Background
The Human Capital Index (HCI) is an annual measurement prepared by the World Bank. It quantifies the contribution of health and education to the productivity of the next generation of workers. The index measures how much economic potential countries lose through a lack of education and health. The HCI score ranges between 0 and 1, with 1 meaning a child born today can expect to reach their maximum potential. A lower score indicates a greater loss of human capital potential due to shortfalls in health and education. An expanded version, the Human Capital Index Plus (HCI+), additionally factors in the human capital a child can expect to acquire through employment, alongside health and education, if current conditions persist.
Prepared by:
World Bank
Score range:
0 to 1
Why it matters for exams: The HCI's 0-to-1 scale and its focus on health and education outcomes distinguish it from other World Bank indices, a common exam distinction.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Human Development Index (HDI) is UNDP's summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development. It covers three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a decent standard of living. Health is measured through life expectancy at birth. Education is measured through mean years of schooling for adults aged 25 and above, and expected years of schooling for children of school-entering age. Standard of living is measured through Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, using a logarithmic scale to reflect the diminishing importance of income as it rises. The scores for the three dimension indices are aggregated into the single composite HDI score using a geometric mean.
Health indicator:
Life expectancy at birth
Aggregation method:
Geometric mean
Why it matters for exams: The HDI's three dimensions and their exact indicators are a recurring objective-type question in both UPSC and Kerala PSC exams.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Ministry of External Affairs publishes country-wise data on the Indian Diaspora Abroad. The table is titled Data on Indian Diaspora Abroad (as of January 2026). It counts 19520317 PIOs and 17760528 NRIs, a total of 37280845 Overseas Indians. PIOs means Persons of Indian Origin and NRIs means Non-Resident Indians. Canada records the largest figure with a total of 3247980 Overseas Indians. Australia records 845800 and Fiji records 318364.
Total Overseas Indians:
37280845
PIOs:
19520317
NRIs:
17760528
Canada:
3247980
Why it matters for exams: Diaspora totals and the PIO–NRI distinction are standard questions in Kerala PSC and UPSC general awareness.
Kerala PSCUPSC
27 September 2026
The Prime Minister broadcast the 138th episode of Mann Ki Baat on 27 September 2026.
He urged citizens to use the census self-enumeration portal se.census.gov.in, and said more than 2.6 crore people have already completed self-enumeration.
He said the first phase of the census is nearly complete in all states and union territories, with data of over 32 crore families recorded.
He said Anganwadi centres are digitally linked through the Poshan Tracker, with about 9 crore beneficiaries registered on the platform.
He spoke of the Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan, a 100-week campaign, and of the MY Bharat platform for youth participation.
He mentioned around 100 amla processing units in Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh under One District One Product, mangrove planting by women of Jharkhali in the Sundarbans, and the rise of the pygmy hog population in Assam from six to over 190.
He paid tribute to Ashok Singhal, former International Working President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, on his 100th birth anniversary.
Episode:
138th
Self-enumerations completed:
More than 2.6 crore people
Families in census first phase:
Over 32 crore
Poshan Tracker beneficiaries:
About 9 crore
Why it matters for exams: Mann Ki Baat episode numbers, census self-enumeration figures and scheme reach numbers are frequently asked.
Kerala PSCUPSC
27 September 2026
Team India secured 10th position at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, Shanghai 2026, which concluded in Shanghai, China.
India won 6 Silver Medals and 20 Medal for Excellence, improving on its 13th-place finish at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, where it had won four Bronze Medals and 12 Medal for Excellence.
The six Silver Medals were won by Smriti Nambiar in Bakery, Mohammed Salam in Dental Prosthetics, Kovid Ajay Gangrade in Digital Interactive Media Design, Parth Vohra in Industrial Design Technology, Mehrunissa Begum in Logistics and Freight Forwarding, and Saniya Joshi in Retail Sales.
Smriti Nambiar was recognised as Best of Nation for India.
The six-day event was held from 22-27 September 2026 and brought together over 1,400 young competitors from around 70 countries and regions.
India fielded its largest-ever contingent of 70 competitors participating across 63 skills.
Medal for Excellence are awarded to competitors who demonstrate a high level of professional proficiency against internationally established WorldSkills standards.
India's rank:
10th
Medals:
6 Silver Medals and 20 Medal for Excellence
Edition:
48th WorldSkills Competition
Indian contingent:
70 competitors across 63 skills
Previous edition:
13th at WorldSkills Lyon 2024
Why it matters for exams: India's rank and medal tally at international skill competitions is a recurring current affairs question.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
25 September 2026
The Reserve Bank of India released the September 2026 issue of its monthly Bulletin on 25 September 2026. Its 'State of the Economy' article says the Indian economy grew 7.8 per cent in Q1:2026-27. Headline inflation inched up to 4.8 per cent in August, driven by food and beverages along with fuel and core components. It notes that foreign exchange reserves reached an all time high. A second article, 'Credit-Deposit Divergence: A Balance Sheet Decomposition', notes the credit-deposit ratio has risen above 80 per cent since FY2023. The Bulletin carries seven speeches and three articles.
GDP growth, Q1:2026-27:
7.8 per cent
Headline inflation, August 2026:
4.8 per cent
Credit-deposit ratio:
above 80 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Quarterly GDP growth, CPI inflation and the credit-deposit ratio are frequently asked economy data points.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CD ratio Credit-Deposit ratio — The share of a bank's deposits that it has lent out as credit.
25 September 2026
The Reserve Bank of India released its monthly Bulletin for September 2026, carrying seven speeches and three articles. Its 'State of the Economy' section noted that the Indian economy recorded growth of 7.8 per cent in Q1 (April-June) of 2026-27 amid global turbulence. Headline inflation edged up to 4.8 per cent in August, driven mainly by food and beverages. The Bulletin also examined a credit-deposit divergence, noting the credit-deposit ratio stayed above 80 per cent, and projected private corporate capital expenditure of about ₹3.2 lakh crore for 2026-27, pointing to sustained momentum in private investment.
Q1 FY 2026-27 GDP growth:
7.8%
August 2026 inflation:
4.8%
Projected private capex 2026-27:
₹3.2 lakh crore
Why it matters for exams: RBI Bulletin data on GDP growth, inflation and investment trends are frequently tested figures in economy sections of competitive exams.
Kerala PSCUPSC
24 September 2026
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said on 24 September 2026, in its annual report on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, that people in Gaza now earn just 58 cents a day. The report found that 92 per cent of Gaza's businesses are damaged or destroyed and that more than nine in 10 working-age adults are out of work. Housing has suffered more damage than any other sector, and rebuilding homes alone will cost an estimated $19 billion, said UNCTAD Coordinator Mutasim Elagraa in Geneva. He said the population is condemned to multidimensional poverty — lacking shelter and access to health, education and sanitation as well as income. According to the Board of Peace, around $71 billion will be needed over the next decade to rebuild Gaza.
Daily earnings in Gaza:
58 cents
Businesses damaged or destroyed:
92 per cent
Cost of rebuilding homes:
$19 billion
Ten-year rebuilding need (Board of Peace):
around $71 billion
Why it matters for exams: UNCTAD's reports and the concept of multidimensional poverty are frequently tested in economy and international-organisation questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNCTAD UN Trade and Development (formerly UN Conference on Trade and Development) — The UN body on trade, investment and development, based in Geneva.
Multidimensional poverty — Poverty measured by deprivations in health, education and living standards, not income alone.
21 September 2026
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the publication 'Sources and Methods for Compilation of National Accounts Statistics' on 21 September 2026.
It sets out the concepts, data sources and methods used in the New Series of National Accounts Statistics with base year 2022-23.
The new series was released on 27 February 2026 and updated on 31 August 2026; it replaces the 2011-12 series and is the eighth base-year revision.
The revision was guided by the Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics (ACNAS), chaired by Prof. B.N. Goldar and constituted on 27 June 2024.
Household-sector estimates now come directly from two MoSPI surveys, ASUSE and PLFS.
Private Final Consumption Expenditure follows the UN's COICOP 2018 classification, and quarterly GDP uses the Proportional Denton approach.
New base year:
2022-23
Previous base year:
2011-12
Base-year revision number:
Eighth
ACNAS chair:
Prof. B.N. Goldar
Why it matters for exams: GDP base-year revision, the agencies behind national income data and the methods used are standard topics in economy papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
ACNAS Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics — Expert committee set up by MoSPI to advise on the base-year revision of national accounts.
ASUSE Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises — MoSPI survey of unincorporated non-agricultural enterprises.
PLFS Periodic Labour Force Survey — MoSPI survey measuring employment and unemployment.
COICOP Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose — UN framework for classifying household consumption spending.
PFCE Private Final Consumption Expenditure — Spending by households on goods and services, the largest part of GDP by expenditure.
21 September 2026
The Index of Core Industries (ICI) grew by 4.8 per cent in August 2026 (provisional) over August 2025, slightly below the 5.0 per cent of July 2026.
Cement (12.5 per cent), Electricity (11.6 per cent), Iron Ore (5.5 per cent), Steel (3.4 per cent) and Refinery Products (2.6 per cent) grew.
Coal, Natural Gas, Crude Oil and Fertilizers recorded negative growth.
Cumulative growth for April-August 2026 was 4.3 per cent against 2.4 per cent a year earlier.
The July 2026 growth rate was revised from 5.4 per cent to 5.0 per cent; the index uses the base year 2022-23 and Electricity carries the largest weight.
ICI growth, August 2026:
4.8 per cent
Fastest-growing sector:
Cement, 12.5 per cent
April-August 2026:
4.3 per cent
Base year:
2022-23
Why it matters for exams: The ICI, its component industries and their weights are standard economy questions in UPSC and bank examinations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ICI Index of Core Industries — A monthly index of output in core sectors such as coal, steel, cement and electricity.
17 September 2026
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, released harmonised consumer price data on 17 September 2026.
Denmark's annual inflation rate was 2.0 per cent in August 2026.
The euro area annual inflation rate was 3.2 per cent in August 2026, up from 2.9 per cent in July.
Annual inflation in the European Union as a whole was also 3.2 per cent.
The lowest annual rate among the Member States was recorded in Sweden at 0.3 per cent and the highest in Romania at 6.3 per cent.
Denmark is an EU member state but is not part of the euro area, as it has an opt-out from the single currency.
Denmark, annual inflation (August 2026):
2.0%
Euro area, annual inflation:
3.2%
European Union, annual inflation:
3.2%
Lowest rate among Member States:
Sweden, 0.3%
Highest rate among Member States:
Romania, 6.3%
Why it matters for exams: Comparative inflation figures across European Union member states, and the distinction between the euro area and the wider Union, are standard economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
HICP Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices — The price index compiled on a common basis so that inflation can be compared across European Union countries.
Eurostat Statistical Office of the European Union — The European Union body that compiles and publishes official statistics for the Union.
17 September 2026
The World Bank Group announced on 17 September 2026 that it mobilised $112 billion of private capital for developing countries in FY26, up from $35 billion in FY22.
Mobilisation in lower-middle-income countries rose to $37 billion from $14 billion in FY22, and in upper-middle-income countries to $50 billion from $12 billion; low-income countries stayed at about $3 billion.
Africa accounted for $22 billion, up from about $9 billion in FY22.
Guarantees issued crossed $25 billion, passing the target of $20 billion by 2030 four years early.
Combined public and private financing exceeded $200 billion in FY26.
President Ajay Banga said the result is $112 billion mobilized this year, more than three times where the Group started.
The Group notes that 1.2 billion young people in developing economies will reach working age in the next 10-15 years while only about 420 million jobs are projected, and that 55% of FY26 financing went to five job-rich sectors.
Private capital mobilised, FY26:
$112 billion
Same figure in FY22:
$35 billion
Guarantees issued:
over $25 billion
Africa's share:
$22 billion
Why it matters for exams: World Bank Group financing figures, guarantees and its private-capital mobilisation target are standard economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank