PROEconomica

https://www.thehindu.com/business/will-upi-remain-free-to-use-explained/article71312383.ece

https://youtu.be/V109qXZMTE4?si=rGmDh-0tRc5TdyAn

Article by Prof Ashok Gulati on Textile Sector: ➡️India's share of the global apparel market has remained stuck at around 3% for over two decades (from 2000 to 2024). ➡️Between 2000 and 2024, Bangladesh’s market share rose from 2.2% to 9.2%, and Vietnam’s rose from 1% to 6.4% ➡️High Employment Intensity: Apparel generates 153 jobs for every ₹1 crore invested, making it significantly more labor-intensive than automobiles (27 jobs) or steel (14 jobs). ➡️Growth Target: The Indian government aims to scale textile and apparel exports to $100 billion by 2030. Challenges of the Textile Sector: ➡️The "Missing Middle": India suffers from a severe deficit of mid-sized, export-ready firms capable of handling large-scale international orders. ➡️Textile Sector is skewed towards cotton sector : global market has shifted towards man made fibres, this locks India in emerging sectors like active wear,technical textiles. ➡️Liquidity Constraints: Delays in Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds and the dispersal of export incentives ➡️Labor Attrition & Migration Costs: The apparel clusters (e.g., Bengaluru, Tiruppur, Surat) heavily rely on migrant labor from states like Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand. Way Forward: ➡️Shift-to-Labor Model : Move factories directly to labor-surplus regions → Results in higher female labor participation, lower migration costs for workers, and provides a sustainable growth pathway ➡️Build Ecosystem Competitiveness: Shift focus from isolated incentives to a holistic ecosystem approach ➡️Seamless Trade Integration: minimal compliance costs, maximum speed, and high predictability. Steps taken by Govt : PM Mitra Scheme , FTAs with UK , EU etc Article link 🔗 https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-once-dominated-the-textile-trade-it-needs-institutions-to-make-a-mark-again-10794122/

https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/permitted-unless-prohibited-niti-aayog-s-next-gen-reforms-guidebook-126051201707_1.html

Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfer Schemes: ➡️ Multiple Indian states (e.g., Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu) have introduced unconditional cash transfers for women, typically ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 per month. ➡️In 2025-26, 12 states were estimated to spend Rs 1.68 lakh crore on these transfers—nearly double the Union government's MGNREGA allocation of Rs 86,000 crore for the same period. ➡️Positive Welfare Impacts: An EAC-PM working paper studying Maharashtra and Odisha highlights that these programs improve consumption, increase savings, and raise overall household welfare, with more money allocated toward education, medical, and lifestyle needs. ➡️The Fiscal Trade-Off: The central bank and experts warn that rising expenditures on cash transfers and populist measures (like free electricity) risk "crowding out" critical capital investments. ➡️Strain on State Finances: According to an Axis Bank report, these schemes are being funded via expenditure switching and higher deficits.

Another Article on India’s FDI Conundrum Article link https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-can-attract-fdi-the-harder-task-is-retaining-it-10755112/

Article on Growth vs. Well-being in India: High growth over the last three years is not trickling down due to structural imbalances in consumption and employment. ➡️The Consumption Crisis & Food Deprivation: 1.The pan-India figure for those consuming less than two thali meals a day stands at 30%. 2.UN FAO Data: 50% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet, signaling severe food deprivation. ➡️The Employment Paradox: 1.While aggregate unemployment rates have declined over the past five years, the 2025 unemployment rate remains higher than in 2011-12 2.Youth Unemployment: Stood close to 10% in 2025, which is thrice (3x) the unemployment figure for the general labor force. ➡️Inequality Dynamics: 1.Rising inequality is evidenced by falling real wages alongside rising corporate/business profits. 2.Higher profits are driving demand for capital-intensive goods, leading to "jobless growth" dynamics where profit increases do not match employment generation. ➡️The Price-Wage Squeeze: Real wages have declined over the past five years. The primary factor depressing standard of living and consumption is the high price of food. Reforms must center on stabilizing and lowering the real price of food. Article link https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/indias-economy-is-growing-but-that-isnt-translating-to-well-being-for-many-indians-10752504/

Article by Union Minister on Job creation/Employment Landscape of India: India transitioned from being classified among the "Fragile Five" global economies in 2013 to the fastest-growing major economy. Key Employment & Growth Metrics: 1.Employment Elasticity: Between 2017-18 and 2023-24, India's employment elasticity stood at 1.11. This means every 1% increase in Gross Value Added (GVA) was accompanied by a 1.11% rise in employment. 2.Job Creation (RBI KLEMS Data): Over 17 crore jobs were generated between 2014 and 2024, a significant expansion compared to the 2.9 crore jobs created during 2004–14. 3.Employment Rate: Increased from 46.8% in 2017-18 to 57.4% in 2025. 4.Unemployment Rate: Declined to approximately 3.1%, which sits below the global average of 4.8% 5.Formalization (EPFO Payroll Data): More than 8 crore formal-sector jobs were added to the economy between 2017 and 2025. 6.Social Security Architecture: Social security coverage expanded drastically from 25 crore people (19% of the population) in 2015 to more than 94 crore people (64.3% of the population) in 2025. India was honoured with International Social Security Association's Award for achivement in Social Security. Flagship Schemes & Interventions: 1.The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY): aimed at supporting the creation of more than 3.5 crore employment opportunities over two years. 2.Growth and Skill Programs: Make in India, Digital India, Startup India, Skill India, PM Mudra Yojana, and the National Career Service portal. Article link 🔗 https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/a-decade-of-empowerment-from-reform-to-rozgar-10746794/

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Important topics based on their anniversaries in 2026: 1.PWD Act 2016 2.IBC Act 2016 3.PM FBY 2016 4.Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan 2001 5.Startup India Initiative 2016 6.PM Gatishakti 2021 7.Ayushman Bharat Digital 2021 8.PM Ujjwala 2016 8.150 Years of Arya Samaj 9.100 Years of CPI and RSS 10.100 Years of Kakori Conspiracy 11.1000 Years of Rajendra Chola's Maritime Expedition (PM Participated ) 12. Forest Rights Act, 2006 Will keep updating the list,While direct questions on these specific topics may not appear, they can help in indentifying important themes. #Mains2026 #GS @iasexamcongress

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Growth of Indian Startup Ecosystem from 2015 to 2025.

NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub released a report on the semiconductor ecosystem: ➡️ First, that India faces steep challenges in developing world-class semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. ➡️ Second, that national interest necessitates pursuing this field doggedly regardless of those difficulties, The sector “requires sustained, mission-mode commitment over a decade or more,”. ➡️The report urges the govt to work on “building sovereign design and research capabilities, R&D excellence and harnessing agentic AI for semiconductor engineering,”. ➡️ It also suggests partnerships with the like minded countries U.S., Japan, the EU while distancing from China. The government has prioritised semiconductor development: ➡️ The India Semiconductor Mission, which includes a ₹76,000 crore fund. ➡️ Strategic agreements like the "Pax Silica" framework to secure resilient semiconductor supply chains. Article link 🔗 https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/the-future-of-indias-chip-industry/article71054239.ece

National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6 DATA SHEET #data

https://www.thehindu.com/business/rbi-issues-revised-integrated-ombudsman-scheme-to-hear-complaints-against-banks-nbfcs/article70515152.ece

https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/govt-asks-rbi-to-maintain-retail-inflation-at-4-till-mar-2031/article70785251.ece

PROEconomica Annual Compilation (January 2025-March 2026) One Stop Solution for Prelims 2026 @iasexamcongress @economicsiasec