Industry & Infrastructure (Indian Economy).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Economic & Social Development; Mains GS3
Indian Ports Act 2025 for UPSC: why colonial maritime laws were replaced, Maritime State Development Council, Carriage of Goods by Sea Act,…
Semiconductors for UPSC: what a chip is, design-fab-packaging chain, Taiwan, India Semiconductor Mission, Dholera, Sanand, Jewar plants.
PLI scheme for UPSC: why it was launched, 14 sectors and outlay, how incentives work, mobile phone success, value-addition criticism and ways…
Renewable energy for UPSC: solar, wind, hydro and bioenergy potential, the 500 GW target, PM-KUSUM, PM Surya Ghar, solar parks, storage, grid…
MSMEs for UPSC: 2020 and 2025 definitions, share in GDP, jobs and exports, Udyam, CGTMSE, TReDS, PM Vishwakarma and the 45-day payment…
Green hydrogen for UPSC: grey, blue and green hydrogen, electrolysers, National Green Hydrogen Mission and SIGHT, India's standard, uses, costs and PYQs.
The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) on 19 October 2026 gave Eleven Power Pvt Ltd a 25-year parallel distribution licence for Gurugram and Nuh. It will be Haryana’s first private distributor and India’s second case of parallel licensing after Mumbai. The State government and power-sector staff oppose it and plan to appeal to the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Section 14, APTEL, Concurrent List Entry 38. · Mains GS-III: discom reform, cross-subsidy, competition.
22 Oct 2026
India is set to make 1% blending of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) compulsory for international flights from 2027, rising to 2% in 2028 and 5% in 2030, industry sources told The Hindu. The trigger is ICAO’s CORSIA, whose mandatory phase begins in January 2027. Indian airlines may need about 5 million tonnes of carbon credits a year, costing $50–75 million, while a full national SAF policy is still awaited.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ICAO, CORSIA, SAF pathways, Panipat. · Mains GS-III: decarbonising aviation; biofuels.
22 Oct 2026
The Index of Core Industries (ICI), base year 2022-23, grew 7.9% year-on-year in September 2026, up from a revised 5.9% in August, the Commerce Ministry said on 21 October 2026. Iron ore (18.4%), electricity (11.4%) and coal (10.7%) led, while fertilizers, natural gas and crude oil shrank. Growth for April–September 2026 was 5.1%, double the 2.5% of a year earlier.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ICI vs IIP, compiling agencies, base year. · Mains GS-III: industrial growth and energy security.
21 Oct 2026
The Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) completes ten years on 21 October 2026. A PIB backgrounder says it has operationalised 687 routes and 95 aerodromes and carried 1.72 crore passengers. Its next phase, launched on 4 July 2026, runs from 2026-27 to 2035-36 with Rs 28,840 crore for 100 airports, 200 helipads and airline support.
UPSC angle: Prelims: UDAN dates, outlays, airport numbers. · Mains GS-III: regional connectivity and VGF design.
21 Oct 2026
MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said on 19 October 2026 that the Centre is planning a central sector scheme to help States adopt agrivoltaics, either standalone or within PM-KUSUM 2.0. He expects capacity to cross 5 GW in three to four years if States notify feed-in tariffs. India hosts the 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference in New Delhi from 21 to 23 October.
UPSC angle: Prelims: agrivoltaics, PM-KUSUM components, feed-in tariffs. · Mains GS-III: energy transition and food security.
20 Oct 2026
A PIB backgrounder of 19 October 2026 explains how pumped storage projects (PSPs) will store solar and wind power for India’s grid. India runs 7.43 GW of pumped storage today, is building 15.87 GW more and has an assessed potential of 345.38 GW. A roadmap aims to add about 100 GW between 2025-26 and 2035-36.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PSP types, CEA, ISTS waiver, IRENA ranking. · Mains GS-III: storage and the clean energy transition.
19 Oct 2026