CURRENT AFFAIRS

The participation of gig workers, contract teachers, and ASHA/Anganwadi workers in the recent nationwide strikes highlighted the severity of the surplus labor trap in India. This situation demonstrates that millions of people are trapped in low-paying and insecure jobs.

Recently, the Union Railway Minister launched the e-Railway Claims Tribunal System as the fourth major reform under Indian Railways’ ambitious initiative “52 Improvements in 52 Weeks.”

The Government has released a new GDP series with 2022–23 as the base year, revising India’s FY26 growth to 7.6% and Q3 (Oct–Dec 2025) growth to 7.8%. The revised series replaces the earlier 2011–12 base year estimates.

The latest report of the 16th Finance Commission, tabled in Parliament on February 1, 2026, has proposed enhanced financial support for Urban Local Governments (ULGs), marking a significant push towards strengthening urban governance in India.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is releasing a new series of National Accounts Statistics (NAS) with 2022–23 as the base year, replacing the earlier 2011–12 base year.

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises organised the fifth meeting of the National MSME Council in New Delhi to review the progress of the World Bank–supported RAMP Programme.

The United States has imposed preliminary countervailing duties (CVD) of 126% on crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) cells and modules imported from India, following an investigation into alleged unfair government subsidies. The decision could significantly affect India’s rapidly expanding solar manufacturing sector, which has relied heavily on exports to the US market.

The Union Minister recently announced that rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana have crossed 30 lakh households since its launch in February 2024.

According to the chief of Grid India, India’s power system is set for major transformation as AI-driven data centres expand rapidly.

Apple traders and political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have expressed concern over reduced import duties on apples from the United States and the European Union under recent trade agreements.