{"id":87632,"date":"2026-10-29T18:01:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T12:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=87632"},"modified":"2026-10-29T18:06:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T12:36:24","slug":"news-in-brief-29-10-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/29-10-2026\/news-in-brief-29-10-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Brief 29-10-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM-VGSY)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Polity &amp; Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM-VGSY) to strengthen grassroots governance and rural development across the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About PM-VGSY<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Type: <\/strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ministry:<\/strong> Ministry of Panchayati Raj.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Implementation Period:<\/strong> The scheme will be implemented from 2026\u201327 to 2030\u201331, in line with the <strong>Sixteenth Finance Commission<\/strong> period, with a total outlay of Rs 7,395.55 crore.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coverage:<\/strong> An upgraded version of the <strong>Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan<\/strong>, the scheme will cover all States and Union Territories, including traditional rural local government institutions in areas where Panchayats do not exist under <strong>Part IX of the Constitution<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Beneficiaries:<\/strong> Around 32 lakh elected representatives, Panchayat functionaries and other stakeholders across more than 2.55 lakh Panchayats and traditional local bodies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"cddde4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"552\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-210.png\" alt=\"PM-VGSY\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-87633\" style=\"--dominant-color: #cddde4; aspect-ratio:1.6000996467071293;width:532px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-210.png 552w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-210-300x188.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 552px) 100vw, 552px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/centre-clears-7396-crore-panchayat-capacity-building-scheme-for-2026-31\/article71636149.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Illegal Food Colours<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Health\/ Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Uttar Pradesh\u2019s Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has issued guidelines to stop street vendors from using banned industrial dyes in food.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are food colours?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Food colours are substances added to<strong> make food look brighter, more appealing or more consistent.<\/strong> They come in two kinds:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Natural: <\/strong>From plants and minerals, such as beetroot, turmeric and paprika extract.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Synthetic:<\/strong> Lab-made additives that are allowed only in certain food categories and within strict limits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Banned industrial dyes (illegal adulterants):<\/strong> Rhodamine-B, Metanil Yellow, Malachite Green, Sudan dyes (I-IV), Butter Yellow, Auramine and Orange II.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Banned dyes belong in textiles, leather or paper, not in jalebi or chutney.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Permitted synthetic colours (within limits):<\/strong> Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow FCF, Carmoisine, Ponceau 4R, Erythrosine, Brilliant Blue FCF, Fast Green FCF and Indigo Carmine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Guidelines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Prohibited Dyes:<\/strong> Non-permitted industrial dyes cannot be used in food.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Permitted Artificial Colours: <\/strong>Under the <strong>Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011<\/strong>, specified artificial colours are permitted in certain sweets and confectionery, cakes, pastries, biscuits, icing, some dairy products, processed fruits, beverages and savoury snacks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Accurate Measurement:<\/strong> Food businesses must use suitable digital weighing scales instead of estimating colour quantities using spoons or pinches.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Record-Keeping:<\/strong> Businesses must procure colours from authorised sources, verify labels and supplier details, and retain purchase invoices and batch numbers for inspection.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Legal Framework<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006:<\/strong> The main law that penalises making, selling or distributing adulterated food.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011: <\/strong>Lists which colours are allowed in which food categories, sets Good Manufacturing Practices and caps use generally at 100 mg\/kg (up to 200 mg\/kg in some canned fruits).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-health\/up-food-colour-rules-banned-dyes-guidelines-explained-10938842\/lite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Salt Marshes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gujarat is home to<strong> India\u2019s largest coastal salt marshes,<\/strong> with smaller areas in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Salt Marshes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Salt marshes are <strong>coastal wetlands<\/strong> that are<strong> flooded and drained by salt water brought in by the tides.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are marshy because the<strong> soil may be composed of deep mud and peat.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Peat is made of <strong>decomposing plant matter<\/strong> that is often several feet thick.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They occur along sheltered coastlines, estuaries, bays and tidal flats.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Formation: <\/strong>They develop when sediments accumulate in shallow coastal areas and support salt-tolerant vegetation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ecological Significance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Coastal protection: <\/strong>Salt marsh vegetation reduces wave energy, traps sediments and helps prevent coastal erosion and flooding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biodiversity conservation: <\/strong>They provide feeding, breeding and nursery habitats for fish, crustaceans, molluscs and migratory birds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Blue carbon sequestration: <\/strong>Salt marshes capture atmospheric carbon dioxide through plant growth and store carbon in waterlogged soils, where decomposition is often slow.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Water purification: <\/strong>They trap sediments and help remove excess nutrients and certain pollutants from runoff before they enter coastal waters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/science-for-all-newsletter-how-the-humble-salt-marsh-softens-the-oceans-fury\/article71630237.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>K9 Vajra<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Ministry of Defence granted in-principle approval for the procurement of more than 300 additional <strong>K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers <\/strong>at an estimated cost of over \u20b920,000 crore.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the K9 Vajra?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The K9 Vajra-T howitzer is an <strong>Indian version of South Korea\u2019s K9 Thunder.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a 155 mm, 52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer manufactured under the \u2018Make in India\u2019 initiative by Larsen &amp; Toubro (L&amp;T) in Hazira, Gujarat, in partnership with Hanwha Aerospace, the Korean counterpart.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A howitzer is an artillery gun that fires explosive shells over long distances, including at high angles to hit targets behind obstacles.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It carries its gun on an armoured, tracked chassis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It helps the gun move with artillery formations, fire at enemy positions, and relocate quickly to reduce its exposure to retaliatory fire.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Specifications&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The system has a reported firing range of around 40 km, extendable to approximately 50 km with certain ammunition.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can travel at speeds of up to 67 km per hour on roads and houses a crew of five.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f5f5f5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"575\" height=\"321\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-211.png\" alt=\"specifications\u00a0\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-87639\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f5f5f5; aspect-ratio:1.7913644550455143;width:469px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-211.png 575w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-211-300x167.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It can fire three rounds in less than 15 seconds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its all-welded steel hull protects the crew against shell fragments, landmines and small-arms fire.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can also turn within its own footprint using brake-torqueing, allowing it to maneuver in confined spaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.business-standard.com\/external-affairs-defence-security\/news\/decoded-what-is-the-k9-vajra-and-why-is-india-buying-hundreds-more-126102700325_1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BS<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM-VGSY) to strengthen grassroots governance and rural development across the country. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About PM-VGSY <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/29-10-2026\/news-in-brief-29-10-2026 \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87632","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87632"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87640,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87632\/revisions\/87640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}