In short: PRiSM is the monthly e-booklet of the Press Information Bureau’s Research Unit. The October 2026 edition (released in early November 2026) has 48 explainers on data, schemes and events of the month. This page gives a theme-wise index of every topic with its key takeaway, detailed notes on the 12 most exam-relevant topics, 10 practice MCQs, Mains questions and a Hindi summary.
All 48 topics at a glance
Topics are grouped by syllabus area. Related explainers (for example, the several Swachh Bharat pieces and the two connectivity pieces) are combined into one row.
Economy, industry and infrastructure
| Topic | Key takeaway | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Next-Gen GST Process Reforms | Two main rates, 5% and 18%, plus a special 40% rate; about 1.70 crore taxpayers; ₹12.46 lakh crore gross GST in April-September 2026 (+11.6%) | GS3 |
| Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme | Approved 28 October 2026; ₹1,856.67 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2033-34; small and micro firms make about 90% of output | GS3 |
| Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme | ₹10,000 crore up to FY 2039-40; greenfield units of at least 1,00,000 TEUs; 70% local content, rising to 90% from FY 2032-33 | GS3 |
| BHAVYA (Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna) | Notified 10 April 2026; ₹33,660 crore for 100 plug-and-play industrial parks; manufacturing at 16-17% of GDP | GS3 |
| Small and Medium Enterprises Growth Fund | ₹10,000 crore commitment; MSMEs are 31.1% of GDP and 48.58% of exports; about 9.78 crore Udyam registrations | GS3 |
| National SC-ST Hub | Launched 18 October 2016; 4% of public procurement earmarked for SC/ST-owned MSEs within the 25% MSE target | GS2/GS3 |
| Khadi and Village Industries | KVI sales a record ₹1.87 lakh crore in 2025-26; employment 2.04 crore; women over 80% of Khadi artisans | GS3 |
| Five years of PM GatiShakti | Launched 13 October 2021; covers 58 Central Ministries and all 36 States/UTs; over 23,493 data layers | GS3 |
| Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) | Approved 6 October 2026; National Transport Master Plan for 10+ years; appraises projects of ₹500 crore or more | GS3 |
| Navigating India’s Waterways | 111 National Waterways (20,187 km), 32 operational; cargo rose from 29 MMT (2014-15) to 218 MMT (2025-26) | GS3 |
| From Beacons to Landmarks (lighthouses) | 205 lighthouses; 75 developed for tourism; visitors rose from about 4 lakh (2014) to 18.63 lakh (2024-25) | GS3 |
| Wings of Change: 10 years of UDAN | Launched 21 October 2016; operational airports rose from 74 (2014) to 166; next phase launched 4 July 2026 | GS3 |
| Connecting Kashmir; Saving Time, Shortening Journeys | USBRL (272 km, ₹43,780 crore) opened June 2025; tunnels such as Atal, Sela and Banihal-Qazigund cut travel time | GS3 |
| PM E-DRIVE Scheme | ₹11,900 crore, extended till March 2028; incentives for about 28.30 lakh EVs; e-2W incentive ₹2,500/kWh, capped at ₹5,000 | GS3 |
Agriculture and rural development
| Topic | Key takeaway | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| MSP for Rabi: RMS 2027-28 | Wheat MSP ₹2,610 per quintal (106% over cost); about ₹90,962 crore to be paid for 324 LMT | GS3 |
| 24th instalment of PM-KISAN | ₹18,690 crore to 9.34 crore farmers; ₹6,000 a year in three instalments; cumulative over ₹4.64 lakh crore | GS3 |
| PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana | Approved 16 July 2025, launched 11 October 2025; 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts; 36 schemes of 11 Ministries | GS3 |
| Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses | Launched 11 October 2025; ₹11,440 crore to 2030-31; target about 350 lakh tonnes and 1,130 kg/ha | GS3 |
| Agri-Voltaics | Solar panels over crops; potential estimated at 3,000-14,000 GW; 36 operational projects as of August 2025 | GS3 |
| India’s purple potato (Kufri Jamunia) | Biofortified variety released in 2024; 32-35 t/ha; rich in anthocyanins, vitamin C, iron and zinc | GS3 |
| Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana | Approved 28 October 2026; ₹7,395.55 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31; covers over 2.55 lakh Panchayats | GS2 |
| Viksit Bharat-G RAM G | VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 in force from 1 July 2026, replacing MGNREGA; 125 days of guaranteed wage work; Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans | GS2/GS3 |
| SARAS Mela 2026 | First national SARAS Mela outside Delhi-NCR, at Vijayawada, 13-31 October 2026; Lakhpati Didi target raised to six crore | GS2 |
Social sector, health and skills
| Topic | Key takeaway | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana (NSAP) | Continued for 2026-27 to 2030-31 with ₹53,428 crore; disability benchmark cut from 80% to 40%; pensions ₹375 and ₹625 a month | GS2 |
| India’s Social Security Coverage | EPF and EPS 2026 schemes under the Code on Social Security, 2020; EPFO contributing members about 7.98 crore | GS2 |
| Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana | Umbrella scheme of 2021 for senior citizens; elderly population projected at 23 crore by 2036 | GS2 |
| Women, Work and Enterprise | Female LFPR rose from 23.3% (2017-18) to 40.0% (2025); about 38% of registered MSMEs are women-owned | GS1/GS2 |
| Towards a TB-Free India | TB incidence down 21% (2015-24) against 12% globally; treatment coverage 92%; 46,118 Gram Panchayats certified TB-free | GS2 |
| PM-SETU: one year | Launched 4 October 2025; ₹60,000 crore (Centre, States, industry) to upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs in a hub-and-spoke model | GS2/GS3 |
| Asian Games 2026 | 20th Games at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, 19 September to 4 October 2026; first Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1951 | GS1 |
Environment, energy and sanitation
| Topic | Key takeaway | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsar Sites in India | India joined on 1 February 1982; 103 sites covering over 13.87 lakh hectares, up from 26 in 2014 | GS3 |
| Pumped Storage Hydropower | Non-fossil capacity crossed 300 GW (July 2026); CEA projects 73.93 GW of storage by 2031-32, including 26.69 GW of PSPs | GS3 |
| Green Hydrogen | Green if emissions do not exceed 2 kg CO2e per kg of H2 (standard of August 2023); first hydrogen train on Jind-Sonipat on 17 July 2026 | GS3 |
| Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage | Key route for hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, fertilisers and refineries, as identified by NITI Aayog | GS3 |
| Catch the Rain | JSJB 1.0 (2024), JSJB 2.0 (2025) and JSJB: Catch the Rain launched 1 June 2026 on the 3C principle | GS1/GS3 |
| Transforming Wastewater Treatment (Namami Gange) | 219 projects worth ₹35,664 crore; 6,603 MLD of STP capacity sanctioned, 4,341 MLD created | GS3 |
| Swachh Bharat explainers (behaviour change, technology, public toilets, waste reuse, monsoon cleanliness, urban transformation) | SBM launched 2 October 2014; rural India declared ODF on 2 October 2019; Toilets 2.0 under SBM-U from 2022 | GS2/GS3 |
Science and technology
| Topic | Key takeaway | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| India’s Rising Supercomputing Ecosystem | National Supercomputing Mission (2015, about ₹4,500 crore); 40 supercomputers with 68 PF as of September 2026 | GS3 |
| New-Age Space Technologies | ISRO formed 15 August 1969; SpaDeX made India the fourth country to achieve autonomous docking; Bharatiya Antariksh Station planned | GS3 |
| Additive Manufacturing in India | National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing (2022); 3D printing from CAD and STL files | GS3 |
| Immersive Technologies | AR, VR and mixed reality; ₹250 crore in Budget 2026-27 for AVGC labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges | GS3 |
| Cloud Ecosystem in India | Internet subscribers 1,092.79 million (March 2026); BHASHINI moved to an Indian cloud in February 2026 | GS3 |
High-yield topics in detail
Next-Gen GST reforms
- GST was introduced on 1 July 2017; registered taxpayers grew from about 60 lakh to about 1.70 crore by September 2026.
- The 56th GST Council meeting recommended simplifying the four-tier structure into two main rates of 5% and 18%, with a special 40% rate for select goods and services.
- The 57th meeting in October 2026 recommended process reforms, including automatic acceptance of registration amendments for taxpayers registered through the automatic route and a simpler cancellation process.
- Gross GST collections were about ₹12.46 lakh crore in April-September 2026, 11.6% higher than a year earlier; the system has processed 833.82 crore e-way bills.
Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana (NSAP)
- The National Social Assistance Programme began on 15 August 1995 and gives effect to Article 41 (public assistance in old age, sickness, disablement and unemployment).
- On 14 October 2026 the Cabinet continued it for 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an outlay of ₹53,428 crore; it is fully centrally funded.
- The disability pension now uses the 40% benchmark disability of the RPwD Act, 2016 instead of 80%, and the minimum age of 18 has been removed.
- Central assistance rises from ₹300 to ₹375 a month up to age 79, and from ₹500 to ₹625 at 80 and above; disability beneficiaries rise from 8.33 lakh to 27.48 lakh.
Ramsar sites in India
- The Ramsar Convention was adopted at Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971 and entered into force in 1975; it has 172 Contracting Parties and over 2,536 sites.
- India became a Party on 1 February 1982.
- India now has 103 Ramsar sites, up from 26 in 2014, covering over 13.87 lakh hectares in 28 States and UTs.
- Sites are designated under nine criteria, grouped into representative or unique wetland types and biological diversity (species, waterbirds and fish).
Rabi MSP for RMS 2027-28
- MSPs for all mandated Rabi crops were raised on 30 September 2026, with about ₹90,962 crore to be paid for 324 LMT of produce.
- Wheat MSP is ₹2,610 per quintal, against a cost of production of ₹1,264, a margin of 106%; barley is ₹2,286 and gram ₹5,958.
- Procurement of six Rabi crops rose from 2,302 LMT (2004-05 to 2013-14) to 3,921 LMT (2014-15 to 2025-26), and MSP payments from ₹2.65 lakh crore to ₹8.36 lakh crore.
- MSPs are fixed at a minimum of 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production, as announced in the 2018-19 Budget.
VB-G RAM G
- The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 came into force on 1 July 2026, replacing MGNREGA.
- It gives a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment a year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work.
- Work focuses on four areas: water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure and mitigation of extreme weather events, with 318 permissible types of work.
- Planning is through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, prepared with the Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat.
Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana
- Approved by the Cabinet on 28 October 2026 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31, with ₹7,395.55 crore (Centre ₹4,869.48 crore, States ₹2,526.07 crore).
- It covers over 2.55 lakh Panchayats and Traditional Local Bodies, with annual targets of 2.55 lakh-plus gram development plans and online audit plans.
- The Sixteenth Finance Commission has recommended about ₹4.35 lakh crore in grants for Rural Local Bodies for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme
- Approved on 28 October 2026 with ₹1,856.67 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2033-34.
- Anchor investment and turnover-linked production support together get ₹1,130 crore, and ₹105 crore helps makers get certification from International Sports Federations.
- The global sports equipment market was about US$140 billion in 2024 and may reach US$283 billion by 2036; small and micro enterprises make nearly 90% of India’s output.
Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme
- Approved with a budget of ₹10,000 crore up to FY 2039-40; the maritime sector handles about 95% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value.
- Greenfield units must have an annual capacity of at least 1,00,000 TEUs.
- Operational Expenditure Assistance of ₹8,891 crore pays per container (₹49,500 for a 20-ft and ₹86,625 for a 40-ft container), with 70% local content up to FY 2031-32, rising to 90%.
- A TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) is the standard measure of container capacity.
BHAVYA and the SME Growth Fund
- BHAVYA (Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna) was approved in March 2026 and notified on 10 April 2026 with ₹33,660 crore to build 100 plug-and-play industrial parks.
- Manufacturing contributes about 16-17% of GDP; the National Manufacturing Mission aims to raise this to 25% by 2035.
- The Cabinet committed ₹10,000 crore to an SME Growth Fund for equity support; a medium enterprise now has investment up to ₹125 crore and turnover up to ₹500 crore.
Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority
- Approved by the Government on 6 October 2026 as a central body for transport and logistics research, planning, appraisal and monitoring.
- It will prepare a National Transport Master Plan with a horizon of 10 years or more.
- It will technically appraise Government of India infrastructure projects costing ₹500 crore or more, monitor them and assess their impact.
- It will build a National Transport Data Repository and complement the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.
Green hydrogen and pumped storage
- Under India’s Green Hydrogen Standard (MNRE, August 2023), hydrogen is green if well-to-gate emissions do not exceed 2 kg CO2e per kg of hydrogen, as a 12-month average.
- India’s first indigenous hydrogen-powered train was inaugurated on 17 July 2026 on the Jind-Sonipat section.
- Non-fossil capacity crossed 300 GW in July 2026, against a target of 500 GW by 2030.
- The CEA projects 73.93 GW of storage by 2031-32: 26.69 GW from pumped storage and 47.24 GW from batteries.
TB elimination
- WHO’s Global TB Report 2025 shows India’s TB incidence fell 21% between 2015 and 2024, against a global fall of 12%, and TB deaths fell 28%.
- Treatment coverage is 92%, against 78% worldwide.
- In 2020 the RNTCP was renamed the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.
- Under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, screenings crossed 28.1 crore and 46,118 Gram Panchayats were certified TB-free; the Ni-kshay helpline is 1800-11-6666.
Practice questions
Prelims MCQs
Q1. Under the GST reforms recommended by the 56th GST Council, the two main GST rates are:
- 5% and 12%
- 5% and 18%
- 12% and 18%
- 12% and 28%
Show answer
Answer: (b) The new structure has two main rates, 5% and 18%, with a special 40% rate for select goods and services.
Q2. Consider the following statements about the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana (NSAP):
1. It gives effect to Article 41 of the Constitution.
2. Disability pension now requires at least 80% disability.
3. It is a fully centrally funded scheme.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (c) Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The benchmark was reduced from 80% to 40%, in line with the RPwD Act, 2016.
Q3. India became a Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention in:
- 1971
- 1975
- 1982
- 1992
Show answer
Answer: (c) India joined on 1 February 1982; the Convention was adopted in 1971 and entered into force in 1975.
Q4. The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, which replaced MGNREGA, guarantees how many days of wage employment a year to a rural household?
- 100
- 125
- 150
- 200
Show answer
Answer: (b) It guarantees 125 days of wage employment every financial year, up from 100 days under MGNREGA.
Q5. Under India’s Green Hydrogen Standard, hydrogen is treated as green if well-to-gate emissions do not exceed:
- 1 kg CO2e per kg of H2
- 2 kg CO2e per kg of H2
- 5 kg CO2e per kg of H2
- 10 kg CO2e per kg of H2
Show answer
Answer: (b) The standard notified by MNRE in August 2023 sets a limit of 2 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of hydrogen, as a 12-month average.
Q6. The Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) will undertake technical appraisal of Government of India infrastructure projects costing:
- ₹100 crore or more
- ₹250 crore or more
- ₹500 crore or more
- ₹1,000 crore or more
Show answer
Answer: (c) ITLA will appraise projects of ₹500 crore or more and prepare a National Transport Master Plan.
Q7. The Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme requires greenfield facilities to have an annual capacity of at least:
- 10,000 TEUs
- 50,000 TEUs
- 1,00,000 TEUs
- 5,00,000 TEUs
Show answer
Answer: (c) Greenfield units must have at least 1,00,000 TEUs of annual capacity; the scheme has ₹10,000 crore up to FY 2039-40.
Q8. Kufri Jamunia, recently in the news, is a biofortified variety of:
- Rice
- Wheat
- Potato
- Millet
Show answer
Answer: (c) Kufri Jamunia is a purple potato released in 2024, rich in anthocyanins, vitamin C, iron and zinc.
Q9. Consider the following statements about UDAN:
1. It was launched in 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy.
2. The first UDAN flight was from Shimla to Delhi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both are correct: UDAN was launched on 21 October 2016, and the first RCS-UDAN flight was Shimla-Delhi in April 2017.
Q10. The 20th Asian Games in 2026 were held at:
- Hangzhou, China
- Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
- Doha, Qatar
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Show answer
Answer: (b) The 20th Asian Games were held at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026; New Delhi hosted the first Games in 1951.
Mains practice questions
Q. The shift from MGNREGA to the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 changes both the guarantee and the planning model for rural employment. Examine. (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach: Introduce MGNREGA and the 2025 Act. Cover the 125-day guarantee, the four thematic areas, Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans and convergence; discuss funding, demand-driven nature and the role of Gram Sabhas. Conclude on accountability and asset quality.
Q. Social assistance in India must keep pace with the rights-based approach of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Discuss with reference to the recent changes in the National Social Assistance Programme. (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach: Introduce NSAP and Article 41. Cover the change from 80% to 40% disability, removal of the age limit and revised pensions; discuss adequacy of amounts and State top-ups. Conclude on inclusive social protection.
Q. Domestic manufacturing of containers and sports goods shows a shift from assembly-led to ecosystem-led industrial policy. Evaluate. (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach: Explain CMPS and the Khelo India Sports Goods scheme; link to BHAVYA and the SME Growth Fund; discuss local content, MSMEs, logistics and global competition. Conclude on value chains.
FAQs
What is PIB PRiSM?
PRiSM is a monthly e-booklet compiled by the Research Unit of the Press Information Bureau that collects its explainers and backgrounders on government policies, schemes and data released during the month.
What does the October 2026 edition of PRiSM cover?
The October 2026 edition has 48 explainers, including Next-Gen GST reforms, the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme, the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme, PM Samajik Sahayata Yojana, Ramsar sites, Rabi MSP for 2027-28, VB-G RAM G, BHAVYA, green hydrogen and the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority.
Is PRiSM useful for UPSC Prelims?
Yes, PRiSM is useful for Prelims because it gives official figures, launch dates, outlays and eligibility rules of schemes, which are the facts most often tested in scheme-based questions.
Where can the official PRiSM PDF be downloaded?
The official PRiSM PDF is published by the Press Information Bureau on its website; this page links to the PIB file and summarises the edition for revision.
हिंदी सारांश
PIB PRiSM पत्र सूचना कार्यालय की अनुसंधान इकाई की मासिक ई-पुस्तिका है। अक्टूबर 2026 संस्करण में 48 विषय हैं। प्रमुख तथ्य: GST में अब 5% और 18% की दो मुख्य दरें तथा चुनिंदा वस्तुओं पर 40% की विशेष दर है; खेलो इंडिया खेल सामान विनिर्माण योजना का परिव्यय ₹1,856.67 करोड़ है; कंटेनर विनिर्माण प्रोत्साहन योजना ₹10,000 करोड़ की है; प्रधानमंत्री सामाजिक सहायता योजना में दिव्यांगता की पात्रता 80% से घटाकर 40% की गई; भारत में अब 103 रामसर स्थल हैं; रबी विपणन सत्र 2027-28 के लिए गेहूँ का MSP ₹2,610 प्रति क्विंटल है; VB-G RAM G अधिनियम 1 जुलाई 2026 से लागू होकर 125 दिन के रोज़गार की गारंटी देता है; और BHAVYA के तहत ₹33,660 करोड़ से 100 औद्योगिक पार्क बनेंगे।
Sources: PIB Research Unit: PRiSM October 2026 (official PDF).
Related reading on GSMitra: PIB PRiSM September 2026 summary, PIB PRiSM monthly summaries, All PIB Backgrounders explained for UPSC.
Revise this topic with a custom test in the GSMitra MCQ Test Builder, or get your Mains answers on it evaluated 1:1 through GSMitra mentorship. Prefer to talk first? Book a free consultation on WhatsApp.