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
Household savings data misses new investment patterns today
Source: The post Household savings data misses new investment patterns today has been created, based on the article “How households are driving growth” published in “Businessline” on 12th June 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Indian Economy Context: The sharp fall in net household financial savings—from 7.8% in 2018–19 to 5.1% in 2023–24—has raised concern.… Continue reading Household savings data misses new investment patterns today
Revenue estimates fall short again raising fiscal concerns
Source: The post Revenue estimates fall short again raising fiscal concerns has been created, based on the article “Perils of overestimates” published in “Business Standard” on 11th June 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economic-Government Budgeting. Context: The provisional actuals for the 2024–25 Union Budget highlight a return to revenue overestimation. This reversal comes after… Continue reading Revenue estimates fall short again raising fiscal concerns
India’s Apparel Export Ambition Needs Scaled-Up Reforms
Source: The post India’s Apparel Export Ambition Needs Scaled-Up Reforms has been created, based on the article “How to tailor the garment sector for exports” published in “Indian Express” on 9th June 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy- growth, development and employment. Context: India’s textile and apparel sector employs 45 million people and contributes… Continue reading India’s Apparel Export Ambition Needs Scaled-Up Reforms
RBI lowers rates to support growth and control inflation
Source: The post RBI lowers rates to support growth and control inflation has been created, based on the article “RBI’s stimulus is a bold wager on price stability” published in “Live Mint” on 9th June 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economic-growth and development Context: The article analyses the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest… Continue reading RBI lowers rates to support growth and control inflation
India must improve income to raise human development ranking
Source: The post India must improve income to raise human development ranking has been created, based on the article “HDI has a heavy income bias” published in “Businessline” on 7th June 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Context: India’s Human Development Index (HDI) ranking improved from 133 in 2022 to 130 in 2023, with… Continue reading India must improve income to raise human development ranking
India must coordinate monetary and fiscal strategy for recovery
Source: The post India must coordinate monetary and fiscal strategy for recovery has been created, based on the article “Need for monetary, fiscal support” published in “Businessline” on 5 June 2025. India must coordinate monetary and fiscal strategy for recovery UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy- growth and development Context: India is navigating external conflicts,… Continue reading India must coordinate monetary and fiscal strategy for recovery
India transforms energy sector to fuel growth
Source: The post India transforms energy sector to fuel growth has been created, based on the article “A strategy fuelled by vision, powered by energy” published in “The Hindu” on 4 June 2025. India transforms energy sector to fuel growth. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Growth and development And Infrastructure (energy) Context: India recently overtook Japan… Continue reading India transforms energy sector to fuel growth
India’s GDP rank varies with measurement method
Source: The post India’s GDP rank varies with measurement method has been created, based on the article “Is India the world’s fourth largest economy?” published in “The Hindu” on 2 June 2025. India’s GDP rank varies with measurement method UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Growth and development Context: Recent discussions arose due to IMF’s 2024 GDP… Continue reading India’s GDP rank varies with measurement method
India becomes fourth largest global economy
Source: The post India becomes fourth largest global economy has been created, based on the article “India may soon become the third-largest economy in the world. But there is more to it” published in “Indian Express” on 31 May 2025. India becomes fourth largest global economy. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- growth and development Context:… Continue reading India becomes fourth largest global economy
India’s Remittance Landscape Is Rapidly Transforming
Source: The post India’s Remittance Landscape Is Rapidly Transforming has been created, based on the article “Examining the RBI’s remittances survey” published in “The Hindu” on 29 May 2025. India’s Remittance Landscape Is Rapidly Transforming. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment. Context: Remittances… Continue reading India’s Remittance Landscape Is Rapidly Transforming
India needs deep reforms in financial sector
Source: The post India needs deep reforms in financial sector has been created, based on the article “India’s financial sector reforms need a shake-up” published in “The Hindu” on 29 May 2025. India needs deep reforms in financial sector. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth,… Continue reading India needs deep reforms in financial sector
India builds strength through reform and innovation
Source: The post India builds strength through reform and innovation has been created, based on the article “An operation that was also about a self-reliant India” published in “The Hindu” on 27 May 2025. India builds strength through reform and innovation. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Growth and Development Context: India has experienced a decade… Continue reading India builds strength through reform and innovation
District level data reveals India’s unequal economic growth
Source: The post District level data reveals India’s unequal economic growth has been created, based on the article “Growth: A district-led approach” published in “Businessline” on 24 May 2025. District level data reveals India’s unequal economic growth. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Growth and Development Context: India’s headline GDP growth hides regional disparities. District Domestic Product (DDP)… Continue reading District level data reveals India’s unequal economic growth
Gender inequality weakens nutrition programmes for Indian women
Source: The post Gender inequality weakens nutrition programmes for Indian women has been created, based on the article “The ingredient to turn around nutrition outcomes” published in “The Hindu” on 17 May 2025. Gender inequality weakens nutrition programmes for Indian women UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-food security Context: Despite India’s free foodgrain programme and the… Continue reading Gender inequality weakens nutrition programmes for Indian women
India must fix trade finance to boost export growth
Source: The post India must fix trade finance to boost export growth has been created, based on the article “Fixing India’s trade finance bottleneck” published in “Businessline” on 12 May 2025. India must fix trade finance to boost export growth. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Economy-growth, development and employment. Context: India aims to reach $2 trillion… Continue reading India must fix trade finance to boost export growth
India needs urgent food system transformation now
Source: The post India needs urgent food system transformation now has been created, based on the article “Sprouting sustainable, nutrition-sensitive food systems” published in “The Hindu” on 10 May 2025. India needs urgent food system transformation now. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- issues of buffer stocks and food security Context: India, despite being a top… Continue reading India needs urgent food system transformation now
India plans major reforms in insurance sector
Source: The post India plans major reforms in insurance sector has been created, based on the article “Reprioritising issues in insurance sector” published in “Businessline” on 9 May 2025. India plans major reforms in insurance sector. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Inclusive Growth Context: India plans to allow 100% FDI in insurance to boost… Continue reading India plans major reforms in insurance sector
India needs regulatory reforms to boost growth
Source: The post India needs regulatory reforms to boost growth has been created, based on the article “The road to regulatory reform” published in “The Hindu” on 8 May 2025. India needs regulatory reforms to boost growth. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Growth and Development Context: India’s services-led growth contrasts with the manufacturing-driven path of… Continue reading India needs regulatory reforms to boost growth
India needs monetary easing to sustain cyclical growth recovery
Source: The post India needs monetary easing to sustain cyclical growth recovery has been created, based on the article “Reaching real equilibrium policy rates” published in “Businessline” on 6 May 2025. India needs monetary easing to sustain cyclical growth recovery. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3-Economy- growth and development Context: India’s growth slowdown was cyclical,… Continue reading India needs monetary easing to sustain cyclical growth recovery
India faces prolonged slowdown in private sector capital expenditure
Source: The post India faces prolonged slowdown in private sector capital expenditure has been created, based on the article “We have a hazy forecast of a private capex slump” published in “Live Mint” on 1 May 2025. India faces prolonged slowdown in private sector capital expenditure. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy- Government Budgeting. Context:… Continue reading India faces prolonged slowdown in private sector capital expenditure
India must redefine poverty amid rising incomes and challenges
Source: The post India must redefine poverty amid rising incomes and challenges has been created, based on the article “Let’s redefine our poverty line to reflect India’s economic stature” published in “Live Mint” on 30 April 2025. India must redefine poverty amid rising incomes and challenges. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Indian Economy and issues… Continue reading India must redefine poverty amid rising incomes and challenges
India needs skilled arbitrators for global leadership
Source: The post India needs skilled arbitrators for global leadership has been created, based on the article “The real Indian arbitrator needs” published in “The Hindu” on 28 April 2025. India needs skilled arbitrators for global leadership. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3– Effects of Liberalization on the Economy and GS Paper-2– Statutory, Regulatory and various… Continue reading India needs skilled arbitrators for global leadership
Global growth slows due to policy tensions, says IMF
Source: The post Global growth slows due to policy tensions, says IMF has been created, based on the article “IMF outlook: The good, the bad and the unsaid” published in “Live Mint” on 24 April 2025. Global growth slows due to policy tensions, says IMF. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Economy-growth, development and employment. Context:… Continue reading Global growth slows due to policy tensions, says IMF
India faces job crisis as AI reshapes work roles
Source: The post India faces job crisis as AI reshapes work roles has been created, based on the article “What do we do when machines do everything?” published in “Indian Express” on 21 April 2025. India faces job crisis as AI reshapes work roles. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- growth, development and employment. And GS3-Science… Continue reading India faces job crisis as AI reshapes work roles
India needs cleaner logistics for future growth
Source: The post India needs cleaner logistics for future growth has been created, based on the article “Steering the decarbonisation of India’s logistics sector” published in “The Hindu” on 19th April 2025. India needs cleaner logistics for future growth. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Infrastructure Context: India aims to become a developed nation by 2047 through… Continue reading India needs cleaner logistics for future growth
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.
