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#CurrentAffair #Economy SANKALP scheme The SANKALP scheme (Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion) is a World Bank-assisted program launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). It focuses on decentralizing skill planning and improving the quality of vocational training.The SIDH (Skill India Digital Hub) is the centralized digital public infrastructure (DPI) that integrates these skilling initiatives onto one platform. Development costs for the SIDH platform were funded under the SANKALP scheme

#CurrentAffair #Economy Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) was launched in September 2023 as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to bring together the entire skilling ecosystem on a single platform. Key Objectives of SIDH: 1)To provide seamless access to skilling, certification, and other skill development related opportunities through a single unified platform; 2)To enable end-to-end digital services for candidates, training providers, assessment agencies and employers; 3)To ensure digitally verifiable and portable credentials for all certified candidates; and 4)To integrate with other government platforms through interoperable APIs to promote a unified skilling ecosystem.

#CurrentAffair #Economy Fiscal Health Index (FHI) What is FHI? NITI Aayog’s Fiscal Health Index measures and ranks the fiscal performance of 18 major states using audited CAG data. It is based on 5 pillars: Quality of Expenditure, Revenue Mobilization, Fiscal Prudence, Debt Index, and Debt Sustainability. Key Changes (2022-23 vs 2023-24) Improved States: 1)Odisha (top performer) 2)Goa, Haryana, Bihar, Maharashtra Declined States: Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu (major drop), Kerala, Punjab, Gujarat

#CurrentAffair #Economy Why Copper is Critical? 1)Copper is essential for solar panels, wind turbines, EVs, transformers, and power transmission. 2)India’s per capita copper consumption is very low (1 kg) compared to world average (3.2 kg) and China (14 kg). 3)Demand is projected to rise five-fold to 10 million tonnes by 2047. Current Problem 1)After the closure of Sterlite Copper (Tuticorin) in 2018, India became a net importer of copper. 2)Exports collapsed dramatically, increasing dependence on foreign supply chains. 3)This creates risks for energy security and renewable energy goals. China’s Lesson 1)China built the world’s largest copper smelting capacity (nearly 15 million tonnes) through long-term planning, even with limited domestic ore. 2)This helped China dominate EVs, solar, and battery production. Gujarat Emerging as Copper Hub 1)Hindalco Dahej: One of the world’s largest smelters (500,000 TPA), expanding further. 2)Adani Kutch Copper: Scaling up to 1 million TPA. 3)Vedanta: Strengthening downstream operations. Gujarat is set to have over 2 million TPA refined copper capacity — larger than Europe, Japan, or the US.

#CurrentAffair #Environment What is E85 fuel and how is it different from E20? context The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas launched the E85 fuel on World Environment Day. The primary difference in the two is the fuels’ composition and vehicle compatibility. While the standard E20 petrol contains up to 20% ethanol mixed with 80% conventional petrol, the new E85 shifts the balance and mixes 80%-85% ethanol blended with 14% to 19% petrol. “E85 fuel is exclusively for flex-fuel vehicles, not for regular E20 compatible vehicles. In Brazil, E85 fuel has been in use for decades. Flex-fuel vehicle engines can run on various ethanol-petrol blends ranging from E20 to E100.

#CurrentAffair #Economy Centre-RBI Coordinated Measures to Attract Dollar Inflows Key Objective To attract long-term foreign capital, bridge the estimated $40-50 billion BoP gap in FY27, and support the rupee amid global uncertainty. Major Announcements 1)Tax Relief for FPIs Government scrapped capital gains tax (both short-term & long-term) and withholding tax on interest on investments in government securities. Effective from April 1, 2026. 2)Expansion of Fully Accessible Route (FAR) RBI included 15-year, 30-year, and 40-year government bonds under FAR (with 30% cap). 3)FCNR(B) Deposits RBI will compensate banks for hedging costs on 3-year and 5-year FCNR deposits to make them more attractive. 4)Concessional Forex Swaps Offered to public sector companies till September 30, 2026, to encourage overseas borrowings

#CurrentAffair #Economy capital gains tax The Centre has removed capital gains tax (both long-term and short-term) and withholding tax on interest income for Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) investing in Indian government bonds. The changes will be effective from April 1, 2026. Why This Step? 1)To attract foreign capital inflows. 2)To stabilise the weakening rupee. 3)To bridge the large Balance of Payments (BoP) deficit (estimated up to $60 billion in 2026-27)

#CurrentAffair #Economy Why Higher Capex Matters 1)Crowding in private investment: Large-scale government spending builds investor confidence and encourages private participation in infrastructure projects. 2)Job creation: Construction of roads, railways, housing, and energy projects generates employment across multiple sectors. 3)Boosting demand: Higher capex stimulates demand for steel, cement, machinery, and services, strengthening industrial output and overall economic activity. 4)Focus on Tier II and Tier III Cities: The Union Budget 2026-27 places emphasis on developing cities with populations above 5 lakh, positioning them as new growth centres. Investments in housing, transport, and urban infrastructure aim to spread growth beyond metropolitan areas, ensuring balanced regional development. Further to amplify the potential of urban centres, the Union Budget 2026-27 introduces the concept of City Economic Regions (CERs), mapped according to their specific growth drivers. An allocation of ₹5,000 crore per CER over five years has been proposed, to be implemented through a challenge mode with reform-and-results-based financing mechanism.

#CurrentAffair #Economy Public Capital expenditure It refers to government spending on the creation of assets such as roads, buildings, machinery, and equipment, with a high multiplier effect on economic growth. Over the past decade, public capital expenditure has been the driving force of India’s infrastructure push. The Government has steadily raised allocations, using higher spending as a tool to attract private investment, generate employment, and boost the economy. The Union Budget 2026–27 has introduced new measures such as the Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund and City Economic Regions (CERs), reinforcing infrastructure-led growth and balanced urban development.

#CurrentAffair #Economy Social Stock Exchange (SSE) What is SSE? A dedicated segment on regular stock exchanges (like NSE or BSE) that helps social enterprises and non-profits raise funds from the public for social impact projects. Who Can Raise Funds? 1)Not-for-Profit Organisations (NPOs): Charities and social welfare entities. 2)For-Profit Social Enterprises (FPEs): Companies that focus on both profit and social impact. Fundraising Instruments 1)Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) Bonds (for NPOs): No interest, no repayment of principal. Investors get only “social returns” (measurable impact like schools or healthcare). 2)Equity & Debt (for FPEs): Similar to normal companies. 3)Social Venture Funds (SVFs): Like mutual funds that invest in social projects Unlike regular bonds, ZCZP instruments do not offer interest payments or principal repayment, as they are meant for social impact funding rather than financial returns.

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#CurrentAffair #Economy Remittances 1)India leads the world as the largest recipient of remittances, hitting a historic high of over $137 billion in recent inflows 2)United States: Largest contributor, accounting for roughly 27-28% of total inflows.UAE: Second-largest, accounting for about 19%.United Kingdom: Third-largest source. 3)Maharashtra (receives the largest share)

#CurrentAffair #Economy The SARTHAK-PDS Scheme (Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS) 1)It is a ₹25,530 crore initiative approved by the Union Cabinet to modernize India's Public Distribution System. It runs until March 31, 2031, ensuring food security for 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2)The Scheme is conceived as an umbrella scheme integrating the ongoing schemes: (i) “Assistance to State Agencies for intra-State movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin under NFSA” and (ii) “Scheme for Modernization and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART PDS)” to comprehensively strengthen implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).

#CurrentAffair #Sciencetech Current Energy Mix 1)Total electricity generation capacity: 476 GW (June 2025 data). 2)Non-fossil fuel sources: ~50%. 3)Renewables: 227 GW (Solar 111 GW, Wind 51 GW, Hydro 48 GW + 5 GW micro-hydel, Bioenergy 12 GW). Nuclear: 8.8 GW.

#CurrentAffair #Economy As per National Accounts Statistics, which provides data on the national income, production, and expenditure aggregates of the Indian economy, the base year is the reference year whose prices are used to calculate real growth. GDP is the value of final goods and services produced within a country in an accounting period.

#CurrentAffair #Economy Finance Ministry Report on Industrial Sector The underlying momentum in the industrial sector remains intact despite global uncertainties. Continued policy support will be key to sustaining growth and achieving broad-based recovery. Positive Factors 1)Strong performance in construction-linked sectors. 2)Rising manufacturing exports. 3)Sustained hiring intent by companies. 4)Large-scale investment commitments continuing. 5)Emerging strength in sunrise sectors (electronics, defence, semiconductors).

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#Economy #CurrentAffair ‘Economic Statecraft’ broadly defined as the deliberate use of economic means to achieve strategic end it has witnessed a rapid resurgence. This shift reflects rising geopolitical competition, concerns over technological dominance and vulnerabilities exposed in traditional global value chains. Economic policy employs traditional instruments, including fiscal, monetary, and trade tools, to achieve economic objectives such as reducing deficits, controlling inflation, and promoting economic growth. Economic statecraft goes a step further by employing economic tools to achieve foreign policy or national security objectives, such as compelling a country to stop hostilities with a third party or to liberalise its markets.

#CurrentAffair #Economy Balance of payment The total amount of dollars flowing out of the country exceeded inflows by $30.8 billion in 2025-26, a more than six-fold increase over 2024-25. The overall Balance of Payments is a combination of the 1)current account 2)capital account. 1)The current account captures India’s trade in goods and services as well as some cross-border financial transactions. 2)The capital account largely deals with investments, both direct and portfolio, external borrowings, external assistance, and asset transfers. Reasons India generally runs a current account deficit (CAD) since it imports more than it exports. Over the last five years, this CAD has varied significantly, but came in at a three-year high of $30.2 billion 2025-26. he capital account surplus that year shrank to $72 million, down more than 99.5% over the $16.6 billion seen in 2024-25.

#CurrentAffair #Economy What are plastic banknotes? Plastic banknotes, officially known as polymer banknotes, are currency notes made from a thin, flexible plastic substrate, called polymer, instead of the cotton-based paper which is used in traditional banknotes. Despite being called “plastic” notes, they are not rigid like credit or debit cards. Polymer notes are lightweight, flexible and can be folded and handled much like conventional paper currency. The key difference is durability. Polymer banknotes generally last much longer than paper notes because they are more resistant to dirt, moisture, and tearing. This reduces the number of damaged notes that can no longer be used and need to be replaced.