Daily filter — 30 June 2026
9 exam-worthy stories from the day's PIB releases · interactive view
⚖️ Law & Judiciary · LAW track
Supreme Court directs status quo on ethanol allocation
The Attorney General clarified media reports about the E20 programme, informing the Supreme Court about pending writ petitions.
- The Attorney General addressed incorrect media reports on the E20 Programme.
- Transfer Petitions are being filed for similar cases on ethanol allocation.
- The Supreme Court directed status quo for the Ethanol Supply Year (2025-26).
- The E20 blending programme is a national initiative, not an experiment.
💡 Remember: SC ordered status quo for 2025-26 ethanol allocation; E20 programme is national, not an experiment.
Source: Ministry of Law and Justice · PIB PRID 2279625
💧 Schemes & Welfare · UPSC track
**PMKSY** Completes a Decade of Irrigation-Led Agricultural Transformation
The **Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)** has completed over 10 years, playing a pivotal role in strengthening irrigation infrastructure across India.
- PMKSY launched on July 1, 2015, completed more than 10 years by June 30, 2026.
- Central assistance for PMKSY exceeded ₹64,407 crore, benefiting over 27 million farmers by August 2025.
- The Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme brought 110.92 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation.
- PMKSY-AIBP received ₹21,023 crore since 2016-17, benefiting 17.30 million farmers.
- The Micro Irrigation Fund under NABARD promotes micro-irrigation technologies.
💡 Remember PMKSY's launch year 2015, 10+ years of irrigation, key components like AIBP and PDMC, and its impact on farmers and micro-irrigation coverage.
Source: PIB Backgrounder · PIB PRID 2279431
📊 Economy · UPSC track
Nine Years of GST: Simplified Taxation, Formalisation, and Next-Gen Reforms
Since its 2017 implementation, **GST** has unified India's tax system, increased taxpayer base, and seen **Next-Generation reforms** in 2025.
- The Goods & Services Tax (GST) was launched on July 1, 2017, subsuming 17 taxes and 13 cesses.
- The number of GST taxpayers increased from 66.5 lakh in 2017 to 1.65 crore by May 2026.
- The Next-Generation GST reforms (or GST 2.0) took effect from September 22, 2025, streamlining rates to 5% and 18%.
- A 40% rate was introduced for luxury and sin goods under the Next-Generation GST reforms.
- The GST registration limit for goods suppliers increased from ₹20 lakh to ₹40 lakh from April 2019.
💡 Remember GST for its 2017 launch, taxpayer growth, Next-Gen Reforms in 2025 (5%, 18% slabs, 40% on luxury/sin), and the ₹40 lakh registration limit for goods.
Source: PIB Backgrounder · PIB PRID 2279318
💰 Schemes & Welfare · UPSC track
VB-GRAM G Act 2025: Revised Wage Rates & ₹300 Base
The **Government of India** notified revised wage rates for the **Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Act, 2025**.
- Revised wages under VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 are effective from July 1, 2026.
- An interim base wage of ₹300 per day ensures no notified wage is below this amount.
- The national average wage increased from ₹298.8 to ₹327.4 per day.
- Wage rates increased across all 34 States/UTs, with an average hike over 10 percent.
- The VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 guarantees 125 days of wage employment.
💡 Remember: VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 sets a ₹300 minimum wage and 125 days of employment from July 1, 2026.
Source: Ministry of Rural Development · PIB PRID 2279660
🌱 Schemes & Welfare · UPSC track
**VB-G RAM G Act, 2025** to provide 125 days guaranteed rural employment
The **Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025** comes into force July 1, 2026.
- The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 will provide 125 days of guaranteed wage employment.
- It will come into force across rural India from July 1, 2026.
- An interim allocation of ₹95,692.31 crore has been made to States and UTs.
- The national launch is on July 2, 2026, in Andhra Pradesh.
💡 Remember VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 for 125 days of rural employment guarantee starting July 1, 2026.
Source: Ministry of Rural Development · PIB PRID 2279446
🏨 Economy · UPSC track
Report launched: 'Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector'
The Ministry of Tourism and NITI Aayog launched a report to simplify regulations and accelerate sustainable growth in the tourism sector.
- The report 'Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector' was launched on June 30, 2026.
- It provides a roadmap to simplify regulations and improve ease of doing business.
- The report identifies regulatory bottlenecks affecting investments and accommodation capacity.
- Recommendations aim to strengthen inter-departmental coordination and promote tourism entrepreneurship.
- It aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 for economic growth.
- The report was launched at a National Workshop in New Delhi.
💡 Remember: Tourism Ministry + NITI Aayog = 'Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector' report for Viksit Bharat 2047.
Source: Ministry of Tourism · PIB PRID 2279568
🏨 Economy · UPSC track
NITI Aayog, Tourism Ministry report targets sector growth
NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Tourism launched a report to boost India's tourism and hospitality sector.
- The report 'Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector' was launched on 30 JUN 2026.
- It provides a roadmap for simplifying regulations and improving ease of doing business.
- Recommendations focus on expanding accommodation capacity and streamlining approval mechanisms.
- The report aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
💡 Remember: NITI Aayog & Tourism Ministry for Viksit Bharat 2047 focused on ease of doing business in tourism.
Source: NITI Aayog · PIB PRID 2279601
⚖️ Law & Judiciary · LAW track
GST Appellate Tribunal appeal deadline extended to July 31st
The Government has extended the deadline for filing appeals before the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (**GSTAT**).
- The new due date for filing appeals before GSTAT is 31st July 2026.
- This extension revises the previous deadline of 30th June 2026.
- The earlier deadline was set by a notification dated 17.09.2025.
- The extension addresses technical difficulties due to a rush on the GSTAT portal.
- Around 30,000 appeals were filed in the last 15 days, peaking at 5,500 daily.
💡 Remember GSTAT appeal deadline is 31st July 2026, extended from 30th June 2026 due to technical issues.
Source: Ministry of Finance · PIB PRID 2279274
⚖️ Law & Judiciary · UPSC track
FCRA 2.0 Portal, e-OCI Card Launched for Digital Governance
The Union Home Minister launched the **FCRA 2.0 Portal** and **e-OCI Card** on June 30, 2026, to enhance citizen convenience and digital governance.
- The FCRA 2.0 Portal digitizes foreign contribution processes, reducing paperwork and enabling real-time monitoring.
- It incorporates features like Aadhaar-based authentication, e-Sign, and OCR for around 14,500 active FCRA organizations.
- The e-OCI Card offers a fully digital system for 50 lakh OCI cardholders, eliminating physical documents and re-issuance after age 20.
- Both initiatives are hosted on 'MeghRaj' (Government Cloud) and integrate with major government databases.
- Future features include an AI-powered chatbot and FCRA mobile application.
💡 For the exam: Remember FCRA 2.0 and e-OCI are MHA-led digital initiatives, streamlining foreign contributions and OCI services respectively, improving monitoring and convenience via tech like Aadhaar and MeghRaj.
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs · PIB PRID 2279410