National Daily Current Affairs: 22/6/2026

Daily Current Affairs Digest: Critical National & Infrastructure Updates for Competitive Exams

• Inland Waterways Development & Maritime India Vision 2030: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) is accelerating cargo movement across India's 111 declared National Waterways (NWs) under the National Waterways Act, 2016. A key focus is the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system from Haldia to Varanasi), developed with World Bank technical and financial assistance of ₹4,633.81 crore. This initiative aims to scale up the inland water transport capacity to 200 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) by 2030, leveraging multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, alongside the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route for seamless cross-border logistics.
• Cabinet Approves PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme for Higher Education: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officially approved the PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme with a budgetary outlay of ₹3,600 crore for the period 2024-25 to 2030-31. Designed to assist meritorious students, the scheme provides collateral-free, guarantor-free education loans up to ₹10 lakhs for admission into the top 860 higher education institutions in India. It includes a 75% credit guarantee by the Central Government for loans up to ₹7.5 lakhs and a 3% interest subvention for students from families with annual incomes up to ₹8 lakhs.
• Expansion of Ayushman Bharat (AB-PMJAY) to Senior Citizens: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has operationalized the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). This expansion provides free health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakhs per annum to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status. This policy update is projected to benefit approximately 6 crore senior citizens across 4.5 crore families with a dedicated new distinct card.
• Implementation of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS): Approved by the Union Cabinet, the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) is set to take effect on April 1, 2025. Aimed at central government employees, the scheme guarantees an assured pension equal to 50% of the average basic pay drawn in the last 12 months before retirement for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years. Additionally, it offers an assured family pension at 60% of the employee’s pension immediately upon their demise, and a minimum assured pension of ₹10,000 per month on retirement after a minimum of 10 years of service.
• Advancements under the National Quantum Mission (NQM): Driven by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) with a total budget allocation of ₹6,003.65 crore (allocated from 2023-24 to 2030-31), the government has structured the establishment of four thematic hubs (T-Hubs) in top academic and national R&D institutes. These hubs focus on Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum Materials & Devices, positioning India as a global frontrunner in deep-tech innovation.

These strategic national updates highlight India's dual focus on massive infrastructure modernization, particularly in inland maritime logistics, alongside extensive socio-economic welfare reforms. For competitive examinations like the UPSC Civil Services, SSC CGL, and Banking exams, understanding the budgetary allocations, nodal ministries, and structural frameworks of these schemes is highly critical for both preliminary and mains assessments.