1. NSO RELEASES FIRST ADVANCE ESTIMATES: GDP PROJECTED TO GROW AT 7.4% IN FY26
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- The National Statistical Office (NSO) released its First Advance Estimates (FAE) for the financial year 2025-26, projecting a real GDP growth rate of 7.4%, a significant jump from the 6.5% recorded in the previous fiscal.
- Nominal GDP (including inflation) is estimated to grow at 8%, while Gross Value Added (GVA) is expected to expand by 7.3%, signaling resilient domestic economic activity despite global “tariff heat.”
- The Services Sector remains the primary engine of growth, projected to expand by 9.9% in segments like finance, real estate, and professional services.
- Investment Momentum: Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), a vital indicator of investment, is projected to rise by 7.8%, supported by massive public spending and the 852 PPP projects pipeline worth ₹17 lakh crore.
- Sectoral Trends: Manufacturing and construction are both estimated to grow at 7%, while the agriculture and allied sector shows a moderate growth estimate of 3.1% due to climate-related variations.
- Concepts: First Advance Estimates (FAE) – Preliminary GDP data based on the first 7–8 months of the fiscal year used for Budget planning; Nominal vs. Real GDP – Real GDP is adjusted for inflation (base year 2011-12), while Nominal GDP is at current market prices.
2. DEFENCE MINISTRY LAUNCHES ‘MISSION SUDARSHAN CHAKRA’ FOR NATIONWIDE DRONE SHIELD
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- The Ministry of Defence has officially initiated “Mission Sudarshan Chakra,” a multi-layered aerial shield designed to protect Indian airspace from diverse threats ranging from small drones to ballistic missiles.
- A dedicated Joint Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid is being established, which will network all anti-drone systems of the Army, Navy, and Air Force into a single, service-agnostic monitoring interface.
- The Indian Army has announced the creation of ‘Bhairav’, a modern warfare force comprising over 1 lakh trained drone operatives, with 15 battalions already raised and another 25 planned for the near future.
- Procurement Milestone: The Indian Army signed an Emergency Procurement (EP) contract worth ₹293 crore with NIBE Limited for the Suryastra rocket launcher system, a long-range precision-guided system with a range of 150–300 km.
- Training Transformation: The Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) released a landmark vision document to transform military training, focusing on Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and futuristic capability building.
- Concepts: CUAS Grid – An integrated electronic and kinetic system to detect and neutralize rogue drones; Mission Sudarshan Chakra – India’s strategic initiative for a 360-degree indigenous air defense umbrella.
3. INDIA-ISRAEL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP REAFFIRMED; PM MODI DISCUSSES REGIONAL STABILITY
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level telephonic conversation with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to strengthen the India-Israel Strategic Partnership, emphasizing shared democratic values.
- Both leaders reiterated a “Zero-Tolerance” approach toward terrorism and discussed collaborative efforts in defense technology, cyber security, and water management.
- Antarctic Diplomacy: In a unique scientific collaboration, researchers from the UAE (Khalifa University) joined India’s 45th Antarctic Expedition at the Maitri Research Station to study extreme planetary-like landscapes.
- India-Germany Relations: PM Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are scheduled to visit the Sabarmati Ashram and attend the International Kite Festival, highlighting “Soft Power” in bilateral diplomacy.
- Trade Focus: India has rolled out a new e-Business Visa category for Chinese citizens to facilitate selective economic engagement and address supply chain requirements in the manufacturing sector.
- Concepts: Track II Diplomacy – Non-governmental, informal scientific or cultural ties that support formal state relations (e.g., UAE researchers at India’s Antarctic base).
4. TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT PARTNERS WITH UN WOMEN FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE GOVERNANCE
SUBJECT: TAMIL NADU / NATIONAL ISSUES
- The Tamil Nadu Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UN Women in Chennai to strengthen gender-responsive governance and promote inclusive development across state departments.
- Innovation Leader: Tamil Nadu has been selected as India’s first state for a national-level innovation program under a joint UNICEF-Government of India initiative to foster grassroots technological solutions.
- Infrastructure Record: NHAI, through a contractor, created two Guinness World Records on the Bengaluru-Kadapa-Vijayawada Expressway (NH-544G) by laying 28.95 lane-kilometers of continuous Bituminous Concrete within 24 hours.
- Civilisational Milestone: 2026 marks the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, commemorating 1,000 years of the temple’s resilience; the government is promoting the “Kailas Mahameru Prasad” architectural style as a symbol of national heritage.
- Heritage Access: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) launched an online ticket booking system for over 170 monuments, enhancing digital tourism infrastructure.
- Concepts: Gender-Responsive Budgeting – A strategy to ensure that budget allocations effectively address the specific needs of women and marginalized genders.
5. SUPREME COURT CRITIQUES “COLONIAL MINDSET” IN STATE WELFARE DISTRIBUTION
SUBJECT: POLITY
- The Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark observation stating that the State must move away from a “Colonial Mindset” of distributing benefits as “largesse” or “at will,” emphasizing that welfare is a constitutional entitlement of citizens.
- Voter List Revision: The Uttar Pradesh Special Intensive Revision (SIR) draft voter list was released; notably, 2.89 crore names were removed to ensure electoral roll purity, while 12.55 crore voters were retained.
- Environmental Law: The Court declined a petition challenging the Prime Minister’s religious offerings, reinforcing the principle of Secularism and non-interference in personal faith-based traditions of public officials.
- Railway Electrification: Indian Railways officially became the largest electrified rail system globally, achieving 100% electrification of its broad-gauge network, a major step toward Net-Zero emissions by 2030.
- Administrative Reform: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting established a Live Events Development Cell to regulate and boost India’s burgeoning ₹20,000 crore concert and entertainment economy.
- Concepts: Article 324 – Grants the Election Commission powers of superintendence, direction, and control of elections; Doctrine of Largesse – The old legal view that government benefits were gifts, now replaced by the view that they are legal rights.
