• Total Capital Expenditure (Capex): A record allocation of ₹2,93,030 crore has been made, which is 10.5% higher than the revised estimate of the previous year.
• Budgetary Support: The Central Government has provided ₹2,78,030 crore as budgetary support, which constitutes 95% of the total capital expenditure.
• Revenue Estimates: The internal revenue of the railways is estimated at ₹3.02 lakh crore, out of which 62% is expected from freight and 29% from passenger services.
• Operating Ratio: It is estimated at 98.4% for 2026–27.

Key Points and Priorities of the Discussion:

• Network Expansion: ₹36,722 crore has been proposed for new railway lines and ₹37,750 crore for doubling of railway lines.
• Modern Trains and Stations: Expansion of Vande Bharat Express and Amrit Bharat Express trains, along with the redevelopment of stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, is a key focus of the discussion.
• High-Speed Rail: The budget emphasizes the initiation of seven high-speed rail corridors.
• Safety and Technology: Implementation of the Kavach (Train Collision Avoidance System) safety system and the use of technology for disaster management are being emphasized.
• Article 113 (2): Expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India (which are not ‘charged’) are placed before the Lok Sabha as Demands for Grants for voting.
• Cut Motions: During the discussion, opposition members may move Policy Cut, Economy Cut, or Token Cut Motions.
• Appropriation Bill: After the Demands for Grants are passed, the government introduces the Appropriation Bill to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India.

• Inauguration: By NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba.
• CCI Chairperson Ravneet Kaur announced that the Commission has issued a 'Guidance Note' advising companies to conduct self-audits to avoid anti-competitive outcomes during the development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

• Effective Date: April 1, 2026
• Eligibility: Non-commercial vehicles with a valid FASTag
• Validity: 1 year or 200 toll plaza crossings
• Purchase/Renewal: 'Rajmarg Yatra' App or NHAI's website
• Objective: Annual adjustment in accordance with the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.

• Location: Juvvaladinne, Andhra Pradesh
• Developer: Sagar Defence Engineering, Mumbai
• Focus Areas: Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV), and Intelligent Navigation Systems
• Technologies: Digital Twin, Robotic Manufacturing, 3D Printing, and AI-based Systems
• Objective: To boost India's indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities and provide advanced maritime solutions for defense, coastal security, and disaster management.

• Harichand Thakur was a great social reformer and the founder of the Matua (Namasudra) sect.
• Birth: 1812 in Safaldanga (present-day Gopalganj District, Bangladesh) in a farmer’s family.
• Community: He belonged to the Namasudra community, who were considered untouchable and referred to as “Chandal” at that time.

Matua Sect :

• The Matua sect is a socio-religious group originally from East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh). Many of its followers migrated to India after the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 due to religious persecution.
• Purpose of Origin: To uplift the socially oppressed Namasudra community and free them from the oppression of the caste system.
• Self-devotional Practice:The sect is based on self-practice and the chanting of “Hari Naam.”
• Householder Faith (Grihastha Dharma): The Matua sect opposes renunciation (Sannyasa). It believes that liberation can be achieved while living a family life and performing one’s duties.
• Their famous slogan is: “Hate Kam, Mukhe Naam” (Work in hands, the name of God on the lips).
• Prominent Personalities :Harichand Thakur:Founder of the movement. Followers consider him “Patit Pavan” and an incarnation of God.

Guruchand Thakur:

• Son of Harichand Thakur. He organized the movement and emphasized education as the main tool for social upliftment, establishing hundreds of schools for backward communities in Bengal.
• Binapani Devi (Boro Ma): After independence, she led the sect in India from Thakurnagar and is regarded as the “Kulmata” (spiritual mother) of the Matua community.

• Best Picture: 'One Battle After Another' won this top honor.
• Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (Film: 'One Battle After Another')
• Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Film: 'Sinners'). This marks his first Oscar win.
• Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Film: 'Hamnet')
• Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn ('One Battle After Another')
• Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan ('Weapons')
• Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson ('One Battle After Another')
• Best Casting (New Category): Cassandra Kulukundis ('One Battle After Another')

Other Notable Highlights:

• Most Awards: 'One Battle After Another' won a total of 6 Oscars.
• Most Nominations: Ryan Coogler's film 'Sinners' received a record-breaking 16 nominations, making history.
• Historic Win: Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win an Oscar for Cinematography, for the film 'Sinners'.

• Chandrika Pujari won the gold medal in the women's 51 kg category.
• Gunjan (48 kg), Joyshree Devi (54 kg), and Ambedkar Meitei (50 kg) secured silver medals (reaching the finals after winning their semi-final bouts), while Radhamani Longjam (57 kg) won a bronze medal.

Global Governing Bodies for Boxing:

• World Boxing: Currently, this is the primary international body for Olympic boxing. In February 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted it provisional recognition as the official governing body for boxing. This organization will oversee the conduct of boxing events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
• International Boxing Association (IBA): Formerly the main governing body for amateur boxing, the IOC permanently revoked its recognition in 2023 due to issues regarding governance and corruption.
• Professional Boxing Bodies: There is no single global governing body for professional boxing. Instead, four major organizations are recognized globally:
• WBC (World Boxing Council)
• WBA (World Boxing Association)
• IBF (International Boxing Federation)
• WBO (World Boxing Organization)
• Governing Body for Boxing in India:
• Boxing Federation of India (BFI): This is the apex governing body for boxing in India. It is recognized by the Government of India and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). In May 2024, the BFI joined 'World Boxing' to secure its Olympic future. Its headquarters is located in Gurugram, Haryana.
• Indian Boxing Council (IBC): This is the premier body regulating professional boxing in India. It engages in strategic partnerships with international bodies such as the WBC.
• Indian Professional Boxing Association (IPBA): This organization also organizes and conducts professional boxing matches and national championships.

• Inception: This day was first observed on March 16, 1995, when India officially launched the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme and the first dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) was administered.
• Objective: To raise awareness regarding the importance of vaccines and to appreciate the contribution of healthcare workers in the eradication of deadly diseases.
• Achievement: As a result of these efforts, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared India 'Polio-free' in 2014.

India's Major Vaccination Programmes:

• Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI): India launched this in 1978, which was later transformed into the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) in 1985.
• Mission Indradhanush: Launched in December 2014, its objective is to reach children and pregnant women who have not been vaccinated or have been missed.
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI): Various phases of this initiative (such as IMI 5.0) are conducted periodically to further accelerate vaccination coverage.
• Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN): This is a technological solution designed to track vaccine stocks and their storage temperatures.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): Vaccination campaigns directly contribute to achieving SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being), specifically in ending preventable child deaths by 2030.

• This constitutes the first comprehensive assessment of progress under the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
• This report is based on 142 national indicators, as opposed to the 23 National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs).
• This assessment incorporates coordinated inputs received from 33 Union Ministries/Departments, State Governments, statutory authorities, research institutions, and other stakeholders.
• The recorded forest area stands at 775,377 sq km (23.59 percent of the geographical area), of which the forest cover accounts for 520,365 sq km (15.83 percent).
• The total forest and tree cover has reached 827,356.95 sq km (25.17 percent).
• The number of notified Ramsar wetlands of international importance has increased from 26 in 2014 to 98 as of 2026.
• India's conservation network now comprises 58 Tiger Reserves, 33 Elephant Reserves, 18 Biosphere Reserves, 106 National Parks, and 574 Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• India is home to 3,682 tigers (accounting for over 70 percent of the global tiger population). According to the first snow leopard population assessment, India is home to 4,014 one-horned rhinoceroses, 22,446 wild elephants, 891 Asiatic lions, and approximately 718 snow leopards.
• Under the 'Project Dolphin' initiative, the report on the first assessment of the river dolphin population has been finalized and released, indicating a population of 6,327 river dolphins in the country.
• India has documented 22 agro-biodiversity hotspots and has prioritized the conservation of 171 indigenous crops, 230 indigenous livestock breeds, and 769 wild plant species (CWR), based on criteria of diversity, uniqueness, and agricultural heritage.
• Protected areas receive requisite legal protection under the country's key statutes (the Indian Forest Act, 1927; the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; the Biological Diversity Act, 2002; and the Forest Panchayat Act, 1931).
• India's NR-7 plan also incorporates contributions from citizens, including those made through activities undertaken under 'Mission LiFE' (Lifestyle for Environment) and initiatives such as 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (A Tree in Mother's Name).

• Record: Surya Midha achieved this milestone at the age of 22, whereas Mark Zuckerberg became a billionaire at the age of 23.
• Net Worth: According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at approximately $2.2 billion (roughly ₹18,400 crore).
• Company: He is the co-founder of the AI-based recruitment startup 'Mercor'.
• Valuation: His company, Mercor, has reached a valuation of $10 billion (approximately ₹83,000 crore).
• Co-founders: Along with Surya, his friends Brendan Foody (CEO) and Adarsh ​​Hiremath (CTO) also became billionaires at the age of 22; however, Surya is the youngest among them.