10 October 2026
Mizoram is set to host the North East Bankers' Conclave 3.0 on 13 October.
State Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena chaired a meeting to review preparations.
Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia is expected to attend.
The conclave is expected to bring together chief secretaries of northeastern states, Reserve Bank of India officials, state government functionaries and representatives of various banks.
Event:
North East Bankers' Conclave 3.0
Host state:
Mizoram
Date:
13 October
Review meeting chaired by:
Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena
Expected Union Minister:
Jyotiraditya Scindia (DoNER)
Why it matters for exams: Regional banking events and the DoNER ministry's role are common in current-affairs and banking papers.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
DoNER Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region — The Union ministry that coordinates development work in the eight northeastern states.
RBI Reserve Bank of India — India's central bank, whose officials are expected at the conclave.
Background
Four main EU institutions work together to set the Union's agenda and to initiate and coordinate EU law-making: the European Council in Brussels, the European Parliament in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg, the Council of the European Union in Brussels and Luxembourg, and the European Commission in Brussels and Luxembourg.
The European Council does not generally make laws; its main role is to determine the EU's political direction, though it can agree on changes in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
In most cases the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission produce the policies and laws that apply across the Union.
The work of the four is complemented by three more institutions that handle judicial, financial and audit tasks: the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg, the European Central Bank in Frankfurt and the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg.
Around 60,000 EU civil servants and other staff serve the 450 million people living in the EU.
The institutions work with a network of EU agencies whose main function is to translate policies into realities on the ground.
Main EU institutions:
4, complemented by 3 more
Seat of the European Central Bank:
Frankfurt
Seat of the Court of Justice of the European Union:
Luxembourg
People living in the EU:
450 million
Why it matters for exams: Which EU body sits in which city, and the difference between the European Council's political role and the law-making trio, are standard objective questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
CJEU Court of Justice of the European Union — The institution that makes sure EU law is applied the same way across the Union.
ECB European Central Bank — The institution that manages the euro and implements EU monetary policy.
Background
The Commonwealth is made up of 56 independent countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific.
Its member countries include some of the world's biggest, smallest, richest and poorest countries.
Thirty-three of the world's 42 small states are Commonwealth members, each with a population of 1.5 million or less.
The Commonwealth Secretariat says 2.7 billion people live in Commonwealth countries, and more than 60 percent of them are aged 29 or under.
All Commonwealth members have an equal say regardless of size or wealth.
Leaders of member countries shape Commonwealth policies and priorities, and meet every two years at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Member countries:
56
Small states that are members:
33 of the world's 42
Population threshold for a small state:
1.5 million or less
People living in Commonwealth countries:
2.7 billion
Why it matters for exams: The membership figure, the small-state threshold and the two-year cycle of the Heads of Government Meeting are the regular Commonwealth questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
CHOGM Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting — The meeting of member country leaders, held every two years, that sets Commonwealth priorities.
Background
The International Development Association, or IDA, is a part of the World Bank that supports low-income countries with grants and concessional loans.
It was established in 1960 and serves 78 countries, where it is the largest provider of essential social services.
Thirty-five countries no longer borrow from IDA, and when a borrowing country later returns as a donor that is treated as a milestone for IDA.
The World Bank Group is made up of five institutions: IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA and ICSID.
IDA combines financing with knowledge and research to help countries reduce poverty, stimulate economic growth and improve living conditions.
Countries served by IDA:
78
Countries that no longer borrow from IDA:
35
Institutions in the World Bank Group:
5
Why it matters for exams: Examiners ask which arm of the World Bank Group lends on concessional terms to the poorest countries, and expect the five institutions of the Group to be named.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
IDA International Development Association — The World Bank arm that gives grants and concessional loans to low-income countries.
IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development — The oldest institution of the World Bank Group, which lends to middle-income and creditworthy governments.
MIGA Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency — The World Bank Group arm that offers guarantees against non-commercial risk to investors.
Background
The GST Council approved in principle the creation of a National Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal, to be situated at New Delhi.
The Tribunal is presided over by its President and consists of one Technical Member from the Centre and one Technical Member from the State.
All GST anti-profiteering complaints are now dealt with by the Competition Commission of India.
Earlier, the National Anti-profiteering Authority was set up to check unfair profiteering by registered suppliers and to ensure that the benefit of a reduction in GST rates and of input tax credit was passed on to consumers through lower prices; it was initially set up for two years and later extended.
Among the Council's other process decisions, the e-way bill mechanism was introduced for self-reporting businesses, and the e-invoicing system was approved, with e-invoicing made mandatory for firms with annual turnover of Rs 5 crore or more for business-to-business supplies.
The Council also records the rationalisation of rates, with the items in the 28 per cent slab brought down from 226 to 37.
Seat of the National Bench:
New Delhi
Composition of the National Bench:
President, one Technical Member (Centre), one Technical Member (State)
Anti-profiteering complaints:
Dealt with by the Competition Commission of India
E-invoicing threshold:
Annual turnover of Rs 5 crore or more, for business-to-business supplies
Items in the 28 per cent slab:
Reduced from 226 to 37
Why it matters for exams: Which body now hears anti-profiteering complaints, and the composition of the GST Appellate Tribunal's National Bench, are the kind of institutional shifts examiners test.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
GSTAT Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal — The tribunal that hears appeals against orders passed under the GST laws.
Anti-profiteering Anti-profiteering under GST — The requirement that a supplier pass on a rate cut or input tax credit benefit to the consumer as a lower price.
Background
The PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement Scheme, known as PM E-DRIVE, supports faster adoption of electric vehicles through upfront purchase incentives and the development of charging infrastructure.
It is implemented on a pan-India basis with a total outlay of ₹11,900 crore, and the scheme period has been extended to 31 March 2028.
The categories covered are electric two wheelers, electric three wheelers including registered e-rickshaws and e-carts and L5, e-ambulances, e-trucks, e-buses, charging infrastructure, and upgradation of testing agencies.
Registered electric two wheelers receive an incentive of ₹2,500/kWh capped at ₹5,000 per vehicle, for vehicles priced up to ₹1.5 lakh ex-factory, with a fund allocation of ₹2,767 crore.
₹4,391 crore has been allocated for the deployment of 14,028 e-buses, ₹2,000 crore has been earmarked for public charging stations nationwide, and ₹780 crore for modernisation and upgradation of vehicle testing agencies.
E-vouchers pass the demand incentive to the buyer as an upfront reduction in price, and the amount is later reimbursed to the manufacturer by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
Total outlay:
₹11,900 crore
Scheme extended until:
31 March 2028
Incentive for registered e-2 wheelers:
₹2,500/kWh, capped at ₹5,000 per vehicle
Allocation for e-buses:
₹4,391 crore for 14,028 e-buses
Implementing ministry:
Ministry of Heavy Industries
Why it matters for exams: A named scheme with its implementing ministry, outlay and per-kWh incentive is exactly the kind of detail a scheme question turns on.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
PM E-DRIVE PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement Scheme — The central scheme giving upfront incentives for electric vehicles and funding charging infrastructure.
EV PCS Electric vehicle public charging station — A charging station open to the public, supported by grant under the scheme.
Background
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, when the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) came into force on January 30, 1992.
The Preamble of the Board describes its basic functions as to protect the interests of investors in securities, to promote the development of the securities market and to regulate the securities market, and for matters connected with or incidental to that.
Appeals against the Board's orders lie to the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
The regulator's own site lists its Board, organisation structure, powers and functions, and its committees.
Constituted as a non-statutory body:
April 12, 1988, by a resolution of the Government of India
Governing Act:
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992)
Act came into force:
January 30, 1992
Appellate forum:
Securities Appellate Tribunal
Why it matters for exams: The gap between the non-statutory resolution and the statutory Act, and the Act's number, are the details examiners test on SEBI.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
SEBI Securities and Exchange Board of India — The statutory regulator of India's securities market.
SAT Securities Appellate Tribunal — The tribunal that hears appeals against orders of the securities regulator.
Background
The Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016 inserted Article 279A, and the GST Council had to be constituted by the President within 60 days of the commencement of that article.
Article 279A was brought into force with effect from 12th September, 2016, and the Union Cabinet approved the setting up of the Council and its Secretariat on the same date.
The Council is a joint forum of the Centre and the States: the Union Finance Minister is the Chairperson, the Union Minister of State in charge of Revenue or Finance is a Member, and the Minister in charge of finance or taxation, or any other Minister nominated by each State Government, are Members.
Every decision of the Council is taken by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the weighted votes of the members present and voting, with a weightage of one-third of the total votes cast to the Centre and two-thirds to the States.
The Secretary (Revenue) is the ex-officio Secretary to the Council, and the Chairperson of the Central Board of Excise and Customs is a permanent invitee without a vote.
The GST Council Secretariat has its office at New Delhi, and its entire cost is borne by the Central Government.
Under Article 279A(4) the Council recommends on goods and services to be taxed or exempted, model GST laws, place of supply principles, threshold limits, and GST rates including floor rates with bands.
Constitutional provision:
Article 279A
Amendment that inserted it:
The Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016
Majority needed for a decision:
Not less than three-fourths of weighted votes of members present and voting
Vote weightage:
Centre one-third, States two-thirds
Ex-officio Secretary:
Secretary (Revenue)
Why it matters for exams: The weighted voting formula and the exact composition of a constitutional body created by amendment are standard polity and economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
GST Goods and Services Tax — The single indirect tax on the supply of goods and services that replaced several central and state levies.
Weighted vote Weighted voting in the GST Council — A vote counted with a fixed share for the Centre and for the States rather than one member one vote.
Background
The Kollam district administration's profile records that the district is naturally veined by the Ashtamudi lake, a massive multi-branched water body, and that this lake together with the Kollam canal gives Kollam a place of prominence in the waterway systems of the country. Administratively the district has two revenue divisions, Kollam and Punalur, with three taluks each under them. The profile records that Kollam has been the centre of the cashew industry in Kerala from the time of the Portuguese in the 16th century, and that with hundreds of working cashew factories the district still continues to be the largest processed cashew exporter in India. Neendakara and Thangasseri are named as the two fishing harbours and ports in Kollam, supporting a marine industry. The soil is described as varyingly loamy, laterite and forest at the coastal regions, and the district has a large forest cover on its eastern side with eco tourism projects such as Shenduruni, Thenmala and Palaruvi.
Revenue divisions:
Kollam and Punalur, three taluks each
Cashew:
Largest processed cashew exporter in India
Fishing harbours and ports:
Neendakara and Thangasseri
Chief water body:
Ashtamudi lake
Why it matters for exams: The cashew question, the two revenue divisions and the two fishing harbours of Kollam are all stated in the district's own profile.
Kerala PSCSSC
In plain words
Ashtamudi Ashtamudi lake — The multi-branched lake of Kollam that the district profile links to the country's waterway systems.
Revenue division Revenue division — An administrative tier between the district and the taluk in Kerala's revenue set-up.
Background
The news from the United Kingdom this week came from three different seats of power at once: Westminster for the Armed Forces Bill, the Scottish Parliament for the winter health plan and the Northern Ireland Office for the Drumcree parade order. The standing facts behind that spread are these.
The Commonwealth records London as the capital of the United Kingdom, with a population of 67.2 million in 2022.
The currency is the pound, written with the £ sign. The Bank of England is responsible for providing banknotes, and four denominations are in circulation, the £5, £10, £20 and £50, all printed on polymer.
The Bank says it has issued notes for more than three centuries and works with De La Rue, which currently prints them.
The United Kingdom is made up of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
King Charles III is Head of State, and he is also Head of the Commonwealth and Head of State of 15 Commonwealth countries.
Great Britain's tallest mountain, Ben Nevis in Scotland, has an official height of 1,345m after Ordnance Survey resurveyed it, up from the 1,344m recorded at its previous survey in 1949.
Capital:
London
Currency:
Pound (£)
Banknote denominations in circulation:
£5, £10, £20, £50
Constituent nations:
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Head of State:
King Charles III
Ben Nevis official height:
1,345m
Why it matters for exams: Capital, currency, head of state and the four constituent nations are the most frequently repeated United Kingdom questions in general knowledge papers, and the Ben Nevis height is a standard geography one-liner.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
Polymer banknote Polymer banknote — A banknote printed on thin plastic film instead of paper, which lasts longer in circulation.
Ordnance Survey Ordnance Survey — The national mapping agency for Great Britain.
10 October 2026
The Meghalaya government's Information and Public Relations Department put out on 5 October 2026 that the North Eastern Council released ₹42.63 crore and recorded project completions worth ₹45.48 crore during September 2026.
Fourteen major infrastructure projects, worth ₹45.48 crore together, were completed and closed in that month.
Two completed projects in Meghalaya are named in the release.
One is the construction of school buildings at Mawthadraishan in West Khasi Hills, at ₹4.75 crore.
The other is the development of the Cultural Complex of Seng Khasi Ri Raid Laban at Lum Shat Sngi Kenches Trace, Shillong, at ₹9.28 crore.
Of the ₹42.63 crore released, ₹35.21 crore went to the North Eastern States and ₹7.42 crore to regional institutions and agencies; the release is numbered 05/10/2026.
Funds released in September 2026:
₹42.63 crore
Value of completions:
₹45.48 crore
Projects completed and closed:
14
Mawthadraishan school building:
₹4.75 crore
Seng Khasi Ri Raid Laban cultural complex:
₹9.28 crore
Why it matters for exams: The North Eastern Council is the standing regional planning body for the eight North Eastern States, and its monthly releases give the kind of figure examiners quote.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
NEC North Eastern Council — The statutory regional body that plans and funds development projects across the North Eastern States.
Background
The Monetary Policy Committee has just raised the policy repo rate to 5.50 per cent at its meeting of October 5 to 7, 2026, which puts the framework it works under back in the news. Section 45ZB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 provides for an empowered six-member Monetary Policy Committee. The Governor is its ex officio Chairperson, and the Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy and one officer of the Bank nominated by the Central Board are the other ex officio members. The three external members notified on October 1, 2024 are Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Shri Saugata Bhattacharya and Prof. Ram Singh, who hold office for four years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The Committee meets at least four times a year, the quorum is four members, each member has one vote and the Governor has a second or casting vote in case of a tie. Under Section 45ZA the Central Government, in consultation with the Reserve Bank, sets the consumer price index inflation target once every five years; it is 4 per cent with a tolerance band of 2 to 6 per cent, retained for April 2026 to March 2031.
Members:
6
Quorum:
4 members
Minimum meetings a year:
4
Inflation target:
4 per cent with a tolerance band of 2 to 6 per cent
Enabling provision:
Section 45ZB, Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
Why it matters for exams: The composition, quorum, voting rule and inflation target of the Monetary Policy Committee are asked verbatim in bank and civil service papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
Flexible inflation targeting Flexible inflation targeting framework — A framework in which the central bank aims at a numerical inflation target while allowing a tolerance band around it.
Ex officio member Member by virtue of office — A member who sits on a body because of the post held, not by separate appointment.
10 October 2026
The Kerala State Financial Enterprises will hold the state-level launch of its Pink Chitties on October 12 at 11 am. Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan will inaugurate the launch in the Chief Minister's chamber in the Niyamasabha. At the same function KSFE will hand over its guarantee commission for the financial year 2025-26, amounting to ₹110.04 crore, to the Chief Minister. KSFE Managing Director Abhilash P. N., Chairman K. R. Jyothilal and board members Meera K. S., B. S. Preetha and Manoj K. will take part.
Guarantee commission for 2025-26:
₹110.04 crore
Launch date:
October 12, 11 am
Managing Director:
Abhilash P. N.
Why it matters for exams: KSFE is a Kerala public sector undertaking whose chitty products and payments to the State treasury are asked in state-level examinations.
Kerala PSCBank
In plain words
KSFE Kerala State Financial Enterprises Limited — A Kerala government company that runs chitties and lending schemes.
Guarantee commission Guarantee commission — The fee a state undertaking pays the government for the guarantee the government gives on its liabilities.
10 October 2026
Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan announced the schedule of the second session of the Sixteenth Kerala Legislative Assembly at a press conference. The session begins on October 12 and will have nine sittings, on October 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 26, 27, 28 and 29. Government business is set for October 12 to 15 and October 27 to 29, and private members' business for October 16. On October 26 the House will discuss and vote on supplementary demands for grants for the revised budget and on additional demands for the five financial years since 2017. On October 29, from 1 pm to 2 pm, the House will take up the expenditure relating to those supplementary and additional demands. The Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2026 will be introduced on October 12, along with a motion to refer them to a subject committee. The Business Advisory Committee will meet on October 12 to settle the legislative business of the remaining days. Deputy Speaker Shanimol Usman and Assembly Secretary Shaji C. Baby were present.
Session begins:
October 12
Number of sittings:
9
Private members' business:
October 16
Supplementary demands taken up:
October 26
Why it matters for exams: Session dates, the Bills introduced and the handling of supplementary demands for grants are standard Kerala polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Business Advisory Committee Business Advisory Committee of the Kerala Legislative Assembly — The committee that allots time for the legislative and other business of each sitting.
Supplementary demands for grants Supplementary demands for grants — Extra money the government asks the House to sanction when the budget provision falls short.
Background
Germany is a federal parliamentary republic with its capital at Berlin and German as its official European Union language. Its currency is the euro, and it has been in the euro area since 1 January 1999. It has been a European Union member state since 1 January 1958, making it one of the six founding members of the European Economic Community, and a Schengen area member since 26 March 1995. Eurostat figures for 2025 put its population at 83 577 140 and its geographical size at 357 569 km2, and Germany sends 96 representatives to the European Parliament, the largest national contingent. The Chancellor is head of government and the President is head of state with mainly representative duties. The federation has 16 states, of which three are city-states: Bremen, Berlin and Hamburg.
Capital:
Berlin
Currency:
Euro
Population (Eurostat 2025):
83 577 140
Geographical size:
357 569 km2
Seats in the European Parliament:
96
States (Laender):
16, of which 3 are city-states
Why it matters for exams: Capital, currency, number of states and EU membership dates are the most repeated static questions on Germany.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Laender Bundeslaender (federal states) — The 16 constituent states of the German federation, each with its own parliament and government.
Schengen area Schengen area — The group of European states that have abolished checks at their common borders.
10 October 2026
The German federal government's draft budget for 2027 provides more than 109 billion euros for defence, supplemented by money from the Bundeswehr special fund. The cabinet adopted the draft on 6 July 2026 and it was presented in the Bundestag on 8 September 2026. More than 36 billion euros is set aside for federal investment in 2027; on top of that come 10 billion euros for the Climate and Transformation Fund and around 8 billion euros to support the Laender and municipalities, with around 118 billion euros available in all. The government titles the budget an estimate in the service of prosperity and security. In Germany the Bundestag holds the power of the purse, and the budget becomes law only after the full parliamentary reading and a final vote.
Defence spending, 2027 draft:
more than 109 billion euros
Federal investment:
more than 36 billion euros
Climate and Transformation Fund:
10 billion euros
Support for Laender and municipalities:
around 8 billion euros
Why it matters for exams: Germany's sharply higher defence spending is central to questions on NATO burden sharing and European rearmament.
UPSCBank
In plain words
Bundeswehr Federal Defence Forces — The unified armed forces of Germany.
Sondervermoegen Special fund — An off-budget fund in German public finance, used for Bundeswehr modernisation and for infrastructure.
10 October 2026
New orders in German manufacturing fell 10.6% in August 2026 compared with July 2026, in real terms and seasonally and calendar adjusted, Destatis said on 6 October 2026. Excluding large-scale orders the fall was only 0.1%, and orders were still 2.7% above August 2025. Destatis said the decline was almost entirely attributable to the sharp decline in the manufacture of other transport equipment, which fell 61.5% after an unusually large volume of big orders for ships, rail rolling stock and aircraft had more than doubled that sector in July. Capital goods orders fell 15.3%, consumer goods 7.3% and intermediate goods 2.6%. Domestic orders were down 17.3% and foreign orders 5.4%.
New orders, August 2026 (month on month):
-10.6%
Excluding large-scale orders:
-0.1%
Year on year:
+2.7%
Other transport equipment:
-61.5%
Domestic orders:
-17.3%
Why it matters for exams: Factory orders are a leading indicator of industrial output, and the large-order distortion is a good lesson in reading statistics.
UPSCBank
In plain words
Capital goods Capital goods — Machinery, equipment and vehicles bought by firms to produce other goods.
10 October 2026
Destatis reported on 8 October 2026 that German exports in August 2026 were 137.6 billion euros, down 0.8% on July 2026 but 6.2% higher than in August 2025. These are provisional figures, calendar and seasonally adjusted. Imports came to 118.1 billion euros, up 0.9% on the month and 5.5% on the year. The foreign trade balance thus showed a surplus of 19.5 billion euros in August 2026, against 21.6 billion euros in July 2026 and 17.6 billion euros in August 2025. Without calendar and seasonal adjustment, exports were 123.4 billion euros, imports 108.4 billion euros and the surplus 15.0 billion euros. Exports to the European Union were 77.5 billion euros. Exports to the United States fell 6.3% on the month to 13.5 billion euros, though they were 22.6% above August 2025. Imports from China rose 11.0% on the month to 16.8 billion euros.
Exports, August 2026:
137.6 billion euros
Imports, August 2026:
118.1 billion euros
Trade surplus:
19.5 billion euros
Exports to the EU:
77.5 billion euros
Imports from China:
16.8 billion euros
Why it matters for exams: Germany is Europe's biggest exporter, and its trade surplus is a recurring question on world economy and balance of trade.
UPSCBank
In plain words
Trade balance Balance of merchandise trade — Exports minus imports of goods; a positive figure is a trade surplus.
10 October 2026
Germany's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) put the country's inflation rate at +3.3% year on year in September 2026, on provisional figures. Consumer prices rose +0.6% on the previous month. Energy prices were +14.9% higher than a year earlier, while food prices rose only +0.4%. Core inflation, measured without food and energy, stood at +2.4%. The same headline rate applies to the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP), the measure the European Central Bank watches for euro area countries. Germany is the euro area's largest economy, so its price data feed directly into ECB rate thinking.
Inflation rate, September 2026:
+3.3%
Month on month:
+0.6%
Energy prices:
+14.9%
Food prices:
+0.4%
Core inflation:
+2.4%
Why it matters for exams: Euro area inflation figures and the HICP are standard economy questions in UPSC and bank examinations.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
HICP Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices — The common price index used to compare inflation across European Union member states.
Destatis Statistisches Bundesamt (Federal Statistical Office) — Germany's central official statistics agency, based in Wiesbaden.
10 October 2026
Belgian trade unions held a national strike and march in Brussels on 9 October 2026 against the government's austerity plans. Police put the turnout at about 30,000 and said the main union march passed peacefully. The government of Prime Minister Bart De Wever is negotiating savings of 10 billion euros over the next few years with its coalition partners to reduce the deficit, with a deadline of 13 October. Unions object to cuts in areas such as health and to a rise in value added tax, and want higher taxes on the highest earners instead. Several hundred youths at the edge of the protest threw sticks and bottles and clashed with riot police, who used water cannon and tear gas, and police reported serious disturbances to public order. Several days of protests in Liege had already led to about 200 arrests.
Date:
9 October 2026
Turnout (police estimate):
about 30,000
Savings sought:
10 billion euros
Coalition deadline:
13 October
Prime Minister:
Bart De Wever
Why it matters for exams: European austerity politics, deficit targets and union action are recurring questions on the world economy.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
VAT Value Added Tax — A tax charged at each stage of production and sale, borne finally by the consumer.