News In Brief 12-11-2026

Stand-Up India Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/Governance; GS3/Economy

Context

• The Union Cabinet, has approved the continuation of Stand-Up India Scheme for a period of 5 years upto 2031. 

About

• Aim: To promote entrepreneurship among Women, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) and to provide financial assistance to an additional 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs in a span of five years.
• Since its launch in April 2016, the scheme has facilitated loans to more than 2.75 lakh Women/SC/ST entrepreneurs.

Salient features of the scheme:

• Eligible borrowers: Women, SC and ST entrepreneurs for setting up new/green field enterprises
• Quantum of Support: The loan can be in the form of either Composite (Working Capital and Term Loan) or Term loan for amounts above Rs.10.00 lakh and upto Rs.1.00 crore (upto 85% of the project cost).
• Eligible Sectors: Manufacturing, Services, Trading and Agri allied activities.
• Credit Guarantee coverage: 85% of the loan amount.
• Guarantee Fee: Standard guarantee fee of 0.50 %.

Source: PIB

Govt. Bans Lithium-ion Battery Waste Export

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Department of Commerce, has prohibited the export of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass.

About

• The export policy of the item has been amended from ‘Free’ to ‘Prohibited’ with immediate effect.
• ITC(HS) Code 85491400 covers waste and scrap of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators, as well as spent cells, batteries and accumulators. 
• The export prohibition is intended to ensure that Black Mass generated in India is recycled and refined within the country.

Black Mass

• Black Mass is the powdery material obtained from shredding end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and battery manufacturing waste.
  • It contains recoverable quantities of critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese.
• Critical minerals are essential inputs for electric mobility, advanced chemistry cell batteries, energy storage, electronics and renewable energy.
  • India depends substantially on imports for several of these minerals. 
• Recycling battery waste is among the quickest and most sustainable ways of developing a domestic supply of these resources. 

Source: PIB

INS Betwa refit contract

Syllabus: GS3/Defence 

In News 

• The Defence Ministry sealed a ₹498-crore contract with state-run Cochin Shipyard Ltd. for “refit and re-powering” of the Indian Navy’s guided-missile frigate INS Betwa.

INS Betwa

• It is the second indigenously built Brahmaputra-class guided-missile frigate and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2004. 
• The 3,600-tonne warship measures 125 metres in length and is capable of speeds exceeding 30 knots. 
• It is equipped with a range of guns, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, torpedo launchers and maritime surveillance sensors.

Latest Developments 

• The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 498.58 crore contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited for the refit and re-powering of Indian Navy warship INS Betwa.
• Under the agreement, the Brahmaputra-class frigate will undergo a major transformation, with its existing steam-based propulsion system being replaced by a diesel-engine-based system. 
• The refit will also involve upgrading the warship’s combat capabilities through the installation of a modernised weapons suite, aimed at improving its operational effectiveness.

Importance 

• The project is expected to strengthen India’s indigenous ship repair and maintenance capabilities, particularly in carrying out complex propulsion system upgrades and modernisation of naval platforms.
• The initiative would provide a boost to the government’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’, while reinforcing domestic capabilities in naval ship maintenance and modernisation.

Source: PIB

Persian Gulf 

Syllabus: GS1/Places In News 

In News 

• A Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker, carrying six Indian seafarers, was hit by a projectile while transiting the Persian Gulf.

Persian Gulf 

• The Persian Gulf is a shallow marginal sea of the Indian Ocean located in the Middle East, lying between Iran to the northeast and the Arabian Peninsula to the southwest.
• It is bordered by eight countries. Iran lies along its northern and eastern coast, while Iraq lies to the northwest. The southern and western shores are bordered by Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
• It covers about 93,000 square miles (241,000 square km) and extends roughly 615 miles (990 km) from northwest to southeast, with a width ranging from about 210 miles (340 km) to 35 miles (55 km) at the Strait of Hormuz, where it opens to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Source: ET

Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• The President of India conferred the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 Awards at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, marking the 10th edition of the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey.

About the Awards

• The Swachh Survekshan Awards were instituted in 2016 under the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), starting with 73 cities.
• The 2025–26 edition assessed 4,751 cities on 43 indicators across 10 domains, including waste management, sanitation, visible cleanliness, sanitation workers’ welfare and citizen feedback.

Key Highlights

• Among million-plus cities, Visakhapatnam secured the first position, followed by Jabalpur and Lucknow. In other population categories, Ujjain ranked first in the 3–10 lakh category, while Dewas topped the 50,000–3 lakh category.
• The Super Swachh League, which recognises previous top-performing cities, was topped by Navi Mumbai, followed by Surat and Vijayawada.
• Three new categories were also introduced to recognise cleanliness in different geographical settings:
  • Cleanest Riverfront Town: Rewa
  • Cleanest Coastal Town: Puri
  • Cleanest Himalayan City: Rudrapur
• Another new initiative, Swachh Shehar Jodi, pairs high-performing cities with those needing improvement. Ahmedabad–Sanand topped this category. 

Source: PIB

Exercise Naseem Al Bahr

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have conducted the 15th edition of their bilateral maritime exercise, Naseem Al Bahr (Sea Breeze).

About 

• Initiated in 1993, the exercise was conducted in two phases: the harbour phase and the sea phase.
• The exercise reinforces the Indian Navy’s engagement with regional maritime partners in line with the Government of India’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

Do you know?

• Oman is a crucial pillar of India’s West Asia Policy and its oldest regional strategic partner.
• Also, Oman is the first Gulf country with which all the three wings of India’s defense forces hold joint exercises.
  • The exercise Eastern Bridge is conducted between the Air Force of the two countries, while the exercise Al–Najah is conducted between the Army of the two countries.

Source: AIR

Yug Yugeen Bharat Museum

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

Context

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum (YYBM) at an estimated total project cost of ₹3,230 crore.

About

• Objective: To establish a landmark civilisational museum that showcases India’s cultural heritage, diversity and historical continuity through an integrated presentation of its tangible and intangible heritage.
• Location: The museum will be developed by reusing the historic North and South Block buildings, New Delhi, preserving their architectural character.
• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Culture.
• Features: The museum will incorporate contemporary museum practices, immersive technologies and visitor-centric facilities.
• The project will be implemented in phases between the financial years 2026-27 and 2030-31.

Source: DD News