Topic — Polity & Governance

💡 Remember SIR for Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, supported by the Vice-President and CEO, Delhi.

💡 For the exam: The Rural Internal Audit Portal (MoRD) is an AI-enabled platform, developed by CCA and NIC, streamlining audits for transparency.

💡 For the exam: The 52nd PRAGATI meeting focused on infrastructure (PM GatiShakti), TB Mukt Bharat (AI), and cybercrime (e-Zero FIR).

💡 Remember key states for HLO commencement, ongoing operations, and completion, plus the '23' states completing phase one of digital Census 2027.

💡 Remember: DoLR + World Bank on June 15, 2026, for technology-enabled, state-assessed land governance aligned with Viksit Bharat.

💡 Remember: Telecom Act 2023 replaced Telegraph Act 1885, and new draft rules (comments till July 27, 2026) simplify TV/Radio services under MIB.

💡 Remember: The 11th NITI Aayog meet focused on Viksit Bharat@2047, inclusive development, and youth power, with all 28 CMs present.

💡 Remember: PAI and e-Aarogya Dhamni won Gold, along with Kadepur (Gold) and Bijoy Nagar (Silver) Gram Panchayats.

💡 Remember: NITI Aayog's 11th Governing Council, chaired by PM, focuses on Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047, building on Chief Secretaries' recommendations.

💡 For the exam: Remember Amaravati, 8,000 officials, ₹1,299.08 crores, and GRIHA 4-Star for the new CGGPOA.

💡 Remember, TRAI's 'Rating Manual 2026' for digital connectivity is based on 2024 regulations, amended in 2026, with immediate effect.

💡 The report aims to empower SFCs (Article 243-I) with better data for fiscal devolution, including new grants from the 16th Finance Commission.

💡 Remember: UPSC used NeGD's face authentication in 2026 prelims across 2,072 venues to prevent impersonation.

💡 For the exam: West Bengal is the 33rd legislature to adopt NeVA (Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Mission Mode Project) for digital, paperless governance.

💡 Remember ECI's 2026 conference on media, AI deepfakes, and the Delhi Declaration under India's IDEA Chairship.

💡 For the exam: Remember the Election Commission announces elections for Rajya Sabha (27 seats) and State Legislative Councils (3 states), with key dates: June 1 (start), June 8 (end), June 18 (poll).

💡 NeSDA 2025 is a DARPG biennial framework expanding focus to Ministry of Corporate Affairs, assessing 59 state services and 43 central services for digital governance.

💡 The ECI and IIIDEM hosted a 5-day 'Risk Management and Electoral Resilience' workshop for 12 nations.

💡 Remember: Council of Ministers + PM Modi + May 21, 2026 = Reforms for Ease of Living/Doing Business towards Viksit Bharat.

💡 Remember: 3 new centres for CSP-2026 (Bhubaneswar, Kanpur, Meerut) increasing total to 83, improving accessibility.

💡 Remember: Provisional Answer Key, May 31, 2026 deadline, online portal for Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026.

💡 Remember: Census 2027 introduced digital Self-Enumeration, with specific states/UTs commencing HLO and SE on May 17, 2026.

💡 For the exam: Remember SIR Phase-III covers 16+3, uses BLOs/BLAs for 36.73 cr electors, and excludes HP/J&K/Ladakh.

💡 Remember: UPSC direct recruitment applications open May 9-29, 2026, for Advt. No. 04/2026.

💡 Remember: ECI published 830 AC election statistics and 14 reports in 72 hours via ECINET for the first time.

💡 For the exam: Remember the ECI seized over ₹1400 crores in 2026, a 40.14% increase from 2021, aided by the ESMS.

💡 ECINET is ECI's robust platform, ensuring secure, transparent, and efficient elections, evidenced by its high usage and new security features in 2026.

💡 Remember: Balasubramaniam and Aniya are the two new full-time members of NITI Aayog from 02 MAY 2026.

💡 For the exam: Remember the ECI's observer roles (Counting vs. Police), constitutional powers (Article 324), and key procedural safeguards (ECINet IDs, Form 17C-II, Micro-Observers).

💡 For the exam: Remember Census 2027 is digital, with Self-Enumeration a new feature, ensuring data confidentiality under the 1948 Act.

💡 Remember: QR codes for staff, authority letters for media to secure counting centres.

💡 For the exam: Remember West Bengal 2026 Assembly elections set a new record high for voter turnout since Independence, reaching 92.47% overall.

💡 Remember PAI 2.0 assesses GPs on 9 SDG themes with 97.30% participation, classifying them into 5 categories for FY 2023–24.

💡 For the exam: Remember the ₹510 crore seizure in West Bengal for 2026 exceeded 2021's ₹339 crore due to vigilant teams.

💡 Remember: MoSPI, Bhubaneswar, 29-30 April 2026, for data harmonization after Chief Secretaries' conference.

💡 UPSC's 03/2026 advertisement opens direct recruitment applications from 25th April to 15th May 2026.

💡 IEVP 2026 saw 32 delegates from 16 countries observe polls, praising ECI's transparency, inclusivity, and facilities.

💡 Remember: 2027 is the first digital census with caste enumeration for India, costing over ₹11,000 crore.

💡 For the exam: NITI Aayog's 'Moving Towards Effective City Government' report (2026) recommends elected mayors and stronger city finances for million-plus cities.

💡 Remember TN (84.69%) and WB (91.78%) set new voter turnout records in 2026 Assembly elections, monitored via 100% live webcasting.

💡 IEVP 2026, a flagship ECI program, involves 34 delegates from 17 countries observing elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal from April 22-23, after Phase-I in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry.

💡 Remember: ECI monitors AI content, enforces MCC via C-Vigil, and Section 126 for a 48-hour silence period.

💡 For the exam: Remember the multi-level verification, key sponsoring authorities (PIB, CEO/DIPR), prohibition on compartment photography, and postal ballot entitlement for authorized media.

💡 For the exam: Remember the year 2026 marks the end of the seat freeze, tying into delimitation and women's reservation after the caste-based Census.

💡 The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam aims to ensure rightful representation for half of India's population after four decades of debate.

💡 EVMs undergo a 2-stage randomization before commissioning and mock polls, with transparency for political parties and candidates.

💡 AIGEG, established on 16 APR 2026, is India's apex inter-ministerial AI governance body, chaired by the MeitY Minister.

💡 For the exam: Census 2027's HLO (Phase I) started April 16, 2026, features first-time Self-Enumeration, and ensures confidentiality under Census Act, 1948.

💡 Only 1 re-poll from 63,084 polling stations after ECI's Form 17A scrutiny in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry.

💡 For the exam: Remember the total 326 Observers for Tamil Nadu polls on April 23, 2026, focused on free elections and MCC enforcement.

💡 Remember Assam (85.38%) and Puducherry (89.83%) for highest-ever voter turnouts.

💡 The PM believes women's reservation is urgent for a vibrant democracy.

💡 Remember: Print ads near election day require MCMC pre-certification, applied two days prior.

💡 Remember: TRAI is framing rules for app-based linear TV (ALTD/FAST) after MIB's reference.

💡 Remember: ₹650 Cr+ seizures by ECI by April 5, 2026, primarily in West Bengal, with C-Vigil for complaints.

💡 Mission Karmayogi now trains Scientists & Academicians in administration, promoting role-based governance via UNNATI and CBC-RIS.

💡 Section 135B of RoPA, 1951 ensures a paid holiday for all voters, including casual workers, during the 2026 assembly polls.

💡 For the exam: Remember the FCU, IT Act Section 69A, and IT Rules, 2021 as key government tools against fake news.

💡 For the exam: Remember the 282 Central Observers for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry Assembly elections in 2026.

💡 Remember Census 2027 is India's first digital and self-enumeration census, starting April 1, 2026.

💡 EVM randomisation ensures fair allocation from district to polling station, a 2-stage process overseen by ECI.

💡 For the exam: Remember TV Rating Policy 2026 aims for transparency (DPDP, audit, disclosure), accuracy (larger sample, tech-neutral), and reduced entry barriers (lower net worth, but *excludes landing page*).

💡 Remember: Feb 6, 2026 I&B Ministry OTT guidelines mandate one feature each for hearing and visually impaired viewers.

💡 The PCI has a 28-member council, needs 11 for quorum, and has acted on 48 cases in five years.

💡 Remember: Rs. 408.82 Crores seized, C-Vigil App handled 70,944 complaints with 95.8% resolved in 100 minutes for 2026 elections.

💡 Remember: ECI's Gyanesh Kumar, Sandhu, Joshi reviewed poll prep for 5 states/UTs and bye-elections in 6 states, directing agencies for vigilance.

💡 For the exam: Remember the ECI's focus on violence-free elections in West Bengal, training DEOs, SPs, CPs, and ROs on March 23 and 25, 2026.

💡 Remember AMFs (facilities), VFP (information), VABs (assistance), and phone deposit as key ECI voter convenience initiatives.

💡 EVM-VVPATs' first randomisation is a security step, conducted by DEOs with party presence, before elections on April 9, 2026.

💡 Remember: MCMC pre-certifies ads, candidates disclose social media, parties report expenditure for transparency.

💡 Remember: 25 lakh+ personnel, including 1,111 Central Observers, are deployed for 5 state elections under Sec 28A RPA, 1951.

💡 Remember: The Devolution Index assesses Panchayat empowerment across six dimensions, while eGramSwaraj digitizes planning and payments, linking with PFMS, GeM, and BHASHINI.

💡 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.

💡 MCC applies to elections in 5 States/UTs, with C-Vigil and SUVIDHA aiding monitoring and compliance.

💡 The 161st Report emphasizes budget efficiency, AI in governance, and root cause analysis for grievances.

💡 The 160th Report on DoPT's Demands for Grants (2026-27) highlighted fiscal shortfalls and called for better expenditure management and adherence to MoF guidelines.

💡 Remember Article 324 empowers ECI to appoint Special Observers for fair elections, like Shri Manjeet Singh for Assam 2026.

💡 Remember: ECI announced 2026 Assembly elections for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry on March 15, 2026.

💡 For the exam: Remember parliamentary speech isn't absolute; it's constrained by rules, as clarified by the Lok Sabha Speaker under Article 105.

💡 For the exam: Remember the Speaker's role in maintaining order as per Article 93 and Rule 372, especially during a no-confidence motion.

💡 Remember: Census 2027 has two phases, allows self-enumeration, and collects three sex categories for head of household.

💡 Remember: CEC Gyanesh Kumar led ECI's West Bengal review on March 9, 2026, focusing on violence, fairness, and AMFs.

💡 The ECI's Kerala review addressed party concerns over AI, money power, and local festivals while encouraging cVIGIL and mandating AMFs.

💡 Remember Census-2027 will be India's first 'DDS' - Digital, 2-phase, Self-Enumeration option.