27 May2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

GS 1 (Geography & Geology)

Pyrite (Fool’s Gold)

News:

Geologists have recently identified a rare microscopic sunflower-shaped variety of

pyrite within the lignite deposits of Gujarat.

About Pyrite:

• Pyrite is a naturally occurring iron sulphide mineral with the chemical formula

FeS₂.

• It is the most abundant sulphide mineral found on Earth.

• The mineral is recognised by its brass-yellow colour and metallic sheen.

• Its name originates from the Greek word “pyr”, meaning fire, as it produces

sparks when struck against metal.

• Due to its resemblance to gold, pyrite is commonly referred to as “Fool’s Gold.”

• Archaeological discoveries of pyrite nodules in prehistoric burial sites suggest

their possible use in fire-making activities.

Occurrence and Distribution:

• Pyrite is found in a variety of geological settings, including:

• Igneous rocks

• Sedimentary rocks

• Metamorphic rocks

• Hydrothermal mineral deposits

• Coal seams

• Fossil replacement deposits

Mode of Formation:

• It may occur as dispersed grains within rock formations or become

concentrated into distinct layers depending on depositional conditions and

geological processes

GS 2 (Governance, Welfare Schemes & Social Justice)

PM-AJAY Portal and AJAY Mobile App

News:

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the PM-AJAY

Portal and AJAY Mobile App to digitise grassroots implementation and monitoring

under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY).

About PM-AJAY:

• PM-AJAY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme administered by the Ministry of

Social Justice and Empowerment.

• The scheme is aimed at improving the socio-economic status of Scheduled

Caste (SC) communities across India.

Key Objectives:

• Promote poverty reduction through skill development and employment

generation.

• Improve socio-economic indicators in villages with a substantial Scheduled

Caste population.

• Enhance livelihood opportunities and community development.

PM-AJAY Dashboard:

• Tracks socio-economic progress in more than 47,000 SC-majority villages.

• Covers over 4 million beneficiaries under various scheme components.

• Provides monitoring and evaluation facilities at the national, state, and district

levels.

Role of the Portal:

• Functions as a centralised digital platform for data management, coordination,

and monitoring.

• Integrates all major components of PM-AJAY into a single system.

UPSC GS 2 (Governance, Constitution, Social Justice & Public Policy)

SARTHAK-PDS Scheme

News:

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the SARTHAK-PDS Scheme as an

umbrella programme during the 16th Finance Commission period, with a central

allocation of ₹25,530 crore.

About the Scheme:

• SARTHAK-PDS stands for Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and

Handling–Income with Automation in Public Distribution System.

• It is an umbrella scheme aimed at the modernization and digital

transformation of India’s Public Distribution System (PDS).

Key Objectives:

• Provide financial support for intra-state transportation of food grains, handling

operations, and Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealer margins.

• Develop a citizen-centric, interoperable, and technology-enabled PDS

architecture.

• Strengthen last-mile delivery, reduce leakages, and enhance food security

under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Major Components:

• Modernisation of PDS: Integration and upgradation of PDS operations across

states.

• Technology-Driven Governance: Adoption of technologies such as Artificial

Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP),

and Blockchain.

• Unified Digital Infrastructure: Creation of standardized databases and digital

platforms for real-time monitoring and management.