Economy Current Affairs — Last 6 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Mon, 18 May 2026
India and Norway elevate ties to a Green Strategic Partnership; aim to double trade by 2030
On 18 May 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held talks in Oslo, elevated India–Norway ties to a Green Strategic Partnership and set a goal of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
Goyal sets $1 trillion export target for this year and $2 trillion in five years; exports at $863 billion
On 18 May 2026 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India is targeting exports of $1 trillion this year and $2 trillion over five years, after exports reached $863 billion, nearly 5% higher than the previous year.
Sun, 17 May 2026
India and Sweden elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership; adopt Joint Action Plan 2026-2030
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson held talks in Gothenburg during the PM's visit on 17 May 2026, elevated India–Sweden ties to a Strategic Partnership and adopted the India-Sweden Joint Action Plan 2026-2030.
DoNER explores blending North-East's Eri silk with Rajasthan's Kota Doria at Kaithoon
On 17 May 2026 a Ministry of DoNER team led by Secretary Sanjay Jaju visited the Kaithoon Common Facility Centre in Kota, Rajasthan, to explore blending the North-East's Eri silk with the GI-tagged Kota Doria fabric.
National Test House, Ghaziabad sets up a state-of-the-art shoe testing laboratory
The National Test House (Northern Region), Ghaziabad, under the Department of Consumer Affairs, has set up a state-of-the-art Shoe Testing Laboratory to test footwear against Indian Standards, PIB said on 17 May 2026.
Amit Shah inaugurates Madhur Dairy's ₹128-crore plant at Dashela, Gandhinagar
On 17 May 2026 Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Madhur Dairy's new plant at Dashela in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, built for about ₹128 crore with a processing capacity of 2.5 lakh litres of milk a day.
Sat, 16 May 2026
India and the Netherlands elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership; adopt Roadmap 2026-2030
On 16 May 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten met in The Hague, elevated India–Netherlands relations to a Strategic Partnership and adopted a Strategic Partnership Roadmap for 2026-2030.
2nd BRICS CGETI meeting in Gandhinagar; intra-BRICS trade has grown to US$1.17 trillion
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal gave the keynote address at the 2nd meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues (CGETI) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, PIB reported on 16 May 2026, saying intra-BRICS trade had risen to US$1.17 trillion.
Tata Electronics and Dutch firm ASML sign agreement to support the Dholera semiconductor fab
On 16 May 2026 PM Narendra Modi and Dutch PM Rob Jetten witnessed the signing of an agreement between Tata Electronics and ASML to support India's first front-end semiconductor fab at Dholera, Gujarat.
India produces over 70% of the world's jaggery; exports up 106.5% in value since 2015-16
A PIB backgrounder of 16 May 2026 says India accounts for over 70% of global jaggery production, diverts 20–30% of its sugarcane to jaggery, and saw jaggery exports rise 106.5% in value between 2015-16 and 2024-25.
GeM marks Incorporation Day 2026; platform has 1.36 lakh buyers and nearly 25 lakh sellers
Government e Marketplace (GeM) observed its Incorporation Day 2026, PIB said on 16 May 2026, noting that the GeM SPV was incorporated on 17 May 2017 and that the platform now has over 1.36 lakh government buyers and nearly 25 lakh sellers.
Fri, 15 May 2026
PM Modi in UAE: ADNOC to store up to 30 million barrels in India's strategic reserves; Strategic Defence Partnership framework signed
On 15 May 2026 PM Narendra Modi visited the UAE, where India and the UAE signed an ISPRL–ADNOC pact for up to 30 million barrels of ADNOC crude in India's strategic reserves, a Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership, and announced US$5 billion of UAE investment.
India's total exports rise 13.59% to US$80.80 billion in April 2026
India's total exports (merchandise and services) in April 2026 were estimated at US$80.80 billion, up 13.59% from April 2025, the Commerce Ministry said on 15 May 2026.
PLFS April 2026: urban unemployment eases to 6.6%; urban female unemployment at one-year low of 8.5%
The PLFS monthly bulletin for April 2026, released by MoSPI on 15 May 2026, put the urban unemployment rate (15+) at 6.6% and the overall labour force participation rate at 55.0%.
Rajasthan gets its first semiconductor plant: Sahasra Semiconductors' OSAT unit at Bhiwadi
On 15 May 2026 Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually inaugurated Sahasra Semiconductors' ATMP/OSAT facility – Rajasthan's first semiconductor plant and India's first SME-led semiconductor facility – and ELCINA's Electronics Manufacturing Cluster at Bhiwadi.
Kimberley Process Intersessional 2026 concludes in Mumbai under India's Chairship
The Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional Meeting 2026, a four-day meeting on the natural diamond trade held under India's Chairship and its '3Cs' theme, concluded in Mumbai, PIB said on 15 May 2026.
Hindustan Copper posts record PBT of ₹1,233 crore in FY26, up 95%
Hindustan Copper Limited, a Miniratna CPSE under the Ministry of Mines, reported a record profit before tax of ₹1,232.73 crore for FY 2025-26, up 95%, the ministry said on 15 May 2026.
Thu, 14 May 2026
WPI inflation jumps to 8.30% in April 2026, led by fuel and power at 24.71%
On 14 May 2026 DPIIT said annual WPI inflation rose to 8.30% (provisional) in April 2026 from 3.88% in March, driven by mineral oils, crude petroleum and natural gas.
India–Africa Business Dialogue curtain raiser ahead of 4th India-Africa Forum Summit; trade at US$93.69 billion in 2025-26
On 13 May 2026 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held the curtain raiser for the India-Africa Business Dialogue & Exhibition, to be held alongside the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit, noting India–Africa trade of US$93.69 billion in 2025-26.
EU includes India in revised draft list for continued aquaculture exports from September 2026
On 12 May 2026 the European Union included India in its revised draft list of countries allowed to keep exporting aquaculture products to the EU from September 2026, reversing an omission in Regulation (EU) 2024/2598.
Wed, 13 May 2026
Cabinet raises MSP for 14 kharif crops for 2026-27; paddy (common) at ₹2,441 per quintal
On 13 May 2026 the CCEA approved higher MSPs for 14 kharif crops for marketing season 2026-27, with paddy (common) at ₹2,441 per quintal and the biggest rise for sunflower seed (₹622).
Piyush Goyal presents LEAPS 2025 awards and releases LEADS 2025 report; exports at record US$863 billion
On 13 May 2026 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal gave the LEAPS 2025 logistics awards in 13 categories, released the LEADS 2025 report, and said India's exports hit a record US$863 billion with a US$1 trillion target for the current year.
Chile's Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna visits India; both sides seek early conclusion of CEPA
On 13 May 2026 Chile's Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna held talks with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi, and both sides reaffirmed their commitment to an early conclusion of the India–Chile CEPA.
Tue, 12 May 2026
Public sector banks post record ₹1.98 lakh crore net profit in FY 2025-26; gross NPA falls to 1.93%
On 12 May 2026 the Finance Ministry said public sector banks earned a record aggregate net profit of ₹1.98 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, their fourth straight profitable year, with gross NPA at a record-low 1.93%.
Retail inflation at 3.48% in April 2026 on new CPI base 2024; food inflation 4.20%
On 12 May 2026 MoSPI said CPI retail inflation (base 2024=100) was 3.48% (provisional) in April 2026, up from 3.40% in March, with food inflation (CFPI) at 4.20%.
DFS launches US$1.5 billion Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool backed by ₹12,980-crore sovereign guarantee
On 12 May 2026 the Department of Financial Services launched the US$1.5 billion Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool, with a sovereign guarantee of US$1.4 billion (₹12,980 crore), to keep maritime insurance available amid Middle East tensions.
Mines Ministry launches second tranche of limestone block auctions in Jammu & Kashmir; 12 blocks on offer
On 12 May 2026 the Ministry of Mines launched the second tranche of e-auction of 12 limestone blocks in Anantnag, Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu & Kashmir at Srinagar.
I4C and Reserve Bank Innovation Hub sign MoU for AI-driven detection of mule accounts
On 12 May 2026 the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) of MHA and the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) signed an MoU to feed I4C's Suspect Registry data into AI-driven fraud detection to catch mule accounts.
Mon, 11 May 2026
5th IGoM on West Asia: India has 60 days of crude and gas, 45 days of LPG; fertiliser stock covers 51% of Kharif need
On 11 May 2026 the 5th Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia, chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, was told India has 60 days of crude oil and natural gas and 45 days of LPG, and fertiliser stocks of 199.65 LMT against a Kharif 2026 need of 390.54 LMT.
PLFS Jan–Mar 2026: LFPR at 55.5%, 57.4 crore employed; rural regular wage share rises to 15.5%
On 11 May 2026 MoSPI's PLFS Quarterly Bulletin for January–March 2026 put the overall LFPR (15+, CWS) at 55.5% and estimated 57.4 crore persons employed, with urban unemployment on a declining trend.