[UPSC Mains 2026] Registration Open: All India Smash Mains Open Test 2026

1st August

In Indo-Pacific, a steady projection of power, Quad, Great Nicobar

op-ed snap | Indo-Pacific and Regional Groupings | Mains International Relations:

Foreign Policy Watch: India – EU

Tariff-free Scottish salmon under UK-India CETA

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

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

What Chinese AI model Kimi’s success says about the next phase of US-China AI race

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

FIR over remarks on PM, how law treats obscenity and profanity

Explained SC Judgements | Fundamental Rights (Freedom of Speech) | Mains Polity and Governance (Judiciary):

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

EU AI Act enters force; Anthropic Claude and OpenAI agent incidents disclosed

Amended/Enacted Bills/Act/Laws Explained | Artificial Intelligence Governance | Mains Science and Technology:

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

SC upholds NCLAT order setting aside CCI’s ₹301.6-crore penalty on Grasim Industries

Explained SC Judgements | Polity | Mains GS2: GS2-09.Appointment to various Constitutional posts; Constitutional Bodies(powers, functions and responsibilities); Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial bodies

Forest Conservation Efforts – NFP, Western Ghats, etc.

[1st August 2026] The Hindu OpED: Western Ghats conservation with science and dialogue

op-ed snap | Environment | Mains GS3: GS3-18.Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Capital Markets: Challenges and Developments

Why Calcutta Stock Exchange needs to be revived

Explained Revived / Restored | Capital Markets | Mains GS3: GS3-01. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Foreign Policy Watch: India-Middle East

Amnesty International report: India’s arms exports to Israel

Prelims Only | India's West Asia Policy | Mains International Relations: GS2-18.Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Renewable Energy – Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, etc.

Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana for floating solar power

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

Foreign Policy Watch: India – EU

Italy suspends Schengen pact with Spain amid Ceuta migrant crisis

Prelims Only World Mapping | European Union and Migration | Mains GS2: GS2-18.Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Capital Markets: Challenges and Developments

Bloomberg again defers India’s Global Aggregate Bond Index inclusion

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

Economic Indicators and Various Reports On It- GDP, FD, EODB, WIR etc

Central government capex surges 66%, fiscal deficit narrows

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

Direct Benefits Transfers

Cabinet approves 5-year extension of PM-KISAN scheme

PIB Schemes | Agriculture | Mains GS3: GS3-06.Storage, transport and marketing of Agricultural produce and issues and related constraints

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

IIP growth conceals consumer demand weakness

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

Nuclear Energy

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant reactor costs soar 55%

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

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

PM Modi inaugurates semiconductor project and other projects in Andhra Pradesh

Indigenous / Made in India Prelims Only Schemes | Economics | Mains GS3: GS3-13.Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc:

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

Cabinet approves Samudra Manthan offshore exploration scheme

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

31st July

Minister in RS: Potential conflict of interest in RDI Fund disbursement

Schemes | Ethics | Mains Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

The next DPI: how India can commoditise AI

Explained | Science and Technology | Mains GS3:

Temporary respite: On the June 2026 data for the Index of Industrial Production

op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Indian Economy and issues relating to growth, development and employment:

Govt on UN Rapporteurs SIR concern: Due process followed

| Polity | Mains Salient features of the Representation of People's Act:

[31st July 2026] The Hindu OpED: The Bay of Bengal as India’s SHANTI anchor

op-ed snap | Internal Security | Mains Security Challenges and their Management in Border Areas:

Activists raise alarm over PM CARES denial of access to audit statements

| Governance | Mains Transparency and accountability (institutional and other measures):

CWMA upholds CWRC’s order to Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu

| Inter-State Water Disputes and Fiscal Federalism | Mains GS2:

SC sets ‘public interest’ test on retrospective green nod

Bills/Act/Laws SC Judgements | Environment | Mains GS3:

Electoral Reforms In India

Centre defends CEC panel without CJI

Bills/Act/Laws Prelims Only SC Judgements | Polity | Mains Salient features of the Representation of People's Act: GS2-09.Appointment to various Constitutional posts; Constitutional Bodies(powers, functions and responsibilities); Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial bodies

How common are cloudbursts in India?

Explained | | Mains Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc:

ISRO Missions and Discoveries

India’s first private orbital launch marks a structural milestone

First/Record Indigenous / Made in India Prelims Only | 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.

ISRO Missions and Discoveries

ISRO and Japanese scientists review mission Chandrayaan 5 preparation

Prelims Only | Science and Technology | Mains GS3: GS3-16.Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology

RBI Notifications

RBI tightens transparency norms on bulk deposit rates, allows LCR linked pricing

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