Daily Current Affairs 19 September 2026 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 19 September 2026 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

India’s First Soil Carbon Payments To Farmers

Source: PIB
GS III: Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change

Why in the News?

Over 2,500 farmers in Punjab and Haryana are set to receive more than rupees 2.9 crore in soil-carbon payments for adopting regenerative farming practices.

News in Brief

• The payments are part of ‘Aadi’, a Grow Indigo farmer-carbon programme launched in 2019 with technical guidance from ICAR.
• Farmers adopted practices such as Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), reduced tillage and crop-residue management during 2019–2022.
• Greenhouse-gas reductions and increases in soil carbon were measured and independently verified before carbon credits were issued.
• The programme covers more than two million acres and over 1 lakh farmers across seven states and has issued agricultural carbon credits under the Verra VM0042 methodology.

How do soil-carbon payments work?

• The initiative links farm-level sustainable practices with carbon credits and additional income for farmers.
• Farmers adopt practices that can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions or increase soil carbon.
• These outcomes are then measured and independently verified before carbon credits are issued.
• The first issuance covered around 30,000 acres and more than 50,000 carbon credits, with participating farmers receiving about rupees 3,000-15,000.
• Grow Indigo made the payments from its own funds before the credits were fully sold.
• Farmers could either opt for an assured upfront payment or receive 75% of the net carbon revenue after the sale of credits.

Economic and Environmental benefits

• The initiative seeks to make sustainable farming economically attractive by providing farmers with an additional income stream.
  • Enrolled fields recorded an estimated 45 billion litres of water savings during 2019-2022.
  • More than 2 lakh tonnes of crop residue were kept out of fires.
  • This helped avoid an estimated 1,000 tonnes of PM 2.5 emissions.
  • Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) can residue irrigation requirements compared with conventional transplanting.
  • Improved crop-residue management can help reduce stubble burning and air pollution.
• Thus, the initiative brings together famer income, water conservation, soil health, residue management and climate action.

Role of ICAR

• ICAR has provided the scientific foundation for the programme.
• Its institutions have contributed to greenhouse-gas accounting, crop-simulation modelling, soil-sampling methods, device validation, field-team training, satellite-based assessment and remote sensing.
• The ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, has contributed to these activities.
• Grow Indigo is also working with ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Zone 1, to promote regenerative agriculture.
• The initiative therefore reflects ICAR’s Lab-to-Land approach, in which agricultural research and scientific methods are taken from research institutions to farmers through ICAR institutions, agricultural universities, KVKs and State agencies.

Regenerative Agriculture

• The programme is part of a wider effort to promote regenerative and climate-resilient farming in Punjab and Haryana.
• Key Practices include,
  • Direct Seeded Rice (DSR)
  • Minimum soil disturbance
  • Crop-residue retention
  • Reduced tillage
  • Diversified cropping 
  • Efficient water use
  • Improvement of soil biology
  • Better crop-residue management
• These practices aim to maintain agricultural productivity while improving soil health, resource efficiency and climate resilience.

Decline in farm fires

• Punjab recorded 5,114 farm-fire incidents during the 2025 paddy harvesting season, the lowest number since monitoring under the present framework began.
• This represented a 93% decline from 2021 and a 90% decline from 2022.
• The Ransinh Kalan model in Moga provides another example of sustained residue management.
• The village remained free from residue burning across 1,310 acres for six consecutive years.

International cooperation

• India is also seeking to promote regenerative agriculture through international cooperation.
• At the 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Indore in June 2026, members agreed to establish a BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture for Climate Resilience and Productivity.
• The initial coordination of the network is to be undertaken by ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming System Research (IIFSR), Modipuram.
• The BRICS New Delhi Declaration, adopted in September 2026, subsequently welcomed the strengthening of cooperation through this network.

Soil Carbon and Carbon Credits

• Soil carbon refers to carbon stored in soil, particularly through soil organic matter, plant residues and roots.
• Farming practices that improve soil organic matter can contribute to better soil quality and increased carbon storage.
• Carbon credits are generated when quantified greenhouse-gas reductions or carbon removals are recognized under a specific carbon-crediting framework.
• In the present initiative, changes in greenhouse-gas emissions and soil carbon were measured and independently verified before carbon credits were issued.
• For such systems to work effectively, reliable measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) is important so that the environmental benefits claimed from agricultural practices can be properly established.

Significance for India

• The initiative brings together three important dimensions of agricultural transformation:
  • Farmer-centric agricultural research that responds to field-level callenges.
  • ICAR’s Lab-to-Land approach, connecting scientific research with farming practices.
  • International cooperation to share and expand sustainable agricultural practices.
• More broadly, the initiative shows how environmental outcomes in agriculture can be linked with economic incentives for farmers, while also supporting resource conservation, climate resilience and sustainable agricultural production.

Conclusion

India’s first soil-carbon payments mark an important step towards making sustainable agriculture economically rewarding for farmers. By linking regenerative farming practices with scientifically verified carbon outcomes, the initiative can support soil health, water conservation, reduction in crop-residue burning and climate resilience.

Going forward, strengthening scientific verification and expanding such farmer-centric models can help integrate agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding India’s first soil-carbon payments to farmers:

1. The ‘Aadi’ farmer-carbon programme was launched by Grow Indigo in 2019 with technical guidance from ICAR.
2. Farmers under the programme adopted practices including Direct Seeded Rice, reduced tillage and crop-residue management.
3. The programme covers farmers only in Punjab and Haryana.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Mains Practice Question

Q) Carbon farming can potentially align environmental sustainability with farmers’ economic interests. Discuss the opportunities and challenges involved in developing carbon-credit-based incentives for Indian agriculture. (250 Words)

PM Vishwakarma Scheme Completes Three Years

Source: PIB
GS II: Government Schemes, Vulnerable Sections, Inclusive Development, GS III: MSMEs, Employment

Why in the News?

PM Vishwakarma Scheme has completed three years of implementation on 17 September 2026.

News in Brief

• PM Vishwakarma, launched in September 2023, supports traditional artisans through skill training, modern toolkits, collateral-free credit, digital incentives and market linkages, with an outlay of ₹13,000 crore.
• The scheme covers 18 traditional trades and has already achieved its target of 30 lakh registered beneficiaries as it approaches three years of implementation.
• As of 15 September 2026, over 24.37 lakh artisans had completed basic training, 18.16 lakh had received toolkits, and 6.19 lakh loans worth about ₹5,316 crore had been sanctioned.
• The scheme is also promoting digitalisation and market access, with over 8.11 lakh beneficiaries receiving digital incentives and more than 30,000 artisans onboarded on e-commerce platforms.

Objective of PM Vishwakarma

• Traditional artisans constitute an important part of India’s local economy, cultural heritage and livelihood system.
• Many of these occupations depend on manual skills, family-based knowledge and small-scale enterprises.
• PM Vishwakarma seeks to provide end-to-end support rather than focusing only on credit.
• It aims to improve the quality and reach of artisans’ products and services and facilitate their integration with domestic and global supply chains.
• The scheme also seeks to preserve traditional skills while making them relevant to a charging market and economic environment.

Three Pillars

• The scheme is structured around,
  • Samman – recognition and dignity for traditional artisans.
  • Samarthya – building capabilities through skill development and better tools.
  • Samriddhi – improving income opportunities through credit, digitalization and market access.
• An important component is the strengthening of the Guru-Shishya Parampara, which involves transmission of knowledge and sills from an experienced practitioner to the next generation.
• In traditional crafts, such knowledge is often embedded in family and community-based occupational practices.
• PM Vishwakarma seeks to preserve this community while introducing modern tools, design, entrepreneurship and market practices.

Eligibility

• PM Vishwakarma is intended for artisans and craftspeople who,
  • Are 18 years or above.
  • Work with their hands and tools.
  • Belong to one of the 18 notified traditional trades.
  • Work in the unorganised sector on a self-employment basis.
  • Have not availed similar credit-based government schemes for self-employment or business development during the preceding five years.
• Registration and benefits are limited to one member of a family, defined as husband, wife and unmarried children.
• Government employees and their family members are not eligible.
• However, beneficiaries of MUDRA, and PM SVANidhi who have completely repaid their loans can become eligible for PM Vishwakarma.

Major components of the Scheme

Skill Development and Modernization

• After registration and verification, beneficiaries receive a PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID Card, giving formal recognition to traditionally informal workers.
• Skill training introduces artisans to modern tools, improved practices, innovative designs, digital transactions, marketing and entrepreneurship.
• The training follows a progression from skill assessment to basic and advanced training, with a stipend provided to trainees.
• The scheme also provides modern toolkits to improve productivity and enable artisans to upgrade their traditional methods without losing the character of their crafts.

Credit and Digital Inclusion

• Access to institutional finance is an important component.
• Beneficiaries can obtain collateral-free Enterprise Development Loans in successive tranches at a concessional interest rate.
• Access to further credit is linked to repayment behavior and either digital adoption or advanced training.
• The scheme also provides incentives for eligible digital transactions.
• This encourages artisans who traditionally operate in cash-based informal markets to participate in the formal digital economy.

Market Access and Formalization

• PM Vishwakarma connects artisans with Government e-Marketplace (GeM), ONDC and other e-commerce platforms, besides trade fairs, exhibitions and branding initiatives.
• Special efforts have also been made to promote products of Divyangjan and tribal artisans through One Station One Product, Ministry of Civil Aviation’s AVSAR scheme and Tribal Artisan Melas organized by Ministry of MSME in collaboration with TRIFED.
• Workshops on packaging and branding further help artisans improve the marketability of their products.
• The Udyam Assist Platform is another important element.
• It helps bring informal micro-enterprises into the formal MSME ecosystem and enables them to obtain formal registration and access applicable government benefits.

Unorganized Sector and Traditional Skills

• The unorganized sector includes informal enterprises and workers operating outside the organized economy.
• Traditional artisans are often self-employed and depend on family-based occupational knowledge.
• PM Vishwakarma attempts to bridge the gap between this informal base and the formal economy through recognition, institutional finance, digitalization and market integration.
• The scheme is therefore significant not only for employment and income generation, but also for preserving India’s intangible cultural heritage.
• Its approach attempts to make traditional occupations economically viable while allowing them to adapt to modern technology, consumer demand and new markets.

Significance for India’s Development

PM Vishwakarma can contribute to the broader goal of Viksit Bharat by bridging traditional artisans and small informal enterprises into the mainstream of economic development.

• Inclusive Growth- It attempts to integrate traditional workers and small informal enterprises into formal economic systems.
• Skill Development- Training and modern tools can help traditional occupations adapt to changing consumer preferences and technologies.
• Financial Inclusion- Collateral-free institutional credit can provide an alternative to dependence on informal sources of finance.
• Digital Inclusion- Digital transaction incentives encourage artisans to participate in the formal digital payment ecosystem.
• MSME Formalization– Onboarding through the Udyam Assist Platform connects informal enterprises with the formal MSME ecosystem.
• Cultural Heritage- The scheme goes beyond livelihood support by seeking to sustain traditional skills, family-based knowledge and the Guru-Shishya parampara.
• Market Integration- GeM, ONDC, e-commerce platforms, exhibitions, trade fairs and specialised outlets can connect traditional producers with larger markets.
• Technology and Traditional Skills- Training more than 12,000 artisans in AI tools for branding, product design, packaging and marketing illustrates an attempt to combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary technology.

Conclusion

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding PM Vishwakarma:

1. It is a Central Sector Scheme covering 18 traditional trades.
2. It provides collateral-free Enterprise Development Loans up to ₹3 lakh in two tranches.
3. Beneficiaries receive ₹1 for every eligible digital transaction without any monthly limit.
4. Applications under the scheme can be submitted through Common Service Centres.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: A

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Role Of Private Investment In Viksit Barat 2047

Source: The Economic Times
GS III: Indian Economy, Investment Models, Mobilization of Resources, Infrastructure, Economic Growth

Why in the News?

Economic Affairs Secretary Anuradha Thakur has stressed that achieving the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision will require significant private-sector financing, as the scale of India’s transformation cannot be supported by government budgets alone.

News in Brief

• The remarks were made at a conference of State and Union Territory Finance Ministers and Finance Secretaries, held around the theme “Financing India’s Journey Towards Viksit Bharat.”
• The Centre–State partnership is important not only for policy coordination but also for mobilizing financial resources and implementing development programmes.
• Recent upgrades in India’s sovereign credit ratings were cited as indicators of improving macroeconomic fundamentals, fiscal management and investor confidence.
• The discussion took place against the backdrop of global economic difficulties, making efficient capital mobilization and fiscal prudence increasingly important.

Importance of Private Financing

• The government’s fiscal resources are limited because public finances have to support infrastructure, welfare programmes, defence, social-sector spending and fiscal consolidation simultaneously.
• At the same time, India’s development ambitions involve large-scale investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, urbanization, technology and human capital.
• Therefore, private investment can complement public expenditure and expand the pool of resources available for development.
  • It expands the productive capacity of the economy
  • New investment can create direct and indirect employment.
  • Private firms can introduce new technologies and improve production efficiency.
  • Private investment is particularly important in technology-intensive sectors.
  • Private capital allows the government to focus public expenditure on areas where state intervention is essential.
  • Higher productive investment can support sustained long-term economic expansion.
• The central idea is not to replace government investment with private investment, but to create conditions in which public investment catalyzes and crowds in private capital.

Role of Centre-State Cooperation

• States are crucial to India’s investment and development process because many important areas of economic activity fall within their policy and implementation domain.
• Centre-State cooperation can help in,
  • Coordinating economic policies
  • Mobilising financial resources.
  • Improving implementation capacity.
  • Creating an investment-friendly environment.
  • Developing infrastructure.
  • Facilitating private-sector participation.
• Therefore, Centre-State cooperation in policy, financial-resource mobilization and implementation should be an important component of the Viksit Bharat journey.

Financing in an uncertain global environment

• The conference was held amid continuing global economic difficulties.
• For India, this makes the mobilization of domestic resources particularly important.
• Greater dependence on volatile external capital can expose the economy to changes in global interest rates, geopolitical tensions and international financial conditions.
• Hence, India needs to strengthen its domestic investment ecosystem while continuing to attract foreign capital.

Sovereign credit-rating upgrades

• Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) upgraded India’s sovereign rating to A- in September 2026.
• This was described as the first such upgrade by JCR in 35 years.
• In the previous year, India’s ratings were upgraded by S&P Global Ratings to BBB, Japan’s Rating and Investment Information (R&I) to BBB+, and Morningstar DBRS to BBB.
• These developments were presented as recognition of India’s economic resilience, fiscal management, financial-system strength and medium-term growth prospects.

India’s Investment attractiveness

• The World Economic Forum’s Chief Economists Outlook of May 2026, identified India among the attractive destinations in the global business environment.
• Improving investment attractiveness can potentially support,
  • Foreign direct investment.
  • Domestic private investment.
  • Technology transfer.
  • Manufacturing capacity.
  • Employment generation.
  • Integration with global value chains.
• The challenge is to convert investor into actual productive investment through predictable policies, efficient infrastructure, skilled labour and faster project implementation.

Suggested Measures to increase Private Investment

• Stable and predictable policies that give investors greater confidence about the future.
• Better physical and digital infrastructure, which can lower the cost of doing business.
• Faster approvals and clearances to reduce delays in starting and expanding projects.
• Easier access to finance, particularly for businesses that face difficulty in raising long-term capital.
• Stronger corporate bond and capital markets to provide alternative sources of funding beyond bank credit.
• Effective Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) for projects where public and private resources can be combined.
• A skilled workforce to meet the requirements of modern and technology-intensive industries.
• An improved ease of doing business environment, with simpler procedures and lower compliance burdens.
• Efficient dispute-resolution mechanisms to provide greater certainty to investors.
• Predictable taxation and regulatory frameworks that reduce uncertainty over the life of an investment.

Challenges to Private Investment

• Private investment in India can be constrained by,
  • High financing costs that reduce project viability.
  • Regulatory uncertainty and delays in approvals.
  • Land acquisition and clearance issues that slow projects.
  • Weak project preparation and limited bankable projects.
  • Demand uncertainty affecting business expansion decisions.
  • Infrastructure gaps that increase operating costs.
  • Global economic volatility and financial-sector constraints.
• Thus, India needs bankable projects, predictable policies and efficient implementation to convert investment interest into actual capital formation.

Conclusion

Achieving Viksit Bharat 2047 requires sustained investment from both the public and private sectors. A balanced approach that combines public investment, private capital and fiscal sustainability will be essential for long-term, inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

Consider the following statements:

1. Private-sector financing can complement government expenditure in meeting large-scale development requirements.
2. Centre–State cooperation can contribute to policy coordination, resource mobilisation and implementation.
3. Sovereign credit ratings primarily assess a country’s creditworthiness and ability to meet its financial obligations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Mains Practice Question

Q) Achieving the Viksit Bharat 2047 objective requires mobilization of both public and private capital. Discuss the role of private financing and Centre-State cooperation in meeting India’s long-term development financing requirements. (250 words)

Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY)

Source: PIB
GS III: Mineral Resources, Environmental Protection, Sustainable Development

Why in the News?

The Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) is in focus for its role in ensuring that communities and regions affected by mining benefit from mineral extraction.

News in Brief

• PMKKKY was launched on 17 September 2015 and is implemented through District Mineral Foundations using funds collected under the DMF framework.
• DMFs are non-profit trusts established under the 2015 amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) to work for people and areas affected by mining.
• DMFs have been established in 656 districts across 23 States, with each State framing its own DMF rules.
• As of July 2026, more than 4.70 lakh projects worth ₹1.09 lakh crore had been sanctioned, with over 2.92 lakh projects completed.

What is PMKKKY?

• The Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana is a welfare-oriented framework designed to ensure that mining-affected areas receive developmental benefits from mineral extraction.
• Mining can generate revenue, employment and industrial activity, but mining districts may also face displacement, environmental degradation and pollution, health-related impacts, loss of traditional livelihoods and inadequate social and physical infrastructure.
• PMKKKY seeks to address these consequences by directing DMF resources towards the welfare and development of affected communities.
• Objectives– The scheme aims to
  • Implement developmental and welfare projects in mining-affected areas.
  • Minimize the adverse environmental, health and socio-economic effects of mining.
  • Address impacts that continue both during mining and after mining ends.
  • Promote long-term and sustainable livelihoods for affected populations.

District Mineral Foundation (DMF)

• The District Mineral Foundation is the institutional mechanism through which PMKKKY is implemented.
  • DMF provisions were introduced through the 2015 amendment to the MMDR Act, 1957.
  • DMFs are non-profit trusts.
  • They work in the interests of persons and areas affected by mining-related operations.
  • Their functioning comes under the jurisdiction of the concerned State Government.
  • DMF funds are collected at the district level.
  • Each State has framed its own DMF rules.
• Mining companies contribute a prescribed share of royalty to the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), which uses these funds to implement PMKKKY welfare and development projects in mining-affected areas, benefiting local communities through better infrastructure, livelihoods and basic services.
• Mining lease holders pay royalty on minerals extracted.
• In addition to royalty, contributions are made to DMFs.

Utilization of PMKKKY Funds

• The scheme divides expenditure into High-Priority Sectors and Other Priority Sectors.
• High-Priority Sectors – At least 70%
  • Funds are directed towards,
    • Drinking water supply
    • Environment preservation and pollution control
    • Healthcare and education
    • Welfare of women, children, elderly persons and persons with disabilities
    • Skill development and livelihood generation
      Sanitation and housing
    • Agriculture and animal husbandry
• Other Priority Sectors – Up to 30%
  • These include:
    • Physical infrastructure
    • Irrigation
    • Energy
    • Watershed development
    • Other measures aimed at improving environmental quality in mining districts.
• The 70:30 allocation reflects an emphasis on basic human development and livelihood security, while also allowing resources for infrastructure and environmental improvement.

Safeguards foe Scheduled and Tribal Areas

• Mining activities often occur in remote and relatively less-developed regions where vulnerable communities, particularly Scheduled Tribes, may be significantly affected.
• Therefore, State governments are required to frame DMF rules while taking into account:
  • Constitutional provisions relating to Scheduled and Tribal Areas;
  • Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA); and
  • Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA).
• This connects mining governance with tribal rights, decentralisation and community participation.

Significance for India

• PMKKKY attempts to ensure that the economic benefits of mineral extraction reach communities that experience its local costs.
• It provides resources for pollution control and environmental improvement in mining districts.
• Its safeguards connect mining governance with constitutional provisions and laws protecting Scheduled Tribes and forest-dwelling communities.
• Spending on drinking water, health, education, sanitation and housing can improve basic living conditions in mining-affected regions.
• Skill development, agriculture, animal husbandry and livelihood-generation projects can reduce excessive dependence on mining.
• The scheme attempts to balance mineral extraction and economic growth with environmental protection and local welfare.

Challenges

• Ensuring that benefits actually reach the most affected households;
• Effective identification of mining-affected areas and communities;
• Avoiding duplication with existing Central and State schemes;
• Ensuring transparency and accountability in DMF expenditure;
  meaningful participation of local communities;
• Balancing infrastructure creation with long-term livelihood generation; and
• Ensuring that environmental restoration accompanies mineral extraction.

Conclusion

PMKKKY seeks to ensure that the benefits of mineral development reach the communities that bear its social and environmental costs. By directing DMF funds towards basic services, livelihoods, infrastructure and environmental protection, the scheme aims to make mining-led growth more inclusive, sustainable and community-oriented.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY):

1. PMKKKY is implemented through District Mineral Foundations in mining-affected areas.
2. At least 70% of PMKKKY funds are earmarked for high-priority sectors such as drinking water, healthcare, education and livelihood generation.
3. DMF contributions are fixed at 10% of royalty for all mining leases irrespective of the date of the lease.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

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