Indian Economy Current Affairs Updates For UPSC IAS Mains 2024 Examination
On this page you will find articles that falls under subject Indian Economy for UPSC IAS Mains 2024 examination
India should consider granting dual citizenship to diaspora
Source: The post India should consider granting dual citizenship to diaspora has been created, based on the article “Dual citizenship is an idea whose time has come” published in “Indian Express” on 2 April 2025. India should consider granting dual citizenship to diaspora. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Indian diaspora. Context: In the last 50 years,… Continue reading India should consider granting dual citizenship to diaspora
India faces rising job gap despite economic growth
Source: The post India faces rising job gap despite economic growth has been created, based on the article “In India, labour needs as much focus as capital” published in “Indian Express” on 1st April 2025. India faces rising job gap despite economic growth. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Economy-employment Context: India’s working-age population rose by 9… Continue reading India faces rising job gap despite economic growth
India withdraws digital tax and global talks continue
Source: The post India withdraws digital tax and global talks continue has been created, based on the article “A tax that served India’s interests – no more” published in “Indian Express” on 28 March 2025. India withdraws digital tax and global talks continue. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy- Taxation Context: India has decided to… Continue reading India withdraws digital tax and global talks continue
Challenges faced by migrant workers and ways to improve welfare access
Source: The post Challenges faced by migrant workers and ways to improve welfare access has been created, based on the article “The barriers faced by construction workers” published in “The Hindu” on 18th March 2025. Challenges faced by migrant workers and ways to improve welfare access. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3-Infrastructures Context: India’s construction… Continue reading Challenges faced by migrant workers and ways to improve welfare access
India’s GDP growth trends and investment impact
Source: The post India’s GDP growth trends and investment impact has been created, based on the article “What the recent GDP data revisions reveal” published in “The Hindu” on 13th March 2025. India’s GDP growth trends and investment impact. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy- Growth and Development Context: The article discusses India’s GDP growth… Continue reading India’s GDP growth trends and investment impact
Rising household debt in India and its economic impact
Source: The post Rising household debt in India and its economic impact has been created, based on the article “What’s in a (disease’s) name?” published in “The Hindu” on 12th March 2025. Rising household debt in India and its economic impact UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Indian economy – Mobilisation of resource Context: The article discusses… Continue reading Rising household debt in India and its economic impact
India Taxes and Regulates Virtual Digital Assets
Source: The post India Taxes and Regulates Virtual Digital Assets has been created, based on the article “The implications of treating Virtual Digital Assets as taxable properties” published in “The Hindu” on 4th March 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy Context: The article explains how India’s Income Tax Bill, 2025, classifies Virtual Digital Assets… Continue reading India Taxes and Regulates Virtual Digital Assets
How India Can Boost Textile Jobs and Exports
Source: The post How India Can Boost Textile Jobs and Exports has been created, based on the article “India can be the world leader in textiles. Here’s how” published in “Indian Express” on 1st March 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy-Industry Context: The article discusses how India’s textile industry can create more jobs and… Continue reading How India Can Boost Textile Jobs and Exports
India can benefit from global skills shortage
Source: The post India can benefit from global skills shortage has been created, based on the article “Talent shortage — global challenge, India’s opportunity” published in “The Hindu” on 24th February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy- growth, development and employment. Context: The article discusses the global shortage of skilled workers and how India… Continue reading India can benefit from global skills shortage
India’s Industries Depend on Cheap Labour Over Innovation
Source: The post India’s Industries Depend on Cheap Labour Over Innovation has been created, based on the article “Indian industry needs innovation, not mindless toil” published in “The Hindu” on 24th February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Effects of liberalisation on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. Context: The… Continue reading India’s Industries Depend on Cheap Labour Over Innovation
India’s Growth Challenges and the Middle-Income Trap
Source: The post India’s Growth Challenges and the Middle-Income Trap has been created, based on the article “India’s transition to a high-income country is riddled with unknowns” published in “Indian Express” on 22nd February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy Context: The article discusses India’s economic growth and the challenge of moving from a… Continue reading India’s Growth Challenges and the Middle-Income Trap
Investment Drives Growth More Than Consumption in Economies
Source: The post Investment Drives Growth More Than Consumption in Economies has been created, based on the article “Is consumption enough to drive growth?” published in “The Hindu” on 21st February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy Context: The article explains that economic growth depends on both supply (production) and demand (expenditure). Investment boosts… Continue reading Investment Drives Growth More Than Consumption in Economies
Indian rupee keeps losing value
Source: The post Indian rupee keeps losing value has been created, based on the article “RBI’s rupee challenge” published in “Indian Express” on 20th February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy Context: The article discusses the depreciation of the Indian rupee and the RBI’s role in managing it. It explains how market forces, inflation,… Continue reading Indian rupee keeps losing value
Union Budget 2025-26 supports women’s economic growth
Source: The post Union Budget 2025-26 supports women’s economic growth has been created, based on the article “Budgeting for a gender-inclusive ‘Viksit Bharat’” published in “The Hindu” on 13th February 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy-government budgeting Context: The article discusses the Union Budget 2025-26 and its focus on women’s development. It highlights increased… Continue reading Union Budget 2025-26 supports women’s economic growth
India Announces Major Tax Cuts for Growth
Source: The post India Announces Major Tax Cuts for Growth has been created, based on the article “TRUST IN THE TAXPAYER: Budget reinvigorates debate on whether taxes can encourage spending and growth” published in “Indian Express” on 12th February 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy-Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources,… Continue reading India Announces Major Tax Cuts for Growth
India increases funding for research and development
Source: The post India increases funding for research and development has been created, based on the article “A gift horse’s teeth: Higher allocations are not enough to boost scientific research” published in “The Hindu” on 10th February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Government Budgeting And Science and Technology Context: The article discusses India’s 2025-26… Continue reading India increases funding for research and development
RBI cuts repo rate to support growth.
Source: The post RBI cuts repo rate to support growth. has been created, based on the article “Growth over inflation: The interest rate cut signals a shift in the RBI’s immediate priorities” published in “The Hindu” on 8th February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources,… Continue reading RBI cuts repo rate to support growth.
Tax Cut Boosts Spending and Economic Growth
Source: The post Tax Cut Boosts Spending and Economic Growth has been created, based on the article “Budget 2025’s tax cuts for middle class will boost consumption many times over” published in “Indian Express” on 7th February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy- Growth and Development Context: The article explains how the Budget 2025… Continue reading Tax Cut Boosts Spending and Economic Growth
India’s Budget 2025-26 Focuses on Growth Challenges
Source: The post India’s Budget 2025-26 Focuses on Growth Challenges has been created, based on the article “A Budget that is mostly good but with one wrong move” published in “The Hindu” on 6th February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy-Government Budgeting. Context: The article discusses India’s Union Budget 2025-26. It highlights GDP growth… Continue reading India’s Budget 2025-26 Focuses on Growth Challenges
India’s efforts to develop its maritime sector
Source: The post India’s efforts to develop its maritime sector has been created, based on the article “Some wind behind the sails of India’s shipping industry” published in “The Hindu” on 4th February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Infrastructures Context: The article discusses India’s efforts to develop its maritime sector through the Sagarmala program.… Continue reading India’s efforts to develop its maritime sector
India Must Create Jobs for a Better Future
Source: The post India Must Create Jobs for a Better Future has been created, based on the article “The kind of jobs needed for the ‘Viksit Bharat’ goal” published in “The Hindu” on 4th February 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy-growth, development and employment. Context: The article discusses three types of jobs India must… Continue reading India Must Create Jobs for a Better Future
Budget Boosts Agriculture but Structural Issues Persist
Source: The post Budget Boosts Agriculture but Structural Issues Persist has been created, based on the article “Ashok Gulati, Raya Das on Budget 2025: Stopping short of the farm” published in “Indian Express” on 3rd February 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Government Budgeting and Agriculture Context: The article discusses the Union Budget 2025-26’s impact on… Continue reading Budget Boosts Agriculture but Structural Issues Persist
Fossil fuel subsidies reshape global energy usage
Source: The post Fossil fuel subsidies reshape global energy usage has been created, based on the article “How much in subsidies do fossil fuels receive?” published in “The Hindu” on 3rd February 2025. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Infrastructures- Energy Context: The article explains fossil fuel subsidies and their impact. In 2022, explicit subsidies were… Continue reading Fossil fuel subsidies reshape global energy usage
India’s Economic Growth Challenges and Policy Reforms
Source: The post India’s Economic Growth Challenges and Policy Reforms has been created, based on the article “Donald Trump, climate change: Global threats to India’s growth story” published in “Indian Express” on 1st February 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development. Context: The article discusses… Continue reading India’s Economic Growth Challenges and Policy Reforms
India aims for growth with increased capital expenditure
Source: The post India aims for growth with increased capital expenditure has been created, based on the article “Government needs to spend – for India to grow” published in “ Indian Express” on 31st January 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy- Government Budgeting. Context: The article discusses India’s goal of a $5-trillion economy and… Continue reading India aims for growth with increased capital expenditure
How to read Indian Economy for UPSC
In UPSC IAS preparation, one subject which most of the students find very difficult to start with and understand is Indian Economy. They mostly struggle with the approach, textbooks to follow and how to read Indian Economy related news in the newspaper.
Indian Economy consists of both static as well current affairs. In this subject, textbook will build your basic understanding and help you to solve around 3-5 % of the total questions asked in the UPSC Prelims exam. Students need to refer multiple sources to better understand Indian Economy and fetch good marks in both UPSC Prelims and Mains. Every year around 10-15% questions are asked in UPSC Prelims exam from static portion, current affairs (schemes) and India Year Book. It has even increased up to 30 % in 2018 and 2019 UPSC Prelims exam. So, in any case students cannot avoid this subject as it is as important as History, Polity and Geography.
In this article, we will discuss in detail about the study approach of Indian Economy. This article would be very helpful for those who are scared of this subject and always try to run away from this. Once you will understand the basic concepts of Indian Economy, you will start enjoying this subject and eventually you will have a good command over this subject.
Before starting any subject in UPSC IAS preparation, it is advisable for all the students to see the past year trend of both UPSC Prelims and Mains questions. Indian Economy is part of both UPSC IAS Prelims Syllabus and UPSC Mains Syllabus. Hence, it becomes very important for the students to study this subject with right approach and have a good understanding over the topics asked in the exam.
In the following table, we will see the total number of questions asked in the UPSC Prelims exam in last 6 years from Indian Economy:
prelims 2021 – 14
2022 – 18
2023 – 12
| Year | Total number of questions asked |
| 2020
| 14
|
| 2019
| 28
|
| 2018
| 29
|
| 2017
| 14
|
| 2016
| 15
|
| 2015
| 21
|
Overview of the UPSC IAS syllabus for Indian Economy:
| Phase | Syllabus |
| UPSC Prelims- General Studies (Paper I)
| Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
|
| UPSC Mains- General Studies (Paper III)
| Economic Development
|
Study approach of Indian Economy subject for UPSC IAS:
- Read the syllabus: Students need to go through the syllabus of Indian Economy for both UPSC Prelims and Mains. It will give them a detailed guideline about what they have to read and what they have to leave. Print the syllabus and stick that in that in your study table.
- Start with the basic NCERT textbooks: To understand the basic concepts. One should start the preparation of Indian Economy with NCERT textbooks. One simply read the book, highlight the important point and revise them. Notes making is not much important here. Following are the NCERT textbooks which one need to read:
- Class IX NCERT textbook ‘Economics’
- Class X NCERT textbook ‘Understanding Economic Development’.
- class XI NCERT textbook ‘Indian Economic Development’.
- Class XII NCERT textbook ‘Introductory Microeconomics’.
- class XII NCERT textbook ‘Introductory Macroeconomics’ (Most important).
- Take a step forward with advance book: To cover each topic thoroughly and understand everything in detail, students need to refer one advance book for Indian Polity. ‘Indian Economy’ by Ramesh Singh is simple and good book to understand the topics. Here also, one should not run behind taking notes of each topic. Highlighting the things and multiple revision would be helpful for students.
- Current Affairs: Indian Economy is totally linked with current affairs. Topics like SLR, RR, GDP are current based. One must refer monthly current affairs magazine to cover current based issues. One thing is very important to note that, no current affairs magazine can substitute the Newspapers. To cover Indian Economy related news, “Economic Times or Business Standards” would be recommendable.
- Refer other miscellaneous materials: After reading Economic Survey and Budget, your preparation will be complete. Economy Survey and Budget will give you basic idea about How our country is developing. What is growth, what is the expenditure and revenue? This will help you in both UPSC Prelims and Mains. One can also refer Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) magazine. This is completely optional and will only be helpful when you have completed and revised the other things.
- Focus more on Government Schemes and some important topics of Indian Economy: UPSC every year ask lots of questions on Government Schemes related to Indian Economy. Students must cover every schemes thoroughly and they can also make short notes on them and revise them. Some important topics of Indian Economy on which students need to focus more are:
- National income accounting, GDP, GNP, inflation, balance of payment, fiscal policy, monetary policy, RBI, PSL, NBFC.
- Finance commission – terms of references, themes.
- International organizations – World Bank, IMF, WTO, UNCTAD, WEF and their reports. Bodies like G-15, G-7, G-33, etc.
- Basic economic terms, demographic dividend, inclusive growth.
- Taking help of online sources: Students should utilize the benefits of integration of technology in education. Topics which they find difficult to understand, can easily get command over those topics with the help of You tube, online classes etc. On these platforms, they can read and revise the topics multiple times.
- Refer Previous year UPSC Prelims and Mains questions: Analyzing the past year papers will help students to have a clear understanding of which types of questions are asked by UPSC. On these lines, students should give the second reading to the advance book and NCERTs.
- Practice mock tests: After completing the syllabus once, students need to give mock tests. Firstly, they can solve MCQs topic wise. After that, weekly they can solve MCQs based on complete syllabus of Indian Economy. It will help them to reduce their fear and also build their logic on solving MCQS.
- Answer writing practice: After completing the whole syllabus once, students must start answer writing practice on Previous Years Question of UPSC Mains. They should also practice daily/weekly answer writing based on their capacity.
- Revision is the key: Revision is the key to Success. Students need to revise each and every topic multiple times. Revision will boost their preparation and help to make a blueprint of everything in the back of the mind. It will reduce the time taken in the final exam (Prelims and Mains) to solve the questions.
Indian Economy is an interesting and concept-based subject. One cannot understand the subject if will try to simply mug up the things like in History they do. Understanding the things and solving MCQs with logic will help them a lot.
