Background
Against a land area of just 32 sq km, Lakshadweep has a vast lagoon covering 4,200 square kilometers, territorial waters spanning 20,000 square kilometers, an Exclusive Economic Zone of 400,000 square kilometers and a coastal line of approximately 132 kilometers. Tuna is the primary fishery resource in these islands. The islands employ a unique fishing method known as Pole and Line, which exclusively targets tuna, and this method is found only in Lakshadweep within the Indian continent. The Department of Fisheries was established during 1959. Fish production has risen steadily from a modest 500 tonnes in the 1950s to 16891 metric tonnes in 2024-25. Anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) have been deployed in selective territorial waters; they attract pelagic fish like tuna and bring fuel savings, reduced scouting time and greater safety during fishing operations. Processing is being revived through the Tuna Canning Factory at Minicoy, and two islands, Chetlat and Minicoy, have been selected under the Climate Resilient Coastal Fishing Village Scheme. On land the picture is very different: coconut is the only crop of economic importance in Lakshadweep, grown in varieties such as Laccadive micro and Laccadive ordinary.
Lagoon area:
4,200 square kilometers
Territorial waters:
20,000 square kilometers
Exclusive Economic Zone:
400,000 square kilometers
Coastal line:
approximately 132 kilometers
Fish production:
16891 metric tonnes in 2024-25
Department of Fisheries set up:
established during 1959
Land area of the territory:
32 sq km
Only crop of economic importance:
Coconut, Thenga (Cacos nucifera) is the only crop of economic importance in Lakshadweep
Why it matters for exams: Pole and line fishing being unique to Lakshadweep within India, and the EEZ-to-land contrast, are the two facts examiners use to test whether a candidate understands an island economy.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Pole and Line One-fish-at-a-time hook fishing — Tuna are caught singly on a baited hook fixed to a pole, rather than in nets.
EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone — The belt of sea beyond territorial waters where a coastal state alone may exploit marine resources.
FAD Fish Aggregating Device — A floating structure anchored at sea that gathers shoaling fish around it.
Pelagic fish Open-water fish — Fish that live in the open water column rather than near the sea bed.
Background
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas records that the roots of India's petroleum industry trace back to 1867, when the first oil well was drilled in Digboi, Assam, and that this discovery marked the inception of the country's exploration and production activities. The establishment of the Indian Oil Corporation in 1959 heralded a structured approach to refining and distribution. At present India has nineteen Public-Sector Undertaking (PSU) refineries, three Private-Sector refineries, and one Joint Venture refinery. The country's refining capacity increased from 215.066 Million Metric Tons per annum (MMTPA) in April 2014 to 256.816 MMTPA in April 2024. India's recoverable reserves are given as 651.8 million metric tons of crude oil and 1,138.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas within its sedimentary basins.
Year the first oil well was drilled in Digboi, Assam:
1867
Public-Sector Undertaking refineries at present:
nineteen
Private-Sector refineries at present:
three
Refining capacity in April 2024:
256.816 MMTPA
Refining capacity in April 2014:
215.066 Million Metric Tons per annum (MMTPA)
Why it matters for exams: Assam's claim on India's petroleum history is a standing question, and the refinery counts give the examiner an easy arithmetic step on top of a place name.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
MMTPA Million Metric Tons per annum — The unit in which a refinery's yearly crude processing capacity is stated.
Upstream Upstream activities — Exploration and extraction of crude oil and natural gas, as against refining and selling.
Background
At the India-UK Summit held in virtual mode on 4 May 2021, the two Prime Ministers agreed to a new and transformational India-UK 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' and an ambitious India-UK Roadmap 2030 to steer cooperation for the next ten years.
The groundwork was laid in May 2021 through the Enhanced Trade Partnership and the adoption of the Roadmap 2030, which set the goal of elevating ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and doubling trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.
Negotiations for an India-UK Free Trade Agreement began in January 2022. After fourteen rounds, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was concluded on 6 May 2025 and signed in London on 24 July 2025 by India's Commerce and Industry Minister and the UK's Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
The companion Double Contribution Convention (DCC), the agreement on social security contributions, was signed on 10 February 2026. CETA and the DCC entered into force together on 15th July 2026.
CETA provides unprecedented duty-free access to 99 per cent of India's exports to the UK, and 91 % of UK's exports, covering nearly 100% of the trade value, with labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, marine products, gems and jewellery and toys among the gainers.
Under the DCC the exemption period for Indian workers from UK social security contributions was increased from 3 years to 5 years.
The UK has a large Indian diaspora of 1.864 million as per 2021 Census, about 2.6% of the UK's total population, and 3,69,000 persons there hold an Indian passport. A Young Professionals Scheme offers 3000 visas every year to graduates aged 18-30 for a two-year stay.
India and the United Kingdom are both members of the Commonwealth, whose Secretariat is headquartered in London, and the United Kingdom is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Roadmap adopted at the virtual India-UK Summit:
India-UK Roadmap 2030
Trade goal set by the Roadmap:
doubling trade to USD 100 billion by 2030
Date CETA was signed in London:
24 July 2025
Date CETA and the DCC entered into force:
15th July 2026
Duty-free access for India's exports under CETA:
99 per cent of India’s exports to the UK
Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom:
1.864 million as per 2021 Census
Why it matters for exams: India's trade agreements and strategic partnerships are among the most heavily asked current-affairs topics, and the UK agreement is the one an examiner will pair with the Commonwealth, the diaspora and the UK's permanent Security Council seat.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
CETA Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement — The India-UK trade agreement signed in London and later brought into force.
DCC Double Contribution Convention — The India-UK agreement on social security contributions for workers on temporary assignment.
Roadmap 2030 India-UK Roadmap 2030 — The ten-year plan adopted at the virtual India-UK Summit to guide bilateral cooperation.
Background
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom, promoting the good of the people by maintaining monetary policy and financial stability. It was founded in 1694 to act as banker to the Government.
The pound sterling is the official currency in the United Kingdom; the Bank issues the UK's banknotes while coins are manufactured and issued by the Royal Mint.
The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is responsible for maintaining monetary stability by keeping inflation low and stable.
The MPC is made up of nine members: the Governor, the three Deputy Governors for Monetary Policy, Financial Stability and Markets and Banking, the Bank's Chief Economist, and four external members appointed directly by the Chancellor.
External members are appointed so that the MPC benefits from expertise from outside the Bank. A representative from HM Treasury also sits with the MPC at its meetings and can discuss policy issues, but is not allowed to vote.
The MPC sets and announces policy eight times a year, roughly once every six weeks, deciding what level of Bank Rate is needed to return inflation to — or keep it at — the 2% target over time.
On its latest-decision page in October 2026 the Bank gave the current Bank Rate as 3.75% and inflation as 3.1%, against the 2% target; the rate had been maintained at 3.75% at the September 2026 meeting.
The Bank also provides wholesale banking services to the UK Government and over 100 overseas central banks.
Members of the Monetary Policy Committee:
nine members
External members appointed by the Chancellor:
four external members appointed directly by the Chancellor
How often the MPC sets and announces policy:
eight times a year (roughly once every six weeks)
The MPC's inflation target:
2% target
Year the Bank of England was founded:
1694
Current Bank Rate on the Bank's latest-decision page:
3.75%
Why it matters for exams: Central bank questions are standard in bank and civil services papers, and the Bank of England is the usual comparison with the Reserve Bank of India's six-member Monetary Policy Committee.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
MPC Monetary Policy Committee — The Bank of England committee that decides Bank Rate.
Bank Rate Bank Rate — The Bank of England's main policy interest rate.
Chancellor Chancellor of the Exchequer — The UK minister in charge of the Treasury, who appoints the MPC's four external members.
Background
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is made up of mainland Great Britain — England, Wales and Scotland — and the northern part of the island of Ireland, which is Northern Ireland.
Its capital city is London, which also hosts the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Commonwealth country profile puts the population at 67.2 million (2022) and the area at 242,500 square kilometres.
The pound sterling is the official currency in the United Kingdom. The Bank of England issues the UK's banknotes, while coins are manufactured and issued by the Royal Mint.
Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes also circulate: they are issued by three banks in Scotland and three banks in Northern Ireland, and the Bank of England regulates that issuance.
The United Kingdom joined the Commonwealth in 1926, on the founding of the British Commonwealth of Nations; 56 independent countries make up the Commonwealth today.
The United Kingdom is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, with China, France, the Russian Federation and the United States. The Council has 15 members in all, the other ten elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
Capital city:
London
Official currency:
The pound sterling is the official currency in the United Kingdom
Population, Commonwealth country profile:
67.2 million (2022)
Area:
242,500 square kilometres
Joined the Commonwealth:
1926, on founding the British Commonwealth of Nations
Membership of the UN Security Council:
The Council is composed of 15 Members: Five permanent members
Why it matters for exams: Capital, currency, the make-up of the four nations and membership of the Commonwealth and the UN Security Council are the fixed country-profile facts that PSC and UPSC prelims questions on the United Kingdom are built from.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Pound sterling GBP — The official currency of the United Kingdom.
Royal Mint The Royal Mint — The body that manufactures and issues coins in the United Kingdom.
Background
The Embassy of India in Berlin records that, on figures from Destatis, the German Federal Statistical Office, Indo-German bilateral trade touched an all-time high of US$ 33.40 billion (+0.36%) with exports from India at US$ 15.09 billion and imports to India from Germany at US$ 18.31 billion in calendar year 2024. India was Germany's 23rd largest trading partner in 2024, while Germany was the 8th largest trading partner for India in 2024-25. On Bundesbank figures, Indo-German trade in services reached a record US$ 17.03 billion. Germany is the 9th largest foreign direct investor in India with a cumulative FDI of US$ 15.11 billion from April 2000 to March 2025, and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce counts more than 2000 German companies active in India. India and Germany have two Fast Track Mechanisms, one in each country, for resolving issues faced by investors in each other's country. Germany has been an important development cooperation partner since 1958, and under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership it has committed to providing €1 billion annually, comprising reduced interest loan, grants and technical assistance, up to 2030.
Indo-German bilateral trade, calendar year 2024:
US$ 33.40 billion
Exports from India:
US$ 15.09 billion
Imports to India from Germany:
US$ 18.31 billion
Germany's rank among India's trading partners:
8th largest trading partner for India in 2024-25
Germany's rank as a foreign direct investor in India:
9th largest foreign direct investor
Cumulative German FDI in India, April 2000 to March 2025:
US$ 15.11 billion
German companies active in India:
more than 2000 German companies active in India
Annual commitment under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership:
€1 billion annually
Why it matters for exams: A country's relationship with India is the part of any Country Focus an Indian examiner is most likely to test, and the FDI rank, the trade ranks and the year development cooperation began are the three figures that recur.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
Destatis The German Federal Statistical Office — Germany's official statistics agency, and the source of the bilateral trade figures quoted here.
FTM Fast Track Mechanism — A government-to-government channel for sorting out problems reported by investors from the other country.
GSDP Green and Sustainable Development Partnership — The India-Germany framework under which German development funding for climate, energy, water, forests, cities and agriculture is channelled.
Background
The Deutsche Bundesbank describes itself as the independent central bank of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has formed part of the Eurosystem since 1999, sharing responsibility with the other national central banks and the European Central Bank for the single currency, the euro. Eurosystem monetary policy is the Bundesbank's core business area and its main task is to secure price stability in the euro area. Alongside that it carries out national supervision of credit institutions, including a role in the European Single Supervisory Mechanism, and works on cash management, payment systems and financial stability. It manages Germany's foreign reserves, acts as the government's fiscal agent, carries out important statistical tasks and advises the Federal Government on issues of importance to monetary policy. The bank is headed by an executive board; of its six members, half are nominated by the Federal Government and half by the Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament, and all are appointed by the German President. The Bundesbank states that it is independent of instructions from third parties, also from the Federal Government.
Status of the Bundesbank:
independent central bank of the Federal Republic of Germany
Part of the Eurosystem since:
formed part of the Eurosystem since 1999
Main task:
secure price stability in the euro area
Members of the executive board:
six members
Who appoints the board members:
appointed by the German President
Upper house that nominates half the board:
Bundesrat
Why it matters for exams: A euro-area country has no national monetary policy of its own, and the Bundesbank is the clearest illustration: candidates are expected to place a national central bank inside the Eurosystem rather than above it, and to contrast that with the Reserve Bank of India setting rates for India alone.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
Eurosystem The European Central Bank together with the national central banks of the euro-area countries — It is the body that runs monetary policy for the euro, so a member country's central bank shares the job rather than deciding alone.
Bundesrat The upper house of Germany's parliament — The chamber through which Germany's states take part in federal law-making.
Background
The European Union's own country profile for Germany gives the capital as Berlin and the official EU language as German. Germany has been an EU Member State since 1 January 1958. Its currency is the euro (€), and it has been a member of the euro area since 1 January 1999. It has been a member of the Schengen area since 26 March 1995, so its Schengen membership is older than its euro-area membership. Eurostat figures carried on the same page give Germany's geographical size as 357 569 km2 and its population as 83 577 140. Germany ranks seventh in the European Union in terms of GDP per capita with €44 200, against an EU average of €38 100, and it accounts for 24.4% of the EU's total GDP.
Capital:
Berlin
Currency:
euro (€)
EU Member State since:
since 1 January 1958
Euro area member since:
1999
Schengen member since:
26 March 1995
Geographical size (sq km):
357 569
Population (Eurostat):
83 577 140
Share of the EU's total GDP:
24.4%
Why it matters for exams: Capital, currency and the three membership dates are the first facts a Country Focus question set draws on, and the order in which Germany entered the EU, Schengen and the euro area is a standard one-mark trap.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
Euro area The group of EU member states that use the euro — It is the set of European Union countries whose currency is the euro; EU membership does not by itself put a country in it.
Schengen area The European area without internal border checks — Within it travellers cross participating countries' internal borders without passport checks.
Background
France's currency is the euro and it has been a member of the euro area since 1 January 1999. The European Central Bank's page on capital subscription states that the capital of the ECB comes from the national central banks (NCBs) of all EU Member States and amounts to €10,825,007,069.61. The NCBs' shares in this capital are calculated using a key which reflects the respective country's share in the total population and gross domestic product of the EU, and these two determinants have equal weighting. The ECB adjusts the shares every five years and whenever there is a change in the number of NCBs that contribute to the ECB's capital, on the basis of data provided by the European Commission; the latest adjustment took place on 1 January 2024. In the table of euro area NCBs, Banque de France (France) carries a capital key of 16.3575 and paid-up capital of 1,770,700,531.41 euro, the second largest in the euro area behind the Deutsche Bundesbank at 21.7749. The fully paid-up subscriptions of euro area NCBs amount to a total of €8,957,303,649.83.
Currency:
euro (€)
Euro area membership:
member since 1 January 1999
Subscribed capital of the ECB:
€10,825,007,069.61
Banque de France capital key (%):
16.3575
Banque de France paid-up capital (euro):
1,770,700,531.41
Total paid-up subscriptions of euro area NCBs:
€8,957,303,649.83
Why it matters for exams: Euro area questions turn on who owns the ECB's capital and how each share is worked out; the population-and-GDP formula is asked far more often than any single country's figure.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
Capital key Capital subscription key of the European Central Bank — The share of the ECB's capital allotted to each national central bank, based equally on its country's share of EU population and of EU gross domestic product.
NCB National central bank — The central bank of an individual EU Member State, such as the Banque de France, which holds a share in the capital of the European Central Bank.
Background
The Press Information Bureau records that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana was launched by the Prime Minister on 28th August 2014 as the National Mission for Financial Inclusion.
The scheme ensures that every unbanked adult has access to a basic bank account, with zero balance requirements and no maintenance charges.
Each account comes with a free RuPay debit card offering an accident insurance cover of ₹2 lakh.
Account holders are eligible for an overdraft facility of up to ₹10,000.
A fully KYC compliant account is a BSBD account with no restriction on balances or on the number and value of deposits in a month.
A minimum of four free withdrawals a month, including ATM withdrawals at any ATM, is provided, after which banks may charge.
The scheme sits at the core of the Jan-Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile trinity, described as a diversion-proof mechanism for subsidy delivery.
Launched on:
28th August 2014
Accident insurance cover on the RuPay card:
₹2 lakh
Overdraft facility:
up to ₹10,000
Free withdrawals a month:
Minimum of four
Balance requirement:
Zero balance, no maintenance charges
Why it matters for exams: The ₹2 lakh accident cover, the ₹10,000 overdraft and the four free withdrawals are the figures a financial inclusion question asks for.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BSBD account Basic Savings Bank Deposit account — A no-frills savings account with no minimum balance requirement.
JAM Jan-Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile — The combination of bank account, Aadhaar and mobile number used to deliver benefits directly.
Overdraft Overdraft facility — Permission to draw more than the balance in an account, up to a set limit.
Background
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare records that Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was launched on 23rd September 2018.
It is described as the world's largest Government funded health assurance scheme.
The scheme provides health assurance of up to Rs.5 Lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary healthcare hospitalizations.
It is a completely cashless and paperless scheme, and the benefits are portable across the country.
There is no cap on family size, or age or gender.
The beneficiary families were identified from the Socio Economic Caste Census of 2011 on the basis of select deprivation and occupational criteria across rural and urban areas.
Households without shelter and legally released bonded labour are among the categories automatically included.
Launched on:
23rd September 2018
Cover:
Up to Rs.5 Lakh per family per year
Care covered:
Secondary and tertiary healthcare hospitalizations
Cap on family size, age or gender:
None
Beneficiary identification:
Socio Economic Caste Census of 2011
Why it matters for exams: The launch date, the Rs.5 lakh cover, the absence of a family size cap and the SECC 2011 basis for selection are the standard PM-JAY questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SECC Socio Economic Caste Census — The 2011 survey whose deprivation and occupational criteria were used to pick PM-JAY beneficiary families.
Tertiary care Tertiary healthcare — Specialised hospital care usually needing advanced facilities and specialists.
Background
The Governing Council is the main decision-making body of the European Central Bank. It consists of the six members of the Executive Board, plus the governors of the national central banks of the euro area countries. Its main responsibility is to formulate monetary policy for the euro area. That includes decisions on monetary objectives, key interest rates, the supply of reserves in the Eurosystem, and guidelines for implementing those decisions. The Governing Council usually meets twice a month, and takes its monetary policy decisions every six weeks. At its other meetings the Council deals mainly with the other tasks and responsibilities of the ECB and the Eurosystem. To keep the ECB's monetary policy separate from its supervisory responsibilities, separate meetings of the Governing Council are held for supervisory matters.
Executive Board members on the Council:
6
Other members:
Governors of the euro area national central banks
Monetary policy decisions:
Every six weeks
Usual meeting frequency:
Twice a month
Why it matters for exams: The composition of the ECB's Governing Council and its six-week decision cycle are standard questions on global economic institutions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Eurosystem The ECB and the national central banks of the euro area — The system through which the ECB's monetary policy decisions are implemented.
Background
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of average achievement in three key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a decent standard of living. The HDI is the geometric mean of normalized indices for each of the three dimensions. The health dimension is assessed by life expectancy at birth. The education dimension is measured by mean years of schooling for adults aged 25 years and more, together with expected years of schooling for children of school-entering age. The standard of living dimension is measured by gross national income per capita; the HDI uses the logarithm of income, to reflect the diminishing importance of income with increasing gross national income. The HDI was created to emphasise that people and their capabilities, not economic growth alone, should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country. The Human Development Report Office notes that the HDI does not reflect inequalities, poverty, human security or empowerment, for which it publishes other composite indices.
Dimensions:
3
How dimensions are combined:
Geometric mean
Health indicator:
Life expectancy at birth
Income indicator:
Gross national income per capita
Why it matters for exams: That the HDI is a geometric mean, and which indicator measures each dimension, are the points most often asked about it.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
HDI Human Development Index — A summary measure of achievement in health, education and standard of living.
GNI Gross National Income — The income measure the HDI uses, taken per person and in logarithm form.
Background
The Securities and Exchange Board of India records on its own site that it 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.
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 Securities and Exchange Board of India describes its basic functions as being to protect the interests of investors in securities, to promote the development of the securities market, and to regulate the securities market.
Appeals against the Board's orders lie to the Securities Appellate Tribunal.
Constituted as a non-statutory body:
April 12, 1988
Established as a statutory body:
1992
SEBI Act provisions came into force:
January 30, 1992
Act number:
15 of 1992
Why it matters for exams: The two-stage story of a regulator that existed before its Act, and the three objectives in SEBI's Preamble, are standard economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
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 Board.
Background
The India-Austria Business Forum was held at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi, with Austrian Federal Chancellor Dr Christian Stocker, Austrian Federal Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer and Indian Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal taking part.
A bilateral Fast-Track Mechanism was established to give Austrian companies and investors in India, and Indian companies and investors in Austria, a dedicated platform to facilitate investments.
Bilateral trade was put at approximately 3 billion euros, and around 160 Austrian firms operate in India.
It was the first official visit to India by an Austrian Chancellor in over 40 years.
Sustainable development, advanced manufacturing, green technologies and labour-intensive sectors and micro, small and medium enterprises were identified as priority areas.
Both sides stressed the importance of the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement for expanding commerce and reducing trade barriers.
Austrian firms operating in India:
around 160
Bilateral trade:
approximately 3 billion euros
Venue of the Business Forum:
Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi
Mechanism established:
bilateral Fast-Track Mechanism
Why it matters for exams: The Fast-Track Mechanism, the number of Austrian firms in India and the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement are the askable points of this relationship.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
FTM Fast-Track Mechanism — A dedicated bilateral channel to help investors of each country resolve problems in the other.
MSME Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises — The smaller business segment named as a priority area in the two countries' cooperation.
FTA Free Trade Agreement — A treaty that lowers tariffs and other barriers between its parties.
Background
The European Commission's country page for Austria's recovery and resilience plan values the plan at 4.187 billion euros, of which 3.961 billion euros are grants.
The plan contains 34 investment streams and 29 reforms.
56 per cent of the plan is allocated to climate objectives and 36 per cent to the digital transition.
Austria received 450 million euros in pre-financing, and its first payment request was approved for 700 million euros.
Five payment requests have been submitted in all, the fifth being the final one.
All milestones and targets had to be completed by August 2026, as the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation requires of every member state.
This is the framework within which the Commission cleared Austria's closing payment, and it explains why the money arrives in instalments rather than at once.
Total plan value:
4.187 billion euros
Of which grants:
3.961 billion euros
Investments and reforms:
34 investments, 29 reforms
Climate and digital shares:
56% climate, 36% digital
Pre-financing received:
450 million euros
Why it matters for exams: The size and shape of a member state's recovery plan, and the share set aside for climate and digital goals, are the figures asked about European Union finance.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
RRF Recovery and Resilience Facility — The European Union instrument that pays member states for reforms and investments against agreed milestones.
Pre-financing Pre-financing — An advance paid before any milestone is met, to start the plan off.
2 October 2026
The Kasaragod Weaving Cooperative Production and Marketing Society, an 88-year-old institution, now has only 30 weavers.
Until 1990 the society had around 500 weavers working 500 looms, with more than double that number engaged indirectly in ancillary work.
The Kasaragod Saree received its Geographical Indication tag in 2010 and is the only product from the district to have received one.
The society is operating at a loss of nearly ₹1.75 crore and pays 11.75 per cent interest on a ₹70 lakh loan taken from Kerala Bank, with a monthly interest liability of ₹60,000 to ₹65,000.
Its turnover fell from ₹85 lakh in 2015-16 to ₹60 lakh last year, and the turnover during the last Onam season was ₹12 lakh.
When the society called for weaving training this year to recruit 30 new weavers, only 10 responded and only 4 are still employed.
The society is yet to receive about ₹3 lakh from the government for fabric woven under the free school uniform scheme, under which the weaving rate was set at ₹57 per metre.
A ₹2 crore development project included in the Kasaragod Development Package could not be implemented because the society had to contribute 60 per cent of the funds.
GI tag year:
2010
Weavers now:
30
Weavers until 1990:
around 500
Accumulated loss:
nearly ₹1.75 crore
Turnover last year:
₹60 lakh
Why it matters for exams: The year of the Kasaragod Saree's GI tag and the fact that it is the district's only GI product are directly askable Kerala PSC facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
GI tag Geographical Indication tag — A mark that ties a product to the place whose qualities or reputation it owes its character to.
Kasavu Kasavu (zari) — The golden thread border characteristic of Kerala handloom.
Background
Diplomatic relations between India and Austria were established on 10 November 1949.
Bilateral trade rose from USD 2.47 billion in 2021 to USD 2.84 billion in 2022, USD 2.93 billion in 2023, USD 3.07 billion in 2024 and USD 3.47 billion in 2025.
In 2025 Indian exports to Austria were USD 1.73 billion and imports from Austria USD 1.74 billion.
An estimated 13,510 Indians live in Austria and over 730 Indian students pursue higher education there.
A Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement and a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation were signed in 2023.
In April 2026 the two sides signed a Letter of Intent on Cooperation in Military Matters and a Letter of Intent on a Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism.
Also signed then were an audiovisual co-production agreement, a memorandum of understanding on food safety and a Fast Track Mechanism for companies of both countries.
Austria is a member of the European Union, so its trade with India is conducted within the Union's common commercial policy.
Diplomatic relations established:
10 November 1949
Bilateral trade, 2025:
USD 3.47 billion
Indian exports to Austria, 2025:
USD 1.73 billion
Indians in Austria:
over 13,510
Indian students in Austria:
over 730
Why it matters for exams: The year diplomatic relations began, the trade figure and the names of the recent agreements are the India-Austria facts most often asked.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Fast Track Mechanism Fast Track Mechanism — A dedicated channel for companies of the two countries to resolve investment problems.
Letter of Intent Letter of Intent — A signed statement of intended cooperation, short of a binding treaty.
Migration and Mobility Partnership Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement — An agreement easing legal movement of people while curbing irregular migration.
Background
Austria's capital is Vienna and its official European Union language is German.
It has been a member of the European Union since 1 January 1995, has used the euro since 1 January 1999 and has been in the Schengen area since 1 December 1997.
It is a federal parliamentary republic of nine states, with a president as head of state and a chancellor as head of government.
Its Federal Parliament has two chambers, the directly elected lower house or Nationalrat and the upper house or Bundesrat.
Austria holds 20 seats in the European Parliament and has 12 representatives each on the European Economic and Social Committee and on the European Committee of the Regions.
Its area is 83,882 square kilometres and its population 9,197,213.
It ranks fifth in the European Union for gross domestic product per capita, at 45,700 euros, and accounts for 2.8 per cent of the Union's total gross domestic product.
Austria has held the presidency of the Council of the European Union three times, from July to December 1998, from January to June 2006 and from July to December 2018.
Its member of the European Commission is Magnus Brunner, responsible for internal affairs and migration.
Capital:
Vienna
EU member since:
1 January 1995
Euro in use since:
1 January 1999
Seats in the European Parliament:
20
Area:
83,882 km²
Population:
9,197,213
Why it matters for exams: These are the Austria facts that recur in general knowledge papers, and they underpin every current item about the country's government and economy.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Schengen area Schengen area — The group of European states that have abolished checks at their common borders.
Bundesländer Federal states — The nine constituent states of the Austrian federation.
Council of the European Union Council of the European Union — The institution where member state ministers meet; its presidency rotates between member states.
2 October 2026
Eurostat's flash estimate released on 2 October 2026 puts Austria's annual inflation at 3.5 per cent in September 2026, up from 2.9 per cent in August.
Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 3.8 per cent in September 2026, up from 3.2 per cent in August.
The rates are measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, which allows member states to be compared on the same basis.
Energy is expected to show the highest annual rate among euro area components at 18.8 per cent, against 14.3 per cent in August.
Services are estimated at 3.2 per cent, food, alcohol and tobacco at 1.4 per cent and non-energy industrial goods at 1.1 per cent.
Austria uses the euro, so its figure feeds into the euro area aggregate; from 1 January 2026 the euro area has 21 members after Bulgaria joined.
The full set of September figures for the euro area, the European Union and the member states is due on 16 October 2026.
Austria, annual HICP inflation:
3.5% (September 2026, flash estimate)
Austria, August 2026:
2.9%
Euro area, September 2026:
3.8%
Euro area energy component:
18.8%
Why it matters for exams: Harmonised inflation figures and the euro area's membership count are routine data questions, and Austria's position relative to the euro area average is the comparison examiners ask for.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
HICP Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices — The common price index used across the European Union so that inflation rates can be compared.
Flash estimate Flash estimate — An early figure published before the full data, based on partial returns.
Eurostat Statistical Office of the European Union — The European Union's statistical office, which publishes the euro area inflation estimates.