Reports & Indices

Civil Service (Main) Examination 2026 – Written Examination Result Announced

  • The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the result of the Civil Service (Main) written examination for the 2026 batch.
  • Candidates can view their individual scores and rank list on the official UPSC portal using their registration details.
  • The result marks the transition to the next stage – the Personality Test (Interview) – for those who qualified.
  • UPSC has also issued a detailed answer key and performance analysis for aspirants' reference.
  • The announcement was made on the scheduled date as per the UPSC 2026 examination calendar.

National Conference on Gender Statistics and Data: Evidence to Policy Insights organized by MOSPI and UN Women

  • The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) and UN Women jointly organised a national conference titled “Gender Statistics and Data: From Evidence to Policy Insights”.
  • The conference focused on strengthening gender‑disaggregated data collection, analysis and utilisation for informed policymaking across sectors.
  • Key participants included representatives from central ministries, state statistical departments, academia, civil‑society organisations and international agencies.
  • Discussions highlighted gaps in current gender data, the need for harmonised standards, and the role of data in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on gender equality.
  • The event concluded with a set of recommendations to improve the availability, quality and accessibility of gender statistics in India.

India lacks anaemia data as NFHS-6 omitted measurements and SAMPADA results remain unpublished

  • The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) did not collect anaemia data.
  • Anaemia prevalence was instead measured in the SAMPADA (Survey on Anaemia Management and Prevalence among Adolescents and Adults) survey.
  • SAMPADA data have not yet been released, creating a data vacuum for tracking anaemia levels.
  • Anaemia continues to be a major public health concern, especially among women and children.
  • Absence of timely data hampers effective implementation and monitoring of programmes such as POSHAN Abhiyaan.

West Bengal’s Caesarean Section Rate Climbs to 44.5% in NFHS‑6

  • NFHS‑6 (2019‑21) shows 44.5% of births in West Bengal were delivered by C‑section, up from about 22% in 2015‑16.
  • The state’s C‑section rate is almost double the national average of 27.2% reported in the same survey.
  • Private health facilities, which account for roughly 30% of total births, performed nearly 60% of all Caesarean operations.
  • The surge raises concerns about over‑medicalisation, higher maternal‑infant risk, and increased out‑of‑pocket expenditure for families.
  • Policy experts suggest stricter guidelines, public awareness, and incentivising normal deliveries in both public and private sectors.

Child dies in mother’s arms while trekking 10 km to hospital in West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya

  • A three-year-old child died in his mother's arms while they were walking to the nearest point reachable by vehicle.
  • The family had to cover approximately 10 kilometres from their village in West Khasi Hills district to the nearest road access point.
  • The nearest functional health facility capable of providing emergency care is located far from many remote villages in Meghalaya's hilly terrain.

Tamil Nadu records steady dengue caseload of about 200 cases per day, says DPH

  • The Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) of Tamil Nadu reported an average of 200 dengue cases daily.
  • The caseload is described as steady and not reaching outbreak levels.
  • Dengue cases are being reported from multiple districts including Chennai belt (Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram), Coimbatore and Madurai.
  • The health department continues routine surveillance and vector control measures across the state.
Reports & Indices

OECD upgrades India's FY 2026-27 growth forecast to 7.1%

  • The Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD) raised its estimate of India's real GDP growth for FY 2026‑27 to 7.1%.
  • The revision comes after Moody’s, S&P Global and Fitch also upgraded their growth outlooks for India in the preceding week.
  • The upward revisions reflect improved macro‑economic indicators and confidence in India’s consumption‑driven recovery.
  • Higher growth projections are likely to influence fiscal planning, investment inflows and policy formulation.
Reports & Indices

Sensex drops 330 points, Nifty down to 23,329 dragged by IT stocks

  • The BSE Sensex fell by 330 points to trade around 66,200.
  • The NSE Nifty closed at 23,329, registering a decline of about 0.8%.
  • Weakness in information technology (IT) stocks was the primary catalyst for the sell‑off.
  • Among the 30 Sensex constituents, Bajaj Finserv, Trent, Bajaj Finance, Sun Pharma, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and UltraTech Cement were the biggest laggards.
  • The broader market sentiment was weighed down by concerns over global tech earnings and a modest rise in US Treasury yields.
Reports & Indices

Dengue cases in Tamil Nadu decline for third consecutive year in 2026

  • Tamil Nadu recorded 17,049 dengue cases up to 19 September 2026.
  • Nine deaths were reported due to dengue in the same period.
  • The figure represents a decline for the third consecutive year, continuing the downward trend seen since 2024.
  • Data were released by the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department as part of its annual disease surveillance report.
  • The decline is attributed to intensified vector‑control measures and public awareness campaigns.
Reports & Indices

India’s forex reserves jump by a record $44.903 billion

  • India's foreign exchange reserves rose by $44.903 bn in a single week, setting a new record increase.
  • The total reserves crossed approximately $797.2 bn, overtaking the previous all‑time high.
  • In the preceding week, reserves had risen by $11.475 bn to $740.803 bn, showing a sustained upward trend.
  • The surge is attributed to strong capital inflows and active RBI interventions in the foreign exchange market.
  • Higher reserves bolster India's external creditworthiness and provide a cushion against global financial shocks.
Reports & Indices

Half of Indian firms say macro growth isn’t fully translating: CII survey

  • A Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) survey found that 50% of Indian companies feel that the recent macro‑economic growth is not fully translating into business performance.
  • The composite Business Confidence Score (BCS) rose sharply in Q2 FY2024 compared with Q1, indicating improving sentiment despite the translation gap.
  • Survey covered firms across manufacturing, services and MSME sectors, with larger enterprises reporting higher optimism than small businesses.
  • Key constraints cited were supply‑chain disruptions, high input costs and uneven demand recovery across regions.
Reports & Indices

Key Findings of NFHS-6 and Advances in Cancer Care Highlighted in Health Wrap

  • The 36th episode of Health Wrap discussed the findings of NFHS-6, the latest National Family Health Survey covering 2019-21.
  • NFHS-6 provides comprehensive data on health and development indicators such as maternal health, child nutrition, anemia and access to health services across India.
  • Significant advances in cancer treatment were highlighted, including new therapeutic approaches for pancreatic and breast cancers.
  • The episode also touched upon other important public‑health stories shaping the health agenda in India.

FII inflows into Indian equities hit two-year high of ₹29,631 crore in August

  • Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) netted an inflow of ₹29,631 crore into Indian equity markets in August 2023.
  • This inflow marks the highest monthly foreign investment in equities in the past two years.
  • August recorded the second consecutive month of net FII buying, a first occurrence for the calendar year 2023.
  • The robust foreign buying signals renewed confidence in India’s capital markets amid global monetary tightening.
  • Higher FII participation is likely to support equity valuations and strengthen the rupee.