Key HighlightsThe Union Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, notified 40 questions on 14 August 2026 for the population enumeration phase of Census 2027. This expands the scope of data collection to include caste, COVID-19 vaccination details, bank accounts, and identification numbers such as Aadhaar.Historical Significance of Caste EnumerationFirst Since Independence: For the first time since Independence, citizens will be asked to record their caste. Previously, comprehensive enumeration was limited only to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).Question 10: The specific query appears as question number 10 in the Household Schedule under the heading "Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Caste".Approval: The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs approved the inclusion of caste enumeration on 30 April 2025.Notable Additions to the QuestionnaireApart from standard demographic, educational, economic, and migration data, several new parameters have been introduced:Identity Details: Aadhaar number, Voter ID number, passport number (for Indian passport holders), and the availability of a driving licence, wherever applicable.Health and Finance: Place of COVID-19 vaccination and the total number of bank accounts.Digital Literacy: Literacy status queries now include digital literacy status.Digital Census and MethodologyFirst Digital Census: Census 2027 will be India's first digital census, utilising digital tools for data collection.Self-Enumeration: Residents will have an optional 15-day window for self-enumeration immediately before the house-to-house exercise begins.Timeline: The population enumeration (second phase) is scheduled to begin in February 2027 across most of the country. However, in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, the exercise will commence earlier.Constitutional and Legal FrameworkLegislation: The census is governed by the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990.Confidentiality: Section 15 of the Census Act ensures that personal information collected remains confidential. It prohibits the disclosure of personal census information and restricts its use as evidence in court or disclosure to institutions.Union Subject: The Census is a Union subject under the Constitution of India.Financial OutlayThe Union Cabinet has approved a financial outlay of Rs 11,718.24 crore for conducting the census exercise.

Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India1. Introduction and DefinitionDefinition: Public Sector Banks (PSBs) are government-owned commercial banks in India where the majority stake (i.e., more than 50% or minimum 51%) is held by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, or the State Ministry of Finance.Regulation: All PSBs function under the regulatory supervision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), while ownership and policy matters are overseen by the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance.Primary Objective: Unlike private banks that focus primarily on profitability, PSBs operate with the primary objective of social welfare, financial inclusion, and economic development.2. Historical Background and NationalisationImperial Bank of India (1921): Formed by amalgamating three presidency banks (Bank of Bengal, Bank of Bombay, and Bank of Madras).Creation of SBI (1955): The Imperial Bank of India was nationalised and renamed the State Bank of India (SBI) on July 1, 1955, following the recommendation of the Gorewala Committee. In 1959, seven regional banks became its subsidiaries.First Phase of Nationalisation (1969): On July 19, 1969, the Indira Gandhi-led government nationalised 14 major commercial banks that had deposits of over ₹50 crores.Second Phase of Nationalisation (1980): Six more commercial banks with deposits of over ₹200 crores were nationalised, bringing the total number of nationalised banks to 20.3. Consolidation and Mega MergersTo create globally competitive banks and improve operational efficiency, the Government of India initiated a massive consolidation phase.2017 (SBI Merger): Five associate banks of SBI (State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Travancore) and the Bharatiya Mahila Bank were merged with SBI.2019: Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank were merged into Bank of Baroda.2020 (Mega Merger): Effective from April 1, 2020, several banks were consolidated:Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India merged into Punjab National Bank.Syndicate Bank merged into Canara Bank.Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank merged into Union Bank of India.Allahabad Bank merged into Indian Bank.4. Current List of Public Sector Banks (As of 2026)Currently, there are 12 Public Sector Banks operating in India.Sl. No.Name of the BankHeadquarters1State Bank of India (SBI)Mumbai, Maharashtra2Punjab National Bank (PNB)New Delhi3Bank of Baroda (BoB)Vadodara, Gujarat4Canara BankBengaluru, Karnataka5Union Bank of IndiaMumbai, Maharashtra6Bank of India (BoI)Mumbai, Maharashtra7Indian BankChennai, Tamil Nadu8Central Bank of IndiaMumbai, Maharashtra9Indian Overseas Bank (IOB)Chennai, Tamil Nadu10UCO BankKolkata, West Bengal11Bank of MaharashtraPune, Maharashtra12Punjab & Sind BankNew Delhi5. Key Roles and FunctionsFinancial Inclusion: Extending banking services to unbanked and rural areas (e.g., zero-balance accounts under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana - PMJDY).Priority Sector Lending (PSL): Mandated by RBI to allocate a specific portion of their lending to crucial sectors like agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), education, and housing.Implementation of Government Schemes: Serving as the primary delivery mechanism for welfare programmes, including Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana.Credit Delivery and Savings Mobilisation: Encouraging the habit of saving among the masses and providing affordable credit for infrastructure, industry, and retail customers.6. Major Challenges Faced by PSBsNon-Performing Assets (NPAs): Historically high levels of bad loans affect profitability and capital adequacy.Intense Competition: Tough competition from tech-savvy Private Sector Banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) offering faster services.Capital Adequacy: Frequent need for capital infusion from the government to meet Basel III norms.Technological Lag: Though improving, they often face challenges in upgrading legacy IT systems at the same pace as private counterparts.7. Important Points for Competitive ExamsLargest PSB in India: State Bank of India (SBI).First Bank to open a branch outside India: Bank of India (in London, 1946).Bank with the maximum number of overseas branches: State Bank of India.Oldest Joint Stock Bank in India: Allahabad Bank (now merged with Indian Bank).First wholly Indian Bank: Punjab National Bank (established in 1894 in Lahore).

🇮🇳NationalExercise Udara Shakti 2026 Commences: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) initiated the bilateral air exercise Udara Shakti 2026 at Subang Air Base, Malaysia.Launch of Yard 3037 'Shruti': The Indian Navy launched Shruti, the second Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.New Freshwater Crab Species Discovered: Researchers scientifically documented a new freshwater crab species, Ghatiana karnataka, discovered within the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka.DigiLocker Reaches 72 Crore Users: DigiLocker officially crossed 72.43 crore registered users, while the UMANG service platform surpassed 11.66 crore users. 🌍InternationalIndia–SACU Trade Agreement Negotiations: India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU)—comprising South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini—signed Terms of Reference to negotiate a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).Iran Rejects US Claims on Hormuz Strait: The Persian Gulf Strait Authority of Iran formally rejected statements regarding external control over the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining that maritime transit guidelines remain regulated under local jurisdiction. 💰EconomyRBI Proposes New Floating-Rate Loan Norms: The Reserve Bank of India proposed a transparent loan pricing framework for floating-rate retail loans to safeguard borrowers, scheduled for implementation from 1 April 2027.Jio Credit & Bank of America Partnership: Jio Financial Services signed a strategic agreement allowing Bank of America (BofA) to acquire up to a 49.9% stake in Jio Credit through an investment of up to ₹18,268 crore.UPI Accounts for 86% of Digital Payments: Marking a decade of operations, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) now accounts for approximately 86% of all retail digital payment volumes in India. 🗓Date’s importancePartition Horrors Remembrance Day (14 August): Observed annually across India as Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas to honour the memory and sacrifices of millions affected by the nation's partition in 1947. 👱‍♂👩‍🦳Person of the dayAhilyabai Holkar: Commemorated on her death anniversary (14 August), the 18th-century Maratha queen of Malwa is revered for her administrative efficiency, social welfare projects, and historical restoration of temples across India. 🏅SportsBangladesh's Historic Test Performance vs Australia: Australia was bowled out for 198 runs—their lowest Test total against Bangladesh—on Day 1 in Darwin, headlined by fast bowler Hasan Mahmud's 6 for 55.AIFF Prioritises International Friendlies: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) declined the invitation for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to focus on upcoming international friendly fixtures against Brazil in Kolkata. 🏆AwardsUITP Awards 2026: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) received the Achievement Award in the Operational Excellence category at the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Awards. ⭐️Other important significanceBan on Analogue Paneer in Madhya Pradesh: The Madhya Pradesh Government prohibited the sale and promotion of non-dairy analogue paneer to curb synthetic substitutes and safeguard natural milk producers. 📚Word of the dayRESCINDMeaning: (Verb) To revoke, cancel, or officially repeal a law, order, or agreement.Usage in Exams: The regulatory authority decided to rescind the temporary restrictions after the financial institution fulfilled compliance norms.