Daily notes mapped to syllabus topics, with “Asked before” PYQs and original practice MCQs.
MoSPI's Periodic Labour Force Survey bulletin for June 2026, released on 15 July, shows the labour force participation rate at 54.4%, the worker population ratio at 51.4% and the unemployment rate at 5.5%, all unchanged from May. Female LFPR was 32.7%, up 0.7 percentage points on June 2025. Urban unemployment rose to 6.6%.
UPSC angle: Prelims: LFPR/WPR definitions.
15 Jul 2026
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 for Atmanirbhar Bharat (NIPU-2026) on 15 July 2026. It aims to draw investment into new gas-based urea plants. Compared with NIP-2012, it separates fixed and variable costs, sets a 12% to 16% return-on-equity band, and cuts foreign-exchange risk.
UPSC angle: Prelims: urea pricing.
15 Jul 2026
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Agreement on Social Security, or Double Contribution Convention, entered into force on 15 July 2026. CETA gives zero-duty access to nearly 99% of India's exports to the UK. On day one, over 50 consignments worth over USD 140 million were flagged off.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CETA.
15 Jul 2026
The Union Minister of Coal and Mines launched an online portal for applications to register coal exchanges on 15 July 2026. Exchanges were enabled by the MMDR Amendment Act, 2025 and the Coal Exchange Rules, 2026. The Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) is the regulator. Registrations will be valid for 25 years.
UPSC angle: Prelims: coal exchange.
15 Jul 2026
The Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 on 15 July 2026 with a budget outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore to build India's semiconductor design and manufacturing ecosystem. It rests on six pillars: design, machines and materials, more fabs, ATMP/OSAT, R&D and talent. Under Semicon 1.0, twelve units worth over ₹1.64 lakh crore were approved.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ISM; DLI.
15 Jul 2026
India's wholesale price inflation (WPI, base 2022-23) rose to 9.87% in June 2026 from 9.68% in May, the Commerce Ministry said on 14 July. Fuel and power inflation was 27.41%, primary articles 7.0% and manufactured products 7.48%. Mineral oils, food articles, basic metals and chemical products drove the rise.
UPSC angle: Prelims: WPI groups.
14 Jul 2026
More than 8.9 crore enterprises, employing over 38 crore people, are registered on the Udyam Registration Portal and the Udyam Assist Platform, the MSME Ministry said on 14 July 2026. Udyam gives MSMEs a free, paperless identity. Udyam Assist brings informal micro units without GST or income-tax cover into the formal economy.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Udyam.
14 Jul 2026
On 14 July 2026 the Railway Minister announced eight more structural reforms under the "Reform Express", taking the total to 17 against a target of 52 reforms in 52 weeks. They cover containerised fly ash, a single pan-India container train licence, simpler freight for fertilisers and foodgrains, private wagon designs, oil-company tank wagons, artisan skilling and construction rules.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NRP target.
14 Jul 2026
The North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) at Umiam, Meghalaya, is contributing to geospatial mapping of the India-Myanmar border and inter-State boundaries in the Northeast, the Minister for Space said on 14 July 2026. NESAC has nearly 130 projects, around 50 recently completed and 78 ongoing, across the eight north-eastern States.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NESAC.
14 Jul 2026
MoSPI released its first trial Index of Services Production (ISP) on 14 July 2026, for April 2026. It covers 19 sub-sectors, about 60% of the services sector, with base year 2024-25. 14 of the 19 grew at double digits over April 2025. From now on, the ISP will be released on the 29th of every month.
UPSC angle: Prelims: new indices.
14 Jul 2026144 items
142 items
169 items
165 items
139 items
125 items
124 items
122 items
110 items
110 items
126 items
110 items
121 items
109 items
119 items
106 items
110 items
114 items
111 items
