As on 9^th August 2026, 1.25 crore houses have been sanctioned across PMAY-U and PMAY-U 2.0. Of these, more than 1 crore houses have been completed and delivered to beneficiaries.

About PM Awas Yojana (Urban)

• Genesis: 2015.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Key Features
  • Coverage: Economically Weaker Section, Low Income Group and Middle Income Group households without a pucca house.
  • Four Verticals: Beneficiary-Led Construction, Affordable Housing in Partnership, Affordable Rental Housing and Interest Subsidy Scheme.
  • Interest Subsidy: 4% subsidy on eligible home loans under the Interest Subsidy Scheme.

The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time since 2023. 

Impact of Interest Rate Hike on India 

• Higher US interest rates can strengthen the dollar, put pressure on the rupee, lift bond yields (annual return an investor earns from a bond). 
  • Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions. When market prices go up, the yield goes down. When market prices drop, the yield goes up.
• Higher yields in the US attract foreign institutional investors (FIIs) to move their money out of emerging markets like India adding to near-term volatility in Indian equities.

Legendary Actor Anant Nag conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 for his mark on Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema.

• Award will be presented at 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Gujarat. 

About Dadasaheb Phalke Award

• Genesis: Constituted in 1969 (First presented to Devika Rani). 
• Background: Introduced by Government of India to commemorate Dadasaheb Phalke's contribution to Indian cinema who directed India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra in 1913.
• Significance: Recognised as highest award in cinema, award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh.

DRI busted a major drug smuggling syndicate in North-East, resulting in one of the biggest seizures of methamphetamine. 

• Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant and N-methylated derivative of amphetamine. 

About DRI (Hq: New Delhi)

• Apex anti-smuggling agency  under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, Ministry of Finance. 
• Functions: Enforces the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and over fifty other allied Acts including Arms Act, NDPS Act, COFEPOSA, Wildlife Act, Antiquities Act etc.
  • It undertakes collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of intelligence relating to smuggling, etc.

Union Minister of Jal Shakti launched SSA, further, Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 Campaign will be observed for a month from 17^th September. 

About SSA

• It is an annual, Gram Panchayat level digital self-assessment framework.  
• Developed by: Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0. 
• Features: Envisages involvement of Gram Panchayats, Gram Sabhas, Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSC), District and State/UT level officials for strengthening sanitation service delivery. 

About Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 Campaign 

• Launched in 2017, it is held annually and has emerged as a cornerstone of the Swachh Bharat Mission. 
• Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, over 12 crore toilets have been constructed across the country. 

Government of India has reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with 18 members. 

About CBFC (Hq: Mumbai)

• Nature: Statutory body under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, under the Cinematograph Act 1952.
• Purpose: Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after they have been certified by CBFC. 
• Composition: Consists of non-official members and a Chairman (all appointed by Central Government).  
• Nine Regional offices: Assisted by Advisory Panels, whose members are nominated by Central Government for a period of 2 years.

Pakistan ship hits Indian Navy boat in Arabian Sea violating the advance notice provisions under the Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements 1991.

About Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements 1991

• Objective: Requires India and Pakistan to notify each other about military exercises and troop movements to prevent crises arising from misinterpretation.
• Advance Notice Timelines
• Army-Level Exercises:90-day advance notice.
• Corps-Level Exercises:60-day advance notice.
• Naval & Air Exercises:15-day advance notice.
• Naval Forces Provisions
• Proximity Limit (Article 10): Naval vessels and submarines must maintain a minimum separation distance of three nautical miles (NMs) from each other in international waters to prevent accidental collisions.

Oman pitches new port that could give India better access to Gulf energy 

About Sohar Port

• It is a major deep-water port and industrial hub located in northern Oman on the Gulf of Oman.
• Significance: Located away from the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz and provides access to vital energy pipelines of the United Arab Emirates and eastern Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) told a parliamentary committee that the four-decade-old criteria used to classify Census Towns will not be able to capture the actual scale of urbanisation in India.

• The Census of India 2021 retains the same urban unit definition used in the 2011 Census.

About Census Towns

• Definition of Census Towns:
• Non-Statutory Urban Units: Census Towns are places that are not notified or defined by statute as urban administrative units (such as Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, or Cantonment Boards), but satisfy specific demographic criteria to be classified as urban areas.
• Key Demographic Criteria: To be categorized as a Census Town, a location must satisfy all three of the following conditions:
• Minimum Population: An expected minimum population of 5,000 persons at the 2021 Census.
• Non-Agricultural Male Workforce: At least 75% of the male main working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits.
• Population Density: A population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometer (1,000 per square mile).

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released the Global Gender Gap Report 2026.

• The Report also released the Global Gender Gap Index 2026 ranking.

Global Gender Gap Index 2026

Framework Structure: Subindexes and Indicators:

• Economic Participation and Opportunity (5 indicators)
• Labour-force participation rate
• Wage equality for similar work
• Estimated earned income
• Legislators, senior officials, and managers
• Professional and technical workers
• Educational Attainment (4 indicators)
• Literacy rate
• Enrolment in primary education
• Enrolment in secondary education
• Enrolment in tertiary education
• Health and Survival (2 indicators)
• Sex ratio at birth
• Healthy life expectancy
• Political Empowerment
• Women in parliament
• Women in ministerial positions
• Years with a female head of state
• Performance in Global Gender Gap Index 2026
• Top Three Countries: Iceland, Finland and Norway.
• Bottom Three Countries: Pakistan, Iran and Chad.
• India’s Rank: 131 out of 145 countries.