25 Aug 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

National Horticulture Board (NHB) Scheme Guidelines

Why in News: The National Horticulture Board has revised the guidelines of the Commercial Horticulture through Production and Post-Harvest Management of Horticulture Crops Scheme.

Key Amendments

• The definition of family now includes the applicant's spouse, father, mother, sons and daughters. Earlier, it covered only the husband, wife and dependent minor children.

• Certain categories are not eligible for NHB financial assistance: present holders of constitutional posts; present Ministers and Ministers of State; MPs; Members of State Legislatures; Mayors of Municipal Corporations; Chairpersons of District Panchayats; serving employees of Central/State Governments, PSUs, autonomous bodies and local bodies, except MTS/Class-IV/Group D employees; retired pensioners receiving a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 or more, except MTS/Class-IV/Group D pensioners; and groups of farmers.

• Family members of the above categories may avail one-time assistance, subject to the revised family definition and scheme conditions.

One Family - One Subsidy Principle

• Only one member of a family can receive financial assistance under NHB schemes.

• Assistance received by any family member is treated as assistance received by the entire family.

• The restriction applies across all NHB schemes and components.

• It also covers assistance received through Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), partnership firms, proprietorship firms and companies.

Changes in Subsidy

• For beneficiaries in General Category States, subsidy has been reduced from 50% to 35%.

• For beneficiaries in North-Eastern and Himalayan States, subsidy has been reduced from 50% to 45%.

Voluntary Exit

• Beneficiaries can voluntarily exit the scheme during the lock-in period.

• They must refund the subsidy amount received along with applicable interest.

About NHB

• The National Horticulture Board is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

• It was established in 1984.

Quick Recall

• NHB -> autonomous organisation under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

• Established -> 1984.

• One Family - One Subsidy -> one family member can receive assistance across NHB schemes/components.

• General Category States subsidy -> 35%; North-Eastern and Himalayan States -> 45%.

Tribunals Reforms Act, 2026

Why in News: Parliament has passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, which proposes to repeal the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021.

What are Tribunals?

• Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies created to decide specialised disputes.

• They aim to reduce the burden on regular courts by offering subject-specific expertise and faster dispute resolution.

• They deal with areas such as taxation, company law, environmental matters, armed forces matters, administrative disputes, and labour and industrial disputes.

Constitutional Basis

• Tribunals are provided under Part XIV-A of the Constitution.

• Part XIV-A was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.

• It contains Article 323A and Article 323B.

National Tribunals Commission (NTC)

• The Bill establishes the NTC as a statutory apex body for tribunal administration.

• It will have five members: one Chairperson, two Judicial Members and two Technical Members.

• Technical Members must have at least 25 years of experience in fields such as public administration, finance, law, accountancy, banking, management or technology.

• Appointment of the NTC Chairperson and Judicial Members by the Central Government requires mandatory consultation with the Chief Justice of India.

Search-cum-Selection and Appointments

• Tribunal appointments will be made through dedicated Search-cum-Selection Committees.

• These committees will include NTC members, retired High Court judges/Chief Justices, Government Secretaries and subject experts, with subject experts being non-voting members.

• The committee will recommend one candidate for each vacancy and one additional candidate for the waiting list.

• The Central Government must complete the appointment process within three months of receiving the recommendation.

Tenure, Age and Reappointment

• Chairpersons: five-year tenure or up to 70 years of age, whichever is earlier.

• Members: five-year tenure or up to 67 years of age, whichever is earlier.

• Chairpersons and Members are eligible for reappointment based on performance assessment and service record.

National Tribunals Data Grid

• The Bill mandates a National Tribunals Data Grid as a centralised digital repository.

• It will contain case information, pendency data, disposal rates and tribunal performance indicators.

• The objective is to improve transparency, monitoring and accountability.

Grounds for Removal

• Statutory grounds include insolvency, conviction involving moral turpitude, conflict of interest, abuse of position, physical or mental incapacity, proven incompetence or inefficiency, and acceptance of outside paid employment or assignments.

Quick Recall

• Tribunals -> Part XIV-A of Constitution.

• Part XIV-A -> 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.

• Articles -> 323A and 323B.

• NTC -> 5 members.

• Appointment deadline -> within 3 months of recommendation.

• Chairperson age ceiling -> 70; Member age ceiling -> 67.

Ribociclib

Why in News: The Kerala High Court has permitted a breast cancer patient to join a petition seeking affordable pricing for the life-saving medicine Ribociclib.

What is Ribociclib?

• Ribociclib is an anticancer medicine used with hormone therapy for certain types of breast cancer.

• It belongs to the class of drugs called CDK 4/6, or Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 and 6, inhibitors.

How It Works

• CDK 4/6 proteins help cells grow and divide.

• Ribociclib blocks these proteins, slowing or stopping the multiplication of cancer cells.

• This helps prevent the growth and spread of breast cancer.

Uses and Administration

• It is used for advanced breast cancer that has spread to nearby tissues and structures.

• It is used for metastatic breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

• It is also used for hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer, usually with hormone therapy.

• Ribociclib is always administered along with a hormone therapy medicine for breast cancer treatment.

• It is taken orally in tablet form.

Quick Recall

• Ribociclib -> anticancer drug.

• Class -> CDK 4/6 inhibitor.

• Used with -> hormone therapy.

• Administration -> oral tablet.

Regenerative Agriculture

Why in News: Regenerative agriculture is being highlighted as a pathway to restore soil vitality, improve biodiversity and strengthen resilience against climate stresses.

What is Regenerative Agriculture?

• It is a holistic farming approach focused on restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity and improving ecosystem resilience.

• It goes beyond sustainable agriculture by actively rebuilding natural resources and strengthening farms against climate-related stresses.

Main Objectives

• Restore soil fertility and ecosystem functions.

• Improve biodiversity and ecological balance.

• Enhance climate resilience and long-term agricultural productivity.

• Reduce dependence on external chemical inputs.

Core Principles

• Minimise soil disturbance by reducing intensive tillage to preserve soil structure and microbial life.

• Keep living roots in the soil for longer periods to support soil organisms.

• Maintain soil cover using cover crops, crop residues or mulch to reduce erosion and moisture loss.

• Integrate livestock with crop systems to improve nutrient cycling.

• Limit synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.

• Enhance biodiversity through diverse crops, trees and beneficial organisms.

Popular Practices in India

• Micro-irrigation: drip and sprinkler systems deliver water directly to plant roots, reducing wastage and improving water-use efficiency.

• Natural farming: uses biological inputs such as Beejamrut, Jeevamrut, Ghan Jeevamrut, Neemastra and Dashparni.

• Natural farming also encourages multi-cropping, mulching, cover cropping, minimal soil disturbance and livestock integration.

• Soil health management: green manuring, cover cropping and mulching help increase organic matter, conserve moisture, reduce erosion and improve nutrient cycling.

• Integrated Farming Systems combine crops, livestock, fisheries, horticulture, agroforestry and apiculture.

• Agroforestry integrates trees with crops and can improve soil moisture, regulate microclimate, sequester carbon and provide additional income from tree products.

Quick Recall

• Regenerative agriculture -> restores soil + biodiversity + resilience.

• Key idea -> minimise disturbance, keep living roots, maintain soil cover, integrate livestock, limit chemicals, enhance biodiversity.

• IFS -> crops + livestock + fisheries + horticulture + agroforestry + apiculture.