16 July 2026 - Daily CA Updates
- Avijeet Kumar
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
Nyangai IslandSubtopic: Climate Change and Coastal Geography
Value Addition:
Nyangai Island in Sierra Leone has lost two-thirds of its area in a decade due to rising sea levels.
Located in the Turtle Islands off Sierra Leone's coast, it is emblematic of the vulnerability of small coastal landforms.
Highlights the impact of climate change on low-lying island nations and communities.
Subject Analysis:
GS 1: Geography – Coastal erosion, sea level rise, island geography.
Essay: “Vanishing islands, rising threats – the geography of climate change.”
────────────────────────────GS 2 – Governance, Policy, Regulation────────────────────────────
Aspirational DMF ProgrammeSubtopic: Mining-Affected Areas and Development Convergence
Value Addition:
Aims to converge District Mineral Foundation (DMF) activities with Aspirational District and Block Programmes.
Targets 106 districts and 473 blocks for focused development using DMF funds under PMKKKY framework.
Emphasis on health, education, infrastructure, skill-building, and financial inclusion.
Subject Analysis:
GS 2: Governance – Targeted welfare schemes and development finance.
GS 3: Inclusive growth – Convergence models for underdeveloped regions.
Draft Petroleum & Natural Gas Rules, 2025Subtopic: Energy Regulation, Green Transition, and Investment Facilitation
Value Addition:
Replaces outdated 1949/1959 frameworks; includes rules for CCS, renewable projects, site restoration, and emissions reporting.
Introduces stabilisation clause to protect investors from regulatory volatility.
Promotes pipeline capacity sharing and mandates data ownership by Government of India.
Subject Analysis:
GS 2: Policy – Regulatory reforms and investor confidence.
GS 3: Energy – Sustainable hydrocarbons and green transition.
────────────────────────────GS 3 – Economy, Science & Tech, Defence, Disaster Finance────────────────────────────
Starlink Approval by IN-SPACeSubtopic: Satellite Internet Services in India
Value Addition:
Starlink, a low-earth orbit satellite internet service by SpaceX, cleared to operate in India.
Will enhance broadband access in remote areas, disaster-hit zones, and terrain-challenged regions.
Aligns with India’s 2020 Space Sector Reforms and Indian Space Policy 2023.
Subject Analysis:
GS 3: Science & Tech – Satellite communication and space-based internet.
GS 2: Governance – Public-private collaboration in emerging tech.
Shadow Banking & NBFC ReformSubtopic: Systemic Risk Management and Financial Regulation
Value Addition:
Finance Minister emphasized that NBFCs should no longer be seen as shadow banks.
NBFCs are moving toward full regulatory compliance under RBI frameworks.
Highlights evolving role of NBFCs in credit access and financial inclusion.
Subject Analysis:
GS 3: Economy – Financial intermediaries, regulatory balance, systemic risk.
GS 2: Governance – Regulatory reform and sectoral credibility.
Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS)Subtopic: Indigenisation of Artillery Firepower
Value Addition:
155 mm, 52-calibre system with >40 km range and high firing rate.
Developed by DRDO with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems.
Features include shoot-and-scoot, all-electric drive, and extreme temperature resilience.
Subject Analysis:
GS 3: Defence – Indigenisation and modernisation of armed forces.
Prelims: DRDO, ATAGS specs, private sector defence role.
Global Capability Centres (GCCs)Subtopic: Emerging Economic Engines for India
Value Addition:
India hosts 1,800+ GCCs contributing $68B in GVA; expected to reach $150–200B by 2030.
Provides IT, R&D, and customer support to MNCs; driven by cost efficiency and skilled talent.
One new GCC is being established every week in 2024.
Subject Analysis:
GS 3: Economy – Services export, human capital advantage.
Essay: “India as the backroom of the world – the GCC revolution.”
Catastrophe BondsSubtopic: Disaster Risk Financing through Financial Innovation
Value Addition:
Hybrid instrument that transfers natural disaster risks to investors.
Payouts made only when predefined disasters occur; reduces fiscal shock for governments.
Promoted via World Bank/ADB to ensure diversified capital access and fast recovery.
Subject Analysis:
GS 3: Economy – Climate risk financing, market-linked disaster insurance.
GS 3: Environment – Adaptation financing for vulnerable geographies.
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