Source: PIB Why in News? India and Brazil signed key agreements on rare earth & critical minerals and steel mining, while committing to expand bilateral trade and digital cooperation during Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s visit to India. Key Agreements Signed Trade & Economic Targets
Indigenous Tetanus & Adult Diphtheria (Td) Vaccine Launched
Source: TH Why in News? Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched an indigenously manufactured Tetanus and Adult Diphtheria (Td) vaccine, marking a major step in strengthening India’s public health system and vaccine self-reliance. Key Highlights: About Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) About Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli
NITI Aayog Report — Revitalizing Apprenticeship Ecosystem
Source: PIB Why in News? NITI Aayog released a policy report titled “Revitalizing Apprenticeship Ecosystem: Insights, Challenges, Recommendations and Best Practices” to strengthen India’s apprenticeship system as a key pillar of Viksit Bharat @2047. What is the Report About? Key Findings / Data Importance of Apprenticeship Ecosystem Major Challenges Identified Existing Government Initiatives
Export Promotion Mission (EPM)
Source: BS Why in News? The Union Commerce and Industry Minister launched seven new interventions under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to strengthen MSME participation in global trade. What is Export Promotion Mission (EPM)? Objectives Key Features Dual Framework Trade Finance Support Compliance & Certification (TRACE) Logistics & Overseas Warehousing (FLOW & LIFT) Trade Intelligence & Capacity Building (INSIGHT) MSME Financial Assistance Market Integration
Launch of INS Krishna — Indigenous Cadet Training Ship
Source: Times of India Why in News? The Indian Navy launched INS Krishna, the first of three indigenously built Cadet Training Ships (CTS), aimed at strengthening naval training infrastructure. What is INS Krishna? Purpose
“One Plant Per Day” Resolution
Source: PIB Why in News? The Union Minister marked five years of the “One Plant Per Day” resolution, highlighting its evolution from a personal pledge into a proposed nationwide environmental movement. What is the One Plant Per Day Resolution? Key Features
New CPI Base (2024)
Source: TH Why in News? India has revised the Consumer Price Index (CPI) base year to 2024, updating how inflation is measured to better reflect current household spending patterns. What Has Changed? Major Structural Changes Reflects long-term shift in spending from food to services and housing. Understanding CPI vs Inflation State-Level Inflation Insights Highest inflation (Jan 2026) among large States: Reason: higher spending on services like housing, health, education, transport. Why Rajasthan Shows Higher Inflation Importance for Monetary Policy (RBI)
Risk-Based Deposit Insurance Premium for Banks
Source: BS Why in News? India is shifting from a uniform deposit insurance premium to a risk-based premium (RBP) system, where banks pay insurance premiums according to their risk profile.This also sets the stage for a likely increase in deposit insurance cover from â‚ą5 lakh to possibly â‚ą15 lakh. What is Deposit Insurance? Key Change: Risk-Based Premium (RBP) Earlier system: New system: Proposed premium structure (per â‚ą100 deposits): Two-Tier Framework Objectives
NPCI Extends “UPI One World” Wallet & Launches AI Payment Initiatives
Source: ET Why in News? NPCI expanded the “UPI One World” wallet service for foreign delegates from over 40 countries attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026, along with launching AI-driven payment innovations. What is UPI One World Wallet? A special digital payment facility for foreign visitors that allows them to make UPI payments in India without needing: Enables seamless digital payments for international travellers. Key Features Other Major Launches Finance Model for India (FiMI) AI-Powered UPI Pilot (NPCI + Razorpay) Strategic Partnership with Nvidia
Participatory Notes (P-Notes)
Source: ET Why in News? Proposed revisions to the India–France tax treaty may allow India to tax capital gains from equity sales by French investors. This could significantly affect the participatory note (P-note) investment route used by foreign investors. What are Participatory Notes (P-Notes)? Participatory Notes (P-Notes) are offshore derivative instruments issued by SEBI-registered Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to overseas investors who wish to invest in Indian securities without registering directly with SEBI. They derive their value from underlying Indian assets such as: How Do P-Notes Work? The actual investor remains anonymous to Indian regulators (though disclosure norms have tightened). Why Were P-Notes Popular? At one time (early 2000s), P-notes accounted for over 40% of FPI investments in India. Advantages
