Prelims Focus 19th September 2026

19/09/2026

25 3 minutes read

Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana

In News: PMKKKY is encouraging education, healthcare, drinking water, livelihoods in the mining-affected areas.

There is a focus on benefiting the communities affected by the mining and providing them with appropriate social/physical infrastructure created in September 2015.
It is administered by non-profit District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) established under the changes in the MMDR Act, 1957 in 2015 and directly directed by the State Government.
Features
- It seeks to implement development and welfare projects, alleviate the environmental, health and socio-economic impacts of mining and support sustainable living projects.
- Constitutional provisions, PESA, 1996 and the Forest Rights Act, 2006 have given special protection to the Scheduled and Tribal Areas.
- Funding for DMFs comes from mining royalty-related contributions made to the fund: 10% of any lease granted from 12 January 2015; 30% of any lease granted prior to this date.
  - No less than 70% of money to be allocated to high priority sectors like drinking water, healthcare, education, environment, sanitation, housing, skill development and livelihoods.
  - 30% can be utilised for infrastructure, irrigation, energy and watershed development.

Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme

In News: The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme is working towards building a strong and deep ‘Swadeshi’ electronics value chain from assembling to self-reliant production of key components and raw materials in India.

Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme has been announced on April 8, 2025 and has an allotted sum of Rs 22,919 crores which is approximately USD 2.7 billion.
Tenure, 6 years with an option of 1 year gestation.
Capex Incentive is available for five (5) years
Union budget 2026–27 provision allocated under ECMS jumped to ₹40,000 crore. The additional allocation will further strengthen local electronic components production.
It seeks long-term growth of the electronics components sector in the nation creating a robust and sustainable value chain in the industry.
It focuses on creating a value chain for domestic and international investment, enablement of higher domestic value addition and positioning India in the global electronics trade value chain.

Melanoma

In News: Every Year, thousands of persons in India have been diagnosed with a type of skin cancer known as Melanoma.

Melanoma is a skin cancer form which originates from melanocytes which produce the pigment melanin.
It occurs less frequently than other skin cancers, but it may be more dangerous since it can spread to other parts of the body.
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, especially from the sun and tanners are major risk factor.
Appearance: It can appear as a new dark spot or be the result of an existing mole.
If identified in the early stages, melanomas can be successfully treated.

Kosovo

In News: The former President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, was convicted on Tuesday of war crimes by a special court in the Hague, backed by the European Union, that brings to a close the trial of his role in atrocities committed by the armed forces in the nation’s devastating 1999-2000 conflict.

Kosovo is a country in the Balkans region of Europe that is not a recognized independent state according to the internationally recognized nations.
On February 17, 2008, it proclaimed its independence from Serbia.
It is surrounded by Serbia to the north and the east, North Macedonia to the south and Albania to the west and Montenegro to the northwest.
It is a landlocked country and has no access to the Mediterranean Sea and can only access the Adriatic Sea through either Montenegro or Albania.
Capital: Pristina.
Kosovo varies in relief and topography, with predominantly the Sharr Mountains to the south/east.

Net Zero Portal and NAPCC Dashboard

In News: On World Ozone Day 2026, India’s Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change inaugurated the Net Zero Portal and the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) Dashboard.

The Net Zero Portal will be a unified online platform where Indian entities of all scales can sign up and publish their Net Zero commitments.
The participating entities can share their GHG emissions, set Net Zero targets and publish annual progress statements.
The reporting of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions is encouraged and Scope 3 emissions are to be reported voluntarily.
Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions are the GHGs emitted throughout an organisation’s value chain. The most complicated emissions are Scope 3, which are the emissions “before” and “after” a product is delivered or consumed.