Prelims Mantra – (30/03/2026)

Indian Polity & Governance

Parliament Working Days & Weekend Sittings:

Context

Discussion on holding weekend sittings to compensate lost time.

• • The Constitution does not fix minimum number of sitting days, making parliamentary functioning flexible and rule-based.
  • Sessions are conducted based on Rules of Procedure and decisions of the government, showing executive influence.
  • The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) allocates time for discussion of bills and other business in Parliament.
  • Frequent disruptions have led to a decline in effective legislative productivity, raising governance concerns.
  • Weekend sittings are proposed to ensure completion of legislative business, including budget discussions.
  • Over time, the number of working days of Parliament has decreased, compared to earlier decades.
  • This affects deliberative democracy, as fewer discussions reduce scrutiny of laws.
  • It reflects the growing dominance of the executive over legislature.
  • Parliamentary reforms often focus on improving efficiency, accountability, and debate quality.

(TH)

Economy

Government Borrowing Programme FY26:

Context

Government announced borrowing strategy. Gross Market Borrowings in BE 2026-27 was ₹17.20 lakh crore.

• • Government borrowing is primarily done through Government Securities (G-Secs), which are tradable debt instruments used to finance fiscal deficit.
  • The announcement of ₹8.2 trillion borrowing in the first half indicates a front-loading strategy, meaning funds are raised earlier to manage expenditure efficiently.
  • A higher share of 10-year bonds helps create a stable benchmark yield, which is important for pricing other financial instruments in the economy.
  • Reduction in ultra-long-term bonds reflects limited investor appetite for long-duration securities due to interest rate uncertainty.
  • Inclusion of green bonds indicates a policy shift towards financing environmentally sustainable infrastructure projects.
  • Borrowing is coordinated between the Ministry of Finance and RBI, where RBI acts as the government’s debt manager.
  • High government borrowing can lead to crowding out of private investment, as it pushes up interest rates in the market.
  • It directly impacts bond yields, which influence lending rates across the economy.
  • Persistent high borrowing increases public debt and fiscal deficit, raising concerns about macroeconomic stability.
  • It is closely monitored by rating agencies and global investors, affecting India’s creditworthiness.

(ET+PIB)

Fertilizer Supply Management:

Context

Government ensured adequate fertilizer availability. Current Stocks Stand at 53.08 LMT of Urea, 21.80 LMT of DAP, 7.98 LMT of MOP, and 48.38 LMT of NPKS

• • Major fertilizers include Urea (Nitrogen), DAP (Phosphorus), and MOP (Potassium), essential for balanced plant nutrition.
  • Urea is fully subsidized and price-controlled, making it cheaper and widely used by farmers.
  • Other fertilizers fall under the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme, where subsidy depends on nutrient content.
  • India is heavily dependent on imports for potash and phosphatic fertilizers, making it vulnerable to global price fluctuations.
  • Fertilizer subsidies constitute a significant portion of government expenditure in agriculture.
  • Ensuring timely supply is critical for food security and agricultural productivity.
  • Overuse of urea leads to soil degradation and nutrient imbalance, affecting long-term sustainability.
  • Fertilizer use was a key factor in the success of the Green Revolution.

(PIB)

Fuel Excise Duty Adjustment:

Context

Government reduced excise duty, but retail fuel prices remained unchanged.

• • Excise duty is a central indirect tax levied on manufacture of goods, including petroleum products, and forms a significant part of government revenue.
  • Petroleum products are kept outside the GST regime, allowing the Centre and States to independently impose taxes and maintain fiscal flexibility.
  • Even if excise duty is reduced, retail prices may not fall if oil marketing companies use the benefit to recover past losses or stabilize balance sheets.
  • Fuel prices in India are linked to global crude oil prices under a dynamic pricing system, though some administrative control still exists.
  • Excise duty is often used as a counter-cyclical fiscal tool, where taxes are increased during low oil prices and reduced during high prices.
  • Changes in fuel prices have a cascading effect on inflation, as transport costs influence prices of most goods and services.
  • Higher excise duties increase government revenue, but may also contribute to inflationary pressures in the economy.

(ET)

Geography, Mapping, Ecology & Environment and DM

Iron Ore Imports Rising:

Context

India’s iron ore imports are expected to rise.

• • Although India has abundant iron ore reserves, a large portion is low-grade ore with high impurities, making it less efficient for steel production.
  • Steel manufacturing requires high-grade ore with higher iron content, leading to imports from countries like Brazil and Australia.
  • This creates a paradox where India exports low-grade ore while importing high-grade ore, highlighting issues of resource quality.
  • Rising imports indicate increasing domestic demand for steel, driven by infrastructure and construction activities.
  • The steel sector is classified as a core industry, and its growth has multiplier effects on the overall economy.

• • Increased imports contribute to trade deficit and current account deficit, affecting external sector stability.
  • This reflects the importance of beneficiation technology, which can upgrade low-grade ore for domestic use.
  • The trend is aligned with targets under the National Steel Policy, which aims to increase steel production capacity.
  • It highlights that resource availability does not guarantee self-sufficiency, unless supported by technology.

(ET)

Energy Security Assurance:

Context

Government assured availability of coal, oil, and fertilizers.

• • Energy security refers to uninterrupted availability of energy sources at affordable prices, which is essential for economic stability.
  • India maintains Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) to cushion against global supply disruptions and geopolitical shocks.
  • Coal remains the dominant energy source, contributing around 50% of electricity generation, despite increasing renewable capacity.
  • Fertilizer production is energy-intensive, especially nitrogen-based fertilizers that depend on natural gas.
  • Global geopolitical tensions, particularly in West Asia, can disrupt energy supply chains and increase prices.
  • Diversification into renewable energy (solar, wind) and nuclear power is key for long-term energy security.
  • Strategic reserves help in price stabilization and emergency supply management.
  • India is an associate member of the International Energy Agency (IEA), not a full member.

(PIB+TH)

History, Art & Culture

Madhavpur Mela:

Context

Festival celebrated highlighting cultural unity.

• • The festival is held in Madhavpur village in Porbandar district of Gujarat, located along the Arabian Sea, giving it both cultural and geographical significance.

• • It commemorates the marriage of Lord Krishna (Dwarka, Gujarat) and Rukmini (associated with Vidarbha and Northeast traditions), symbolizing inter-regional cultural links.
  • The festival represents ancient cultural connectivity between Western India and Northeast India, a theme increasingly emphasized in national integration policies.
  • It is promoted under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative, which aims to strengthen emotional integration among different states of India.
  • The festival is rooted in Bhagavata Purana traditions, making it an important example of Vaishnavite religious practices.
  • It includes folk dances, rituals, and storytelling traditions, preserving intangible cultural heritage.
  • The celebration reflects how mythology influences present-day cultural practices.
  • It highlights the pan-Indian nature of Krishna worship, which transcends regional boundaries.
  • Supported by the Ministry of Culture, it also acts as a tool for promoting tourism and local economy.

(IE)

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