Current Context: According to the World Bank’s Spring 2025 report, India’s Gini Index is 25.5, placing it as the 4th most equal society globally (after Slovakia, Slovenia, and Belarus)  About GINI INDEX Definition: Measures income/wealth inequality on a scale from 0 (perfect equality) to 100 (perfect inequality). Calculation: Based on Lorenz curve—cumulative income vs population percentiles. India’s Improvement: Score improved from 28.8 in 2011 to 25.5 in 2022. Relevance & concerns Reflects reduced extreme poverty—falling to 2.3% (under $2.15/day). India compares favorably against China (35.7) and high-inequality G7 economies. Note: This measures consumption inequality; income inequality may remain high as....Read More

Current Context: Mashreq, a leading UAE bank, received in-principle approval from IFSCA to open an International Banking Unit in GIFT City, Gujarat, making it the first UAE bank to do so.  About Mashreq at Gift City Expected operational launch in Q4 2025, pending final licensing. Services will include overseas trade finance, foreign-currency loans, treasury & risk management. Aligned with global expansion of UAE investments via GIFT City, including ADIA initiatives and strategic India-UAE financial ties . About Gift city India’s first greenfield smart city and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar on the Sabarmati River. Area....Read More

Current Context: The Union Government approved a ₹1,894 crore (approx. US $221.25 million) funding package for the PM MITRA Park in Virudhunagar. The park is expected to be operational by September 2026. About PM MITRA PARK – VIRUDHUNAGAR Site & Scale: 1,052‑acre Greenfield park in E. Kumaralingapuram, with world-class plug‑and‑play infrastructure. Investment & Employment: Projected to attract ₹10,000 crore, create ~1 lakh jobs, and support technical textile production. ABOUT PM MITRA SCHEME Launch: Announced in Union Budget 2021–22; 7 mega integrated textile parks approved . Funding: ₹4,445 crore central funding (2021–28); includes Capital Development Support & Incentives Support . Objective : To strengthen....Read More

Current Context: In FY 2024–25, India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections reached a record ₹22.08 lakh crore, doubling over five years—indicative of stronger economic activity and compliance.  ABOUT GST COLLECTIONS Record High: ₹22.08 lakh crore in FY 2024–25, marking a 9.4% year‑on‑year (YoY) growth. Five-year Trend: GST doubled from ₹11.37 lakh crore in FY21 to FY25. Monthly Average: ₹1.84 lakh crore/month in FY25; June 2025 collected ₹85 lakh crore (+6.2% YoY). Taxpayer Base: Active GST registrations grew from 0.65 crore in 2017 to over 1.51 crore by April   Imp. FACTS GST Launch: Introduced on 1 July 2017 as a unified indirect tax replacing 17 taxes and 13 cesses. Rate Structure: Five slabs—0%, 5%, 12%,....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union (TGPWU)urged the State government to ensure minimum wages, legal recognition, and comprehensive welfare schemes, for gig and platform workers. Who are gig workers? The World Economic Forum defines the gig economy as short-term, task-based work facilitated by digital platforms connecting workers with customers. In India, gig workers are considered “self-employed,” with increasing female participation. Gig work includes web-based tasks like content writing and software development, and location-based services like driving and food delivery through platforms such as Ola and Zomato. Gig workers are paid per task, enjoying flexible work....Read More

Current Context: From August 2025 onwards, every post office counter in India will accept Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions via dynamic QR codes—part of India Post’s “IT 2.0” digital upgrade to modernize services, especially in rural and remote areas. ABOUT THE INITIATIVE Implementing Agency: Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications. Technology: UPI launched by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016—now handles over 7 billion monthly transactions. Dynamic QR codes generate a fresh code per transaction, improving security and reliability over static QR. Pilot Success: Trials in Karnataka (Mysore & Bagalkot) showed 95% uptime and swift customer adoption. Scale & Reach: Over....Read More

Current Context: From June 27, 2025, India banned jute and allied imports from Bangladesh via all land ports and most seaports—allowed only through Mumbai's Nhava‐Sheva port.  DETAILS Covered Items: Flax & jute yarn/fibre, woven and unbleached jute fabrics. Geographic Scope: Ban includes all India‑Bangladesh land crossings; seaport entry allowed only via Nhava‑Sheva. Exemptions exist for goods transiting via Nepal/Bhutan. Reason: To curb dumping/subsidised imports harming Indian jute mills and farmers; reverse rising import trends despite earlier duties. Impact Zones: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya—affecting local mills and farmers.Read More

Current Context: India’s coffee exports rose approximately 125%, reaching USD 1.8 billion over the past 11 years, driven by policy support and active Coffee Board measures. ABOUT COFFEE Cultivation: Tropical shrub grown under shade at 600–1,600 m elevation; two main types: Arabica & Robusta. Indian Production: Concentrated in Karnataka (~70%), also Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh & Odisha. Climatic Needs: Temperatures 15–28 °C, rainfall 150–250 cm, well-drained loamy soil; dry conditions needed for berry ripening. Exports: Major markets include Europe—Italy, Germany, Belgium; also Middle East, Korea, Japan. Significance: Climatic vulnerability highlights need for focused research, IRR efforts, and sustainable cultivation to maintain export momentum. India....Read More

Current Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), with public and private banks, began developing a real‑time Digital Payment Intelligence Platform (DPIP) under its Innovation Hub to combat rising digital payment fraud.  ABOUT DIGITAL PAYMENT INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM Purpose: Strengthen fraud detection by enabling real-time sharing of threat intelligence across banks. Framework: Proposal supported by a committee led by A.  Hota and built by RBI Innovation Hub alongside 5–10 partner banks. Functionality: Collects and analyses data to flag and prevent suspicious transactions. Need: Over 5 lakh digital fraud cases reported in six months to March 2024, and bank fraud losses reaching....Read More

Current Context: Maharashtra Cabinet approved ₹20,787 crore for land acquisition to expedite the 802 km Nagpur–Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway, though farmer opposition continues. ABOUT SHAKTIPEETH EXPRESSWAY Length & Route:6 km access-controlled highway from Pavnar (Wardha) to Patradevi (Sindhudurg) linking 12 districts. Purpose: Connects Shakti Peethas and pilgrimage sites (e.g., Mahur, Tuljapur, Pandharpur); reduces travel time from ~18 hrs to ~8 Budget: ₹20,787 crore for land acquisition, with ₹12,000 crore HUDCO loan; project cost estimated around ₹84,000 crore. Implementing Agency: Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC); designed like the Samruddhi Corridor.Read More