National Security & Public Order

• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026: This bill targets institutional malpractice and strengthens penalties for leaks in competitive examinations.
• The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026: It enforces stricter provisions to respect national symbols and integrity.

Economic & Fiscal Reforms

• The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026: Intended to scale operational guidelines and regulatory ease for small businesses.
• The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026: Implements structural updates to regularise domestic tax frameworks.
• The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2026: Passed to authorise expenditures out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
• The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026: Modernises rules regarding the presentation of financial and digital records in legal proceedings.
• Governance & Judicial Restructuring
• The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026: Expands judicial seating to clear pending higher litigation.
• The Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026: Restructures administrative bodies to fast-track regional legal solutions.
• The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026: Standardises real-time national demographic profiling.

Regional Development & Public Sector

• The National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026: Promotes investment and infrastructure scaling within the agricultural co-operative sectors.
• The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026: Streamlines private sector bidding and operations for critical underlying mineral extraction.
• The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026: Approves the formal request for state nomenclature updates in official legislative schedules.

Established:

January 1, 2015 (via an Executive Resolution of the Union Cabinet)

Type: non-constitutional, non-statutory body

SDG Nodal Agency

Planning Horizon: 3-year Action Agenda, 7-year Strategy, 15-year Vision.

Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi)

Vice-Chairperson: Ashok Kumar Lahiri

CEO: Ms. Nidhi Chhibber

Governing Council: Comprises the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of all States, and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories.

Major Reports/Indices: Releases the SDG India Index, State Health Index, Composite Water Management Index, and School Education Quality Index (SEQI).

Flagship Initiatives: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Aspirational Districts Programme

• Nature: Ad hoc (temporary); dissolves after submitting its report.
• Creation: Formed via a motion passed in one house and agreed to by the other, or by joint agreement of the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman.
• Composition Ratio: Lok Sabha members are roughly twice the number of Rajya Sabha members (e.g., a 31-member panel usually has 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha).
• Binding Status: Recommendations are not binding on the government.
• Power to Summon: A JPC has the authority to summon witnesses, take oral evidence, and call for documents or records.
• Difference from Joint Sitting: A JPC is a small investigative or scrutiny committee, whereas a Joint Sitting (Article 108) is convened to resolve a deadlock between the two Houses over passing a normal legislative Bill.
• Historical JPCs: Famous past JPCs include those formed for the Bofors contract, the 2G spectrum scam, and the Joint Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill.
• Current JPC Heads: BJP MP PP Chaudhary

• River: Built across the Betwa River (a major tributary of the Yamuna River).
• Year of Commissioning: 1886 (Construction started in 1881).
• Designated Authority: International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).
• Status Category: World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS).
• Regional Context: This is the second structure in Jhansi to get this status, following the Sukwa-Dukwan Weir (designated in 2022)
• Conception: First proposed by Captain Strachey in 1855 to combat recurrent famines in the Bundelkhand area.
• Colonial Architecture: Built during the British administration at a historical cost of ₹40 lakh.
• Legacy: Its original British-era iron and wooden functional components are still visible and fully operational today.

• Capital: Hyderabad
• Formation: Officially formed on June 2, 2014, as the 29th state of India (currently 28th after Jammu & Kashmir became a UT)

• • Governor- Shiv Pratap Shukla
  • Chief Minister-Revanth Reddy

• Telangana has a bicameral legislature (Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council).
• Telangana was part of the Nizam’s Hyderabad state, merged with Andhra State in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh, and separated after a long movement.
• Etymology: Derived from "Trilinga Desa" (Land of three lingas: Draksharama, Kaleshwaram, Srisailam) or "Telugu-angana" to distinguish it from Marathi-speaking Marathwada.
• Important Historic Eras: Satavahanas, Kakatiyas (Warangal Fort), Qutb Shahis (Hyderabad, Charminar), and Asaf Jahi Nizams (1724–1948).
• Key Historic Events: Operation Polo (1948 - integration with India), Telangana Rebellion (1946-51), Gentlemen’s Agreement (1956), Srikrishna Committee (2010), AP Reorganisation Act (2014).
• Forest: Kawal Tiger Reserve, Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, and Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary
• Key irrigation projects: Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (world's largest), Palamuru-Rangareddy, and Mission Kakatiya
• Festivals: Bonalu (Goddess Mahakali), Bathukamma (Flower festival), Ramzan, and Muharram
• Arts & Crafts: Bidri craft (metalwork), Banjara needle crafts, Dokra metal crafts, and Nirmal arts.

• Date of Formation: 1st May 1960
• Chief Minister: Bhupendra Patel
• Governor: Acharya Devvrat
• Major Places: Rani Ki Vav, Somnath Temple, Lothal (Ahmedabad)
• Dholavira (Kutch)

• Festivals: Navratri, Kite festival, Kutch Utsav, Modhera dance festival
• Dance, Drama & Music forms: Dandiya Raas, Garba dance
• Tippani, Padhar Dance, Bhavi Folk drama, Hallisaka, Dangi Nrita

• Islands : Khadir, Pirotan, Nora, Bhaidar, Bet/Piram Bet, Shiyal Bet, Sadhu bet
• National Parks: Gir, Vansda, Black Buck, Marine National Park
• Biosphere reserve: Great runn of Kuch biosphere reserve

• Formed: in 1956 as Mysore State and in 1973 renamed as Karnataka
• Capital: Bengaluru
• Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot
• Festivals: Kambla – Buffalo race, Ugadi, Hampi festival, Vairamudi Brahmotsava, Tulu Sankramma, Gowri, Karaga

• National Park: Bandipur NP, Anshi NP,
• Kudermukh NP, Nagarahole NP, Bannerghatta NP, Mudumalai NP
• Lakes: Ulsoor Lake, Kukkarahalli Lake, Jaraganahalli Lake
• Waterfalls: Jog, Gokak, Shivanasamudra Fall

• Dances: Yakshagana, Nagamandala, Kunitha, Krishna Parijatha, Bhootha Aradhane
• Hill Stations: Chikmagalur, Brahmagiri, Kodachadri, Nandi Hills, Kemmangundi, Madikeri, Nandi hills
• Tribes: Barda, Bavacha, Chodhara, Dubla, Gowdalu, Irulina

• State Animal: Sangai (Brow-antlered deer), endemic strictly to Keibul Lamjao National Park.
• State Bird: Mrs. Hume's Pheasant (Nongin).
• State Flower: Shirui Lily, which uniquely grows only on the Shirui Kashong peak.
• State Tree: Uningthou (Toona ciliata)
• Capital: Imphal.
• Statehood Day: 21 January 1972 (Formed via North-Eastern Areas Reorganisation Act, 1971).
• Chief Minister: Yumnam Khemchand Singh
• Governor: Ajay Kumar Bhalla
• The Jewel of India: This title was famously given to Manipur by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Bordering States: Shares domestic borders with 3 states—Nagaland (North), Mizoram (South), and Assam (West).
• International Border: Shares an eastern international boundary with Myanmar.
• Loktak Lake: The largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. It is famous for its floating circular landmasses called Phumdis.
• Keibul Lamjao National Park: Located on Loktak Lake, it is the world's only floating national park.
• Highest Peak: Mount Tempü (Isopu), part of the Purvanchal range.

Cultural & Historical Highlights

• Birthplace of Polo: The modern game of Polo originated from the traditional Manipuri game Sagol Kangjei. Imphal houses the oldest polo ground in the world.
• Classical Dance: Manipuri (Raas Leela) is one of the 8 officially recognized Indian classical dances.
• Traditional Martial Art: Thang-Ta (combination of sword and spear fighting).
• Language: Manipuri (Meitei) was added to the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution via the 71st Amendment Act in 1992.
• Anglo-Manipur War (1891): Celebrated historically through Khongjom Day (23 April) to honor general Tikendrajit Singh who resisted British annexation.
• Major Festivals: Yaoshang (Manipuri Holi), Sangai Festival, and Shirui Lily Festival.

Official Name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

• Capital: Islamabad (replaced Karachi in 1960).
• Currency: Pakistani Rupee (PKR).

• • President: Asif Ali Zardari
  • Prime Minister: Shehbaz Sharif
• National Motto: Faith, Unity, Discipline (Iman, Ittihad, Nazm).
• National Animal: Markhor (a type of large wild goat).
• Land Borders: Shares borders with India (East), Afghanistan (West/Northwest), Iran (Southwest), and China (Northeast).
• Highest Point: K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) at 8,611 metres—the second-highest peak in the world.
• Longest River: Indus River, which supports the world's largest contiguous irrigation system.
• Major Provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan (the largest province by area).
• Important Boundaries:

• • Radcliffe Line: Boundary with India (partition 1947).
  • Durand Line: Boundary with Afghanistan.
  • Line of Control (LoC): De facto ceasefire line in Jammu & Kashmir.

• Key Passes: Khyber Pass (connects Peshawar to Kabul), Bolan Pass (connects Sindh Plain with Quetta).
• Fertile Desert: The Tharparkar Desert in Sindh is noted as the only fertile desert in the world.
• Independence: Formed on 14 August 1947 following the partition of British India.
• First Leaders: Muhammad Ali Jinnah served as the first Governor-General, and Liaquat Ali Khan was the first Prime Minister.
• Separation of Bangladesh: Originally comprised West and East Pakistan; East Pakistan seceded to become Bangladesh in 1971 after a civil war.
• First Female PM: Benazir Bhutto was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority nation.
• Current Leadership: As of 2026, Asif Ali Zardari is the President and Shehbaz Sharif is the Prime Minister.

History of Pakistan

• Independence: Formed on August 14, 1947, as a homeland for Muslims.
• Partition: Based on the "Two-Nation Theory" championed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
• 1971 Civil War: East Pakistan separated to become Bangladesh.
• Key Wars with India: 1947-48 (Kashmir), 1965 (Kashmir), 1971 (Bangladesh liberation), 1999 (Kargil conflict).
• Nuclear Power: Conducted tests in 1998, establishing nuclear parity in South Asia.

• Capital: Monrovia (named after US President James Monroe)
• Currency: Liberian Dollar
• Official Language: English
• Historical Fact: Founded in 1821–1822 by the American Colonization Society as a colony for freed African-American slaves; it became an independent republic on July 26, 1847, making it Africa's oldest republic.
• Famous Milestone: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a former president of Liberia, was Africa's first elected female head of state and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.
• President: Joseph Boakai (assumed office January 2024).

• Capital: Nairobi (Also the largest city in the country).
• President: William Ruto
• Official Languages: Swahili and English.
• Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES).
• Key Exports: Kenya is one of the world's leading exporters of Black Tea and Coffee
• Location: Located in East Africa, with its coastline sitting on the Indian Ocean.
• Equator Passage: The Equator passes directly through the middle of Kenya, a common point tested in SSC geography questions.
• The Great Rift Valley: Runs through Kenya from north to south. It features the famous Lake Turkana (the world's largest permanent desert lake).
• Highest Peak: Mount Kenya (The second-highest mountain in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania).

International Headquarters

• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme): Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
• UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme): Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

• An intergovernmental organization of major emerging economies that serves as a leading platform for South-South cooperation.
• Coined by: The term "BRIC" was originally coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill
• Formalization: The grouping was formalized in September 2006 during the UN General Assembly in New York
• First Summit: The first official BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
• Original Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China (joined 2006) and South Africa (joined 2010).
• Recent Joiners (2024-2025): Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) became full members on January 1, 2024. Indonesia officially joined as a full member on January 6, 2025.
• Partnership Status: In 2024, a new "partner country" category was created. Current partners include Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
• 2025 Presidency: Brazil held the chairmanship with the theme "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance".
• 2026 Presidency: India assumed the BRICS Chairmanship on January 1, 2026. India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit.

New Development Bank (NDB)

• Headquarters: Shanghai, China.
• Objective: Mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies.
• Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA): A framework created to provide mutual support against short-term balance of payments pressures.