DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

Monthly DNA

09 May, 2026

12 Min Read

SHARE IT

Paper	Topics	Subject
PT Pointer	India’s Revised CAFE Norms (Phase III)	Environmental Pollution & Degradation
	Rashtra Prerna Sthal	Art, Architecture & Culture
	Internal Exercises	Role of External State & Non-State Actors in Creating Challenges to Internal Security

India’s Revised CAFE Norms (Phase III)

GS-III : Environmental Pollution & Degradation National Environment Agencies, Legislations and Policies

India’s Revised CAFE Norms (Phase III)

Notified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on September 25, 2025, the Phase III Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms mandate automakers to maintain fleet-wide average fuel efficiency.

The revised norms aim to curb CO₂ emissions and encourage cleaner vehicle technologies.

What are CAFE Norms?

Aspect	Details
Full Form	CAFE stands for Corporate Average Fuel Economy.
Main Purpose	Improve vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce vehicular emissions.
Regulatory Focus	Automakers must maintain a fleet-wide average fuel efficiency.
Phase III Notification	Notified by MoRTH on September 25, 2025.

Key Regulatory Provisions

Provision	Details
Revised Benchmarks	The average fleet weight benchmark has been raised to 1,170 kg, reflecting the market shift toward heavier SUVs and electric vehicles.
Super Credits	Manufacturers receive higher weightage for producing EVs, hybrids, and flex-fuel vehicles in efficiency calculations.
Carbon Neutrality Factor	Introduces fuel-based CO₂ discounts to incentivise the adoption of alternative and cleaner fuels.

PT Facts

CAFE: Stands for Corporate Average Fuel Economy.
Purpose: CAFE norms improve vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce vehicular emissions.
MoRTH: Stands for Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Super Credits: Encourage production of cleaner vehicles such as EVs and hybrids.

Source:

Rashtra Prerna Sthal

GS-I : Art, Architecture & Culture Architecture

Rashtra Prerna Sthal

On 25th December 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

The memorial complex is dedicated to the life, ideals, and contributions of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Key Features of Rashtra Prerna Sthal

Component	Details
Location	Located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Dedicated To	Honors the life and ideals of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Inauguration Date	Inaugurated on 25 December 2025.
Architectural Design	Includes a modern lotus-shaped museum complex spread across nearly 98,000 square feet.

Memorial Highlights

Feature	Significance
Bronze Statues	Features 65-foot-tall bronze statues of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Museum	A state-of-the-art museum showcases the life, vision, and political journey of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Lotus-Shaped Structure	Symbolizes inspiration, cultural identity, and modern architectural design.
Inspirational Purpose	Developed as a national inspiration site to promote awareness about leadership, governance, and nation-building.

PT Facts

Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Former Prime Minister of India known for coalition leadership and infrastructure reforms.
Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee: Founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and former Union Minister.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya: Political philosopher associated with the concept of Integral Humanism.
Lucknow: A major political and cultural center of Uttar Pradesh associated with Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s political career.

Source:

Internal Exercises

GS-III : Role of External State & Non-State Actors in Creating Challenges to Internal Security

Internal Military Exercises of India

India conducted several important internal military exercises during 2025–26 involving the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Special Forces. These exercises focused on joint warfare, airborne operations, drone warfare, coastal security, disaster response, and multi-domain combat preparedness.

Major Internal Exercises

Exercise	Conducted By	Location / Time	Key Focus
Exercise Devil Strike	Indian Army airborne troops and IAF	North Bengal 16–19 Jan 2025	High-intensity airborne operations near the Siliguri Corridor.
TROPEX 2025	Indian Navy with Army, Air Force, Coast Guard	Indian Ocean Region Jan–Mar 2025	Theatre-level operational readiness and maritime warfare coordination.
Exercise Desert Hunt 2025	Para SF, MARCOS, Garud	Jodhpur 24–28 Feb 2025	Integrated Tri-Service Special Forces operations.
Prachand Prahar	Indian Armed Forces	Arunachal Pradesh 25–27 Mar 2025	Multi-domain combat operations in high-altitude terrain.
VAYU SAMANVAY-II	Indian Army	Southern Command 28–29 Oct 2025	Drone and counter-drone warfare exercises.
Trishul	Tri-Services	Western Border 30 Oct–10 Nov 2025	Large-scale integrated combat exercise.
Sanjha Shakti	Indian Army (Southern Command)	Pune	Military-civilian coordination and crisis management.
Winged Raider	Army and IAF	Eastern Theatre	Strategic airborne and special operations.
RPREX-2025	Indian Coast Guard	Mumbai	Oil spill response preparedness.
Sagar Kavach-02/25	Indian Coast Guard	Maharashtra & Goa Coast 19–20 Nov 2025	Coastal security and maritime surveillance.
Siyom Prahar	Indian Army	8–10 Sep 2025	Validation of drone technology in tactical operations.
Vayu Shakti 2026	Indian Air Force	Pokhran, Rajasthan	Demonstration of air combat capability and firepower.

PT Facts

Siliguri Corridor: Also known as India’s “Chicken’s Neck”, connecting mainland India with the Northeast.
TROPEX: The Indian Navy’s Theatre Level Operational Exercise.
MARCOS: Marine Commandos of the Indian Navy.
Garud: Special Forces unit of the Indian Air Force.
Para SF: Elite special forces regiment of the Indian Army.
Multi-domain Warfare: Integration of land, air, sea, cyber, space, and drone operations.

Source:

Other Related News

08 May,2026

Abortion Law for Minor Rape Survivors

Recent Judicial Development The Supreme Court has urged the Union government to consider amending India’s abortion law to remove rigid time limits in cases involving minor rape victims. This observation came while the Court declined to entertain a curative petition filed by the governme

SHARE IT

India’s Fiscal Outlook

The Ministry of Finance, in its recent Monthly Economic Review, has expressed concern over the fiscal health of several Indian states. The report warns that states with high revenue deficits, rising debt burdens, and heavy interest payment obligations may struggle to cope with future fiscal shoc

SHARE IT

World’s First-Ever Global Carbon Tax on Shipping

World’s First-Ever Global Carbon Tax on Shipping The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved the world’s first-ever global carbon tax on the shipping industry. The initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping and accelerate the

SHARE IT

Uttar Pradesh Contributes 21% to National Foodgrain Supply

Uttar Pradesh Contributes 21% to National Foodgrain Supply On 12th December 2025, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched Farmers’ School 8.0 for the Rabi season in Barabanki district. Uttar Pradesh has only 11% of India’s cultivable land, yet contributes 21% of the country&r

SHARE IT

07 May,2026

Supreme Court on Hate Speech

The Supreme Court of India recently observed that hate speech, driven by an “us versus them” mindset, poses a serious threat to the constitutional values of fraternity, equality, and social harmony. The Court emphasized that the major issue is not the absence of laws but the poor imp

SHARE IT

Public Interest Litigation

The increasing scrutiny of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India highlights a growing tension between its role as a tool for constitutional justice and its emerging misuse for non-public or extraneous purposes. While PIL has significantly expanded access to justice under Article 21, concerns

SHARE IT

Tsunami-Ready Villages

Tsunami-Ready Villages Recently, the government announced that India is set to become the first country in the Indian Ocean region to have more than 100 villages certified as tsunami-ready. The milestone reflects India’s growing emphasis on community-based disaster preparedness and

SHARE IT

Resham Sakhi Yojana

Resham Sakhi Yojana The Uttar Pradesh government has launched the Resham Sakhi Yojana to economically empower rural women. Under this scheme, women will be trained to earn income from sericulture while working from home. Key Features of the Scheme Component Deta

SHARE IT

River Revival Program

River Revival Program The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a comprehensive River Revival Program for the restoration of small rivers and tributaries across the state. The initiative combines scientific expertise, ecological planning, and inter-departmental coordination for long-term

SHARE IT

Mailani–Nanpara Railway Line Declared a Heritage Line

Mailani–Nanpara Railway Line Declared a Heritage Line On 8th October 2025, the Railway Board declared the Mailani–Nanpara railway line as a heritage line. The railway route passes through the ecologically important Dudhwa National Park in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pra

SHARE IT

First Assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

First Assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) The First Assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was held in New Delhi. The assembly was presided over by Shri Bhupender Yadav. Key Details Aspect Details Event First Asse