Economic Surveys & Indices (Indian Economy).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Economic & Social Development; Mains GS3
Economic Survey for UPSC: who prepares it, history since 1950-51, Survey vs Budget, the CEA's role, ideas like JAM, twin balance sheet…
World Tourism Day 2026, on 27 September, has the theme "Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism". In India, tourism contributes 5.22 per cent of GDP and supported 8.46 crore jobs in 2023-24. Domestic tourist visits reached 428.55 crore in 2025, and foreign exchange earnings ₹2,76,831 crore.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PRASHAD vs Swadesh Darshan; theme of World Tourism Day.
26 Sep 2026
MoSPI released the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey, July 2025 to June 2026, on 23 September 2026. Pilgrimage and religious travel made up 48% of overnight trips over the last 365 days. Uttar Pradesh had the highest share of visitor-trips, 15.7%. Business trips had the highest average spend per trip, Rs. 5,949.
UPSC angle: Prelims: which agency runs DTES (NSO, MoSPI).
23 Sep 2026
The Index of Core Industries grew 4.8% in August 2026 over August 2025, slightly below 5.0% in July (PIB, 21 September 2026). Cement grew 12.5% and electricity 11.6%, while coal, natural gas, crude oil and fertilizers shrank. Growth for April to August 2026 was 4.3%, up from 2.4% a year earlier. The index uses base year 2022-23.
UPSC angle: Prelims: which industries are in the ICI (base 2022-23).
21 Sep 2026
On 21 September 2026 MoSPI released "Sources and Methods for Compilation of National Accounts Statistics" for the new series with base year 2022-23. The series, India's eighth base-year revision, replaced the 2011-12 series on 27 February 2026 and was updated on 31 August 2026. The book explains the data, methods and concepts behind GDP.
UPSC angle: Prelims: new GDP base year; PPI replacing WPI as deflator (check text).
21 Sep 2026
On 18 September 2026 the NSO released district-level labour market indicators for the first time, from the revamped Periodic Labour Force Survey. About 77.8% of districts had unemployment between 0.5% and 5.5%, and about 57.8% recorded female labour force participation of 40% or above. Among the 100 most populous districts, Surat had the highest LFPR and WPR, Darbhanga the lowest.
UPSC angle: Prelims: LFPR/WPR/UR; NEET definition.
18 Sep 2026
On 24 August 2026 the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT, released provisional Service Producer Price Indices for Q1 of 2026-27, base year 2022-23. They cover seven services. The air passenger index jumped to 126.4, up 31.94 per cent year on year, while the banking service price index fell 3.35 per cent.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PPI vs WPI.
24 Aug 2026