15 October 2026
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan laid the foundation stone for a new fishing harbour at Vizhinjam and inaugurated the renovation of the existing harbour.
The function was held at Thennurkonam on the Vizhinjam-Poovar road, with Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor presiding.
The new fishing harbour will cost Rs 260 crore and is being built by Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited as a government-funded work. It will have a 235 m breakwater, a 340 m fish landing wharf and a 400 m reclamation bund, with two auction halls, about 12,285 sq m of parking, a 1 km internal road and an administrative building.
The existing harbour will be renovated at Rs 90 crore over two years, funded by the State through VISL.
A new fish market of about 8,212 sq ft, with 30 display outlets, shops and freezer rooms, will cost Rs 2.76 crore.
New breakwaters for both harbours will cost Rs 125 crore and will be built by the Harbour Engineering Department.
The Chief Minister also distributed Rs 35 crore to 1,335 beneficiaries as compensation for the extra fuel costs fishermen face because of the international port's breakwater construction.
New fishing harbour:
Rs 260 crore
Renovation of existing harbour:
Rs 90 crore over two years
New breakwaters:
Rs 125 crore
Fuel cost compensation:
Rs 35 crore to 1,335 beneficiaries
Why it matters for exams: Vizhinjam is the state's flagship port location and the fisheries works there carry exact costs and dimensions that make clean questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Breakwater Breakwater — A wall built into the sea to break waves and protect a harbour basin.
VISL Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited — The Kerala government company that holds the state's interest in the Vizhinjam port project.
15 October 2026
P.K. Kunhalikutty, Minister for Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Future Technology, launched the 'Tech Kerala' brand at the Travancore Hall of Technopark.
The brand is meant to carry Kerala's IT sector beyond traditional IT services towards future technologies.
The Tech Kerala portal and an IT Park Affiliation scheme were launched at the same function.
Under the affiliation scheme private companies, co-working spaces and private technology parks can seek affiliation with government IT parks and get support in branding, marketing, mentorship and networking, along with access to IT job fairs.
A Semicon Kerala Consortium and a Maker Hub were also announced.
The Minister laid the foundation for a prefabricated building of 2 lakh square feet on the Technopark Phase Three campus, and Technopark signed a memorandum of understanding with Caspian Tech Parks for a project starting in Phase One.
V. Muraleedharan MLA presided over the function.
Brand launched:
Tech Kerala
Venue:
Travancore Hall, Technopark
Prefabricated building:
2 lakh square feet, Technopark Phase Three
Why it matters for exams: Technopark, the new brand name and the affiliation idea are the sort of Kerala-specific economy facts that recur in state exams.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Co-working space Co-working space — A shared office where separate firms and freelancers rent desks.
15 October 2026
The Kerala State Electricity Board has announced revised service connection charges, worked out from the connected load instead of from the poles and material each connection needs.
For a single-phase domestic connection with a connected load up to 2 kW, the charge is a flat Rs 2,000.
A single-phase non-domestic connection costs Rs 2,500 up to 1 kW and Rs 3,000 above 1 kW up to 2 kW; all categories pay Rs 5,000 above 2 kW up to 5 kW.
Three-phase connections cost Rs 8,000 above 5 kW up to 7 kW and Rs 10,000 above 7 kW up to 10 kW.
KSEB's Distribution Core Committee reckons 67 per cent of connections have a load up to 2 kW, 76 per cent are below 3 kW and about 91 per cent are up to 5 kW.
KSEB had proposed Rs 2,500 up to 1 kW and Rs 3,000 above that for domestic users; the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission rejected the slab and fixed the flat Rs 2,000, noting that many houses built under central and state housing schemes, including the LIFE Mission, fall in the up to 2 kW range.
The revised rates took effect on 12 October and apply to premises within 200 metres of the existing 11 kV or low tension network.
Domestic up to 2 kW:
Rs 2,000
Share of connections up to 2 kW:
67 per cent
Three-phase above 7 kW up to 10 kW:
Rs 10,000
Effective from:
12 October
Why it matters for exams: The split of work between KSEB and the regulatory commission, and the exact slab figures, are both standard question material.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
KSERC Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission — The statutory body that fixes electricity tariffs and charges in Kerala.
Connected load Connected load — The total wattage of equipment a consumer's connection is sanctioned for.
15 October 2026
The Kerala State Financial Enterprises launched 'Pink Chitties', a chitty open only to women and transgender persons.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced the launch at a function in the Niyamasabha media room.
The scheme is presented as part of the government's women's empowerment policy and is meant to build a savings habit out of daily savings and to promote financial self-reliance through a secure investment.
At the same function, KSFE Managing Director P.N. Abhilash handed the Chief Minister the second instalment of the company's guarantee commission for 2025-26, of Rs 110.04 crore.
General Managers S. Sharath Chandran and P. Sreekumar and Company Secretary Emil Alex were present.
Guarantee commission instalment:
Rs 110.04 crore
Financial year:
2025-26
Eligible subscribers:
Women and transgender persons only
Why it matters for exams: KSFE is a Kerala public sector undertaking that appears often in state exams, and a new scheme with an exact commission figure is easy to set a question on.
Kerala PSCBank
In plain words
KSFE Kerala State Financial Enterprises — A state-owned company that runs chitties and gold loans in Kerala.
Guarantee commission Guarantee commission — A fee a public undertaking pays the government for the state's guarantee on its borrowings.
15 October 2026
The Federal Reserve Board released the results of the 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances on 9 October 2026. The survey provides the public and policymakers with detailed insights into the economic condition of American families. Measured from 2022 to 2025 and adjusted for inflation, median family income rose 7 per cent to $82,200 while mean family income fell 6 per cent to $145,200. Median net worth rose 2 per cent to $215,900 and mean net worth rose 7 per cent to $1.24 million. The gap between the median and the mean, and the fact that the two income measures moved in opposite directions, point to gains concentrated at the upper end of the distribution.
Median family income:
Up 7% to $82,200
Mean family income:
Down 6% to $145,200
Median net worth:
Up 2% to $215,900
Mean net worth:
Up 7% to $1.24 million
Why it matters for exams: The difference between median and mean is a standard statistics concept, and this survey gives a live example with exact figures.
UPSCBank
In plain words
SCF Survey of Consumer Finances — A triennial Federal Reserve survey of United States household balance sheets.
Median Median — The middle value, which is unaffected by extreme values at either end.
15 October 2026
The Central Electricity Authority held the first day of a two-day International Conference cum Exhibition titled Making Indian Power Sector AI Enabled at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, on 14 October 2026. Shri Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson of the CEA, set the context for the conference. The event saw the launch of the CEA's Vidhyut Dwar Portal, the release of the CEA Manual on Transmission Planning Criteria, 2026, and the distribution of the CEA Employee Awards. The CEA has formed a team of 54 artificial intelligence enthusiasts and brand ambassadors to take AI forward across the power sector, and power utilities may also set up dedicated AI teams. Six parallel thematic discussions were held on the first day.
Portal launched:
Vidhyut Dwar Portal
AI brand ambassadors:
54
Venue:
Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi
Manual released:
CEA Manual on Transmission Planning Criteria, 2026
Why it matters for exams: A new government portal, a dated manual and a precise headcount are all easy objective-question material.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CEA Central Electricity Authority — The technical body that advises the Union government on power system planning.
15 October 2026
The Government of India has constituted a committee to examine issues relating to sugarcane farmers and the sugar sector, announced in a release of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Prof. Ramesh Chand, former Member of NITI Aayog, is the chairman. The members are the Agriculture Commissioner in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Joint Secretary (Sugar) in the Department of Food and Public Distribution, and the Joint Secretary (Legal Metrology) in the Department of Consumer Affairs. The terms of reference include examining farmers' demand for higher remunerative returns, the demand to revise the ex-mill Minimum Selling Price of sugar, the existing mechanisms for testing and reporting sugar recovery, sugarcane weighment practices at mills including calibration and verification, and the weight deductions applied to mechanically harvested sugarcane and their effect on cane prices paid to farmers. The committee may consult farmers' representatives, sugar mill associations, State Governments and other experts, and is to submit findings and recommendations to the competent authority as early as possible.
Chairman:
Prof. Ramesh Chand, former Member, NITI Aayog
Ministry issuing the release:
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Members:
3 officials
Why it matters for exams: Committee chairmanships and the exact terms of reference on cane pricing and the ex-mill Minimum Selling Price are frequently asked.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
MSP of sugar Minimum Selling Price of sugar — The floor price at which mills may sell sugar at the factory gate.
Legal Metrology Legal Metrology — The branch of government that regulates weights and measures.
15 October 2026
India and Brunei Darussalam held the third meeting of their Joint Trade Committee. It was co-chaired by Shri Amit Verma, Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and by Dr. May Fa'ezah Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary (Economy and Trade) in Brunei Darussalam's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The two sides discussed expanding bilateral trade, market access priorities and mechanisms for business-to-business exchanges. They took up facilitating Indian exports of agricultural and animal products to Brunei to support food security, and identified pharmaceuticals, healthcare and energy as key areas for cooperation, including regulatory collaboration and procurement. Tourism, trade fairs and exhibitions, trade promotion events and reciprocal business delegations were also discussed. The next Joint Trade Committee meeting will be held in Brunei Darussalam.
Meeting:
Third Joint Trade Committee
Next venue:
Brunei Darussalam
Why it matters for exams: India-ASEAN bilateral mechanisms and the ordinal number of such meetings are standard objective questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
JTC Joint Trade Committee — A bilateral mechanism of officials that reviews trade and economic cooperation.
15 October 2026
The Department of Science and Technology has included advanced chemicals, petrochemicals and material technologies as an additional technology area eligible for funding under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme. The inclusion takes effect from 8 October 2026. The decision followed a proposal from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The RDI Scheme was launched in November 2025 with a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore. Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare, welcomed the decision. The stated aims are to strengthen domestic manufacturing, reduce dependence on imported technologies and high-value materials, and support indigenous technology development.
Scheme corpus:
Rs 1 lakh crore
Scheme launched:
November 2025
Inclusion effective from:
8 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: The RDI Scheme's corpus and the date from which the new technology area becomes eligible are both precise, examinable facts.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
DST Department of Science and Technology — The Union department that administers the RDI Scheme.
15 October 2026
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, at its meeting held on 14/10/2026, approved the strategic restructuring of IDBI Bank Ltd. An aggregate 60.72 per cent stake will be sold, made up of 30.48 per cent from the Government of India and 30.24 per cent from LIC. The strategic buyer is 10955230 Canada Inc., whose parent entity is Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. The purchase consideration is Rs.52,878.0806181 Crores. After the sale the Government of India retains 15 per cent and LIC retains 19 per cent. The winning best offer bid was Rs.81 per share, above the benchmark of Rs.75.99 per share, which was the average of two independent valuations.
Stake sold:
60.72%
Government share sold:
30.48%
LIC share sold:
30.24%
Purchase consideration:
Rs.52,878.0806181 Crores
Price per share:
Rs.81
Why it matters for exams: The largest bank disinvestment decision of the year, with exact stake percentages and residual holdings that are easy to frame as a question.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
CCEA Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs — The Union Cabinet committee that clears major economic and investment decisions.
LIC Life Insurance Corporation of India — The state-owned insurer that had earlier infused capital into IDBI Bank.
15 October 2026
Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor told the Kerala Legislative Assembly that the Government plans a comprehensive housing scheme for fishermen that would merge existing programmes, including Punargeham, into a single scheme. He said the Government is actively considering raising the house-construction grant, because complaints say the present amount is not enough, and that the Punargeham budget has not been cut and funds will be given to complete the houses. He was replying to Parakkal Abdulla, who raised complaints that LIFE Mission houses were not reaching fishermen on time. The Minister said the State aims to double fish production within five years with new inland fisheries projects, and that Rs 50 crore has been allocated under the sub-plan for Blue Economy activities. Tourism projects at existing harbours will be examined, and Vettam panchayat will be considered for the Integrated Model Village project in a later phase. Questions were also raised by T.M. Sasi, Faisal Babu, V. Muraleedharan, Kurukkoli Moideen, C.V. Shanthakumar and P.K. Navas.
Blue Economy sub-plan allocation:
Rs 50 crore
Fish production target:
Double within five years
Why it matters for exams: Merging Punargeham into one fishermen housing scheme, with the Blue Economy sub-plan figure, links welfare delivery to the coastal economy.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Punargeham Punargeham scheme — Kerala's scheme to move fishing families living within 50 m of the sea to safer housing.
LIFE Mission Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment Mission — Kerala's mass housing mission for the landless and homeless.
Background
The Chenab bridge spans the Chenab River at a height of 359 m (1,178 ft) above the river.
It is 35 meters taller than Paris' Eiffel Tower.
The arch bridge between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir is 1,178 feet above the riverbed.
It is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), a project worth Rs 35000 crore.
The bridge is designed to withstand winds with speeds up to 260 kmph.
It will have a lifespan of 120 years.
Height above the river:
359 m (1,178 ft)
Wind speed design limit:
260 kmph
Lifespan:
120 years
Project cost:
Rs 35000 crore
Why it matters for exams: Examiners ask for the river, the district and the height of India's headline railway structure, and for the rail link it belongs to, so these four facts are commonly tested together.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
USBRL Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link — The railway project that connects the Kashmir valley to the rest of the national rail network.
Arch bridge — A bridge whose load is carried by a curved arch that transfers weight to the supports at its ends.
Background
Kashmir Saffron is entered in India's Geographical Indications Registry with application number 635.
Its date of filing is 03-12-2018 and its status is shown as Registered.
The geographical indication is registered in Class 30 and the goods are recorded as Agricultural.
The applicant is The Agriculture Production Department J & K, with Jammu & Kashmir given as the geographical area.
The registration carries certificate number 366 and is shown as valid up to 02-12-2028.
The application was published in Journal Number 127, and more than a hundred authorised users are listed against the registration.
GI application number:
635
Class:
30
Goods:
Agricultural
Certificate number:
366
Why it matters for exams: Geographical indication questions ask which product belongs to which state and under which class it is registered, and saffron is the best known farm GI of the Kashmir valley.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Geographical Indication GI — A sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and qualities owed to that origin.
Authorised user — A producer in the registered area who is permitted on the register to use the geographical indication.
14 October 2026
New direct flights will link Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh, with Goa and Bengaluru from December 1.
The services will be operated by Akasa Air.
Flight QP 1753 will leave Chandigarh at 11 am and reach Goa at 1:45 pm; the return flight QP 1754 will leave Goa at 2:30 pm and land at 5:15 pm.
The Goa service will operate on all days except Sundays.
On the Bengaluru route, QP 1751 will leave Bengaluru at 7:25 am and reach Chandigarh at 10:25 am.
Tentative one-way fares are Rs 8,146 from Chandigarh to Goa, Rs 7,625 from Chandigarh to Bengaluru and Rs 9,778 from Bengaluru to Chandigarh.
Bookings have opened.
Start date:
December 1
Airline:
Akasa Air
Chandigarh-Goa fare:
Rs 8,146
Chandigarh-Bengaluru fare:
Rs 7,625
Why it matters for exams: Questions on airports and their namesakes, and on regional air connectivity, recur in state and SSC papers.
Kerala PSCSSC
In plain words
Akasa Air Akasa Air (airline code QP) — An Indian low-cost airline that began commercial flights in 2022.
Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport Chandigarh airport — The airport serving Chandigarh, named after the revolutionary Bhagat Singh.
14 October 2026
Power shortage was debated in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. CPI leader G.R. Anil moved an adjournment motion, saying power cuts that had been absent for ten years under LDF rule had returned after the UDF assumed office. Power Minister Sunny Joseph said the LDF was spreading a false narrative that there had been no outage during its tenure. Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan said the LDF government had added 2,092 MW of power during its tenure, and when Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan questioned the figure, said it included solar power fed into the grid. The two also differed over the cancellation of a long-term agreement to procure electricity at Rs 4.29 per unit. The Opposition staged a walkout after its demand to discuss the issue through an adjournment motion was rejected. Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar told the House the government plans to restart river desilting by December-end or early January.
Power added in LDF tenure (as claimed):
2,092 MW
Rate in cancelled long-term deal:
Rs 4.29 per unit
Adjournment motion moved by:
G.R. Anil (CPI)
Why it matters for exams: Adjournment motions, the role of the Leader of the Opposition and Kerala's power purchase arrangements are regular Kerala PSC polity and economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Adjournment motion Motion to set aside the day's listed business — A parliamentary device to suspend scheduled business and debate an urgent matter of public importance.
14 October 2026
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said on 14 October 2026 it will maintain the rate of appreciation of the S$NEER policy band.
There is no change to the width of the band or the level at which it is centred.
MAS manages monetary policy through the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate (S$NEER), not an interest rate; in July 2026 it had raised the rate of appreciation very slightly.
MAS Core Inflation rose to 2.1 per cent year-on-year in July-August, from 1.5 per cent in the second quarter.
For 2026, MAS forecasts core inflation at 1.5-2.0 per cent and CPI-All Items inflation around 2.0 per cent; both are projected at 1.5-2.5 per cent in 2027.
MAS said the appreciating band will lean against an expected near-term rise in imported inflation.
Policy decision:
Rate of appreciation of S$NEER band maintained
MAS Core Inflation (Jul-Aug 2026):
2.1 per cent
2026 core inflation forecast:
1.5-2.0 per cent
2027 inflation forecast:
1.5-2.5 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Singapore's exchange-rate-based monetary policy is a standard contrast to interest-rate targeting in banking and economy papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
S$NEER Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate — A trade-weighted index of the Singapore dollar against its trading partners' currencies, which MAS steers within a policy band.
MAS Monetary Authority of Singapore — Singapore's central bank and financial regulator.
Core inflation — Inflation that leaves out volatile items; MAS Core Inflation excludes accommodation and private transport costs.
14 October 2026
The Kerala Maritime Board (Amendment) Bill was presented in the Assembly on Wednesday and later referred to a subject committee.
An amendment to Section 3 makes the Chief Minister the chairperson of the board, with Ports, Fisheries, Industries, Finance, Revenue, Law and Coastal Security represented on it.
A new Section 7A lists the board's responsibilities in 48 clauses.
Under a new Section 22A, a State maritime land bank will be formed from land under government control.
Section 22 is amended to give a statutory framework for public-private partnerships, with concession tenure of up to 45 years.
The changes are part of the government's 'Mission Samudra' for port-led development.
New chairperson:
Chief Minister
Responsibilities (Section 7A):
48 clauses
PPP concession tenure:
Up to 45 years
Programme:
Mission Samudra
Why it matters for exams: Port governance, PPP concessions and the Kerala Maritime Board are linked to Vizhinjam and are likely Kerala PSC and UPSC economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PPP Public-Private Partnership — A project model in which government and private investors share investment and risk.
Subject committee Subject committee — An Assembly committee that examines a Bill in detail before it is passed.
Land bank Land bank — A pool of government land kept ready for allotment to projects.
14 October 2026
Justice Anish Dayal of the Delhi High Court has held that compensation cannot rest on the assumption that people stop contributing with age.
The judgment in Ganga Devi v. Rajesh Kumar & Ors., neutral citation 2026:DHC:9013, is dated 14 October 2026.
The claimant, a 74-year-old homemaker, was hit while boarding a bus at Samaspur bus stand, Pandav Nagar, on 19 February 2019. Both her legs were crushed under the rear wheels and she suffered 74 per cent permanent disability, including a below-knee amputation of the left leg.
The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal at Karkardooma Courts had awarded ₹14,42,000 with 7.5 per cent interest on 23 December 2023, granting nothing for loss of income on the reasoning that a 74-year-old could not be presumed to perform household services.
The High Court recomputed the total at ₹20,79,307, an enhancement of ₹6,37,307. It fixed notional income at ₹16,962 a month, the Delhi minimum wage for a skilled worker, set functional disability at 50 per cent and applied a multiplier of 5.
It awarded ₹1,30,000 for a prosthetic limb, ₹75,000 for maintenance, ₹5,00,000 for attendant charges and ₹1,00,000 for pain and suffering.
The Court relied on the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India and HelpAge India data showing older women continue caregiving and household work, and held that the principle of valuing unpaid care has no age ceiling.
Enhanced total:
₹20,79,307
Enhancement:
₹6,37,307
Notional income used:
₹16,962 per month, Delhi minimum wage for a skilled worker
Permanent disability:
74 per cent
Multiplier:
5
Why it matters for exams: The Delhi minimum wage for a skilled worker, the multiplier method and the valuation of unpaid household work are all examinable, and the figures are exact.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MACT Motor Accident Claims Tribunal — The tribunal that decides compensation claims arising out of road accidents.
Multiplier Factor used to capitalise annual loss — A number by which yearly loss of income is multiplied to arrive at compensation.
Notional income An assumed income for a person with no proved earnings — An income figure the court assumes where the claimant has no proved earnings, such as a homemaker.
Background
The dependence behind Iraq's devaluation and its budget trouble is set out by the World Bank. On its estimates, oil accounts for about 53 per cent of Iraq's real GDP in 2025, 88 per cent of government revenues and 91 per cent of merchandise exports. GDP fell 2.4 per cent year-on-year over the first nine months of 2025, with oil GDP contracting 5.7 per cent as OPEC+ production limits constrained output, while non-oil GDP growth slowed to 1.5 per cent, held back by water and electricity shortages and a liquidity crunch caused by falling oil revenues. Unemployment stands at 13.5 per cent and labour force participation at 38 per cent, and youth aged 15 to 29 make up nearly 29 per cent of the population. The Bank lists Iraq as vulnerable to rising temperatures, water scarcity and extreme weather.
Oil share of real GDP:
About 53 per cent
Oil share of government revenue:
88 per cent
Oil share of merchandise exports:
91 per cent
Unemployment:
13.5 per cent
Labour force participation:
38 per cent
Why it matters for exams: The 88 per cent revenue share is the single figure that explains Iraq's budget and currency decisions, and is quoted directly in questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Non-oil GDP Non-oil gross domestic product — The part of national output that comes from sectors other than oil extraction.
Liquidity squeeze Liquidity squeeze — A shortage of ready cash in an economy, which slows lending and payments.
Background
Iraq's oil economy, now under strain, reaches India directly. The Embassy of India in Baghdad records that Iraq is India's second-largest crude oil supplier, having been the largest from 2017 to 2022. Bilateral trade in 2025-26 stood at US$27.51 billion, made up of Indian imports of US$24.55 billion and exports of US$2.958 billion, a decline of 14.46 per cent from US$33.36 billion in 2024-25. The two countries signed a Treaty of Friendship in 1952 and marked 70 years of diplomatic ties in 2022. An estimated 25,000 Indians live in Iraq, mainly in Baghdad, the Kurdistan Region, Basra, Najaf and Karbala; before the 1991 Gulf War the community numbered more than 80,000.
Bilateral trade 2025-26:
US$27.51 billion
Bilateral trade 2024-25:
US$33.36 billion
Decline:
14.46 per cent
Iraq's rank as crude supplier to India:
Second-largest
Indian community:
About 25,000
Why it matters for exams: India-Iraq trade figures, Iraq's rank as a crude supplier and the size of the Indian community are standard bilateral-brief questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Treaty of Friendship India-Iraq Treaty of Friendship, 1952 — An early agreement between independent India and Iraq, marking the start of their formal ties.