress in Bihar's Cooperative Sector

Bihar is implementing the World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector, with progress on PACS identification and project funding.

Bihar has identified 36 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) under the plan.
The estimated project cost for the 36 approved PACS is Rs. 104.3 crores.
Rs. 71.63 crores loan amount has been sanctioned by banks so far.
Effective loan interest rate for PACS is reduced to 1% using AIF and NABARD refinance.
33% subsidy on project cost is available under the Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) Scheme.

💡 Remember: 36 PACS identified in Bihar, 1% effective loan rate for PACS, 33% AMI subsidy.

Source: Ministry of Cooperation · PIB PRID 2245140

🔒 Defence & Security · LAW track

New Mandatory Security Requirements for CCTV Systems in India

The government has implemented major reforms and notified essential requirements to strengthen the security of CCTV systems in India.

Mandatory Essential Requirements (ERs) have been notified for CCTVs in the Indian market.
Government departments are restricted from buying CCTV equipment not meeting these ERs.
Clear documentation of critical component origin, like System-on-Chip (SoC), is mandatory.
Devices must be tested at accredited labs against unauthorized remote access vulnerabilities.
As of 2026, 507 models of CCTV cameras are certified for ER compliance.

💡 Remember: CCTVs in India now need ERs, tested in accredited labs for hardware security, with 507 models already compliant by 2026.

Source: Ministry of Electronics & IT · PIB PRID 2245073

⚖️ Law & Judiciary · LAW track

IT Rules Amended to Combat Harmful AI-Generated Content

Government strengthens the regulatory framework via **IT Rules** amendments to tackle issues from synthetically generated information, including deepfakes.

The IT Rules were amended on 10th February, 2026, to address harms from SGI.
Platforms must use technical measures to prevent unlawful AI-generated content.
Permissible AI-generated content requires clear labelling and traceable metadata.
Intermediaries must remove unlawful content within three hours of court order.

💡 Remember, IT Rules (Feb 2026) mandate tech measures, labeling, and rapid removal (3 hours) for unlawful AI-generated content.

Source: Ministry of Electronics & IT · PIB PRID 2245053

🛂 Law & Judiciary · UPSC track

Cabinet Approves Continuation of IVFRT Scheme Until 2031

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the **Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT)** Scheme for five more years.

The IVFRT Scheme is approved from April 01, 2026 to March 31, 2031.
The scheme has a budget outlay of Rs.1800 crore.
It aims to modernize immigration and visa services, strengthening national security.
IVFRT has achieved 100% contactless visa processing and reduced clearance times.
The Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) now clears passengers in 30 seconds.

💡 Remember IVFRT for its Rs.1800 crore extension until 2031, modernizing immigration and facilitating travel.

Source: Ministry of Home Affairs · PIB PRID 2245101