National Current Affairs

Background: India's rapid urbanization demands robust infrastructure and sustainable planning to accommodate growing populations. The initial Smart Cities Mission focused on improving urban living. Current Context: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched 'Smart Cities 2.0', a comprehensive policy emphasizing green infrastructure, digital governance, and climate-resilient urban planning, particularly targeting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. This phase aims to integrate advanced technologies for efficient resource management and citizen services. Impact: The policy is set to enhance the quality of life in smaller urban centers, reduce environmental footprints, foster economic growth, and promote balanced regional development across the country.

Background: The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) was launched to create a seamless online platform for health records, aiming to digitize India's healthcare ecosystem. Current Context: The Union Health Ministry has announced a significant new phase for ABDM, focusing on achieving universal health record linkage and integrating private healthcare providers more extensively. The goal is to ensure 100% population coverage by the end of 2026, enhancing interoperability across all health facilities. Impact: This expansion is expected to revolutionize healthcare access, enable data-driven policy making, reduce medical errors, and significantly improve the overall patient experience through efficient digital health services.

Background: The 'Nagar Van' (City Forest) scheme was launched to create forests in urban areas to combat pollution. Current Context: As of July 2026, the Ministry of Environment has announced the second phase of the 'Nagar Van' project, targeting 500 new cities across India. The initiative focuses on creating 'green lungs' in concrete jungles to improve air quality and urban biodiversity. Impact: This expansion will significantly increase urban green cover, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and provide recreational spaces for citizens, contributing to India's climate resilience goals and sustainable urban development.

Background: The Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860 was the primary criminal code of India. Current Context: Effective from July 1, 2026, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaces the IPC, marking a historic shift in India's legal framework. The new code emphasizes justice over punishment, introduces community service as a penalty, and streamlines trial procedures. Impact: This reform aims to modernize the judicial system, reduce pendency of cases, and ensure faster delivery of justice to citizens, aligning the legal structure with contemporary societal needs and technological advancements in evidence collection.