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Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme 2026: CURE, PURE, RARE Explained

The Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme 2026 is a Rs 200-crore initiative to convert 18,766 petrol and diesel autos into electric vehicles within Hyderabad’s Core Urban Region Economy (CURE) area. This note explains the Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme and the CURE–PURE–RARE planning zones for TGPSC prelims.

Why in News?

The Telangana Cabinet approved the scheme with an outlay of Rs 200 crore to retrofit/replace 18,766 internal-combustion auto-rickshaws with EVs in the CURE area, cutting urban air pollution and fuel costs for drivers.

Drivers get a subsidy (about Rs 1.5 lakh per vehicle) with the balance through bank finance.

Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme: Key Facts for Prelims

CURE (Core Urban Region Economy): the core metropolitan territory of Hyderabad extending up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR), designed for unified urban planning and governance.
Scheme aligns with the Telangana Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy (road-tax and registration-fee exemptions) and the state’s clean-air goals for Hyderabad.
Retrofitment kits must be approved under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (AIS-123 standards).
Autos in Hyderabad largely run on LPG/petrol/diesel; three-wheelers are the fastest-electrifying segment in India under FAME-II / PM E-DRIVE.

Interconnected concept: Telangana’s three planning tiers

CURE – Core Urban Region Economy: up to the Outer Ring Road.
PURE – Peri-Urban Region Economy: from the ORR to the Regional Ring Road (RRR).
RARE – Rural Agriculture Region Economy: from the RRR to the state border.
Institutions: HMDA (Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority), the proposed Future City (Net Zero) south of ORR, and the RRR (~340 km, northern part approved as NH-161AA).

National EV schemes – static points

PM E-DRIVE (2024–26): Rs 10,900 crore; replaced FAME-II; supports e-2W, e-3W, e-ambulances, e-trucks and chargers.
PM e-Bus Sewa: 10,000 e-buses; National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020; GST on EVs 5%.

Quick Revision Table: Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme

Point	Detail
Scheme	Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme 2026
Outlay	Rs 200 crore
Vehicles	18,766 petrol/diesel autos
Area	CURE (Hyderabad core up to ORR)
PURE	ORR to Regional Ring Road
RARE	RRR to state border
Central EV scheme	PM E-DRIVE (2024–26)

Trap / Confusing Points: Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme

Confusion	Correct Position
CURE extends up to the Regional Ring Road	No – up to the Outer Ring Road; PURE is ORR to RRR
Scheme covers the whole state	No – only CURE area of Hyderabad
FAME-II is still the central EV scheme	No – replaced by PM E-DRIVE from October 2024
RARE means Rural Agriculture Region Economy up to the ORR	No – RRR to the state border

5 Practice MCQs on Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme

1. The CURE area in Telangana’s planning framework extends up to the:
a. Regional Ring Road
b. Outer Ring Road
c. Inner Ring Road
d. State border
Ans: B
Explanation: Core Urban Region Economy covers Hyderabad up to the Outer Ring Road.

2. How many auto-rickshaws are targeted under the Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme 2026?
a. 8,766
b. 12,000
c. 18,766
d. 25,000
Ans: C
Explanation: 18,766 petrol and diesel autos in the CURE area.

3. The zone between the Outer Ring Road and the Regional Ring Road is called:
a. CURE
b. PURE
c. RARE
d. SURE
Ans: B
Explanation: PURE – Peri-Urban Region Economy.

4. Which central scheme replaced FAME-II for electric mobility?
a. PM E-DRIVE
b. PM e-Bus Sewa
c. NEMMP
d. PLI-ACC
Ans: A
Explanation: PM E-DRIVE (2024–26) with Rs 10,900 crore replaced FAME-II.

5. The outlay of the Telangana auto EV conversion scheme is:
a. Rs 100 crore
b. Rs 200 crore
c. Rs 500 crore
d. Rs 1,000 crore
Ans: B
Explanation: Rs 200 crore approved by the state Cabinet.

Exam tip: Revise Telangana Auto Rickshaw Electric Conversion Scheme together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.

To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.

To know more about the auto EV conversion scheme, Click here.

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AgriStack: Telangana Gets Rs 175 Crore Incentive – Farmer ID & DPI Facts

AgriStack – India’s digital public infrastructure for agriculture – earned Telangana a fresh incentive of Rs 175 crore from the Centre for completing the first milestone of an AgriStack-based fertiliser distribution system. This note explains AgriStack components and the Digital Agriculture Mission for prelims.

Why in News?

Telangana received Rs 175 crore from the Union Government for completing the first milestone in implementing an AgriStack-based fertiliser distribution system, which links fertiliser sales to the Farmer ID and land records.

it: Key Facts for Prelims

AgriStack is a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture creating a unified database of farmers, land and crops – the agricultural analogue of Aadhaar/UPI.
Farmer Registry: each farmer gets a unique Aadhaar-linked digital Farmer ID (Kisan Pehchaan Patra) tied to demographic and land-ownership data.
Crop Sown Registry: seasonal crop data from mobile-based Digital Crop Surveys, geotagging and satellite/drone imagery.
Geo-referenced village maps: cadastral maps linked to land records (Bhu-Naksha style).
Uses: targeted subsidies and DBT, PM-KISAN, crop insurance, credit (Kisan Credit Card), MSP procurement and fertiliser rationalisation.
Incentives to states are released under the Digital Agriculture Mission for milestone-based Farmer ID saturation and integration.

Digital Agriculture Mission – static points

Approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2024 with an outlay of Rs 2,817 crore (Central share Rs 1,940 crore).
Three DPIs: it, Krishi Decision Support System (geospatial), and Soil Profile Maps.
Targets: Farmer IDs for 11 crore farmers; Digital Crop Survey in all districts.
Related: PM-KISAN (Rs 6,000/year), PMFBY (crop insurance), e-NAM, Kisan Credit Card, Fertiliser DBT via PoS devices (2018).

Quick Revision Table: AgriStack

Point	Detail
Incentive to Telangana	Rs 175 crore (first milestone)
Purpose	it-linked fertiliser distribution
AgriStack type	Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture
Farmer ID	Aadhaar-linked Kisan Pehchaan Patra
Crop data	Crop Sown Registry via Digital Crop Survey
Parent mission	Digital Agriculture Mission (2024, Rs 2,817 cr)
Ministry	Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

Trap / Confusing Points: it

Confusion	Correct Position
AgriStack is a single mobile app	No – a set of registries/DPI layers used by many apps
Farmer ID replaces Aadhaar	No – it is linked to Aadhaar
Digital Agriculture Mission is under MeitY	No – Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Fertiliser subsidy goes directly to farmers’ bank accounts	No – DBT in fertilisers pays companies after PoS sale to farmers

5 Practice MCQs on it

1. AgriStack is best described as:
a. A farm mechanisation scheme
b. A Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture
c. A crop insurance scheme
d. A fertiliser subsidy scheme
Ans: B
Explanation: it is a set of digital registries – farmer, crop and land – forming DPI for agriculture.

2. The unique identity issued to farmers under AgriStack is called:
a. Kisan Credit Card
b. Kisan Pehchaan Patra
c. Soil Health Card
d. Bhu-Aadhaar
Ans: B
Explanation: Farmer ID / Kisan Pehchaan Patra is Aadhaar-linked and tied to land records.

3. The Digital Agriculture Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet in:
a. 2021
b. 2022
c. 2024
d. 2025
Ans: C
Explanation: Approved in September 2024 with Rs 2,817 crore outlay.

4. Which of the following is NOT one of the three DPIs under the Digital Agriculture Mission?
a. it
b. Krishi Decision Support System
c. Soil Profile Maps
d. e-NAM
Ans: D
Explanation: e-NAM is a separate online agri-marketing platform launched in 2016.

5. The Crop Sown Registry under AgriStack is populated mainly through:
a. Census data
b. Digital Crop Survey with geotagging
c. Bank records
d. Fertiliser sales
Ans: B
Explanation: Mobile-based digital crop surveys with geotagging and satellite imagery feed the registry.

Exam tip: Revise it together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.

To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.

To know more about Telangana’s AgriStack incentive, Click here.

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MPLADS: Telangana MPs Use Only 23.8% of Funds – 7 Facts for TGPSC & UPSC

Leave a Comment / Daily Current Affairs, Polity Current Affairs, Telangana Current Affairs / PSC Chronicles Team

MPLADS – the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme – is in the news because Telangana’s 23 MPs utilised only 23.8% of their allocated funds over two years. This note explains MPLADS rules, jurisdiction and the recent data for prelims.

Why in News?

Telangana’s 23 MPs (17 Lok Sabha + 7 Rajya Sabha, with vacancies) spent only Rs 94 crore of the Rs 394.8 crore available under MPLADS over two years – a utilisation of about 23.8%.

MPLADS: Key Facts for Prelims

Central Sector Scheme, 100% funded by the Union Government; launched in December 1993 (P.V. Narasimha Rao government).
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since October 1994 (initially Rural Development).
Rs 5 crore per MP per year, released in two instalments of Rs 2.5 crore; funds are non-lapsable and carry forward.
Role of MP is recommendatory; the District Authority (Collector/DM) sanctions, executes and monitors works.
Works must create durable community assets (drinking water, education, health, roads, sanitation); at least 15% for SC areas and 7.5% for ST areas.
Scheme was suspended in April 2020 (COVID-19) and restored in November 2021; revised guidelines from 2023 moved to an e-SAKSHI digital platform.

Geographical jurisdiction (frequently asked)

Lok Sabha MPs: works only within their own constituency.
Rajya Sabha MPs: anywhere within the state that elected them.
Nominated MPs (both Houses): anywhere in India.
MPs may recommend works up to Rs 25 lakh per year outside their constituency/state for natural calamities (Rs 1 crore for severe calamities anywhere in India).

Related constitutional facts

Telangana sends 17 Lok Sabha and 7 Rajya Sabha members; Andhra Pradesh sends 25 and 11.
State-level equivalents: MLA Local Area Development schemes (Telangana: Rs 5 crore per MLA/MLC under Assembly Constituency Development Programme).

Quick Revision Table: it

Point	Detail
Launched	December 1993
Type	Central Sector Scheme (100% central)
Nodal ministry	MoSPI (since 1994)
Entitlement	Rs 5 crore/MP/year, two instalments
Fund nature	Non-lapsable
Executing authority	District Collector / DM
Telangana utilisation	Rs 94 cr of Rs 394.8 cr (23.8%)

Trap / Confusing Points: MPLADS

Confusion	Correct Position
it is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme	No – Central Sector Scheme, fully central
MPs directly execute works	No – MPs only recommend; District Authority executes
Unspent funds lapse each year	No – non-lapsable
Nodal ministry is Rural Development	No – MoSPI since 1994

5 Practice MCQs on MPLADS

1. The nodal ministry for it is:
a. Ministry of Rural Development
b. Ministry of Finance
c. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
d. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Ans: C
Explanation: MoSPI has administered MPLADS since October 1994.

2. Under it, a Rajya Sabha MP can recommend works:
a. Only in his/her district
b. Anywhere in the state from which elected
c. Anywhere in India
d. Only in the state capital
Ans: B
Explanation: Rajya Sabha MPs may choose works anywhere in their electing state; nominated MPs anywhere in India.

3. The annual MPLADS entitlement per MP is:
a. Rs 2 crore
b. Rs 2.5 crore
c. Rs 5 crore
d. Rs 10 crore
Ans: C
Explanation: Rs 5 crore per year, released in two instalments of Rs 2.5 crore.

4. Under it, the authority responsible for sanctioning and executing works is:
a. The MP
b. The District Authority (Collector/DM)
c. The State Finance Department
d. NITI Aayog
Ans: B
Explanation: The MP’s role is purely recommendatory; the District Authority executes.

5. MPLADS was launched in:
a. 1991
b. 1993
c. 1996
d. 2001
Ans: B
Explanation: Launched in December 1993 during the P.V. Narasimha Rao government.

Exam tip: Revise it together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.

To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.

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Market Borrowings: Telangana Raises Rs 2,000 Crore via RBI Auction – SDL Concepts

Leave a Comment / Daily Current Affairs, Indian Economy Current Affairs, Telangana Current Affairs / PSC Chronicles Team

Market borrowings are in the news as the Telangana government raised Rs 2,000 crore through the RBI’s auction of state government securities. This note explains market borrowings, State Development Loans and the constitutional limits on state debt for prelims.

Why in News?

Telangana raised Rs 2,000 crore in three tranches (Rs 1,000 crore, Rs 500 crore, Rs 500 crore) through the RBI’s price auction of State Government Securities at an interest rate of about 7.7%, to meet immediate financial commitments.

market borrowings: Key Facts for Prelims

Market borrowings = domestic rupee loans the government raises from the public and financial institutions by issuing marketable securities.
Instruments: Government Securities (G-Secs) for the long term (dated securities) and Treasury Bills (91/182/364 days) for the short term – only the Centre issues T-bills; states issue dated securities called State Development Loans (SDLs).
RBI is the banker and debt manager for both the Centre and the states (under RBI Act and agreements); auctions are held on its E-Kuber platform, usually on Tuesdays for states.
States’ borrowing calendar is announced quarterly by RBI in consultation with the states; annual net borrowing limit is fixed by the Centre (3% of GSDP under the FRBM framework, with conditional extra room).
SDLs qualify as SLR securities for banks; investors include banks, insurance companies, provident funds and mutual funds.

Constitutional and institutional links

Article 292: borrowing by the Union; Article 293: borrowing by states – a state needs the Centre’s consent if it owes any loan to the Centre.
State borrowing is within the country only (no direct external borrowing); the Centre can borrow abroad.
Other state resources: Ways and Means Advances and Special Drawing Facility from RBI for temporary mismatches; Overdraft regulations.
Telangana’s FRBM Act, 2005; the 15th Finance Commission recommended fiscal deficit of 3% of GSDP for states.

Quick Revision Table: market borrowings

Point	Detail
Amount raised	Rs 2,000 crore (3 tranches)
Route	RBI auction of State Government Securities
Interest	About 7.7%
State instrument	State Development Loans (dated)
Short-term central instrument	Treasury Bills
Debt manager	RBI
Constitutional article	Article 293

Trap / Confusing Points: market borrowings

Confusion	Correct Position
States can issue Treasury Bills	No – only the Centre; states issue SDLs
States may borrow abroad directly	No – only domestic borrowing; external loans route via the Centre
RBI lends the market borrowing itself	No – RBI conducts the auction; investors lend
Article 292 covers state borrowing	No – Article 292 is Union; Article 293 is states

5 Practice MCQs on market borrowings

1. State Development Loans (SDLs) are:
a. Loans given by the Centre to states
b. Dated securities issued by state governments
c. Short-term bills issued by states
d. Loans from the World Bank to states
Ans: B
Explanation: SDLs are dated market securities issued by states through RBI auctions.

2. Which Article of the Constitution deals with borrowing by state governments?
a. Article 280
b. Article 292
c. Article 293
d. Article 360
Ans: C
Explanation: Article 293 governs state borrowing and requires Central consent where a state is indebted to the Centre.

3. Treasury Bills in India are issued by:
a. State governments
b. The Central Government
c. Commercial banks
d. NABARD
Ans: B
Explanation: Only the Union government issues T-bills (91, 182, 364 days).

4. The electronic platform on which RBI conducts government securities auctions is:
a. NDS-OM
b. E-Kuber
c. CCIL
d. RTGS
Ans: B
Explanation: E-Kuber is RBI’s core banking solution used for primary auctions.

5. Ways and Means Advances are provided to states by:
a. Finance Commission
b. Reserve Bank of India
c. NITI Aayog
d. Ministry of Finance
Ans: B
Explanation: RBI gives WMA to bridge temporary mismatches in state cash flows.

Exam tip: Revise market borrowings together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.

To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.

To know more about Telangana’s market borrowing, Click here.

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Singareni Gold Exploration in Devadurga: SCCL’s First Non-Coal Venture (TGPSC)

Leave a Comment / Daily Current Affairs, Telangana Current Affairs / PSC Chronicles Team

The Singareni gold exploration programme has begun at the Devadurga block in Karnataka, marking the coal miner SCCL’s entry into gold and copper. This note covers the Singareni gold exploration facts and the mining-law background for TGPSC and UPSC prelims.

Why in News?

The Telangana government launched a gold and copper exploration programme at the Devadurga block, Raichur district, Karnataka, where Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) secured exploration rights through central government auctions.

Singareni gold exploration: Key Facts for Prelims

Executing agency: SCCL – traditionally a coal company – diversifying into non-coal minerals.
Block area: about 199.13 sq km in Raichur district; the region lies in the gold-bearing Hutti–Maski greenstone belt of the Dharwar craton.
Rights obtained via the Centre’s composite licence / exploration licence auctions under the amended MMDR Act.
Significance: first gold–copper exploration venture by a state PSU of Telangana; boosts critical-mineral self-reliance.

SCCL – static points

Singareni Collieries Company Limited: joint venture of the Government of Telangana (51%) and Government of India (49%); HQ Kothagudem, Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
Origin: Hyderabad (Deccan) Company Ltd (1886), renamed SCCL in 1920; mines the Godavari Valley coalfield across seven districts.
Also runs the Singareni Thermal Power Plant at Jaipur (Mancherial) and solar plants.

Gold in India – static points

Karnataka is the largest gold producer – Hutti Gold Mines (Raichur) is India’s only major producing gold mine; Kolar Gold Fields closed in 2001.
Other gold belts: Ramagiri (Anantapur, AP), Sonbhadra (UP), Jonnagiri (Kurnool, AP – new private mine).
MMDR Amendment Act, 2023 introduced the exploration licence for deep-seated and critical minerals and allowed private exploration; National Mineral Exploration Trust funds exploration.

Quick Revision Table: Singareni gold exploration

Point	Detail
Agency	SCCL (Telangana 51%, Centre 49%)
Block	Devadurga, Raichur district, Karnataka
Area	199.13 sq km
Minerals	Gold and copper
Rights via	Central government auction
SCCL HQ	Kothagudem
Nearby gold mine	Hutti (Raichur)

Trap / Confusing Points: Singareni gold exploration

Confusion	Correct Position
Devadurga block is in Telangana	No – Raichur district, Karnataka
SCCL is a central PSU	No – Telangana holds 51%; Centre 49%
Kolar Gold Fields is still operating	No – closed in 2001; Hutti is the main producing mine
Exploration rights were allotted by Karnataka	Secured through central government auctions

5 Practice MCQs on Singareni gold exploration

1. The Devadurga gold and copper exploration block is located in which district?
a. Bellary
b. Raichur
c. Kolar
d. Dharwad
Ans: B
Explanation: Devadurga is in Raichur district, Karnataka, near the Hutti gold belt.

2. Singareni Collieries Company Limited is jointly owned by:
a. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
b. Telangana (51%) and Government of India (49%)
c. Coal India and Telangana
d. Telangana and NTPC
Ans: B
Explanation: SCCL is a Telangana-majority JV with the Union government.

3. India’s only major operating gold mine, Hutti, is in:
a. Andhra Pradesh
b. Jharkhand
c. Karnataka
d. Rajasthan
Ans: C
Explanation: Hutti Gold Mines Ltd operates in Raichur district, Karnataka.

4. The ‘exploration licence’ for deep-seated and critical minerals was introduced by:
a. MMDR Amendment Act, 2015
b. MMDR Amendment Act, 2021
c. MMDR Amendment Act, 2023
d. Mines Act, 1952
Ans: C
Explanation: The 2023 amendment created exploration licences for 29 critical and deep-seated minerals.

5. The headquarters of SCCL is at:
a. Hyderabad
b. Kothagudem
c. Warangal
d. Ramagundam
Ans: B
Explanation: SCCL is headquartered at Kothagudem in Bhadradri Kothagudem district.

Exam tip: Revise Singareni gold exploration together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.

To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.

To know more about Singareni’s Devadurga exploration, Click here.

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Etikoppaka Toys: Theme Park in Anakapalli & GI Tag Facts for APPSC Prelims

Leave a Comment / Daily Current Affairs, Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs / PSC Chronicles Team

Etikoppaka toys – the GI-tagged lacquerware wooden toys of Andhra Pradesh – will get a dedicated theme park after the foundation stone was laid for the Rs 3 crore Etikoppaka Handicrafts Theme Park in Anakapalli district. This note lists the Etikoppaka toys facts and related AP GI crafts for prelims.

Why in News?

The foundation stone for the Etikoppaka Handicrafts Theme Park was laid in Etikoppaka village, Anakapalli district, to promote traditional lacquerware toys, support artisans and boost local tourism.

Etikoppaka toys: Key Facts for Prelims

Also called Etikoppaka Bommalu; made in Etikoppaka village on the banks of the Varaha River.
Material: soft wood of the Ankudu tree (Wrightia tinctoria) – lightweight and easy to shape.
Technique: lacquer-turning on a hand- or machine-operated lathe; colours from natural dyes (seeds, bark, roots, leaves) mixed with lac – hence child-safe.
GI tag in 2017 under the handicrafts category (Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999).
Selected as the One District One Product (ODOP) of Anakapalli district; craft is over 400 years old.

Andhra Pradesh GI-tagged crafts – quick list

Kondapalli toys (NTR district, Tella Poniki wood – often confused with Etikoppaka).
Bobbili Veena (Vizianagaram), Machilipatnam Kalamkari (pen work, block prints), Srikalahasti Kalamkari (hand painted).
Tirupati laddu, Araku Valley coffee, Banganapalle mango, Uppada Jamdani, Dharmavaram silk, Venkatagiri sarees, Mangalagiri sarees, Budithi bell metal, Durgi stone carving, Leather puppetry (Tholu Bommalata), Bandar laddu.

GI tag – static points

Governed by the GI Act, 1999 (in force 2003); registry at Chennai under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (DPIIT).
Valid for 10 years, renewable; first GI in India – Darjeeling tea (2004); TRIPS Article 22–24 basis.

Quick Revision Table: Etikoppaka toys

Point	Detail
Craft	Etikoppaka lacquerware toys
Location	Etikoppaka, Anakapalli district (Varaha River)
Wood	Ankudu (Wrightia tinctoria)
Technique	Lacquer turning on lathe; natural dyes
GI tag	2017 (handicrafts)
Theme park cost	Rs 3 crore
ODOP	Anakapalli district

Trap / Confusing Points: Etikoppaka toys

Confusion	Correct Position
Etikoppaka toys are made from Tella Poniki wood	No – that is Kondapalli; Etikoppaka uses Ankudu wood
Etikoppaka is in Visakhapatnam district	Now in Anakapalli district (carved out in 2022)
Colours are synthetic paints	No – natural dyes mixed with lac
GI tag is granted by the state government	No – by the GI Registry, Chennai (central)

5 Practice MCQs on Etikoppaka toys

1. Etikoppaka toys are made from the wood of which tree?
a. Tella Poniki
b. Ankudu (Wrightia tinctoria)
c. Red sanders
d. Teak
Ans: B
Explanation: Ankudu is a soft, light wood ideal for lathe turning; Tella Poniki is used for Kondapalli toys.

2. Etikoppaka village lies on the banks of which river?
a. Sarada
b. Gosthani
c. Varaha
d. Nagavali
Ans: C
Explanation: Etikoppaka is on the Varaha River in Anakapalli district.

3. Etikoppaka toys received the GI tag in:
a. 2008
b. 2012
c. 2017
d. 2021
Ans: C
Explanation: GI registration was granted in 2017 under handicrafts.

4. The Geographical Indications Registry of India is located at:
a. New Delhi
b. Mumbai
c. Chennai
d. Kolkata
Ans: C
Explanation: The GI Registry functions at Chennai under the CGPDTM.

5. Which of the following is NOT a GI-tagged product of Andhra Pradesh?
a. Bobbili Veena
b. Pochampally Ikat
c. Araku Valley coffee
d. Uppada Jamdani
Ans: B
Explanation: Pochampally Ikat belongs to Telangana.

Exam tip: Revise Etikoppaka toys together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.

To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.

To know more about the Etikoppaka theme park, Click here.

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Veligonda Project Phase-1 Inaugurated: 8 Facts on Poola Subbaiah Project (APPSC)

Leave a Comment / Daily Current Affairs, Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs / PSC Chronicles Team

The Veligonda Project – officially the Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Project – has had its first phase inaugurated by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister at Gottipadiya. This note gives the Veligonda Project facts on tunnels, districts and capacities that APPSC papers test.

Why in News?

AP CM inaugurated Phase-I of the Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Project, completed at a cost of about Rs 7,983 crore out of a projected Rs 10,200 crore.

Phase-I diverts 10.70 TMC to Nallamala Sagar, providing irrigation to 1.19 lakh acres and drinking water to about 4 lakh people.

Veligonda Project: Key Facts for Prelims

Type: major irrigation-cum-drinking water scheme diverting Krishna floodwater from the foreshore of Srisailam Reservoir to Nallamala Sagar by gravity.
Twin tunnels of 18.8 km under the Nallamala Hills carry the water; Nallamala Sagar reservoir then feeds a canal network.
Beneficiary districts: Prakasam, Nellore (SPSR) and Kadapa (YSR) – the fluoride-affected, drought-prone western Prakasam belt.
Full project: irrigation to 4.47 lakh acres, drinking water to 23 lakh people across 30 mandals.
Purpose: fix recurring crop failure from erratic rainfall and replace fluoride-contaminated groundwater.
Named after Poola Subbaiah, a farmers’ leader who campaigned for the project; conceived in the 1990s (foundation 2004).

Interconnected static points – Andhra Pradesh irrigation

Srisailam Dam: on the Krishna in Nandyal district (AP)–Nagarkurnool (Telangana) border; second-largest working hydro station in India.
Other Srisailam-based schemes: Srisailam Right Bank Canal, Telugu Ganga, Galeru–Nagari (GNSS), Handri–Neeva (HNSS), and Telangana’s Kalwakurthy lift.
Nallamala Hills: part of the Eastern Ghats between the Krishna and Pennar; hold the Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve, India’s largest tiger reserve.
Krishna water sharing: Bachawat Tribunal (KWDT-I, 1976) and Brijesh Kumar Tribunal (KWDT-II); Krishna River Management Board under the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
Other major AP projects: Polavaram (Godavari, national project), Nagarjuna Sagar, Somasila (Pennar), Gundlakamma, Vamsadhara.

Quick Revision Table: Veligonda Project

Point	Detail
Official name	Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Project
Water source	Srisailam Reservoir foreshore (Krishna)
Conveyance	Twin tunnels, 18.8 km, under Nallamala Hills
Storage	Nallamala Sagar
Districts	Prakasam, Nellore, Kadapa
Phase-I benefit	10.70 TMC; 1.19 lakh acres; 4 lakh people
Full project	4.47 lakh acres; 23 lakh people; 30 mandals

Trap / Confusing Points: Veligonda Project

Confusion	Correct Position
Veligonda draws water from the Godavari	No – Krishna water via Srisailam
Water is pumped by lift	No – gravity flow through tunnels
Beneficiary districts include Guntur	No – Prakasam, Nellore, Kadapa
Nallamala Hills are part of the Western Ghats	No – Eastern Ghats

5 Practice MCQs on Veligonda Project

1. The Veligonda Project diverts water from which reservoir?
a. Nagarjuna Sagar
b. Srisailam
c. Somasila
d. Pulichintala
Ans: B
Explanation: Floodwater is drawn from the foreshore of the Srisailam Reservoir on the Krishna.

2. The twin tunnels of the Veligonda Project pass under which hills?
a. Seshachalam
b. Nallamala
c. Erramala
d. Velikonda
Ans: B
Explanation: The 18.8 km twin tunnels run under the Nallamala Hills to Nallamala Sagar.

3. Which of the following districts is NOT a beneficiary of the Veligonda Project?
a. Prakasam
b. Nellore
c. Kadapa
d. Kurnool
Ans: D
Explanation: Beneficiaries are Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts.

4. Under Phase-I, the quantity of water diverted to Nallamala Sagar is:
a. 5.5 TMC
b. 10.70 TMC
c. 20 TMC
d. 43.5 TMC
Ans: B
Explanation: Phase-I diverts 10.70 TMC, irrigating 1.19 lakh acres.

5. India’s largest tiger reserve, located in the Nallamala Hills, is:
a. Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam
b. Papikonda
c. Kawal
d. Amrabad
Ans: A
Explanation: NSTR spans about 3,728 sq km across the Nallamala forests.

Exam tip: Revise Veligonda Project together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.

To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.

To know more about the Veligonda Phase-1 inauguration, Click here.

Veligonda Project Phase-1 Inaugurated: 8 Facts on Poola Subbaiah Project (APPSC) Read More »

Quantum and AI University Amaravati: India’s First Dedicated Campus – 6 Facts

Leave a Comment / Daily Current Affairs, Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs / PSC Chronicles Team

The Quantum and AI University Amaravati campus, described as India’s first dedicated campus for quantum technology and artificial intelligence, has been approved by the Andhra Pradesh government. This note covers the Quantum and AI University Amaravati facts and the state’s deep-tech ecosystem for APPSC and UPSC prelims.

Why in News?

The AP Cabinet approved a dedicated Quantum and AI university campus in Amaravati, to be set up by the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).

Quantum and AI University Amaravati: Key Facts for Prelims

Site: 8.5 acres in Amaravati; investment about Rs 730.7 crore over five years, fully funded through grant-in-aid from MeitY.
Scope: higher education, research, technology development, skilling, innovation and entrepreneurship in deep-tech areas – quantum, AI, semiconductors, cyber security.
First of its kind in India; NIELIT’s first campus in South India of this scale.
Complements the Amaravati Quantum Valley, where IBM’s Quantum System Two (156-qubit Heron processor) is being installed with TCS and L&T – India’s largest quantum computer.

Interconnected static points

NIELIT: autonomous scientific society under MeitY (formerly DOEACC Society), HQ New Delhi; runs O/A/B/C level IT courses.
National Quantum Mission (2023): Rs 6,003.65 crore for 2023–31; targets 50–1,000 qubit computers and four thematic hubs (T-Hubs) at IISc (computing), IIT Madras (communication), IIT Bombay (sensing) and IIT Delhi (materials).
IndiaAI Mission (2024): Rs 10,372 crore; compute capacity of 10,000+ GPUs; AI Kosh datasets platform.
AP tech initiatives: Amaravati Quantum Valley, Quantum Valley Declaration, IT & GCC Policy 4.0, Google AI data centre at Visakhapatnam.

Quick Revision Table: Quantum and AI University Amaravati

Point	Detail
Campus	Quantum and AI University, Amaravati
Set up by	NIELIT (MeitY)
Funding	Rs 730.7 crore grant-in-aid, 5 years
Land	8.5 acres
Distinction	India’s first dedicated quantum-AI campus
Related project	Amaravati Quantum Valley (IBM Quantum System Two)
National scheme	National Quantum Mission 2023–31

Trap / Confusing Points: Quantum and AI University Amaravati

Confusion	Correct Position
The campus is funded by the AP government	No – fully funded by MeitY grant-in-aid; AP provides land
NIELIT is under the Education Ministry	No – under MeitY
National Quantum Mission is under MeitY	No – Department of Science and Technology
IBM quantum computer in Amaravati is 1,000 qubits	No – 156-qubit Heron processor (Quantum System Two)

5 Practice MCQs on Quantum and AI University Amaravati

1. The Quantum and AI University campus in Amaravati will be set up by:
a. IIT Tirupati
b. NIELIT
c. C-DAC
d. IISc
Ans: B
Explanation: NIELIT under MeitY will establish the campus with full central grant-in-aid.

2. NIELIT functions under which ministry?
a. Ministry of Education
b. Ministry of Electronics and IT
c. Ministry of Science and Technology
d. Ministry of Skill Development
Ans: B
Explanation: NIELIT is an autonomous body under MeitY.

3. The National Quantum Mission’s thematic hub for quantum computing is at:
a. IIT Madras
b. IIT Bombay
c. IISc Bengaluru
d. IIT Delhi
Ans: C
Explanation: IISc hosts the computing hub; IIT Madras communication; IIT Bombay sensing; IIT Delhi materials.

4. The quantum computer being installed at Amaravati Quantum Valley is by:
a. Google
b. IBM
c. Microsoft
d. Intel
Ans: B
Explanation: IBM Quantum System Two with a 156-qubit Heron processor, with TCS and L&T.

5. Approximate outlay of the Amaravati Quantum and AI campus is:
a. Rs 130 crore
b. Rs 330 crore
c. Rs 730 crore
d. Rs 1,730 crore
Ans: C
Explanation: Rs 730.7 crore over five years.

Exam tip: Revise Quantum and AI University Amaravati together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.

To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.

To know more about the Amaravati quantum-AI campus, Click here.

Quantum and AI University Amaravati: India’s First Dedicated Campus – 6 Facts Read More »

Current Account Deficit Widens to $4.2 bn in Q1 FY27: 7 Concepts for Prelims

Leave a Comment / Daily Current Affairs, Indian Economy Current Affairs / PSC Chronicles Team

India’s current account deficit widened to $4.2 billion, or 0.5% of GDP, in the first quarter of 2026-27, according to preliminary RBI data. This note explains the current account deficit, why it widened and the balance-of-payments concepts prelims tests.

Why in News?

CAD rose to $4.2 billion (0.5% of GDP) in Q1 FY27 from $3.4 billion (0.4% of GDP) a year earlier.

Driver: the merchandise trade deficit widened to $86.1 billion from $68.9 billion; stronger services exports and remittances cushioned the gap.

current account deficit: Key Facts for Prelims

Current account = trade in goods + trade in services (invisibles) + primary income (interest, dividends, wages) + secondary income (transfers such as remittances).
CAD occurs when total outflows (imports, income payments) exceed inflows; it is financed by the capital and financial account (FDI, FPI, ECBs, NRI deposits).
Balance of Payments (BoP) = current account + capital account + errors and omissions; overall BoP surplus adds to forex reserves.
India’s services surplus (IT, business services) and remittances (India is the world’s top recipient) are the two biggest offsets to the goods deficit.
RBI publishes BoP data quarterly; CAD of about 1–2% of GDP is generally considered manageable for India.

Interconnected concept: remittances

Cross-border transfers by migrant workers and the diaspora; recorded as unilateral (secondary income) transfers in the current account – nothing is given in return.
Remittances are not part of GDP (not domestic production). Net factor income from abroad is added to GDP to get GNP, but pure family-maintenance remittances are treated as transfers, not factor income.
India received over $130 billion in remittances (top recipient globally, ahead of Mexico and China); major sources: USA, UAE, UK, Saudi Arabia.

Other BoP terms

Trade deficit vs CAD: trade deficit counts goods only; CAD adds services, income and transfers.
Twin deficits: fiscal deficit + current account deficit.
Capital account convertibility: India has full current account convertibility (1994, Article VIII of IMF) but partial capital account convertibility (Tarapore Committees 1997, 2006).

Quick Revision Table: current account deficit

Point	Detail
CAD Q1 FY27	$4.2 bn (0.5% of GDP)
CAD Q1 FY26	$3.4 bn (0.4% of GDP)
Merchandise trade gap	$86.1 bn (from $68.9 bn)
Cushions	Services exports, remittances
Current account components	Goods, services, primary income, secondary income
Remittances in BoP	Secondary income / unilateral transfers
Remittances in GDP?	No – excluded from GDP

Trap / Confusing Points: current account deficit

Confusion	Correct Position
Trade deficit and CAD are the same	Trade deficit is goods only; CAD includes services and transfers
Remittances are part of India’s GDP	No – they are transfers, not domestic production
FDI is part of the current account	No – FDI is in the capital/financial account
A wider CAD always means BoP deficit	No – capital inflows can more than finance the CAD, leaving a BoP surplus

5 Practice MCQs on current account deficit

1. Which of the following is NOT a component of the current account?
a. Merchandise trade
b. Services trade
c. Foreign direct investment
d. Remittances
Ans: C
Explanation: FDI is recorded in the capital and financial account.

2. Remittances from Indian workers abroad are recorded in the BoP as:
a. Merchandise exports
b. Unilateral transfers in the current account
c. Capital account inflows
d. Primary income
Ans: B
Explanation: Remittances are secondary income (unilateral transfers) in the current account.

3. India’s current account deficit in Q1 FY27 as a percentage of GDP was about:
a. 0.2%
b. 0.5%
c. 1.1%
d. 2.0%
Ans: B
Explanation: CAD was $4.2 billion or 0.5% of GDP.

4. Net factor income from abroad is added to GDP to arrive at:
a. NDP
b. GNP
c. NNP
d. Personal income
Ans: B
Explanation: GNP = GDP + net factor income from abroad.

5. The committee associated with capital account convertibility in India is:
a. Narasimham Committee
b. Tarapore Committee
c. Rangarajan Committee
d. Kelkar Committee
Ans: B
Explanation: Tarapore Committees (1997 and 2006) laid out the roadmap for capital account convertibility.

Exam tip: Revise current account deficit together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.

To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.

To know more about the Q1 FY27 CAD data, Click here.

Current Account Deficit Widens to $4.2 bn in Q1 FY27: 7 Concepts for Prelims Read More »

Lal Bahadur Shastri: PM Modi’s Tashkent Tribute – 7 Facts for UPSC Prelims

Leave a Comment / Daily Current Affairs, History and Culture Current Affairs, International Current Affairs / PSC Chronicles Team

Lal Bahadur Shastri, India’s second Prime Minister, was honoured by PM Narendra Modi at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent during his visit to Uzbekistan. This note lists the Lal Bahadur Shastri facts that prelims papers repeatedly ask.

Why in News?

PM Modi paid floral tribute at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent and planted a tree with the Uzbek President, on the sidelines of his Central Asia engagements around the SCO summit.

Lal Bahadur Shastri: Key Facts for Prelims

Second Prime Minister of India (1964–1966); born 2 October 1904 at Mughalsarai (now Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar); shares his birthday with Mahatma Gandhi.
Coined ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ during the 1965 Indo-Pak war; promoted the Green Revolution (with C. Subramaniam and M.S. Swaminathan) and the White Revolution (supported Amul and creation of the National Dairy Development Board in 1965, Verghese Kurien).
Freedom struggle: Non-Cooperation (1920), Civil Disobedience (1930) and Quit India (1942) movements; served years in British jails.
First Railway Minister to resign on moral grounds after the Ariyalur rail accident (1956).
Signed the Tashkent Agreement on 10 January 1966 with Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan, mediated by Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin; died in Tashkent the same night.
First person to be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously (1966). Memorial in Delhi: Vijay Ghat.

Interconnected static points

Order of Prime Ministers: Nehru (1947–64) → Gulzarilal Nanda (acting) → Shastri (1964–66) → Nanda (acting) → Indira Gandhi (1966).
Tashkent Agreement: both sides withdrew to pre-August 1965 positions and renounced use of force – contrast with the Shimla Agreement (1972) after the 1971 war.
Shastri’s title ‘Shastri’ is a degree from Kashi Vidyapith, not a surname.
India–Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan is a member of SCO; India’s Chabahar–INSTC connectivity and the India–Central Asia Summit (2022) engage Tashkent.

Quick Revision Table: Lal Bahadur Shastri

Point	Detail
Position	2nd Prime Minister (1964–66)
Slogan	Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan
Agreement	Tashkent Agreement, 10 January 1966 (with Ayub Khan)
Mediator	USSR (Alexei Kosygin)
Award	First posthumous Bharat Ratna (1966)
Revolutions backed	Green Revolution; White Revolution (NDDB)
Memorial	Vijay Ghat, Delhi

Trap / Confusing Points: Lal Bahadur Shastri

Confusion	Correct Position
Shastri signed the Shimla Agreement	No – Tashkent Agreement (1966); Shimla was Indira Gandhi (1972)
Tashkent Agreement was brokered by the USA	No – by the Soviet Union
Shastri was the first Bharat Ratna recipient	No – first to receive it posthumously
Shastri’s birthday is 2 October 1906	No – 2 October 1904

5 Practice MCQs on Lal Bahadur Shastri

1. The Tashkent Agreement (1966) was mediated by which country?
a. United States
b. United Kingdom
c. Soviet Union
d. China
Ans: C
Explanation: Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin mediated between Shastri and Ayub Khan.

2. Who was the first person to receive the Bharat Ratna posthumously?
a. Jawaharlal Nehru
b. Lal Bahadur Shastri
c. K. Kamaraj
d. Vinoba Bhave
Ans: B
Explanation: Shastri was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1966.

3. The slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ was given during which war?
a. 1947–48 war
b. 1962 war
c. 1965 war
d. 1971 war
Ans: C
Explanation: Shastri coined it during the 1965 Indo-Pak war to rally soldiers and farmers.

4. The National Dairy Development Board, whose creation Shastri supported, was set up in:
a. 1955
b. 1965
c. 1970
d. 1975
Ans: B
Explanation: NDDB was founded in 1965 at Anand under Verghese Kurien.

5. The memorial of Lal Bahadur Shastri in Delhi is called:
a. Shanti Van
b. Shakti Sthal
c. Vijay Ghat
d. Kisan Ghat
Ans: C
Explanation: Vijay Ghat is Shastri’s samadhi; Shanti Van is Nehru’s; Kisan Ghat is Charan Singh’s.

Exam tip: Revise Lal Bahadur Shastri together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.

To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.

To know more about PM Modi’s Tashkent tribute, Click here.

Lal Bahadur Shastri: PM Modi’s Tashkent Tribute – 7 Facts for UPSC Prelims Read More »