Bharat-VISTAAR

Context: The Union Budget 2026-27 has proposed to launch ‘Bharat-VISTAAR’ (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources). 

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• It is a multilingual AI tool that will integrate the AgriStack portals and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) package on agricultural practices with AI systems.
• It will enhance farm productivity, enable better decisions for farmers and reduce risk by providing customised advisory support.

Key Functions of Bharat-VISTAAR

• It enhances the scalability, accessibility, and inclusivity of digital solutions, enables two-way communication for farmer feedback, and promotes centre–state convergence through stakeholder partnerships aligned with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institutes and State Agricultural Universities.

• ICAR is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, established on 16 July 1929 as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. 

• VISTAAR supports the development of robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agricultural extension. 

• Its goal is to empower farmers with actionable information, streamline collaboration and ensure the long-term sustainability of digital agricultural extension initiatives.

About VISTAAR

• It is an open, interoperable, and federated public network set to transform agriculture. Its mission is to democratise and contextualise knowledge, empower farmer voices, and amplify ecosystem wisdom through exponential AI. 

• The network facilitates discovery and fulfilment of verified agricultural content, best practices, and agri-skilling across public and private platforms, driving innovation through collaboration.

• VISTAAR Services:

• Content Services
• Data Services
• Registries
• Observation Services

Khelo India Mission

Context: In the Union Budget 2026–27, the Finance Minister announced the Khelo India Mission, a 10-year strategic roadmap to transform India’s sports ecosystem.

Key Features of Khelo India Mission 

• The mission aims to create structured athlete pathways, strengthen institutional capacity and improve performance outcomes at all levels.
• It will adopt a comprehensive approach to strengthen the sports ecosystem across the country.
• The mission builds upon the earlier Khelo India Programme, which has set in motion a systematic nurturing of sports talent.  
• The Mission is aligned with the “Viksit Bharat” vision to position India among the Top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and the Top 5 by 2047. 

About Khelo India Programme

• The Khelo India programme was launched in  2016-17 and aims to promote mass participation and sporting excellence in both rural and urban areas under the National Programme for Development of Sports. 
• The programme focuses on developing talent through tiered training centres, coach development, sports science integration, competitive leagues, and modern sports infrastructure. 
• The Khelo India movement organises annual national competitions, including Youth Games, University Games, Para Games, and Winter Games, where young athletes represent their states and universities to compete for medals.
• It began with the Khelo India School Games in 2018, held in New Delhi.

649th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Ravidas

Context: Recently, India celebrated the birth anniversary of the great mystic poet-saint Shri Guru Ravidas Maharaj ji on 1st February.

About Shri Guru Ravidas Maharaj ji

• Ravidas (14th century, near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) was a mystic, poet, and one of the most celebrated saints of the northern India Bhakti movement.

• The festival is celebrated annually on Magha Purnima (the full moon day of the month of Magha).

• Born into the Chamar community, traditionally considered “untouchable,” he championed human equality, the dignity of labour, opposing caste-based discrimination.

• He was a socio-religious reformer, spiritual thinker, poet, humanist, and pacifist whose teachings combined devotion with social ethics.  

• Contributions:  

• Ravidas’s poems and hymns, called banis (sayings), form the core of his social vision and teachings.
• About 40 of his poems are included in the Adi Granth (Sri Guru Granth Sahib), the Sikh scripture, and he is generally believed to have met Guru Nanak, Sikhism’s founder. 
• Additionally, around 140 amrit banis (nectarine sayings) attributed to him appear in Amrit Bani Guru Ravidass, the holy book of the Ravidassia sect, which venerates him and arose from Sikhism.
• Ravidas’s banis advocate nirguna bhakti (devotion to a formless God) and reject ritualism and caste hierarchies.

Bhakti Movement in North India

• Emergence and Spread: From the 13th to 17th century, numerous socio-religious movements flourished in North and East India and Maharashtra, emphasising bhakti (devotion) and religious equality, features also characteristic of the South Indian bhakti movements.

• Connection with South Indian Tradition: Almost all bhakti movements of the Sultanate period were linked to South Indian Vaishnava acharyas, suggesting continuity or resurgence of older bhakti traditions. 

• Bhakti movements emphasised religious equality and devotion, though some Vaishnava traditions upheld the caste system and Brahmanical authority.    

• The Bhakti movement was internally diverse:

• Monotheist/Nirguna saints like Kabir and Guru Nanak emphasised social reform and devotion to a formless God. 
• Vaishnava/Saguna saints such as Mirabai, Surdas, Tulsidas, and Chaitanya focused on devotion to Krishna or Rama. 

Miniratna Status Approved for Yantra India Limited

Context: Recently, the Defence Minister of India has approved the grant of Miniratna Category-I status to Yantra India Limited (YIL).

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• YIL’s Board has been empowered to approve capital expenditure of up to ₹500 crore for new projects, modernisation, and procurement of equipment without prior government approval.
• This enhanced financial autonomy is expected to support faster decision-making and accelerate the company’s growth in defence production and exports.
• The decision reflects the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision by strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing, reducing imports, promoting Indian industry, and positioning India as a global defence hub.

About Yantra India Limited 

• It was established on October 1, 2021, through the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board into seven Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) to enhance efficiency, autonomy, and innovation in defence manufacturing.
• It is a Schedule ‘A’ DPSU under the administrative control of the Department of Defence Production.

About Miniratna Status

• Miniratna status is a recognition for profitable Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in India, granting them enhanced financial and operational autonomy to accelerate growth.

• Eligibility

• Miniratna Category-I: The CPSEs which have reported profits in three consecutive years, have a pre-tax profit of ₹30 crore or more in at least one of the three years, and have a positive net worth are eligible to be considered for the grant of Miniratna-I status.
• Miniratna Category-II: The CPSEs with a profit for the last three successive years and have a positive net worth are eligible to be considered for the grant of Miniratna-II status

• Financial Autonomy 

• Category I: Can invest up to ₹500 crore or an amount equal to their net worth, whichever is less. 
• Category II: Can invest up to ₹300 crore or 50% of their net worth, whichever is lower. 

Thaipusam  Festival

Context: The Thaipusam Festival 2026 was recently observed in Tamil Nadu and is considered highly auspicious by devotees of Lord Murugan.

About Thaipusam Festival 

• Also known as Thai Poosam, Thaipooyam, or Thaippooyam, it holds deep spiritual significance for the Tamil community in India and abroad.
• The first Purnima or full moon day after the winter solstice and Makar Sankranti is called as Thaipusam. 
• It is observed in the Tamil solar month of Thai (January–February), which corresponds to Makara in other Hindu calendars. 
• It is dedicated to Lord Murugan, symbolising the victory of good over evil and the removal of ignorance and ego.  
• This day marks the powerful moment when Goddess Parvati bestowed the divine Vel (spear) upon Lord Murugan, enabling Him to destroy the demon Soorapadam and restore cosmic balance.
• The Vel (spear), representing spiritual knowledge, signifies enlightenment, and worship on this day is believed to bring strength, clarity, protection, and spiritual growth.
• It is widely celebrated in Tamil Nadu, and it is also observed with grandeur in countries with large Tamil populations such as Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius. 

Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)

Context: The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI index reported signs of recovery to 55.4 in January 2026.

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• The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI indicated faster growth in new orders, output, employment, and purchasing activity, reflecting improved business conditions. 
• Survey respondents attributed the pickup in production to stronger demand, higher new business inflows, and continued investment in technology, with output growth accelerating from December levels.  
• The PMI data showed that sales to both domestic and international clients improved, driven by demand resilience and marketing efforts by manufacturers.
• Input costs rose at the fastest pace in four months, while growth in factory-gate prices moderated, putting some pressure on profit margins.

About Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)

• HSBC India Manufacturing PMI is compiled monthly by S&P Global from supply chain manager surveys.

• The PMI is derived from a monthly survey of supply chain managers across various industries, covering both upstream and downstream activity.

• It ranges from 0 to 100, with readings above 50 indicating expansion and below 50 signalling contraction.

• The index offers valuable insights for business leaders, market analysts, and investors.