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Current Affairs – 14 March 2026

Indian Fireflies Checklist

NATIONAL

Why in News:
Scientists have compiled the first comprehensive checklist of Indian fireflies, using over 260 years of scientific records (1881–2025). The study identified 92 species across 27 genera.

Key Highlights

 • The checklist was created to address the lack of   accessible modern scientific literature on         Indian fireflies.
• It will serve as a baseline reference for future taxonomic and biodiversity research.

Key Findings

     High Endemism

  1. • More than 60% of the recorded species are endemic to India.
  2. • Over 50 species have not been documented again since their first descriptions in the 1800s.

     Geographical Distribution

  1. • Firefly species were recorded across 22 States and 1 Union Territory.
  2. • The Western Ghats emerged as the richest habitat, hosting 25.33% of species.
  3. • Other major regions include:
  4. • North-East India – 22.66%
  5. • Gangetic Plain – 17.33%
  6. • Deccan Peninsula – 13.33%
  7. • No fireflies were recorded in desert and semi-arid regions.

Background

      Fireflies

  1. • Fireflies are often mistaken for flies or bugs, but they are actually soft-bodied beetles.
  2. • They belong to the family Lampyridae within the order Coleoptera (beetles).
  3. • Fireflies are known for their bioluminescence, which allows them to produce light through chemical reactions inside their bodies.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026

NATIONAL

Why in News:
NITI Aayog released the second edition of the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026 to evaluate the fiscal performance of Indian states and provide a data-driven framework for assessing fiscal sustainability and guiding reforms.

The report is significant as global public debt reached around USD 102 trillion in 2024, increasing pressure on government finances worldwide.

Key Highlights

     About Fiscal Health Index

  1. • The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) is a framework developed by NITI Aayog to assess and compare the fiscal performance of Indian states.
  2. • It evaluates states based on five key pillars:
  3. • Quality of Expenditure
  4. • Revenue Mobilisation
  5. • Fiscal Prudence
  6. • Debt Index
  7. • Debt Sustainability

 

    Coverage of FHI 2026

  1. • The index analyses fiscal trends over a decade (FY 2014-15 to FY 2023-24).
  2. • It provides a long-term perspective on state finances.
  3. • The second edition expanded coverage from 18 General Category States to include 10 North-Eastern and Himalayan States, making the index more inclusive.

Performance of States

    18 Major States

  1. Achievers (Top Performers)
  2. • Odisha
  3. • Goa
  4. • Jharkhand
  5. • Odisha continues to top the rankings, supported by controlled fiscal deficits and stable revenue growth.

    Front-Runners

  1. • Gujarat
  2. • Maharashtra
  3. • Chhattisgarh
  4. • Telangana
  5. • Uttar Pradesh
  6. • Karnataka

    Performers

  1. • Madhya Pradesh
  2. • Haryana
  3. • Bihar
  4. • Tamil Nadu
  5. • Rajasthan
  6. • Bihar improved from the Aspirational category to Performer, indicating better deficit management.

   Aspirational (Bottom Performers)

  1. • West Bengal
  2. • Kerala
  3. • Andhra Pradesh
  4. • Punjab
  5. • These states face persistent fiscal and revenue deficits and often breach FRBM norms.
  6. • Their debt levels range between 35–45% of GSDP, which is above the recommended fiscal comfort level.
  7. • Punjab, Kerala and West Bengal have the highest debt and interest burdens among major states.

North-Eastern and Himalayan States

  Achievers

  1. • Arunachal Pradesh
  2. • Uttarakhand

 Performers

  1. • Assam
  2. • Meghalaya
  3. • Mizoram
  4. • Sikkim
  5. • Tripura

 Aspirational

  1. • Himachal Pradesh
  2. • Manipur
  3. • Nagaland
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme

NATIONAL

Why in News:
The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme, supported by the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), aims to provide timely, affordable and collateral-free institutional credit to farmers and allied sectors, improving agricultural productivity and financial security.

Key Highlights

     Evolution of KCC

  1. • The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme was launched in 1998.
  2. • It provides short-term institutional credit to farmers for:
  3. • Crop cultivation
  4. • Post-harvest expenses
  5. • Allied agricultural activities.
  6. • To make credit affordable, the government introduced the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) in 2006–07.
  7. • MISS offers concessional interest rates and relief during natural calamities.

    Revised KCC (2020)

  1. • The Revised KCC system introduced in 2020 provides integrated single-window credit.
  2. • Farmers receive a RuPay-enabled card for digital payments and withdrawals.
  3. • Loans are provided through:
  4. • Commercial banks
  5. • Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
  6. • Cooperative banks.

   Eligible Beneficiaries

  The scheme covers:

  1. • Owner-cultivator farmers
  2. • Joint borrowers
  3. • Tenant farmers
  4. • Oral lessees and sharecroppers
  5. • Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
  6. • Joint Liability Groups (JLGs)

  This helps ensure inclusive access to institutional credit.

Credit Provisions under KCC & MISS (2025–26)

  1. • The KCC crop loan limit has been increased from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
  2. • The credit limit for fisheries and allied activities has also been raised to ₹5 lakh.
  3. • The collateral-free loan limit has been increased to ₹2 lakh per borrower.
  4. • Short-term crop loans up to ₹3 lakh are available at 7% interest.
  5. • Under MISS, a 3% interest subvention reduces the effective interest rate to 4%.

Additional Features

  1. • The scheme offers revolving credit for up to 5 years, allowing farmers to withdraw funds as required.
  2. • Farmers receive interest relief during natural calamities, including:
  3. • No interest for up to 1 year
  4. • In severe disasters, repayment can be extended up to 5 years.

Farmer Onboarding and Digital Reforms

  1. • A simplified KCC application process has been introduced.
  2. • Integration with PM-KISAN database helps identify eligible farmers quickly.
  3. • The Kisan Rin Portal (2023) enables faster loan processing and greater transparency in agricultural credit delivery.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

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