Current Affairs, 14 July 2026

Agreement dates

The Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was signed in September 2014 and came into force in November 2015.

Safeguards

All Australian uranium supplied to India stays under IAEA safeguards, and is for peaceful purposes only.

Australian export policy

Australia exports uranium only to countries covered by a civil nuclear cooperation agreement.

NSG

The NSG is a voluntary grouping of 48 supplier countries. Australia reaffirmed support for India's membership.

PFBR

The 500 MWe PFBR at Kalpakkam attained first criticality on 6 April 2026, starting stage two of the three-stage programme.

Don’t confuse with NSG vs IAEA: The NSG is a voluntary export-control group of supplier states. The IAEA is a UN-linked agency that applies safeguards and inspections.

Don’t confuse with Administrative Arrangement vs Agreement: The Agreement is the treaty. The Arrangement only sets out the procedures to implement it.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

1. 2018Mains GS3 · Q16Should India expand nuclear energy; discuss facts and fears
2. 2013Mains GS1 · Q24Availability of atomic energy raw materials, uranium, in India and world
3. 2018Prelims Q33Implications of ratifying IAEA Additional Protocol for India's nuclear facilities
4. 2020Prelims Q55Why some Indian reactors are under IAEA safeguards and others not

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Round and mode

The first round was held virtually from 29 June to 7 July 2026.

Structure of talks

Text-based discussions were held in eight technical sessions covering eight policy areas.

Trade figures

Bilateral trade was USD 771.76 million in 2025–26, up 13.54 per cent from USD 679.70 million in 2024–25.

India's trade rank

India is the second-largest trading partner of the Maldives.

Parallel treaty

Both sides committed to expedite the Bilateral Investment Treaty along with the FTA, as they mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.

Don’t confuse with FTA vs BIT: An FTA mainly covers trade in goods and services and market access; a BIT covers protection and promotion of investments. Both are being negotiated with the Maldives.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

1. 2024Mains GS2 · Q20Discuss Maldives' geopolitical importance for India's trade, energy, and maritime security.
2. 2025Mains GS3 · Q2Challenges to Indian economy as the world shifts to protectionism and bilateralism.
3. 2014Mains GS2 · Q17Impact of zero-tariff trade agreements on India's interests.
4. 2017Prelims Q82Which bloc India negotiated the Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement with?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Session

The 49th session (CAC49) was held in Geneva from 6 to 10 July 2026.

Parent bodies

CAC was established jointly by FAO and WHO.

India's hosted committee

India hosts the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH); the Spices Board is its Secretariat.

Endorsing committees

The standards were endorsed by CCMAS, CCFA and CCFL before the Commission adopted them.

New working group

An Electronic Working Group on risk analysis for new food products was set up, chaired by the European Union, with India as Co-Chair.

Founding year

Codex was set up in 1963 and its Secretariat is based in Rome, hosted by FAO.

India-chaired texts

Standards for Dried Coriander Seeds and Fresh Curry Leaves were developed under India's chairmanship.

New work

The Commission approved India's proposal for a Codex Standard for Cashew Kernels, to be handled by the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables.

Working group

India was elected Co-Chair of the Electronic Working Group on New Food Sources and Production Systems.

Indian delegation

The delegation was led by FSSAI's CEO, with experts from FSSAI and the Spices Board.

Don’t confuse with Codex Alimentarius vs FSSAI: Codex is the international FAO-WHO standard-setting body; FSSAI is India's statutory regulator under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Don’t confuse with Codex Commission vs CCSCH: The Commission is the parent body; CCSCH is one of its commodity committees, hosted by India.

Don’t confuse with Codex vs FSSAI: Codex is the international standard-setter; FSSAI is India's statutory regulator under the FSS Act, 2006, and India's Codex contact point.

Don’t confuse with Codex vs WTO SPS Agreement: Codex writes food standards; the SPS Agreement is the WTO trade rule that treats Codex standards as reference.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

1. 2014Mains GS2 · Q20WTO's mandate, binding nature of its decisions, and India's food security stance.
2. 2021Mains GS4 · Q11Ethical issues in a food firm exporting a product before domestic launch with same quality.
3. 2013Mains GS3 · Q4Apprehensions in implementing Food Security Bill and concerns raised in WTO.
4. 2010Prelims Q48Which body does WTO collaborate with for international food safety standards in disputes?
5. 2018Prelims Q23Statements on FSS Act 2006 replacing PFA and FSSAI's administrative control.
6. 2016Prelims Q34Mandatory main-label information on prepackaged foods under FSS labelling regulations 2011.

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Base year and start

The monthly ISP for the formal sector uses 2024-25 as base year. It began on a trial basis in July 2026.

Current coverage

The index tracks 19 broad service sub-sectors, covering about 60 per cent of services GVA. It uses administrative data and GST outward supplies data.

Exclusions

Core government tasks, non-market activities and GST-exempt services are left out of the present framework.

Expanded coverage

With these sectors, ISP coverage would rise to about 78.4 per cent of services GVA.

Nodal ministry

MoSPI is the ministry that compiles national statistics such as GDP, IIP and CPI.

First of its kind

ISP is India's first high-frequency indicator dedicated to services output. It tracks volume changes in the formal services sector against a base year.

First release

The trial ISP covers 19 sub-sectors for April 2026, about 60% of the services sector.

Base year

The base year is 2024-25, aligned with the new 2024-based CPI series.

Deflators

WPI is used for wholesale trade. CPI or the closest matching CPI is used for most other sectors. CPI-Services is the fallback where no specific CPI exists.

Data sources

Three sources are used: administrative data, GST data and ASISSE. GST data is used for the first time in statistical applications.

Framework

MoSPI formed a Technical Advisory Committee in May 2025 to design the ISP framework.

Committee

The TAC-ISP was set up in May 2025 under Debjani Ghosh of NITI Aayog.

Method

The report recommends a Laspeyres volume index, base year 2024-25, at 2-digit NIC 2025 level, with GVA weights.

Release timing

The ISP is to be released within 60 days of the reference month.

Weight of services

Services contribute nearly 53 percent of India's GVA.

Don’t confuse with ISP vs IIP: IIP tracks industrial output (mining, manufacturing, electricity). ISP tracks services output. Both are compiled by MoSPI.

Don’t confuse with ISP vs GVA: GVA is the value added by a sector in the national accounts. ISP is a monthly volume index of short-term movement.

Don’t confuse with Nominal vs real: Nominal values include price effects. Real (volume) values remove them through a deflator.

Don’t confuse with Laspeyres vs Paasche index: A Laspeyres index uses fixed base-period weights. A Paasche index uses current-period weights.

Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

1. 2014Mains GS3 · Q1Why did India's services grow far faster than industry, skipping industrialisation, and can it develop without industry?
2. 2021Mains GS3 · Q1How GDP computation methodology differs before and after the 2015 revision.
3. 2019Mains GS3 · Q1Indirect taxes subsumed in GST and its revenue implications since 2017.
4. 2017Mains GS3 · Q12Why industrial growth lagged overall GDP growth post-reform, and whether recent industrial policy can help.
5. 2012Prelims Q39Which items are among the Eight Core Industries in the Index of Industrial Production?
6. 2015Prelims Q8Which Eight Core Industry is given the highest weight in the index?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Nature of registration

Udyam registration is online, paperless, self-declaration based and free of cost.

Who Udyam Assist serves

It gives formal recognition as micro enterprises to units without GST registration or income tax coverage, using verified data from authorised partners.

Udyam Assist partners

Banks, NBFCs and other lending institutions act as partners and help enterprises become Udyam Assist Certificate holders.

Documents used

Registration uses the Aadhaar of the proprietor, partner or authorised signatory, and PAN validation. An e-Certificate with a unique Udyam Registration Number is generated.

Delayed payments

The MSME ODR Portal handles delayed payment disputes involving Micro and Small Enterprises online, from claim to arbitration.

Scale

Over 8.9 crore enterprises are registered on both platforms, employing over 38 crore people.

Don’t confuse with Udyam Registration vs Udyam Assist: Udyam Registration is the main self-declared registration for MSMEs. Udyam Assist is for informal micro enterprises and works through authorised partners, giving an Udyam Assist Certificate.

Don’t confuse with Udyam vs ODR portal: Udyam gives enterprise identity. The MSME ODR Portal resolves delayed payment disputes.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2023Mains GS3 · Q1Comment on government policies boosting manufacturing and MSMEs' GDP share.

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Container Train Operator licence

Four licence categories are replaced by one Pan-India CTO licence with a uniform non-refundable fee of ₹25 crore.

Licence validity

Permissions stay valid for twenty years and can be extended without any renewal fee, subject to successful operations.

Contract performance security

A 10 per cent performance security is now taken at the start of the contract, not deducted from running bills.

Wagon design approval

Industry can now propose wagon designs. RDSO evaluates them, and the Railway Board approves induction after safety certification.

Rail Bhoomi

Rail Bhoomi is a web-based platform developed by CRIS for end-to-end management of land acquisition.

Don’t confuse with RDSO vs CRIS: RDSO is the Railways' research, design and standards body that evaluates wagon designs. CRIS develops IT systems such as Rail Bhoomi.

Don’t confuse with Reform 10-17 vs earlier nine: Reforms 10-17 are the new set of eight. The earlier nine covered on-board cleaning, Gati Shakti terminals, the RailTech policy, ticket refunds and similar items.

Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

1. 2014Mains GS2 · Q8Whether a Rail Tariff Authority benefits consumers, railways, or private operators.
2. 2022Mains GS3 · Q1Why PPP is needed in infrastructure and its role in railway station redevelopment.
3. 2020Mains GS3 · Q3Main constraints in transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India.
4. 2002Prelims Q94Which statements on Indian railways and road transport network are correct?
5. 2025Prelims Q62Which regions INSTC multimodal freight corridor connects, with India's founding role.
6. 2025Prelims Q82Which statements on National Rail Plan and Kavach railway safety system are correct?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Launch and funder

The programme began in 2016 and is funded by the Embassy of Switzerland to India and Bhutan.

Implementing partners

ICLEI South Asia, South Pole and econcept implemented it, with the National Institute of Urban Affairs as knowledge partner.

Net-zero city plans

Net-Zero Climate Resilient City Action Plans were prepared for eight cities in four states, including Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Siliguri and Udaipur.

Climate cells

Permanent Net-Zero and Climate Action Cells were set up in six project cities for implementation, monitoring and climate budgeting.

Regional scale-up

Capacity-building frameworks were extended to Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Training resource

The video training series on net-zero city action plans is available on the National Urban Learning Platform.

Don’t confuse with CapaCITIES vs CITIIS 2.0: CapaCITIES is a Swiss-funded capacity-building project. CITIIS 2.0 is a separate urban programme, named in the release as one of the routes for scaling local demonstrations.

Don’t confuse with CapaCITIES vs CSCAF: CSCAF is the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework. CapaCITIES supported cities in using it but is not the framework itself.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2016Mains GS1 · Q17Why major Indian cities are becoming more vulnerable to floods
2. 2020Mains GS1 · Q15Causes of urban flooding in smart cities; lasting remedial measures
3. 2024Mains GS3 · Q18Causes of climate-induced urban floods; policies and frameworks to tackle them
4. 2020Prelims Q85Meaning of Social Cost of Carbon
5. 2026Prelims Q23Rationale for protecting mangroves for climate resilience

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Attacked vessels

MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. Together they carried 30 Indian seafarers among a crew of 46.

Casualties

One Indian seafarer died and one was injured on MT Al Bahiyah. Nine Indians were injured on MT Mombasa, two of them seriously.

Tracking dashboard

The Director General of Shipping must build a vessel-by-vessel dashboard that accounts for every Indian on every vessel, whatever its flag, in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.

Liaison officers

Each affected seafarer gets a liaison officer who is the single point of contact for families on medical, travel, repatriation, wages and Seafarers Welfare Fund support.

IMO engagement

India has communicated with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the flag administrations concerned. It cites breach of international conventions and of the right of innocent passage.

IMO background

The IMO is a UN specialised agency, headquartered in London, that sets global standards for shipping safety, security and pollution control.

Don’t confuse with Flag state vs coastal state: The flag state is the country where a ship is registered and has jurisdiction over it. The coastal state controls the waters the ship passes through. India's duty to Indian crew does not depend on the ship's flag.

Don’t confuse with Innocent passage vs transit passage: Innocent passage applies in territorial seas. Transit passage under UNCLOS applies in straits used for international navigation, such as Hormuz, and is harder to suspend.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

1. 2025Mains GS3 · Q20Why maritime security is vital to protect India's sea trade; challenges and way forward
2. 2014Mains GS3 · Q19Impact of shifted piracy high-risk marking in Arabian Sea on India's security
3. 2022Mains GS1 · Q16Significance of straits and isthmuses in international trade
4. 2026Prelims Q30Which countries' ships must cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach the Indian Ocean
5. 2010Prelims Q93What one can encounter when travelling through the Strait of Malacca
6. 2011Prelims Q90How Malacca deepening or Kra canal could cut India-East Asia navigation distance

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.