Economy Current Affairs — Last 6 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Sun, 10 May 2026
Sat, 09 May 2026
Baksa district of Assam makes first-ever export of 20 MT ODOP honey to the USA
On 9 May 2026 a 20-metric-tonne consignment of One District One Product (ODOP) honey from Baksa, an Aspirational District of Assam, was flagged off to the USA in the district's first-ever honey export, facilitated by APEDA.
Jan Suraksha schemes PMJJBY, PMSBY and Atal Pension Yojana complete 11 years
On 9 May 2026 the Jan Suraksha schemes — PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, PM Suraksha Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana, launched on 9 May 2015 — completed 11 years, with PMSBY enrolments at 58.09 crore and APY at 9.04 crore.
Fri, 08 May 2026
Second India Aircraft Leasing & Financing Summit held at GIFT City, Gandhinagar
On 8 May 2026 the Civil Aviation Ministry, IFSCA and FICCI held the 2nd India Aircraft Leasing and Financing Summit (IALFS 2.0) at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, where Minister Ram Mohan Naidu cited a USD 50 billion leasing opportunity over the coming decade.
India and Canada conclude second round of CEPA negotiations in New Delhi; next round in Ottawa in July
On 8 May 2026 India and Canada concluded the second round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), held from 4 to 8 May at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, with the next round set for July 2026 in Ottawa.
India advances BRICS MSME cooperation under its 2026 Chairship
On 8 May 2026 the MSME Ministry said that, as BRICS Chair in 2026, India will convene three SME Working Group meetings and the inaugural BRICS MSME Forum under the BRICS Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR), the first meeting having focused on access to finance.
Thu, 07 May 2026
MoSPI releases uniform guideline for compiling Gross State Value Added with base year 2022-23
On 7 May 2026 MoSPI released a uniform guideline for States and UTs to compile Gross State Value Added (GSVA) estimates with the new base year 2022-23, prepared by a sub-committee on regional accounts chaired by Prof. Ravindra H. Dholakia.
101 auctioned mineral blocks operationalised since 2015 auction regime; Odisha leads
On 7 May 2026 the Ministry of Mines said 101 auctioned mineral blocks have been operationalised since the auction regime began in 2015, led by Odisha with 34, while FY 2025–26 saw a record 212 blocks auctioned.
Commerce Secretary visits Switzerland to advance India–EFTA TEPA implementation
On 6–7 May 2026 Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal visited Switzerland to review implementation of the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), India's first trade agreement with the EFTA economies, as India's exports to Switzerland crossed USD 1.2 billion in FY 2025–26.
Wed, 06 May 2026
Tue, 05 May 2026
Cabinet approves two more semiconductor units in Gujarat, including India's first commercial GaN Mini/Micro-LED display facility
On 5 May 2026 the Union Cabinet approved two semiconductor projects in Gujarat worth about ₹3,936 crore under the India Semiconductor Mission — Crystal Matrix's GaN-based Mini/Micro-LED display facility at Dholera and Suchi Semicon's OSAT unit at Surat — taking approved ISM projects to 12.
Cabinet approves Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme 5.0 with ₹5,000 crore for airlines
On 5 May 2026 the Union Cabinet approved ECLGS 5.0, targeting additional credit of ₹2,55,000 crore for MSMEs, other businesses and airlines hit by the West Asia situation, including ₹5,000 crore for airlines.
North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj: defence production at record ₹1.54 lakh crore
At the three-day North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said on 5 May 2026 that India's defence production has reached ₹1.54 lakh crore, a 174% rise in a decade, and Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth credited indigenous weapons for the success of Operation Sindoor.
Sugarcane FRP fixed at ₹365 per quintal for sugar season 2026–27
On 5 May 2026 the CCEA approved a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of ₹365 per quintal for sugarcane for sugar season 2026–27 at a basic recovery rate of 10.25%, 2.81% higher than the current season.
DFS approves Viability Plan 2.0 for Regional Rural Banks for 2025-26 to 2027-28
On 5 May 2026 the Department of Financial Services said it has approved Viability Plan 2.0 for Regional Rural Banks for 2025-26 to 2027-28, with 30 performance parameters across four pillars, covering all 28 RRBs.
Sun, 03 May 2026
West Asia update: LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti crosses Strait of Hormuz with Indian cargo
The Petroleum Ministry said on 3 May 2026 that the Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti, carrying 46,313 MT of Indian LPG cargo, had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and was expected at Visakhapatnam on 13 May 2026.
Madhya Pradesh CM lays foundation of Indore–Pithampur Economic Corridor's first phase
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav laid the foundation stone of the first phase of the Indore–Pithampur Economic Corridor at Nainod village, Indore, on 3 May 2026; the corridor, planned over about 1,316 hectares, is expected to generate employment for 6 lakh people.
CBIC inaugurates new GST Bhawan at Itanagar
CBIC Member Surjit Bhujabal inaugurated a new GST Bhawan at Niti Vihar, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, on 3 May 2026 as an office complex and taxpayer facilitation centre for the Itanagar Commissionerate.
Sat, 02 May 2026
Thu, 30 Apr 2026
UPI completes 10 years; 24,162 crore transactions worth ₹314 lakh crore in FY 2025–26
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), launched by NPCI on 11 April 2016, completed 10 years with over 24,162 crore transactions worth about ₹314 lakh crore in FY 2025–26, 700+ banks onboard and nearly 49% of global real-time payments.
58 companies found eligible under ₹1,500-crore Critical Mineral Recycling incentive scheme
The Ministry of Mines said on 30 April 2026 that 58 companies, with pledged capacity of about 850 KTPA and investment of about ₹5,000 crore, have been approved as eligible under the ₹1,500-crore Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling under the National Critical Mineral Mission.
Commerce Department revises RoDTEP schedules to align with amended Customs Tariff
The Department of Commerce issued Notification No. 15/2026–27 on 30 April 2026 revising RoDTEP schedules across 194 tariff lines to align with Customs Tariff changes made by the Finance Act, 2026, effective 1 May 2026.
5th India–Tanzania Joint Trade Committee held in Dar es Salaam; bilateral trade crosses USD 9 billion
The 5th India–Tanzania Joint Trade Committee met in Dar es Salaam on 29–30 April 2026, co-chaired by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, and noted bilateral trade of USD 9.02 billion in 2025–26, up from USD 8.64 billion.
Live Events Development Cell holds 4th meeting; states urged to adopt model executive order by 31 May
The 4th meeting of the Live Events Development Cell, chaired by I&B Secretary Chanchal Kumar at Vigyan Bhavan on 30 April 2026, urged states and UTs to adopt a model executive order for live-event permissions by 31 May 2026.
India Post Payments Bank launches zero-balance savings account for Self Help Groups
India Post Payments Bank on 30 April 2026 launched a zero-balance, zero-charge Self Help Group (SHG) Savings Account with no minimum deposit and a maximum balance limit of ₹2 lakh, delivered through post offices and Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Tue, 28 Apr 2026
10th India–Kenya Joint Trade Committee meets in Nairobi; bilateral trade rises to USD 4.31 billion
The 10th India–Kenya Joint Trade Committee met in Nairobi on 27–28 April 2026, co-chaired by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, and noted bilateral trade of USD 4.31 billion in 2025–26, up 24.91% from USD 3.45 billion.
Index of Industrial Production grows 4.1% in March 2026
India's Index of Industrial Production grew 4.1% year-on-year in March 2026, as per MoSPI's quick estimate released on 28 April 2026, with mining up 5.5%, manufacturing 4.3% and electricity 0.8%.
Piyush Goyal announces three-year fee waiver for all sports-related IP registrations on World IP Day
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on 28 April 2026 announced that all sports-related intellectual property registrations — trademarks, copyrights, patents, designs, traditional knowledge and GIs — will be fee-exempt for three years, at World IP Day celebrations themed 'IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!'.
Mon, 27 Apr 2026
India and New Zealand sign Free Trade Agreement in New Delhi
India and New Zealand signed a Free Trade Agreement at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 27 April 2026, giving zero-duty access to 100% of India's exports, a USD 20 billion investment commitment and post-study work visas, while excluding dairy and key farm products.
MoSPI releases approach paper on an Index of Service Production for the formal sector
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on 27 April 2026 released an approach paper on compiling an Index of Service Production (ISP) for the formal sector, drawing on GST data, and invited stakeholder comments.