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Daily Current Affairs 24 June 2026 – IAS Current Affairs

IAS Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs 24 June 2026 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 24 June 2026 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Vishwaas, Nirman And Jan Kalyan: The Three Pillars Behind A Naxal-Free India

Source: PIB 
GS III: Linkages between development and Spread of Extremism

Overview

  1. News in Brief
  2. Background of Left- Wing Extremism
  3. Three-Pillar Strategy Against Naxalism
  4. Case Study
  5. Outcomes of the Strategy

Why in the News?

India declared itself effectively free from Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)/Naxalism on 31 March 2026.

News in Brief
  • India became Naxal-Free after decades of Left-Wing Extremism through sustained and coordinated efforts.
  • The strategy rested on three-pillars- Vishwaas, Nirman, and Jan Kalyan, integrating security measures with development and welfare initiatives.
  • The approach reduced violence, strengthened governance, improved connectivity, empowered tribal communities, and enhanced democratic participation in previously affected areas.
Background of Left- Wing Extremism
  • LWE originated from the Naxalbari uprising in West Bengal in 1967.
  • Maoist groups promoted armed revolution against the state.
  • Multiple extremist organizations merged into CPI (Maoist) in 2004.
  • It emerged as one of India’s most serious internal security challenges.
Three-Pillar Strategy Against Naxalism

VISHWAAS (Restoring Faith In The State)

  • Focused on
    • Strengthening security operations
    • Better coordination among agencies
    • Community outreach
    • Surrender and rehabilitation policies
    • Restoring trust between citizens and the State.
  • Before 2014, major challenges include
    • High levels of violence
    • Weak state presence in remote areas.
    • Poor coordination among states
    • Fragmented anti-naxal strategy
    • Large “Red Corridor” (Naxal affected areas) under Maoist influence.
  • National Policy and Action Plan
    • A comprehensive framework was launched to address
      • Security concerns
      • Socio-economic causes of extremism
      • Inter-State coordination
      • Capacity building of security forces
    • The strategy was based on dialogue, security and coordination
  • Expansion of Security Infrastructure
    • Measures included
      • Construction of fortified police stations
      • Establishment of new CAPF camps.
      • Development of night-landing helipads
      • Deployment of bullet- proof and blast-proof vehicles.
      • Welfare facilities for security personnel.
  • Specialized Security Forces
    • Integrated deployment of
      • CoBRA Units
      • CRPF
      • District Reserve Guard
      • Special Task Forces
      • Greyhounds
      • Jharkhand Jaguar units
  • Technology as a Force Multiplier
    • Use of drones, UAVs, Satellite imagery, AI-based analytics, Mobile data analysis, Social media monitoring, and Advanced location tracking.
  • Major Anti-Naxal Operations
    • Important operations include
      • Operation Black Forest
      • Operation Octopus
      • Operation Double Bull
      • Operation Thunderstorm
      • Operation Bhimbarg
      • Operation Chakrabandha
    • Outcomes
      • Destruction of Maoist strongholds
      • Rise in arrests and surrenders
      • Restoration of state control in affected areas.
  • Institutional Measures
      • A dedicated NIA unit was established to investigate Left-Wing Extremism-related cases.
      • Financial networks supporting Naxal activities were targeted through  action against terror financing.
      • Properties and assets linked to extremist activities were seized and confiscated.
      • Comprehensive investigations and filing of charge sheets strengthened legal action against Naxal operatives.
  • Rehabilitation Policy
    • Financial assistance was provided to encourage Naxal cadres to join the mainstream.
    • A monthly stipend was offered to support their rehabilitation and reintegration.
    • Additional monetary incentives were granted for surrendering weapons and ammunition.

NIRMAN (Building a New Future)

  • Road infrastructure was expanded in LWE-affected areas.
  • Improved connectivity enhanced access to markets, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and government services.
  • Mobile towers were installed across remote  and tribal areas.
  • Telecommunication services were expanded to improve communication and internet access, aimed to reduce digital divide
  • Banking infrastructure was strengthened through the expansion of bank branches, ATMs, banking correspondents, and post offices.
    • Improved access to formal financial services promoted economic inclusion.
  • Educational and skill-development institutions were established in affected regions.
  • Key initiatives included,
    • Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
    • Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
    • Skill Development Centers(SDCs)
    • Vocational training programmes enhanced employment opportunities for youth and women.
  • Community-oriented initiatives improved engagement between citizens and the administration.
  • Activities included health camps, medicine distribution, Tribal Youth Exchange Programmes, and other outreach initiatives.

JAN KALYAN (Welfare with Dignity)

  • Tribal welfare measures
    • Focused on Education, Healthcare, Housing, Livelihood support, Democratic participation.
  • Rehabilitation of Former Cadres
    • Skill development programmes
    • Self-employment assistance
    • Housing support under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
    • Educational assistance for children
  • Key Government initiatives
    • National Policy and Action plan
      • Integrated security and development approach.
    • Special Central Assistance
      • Creation of critical infrastructure
    • Aspirational District Programme
      • Improved outcomes in health, education, financial inclusion, and connectivity.
    • PM-JANMAN
      • Focused on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
    • Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkardh Abhiyan
      • Bridging infrastructure and development gaps in tribal villages.
Case Study: Bastar Transformation (Chhattisgarh)

Bastariya Battalion

  • Recruitment of local tribal youth
  • Better intelligence gathering
  • Improved trust between communities and security forces.

Infrastructure Expansion

  • Road construction
  • Mobile connectivity
  • Improved access to public services

Rehabilitation and Reintegration

  • Dedicated plans for surrendered cadres involving Education, Livelihood support, and Skill Development.

Shaheed Veer Gunda Dhur Seva Dera Initiative

  • CAPF camps transformed into service centers offering healthcare, banking, agricultural support, skill training, and government services.

Cultural Integration

  • Initiatives such as Bastar Pandum and Bastar Olympics promoted tribal identity, social inclusion, and youth participation.
Outcomes of the Strategy
  • Reduction in LWE-affected districts
  • Elimination of ‘most affected’ district category
  • Sharp decline in violence
  • Fall in fatalities and incidents
  • Restoration of governance and public confidence.

Significance

  • It is regarded as one of India’s biggest internal security successes.
  • Demonstrates effectiveness of whole-of government approach.
  • Connects security with inclusive development
  • Strengthens integration of tribal communities into mainstream growth,.
  • Expands state presence and citizen participation in remote regions.
UPSC Prelims Practice Question

With reference to India’s Naxal-Free Initiative

    1. The strategy against Left-Wing Extremism was based on the pillars of Vishwaas, Nirman, and Jan Kalyan.
    2. PM-JANMAN is aimed at improving the welfare of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
    3. Bastriya Battalion was formed in Andhra Pradesh to combat Left-Wing Extremism.

Which of the above statements are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d)  1,2 and 3

Answer: a) 1and 2

India’s Technology Transformation

Source: PIB
GS III: Indigenisation of Technology and Developing New Technology

Overview

  1. News in Brief
  2. Key Drivers of India’s Tech Ecosystem
  3. India’s Global Technology Leadership

Why in the News?

Press Information Bureau highlighted India’s emergence as a global technology power through advancements in AI, semiconductors, quantum technologies, biotechnology, and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

News in Brief
  • India is emerging as a global technology and innovation hub through indigenous capabilities in frontier technologies.
  • Digital India, research investments, startup support, skilling initiatives, and advanced infrastructure are driving future  readiness.
  • Trusted digital governance and international technology partnerships are strengthening India’s role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Key Drivers of India’s Tech Ecosystem

Digital India: Foundation of Technological Transformation

  • Key Contributions
    • Expansion of digital infrastructure and high-speed connectivity.
    • Improved internet access across urban and rural areas.
    • Affordable data enabling widespread digital adoption.
    • Growth of digital services such as e-governance, telemedicine, online education, digital payments, and e-commerce.
  • Significance
    • Created a large digital user-base.
    • Enabled innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup growth.
    • Strengthened the foundation for emerging technologies.

Supercomputing and High-Performance Computing

  • National Supercomputing Mission
    • Promotes indigenous supercomputing capabilities.
    • Development of domestically designed supercomputers.
    • Supports advanced scientific research and innovation.
  • Applications
    • Weather forecasting
    • Climate modelling
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Drug discovery and healthcare research

Building a Semiconductor Ecosystem

  • Objectives
    • Promotes semiconductor manufacturing and chip design
    • Develop packaging, testing, and fabrication capabilities.
    • Strengthen domestic value addition in electronics.
  • Importance
    • Reduces import dependence
    • Enhances technological self-reliance
    • Integrates India into global semiconductor supply chains.

Advancing Quantum Technologies

  • National Quantum Mission
    • Focuses on
      • Quantum computing
      • Quantum communication
      • Quantum Sensing and Metrology
      • Quantum Materials and Devices
  • Significance
    • Enables secure communication systems
    • Strengthens strategic and defence capabilities.
    • Supports advanced scientific and industrial applications

India’s  AI Transformation

  • IndiaAI Mission
    • Focus areas include Indigenous AI infrastructure, Research and innovation, startup development, skill development, responsible and inclusive AI.
  • Importance
    • Expands access to AI tools and computing resources.
    • Supports innovation across sectors.
    • Positions India as a trusted AI ecosystem.

Cloud Computing Ecosystem

  • MeghRaj Initiative
    • Serves as the government’s cloud platform
    • Supports secure digital governance
    • Promotes data sovereignty and efficient service delivery.
  • Benefits include scalability, cost efficiency, improved public service delivery, enhanced cybersecurity.

Blockchain for Trusted Governance

  • National Blockchain Framework promote secure and transparent digital record management including
    • Property records
    • Judiciary records
    • Supply-Chain management
    • Document verification
  • Benefits include Transparency, traceability, reduced fraud, improved trust in governance systems.

Data Centers: Backbone of the Digital Economy

  • Significance
    • Support cloud services and AI applications
    • Enable secure storage and processing of digital data.
    • Strengthen Digital Public Infrastructure
  • Benefits
    • Attract investment
    • Create skilled employment
    • Enhance technological self-reliance

Biotechnology: A New Growth Engine

  • Key areas are Genomics, Precision therapeutics, Synthetic biology, Digital biotechnology.
  • Government extended its support through
    • Biotechnology missions
    • Innovation schemes
    • Bio-Incubators
    • Research and Entrepreneurship support.
  • Importance
    • Strengthen healthcare and food security
    • Promotes innovation-led economic growth.

Building Capacity, Education, Research and Skill

  • Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
    • Promote industry-academia collaboration
    • Support frontier technology research
    • Accelerate innovation and commercialization.
    • Areas include, Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors, Advanced materials, Deep technologies.
  • Research Development and Innovation Scheme
    • Support long-term research financing
    • Promote private-sector innovation
    • Encourage deep-tech entrepreneurship
  • FutureSkills PRIME
    • Focus areas include, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Big Data Analytics, AR/VR technologies.
    • Significance are skilling, reskilling, and upskilling workforce, and expanding opportunities beyond metropolitan cities.
  • NIELIT
    • Technology education and skill development
    • Training in emerging digital technologies
    • Creating a geographically diverse talent pool.
India’s Global Technology Leadership
  • Bharat 6G Alliance
    • Promote indigenous 6G research and development
    • Build next-generation communication technologies.
    • Foster collaboration among industry, academia, and government.
  • Digital Public Infrastructure
    • Key platforms include Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, CoWIN, UMANG.
    • Significance
      • Inclusive digital governance
      • Efficient public service delivery
      • Global recognition of India’s digital model

Conclusion

India is strengthening its journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 through innovation, self-reliance, digital infrastructure, emerging technologies, and skill development.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding India’s emerging technology ecosystems

    1. The National Quantum Mission focuses on quantum computing, communication, sensing, and quantum materials.
    2. MeghRaj is India’s national cloud initiative for supporting digital governance.
    3. The National Blockchain Framework aims to promote secure and transparent digital record management.

Which of the above statements are correct?

a) 1,2, and 3

b)2and 3 only

c) 1and 2 only

d) 1 only

Answer: a) 1,2 and 3

PM-KISAN 23rd Instalment: Digital Governance, Key Agriculture Initiatives, and Case Study

Source: PIB
GS II: Government policies and interventions, GS III: Agriculture

Overview

  1. News in Brief
  2. PM-KISAN as a Digital Governance Model
  3. Measures to Expand PM-KISAN Coverage
  4. Key Agricultural Initiatives
  5. Case Study: Impact of PM-KISAN in Uttar Pradesh

Why in the News?

The Prime Minister released the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mnatri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from Hooghly, West Bengal, transferring over rupees 18,880 crore directly to around 9.44 crore farmers through the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism.

News in Brief
  • A fresh instalment of PM-KISAN was transferred and beneficiaries include a large number of women farmers across the country.
  • Multiple agriculture and farmer welfare initiatives were highlighted alongside the instalment release.
  • The occasion was celebrated as “PM KISAN Utsav Diwas”.
PM-KISAN as a Digital Governance Model

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

  • Eliminate intermediaries
  • Ensures timely and transparent fund transfer
  • Strengthens financial inclusion in rural areas.
  • PM-KISAN continues to be one of the world’s largest DBT programmes.

PM-KISAN Portal

  • Functions as a national farmer database
  • Integrated with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) for fund transfers.
  • Enables beneficiary registration and verification
  • Facilitates monitoring and fund transfer processes.

Mobile Application

  • Features include
    • Self-registration
    • Benefit tracking
    • e-KYC services
    • Face-authentication facility

Kisan -eMitra

  • AI-powered chatbot for farmers
  • Provides information on registration, eligibility and payment status.
  • Supports multilingual interaction through voice and text.

Monitoring and Grievance Redressal

  • Multi-tier Monitoring
    • National-level review chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
    • State and District Monitoring Committees oversee implementation.
  • Grievance Mechanism
    • Complaints can be submitted through the PM-KISAN portal and CPGRAMS.
    • Ensures timely resolution and transparency.

Significance

  • Economic
    • Enhances farmers’ purchasing power
    • Provides predictable income support
    • Facilitates investment in farm inputs
  • Social
    • Strengthens rural livelihoods
    • Supports women farmers
    • Improves financial inclusion
  • Governance
    • Demonstrates successful  use of DBT architecture
    • Integrates Aadhaar, banking, and digital databases.
    • Reduces leakages and improves transparency.
Measures to Expand PM-KISAN Coverage
  • Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra
    • Conducted to ensure saturation of government welfare schemes.
    • Helped identify and enroll eligible farmers left out of PM-KISAN.
  • Common Service Centres (CSCs)
    • Facilitated registration and e-KYC completion.
  • Face Authentication
    • Introduced for easier beneficiary verification
  • Digital Inclusion
    • Strengthen outreach to remote and rural beneficiaries.
Key Agricultural Initiatives

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

  • Crop insurance scheme covering losses due to natural calamities, pests, and diseases.
  • Significance
    • Reduces farming risks
    • Improves resilience against crop failures.

Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)

  • Provides insurance against adverse weather events.
  • Significance
    • Protects farmers from climate-related risks.

Digital Agricultural Mission

  • AgriStack
    • Creation of digital identities for farmers
    • Integration of land records and service delivery.
  • Benefits
    • Facilitates credit
    • Supports insurance coverage
    • Enables procurement and DBT delivery.

National Mission on Natural Farming

  • Objectives
    • Promote chemical-free agriculture
    • Improve soil health
    • Encourage sustainable farming practices
  • Features
    • Cluster-based implementation
    • Farmer training and capacity building

PM Dhan -Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

  • Focus areas include productivity enhancement, Crop diversification, irrigation support, and institutional credit access.
Case Study: Impact of PM-KISAN in Uttar Pradesh

Background

  • Conducted by the Agricultural Economics Research Centre, University of Allahabad.
  • Sponsored by the Ministry of Agricultural and Farmers Welfare
  • Examined PM-KISAN’s impact on income and productivity.

Key Findings

  • Majority beneficiaries were small and marginal farmers.
  • Funds  were primarily used for seeds, fertilizers, land preparation, cultivation expenses.
  • Beneficiary farmers recorded higher wheat and  paddy productivity.
  • Net farm income was higher among beneficiary households than non-beneficiaries.

Significance

  • Improved liquidity for farmers
  • Reduced dependence on informal borrowing
  • Encouraged investment in farm inputs
  • Enhanced agricultural productivity
  • Strengthened income security

Conclusion

PM-KISAN represents the convergence of welfare delivery, digital governance and agricultural support through the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) architecture, making it one of the largest direct income-support programmes for farmers globally.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements

    1. Kisan- eMitra is an AI -powered chatbot associated with PM-KISAN.
    2. PM-KISAN is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme funded jointly by the Centre and States.
    3. AgriStack is a part of the Digital Agriculture Mission.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1and3 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 only

d) 1,2 and 3

Answer: a) 1and 3 only

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