16 September 2026
This item follows up the 2026-27 State Budget. The Government of Kerala announced round-table conferences titled 'Reimagining Kerala', to be held in Thiruvananthapuram on 16-18 September 2026. They aim to shape a unified action plan for the major budget announcements. In all, 73 projects linked to more than 40 departments are to be coordinated. Sectors to be discussed include ports and maritime development, aviation, energy, healthcare, space, artificial intelligence, disaster management and tourism. Feasibility studies, master plans and detailed project reports (DPR) can follow.
Projects coordinated:
73
Departments:
More than 40
Why it matters for exams: Budget implementation machinery and the term DPR are common in Kerala PSC and UPSC governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DPR Detailed Project Report — A full technical and financial plan prepared before a project is approved.
16 September 2026
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved raising the EPFO wage ceiling from Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000 per month. The earlier ceiling of Rs.15,000 dates from September 2014. Over 51 lakh additional employees are expected to come under mandatory EPFO coverage. The annual Government outgo is estimated at about Rs.11,339 crore against existing budgetary support of about Rs.10,250 crore, and the estimated expenditure over five years is about Rs.56,696 crore. EPFO has around 7.98 crore contributing members across about 7.68 lakh establishments, and the EPS provides pensions to around 82 lakh pensioners.
New wage ceiling:
Rs.25,000 per month
Earlier ceiling:
Rs.15,000 per month (September 2014)
Additional employees covered:
Over 51 lakh
Five-year expenditure:
Rs.56,696 crore
Why it matters for exams: Social security coverage, the EPF and EPS schemes and Cabinet decisions on labour policy are staple exam topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
14 September 2026
The Monetary Policy Committee of the State Bank of Pakistan met on 14 September 2026.
It decided to keep the policy rate unchanged at 11.5 per cent.
The SBP policy rate stands at 11.50 per cent per annum.
The previous decision, announced on 27 July 2026, had also left the rate at 11.50 per cent.
The State Bank of Pakistan is the country's central bank and sets the policy rate.
Policy rate:
11.5 per cent per annum
Decision date:
14 September 2026
Previous decision:
27 July 2026, 11.50 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Central-bank policy rates of neighbouring economies are a regular comparison question beside the RBI repo rate.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
MPC Monetary Policy Committee — The SBP body that decides the policy rate.
14 September 2026
The Delhi government is running a month-long campaign called Seva Sankalp Abhiyan from 17 September to 17 October.
During the campaign the government will inaugurate completed projects and lay foundation stones for new ones worth ₹13,800 crore.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the campaign, which marks Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years in public service.
Special outreach camps are planned across all 70 assembly constituencies of Delhi so that residents can be reached directly.
Campaign period:
17 September to 17 October
Value of projects:
₹13,800 crore
Assembly constituencies covered:
70
Why it matters for exams: Named state campaigns with their outlays and durations are routinely asked, and the figure 70 is Delhi's assembly strength.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
10 September 2026
Argentina's consumer price inflation slowed to 1.7 percent in August 2026, the lowest monthly level in 14 months, the INDEC national statistics bureau reported.
July's figure had been 2.1 percent.
Prices are 33.5 percent higher than a year earlier and 21.3 percent higher so far in 2026.
Core inflation was 1.8 percent, regulated prices rose 2.2 percent and seasonal prices fell 0.9 percent.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose most at 2.8 percent, followed by education at 2.5 percent; clothing and footwear fell 0.6 percent.
Monthly inflation, August 2026:
1.7%
Year-on-year:
33.5%
Cumulative in 2026:
21.3%
Core inflation:
1.8%
Why it matters for exams: Inflation figures, the statistics body that publishes them and the headline-versus-core distinction are standard economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
INDEC Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos — Argentina's national statistics and census institute.
Core inflation — Inflation that leaves out regulated and seasonal prices.
10 September 2026
The European Central Bank's Governing Council raised all three key rates by 25 basis points on 10 September 2026, effective 16 September.
The deposit facility rate is 2.50 per cent, the main refinancing operations rate 2.65 per cent and the marginal lending facility rate 2.90 per cent.
The ECB cited the Middle East conflict and said inflation is set to remain well above target for an extended period.
Staff project headline inflation of 3.0 per cent in 2026 and euro area growth of 0.9 per cent.
The Council will take a data-dependent, meeting-by-meeting approach.
Deposit facility rate:
2.50 per cent
Main refinancing rate:
2.65 per cent
Marginal lending rate:
2.90 per cent
Effective from:
16 September 2026
Why it matters for exams: ECB rate terms and the three key policy rates are standard economy and banking questions.
UPSCSSCBank
3 September 2026
The Dutch central bank (DNB) said in early September 2026 that it had moved part of its gold reserves from New York and Ottawa to London. The Netherlands owns 612.4 tonnes of gold, worth 72.2 billion euros at the end of 2025. More than 27 tonnes were physically moved from the United States and Canada to Zeist, and part was sold in New York and bought in London. New York's share fell from 31.3 per cent to 18.5 per cent, and Ottawa's from 19.7 per cent to 18.5 per cent. DNB head Olaf Sleijpen said the move improved the tradability of the gold reserves.
Dutch gold reserves:
612.4 tonnes
Value at end of 2025:
72.2 billion euros
New York share after the move:
18.5 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Central-bank gold reserves and reserve management are recurring economy and current-affairs topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
1 September 2026
The Mettur Dam release that began on 1 September 2026 is planned to run for 45 days, to mid-October 2026, depending on storage and inflow. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay released the water on 1 September. The dam stood at 91.56 feet against a full level of 120 feet, with storage of 54.45 tmc ft. The delta districts of Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai depend on the water for samba cultivation.
Release period:
45 days from 1 September 2026
Water level before release:
91.56 feet
Full level:
120 feet
Storage at release:
54.45 tmc ft
Why it matters for exams: Cauvery water sharing and the Mettur dam are recurring river-dispute and geography topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
tmc ft thousand million cubic feet — A unit used to measure reservoir storage in southern India.
Samba Samba paddy season — The main paddy crop of Tamil Nadu's Cauvery delta, sown after the Kuruvai season.