GK One-Liners

What: India’s unemployment rate declined to 4.9% in February 2026, down from 5.0% in January 2026, as reported under the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO). Urban unemployment stood at 6.6% while rural unemployment was lower at 4.2%. Notably, the female unemployment rate improved from 5.6% to 5.1%.

How: The PLFS is a quarterly/annual survey by NSO (under MoSPI — Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) that measures labour market indicators including Worker Population Ratio (WPR), Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR). Data is captured through household interviews using the Usual Status, Current Weekly Status, and Current Daily Status approaches.

Why: PLFS data is a high-frequency Prelims anchor — expect questions on the releasing agency (NSO/MoSPI), survey methodology, and disaggregated figures (urban vs. rural, gender). For Mains GS-III, the declining female unemployment rate is relevant to women’s labour force participation debates and the goal of inclusive growth.

What: India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation rose to 2.13% in February 2026, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase. Food inflation under WPI stood at 2.19%, while vegetable inflation eased to 4.73%. The WPI data is released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

How: WPI measures price changes at the wholesale/producer level across three broad baskets — primary articles (including food), fuel & power, and manufactured products. Unlike the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which captures retail-level prices, WPI is a producer-side inflation indicator. India’s WPI base year is 2011-12. The Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA) under the Ministry of Commerce compiles and releases this data monthly.

Why: UPSC Prelims frequently tests the difference between WPI and CPI — their releasing bodies, base years, and coverage. The sustained four-month rise signals demand-side pressures building in the wholesale market, relevant for Mains GS-III discussions on inflation management and the RBI’s monetary policy stance.

What: India’s merchandise trade deficit widened sharply to USD 27.1 billion in February 2026, nearly doubling from approximately USD 14 billion in February 2025. Total imports surged 24% year-on-year to USD 63.71 billion, driven by a significant spike in gold and silver purchases. Merchandise exports contracted marginally by 0.81% year-on-year to USD 36.61 billion.

How: The trade deficit is the gap between a country’s total imports and total exports of goods (merchandise). A widening deficit on account of gold imports is a recurring structural feature of India’s Balance of Payments (BoP) — gold demand rises with festive cycles, investment hedging, and jewellery sector needs. The data is compiled by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) under the Ministry of Commerce.

Why: This is a high-yield Prelims/Mains topic. UPSC tests the distinction between trade deficit (goods only), current account deficit (goods + services + transfers), and BoP. The gold-import surge angle is relevant to GS-III discussions on import substitution, forex reserve management, and the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) scheme as a demand-deflection instrument.

What: Gujarat launched a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination drive from 1 March to 15 April 2026 under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP). The drive targets cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats, with animal tracking done through the INAPH (Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health) portal.

How: NADCP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2019 with a total outlay of ₹13,343 crore, aimed at controlling FMD and Brucellosis across India by 2025 and eradicating them by 2030. Vaccination is conducted in two rounds annually. INAPH is a digital platform that assigns unique IDs to vaccinated animals, enabling real-time monitoring, disease surveillance, and insurance linkage.

Why: NADCP is relevant to GS-III (Animal Husbandry, Government Schemes) and GS-II (Welfare Schemes). Prelims may test the programme’s objective, coverage, or the INAPH portal. For Mains, NADCP connects to India’s agricultural export competitiveness — FMD-free status is a pre-condition for accessing premium international beef/dairy markets, making this a trade-and-policy crossover topic.

What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted a Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction on 19 March 2026, injecting ₹48,014 crore into the banking system. A VRR is a short-term liquidity management tool where scheduled commercial banks bid for funds from the RBI at market-determined interest rates, unlike fixed-rate repos where the rate is pre-announced.

How: Under VRR, the RBI announces the amount to be injected and banks bid competitively — the rate is determined by the bids, making it a price-discovery mechanism. It is part of the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), which is the RBI’s primary framework for day-to-day liquidity management. The LAF also includes the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) for absorption and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) for emergency borrowing by banks.

Why: The RBI’s monetary policy toolkit — repo rate, reverse repo, SDF, MSF, VRR, Open Market Operations (OMO) — is a perennial UPSC topic. Prelims tests the mechanics and distinction between fixed-rate and variable-rate instruments. For Mains GS-III, the use of VRR signals the RBI’s intention to inject durable liquidity, which connects to credit growth, investment, and monetary transmission debates.

What: Bharat Tribes Fest (BTF) 2026 is being held from 18–30 March 2026 at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi. Organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), the festival showcases tribal art, culture, handicrafts, and cuisine from across India, providing artisans a national-level platform and market access.

How: MoTA is the nodal ministry for the welfare and development of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India. It administers major schemes like PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan), the Tribal Sub-Plan, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), and the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes. Sunder Nursery, the venue, is a heritage park in New Delhi developed under the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) in partnership with ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).

Why: MoTA-related schemes frequently appear in UPSC Prelims (especially PM-JANMAN, EMRS, and Constitutional provisions under Articles 244, 275, and Fifth/Sixth Schedules). For Mains GS-II, the BTF initiative exemplifies India’s approach to cultural preservation and economic empowerment of marginalised communities — useful for answers on tribal welfare, federalism, and inclusive development.