30 MARCH 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

GS Paper-3: Science & Technology

⭐ CALM-Brain Initiative

⭐ Why in News

Researchers at the Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain and Mind (a collaboration

between NIMHANS and NCBS) have developed CALM-Brain.

⭐ Nature of the Initiative

• A digital repository in India that compiles data on brain structure and function

across psychiatric disorders.

⭐ Background

• Initiated in 2016 under the Accelerator Program for Discovery in Brain Disorders

using Stem Cells.

⭐ Funding

• Jointly funded by:

• Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

• Pratiksha Trust

⭐ Research Objectives

• To enhance understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders.

• Focus areas include:

• Disease onset

• Progression

• Underlying biological mechanisms

⭐ Data Included

• Clinical data

• Neuroimaging data

• Behavioural data

• Genetic information

GS Paper-3: Economy / Financial Inclusion

⭐ Gruha Sugam Portal

⭐ Why in News

The National Housing Bank (NHB) has recently launched the Gruha Sugam Portal.

⭐ Objective

• To enable defence personnel and government employees to access home loans

easily from their place of posting.

• To promote digital lending and financial inclusion.

• To enhance housing access and home ownership, supporting affordable and

sustainable housing.

⭐ Key Features

➤ Target Beneficiaries

• Defence personnel, paramilitary forces, and central & state government employees.

• Applications can be submitted digitally through respective administrative units.

➤ Digital Convenience

• Eliminates the need for physical visits to banks or financial institutions.

• Entire process is online and streamlined.

➤ Unified Digital Marketplace

• Acts as a single platform to compare loan options.

• Ensures transparency in choosing suitable loan offers.

➤ System Integration

• Provides seamless integration between NHB and lending institutions.

• Ensures smooth coordination and operations.

GS Paper-3: Infrastructure

⭐ PRISM-SG Portal

(Portal for Rail-Road Inspection and Stages Management – Steel Girders)

⭐ Why in News

The Minister for Road Transport and Highways recently launched the PRISM-SG Portal

in New Delhi to improve efficiency and coordination in infrastructure projects.

⭐ About the Portal

• A digital platform aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and inter-agency

coordination in infrastructure development.

⭐ Key Features

➤ Digitisation of Processes

• Digitises approval and inspection processes

related to Road Over Bridges (ROBs).

• Integrates components such as:

• Quality Assurance Plans

• Welding Procedure Specifications

• Inspection of steel girder fabrication stages

➤ End-to-End Digital Workflow

• Enables complete online submission

and scrutiny of documents.

• Facilitates:

• Query resolution

• Approvals

• Scheduling inspections

• Uploading reports, photos, and test results

• Maintains a comprehensive audit trail with real-time monitoring.