16 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India has published the result of the overnight Variable Rate Reverse Repo auction held on October 15, 2026. Against a notified amount of ₹50,000 crore, the amount received was ₹9,562 crore and the entire amount received was accepted. The cut-off rate was 5.49 per cent and the weighted average rate was also 5.49 per cent. The tenor of the auction was one day. A Variable Rate Reverse Repo auction is the tool the Reserve Bank uses to absorb surplus liquidity from the banking system at a market-determined rate.
Notified amount:
₹50,000 crore
Amount received and accepted:
₹9,562 crore
Cut-off rate:
5.49%
Why it matters for exams: A weak response to a reverse repo auction is a direct signal about banking system liquidity, which banking and economy papers ask about.
UPSCBank
In plain words
VRRR Variable Rate Reverse Repo — An auction through which the Reserve Bank absorbs surplus bank liquidity at a rate set by bidding.
16 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India has released the Scheduled Banks' Statement of Position in India as on September 30, 2026. Total deposits of scheduled commercial banks stood at ₹28,395,692.65 crore and bank credit, excluding inter-bank advances, at ₹22,994,657.51 crore. For all scheduled banks taken together, deposits were ₹28,955,375.06 crore and bank credit ₹23,509,866.26 crore. The statement compares the position with the corresponding reporting Friday of the previous year, October 3, 2025, and with the previous fortnight ended September 15, 2026. The statement is compiled fortnightly from the returns that scheduled banks file with the Reserve Bank.
Deposits of scheduled commercial banks:
₹28,395,692.65 crore
Bank credit of scheduled commercial banks:
₹22,994,657.51 crore
Reporting date:
September 30, 2026
Why it matters for exams: Aggregate deposit and credit figures are the standard way banking questions test the size and growth of the Indian banking system.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
Scheduled bank A bank included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 — Such banks must meet capital and other conditions and can borrow from the Reserve Bank.
16 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India has notified an underwriting auction for the sale (re-issue) of 6.94% GS 2036 for a notified amount of ₹34,000 crore, to be held on Friday, October 16, 2026. Under the underwriting scheme notified on November 14, 2007, each Primary Dealer has a Minimum Underwriting Commitment of ₹810 crore and a minimum bidding commitment of ₹810 crore in the Additional Competitive Underwriting auction. The Additional Competitive Underwriting auction will be a multiple price based auction held on the same day. Primary Dealers must submit their bids electronically through the Reserve Bank's Core Banking Solution, e-Kuber, between 9:00 A.M. and 9:30 A.M. Underwriting commission is credited to each Primary Dealer's current account with the Reserve Bank on the day the security is issued.
Notified amount:
₹34,000 crore
Security:
6.94% GS 2036
Minimum Underwriting Commitment per Primary Dealer:
₹810 crore
Why it matters for exams: Examiners test how the Centre borrows through dated securities and the role Primary Dealers play in underwriting those auctions.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
e-Kuber Core Banking Solution of the Reserve Bank of India — The electronic platform through which banks and Primary Dealers bid in Reserve Bank auctions.
ACU Additional Competitive Underwriting — The part of an underwriting auction in which Primary Dealers bid competitively beyond their minimum commitment.
16 October 2026
The Kerala Legal Metrology Department received seven new Bolero Neo vehicles.
Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Anoop Jacob flagged them off.
The event was held on the grounds of Kanakakunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram.
The vehicles are meant to strengthen the department's inspection and enforcement work and its consumer protection activity.
Controller Rajesh Sam, Additional Controller K. Sheelan and Joint Controller P. Srinivasa were among the officials present.
The department enforces the law on weights and measures used in trade in the State.
Vehicles handed over:
Seven Bolero Neo
Minister:
Anoop Jacob
Venue:
Kanakakunnu Palace grounds, Thiruvananthapuram
Why it matters for exams: The Legal Metrology Department's place under the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio, and its consumer protection role, are standard State administration questions.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Legal metrology Law of weights and measures — The branch of law that governs the accuracy of weights, measures and packaged goods in trade.
Background
The Embassy of India in Muscat describes the Sultanate of Oman as a strategic partner of India and an important interlocutor at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
The Omani Foreign Ministry's own list of its multilateral memberships records that Oman was a founding member of the GCC when it was established in 1981, became a member of the League of Arab States on 29 September 1971, became the 128th member of the United Nations on 7 October 1971, has been a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation since 1972 and joined the World Trade Organization in November 2000.
People-to-people contact between India and Oman is traced back 5,000 years; diplomatic relations were established in 1955, and the relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2008.
Oman hosts an Indian community of approximately 674,950 as of February 2026 according to the Government of Oman, of whom 526,496 hold work visas according to National Centre for Statistics and Information data.
Twenty-two Indian schools in Oman teach more than 48,000 students, and Indian social clubs in Muscat, Salalah, Sohar and Sur run linguistic wings for their members.
Oman is the only Gulf country with which all three of India's armed services hold joint exercises biennially: the navy exercise Naseem Al-Bahr, the air force exercise Eastern Bridge and the army exercise Al-Najah.
India has the highest number of defence memoranda of understanding with Oman of any country in West Asia, and the two sides meet in the Joint Military Cooperation Committee.
The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed during the Indian Prime Minister's visit of 17-18 December 2025 and entered into force on 1 June 2026; bilateral trade reached US$ 11.187 billion in FY 2025-26, with over 6,000 India-Oman joint ventures operating in Oman.
Diplomatic relations established:
1955
Strategic Partnership:
2008
Indian community:
approximately 674,950
Bilateral trade:
US$ 11.187 billion in FY 2025-26
UN membership:
128th member, 7 October 1971
Why it matters for exams: Kerala's candidates are asked about the Gulf states where Kerala's migrants work, and the 1955 date, the three service exercises and the trade agreement are the standard India-Oman questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
CEPA Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement — A wide trade agreement covering goods, services and investment.
IORA Indian Ocean Rim Association — The grouping of countries on the rim of the Indian Ocean.
GCC Gulf Cooperation Council — The six-member council of Arab states of the Gulf, of which Oman is a founding member.
Background
The official name of the country is the Sultanate of Oman and its capital is Muscat.
Its currency is the Omani Rial and its official language is Arabic, with widespread use of English.
Islam is the religion of the country.
Its form of government is a hereditary monarchy, and the Foreign Ministry names its constitution as the Basic Law of the State 1996.
The head of state is His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, who ascended the throne on 11 January 2020 after the passing of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who had ruled Oman from 1970 to 2020.
Like his predecessor, Sultan Haitham belongs to the Al Bu Said dynasty, which has ruled Oman since the eighteenth century.
Oman's population is 5,442,883 and its area is 309,500 sq km (120,000 sq miles).
The country keeps UTC +4 time and its international dialling code is +968.
Capital:
Muscat
Currency:
Omani Rial
Official language:
Arabic, with widespread use of English
Population:
5,442,883
Area:
309,500 sq km (120,000 sq miles)
Time zone:
UTC +4
Why it matters for exams: Capital, currency, language and form of government are the first four things any paper asks about a Gulf country.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Sultanate — A state ruled by a sultan, here a hereditary monarchy.
Omani Rial OMR — The currency of the Sultanate of Oman, written OMR.
Al Bu Said — The dynasty that has ruled Oman since the eighteenth century.
Basic Law of the State — Oman's constitution, which the Foreign Ministry also calls the Basic Statute of the State.
Background
State finances were in the news this week as the States offered thousands of crores of securities in a Reserve Bank auction; the share of central taxes those States receive is recommended by a constitutional commission.
Under clause (1) of Article 280 of the Constitution, the Finance Commission is to be constituted every fifth year or earlier.
A Commission normally takes about two years to make its recommendations, and the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission covered a six-year period up to 31st March 2026.
Its terms of reference cover the distribution between the Union and the States of the net proceeds of taxes divisible between them under Chapter I, Part XII of the Constitution, and the allocation of the States' respective shares.
It also covers the principles governing grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India under Article 275.
The third head is the measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities, on the basis of the recommendations made by that State's own Finance Commission.
The Sixteenth Finance Commission is chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya, and its Advance Cell was formed in the Ministry of Finance on 21.11.2022.
Constitutional provision:
Article 280, clause (1)
Interval:
Every fifth year or earlier
Grants-in-aid article:
Article 275
Fifteenth Commission's award period:
Six years, up to 31st March 2026
Advance Cell of the Sixteenth Commission:
Formed on 21.11.2022
Why it matters for exams: Article 280, the five-year cycle and the three heads of the terms of reference are among the most frequently asked facts on fiscal federalism.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Devolution — The share of the divisible pool of central taxes passed on to the States.
Grants-in-aid — Transfers from the Consolidated Fund of India to a State's revenues under Article 275.
Terms of reference — The questions the Union Government asks a commission to answer.
Background
The Competition Commission of India cleared a jewellery group's acquisition of a majority stake in another listed jeweller this week; such clearances are given under the law described here.
The Competition Act, 2002 was passed by Parliament in 2002 and the President accorded assent in January 2003.
It was subsequently amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007, and in accordance with that amendment the Competition Commission of India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal were established.
The Commission is fully functional with a Chairperson and six members.
The provisions of the Act relating to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position were notified on May 20, 2009.
The Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 was published in the Gazette of India on 11th April, 2023.
A merger or acquisition above the thresholds in the Act is notified to the Commission as a combination, and the Commission's order under Section 31 permits, modifies or blocks it.
Parent Act:
The Competition Act, 2002
President's assent:
January 2003
Composition:
Chairperson and six members
Key provisions notified:
May 20, 2009
Latest amendment gazetted:
11th April, 2023
Why it matters for exams: The Commission's composition, the year of assent and the appellate route are repeat questions wherever economic regulators are examined.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
CCI Competition Commission of India — The statutory authority that enforces competition law and clears large mergers.
Combination — A merger, amalgamation or acquisition that crosses the thresholds in the Competition Act and must be notified to the Commission.
Abuse of dominant position — Conduct by which an enterprise with market power harms competition or consumers.
Background
India's securities market is in the news this week, with the Centre clearing the strategic sale of a majority stake in IDBI Bank; the regulator of that market has a two-step origin worth remembering.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India was constituted as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988 through a resolution of the Government of India.
It was established as a statutory body in the year 1992, and the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 came into force on January 30, 1992.
The Act is numbered 15 of 1992.
The Preamble describes the basic functions of the Board as protecting the interests of investors in securities and promoting the development of, and regulating, the securities market and matters connected with or incidental to it.
Appeals against the Board's orders lie to the Securities Appellate Tribunal, which the regulator lists among the bodies in its framework.
Constituted as non-statutory body:
April 12, 1988
SEBI Act came into force:
January 30, 1992
Act number:
15 of 1992
Appellate body:
Securities Appellate Tribunal
Why it matters for exams: The two dates in SEBI's origin — the 1988 resolution and the 1992 Act coming into force — are a favourite distinction in banking and PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
SEBI Securities and Exchange Board of India — The statutory regulator of India's securities market.
Statutory body — A body created by an Act of the legislature rather than by an executive decision.
SAT Securities Appellate Tribunal — The tribunal that hears appeals against orders of the securities regulator.
Background
The Reserve Bank has been in the news through this week for liquidity and foreign exchange measures; the rate those measures work around is fixed by a statutory committee.
The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was amended in 2016 to give a statutory basis to the flexible inflation targeting framework.
Under Section 45ZA the Central Government, in consultation with the Reserve Bank, determines the inflation target in terms of the Consumer Price Index once in five years and notifies it in the Official Gazette.
The target is 4 per cent CPI inflation, with an upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent and a lower tolerance limit of 2 per cent.
Section 45ZB provides for a six-member Monetary Policy Committee, constituted by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette, to determine the policy repo rate required to achieve that target.
The Governor of the Reserve Bank is its ex officio Chairperson; the Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy and one officer of the Reserve Bank nominated by the Central Board are the other ex officio members, and three members are appointed from outside for a period of four years.
The committee must meet at least four times a year, the quorum is four members, each member has one vote, and in the event of an equality of votes the Governor has a second or casting vote.
The operating target is the weighted average call rate, which the Reserve Bank aligns with the policy repo rate through liquidity management.
Members in the committee:
Six
Inflation target:
4 per cent CPI inflation
Tolerance band:
2 per cent to 6 per cent
Minimum meetings a year:
Four
Quorum:
Four members
Enabling section:
Section 45ZB, RBI Act, 1934
Why it matters for exams: The size, composition, quorum and casting vote of the Monetary Policy Committee and the 4 per cent inflation target are standard questions in banking and civil services papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
MPC Monetary Policy Committee — The six-member statutory committee that decides the Reserve Bank's policy repo rate.
CPI Consumer Price Index — The retail price index in which India's inflation target is expressed.
WACR Weighted average call rate — The overnight interbank rate the Reserve Bank treats as its operating target.
Repo rate Policy repo rate — The rate at which the Reserve Bank lends to banks against approved securities.
Background
Amid a power shortage, the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has allowed the Kerala State Electricity Board to keep buying 177 MW from two NTPC thermal plants, and the order shows where tariff-setting power actually sits.
The clearance covers 80 MW from Barh Stage-I and 97 MW from Barh Stage-II, and runs until 30 April 2029.
The tariffs of those NTPC stations are determined by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, not by the State Commission or by the State board.
Each such tariff has two components: a fixed charge and an energy charge.
For Barh Stage-II the average tariff works out to Rs 4.67 per unit, made up of a fixed charge of Rs 1.97 and an energy charge of Rs 2.89.
Because it cannot reset a central station's tariff itself, the State Commission directed the board to take an active part in the central Commission's tariff hearings and to work to bring the determined tariffs down.
The State Commission compared the rates with round-the-clock power discovered through the DEEP portal and the short-term market before clearing the purchase.
Quantity cleared:
177 MW
Barh Stage-I:
80 MW
Barh Stage-II:
97 MW
Barh Stage-II average tariff:
Rs 4.67 per unit (fixed Rs 1.97, energy Rs 2.89)
Valid until:
30 April 2029
Tariff-setting authority for the stations:
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
Why it matters for exams: The split between the central and State electricity regulators, and the two-part structure of a generation tariff, are asked in both polity and economy sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
CERC Central Electricity Regulatory Commission — The regulator that fixes the tariff of a central generating station such as an NTPC plant.
KSERC Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission — The State regulator that approves the State board's power purchases and retail tariffs.
Fixed charge Capacity component of a generation tariff — The part of the tariff payable for keeping capacity available, apart from the energy actually drawn.
Background
Palakkad, the district where the Sreekrishnapuram case now before the Kerala High Court arose, is one of the fourteen districts of Kerala and has no coastal line. The district opens the State to the rest of the country through the Palakkad Gap, a break in the Western Ghats with a width of 32 to 40 kilometres. Palakkad is one of the main granaries of Kerala and its economy is primarily agricultural. Its geographical position, historical background, educational status and tourism sites give the district a distinct character within the State.
Districts in Kerala:
14
Width of the Palakkad Gap:
32 to 40 km
Coastline:
None
Mainstay of the economy:
Agriculture
Why it matters for exams: The Palakkad Gap, the district's landlocked position and its role as a granary are repeatedly asked in Kerala PSC geography papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Palakkad Gap Palghat Gap — A natural break in the Western Ghats that forms the main land route between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Background
The Suez Canal Authority records that digging of the canal began on 25 April 1859 at Al-Farama, the city now called Port Said, with 20,000 Egyptians taking part in the groundbreaking. The canal was inaugurated on 17 November 1869. The Authority lists nationalisation as the most notable turning point in its history, followed by the canal's closure after the 1967 war and its reopening in June 1975. The idea of linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean is traced to the Egyptian Pharaoh Senausert III of the Twelfth Dynasty. Necho II attempted a re-digging in 610 BC, Darius I in 510 BC and Ptolemy II in 285 BC, and the Roman Emperor Trajan re-dug it around 98 AD. Amr Ibn El-A'as reopened it for navigation in 641 AD.
Digging began:
25 April 1859, at Al-Farama (Port Said)
Inauguration:
17 November 1869
Closed and reopened:
Closed after the 1967 war, reopened June 1975
Earliest idea:
Pharaoh Senausert III, Twelfth Dynasty
Why it matters for exams: The 1869 opening date, the 1967 closure and the 1975 reopening are direct one-mark facts, and the canal underpins questions on world trade routes.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
SCA Suez Canal Authority — The Egyptian state body that owns and operates the Suez Canal and publishes its navigation rules and statistics.
15 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India announced an auction of State Government Securities on 15 October 2026.
State Governments offered to sell stock for an aggregate face value of Rs 24,400 crore.
Andhra Pradesh offered Rs 1,000 crore through a re-issue of 7.68 per cent Andhra Pradesh State Government Securities 2051.
Gujarat offered Rs 1,000 crore as a re-issue of 7.96 per cent Gujarat State Government Securities 2035 and another Rs 1,000 crore of 12-year paper on a yield basis.
Goa offered Rs 200 crore and Jammu and Kashmir Rs 800 crore.
Madhya Pradesh offered Rs 1,000 crore of four-year paper on a yield basis along with re-issues of its 2038 and 2048 securities.
Aggregate face value:
Rs 24,400 crore
Andhra Pradesh offer:
Rs 1,000 crore
Jammu and Kashmir offer:
Rs 800 crore
Why it matters for exams: State Development Loans and how states raise market borrowings are regular banking and economy topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
SGS State Government Securities — Dated securities issued by state governments to raise market borrowings, also called State Development Loans.
Background
Bilateral trade between India and Egypt was 6.5 billion United States dollars in financial year 2025-26. India is the fifth largest exporter to Egypt, the twelfth largest importer from Egypt and Egypt's sixth largest trading partner. The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favoured Nation clause. Over 700 Indian companies are registered in Egypt, of which about 70 are active, with combined investment exceeding 5.5 billion dollars, providing direct and indirect employment to about 40,000 Egyptians. Major investments include TCI Sanmar, valued at 1.6 billion dollars, Alexandria Carbon Black, Dabur India and SCIB Paints. Egyptian investment in India is about 37 million dollars. A Special Rupee Vostro Account opened by the State Bank of India with Banque Misr was operationalised in June 2026 after approval by the Central Bank of Egypt.
Bilateral trade FY 2025-26:
US$ 6.5 billion
Indian investment in Egypt:
Over US$ 5.5 billion
Egyptians employed:
About 40,000
Rupee Vostro Account:
SBI with Banque Misr, operational June 2026
Why it matters for exams: Bilateral trade figures and rupee trade settlement arrangements are standard economy and international relations questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
SRVA Special Rupee Vostro Account — An account a foreign bank keeps with an Indian bank so that trade can be invoiced and settled in Indian rupees.
MFN Most Favoured Nation — A trade rule under which a country gives a partner terms no less favourable than it gives any other partner.
15 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions on the Foreign Exchange Risk Reserve on 15 October 2026.
The FAQs clarify requirements introduced through A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 26 dated 10 October 2026 and A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 27 dated 12 October 2026.
The clarifications are available on the Reserve Bank of India website.
The press release was issued by Chief General Manager Brij Raj.
It carries the reference number Press Release: 2026-2027/1334.
A.P. (DIR Series) circulars are the instrument through which the RBI issues instructions to authorised dealers in foreign exchange.
Subject:
Foreign Exchange Risk Reserve
Circulars clarified:
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 26 and No. 27
Press release number:
2026-2027/1334
Why it matters for exams: RBI circular types and new reserve requirements are asked in banking and economy papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
A.P. (DIR Series) Authorised Person (Directions) Series — The circular series through which the RBI instructs authorised dealers in foreign exchange.
15 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India released preliminary balance of payments data for August 2026 on 15 October 2026.
The current account recorded a net deficit of US$ 5.2 billion in August 2026, against US$ 6.1 billion in August 2025.
For April-August 2026, the cumulative current account deficit widened to US$ 18.3 billion from US$ 12.8 billion a year earlier.
Net merchandise trade showed a deficit of US$ 26.6 billion in August 2026.
Net services recorded a surplus of US$ 16.5 billion in the month.
The capital account recorded a net inflow of US$ 50.6 billion in August 2026, against US$ 0.5 billion in August 2025.
Current account deficit, August 2026:
US$ 5.2 billion
Cumulative deficit, April-August 2026:
US$ 18.3 billion
Net services surplus, August 2026:
US$ 16.5 billion
Why it matters for exams: Current account deficit figures and the distinction between current and capital accounts are core economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
BoP Balance of Payments — A statement of all economic transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world.
15 October 2026
The Frontier Tech Hub of NITI Aayog released a Data Centre Evaluation Framework on 14 October 2026 to help states plan for sustainable growth.
The Framework is structured around five pillars: Power and Energy; Water and Cooling; Siting and Environmental Sustainability; Economic and Strategic Value; and Policy, Governance and Implementation.
NITI Aayog CEO Anurag Jain said states need to assess infrastructure availability and resource requirements before committing support to data-centre projects.
NITI Aayog Member Abhay Karandikar stressed strengthening domestic research and development and industry-academia collaboration.
Distinguished Fellow Debjani Ghosh said data centres are becoming critical strategic infrastructure as artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy.
The release notes a tax holiday until 2047 for eligible foreign cloud service providers using India-based data-centre infrastructure.
Number of pillars:
Five
NITI Aayog CEO:
Anurag Jain
Tax holiday for eligible foreign cloud providers:
Until 2047
Why it matters for exams: NITI Aayog frameworks, their pillars and the officials who head the body are commonly asked in governance papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Frontier Tech Hub NITI Aayog Frontier Tech Hub — A NITI Aayog unit that works on emerging technologies and their policy implications.
15 October 2026
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal launched the National Strategic Trade Command Centre at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on 15 October 2026.
It was developed by the Department of Commerce as an integrated analytics and visualisation platform for trade data.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Director General of Foreign Trade Lav Agarwal were present.
The platform carries dashboards on Importer Exporter Code, Advance Authorisation, Export Promotion Capital Goods, Certificate of Origin and SCOMET.
It is built around three dimensions: integrated monitoring, performance assessment and evidence-based policy inputs.
It leverages existing DGFT systems and the Trade Connect ePlatform.
Launched by:
Piyush Goyal
Venue:
Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi
Developed by:
Department of Commerce
Why it matters for exams: New government digital platforms and the ministry that runs them are frequently asked in governance and economy sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SCOMET Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies — India's export control list for dual-use and sensitive items.
DGFT Directorate General of Foreign Trade — The body under the Department of Commerce that administers India's foreign trade policy.
15 October 2026
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the Periodic Labour Force Survey monthly bulletin for September 2026 on 15 October 2026.
The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above remained steady at 5.0 per cent, down 0.2 percentage points from September 2025.
The Labour Force Participation Rate was 55.5 per cent, against 55.6 per cent in August 2026.
Urban female labour force participation rose from 25.4 per cent to 25.9 per cent, its highest level since October 2025.
The Worker Population Ratio stood at 52.7 per cent, with urban WPR at 47.2 per cent.
The estimates are based on information collected from 3,70,513 persons.
Unemployment rate (15+):
5.0 per cent
Labour Force Participation Rate:
55.5 per cent
Worker Population Ratio:
52.7 per cent
Persons surveyed:
3,70,513
Why it matters for exams: PLFS indicators such as LFPR, WPR and the unemployment rate are directly asked in economy and statistics sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
LFPR Labour Force Participation Rate — The share of the population that is either working or seeking work.
CWS Current Weekly Status — A reference period of the seven days preceding the survey date.