UPSC EPFO / APFC Current Affairs One-liners — All time

Fri, 16 Jan 2026

• The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) extended Duty Drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL benefits to exports made through the postal mode in electronic form with effect from 15 January 2026.
• India and Germany signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Telecommunications Cooperation during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to India on 12–13 January 2026, the Communications Ministry said on 16 January.
• Praveen Vashista, a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre, took oath as Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission on 16 January 2026.
• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation invited nominations for the Sukhatme National Award in Statistics 2026 on 16 January 2026; the award will be presented on Statistics Day, 29 June 2026.

Thu, 15 Jan 2026

• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi, on 15 January 2026.
• India and Israel signed a Joint Ministerial Declaration of Intent on fisheries and aquaculture on 14 January 2026 during Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh's visit to Israel, the Fisheries Ministry said on 15 January.
• The PLFS Monthly Bulletin for December 2025, released by MoSPI on 15 January 2026, showed female labour force participation at a yearly high of 35.3% and the overall unemployment rate at 4.8%.
• The Ministry of Coal executed Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements with Damodar Valley Corporation for the Dhulia North, Mandakini B and Pirpainti Barahat blocks on 15 January 2026.
• At the India Meteorological Department's 151st Foundation Day on 15 January 2026, Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced 50 Automatic Weather Stations each for Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Pune in 2026.
• NITI Aayog released a report titled 'Achieving Efficiencies in MSME Sector through Convergence of Schemes' on 15 January 2026, recommending streamlined schemes and a centralised digital portal for MSMEs.
• India's total exports of goods and services for April–December 2025 are estimated at US$634.26 billion, 4.33% higher than a year earlier, according to Commerce Ministry data released on 15 January 2026.

Wed, 14 Jan 2026

• NITI Aayog released the fourth edition of the Export Preparedness Index (EPI 2024) on 14 January 2026, assessing the export readiness of States and UTs across four pillars, 13 sub-pillars and 70 indicators.
• The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Kaundinya, a traditionally built stitched sail ship, reached Muscat, Oman, on 14 January 2026 after completing its maiden voyage from Porbandar.
• The Department of Financial Services launched Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima, an optional health insurance plan for CGHS beneficiaries with sum insured of ₹10 lakh or ₹20 lakh, on 14 January 2026.
• The 10th Defence Forces Veterans' Day was observed across India on 14 January 2026, with Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh attending the main celebration at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt.
• President Droupadi Murmu accepted credentials from US Ambassador Sergio Gor, Austrian Ambassador Dr Robert Zischg and Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner Chandradath Singh at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 14 January 2026.
• Annual inflation based on the All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) was 0.83% (provisional) in December 2025, up from −0.32% in November, the Commerce Ministry said on 14 January 2026.
• The 22nd High-Level Meeting between the Indian Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard was held in New Delhi on 14 January 2026, co-chaired by ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani and JCG Commandant Admiral Yoshio Saguchi.
• The Dedicated Freight Corridor network handled a record 892 interchange trains with five Indian Railways zones in a single day on 5 January 2026, the Railways Ministry said on 14 January.

Tue, 13 Jan 2026

• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority issued the NPS Vatsalya Scheme Guidelines 2025 on 13 January 2026, setting out eligibility, contribution, withdrawal and transition rules for the pension savings scheme for minors.
• A PIB backgrounder of 13 January 2026 said PRAGATI, launched in 2015, has fast-tracked projects worth more than ₹85 lakh crore and reviewed 382 major national projects.
• PFRDA constituted a 15-member high-level committee chaired by former IBBI Chairperson Dr M.S. Sahoo to frame guidelines for assured payouts under the National Pension System, it said on 13 January 2026.
• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released Discussion Paper 2.0 on 13 January 2026, proposing a chain-based method for compiling the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) as part of its base revision.
• The Task Force on a Unified Framework for Development of the Coaching Ecosystem in India, led by badminton national head coach Pullela Gopichand, submitted its report to the Sports Department, the Sports Ministry said on 13 January 2026.
• The Defence Ministry said on 13 January 2026 that the 16th ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Counter Terrorism, co-chaired by India and Malaysia, would meet in New Delhi from 14 to 16 January along with a Final Planning Conference for a Table Top Exercise.
• A PIB backgrounder of 13 January 2026 said Indian Railways has approved 306 Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminals with a combined capacity of 192 million tonnes per annum, of which 118 are commissioned.
• The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser marked the culmination of 'Inspiring Innovators – Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Pehchaan', a skilling initiative with the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, on 13 January 2026.

Mon, 12 Jan 2026

• German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz began his first official visit to India on 12 January 2026, holding talks with PM Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad that produced a joint statement and a list of outcomes including visa-free transit through Germany for Indian passport holders.
• Retail inflation based on the All India Consumer Price Index was 1.33% (provisional) in December 2025, MoSPI said on 12 January 2026, staying below the RBI's lower tolerance limit for a fourth straight month.
• The Union Government notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, the Sports Ministry said on 12 January 2026.