23 June 2026

UPSC GS 2

SETU (Scholarship for Educational Transformation and Upliftment)

1. News: The Department of Social Justice & Empowerment (DoSJE) has launched SETU (Scholarship for Educational Transformation and Upliftment) on the UMANG platform and removed the requirement of a domicile certificate for scholarship applications to simplify the process for students.

2. About SETU:

a. It is a comprehensive digital platform that provides scholarship-related services through a single, integrated interface.

b. Developed by: Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.

c. Aim: To improve accessibility to scholarship schemes, streamline application and verification processes, strengthen digital governance, and ensure timely and transparent delivery of scholarship benefits.

3. Key Features:

a. Single Digital Gateway: SETU serves as a unified platform for scholarship-related services, including One-Time Registration (OTR), application submission, status tracking, and verification.

b. Multi-Tier Verification System: The platform integrates all stakeholders—including students, Institutional Nodal Officers (INOs), District Nodal Officers (DNOs), and State officials—on a single dashboard, enabling seamless verification and processing of applications.

c. UMANG Integration: SETU is hosted on the UMANG platform, allowing students to access scholarship services through a widely used government digital portal.

d. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Scholarship funds are transferred directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts, ensuring transparency and minimizing delays.

e. Technology-Driven Security: The platform incorporates modern authentication mechanisms, including face-recognition technology, to enhance security, reduce fraudulent claims, prevent fund leakage, and minimize paperwork. 

Turquoise Nexus Initiative (TNI)

1. News: Turkey and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recently introduced the Turquoise Nexus Initiative (TNI) ahead of COP31 to promote integrated food-water-climate approaches in national climate commitments.

2.  About Turquoise Nexus Initiative (TNI): The Turquoise Nexus Initiative (TNI) is a proposed international initiative aimed at integrating food, water, and climate actions within countries' climate policies and commitments.

3. Proposed: The initiative was unveiled during a side event at the Bonn Climate Change Conference 2026 and is expected to be formally launched at COP31 later this year.

4. Introduced by: Turkey's COP31 Presidency in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

5. Objective: To support developing countries in incorporating integrated food-water-climate strategies into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and broader implementation of the Paris Agreement.

6. Parent Mechanism: The initiative operates under FAO's Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership, a multi-stakeholder platform that seeks to accelerate climate action in agriculture and food systems.

7. Key Features:

a. Integrated Nexus Approach: TNI promotes coordinated management of food systems, water resources, and climate action instead of treating them as separate policy areas.

b. Addressing Policy Fragmentation: It seeks to overcome fragmentation in national climate commitments by linking food security, water management, and climate resilience strategies.

c. Strengthening Adaptation and Resilience: The initiative emphasizes that integrated planning can improve the effectiveness of climate adaptation and resilience measures, particularly in vulnerable developing countries.

d. Farmer-Centred Framework: The World Farmers' Organisation has supported the initiative and stressed the importance of recognizing farmers as key managers and stewards of water resources.

e. Improved Water Governance: TNI advocates participatory water governance models developed in partnership with farmers and their organizations rather than relying solely on top-down policy approaches. 

Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)

1. News:  India and Japan have recently adopted the Rules of Implementation for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, paving the way for bilateral cooperation in carbon markets and low-carbon technologies.

2. About Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM): The Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) is a bilateral carbon credit mechanism proposed by the Government of Japan and officially launched in 2013.

3. Aim:

a.  It seeks to facilitate the deployment of advanced decarbonization technologies, products, systems, services, and infrastructure through Japanese investments while contributing to the sustainable development of partner countries.

b. The mechanism enables both participating countries to share the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved through JCM projects.

4. Key Features:

a. Bilateral Mechanism: JCM operates as a bilateral framework between Japan and partner countries in accordance with the provisions of the Paris Agreement.

b. Article 6.2 Framework: It functions under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, which allows countries to voluntarily cooperate through the transfer of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs).

c. Support for NDCs: The mechanism contributes to the achievement of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of both countries by quantifying emission reductions and allocating credits accordingly.

d. Technology Transfer: It promotes the diffusion of innovative low-carbon and climate-friendly technologies developed by Japanese entities.

e. Investment Facilitation: The mechanism encourages Japanese public and private investments in sustainable projects in partner countries.

5. Relationship with International Climate Frameworks: The JCM operates within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and complements existing carbon market mechanisms such as:

i. Clean Development Mechanism

ii. Joint Implementation

6. India and JCM:

a. India is among the 31 partner countries participating in the Joint Crediting Mechanism.

b. The recent adoption of implementation rules establishes the operational framework for identifying, approving, monitoring, and crediting emission-reduction projects between India and Japan.

7. Priority Sectors: The JCM focuses on several strategic sectors, including:

a. Renewable energy with energy storage.

b. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

c. Compressed Biogas (CBG).

d. Green Hydrogen.

e. Green Ammonia.

f. Hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, and heavy industries.

UPSC GS 3

Wind Turbine Supply Chain Management Portal

1. News:  The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy recently launched India's first dedicated Wind Turbine Supply Chain Management Portal to strengthen the domestic wind energy manufacturing ecosystem and support the country's clean energy transition.

2.  About Wind Turbine Supply Chain Management Portal:

a. The Wind Turbine Supply Chain Management Portal is India's first specialized digital platform designed to streamline and strengthen the wind energy supply chain.

b. It aims to enhance supply-chain efficiency, improve coordination among stakeholders, promote domestic manufacturing, and accelerate the growth of the wind energy sector.

3. Developed By: The portal has been developed under the aegis of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy with support from the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association.

4. Objectives:

a. Strengthen India's domestic wind manufacturing ecosystem.

b. Improve supply-chain transparency and efficiency.

c. Support the expansion of renewable energy capacity.

d. Enhance India's competitiveness in the global wind energy market.

e. Facilitate compliance with domestic sourcing requirements.

5. Key Features:

a. Supply Chain Visibility: The portal provides greater visibility across the wind energy supply chain, helping manufacturers, suppliers, and developers track components and procurement requirements more efficiently.

b. ALMM Integration: It facilitates compliance with the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework by enabling easier verification and linkage with approved manufacturers and models.

c. Supplier Discovery and Qualification: The platform helps stakeholders identify, assess, and connect with component suppliers and manufacturers across the value chain.

d. Stakeholder Collaboration: It promotes coordination and collaboration among manufacturers, developers, suppliers, and policymakers, thereby improving overall sectoral efficiency.

e. Export Readiness: By strengthening domestic capabilities and improving supply-chain transparency, the portal also supports India's ambition to emerge as a global manufacturing and export hub for wind energy equipment. 

Dunagiri, Sanshodhak and Agray

1. News:  The Indian Navy is set to commission three indigenously built platforms — Dunagiri, Sanshodhak, and Agray — at Kolkata, marking another milestone in India's indigenous shipbuilding and maritime modernization efforts.

2. About Dunagiri, Sanshodhak and Agray: These are three indigenously built naval platforms designed to strengthen the Indian Navy's capabilities in maritime warfare, hydrographic surveying, and anti-submarine operations.

3. Design: All three vessels were designed by the Warship Design Bureau.

4. Constructed by: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited.

5. Objective: To enhance India's operational capabilities in surface combat, hydrographic surveys, maritime domain awareness, and anti-submarine warfare.

6. Dunagiri:

7. Key Features:

a. Stealth Frigate: Dunagiri is the fifth stealth frigate built under Project 17A, the Indian Navy's next-generation guided missile frigate programme.

b. Advanced Weapon Systems: The ship is equipped with:

i. BrahMos Missile surface-to-surface missiles.

ii. Medium Range Surface to Air Missile system for air defence.

c. Role: Multi-role combat operations including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.

8. Sanshodhak:

9. Key Features:

a. Survey Vessel (Large): Sanshodhak is the fourth Survey Vessel (Large) built for conducting hydrographic and oceanographic surveys.

b. Hydrographic Role: It undertakes:

i. Coastal surveys.

ii. Deep-water hydrographic surveys.

iii. Nautical charting.

iv. Oceanographic and geophysical data collection.

c. Advanced Technology: The vessel is equipped with:

i. Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs).

ii. Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).

d. Utility: The data generated supports both defence requirements and civilian maritime activities such as navigation, port development, and marine resource management.

10. Agray:

a. Key Features:

b. Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC): Agray is the fourth vessel of the Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft series.

c. Indigenous Combat Systems: The vessel is equipped with:

i. Lightweight torpedoes.

ii. Indigenous rocket launchers.

iii. Shallow-water sonar systems.

d. Operational Role: It is specifically designed to detect, track, and neutralize enemy submarines and underwater threats operating in littoral and coastal waters.

e. Coastal Security: Agray enhances India's coastal defence architecture and underwater surveillance capabilities.