Economy Current Affairs — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Mon, 02 Feb 2026
Sun, 01 Feb 2026
Defence gets record ₹7.85 lakh crore in Budget 2026-27, 15.19% above last year's BE
The Ministry of Defence was allocated a record ₹7.85 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2026-27 on 1 February 2026, 15.19% higher than the 2025-26 Budget estimate.
Budget 2026-27: Income Tax Act 2025 from April 2026, TCS cut to 2%, IT safe harbour widened
The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, confirmed that the new Income Tax Act, 2025 takes effect from April 2026 and cut TCS on overseas tour packages and on LRS remittances for education and medical treatment to 2%.
Budget 2026-27 launches Biopharma SHAKTI, ISM 2.0, Rare Earth Corridors and container scheme
The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, announced Biopharma SHAKTI with ₹10,000 crore over five years, India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, dedicated Rare Earth Corridors in four states and a ₹10,000 crore container manufacturing scheme.
Government accepts 16th Finance Commission's recommendation to keep states' share at 41%
Presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 on 1 February 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government had accepted the 16th Finance Commission's recommendation to retain the states' vertical share of devolution at 41%.
Budget 2026-27 raises public capex to ₹12.2 lakh crore, sets up Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund
The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, raised public capital expenditure to ₹12.2 lakh crore and announced an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund and CPSE REITs.
Budget 2026-27: record ₹2.93 lakh crore rail capex, seven high-speed corridors, Dankuni–Surat freight corridor
The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, gave Indian Railways a record capital expenditure of ₹2,93,030 crore and announced seven high-speed rail corridors and a new Dankuni–Surat dedicated freight corridor.
Budget 2026-27 halves duty on personal imports to 10%, exempts 17 cancer drugs from customs duty
The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, proposed cutting the tariff on all dutiable goods imported for personal use from 20% to 10% and exempting 17 drugs, mainly for cancer, from basic customs duty.
Union Budget 2026-27 sets fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP; debt-to-GDP at 55.6%
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament on 1 February 2026, estimating the fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP and total expenditure at ₹53.5 lakh crore.
Budget 2026-27 proposes Bharat-VISTAAR AI tool for farmers and a Coconut Promotion Scheme
The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, proposed Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual AI tool integrating AgriStack and ICAR advisories, and a Coconut Promotion Scheme.
Budget 2026-27: five Regional Medical Hubs, NIMHANS-2, a girls' hostel in every district
The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, announced five Regional Medical Hubs for medical tourism, NIMHANS-2 in north India, three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda and a girls' hostel in every district.
Budget 2026-27: 15 archaeological sites to become cultural destinations; Khelo India Mission launched
The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, announced that 15 archaeological sites including Lothal, Dholavira and Rakhigarhi will be developed as experiential cultural destinations, and launched a Khelo India Mission for the next decade.
Budget 2026-27 creates ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, sets up High Level Committee on Banking
The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, announced a ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund to create 'Champion SMEs' and a High Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat.
Sat, 31 Jan 2026
Fri, 30 Jan 2026
Thu, 29 Jan 2026
Economic Survey 2025-26: GDP growth for FY26 estimated at 7.4%; FY27 projected at 6.8–7.2%
The Economic Survey 2025-26, tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 29 January 2026, estimates real GDP growth of 7.4% in FY26 and projects 6.8–7.2% for FY27, with potential growth around 7%.
MoSPI releases Expert Group report on new CPI 2024 series; 358 items, COICOP 2018, release on 12 February 2026
On 29 January 2026 MoSPI released the Expert Group report on the new Consumer Price Index series (CPI 2024), which uses the COICOP 2018 classification, weights from HCES 2023-24 and a basket of 358 items; the series was to be released on 12 February 2026.
Bihar cabinet approves up to ₹2 lakh more for Mahila Rozgar Yojana beneficiaries, Semiconductor and GCC Policies 2026
On 29 January 2026 the Bihar cabinet approved additional help of up to ₹2 lakh for women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, the Bihar Semiconductor Policy 2026 and the Bihar GCC Policy 2026.
Economic Survey 2025-26: India's Global Innovation Index rank improves to 38th in 2025 from 66th in 2019
The Economic Survey 2025-26 notes India's Global Innovation Index rank rose from 66th (2019) to 38th (2025), PLI schemes drew over ₹2 lakh crore of investment, and 10 semiconductor projects worth ₹1.60 lakh crore were approved in 6 states.
Government notifies coking coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the MMDR Act, 1957
On 29 January 2026 the Centre notified coking coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral by adding it to Part D of the First Schedule of the MMDR Act, 1957, to cut import dependence of the steel sector.
Economic Survey 2025-26: record exports of USD 825.3 billion in FY25; India remains top remittance recipient
The Economic Survey 2025-26 says India's total exports hit a record USD 825.3 billion in FY25, services exports an all-time high of USD 387.6 billion, and remittances USD 135.4 billion — the world's largest.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026
India and EU conclude FTA negotiations on financial services
The Finance Ministry announced on 28 January 2026 that India and the European Union have concluded negotiations on the financial services chapter of the India-EU FTA, finalised in the last round held on 6 January 2026.
Index of Industrial Production grows 7.8% in December 2025, highest in over two years
India's IIP rose 7.8% in December 2025 (quick estimate), its highest level in over two years, led by manufacturing (8.1%), mining (6.8%) and electricity (6.3%).
Tue, 27 Jan 2026
India and EU announce conclusion of Free Trade Agreement at 16th India–EU Summit
PM Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the conclusion of the India–EU FTA at the 16th India–EU Summit in New Delhi on 27 January 2026; over 99% of Indian exports by value get preferential entry into the EU.
RBI signs MoU with European Securities and Markets Authority for recognition of CCIL
With Union Cabinet approval, the RBI signed an MoU with the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) on 27 January 2026 to enable ESMA's formal recognition of the Clearing Corporation of India Ltd (CCIL) and other RBI-regulated central counterparties.
Department of Posts ties up with Stock Holding Services Ltd to widen access to capital markets
The Department of Posts signed an agreement with Stock Holding Services Limited (SSL) at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi on 27 January 2026 to give citizens access to regulated capital market services through India Post's network of over 1.65 lakh post offices.
Halwa ceremony marks final stage of Union Budget 2026-27 preparations
The Halwa ceremony marking the final stage of preparation of the Union Budget 2026-27 was held at the Budget Press, North Block on 27 January 2026 in the presence of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman; the Budget will be presented on 1 February 2026.