7 October 2026
The World Health Organization published the Global Roadmap for Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy 2026-2035 and beyond.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, are major causes of maternal death and severe illness worldwide.
WHO says they also contribute to stillbirth, preterm birth, newborn deaths and health-system costs, and have lasting effects on women's cardiovascular health.
Deaths from these disorders have declined too slowly over the past three decades, even as progress was made against other causes of maternal mortality.
The roadmap sets coordinated actions across five areas: research and innovation; norms and standards; access to health products; implementation; and advocacy and accountability.
It is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal targets 3.1 and 3.2 and was prepared with the Human Reproduction Special Programme.
The report runs to 74 pages and carries ISBN 978-92-4-012548-3.
Period covered:
2026-2035 and beyond
Action areas:
five
SDG targets:
3.1 and 3.2
Why it matters for exams: Maternal mortality causes and the SDG 3 targets are standard questions, and this roadmap names both.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Pre-eclampsia Pre-eclampsia — High blood pressure arising in pregnancy with signs of organ damage; a leading cause of maternal death.
SDG 3.1 Sustainable Development Goal target 3.1 — The global target on reducing the maternal mortality ratio.
7 October 2026
The Monetary Policy Committee resolution of October 7, 2026 projects CPI inflation at 5.2 per cent for 2026-27.
The quarterly path is 4.9 per cent in Q2, 6.0 per cent in Q3 and 5.7 per cent in Q4, with Q1 of 2027-28 at 5.6 per cent.
Real GDP growth for 2026-27 is projected at 7.1 per cent.
The quarterly path for growth is 7.2 per cent in Q2, 6.9 per cent in Q3 and 6.8 per cent in Q4, with Q1 of 2027-28 at 7.1 per cent.
Risks to both the growth and the inflation projections are described as evenly balanced.
CPI inflation 2026-27:
5.2 per cent
Real GDP growth 2026-27:
7.1 per cent
Q3 inflation:
6.0 per cent
Q2 growth:
7.2 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Examiners ask for the central bank's own projection of growth and inflation for the current financial year, and the quarterly path is the detail that separates a careful candidate from a vague one.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
CPI Consumer Price Index — The retail price index that the RBI targets under the flexible inflation targeting framework.
GDP Gross Domestic Product — Real GDP is output measured at constant prices, so growth in it excludes price change.
Background
The World Bank's country overview for Bhutan records that 12.4 per cent of the population remained under Bhutan's national poverty threshold in 2022.
The regional spread is wide, from 1.5 per cent in Thimphu to 41.4 per cent in Zhemgang.
Thimphu is Bhutan's capital and Zhemgang is one of its central dzongkhags.
The figure is measured against Bhutan's own national poverty line, not an international one.
National poverty, 2022:
12.4%
Thimphu:
1.5%
Zhemgang:
41.4%
Why it matters for exams: The contrast between a capital city and a remote district is the classic illustration of regional inequality within a small country.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
National poverty line National poverty line — A country's own income or consumption threshold for counting the poor, set separately from international lines.
Background
The World Bank's country overview records that Bhutan graduated from the United Nations' list of Least Developed Countries in December 2023.
Bhutan is now classified as a lower-middle income country, with GDP per capita around $3,718.
The overview describes revenues from hydropower exports to India as central to Bhutan's growth and investment.
Graduation from the LDC category means a country has crossed the UN thresholds on income, human assets and economic vulnerability and gives up the special treatment reserved for LDCs.
LDC graduation:
December 2023
Income class:
lower-middle income
GDP per capita:
around $3,718
Why it matters for exams: The LDC category and which countries have graduated from it is a recurring objective question.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
LDC Least Developed Country — A UN category of low-income countries facing severe structural obstacles to development, which receive special trade and aid treatment.
7 October 2026
The World Bank's country overview for Bhutan reports that real gross domestic product grew rapidly at 8.1 percent in FY24/25.
It projects growth of 7.1 percent for FY25/26 and 6.4 percent for FY26/27.
Headline inflation softened to 2.6 percent in FY24/25 from 4.3 percent in FY23/24.
Bhutan is classified as a lower-middle income country, with GDP per capita around $3,718.
Revenues from hydropower exports to India are described as central to the economy.
Real GDP growth FY24/25:
8.1 percent
Inflation FY24/25:
2.6 percent
GDP per capita:
around $3,718
Income class:
lower-middle income
Why it matters for exams: A multilateral lender's own figures on a neighbour's growth, inflation and income class are frequently asked.
UPSCBank
7 October 2026
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has compiled and released a document titled 'Strategy for Environmental Economic Accounts in India 2026-2030'.
It is an extension of the earlier 'Strategy for Environmental-Economic Accounts in India 2022-2026', which the Ministry's National Statistical Office had released.
The work follows the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, which is endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission, and the SEEA-Central Framework.
The new document aims to cover, or widen the scope of, subjects such as forest, minerals, soil resources, land, water, carbon stock, environment-related activities, biodiversity and environment statistics.
The 2022-2026 strategy had identified material flow accounts, ocean accounts, energy accounts and thematic accounts for biodiversity and urban areas as the areas to work on.
The areas in the new document are selected mainly on the recommendations in the report 'Green National Account in India: A Framework' and the SEEA-CF framework, and the Ministry links its importance to the System of National Accounts 2025, which recognises natural resource accounting within the national accounting framework. The document is available on www.mospi.gov.in.
Document:
Strategy for Environmental Economic Accounts in India 2026-2030
Previous strategy:
Strategy for Environmental-Economic Accounts in India 2022-2026
Released by:
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (NSO)
Why it matters for exams: Environmental accounting frameworks and the bodies that approve them are standard prelims material on reports and indices.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SEEA System of Environmental-Economic Accounting — An international statistical standard, approved by the UN Statistical Commission, for measuring the environment alongside the economy.
NSO National Statistical Office — The statistical wing of MoSPI that compiles national accounts and large-scale surveys.
Background
As per the 2011 census, the population of Kannur district is about 7.56 percentage of the total population of the State.
Out of 25.23 lakhs population in the district, 8.82 lakhs persons are from rural area and 16.41 lakhs from urban area.
Rural population constitutes 34.95 percent and urban population is 65.05 percentage of the total population in the district.
Child population in the age group 0-6 years is 274318, which is 10.87 percent of the total population in the district.
The district administration gives the district area as 2,966 km square and annual rainfall as 3438 mm.
The mean maximum temperature is 35 degrees Celsius and the mean minimum temperature 20 degrees Celsius, in a humid climate.
The administrative setup listed on the district site has 2 subdivisions, 5 taluks, 132 villages, 11 block panchayaths, 9 municipalities and 1 corporation.
District population:
25.23 lakhs
Urban share:
65.05 percentage
Rural share:
34.95 percent
Child population 0-6:
274318, which is 10.87 percent
District area:
2,966 km square
Annual rainfall:
3438 mm
Why it matters for exams: Kannur's unusually high urban share and its census breakdown are the kind of district statistic Kerala PSC asks with numbers.
Kerala PSC
In plain words
Urban population Urban population share — The share of a district's people living in census towns, municipalities and corporations.
7 October 2026
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka's Purchasing Managers' Index for Construction, measured by the Total Activity Index, recorded 59.4 in August 2026.
A reading in that range indicates continued expansion in construction activities, though at a slower rate than in the previous month.
Many survey respondents highlighted an ongoing bitumen shortage, which continued to constrain road construction progress.
The New Orders Index increased further in August, mainly driven by government-funded projects.
The Employment Index and the Quantity of Purchases Index both remained in expansion territory during the month.
Respondents also pointed to persistent shortages of skilled labour and raw materials as key constraints on sectoral growth.
Total Activity Index, August 2026:
59.4
Main constraint cited:
Bitumen shortage
Driver of new orders:
Government-funded projects
Compiled by:
Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Why it matters for exams: Purchasing Managers' Index readings are a standard indicator question, and Sri Lanka's economy is a recurring theme in current affairs papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PMI Purchasing Managers' Index — A diffusion index built from a survey of firms; above 50 points to expansion and below 50 to contraction.
Bitumen Bitumen — A heavy petroleum product used as the binder in road surfacing.
Background
As per figures of the 2011 Census on the Haryana Government portal, the actual population is 25,351,462.
The male population is 13,494,734 and the female population is 11,856,728.
The total child population in the 0-6 age group is 3,380,721.
The literacy rate is 75.55 per cent.
The area is given as 44,212 sq km.
These are 2011 Census figures and do not describe the present population.
Population (2011 Census):
25,351,462
Male population (2011 Census):
13,494,734
Female population (2011 Census):
11,856,728
Child population 0-6 (2011 Census):
3,380,721
Literacy rate (2011 Census):
75.55 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Census figures such as population and literacy rate are routine questions, and the census year is the examinable qualifier.
Kerala PSCUPSC
6 October 2026
The Bureau of Economic Analysis released US international trade data for August 2026 on 6 October 2026.
The goods and services deficit was $105.6 billion, up $12.7 billion from a revised $92.8 billion in July.
Exports were $315.2 billion, up $4.5 billion from July.
Imports were $420.8 billion, up $17.2 billion from July.
A trade deficit means imports of goods and services exceed exports.
Trade deficit:
$105.6 billion
Exports:
$315.2 billion
Imports:
$420.8 billion
July deficit (revised):
$92.8 billion
Why it matters for exams: Trade balance, deficit arithmetic and the agencies that publish economic data are regular economy questions.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
BEA Bureau of Economic Analysis — The US agency that publishes GDP, personal income and trade statistics.
Trade deficit Imports exceeding exports — The gap when a country buys more from abroad than it sells abroad.
6 October 2026
Eurostat's euro indicator release reports that the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade rose by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU in August 2026 compared with July 2026.
Compared with August 2025, the calendar adjusted retail trade volume increased by 0.8% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU.
Among Member States, the highest monthly increases were recorded in Romania (+2.3%), Sweden (+1.4%) and Germany (+1.3%).
The largest monthly decreases were in Luxembourg (-9.4%), Malta (-1.9%) and Latvia (-1.4%).
The highest annual increases were in Sweden (+7.7%), Cyprus (+7.5%) and Estonia (+6.0%).
Annual declines were recorded in Malta (-2.4%), Spain (-0.6%), Italy (-0.5%) and Germany (-0.4%).
Automotive fuel sales fell in both the monthly and the annual comparison.
Monthly change, euro area:
+0.1%
Monthly change, EU:
+0.1%
Annual change, euro area:
+0.8%
Annual change, EU:
+1.2%
Largest monthly fall:
Luxembourg -9.4%
Why it matters for exams: Eurostat's retail trade indicator is a standard reference for questions on euro area demand and on how EU statistics are compiled.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Eurostat Statistical Office of the European Union — The European Commission department that produces official statistics for the EU and the euro area.
Seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted — A series from which regular seasonal swings have been removed so that month-to-month change can be read.
6 October 2026
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has published an Approach Paper on expanding the scope and coverage of the Index of Services Production and invited comments from stakeholders.
MoSPI began a monthly compilation of the Index of Services Production for the formal sector on a trial basis in July 2026, with 2024-25 as the base year.
The initial framework tracks 19 broad service sub-sectors using high-frequency administrative data and data on outward supplies from GST, together accounting for about 60 per cent of services-sector Gross Value Added.
Core government tasks, non-market activities and GST-exempt services are excluded from the present framework.
The Approach Paper sets out methods to bring in three service areas left out so far: Education, Human Health and Residential Care, and Public Administration and Defence. Together these represent nearly 21 per cent of services GVA for 2024-25.
Adding them would take the monthly index's coverage to approximately 78.4 per cent of services-sector GVA and allow a unified all-encompassing index.
Comments and suggestions may be sent by 16 October 2026. The Ministry notes that the services sector drives more than half of the national Gross Value Added.
Base year:
2024-25
Present coverage:
approximately 60 per cent of services-sector GVA
Proposed coverage:
approximately 78.4 per cent of services-sector GVA
Sub-sectors tracked now:
19
Last date for comments:
16 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: A new national statistical index, its base year and its coverage are directly examinable economy facts.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
ISP Index of Services Production — A monthly index that measures short-term movements in the output of the services sector.
GVA Gross Value Added — The value of output minus the value of intermediate inputs, used to measure the contribution of a sector.
Base year Base year — The reference year whose level is taken as 100 when an index is constructed.
Outward supplies Outward supplies under GST — Sales reported by a business in its goods and services tax returns.
6 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India released data on sectoral deployment of credit by non-banking financial companies for August 2026.
NBFC credit grew 15.8 per cent year-on-year in August 2026, against 10.0 per cent a year earlier.
Credit to agriculture and allied activities expanded 17.4 per cent year-on-year, up sharply from 5.1 per cent in August 2025.
Credit to industry grew 8.4 per cent year-on-year, little changed from 8.3 per cent a year earlier, with infrastructure credit steady.
Credit to services moderated to 16.2 per cent year-on-year from 24.0 per cent; commercial real estate expanded strongly while trade and transport decelerated.
Retail loans accelerated to 22.0 per cent year-on-year from 13.6 per cent, with faster growth in housing loans and loans against gold jewellery.
The data cover a sample of upper and middle layer NBFCs and housing finance companies accounting for about 87 per cent of total NBFC credit.
Overall NBFC credit growth:
15.8 per cent (y-o-y)
Agriculture and allied:
17.4 per cent (y-o-y)
Retail loans:
22.0 per cent (y-o-y)
Services:
16.2 per cent (y-o-y)
Sample coverage:
about 87 per cent of total NBFC credit
Why it matters for exams: Sectoral credit growth figures and the RBI's scale-based layering of NBFCs are standard banking examination material.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
NBFC Non-Banking Financial Company — A company registered under the Companies Act that lends and invests but does not hold a banking licence.
Upper and middle layer Upper Layer and Middle Layer NBFCs — Two of the tiers in the Reserve Bank's scale-based regulatory framework for NBFCs, which carry stricter norms than the base layer.
Housing finance company Housing Finance Company (HFC) — An NBFC whose principal business is providing finance for housing, regulated by the Reserve Bank.
Year-on-year Year-on-year (y-o-y) — A comparison of a figure with the same month or quarter of the previous year.
6 October 2026
Population Enumeration for Census 2027 has been completed in the designated snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, covering 5,292 Enumeration Blocks: 4,597 in Jammu & Kashmir and 695 in Ladakh.
This was announced by Amit Sharma, Chief Principal Census Officer and Director Census Operations for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
The exercise was preceded by a Self-Enumeration phase from 17 to 31 August 2026 and field enumeration from 1 to 30 September 2026.
Ladakh has become the first Union Territory in the country to complete Population Enumeration for Census 2027, covering all 695 Enumeration Blocks, 367 in Leh and 328 in Kargil.
In Jammu & Kashmir the snow-bound enumeration covered 16 districts and 95 Charges. Doda recorded the highest number of completed Enumeration Blocks at 798, followed by Kishtwar with 602, Ramban with 418, Anantnag with 377 and Baramulla with 359.
Kishtwar, declared fully snow-bound, has become the first district in the country to complete Population Enumeration for Census 2027.
Enumeration was also completed in 125 Special Charges of Defence and Central Armed Police Forces in the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir and 47 Special Charges in Ladakh.
Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, visited Jammu & Kashmir in August and Ladakh in September to review the exercise.
Enumeration Blocks covered:
5,292
Jammu & Kashmir:
4,597 Enumeration Blocks
Ladakh:
695 Enumeration Blocks
First district to complete:
Kishtwar
Self-Enumeration phase:
17 to 31 August 2026
Why it matters for exams: Census 2027 phases, the first-completing district and Union Territory, and the Registrar General's office are direct examination facts.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Enumeration Block Enumeration Block (EB) — The smallest census field unit, a cluster of households assigned to one enumerator.
Population Enumeration Population Enumeration — The census phase in which every person is counted and their particulars recorded.
Special Charge Special Charge — A census charge created for defence and armed police establishments, enumerated under separate arrangements.
Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India — The officer under the Ministry of Home Affairs who conducts the census and maintains civil registration.
Background
Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, unveiled a flexible monetary policy for FY 2026/27.
It supports the government's target of 7% economic growth and aims to hold average inflation at around 5.5% in the fiscal year.
It aims to keep foreign exchange reserves sufficient to cover at least seven months of imports of goods and services.
The bank rate, policy rate and standing deposit facility rate remain unchanged, and the CRR and SLR have also been left intact.
Governor Dr. Bishwo Nath Poudel said commercial banks will be encouraged to invest in foreign government securities to absorb excess liquidity.
Government growth target supported:
7%
Average inflation target:
around 5.5%
Reserve cover:
seven months of imports
Why it matters for exams: Central bank policy tools and targets are standard economy questions; compare with RBI's repo-based framework.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CRR Cash Reserve Ratio — Share of deposits banks must keep with the central bank.
SLR Statutory Liquidity Ratio — Share of deposits banks must hold in liquid assets.
6 October 2026
The World Health Organization published a 33-page technical brief on 5 October 2026, edited with the United Nations Population Fund.
It covers girls aged 15-19 and uses the 2023 global, regional and national violence against women prevalence estimates.
More than one in five ever-married or partnered adolescent girls have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence.
An estimated 43 million girls aged 15-19 have experienced intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both.
The brief names gender inequality and discriminatory social norms as drivers and notes substantial variation across regions and countries.
It recommends multisectoral prevention and response, survivor-centred services, sustained financing and stronger data, research and monitoring.
Girls aged 15-19 affected:
43 million
Partnered girls with partner violence:
More than one in five
Length:
33 pages
Why it matters for exams: Global health and gender reports from WHO and UNFPA are frequent sources of questions on UN agencies and social indicators.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund — The UN agency for sexual and reproductive health.
Intimate partner violence Violence by a current or former partner — It includes physical and sexual violence.
6 October 2026
The Ministry of Steel reported growth in India's steel sector in the first half of FY 2026-27. Crude steel production was 85.1 million tonnes against 82.7 million tonnes a year earlier, a rise of 2.9 per cent. Finished steel consumption was 84.9 million tonnes against 79.0 million tonnes, up 7.5 per cent. Finished steel imports were 4,141.8 thousand tonnes worth ₹43,690.1 crore, and exports were 3,547.8 thousand tonnes worth ₹28,263.7 crore. India was a net importer by volume.
Crude steel:
85.1 million tonnes
Consumption growth:
7.5 per cent
Import value:
₹43,690.1 crore
Why it matters for exams: Production and consumption figures for core industries appear in economy and report-based questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Crude steel Steel in its first solid form — Steel produced from the furnace before it is rolled into finished products.
6 October 2026
A new UNHCR report estimates 13.1 million school-age refugee children worldwide in 2025.
Nearly half, 5.8 million, are out of school as funding cuts threaten years of progress.
Only 32 per cent were enrolled in secondary school in 2025, against 65 per cent at primary level.
Refugee enrolment in higher education hit a record 11 per cent, with over 450,000 students.
UNHCR is on track for the 15x30 pledge: 15 per cent of refugee youth in higher education by 2030.
High Commissioner Barham Salih urged donors to protect education funding.
School-age refugee children (2025):
13.1 million
Out of school:
5.8 million
Secondary enrolment:
32 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Gives refugee-education figures and the 15x30 target of the UN refugee agency.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees — The UN refugee agency, headed by Barham Salih.
6 October 2026
WHO's latest Global Health Estimates put global life expectancy at 73.3 years in 2023, against 73.4 years in 2019.
Healthy life expectancy reached 62.8 years in 2023, still 0.4 years below its 2019 level.
Noncommunicable diseases caused 74 per cent of deaths in 2023, up from 58 per cent in 2000.
Communicable diseases caused under half of all deaths in low-income countries for the first time.
Ischaemic heart disease alone caused about 9.5 million deaths.
Dementia rose from the 19th leading cause of death in 2000 to the fifth in 2023.
Life expectancy 2023:
73.3 years
Healthy life expectancy 2023:
62.8 years
NCD share of deaths 2023:
74 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Headline health indicators from WHO are a staple of reports-and-indices questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Healthy life expectancy Years lived in good health — It has recovered more slowly than total life expectancy.
Background
The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities.
It consists of the average of five commodity group price indices weighted by the average export shares of each of the groups over 2014-2016.
The five groups are cereals, vegetable oils, dairy, meat and sugar, and the FAO Cereal Price Index, the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index, the FAO Dairy Price Index, the FAO Meat Price Index and the FAO Sugar Price Index are published alongside the headline index.
The index is published monthly, and FAO gives the monthly release dates for the whole year in advance.
Nominal and real indices are published from 1990 onwards, monthly and annual, with annual series available from 1961 onwards.
FAO separately runs a Food Price Monitoring and Analysis tool for export quotations and national retail and wholesale prices of foods.
Number of commodity group indices averaged:
five commodity group price indices
Basis of the weights:
average export shares
Base period of the weights:
2014-2016
Frequency:
monthly
Why it matters for exams: Index questions turn on construction rather than the latest reading, and this one has a clear formula, a weighting rule and a fixed set of groups.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
FFPI FAO Food Price Index — FAO's monthly measure of international food commodity prices.
Export share — A group's share of total food exports, used here to decide how much weight it carries in the index.
Nominal and real index — A nominal index uses prices as they are; a real index adjusts them for broader price changes.