31 July 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

DAANVEER Initiative

Why in News:

The DAANVEER Initiative has been launched to strengthen the digital infrastructure of Gram Panchayats through active participation by citizens and organisations.

In Simple Words:

It is a transparent digital platform through which people living in India or abroad can directly support the verified technology needs of eligible Gram Panchayats.

Key Facts

• DAANVEER is a citizen-participation initiative for improving digital infrastructure in Gram Panchayats.

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

• Developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre and DigiHaat.

• Available through the Meri Panchayat mobile application.

• Tagline: “Give Back to Your Village.”

• It is integrated with e-GramSwaraj, Meri Panchayat, Sabha Saar, AuditOnline, Gram Manchitra and other Ministry of Panchayati Raj applications.

How It Works

1. An eligible Gram Panchayat places a verified requirement for technology or digital infrastructure.

2. Citizens or organisations select standardised and quality-verified computer bundles.

3. The contribution is delivered directly to the concerned Gram Panchayat.

4. The process is digitally tracked from requirement to delivery, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Significance

• Bridges the digital infrastructure gap at the Gram Panchayat level.

• Strengthens grassroots e-Governance and the digital capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

• Promotes citizen participation and community ownership in rural development.

• Enables Indians living in the country and abroad to contribute to their native villages.

Remember: Verified village need -> standardised computer bundle -> direct delivery -> digital tracking.

Prelims Alert: DAANVEER is not a cash-transfer or employment scheme. It supports the technology needs of Gram Panchayats through verified citizen contributions.

Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY)

Why in News:

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation has extended ABVKY from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.

In Simple Words:

ABVKY provides temporary income support to ESI-insured workers who become unemployed while they search for another job.

Scheme Basics

• Launched on 1 July 2018.

• Implemented by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation.

• Covers insured workers under Section 2(9) of the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948.

• Objective: to provide income support during unemployment and continue social-security protection.

Benefit

• Amount: 50% of the insured person’s average daily earnings.

• Calculation: total earnings during the previous four contribution periods divided by 730 days.

• Maximum duration: 90 days of unemployment.

• The benefit can be used only once during the insured person’s lifetime.

• The claim must be submitted after unemployment but within one year from the date of unemployment.

Eligibility

• The person must be unemployed during the claim period.

• At least two years of insurable employment is required.

• Contributions must have been paid for at least 78 days in each of the previous four contribution periods.

• The employer must have paid, or be liable to pay, the ESI contribution.

• Aadhaar and the bank account must be linked.

When Relief Is Not Available

• During a lockout or a strike declared illegal by the competent authority.

• After voluntary resignation, abandonment of employment, voluntary retirement or premature retirement.

• When the person has less than two years of contributory service or has reached superannuation age.

• After dismissal or termination due to disciplinary action.

• After conviction for making a false statement under Section 84 of the ESI Act read with Rule 62.

• On re-employment during the relief period or on the death of the insured person.

About ESIC

• ESIC is a statutory body established under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948.

• It functions under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

• The ESI Scheme provides medical care, sickness benefit, maternity benefit, disablement benefit, dependants’ benefit and unemployment relief.

Remember: 2 years -> 78 days in each of 4 contribution periods -> 50% earnings -> maximum 90 days -> once in a lifetime -> claim within 1 year.

Bhargavastra

Why in News:

Bhargavastra, a new counter-swarm drone system, has recently been showcased to the Indian Army.

In Simple Words: It is India’s first indigenously developed micro-missile system designed to detect and neutralise individual drones and coordinated or autonomous drone swarms.

Key Facts

• Developed by Economic Explosives Ltd.

• Uses a layered hard-kill and soft-kill defence approach.

• Integrates radar, electro-optical/infrared sensors and passive radio-frequency sensors through a C4I architecture.

Two-Layered Kill Mechanism

• Layer 1: unguided micro-rockets with a 20-metre lethal radius.

• Layer 2: precision-guided micro-missiles capable of intercepting targets up to 2.5 km away.

Detection and Tracking

• Large UAVs can be detected up to 10 km.

• Small drones can be detected up to 6 km.

• Radar detects and tracks aerial targets.

• EO/IR sensors provide electro-optical and infrared observation.

• Passive RF sensors detect radio-frequency emissions without active transmission.

• C4I integrates command, control, communication, computers and intelligence.

Operational Capability

• Designed for deserts, plains and snow-bound high-altitude regions above 5,000 metres.

• Hard-kill capability is provided by rockets and micro-missiles.

• Soft-kill capability includes electronic jamming to disrupt drone operations.

• Can engage individual drones, coordinated swarms and autonomous swarms.

Significance

• Offers a cost-effective alternative to using expensive surface-to-air missiles against low-cost drones.

• Improves the cost-exchange ratio in counter-drone warfare.

• Strengthens India’s indigenous counter-UAV and layered air-defence capability.

• Improves the protection of military installations and critical infrastructure.

Remember: Detection: 10 km for large UAVs and 6 km for small drones. Interception: 2.5 km. Rocket lethal radius: 20 m. Operational altitude: above 5,000 m.

Kalpasar Project

Why in News:

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands, India signed a Letter of Intent with the Netherlands for technical cooperation on the Kalpasar Project. The Prime Minister also visited the Afsluitdijk Dam, an engineering reference for Kalpasar.

In Simple Words: Kalpasar is a Gujarat government project to create a large coastal freshwater reservoir across the Gulf of Khambhat, along with transport and renewable-energy infrastructure.

Project Basics

• Also known as the Gulf of Khambhat Development Project.

• A multipurpose water-resources project of the Government of Gujarat.

• Its main purpose is to provide freshwater for irrigation, industrial use and domestic consumption, particularly in water-scarce Saurashtra.

• The Netherlands is providing technical expertise in water engineering, coastal infrastructure and reservoir management.

Major Components

• A 60.13 km-long dam across the Gulf of Khambhat, from Aladar on the eastern side to near Bhavnagar on the western side.

• One of the world’s largest proposed coastal freshwater reservoirs.

• A highway-cum-rail corridor over the dam.

• A proposed 16-lane roadway and a 4-lane railway corridor.

• The Bhavnagar-Surat travel distance is expected to fall from about 356 km to 177 km, saving about 179 km.

• The overall crossing distance across the Gulf is expected to reduce from 240 km to about 60 km.

Renewable-Energy Component

• Around 2,470 MW of hybrid renewable-energy capacity is proposed on reclaimed land.

• This includes 1,000 MW of solar power and 1,500 MW of wind power.

• The generated power would mainly be used for pumping freshwater for irrigation in coastal Saurashtra.

Water Sources

• Sabarmati River

• Mahi River

• Dhadhar River

• Narmada River

Remember: Gulf of Khambhat -> 60.13 km dam -> freshwater for Saurashtra -> road and rail corridor -> solar and wind power for pumping.

Microporellus kolhapurensis

Why in News:

Researchers have discovered a new species of polypore, or bracket fungus, in Maharashtra and named it Microporellus kolhapurensis.

In Simple Words: It is a newly described wood-decomposing fungus from Kolhapur, identified by its pore-bearing body, lateral stalk, large pores, teardrop-shaped spores and thick-walled cystidia.

Key Facts

• Scientific name: Microporellus kolhapurensis.

• Genus: Microporellus.

• Discovered in Bhudargad taluka of Kolhapur district, Maharashtra.

• Found on rotting or decaying wood.

• Fruits mainly during the monsoon season from July to September.

• Usually grows alone rather than in clusters.

Distinctive Features

• Umbrella-shaped fruiting body.

• Lateral stalk.

• Ground-growing habit.

• Large pores on the underside.

• Teardrop-shaped spores.

• Thick-walled cystidia, which are specialised sterile cells on the spore-bearing surface.

What Are Polypores?

• Polypores are also called bracket fungi or shelf fungi.

• They have numerous tiny pores on the underside instead of gills.

• They commonly grow on living or dead trees and decaying wood.

• Most act as decomposers and recycle nutrients by breaking down wood and other plant material.

• Some species can also cause wood decay in living trees.

What Are Cystidia?

• Cystidia are specialised sterile cells found on the spore-bearing surfaces of certain fungi.

• They do not produce spores but help scientists identify and classify fungal species.

Remember: Kolhapur -> monsoon -> rotting wood -> pores instead of gills -> teardrop-shaped spores -> thick-walled cystidia.