Smash PYQ 2027 | Open Sessions Are Here!

16th September

Foreign Policy Watch: India-China

China’s open AI advantage may not last forever

Op-ed | International Relations | Mains GS2: GS2-18.Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Industrial Sector Updates – Industrial Policy, Ease of Doing Business, etc.

SEMICON India 2026: Building India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem

PIB Prelims Only | Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-12.Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth

Skilling India – Skill India Mission,PMKVY, NSDC, etc.

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026: India’s Largest-Ever Contingent

PIB Prelims Only | Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-01.Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Labour, Jobs and Employment – Harmonization of labour laws, gender gap, unemployment, etc.

PLFS Monthly Bulletin: August 2026

PIB Prelims Only | Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-01.Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

Saratchandra Chattopadhyay: 150th Birth Anniversary

PIB Prelims Only | Modern History | Mains GS1: GS1-02.Modern Indian History- Mid-18th century – Present (significant events, personalities, issues);

AI cooperation

Op-ed | Science and Technology | Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

US’s orbital weapons: The limits of global pacts governing space militarisation

Explained | Science and Technology | Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

Govt. to ease MSME, start-up entry into R&D in defence

| Science and Technology | Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

Don’t let borders blind us to Himalayan risks

Op-ed | Disaster Management | Mains GS3: GS3-19.Disaster and Disaster Management.

Meta to share child safety reports with govt. directly

| Internal Security | Mains GS3: GS3-21.Role of External State and Non-state Actors in creating challenges to Internal Security.

Saudi Arabia is facing a two-strait dilemma

Op-ed | International Relations | Mains GS2: GS2-19.Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

After BRICS, it’s time to navigate the realities of great power rivalries

Op-ed | International Relations | Mains GS2: GS2-18.Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Why India’s stance on WTO plurilateral deals may be shifting

| International Relations | Mains GS2: GS2-20.Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

SIR: deletions have increased in Phase 3 States/UT

| Polity | Mains GS2: GS2-08.Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

VB-G RAM G scheme trails MGNREGS by 9% in August

Schemes | Governance | Mains GS2: GS2-10.Government Policies & Interventions for development of various sectors (issues in their design, implementation)

DFCs: the backbone of India’s logistics revolution

| Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-13.Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc:

Sugar rush, chip price surge: RBI rate hike looms as price pressures spread

| Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-01.Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Decoding India’s GDP base revision

Op-ed | Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-01.Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Merchants to pay 0.4% fee on UPI payments over Rs 2,000

| Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-01.Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

15th September

Foreign Policy Watch: India-Southeast Asia

[MENTION] Indian Naval Ship Kulish arrives at Ream Naval Base, Cambodia

PIB World Mapping | International Relations | Mains GS2: GS2-17.India and its neighborhood- relations.

Chandrayaan-1 may have just detected oldest impact basin on Moon: Researchers

Discovered/Found Explained | Science and Technology | Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

Let AI safety catch up

Op-ed | Science and Technology | Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

Monsoon Updates

Pressure on food prices: El Nino effect, geopolitical tensions / Dip in fertiliser sales warning signal

Explained | Geography | Mains GS1: GS1-11.Salient Features of World Physical Geography

Pharma Sector – Drug Pricing, NPPA, FDC, Generics, etc.

Ahead of election, Punjab talks drugs again; its children are still paying the price

Op-ed States | Internal Security | Mains GS3: GS3-23.Security Challenges and their Management in Border Areas – Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism.

Foreign Policy Watch: India-China

How India should view China’s ‘open’ AI pitch

Explained | International Relations | Mains GS2: GS2-18.Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Foreign Policy Watch: India-Southeast Asia

India, Vietnam agree to deepen defence ties, co-produce military equipment

Explained | International Relations | Mains GS2: GS2-18.Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Foreign Policy Watch: India-China

Xi, Modi agreed both nations should be partners: Wang Yi

Explained | International Relations | Mains GS2: GS2-17.India and its neighborhood- relations.

Food Safety Standards – FSSAI, food fortification, etc.

Experts back warnings for high level of each nutrient — not just fats, sugar, or salt content

Explained | Governance | Mains GS2: GS2-10.Government Policies & Interventions for development of various sectors (issues in their design, implementation)

Judicial Reforms

Public trust & public approval not same; trust demands fairness: CJI

Explained | Polity | Mains GS2: GS2-01.Indian Constitution-Historical underpinnings & evolution; Features, amendments, significant provisions, basic structure of Constitution

Aadhaar Card Issues

Government trusts Aadhaar on welfare. It needs to rely on it to make voter lists

Op-ed | Polity | Mains GS2: GS2-08.Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

Uniform Civil Code: Triple Talaq debate, Polygamy issue, etc.

BJP’s states route to UCC, over one central law

Bills/Act/Laws Explained | Polity | Mains GS2: GS2-01.Indian Constitution-Historical underpinnings & evolution; Features, amendments, significant provisions, basic structure of Constitution

Renewable Energy – Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, etc.

Heat, weak monsoon continue to push up power demand

First/Record | Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-13.Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc:

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code

Subhash Chandra case: IBBI to tighten guarantor resolution

Bills/Act/Laws DOMR | Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-01.Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Digital India Initiatives

Govt: No bank charge on UPI payment up to Rs 2,000

Amended/Enacted Bills/Act/Laws | Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-01.Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.