18 published UPSC current-affairs articles
There are substantial gaps in per capita income and development across states in India while it has emerged as one of the world’s largest economies since the 1991 economic reforms. India ’s Growth: From the 1991 Reforms Till Now The LPG Reforms 1991 (liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation) integrated India more closely with the global economy and accelerated growth.
Context: Catastrophic flash floods and debris flows tore through the transboundary Lhende Khola, Bhote Koshi, and Trishuli river systems along the Nepal–Tibet border. About The Nepal Flash Flood Disaster: A high altitude flash flood and debris flow is a sudden, violent surge of water heavily laden with rock, sediment, and glacial ice that travels down steep mountain gradients with massive kinetic force.
The Defence Minister said that a vacuum created by the declining capacities of traditional shipbuilding industries across the world presents a major opportunity for India to emerge as a global shipbuilding hub. It refers to the construction, repair, and maintenance of vessels used for transportation, defense, and trade. Shipbuilding is carried out in specialised facilities called shipyards, which are equipped to handle large scale projects and complex assembly processes.
Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM SSY) with a total outlay of ₹5,070 crore to deploy 5,000 MW of Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FSPV) projects integrated with 10,000 MWh of battery energy storage systems across India ’s reservoirs and inland water bodies. Floating solar (or Floating Photovoltaic – FPV) involves mounting photovoltaic panels on buoyant platforms anchored to the bed or banks of freshwater bodies, such as dams, reservoirs, lakes, and industrial water ponds. Generated electricity is transmitted onshore via underwater cables.
The historic Parichha Dam/Weir in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, has been recognised by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS). It will receive the WHIS Award 2026 at the 26th ICID International Congress in Marseille, France, in October 2026. Location: Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh; important for the Bundelkhand region.
The National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) has reported substantial progress in controlling Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis through nationwide vaccination and surveillance. Since its launch in September 2019, 147.16 crore FMD vaccine doses have been administered, benefiting 8.04 crore farmers. FMD outbreaks declined from 132 in 2019 to 40 in 2025.
The Tribal Council of Great and Little Nicobar has raised concerns over alleged remarks that the Shompen should adopt a “modern lifestyle” in the context of the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project. The issue highlights tensions between infrastructure development, tribal rights and conservation. Shompen: An indigenous Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) inhabiting Great Nicobar Island.
As of August 20, 2026, 29 FDI proposals worth ₹4,895.65 crore have been reported under India ’s revised framework, highlighting a shift towards facilitating investment while retaining safeguards. About Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) It refers to investment by an entity or individual of one country into a business located in another country with a lasting interest and significant influence over management.
The diversion of sugarcane and foodgrains towards ethanol production has raised concerns over rising sugar and food prices, highlighting the trade off between energy security and food security under India ’s ethanol blending programme. Ethanol is 99.9% pure alcohol that can be blended with petrol. It can be produced from sugarcane, maize, wheat, etc which are having high starch content.
India ’s coconut sector, deeply rooted in the country’s agricultural economy and cultural traditions, is steadily evolving from a predominantly traditional farming activity into a diversified, export oriented industry. It is often described as the “Kalpavriksha” or “Tree of Life” because almost every part of the plant has economic or practical uses. Type of Plant: Coconut is a perennial plantation crop and a monocotyledonous palm belonging to the family Arecaceae.
India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) on Maritime Security Cooperation and agreed to deepen operational cooperation including information sharing, naval exercises, ship repair and logistics support. Historical Linkages of India Japan Ties The historical links between India and Japan go back to the 6th century with the introduction of Buddhism into Japan, which fostered a strong cultural affinity among the Japanese.
The Ministry of Defence notified the sixth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL), comprising 405 items with an estimated business potential of Rs 3,070 crore. The list is notified by the Department of Defence Production (DDP) and covers Line Replaceable Units (LRU), sub systems, sub assemblies, spares, components and raw materials for key defence platforms. These include Advanced Light Helicopter, Light Utility Helicopter, Chetak and Cheetah helicopters; fighter jets including the Su 30MKIs, Jaguars and MiG 29s; the Light Combat Aircraft and AL 31FP Engine.
The NSO’s ‘Annual Report on Improvement of Crop Statistics (ICS) Scheme , 2023 24’ has flagged serious procedural lapses in Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs), the backbone of India ’s crop production estimates. How Production Estimates Are Derived? Final production = Area under crop × Average yield per hectare.
Corporate investment, as a share of GDP, has been declining in India . It refers to the acquisition of financial assets, business operations, or strategic projects by a company to generate financial returns or add long term value. Corporate investment as a percentage of India ’s GDP has fallen, especially following the 2016 demonetisation.
The government has introduced the Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers–Disclosure Scheme (FAST DS), providing a limited window for eligible taxpayers to disclose certain previously undisclosed foreign assets/income. The scheme opened on 16 August 2026 and remains available until 31 December 2026. Target: Small taxpayers with certain undisclosed foreign assets/income.
India ’s governance has undergone a fundamental transformation through Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). The Digital Economy now contributes about 12–14% of India ’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is projected to account for 20% over the next decade. As per the State of India ’s Digital Economy Report 2026, India is now the world’s fifth largest digitalised economy and the fourth highest ranked G20 economy.
Context: The Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) advanced the deadline for fresh Foreign Currency Non Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] deposits to qualify for its special USD–INR forex swap window to August 31, 2026. About The Foreign Currency Non Resident (Bank) — FCNR(B) Deposits: An FCNR(B) deposit is a term/fixed deposit account maintained in approved foreign currencies by Non Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) with authorized banks in India .
India ’s honey production has nearly doubled over the last decade, but the sustainability of its sweet revolution depends on protecting bees as essential pollinators and an unpaid agricultural workforce. Bees as an Unpaid Agricultural Workforce According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), pollinators contribute to almost one third of global crop production and enhance yields in 87 of the 115 leading food crops.