News In Shorts: 20 March 2026

VB-G Ram G Youth Digital Campaign

Context: The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, has launched a nationwide ‘VB-G Ram G Youth Digital Campaign’ in collaboration with the ‘MY Bharat’ portal

About ‘VB-G Ram G Youth Digital Campaign’

• Objective: 
  • To encourage participation of rural youth in development activities.
  • To channel the energy and creativity of young people towards rural development, employment generation, and local livelihood initiatives.
• Participation: All interested youth between the ages of 15 and 29 years can register online through the ‘MY Bharat’ or ‘MyGov’ portals
• A Logo Design competition has been announced, where the winner will receive a cash prize of ₹50,000 along with recognition.

Explore UPSC Foundation Courses

Explore UPSC Foundation Courses

South Pars and Ras Laffan Industrial City

Context: Israel’s strike on South Pars and Iran’s retaliatory attack on Ras Laffan have intensified regional tensions and triggered a worsening global energy crisis.

Key Highlights of Energy Crisis

• Weaponisation of Energy Infrastructure: Strikes on oil and gas facilities (Iran, Qatar, Gulf states) show energy assets becoming strategic military targets.
  • Escalation risks prolonged disruption of global supply chains.
• Global Market Shock: Brent crude prices surged sharply due to supply uncertainty.
  • Blockade/instability near the Strait of Hormuz threatens ~20% of global oil trade.
• Long-term Strategic Impact: Countries may accelerate diversification of energy sources and routes.
  • Push towards renewables and strategic petroleum reserves likely to intensify.

About South Pars

• Introduction: One of the largest natural gas fields in the world and Iran’s shared between Iran and Qatar (North Dome).
  • Iran’s share of the field stands at about 33 percent.
  • It provides 80 percent of Iran’s natural gas needs.
• Location: Located in the Persian Gulf, off Iran’s southern coast (Bushehr Province).
• Key Features
  • Holds ~1,800 trillion cubic feet of gas and large condensate reserves.
  • Accounts for a major share of Iran’s gas production and energy security.
  • Critical for domestic consumption and export potential.

About Ras Laffan Industrial City

• World’s largest LNG export hub, central to Qatar’s energy economy.
• Location: Situated on Qatar’s northeast coast, along the Persian Gulf.
• Key Features
  • Processes and exports LNG from the North Dome gas field.
  • Houses major LNG terminals, refineries, and petrochemical facilities.
  • Vital node in global LNG supply chains, especially for Asia and Europe.

The crisis highlights how energy security and geopolitics are deeply intertwined, with direct implications for India’s import-dependent economy.

Yoga 365

Context: The Ministry of Ayush has launched Yoga 365  initiative to promote yoga as a daily lifestyle practice beyond annual celebrations.

About Yoga 365

• The campaign was unveiled during Yoga Mahotsav–2026 in New Delhi.
• Objective: It aims to bridge the gap between high awareness of yoga and low regular practice by encouraging consistent daily engagement.
• Health Care Focus: The initiative promotes yoga as a tool for physical health, mental clarity, and emotional well-being, aligning with preventive healthcare goals.
• Digital Outreach: It includes digital outreach such as free daily online yoga sessions through collaboration between MDNIY and wellness platform Habuild.
• Umbrella Programme: Acts as an umbrella campaign integrating multiple initiatives such as:
  • Common Yoga Protocol (CYP)
  • Y-Break (workplace yoga)
  • Therapeutic yoga for diseases
• Yoga Mahotsav–2026: It is a flagship event organised by the Ministry of Ayush to mark the 100-day countdown to International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026.

International Day of Yoga

• UN Recognition: International Day of Yoga  is observed annually on 21 June, declared by the UN in 2014 following India’s proposal.
• First Celebration: The first IDY was celebrated in 2015, witnessing massive global participation led by India.
• Significance of Date: 21 June marks the summer solstice, the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Semaglutide Drug

Context: Expiry of the patent of  Semaglutide drug in India has enabled entry of cheaper generic weight-loss drugs, improving accessibility amid rising obesity and diabetes burden.

About Semaglutide

• Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which mimics a natural hormone regulating blood sugar and appetite.
• Developer: Originally developed by Novo Nordisk and marketed as Ozempic (for diabetes) and Wegovy (for obesity).
• Primary Use: Used for Type-2 diabetes management by improving insulin secretion and lowering blood glucose levels.
• Weight Loss Role: Helps in reducing appetite and slowing gastric emptying, leading to weight loss.
• Mode of Administration: Usually given as a once-weekly injection (pen device).

What are GLP-1 Drugs?

• GLP-1 receptor agonists are medicines used to treat Type-2 diabetes and obesity by regulating blood sugar and appetite. 
• How They Work: They mimic the hormone Glucagon-like peptide-1, which helps increase insulin release, slow digestion, and reduce hunger.
• Examples: Popular GLP-1 drugs include Semaglutide (sold as Ozempic) and Tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro).

Patent Rules for Drugs

• Patent Duration: Pharmaceutical patents are granted for 20 years from the filing date under the Patents Act, 1970.
• Generic Drugs: Once the patent expires, other companies can manufacture and sell generic versions, increasing competition and lowering prices.
• Evergreening Restrictions: India restricts minor modifications from getting new patents, preventing “evergreening” of drugs.
  • Evergreening is a practice where pharmaceutical companies make minor modifications to an existing drug to extend patent protection without significant improvement in therapeutic efficacy.
• Compulsory Licensing Provision: Government can allow others to produce a patented drug without consent in public health emergencies or high pricing cases.

National Defence Industries Conclave 2026

Context: India emphasised becoming a global drone manufacturing hub at the National Defence Industries Conclave 2026 amid rising geopolitical conflicts.

About National Defence Industries Conclave 2026

• A national-level platform to promote indigenous defence manufacturing, innovation, and industry integration in line with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• Organised By: Conducted by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence.
• Theme: ‘Advanced Manufacturing Technologies’
• Objective
  • To strengthen India’s defence industrial ecosystem by fostering collaboration among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), armed forces, and private sector.
  • To accelerate innovation-led defence production and enhance export potential.
• Key Focus Area
  • Drone Ecosystem: The conclave emphasises end-to-end indigenous drone manufacturing to ensure strategic autonomy and future warfare readiness.
  • Innovation Push: The Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework is expanded through Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC-14) and Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI 4.0).
  • MSME Integration: MSMEs are encouraged to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, automation, and additive manufacturing with horizontal and vertical integration.
  • Advanced Tech: Adoption of Digital Twins, simulation tools, and smart materials is promoted to enhance efficiency and design capabilities.
  • Policy Support: Government reforms, digital platforms, and funding aim to boost defence exports and position India as a global manufacturing hub.

The conclave highlights a shift from import dependence to innovation-driven self-reliance, crucial for India’s long-term strategic and economic security

Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store

Adopt A Heritage (AAH) 2.0 Programme

Context: The Government launched the revamped Adopt A Heritage (AAH) 2.0 programme to enhance visitor amenities at protected monuments through private and public sector participation.

About Adopt A Heritage 2.0

• The programme is a structured initiative to involve private/public entities in improving visitor amenities at centrally protected monuments while preserving heritage integrity.
• First Phase: “Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan” programme was launched in 2017 (1.0).
• Nodal Ministry: It is implemented under the Ministry of Culture with execution and supervision by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Objective: To enhance tourist experience and make monuments visitor-friendly by providing basic and advanced amenities.
• Implementation
• • Private entities, NGOs, and trusts can adopt monuments through MoUs to provide non-conservation services like cleanliness, amenities, and digital experiences.
  • Core conservation and restoration work remains exclusively under ASI experts, ensuring scientific preservation.
  • Donors can contribute through the National Culture Fund (NCF) and suggest specific projects.

Significance

• Promotes public-private partnership (PPP) in heritage management without compromising conservation.
• Improves tourism infrastructure and accessibility, boosting local economy and employment.
• Encourages community participation and awareness through events like heritage walks and exhibitions.
• Balances heritage preservation with sustainable tourism development.

AAH 2.0 reflects a calibrated approach where development of amenities is decentralised, while heritage conservation remains state-controlled, ensuring both preservation and usability.

Banana Cluster

Context: The Government approved a ₹200-crore Banana Cluster in Jalgaon, Maharashtra to boost productivity, value addition, and farmer income in the horticulture sector.

About ‘Banana Cluster’ Initiative

• The Banana Cluster is a cluster-based agricultural development project aimed at strengthening production, processing, and export of bananas.
• Funding: The project is approved with an outlay of ₹200 crore, supported under schemes like Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
• Infrastructure: It includes facilities such as cold storage, ripening chambers, refrigerated transport, processing units, and export infrastructure.
• Objective: To enhance value addition, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve farmers’ income through better market linkages.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store

About Banana

• Banana is a tropical fruit crop and staple food, widely consumed globally due to its nutritional value and year-round availability.
• Growing Conditions: It requires a warm climate (20–30°C), high humidity, well-drained fertile soil, and adequate irrigation.
  • Productivity improves with tissue culture plants and modern cultivation techniques.
• Global Producers: India is the largest producer (≈19% global share), followed by China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Ecuador.
• India Scenario: Major producing states include Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
  • Gujarat has the highest productivity (~65.91 tonnes/hectare) due to advanced farming practices.

The Banana Cluster reflects a shift towards value-chain-based agriculture, focusing on productivity, infrastructure, and export competitiveness.

DOWNLOAD PDF