Employment & Inclusive Growth (Indian Economy).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Economic & Social Development; Mains GS3
MSMEs for UPSC: 2020 and 2025 definitions, share in GDP, jobs and exports, Udyam, CGTMSE, TReDS, PM Vishwakarma and the 45-day payment…
Financial inclusion for UPSC: meaning, PMJDY and JAM, payments and small finance banks, UPI, RBI's FI-Index sub-indices, gaps that remain and real…
Unemployment for UPSC: types (disguised, structural, frictional, seasonal), PLFS concepts (usual status, CWS, LFPR, WPR), causes, policies and PYQs.
The Department of Financial Services will run a nationwide campaign from 21 October to 31 December 2026 to saturate financial inclusion schemes in 2.70 lakh gram panchayats and urban local bodies. Bank camps will enrol people in PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY, open Jan Dhan accounts, finish re-KYC and nominations, and spread awareness on digital frauds and unclaimed deposits.
UPSC angle: Prelims: scheme parameters of PMJJBY, PMSBY, APY, PMJDY. · Mains GS-III: inclusive growth and financial inclusion.
20 Oct 2026
EPFO is reminding establishments that the Amnesty Scheme, 2026 for retrospective regularisation of Provident Fund Trust exemption status closes on 28 December 2026. It covers trusts recognised under the Income Tax Act but without a formal exemption order under the EPF Act or the Code on Social Security.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Amnesty dates and legal sections. · Mains GS-III: social security and labour compliance.
13 Oct 2026
The Rural Development Ministry has notified 375 permissible works under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, the law that replaced MGNREGA. That is 41% more than the 266 works earlier. Works fall under four pillars: water security (128), core rural infrastructure (111), livelihood infrastructure (98) and disaster preparedness (38), all planned through Gram Sabha-approved village plans.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Act name, 125 days, works count. · Mains GS-II: welfare schemes; GS-III: rural employment.
6 Oct 2026
PM-SETU, launched on 4 October 2025 to upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs through a hub-and-spoke model, has identified 850 ITIs and approved 14 ITI clusters worth ₹3446 crore in its first year. The scheme has a ₹60,000 crore outlay shared by the Centre, States and industry, and also upgrades five NSTIs.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PM-SETU expansion; hub-and-spoke. · Mains: Making ITIs industry-relevant.
3 Oct 2026
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
On 23 September 2026 the cooperative ride service Bharat Taxi was launched in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj. Run on the "Driver is the Owner" principle, it has more than 10 lakh drivers (Saarthis) in six months, about 20,000 rides a day and over Rs 100 crore credited to drivers.
UPSC angle: Mains: Can platform cooperatives protect gig workers?
23 Sep 2026