Daily Current Affairs — 11 May 2026
Daily Current Affairs · 11 May 2026
10 fully-analysed topics · 30 bilingual MCQs · 3 embedded videos · built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
📚 10 Topics
🎯 30 MCQs
🎬 3 Videos
🇮🇳 Hindi + English
🎯 30 MCQs
🎬 3 Videos
🇮🇳 Hindi + English
Economy: 10
▶ Start Here — UPSC-Standard Quiz
UPSC Current Affairs MCQ — 11 May 2026
10 UPSC-standard bilingual MCQs covering today's top stories · 10-sec timer per question
Score yourself as you go. Get a feel for how UPSC-level questions are framed around the day's news.
📰 Today’s Top 5 Current Affairs
#01
Economy
Economy
Roadmap to Inclusive Growth
📰 Why in News
Recent shifts in India's socio-economic policy
✅ Quick Facts
- India's evolving socio-economic landscape is marked by a declining Gini Index but persistent urban-rural and class-based disparities .
- The newly introduced VB G RAM G Act, 2025, aims to modernize rural welfare by focusing on high-tech skills and climate resilience.
- To ensure inclusive growth , India must address wealth concentration and bridge the "skills gap" to utilize its demographic dividend effectively.
- Inequality Underestimation: While the World Bank cites a Gini index of 0.25 for India
- Urban vs. Rural Disparity: Inequality is significantly higher in urban sectors compared to rural ones. The mean Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE)…
- Non-Food Expenditure Gap: India's consumption boom is driven by non-food expenditure , where the disparity is most striking
- Class-Based Divergence: Since the 1980s, urban owners, managers, and professionals have gained disproportionately, while urban informal workers…
- Social Safety Net Overlap: Data reveals a mismatch in welfare targeting
- Debt-Led Consumption: A significant portion of Indian households continue to sustain their standard of living through debt-led consumption
- About: Inequality refers to the unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, rights, and outcomes among individuals or groups in a society
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- Household Consumer Expenditure Survey (HCES 2023-24) , Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana
- Household Consumer Expenditure Survey (HCES 2023-24) suggests a higher Gini index of 0.29
- Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) of the top 10% in urban areas is 9 times that of the
- urban areas is 9 times that of the bottom 10% in rural areas. Non-Food Expenditure Gap
- disparity is most striking. The urban top 10% accounts for 27% of total non-food spending
- striking. The urban top 10% accounts for 27% of total non-food spending , leaving the
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
NITI AayogLok Sabha
🎯 UPSC Relevance
Discuss the significance of the Lorenz Curve and Gini Index in measuring economic inequality.
#02
Economy
Economy
Viksit Bharat- Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025
📰 Why in News
The Ministry of Rural Development introduced the Viksit Bharat- Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill
✅ Quick Facts
- The proposed law marks a fundamental shift from a rights-based
- Rural poverty has declined sharply from 25.7% in 201112 to nearly 5% in 202324
- The VBG RAM G Bill, 2025 shifts from a universal, demand-driven right to work to a budget-capped, supply-driven model with planned asset creation.
- While aimed at fiscal predictability and livelihood integration
- Statutory Wage Employment Guarantee: Provides a legal guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year to adult…
- Conditional and Non-Universal Coverage: Unlike MGNREGA's universal coverage
- Bottom-Up Planning through VGPPs: Mandates preparation of Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) using spatial technology
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) Structure: Significantly increases the financial burden on States by revising the cost-sharing pattern to 60:40 for…
- Flexibility during Agricultural Seasons: The Bill empowers States to pause the programme for up to 60 days in a financial year during peak sowing and…
- Unemployment Allowance Provision: Mandates payment of unemployment allowance by State Governments if employment is not provided within 15 days of…
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- . Rural poverty has declined sharply from 25.7% in 201112 to nearly 5% in 202324, reducing
- sharply from 25.7% in 201112 to nearly 5% in 202324, reducing the need for MGNREGA as
- to 60:40 for most States (from the earlier 10% share under MGNREGA), while retaining 90:10
- Labour Force Survey (PLFS 202223) , nearly 45% of rural workers remain self-employed in
#03
Economy
Economy
Nationwide Implementation of India’s Four Labour Codes
📰 Why in News
India has announced the implementation of the four Labour Codes (the Code on Wages
✅ Quick Facts
- The reform aims to modernise labour regulation
- The four labour codes were enacted based on the 2 nd National Commission on Labour (2002)
- Labour Code: A labour code is a consolidated set of laws regulating employeremployee relations
- The Code of Wages, 2019: It merges four key laws (The Payment of Wages Act, 1936
- It seeks to balance worker rights with industrial stability by streamlining rules on union recognition, employment terms and dispute resolution.
- It covers maternity, health, life insurance and provident fund benefits while promoting digital processes and easier compliance.
- The Code aims to ensure safer working conditions while simplifying compliance for businesses
- Universal minimum wage for all workers ( organised + unorganised ). Wage fixation based on skill, region, working conditions.
- A statutory floor wage will be set by the government based on living standards with scope for regional variation. States cannot set wages below this.
- No discrimination in hiring, wages or working conditions on the basis of gender, including transgender identity.
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- re-skilling and re-employment. A union with 51% membership becomes the negotiating body
- council is formed from unions with at least 20% representation. Mandatory women's
- and retaining allowance, with at least 50% of total remuneration counted for
- Strikes and Union Recognition: The 51% single-union rule may marginalise smaller
- with aggregators required to contribute 12% of annual turnover (capped at 5% of
- 12% of annual turnover (capped at 5% of payouts) towards a welfare fund. UPSC
#04
Economy
Economy
World Bank
📰 Why in News
Recently, Indian American business executive Ajay Banga was nominated by US President to head the World Bank.
✅ Quick Facts
- If confirmed by the World Bank Board of directors
- About: It was created in 1944 , as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) along with the IMF
- The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared…
- The World Bank is one of the United Nations' specialized agencies.
- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
- International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) India is not a member of ICSID.
- The United States is the largest single shareholder
- While the World Bank provides support to developing countries
- The International Finance Corporation, which offers these bonds, is an arm of the World Bank.
- They are the rupee-denominated bonds and are a source of debt financing for the public and private sector.
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- is the largest single shareholder, with 16.41% of the votes, followed by Japan (7.87%
- 16.41% of the votes, followed by Japan (7.87%), Germany (4.49%), the United Kingdom
- votes, followed by Japan (7.87%), Germany (4.49%), the United Kingdom (4.31%), and France
- Germany (4.49%), the United Kingdom (4.31%), and France (4.31%). The rest of the
- the United Kingdom (4.31%), and France (4.31%). The rest of the shares are divided among
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
IMFWTO
#05
Economy
Economy
India Becomes 4th ‘Most Equal’ Country Globally
📰 Why in News
India is not only the world's fourth-largest economy but is also ranked among the most equal societies today.
✅ Quick Facts
- About: The Gini index, or Gini coefficient, was developed in 1912 by Italian statistician Corrado Gini
- The Gini coefficient quantifies the area between the Lorenz curve and the line of perfect equality (a 45-degree line)
- India and Gini Index: India's Gini Index was 28.8 in 2011, declining steadily to 25.5 in 2022, reflecting consistent progress in social equity
- Notably, India ranks ahead of countries with higher inequality scores, including China (35.7), and the US (41.8) .
- The low score challenges conventional assumptions of India as a highly unequal society
- It indicates broad-based income growth, particularly among the lower income brackets.
- Poverty Reduction: As per the World Bank's Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief
- At the USD 3/day threshold, India's extreme poverty rate for 202223 stands at 5.3%, down from 27.1% in 201112.
- In absolute terms, the number of people in extreme poverty fell from 344.47 million to 75.24 million.
- PM Jan Dhan Yojana: Financial inclusion has been at the heart of India's social equity push
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- poverty threshold from USD 2.15/day to USD 3/day (based on 2021 prices) to account for
- extreme poverty rate for 202223 stands at 5.3%, down from 27.1% in 201112. In absolute
- Despite Low Inequality Index: At the USD 3.65/day poverty threshold (suitable for
- countries), India's poverty rate was 28.1% in 2022 . Over 300 million people still
- Wage disparity remains significant, the top 10% earn 13 times more than the bottom 10%
- top 10% earn 13 times more than the bottom 10% (202324). The Gini coefficient for income
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
G20G7
📚 ⚖️ Core Subject Drill — Indian Polity
⚖️ Indian Polity MCQ Quiz · भारतीय राजव्यवस्था
10 bilingual MCQs · Indian Polity · Members Only on YouTube
Today's rotation: Indian Polity. Take this break between news topics to sharpen the core concept.
📖 More Current Affairs Coverage
#06
Economy
Economy
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24
📰 Why in News
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the factsheet of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES)…
✅ Quick Facts
- The HCES collects data on household spending patterns to assess living standards, well-being, and consumption behavior.
- HCES has been conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO ) since 1951 as part of the National Sample Survey (NSS) under the MoSPI.
- Significance: Provides inputs for calculating Consumer Price Indices (CPI) and revising the base year for macroeconomic indicators like Gross…
- Rising Consumption : Rural consumption spending increased significantly
- The gap between rural and urban consumption narrowed from 83.9% in 2011-12 to 69.7% in 2023-24
- Imputed values for free benefits (e.g., food grains, school uniforms) under welfare schemes marginally increased MPCE estimates
- Maharashtra , Punjab , Tamil Nadu , Telangana , and Kerala , showed higher-than-average per capita consumption spending.
- West Bengal , Bihar , Uttar Pradesh , and Madhya Pradesh , had lower spending than the national average.
- Among the Union Territories (UTs), MPCE is the highest in Chandigarh (Rural Rs
- The Gini coefficient dropped from 0.266 to 0.237 in rural areas and from 0.314 to 0.284 in urban areas from 2022-23 to 2023-24.
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- Star marking (1-5) indicates the importance
- Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 , providing key insights into consumption
- What are the Key Findings of the HCES 2023-24? Rising Consumption : Rural consumption
- expenditure (MPCE) rising to Rs 4,122 (up 9.3% from Rs 3,773 in 2022-23). The MPCE of
- MPCE) rising to Rs 4,122 (up 9.3% from Rs 3,773 in 2022-23). The MPCE of urban areas is Rs
- to Rs 4,122 (up 9.3% from Rs 3,773 in 2022-23). The MPCE of urban areas is Rs 6,996 (up
#07
Economy
Economy
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
📰 Why in News
Recently, The Central government announced an extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) for another three months until December 2022.
✅ Quick Facts
- About: PMGKAY is a part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to help the poor fight the battle against Covid-19 .
- The scheme aimed at providing each person who is covered under the National Food Security Act 2013 with an additional 5 kg grains (wheat or rice) for…
- It was initially announced for a three-month period (April, May and June 2020), covering 80 crore ration cardholders
- Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance.
- The benefit of the free ration can be availed through portability by any migrant labour or beneficiary under the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)…
- Expensive: It's very expensive for the government to sustain and increases the need for an abundant supply of cheap grains
- Increase Fiscal Deficit: It could pose a risk to the government's target to further narrow the fiscal deficit to 6.4% of gross domestic product.
- Inflation: The decision on the program could also affect inflation
- Integrated Schemes on Oilseeds, Pulses, Palm oil and Maize (ISOPOM)
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- to further narrow the fiscal deficit to 6.4% of gross domestic product. Inflation: The
- of rice and wheat, which make up about 10% of India's retail inflation, are seeing an
#08
Economy
Economy
GST 2.0 with Next-generation Reforms
📰 Why in News
The 56th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council , unveiled GST 2.0 with next-generation reforms to make the tax regime citizen-centric, boost agriculture, health, manufacturing, and improve ease of doing business.
✅ Quick Facts
- The changes in GST rates on services will be implemented with effect from 22 nd September 2025.
- Simplified GST Structure: GST 2.0 replaces four GST slabs (5%
- Tax Relief for the Essential Goods: Full GST exemption on individual life and health insurance policies
- Consumer Goods: GST on small cars, TVs, air conditioners , cement, and auto parts has been reduced from 28% to 18%
- Fertilizer inputs such as sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and ammonia: GST reduced from 18% to 5%.
- Labour-intensive goods like handicrafts, marble, and leather items: GST reduced from 12% to 5%.
- Process reforms for refunds and registration will improve dispute resolution
- About: Introduced by the 101 st Constitutional Amendment Act
- Key Features: Dual GST Structure: Includes Central GST (CGST) and State GST (SGST) ; Integrated GST (IGST) is applicable for inter-state transactions.
- GST Council: It is the primary body for GST policymaking and rate decisions
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- Structure: GST 2.0 replaces four GST slabs (5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%) with a two-slab system
- GST 2.0 replaces four GST slabs (5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%) with a two-slab system ( 5%
- replaces four GST slabs (5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%) with a two-slab system ( 5% (merit rate
- 12%, 18%, and 28%) with a two-slab system ( 5% (merit rate) for essential items and 18%
- 5% (merit rate) for essential items and 18% (standard rate) for others), plus a 40%
- and 18% (standard rate) for others), plus a 40% demerit rate for luxury, sin, and demerit
#09
Economy
Economy
Demographic Winter and India’s Narrowing Demographic Dividend
📰 Why in News
China's population declined for the fourth consecutive year in 2025 , falling by 3.39 million to 1.405 billion , with births hitting a historic low of 7.92 million , signalling a deepening demographic winter .
✅ Quick Facts
- This highlights important lessons for India , which despite being the most populous country, is witnessing a faster-than-expected decline in its…
- China's demographic winter highlights the risks of sustained low fertility and ageing
- India can still convert its youth advantage into economic power through job creation
- Demographic Winter: The Demographic Winter describes a severe
- Reasons for China's Demographic Winter: Legacy of the One-Child Policy (19802015): The policy drastically reduced the number of women of childbearing…
- Marriage registrations have plummeted, directly impacting birth rates since out-of-wedlock births remain culturally and legally difficult in China.
- Inverted Population Pyramid: Fewer births combined with ageing population
- Government spending on healthcare and old-age support rises while tax revenues stagnate or decline.
- Total Fertility Rate (TFR) : TFR represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her reproductive lifespan (1549 years)
- Replacement Level: A TFR of 2.1 is considered the replacement level
📊 Key Numbers & Data
- lower at 1.5 . According to the NFHS-5 (2019-21) , India's TFR has dropped to 2.0 children
- stabilization and decline (expected around 2060-2070). North-South Divide: Southern India
- 60+) will rise sharply from 149 million (10.5%) today to 347 million (20.8%) by 2050 .
- 149 million (10.5%) today to 347 million (20.8%) by 2050 . Without rapid skill development
- overall unemployment is stable at around 4.9% , but youth unemployment (1529 years
- unemployment (1529 years) remains high at 1015% . A large pool of educated yet unemployed
#10
Economy
Economy
Reconstitution of NITI Aayog
📰 Why in News
The Government of India has reconstituted the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) , appointing Ashok Kumar Lahiri as Vice-Chairperson, succeeding Suman K.
✅ Quick Facts
- This overhaul marks a departure from its traditional economist-heavy composition
- The restructuring aligns with NITI Aayog's recent push to improve the "Ease of Doing Research and Development in India." It underscores the necessity…
- About: The NITI Aayog was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet in 2015, replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission
- Cooperative Federalism: Unlike the Planning Commission
- Competitive Federalism: It encourages healthy competition among states to improve their performance across various social and economic sectors (health
- Vice-Chairperson: Appointed directly by the Prime Minister. They enjoy the rank of a Cabinet Minister.
- Governing Council: This is the highest decision-making body
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure, holding the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
- Full-Time Members: Experts from various fields (like economics, science, health, and agriculture).
- Regional Council: To address specific regional issues, Comprising Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors Chaired by the Prime Minister or his nominee.
🏛️ Key Stakeholders
NITI AayogFinance CommissionUnion CabinetPrime Minister
🎯 UPSC Relevance
3. What is the significance of the recent reconstitution of NITI Aayog? It marks a shift towards science
🗞️ Wrap Up — Simple CA Quiz
Simple Current Affairs MCQ — 11 May 2026
10 accessible MCQs covering the same topics · great for quick revision
End your study session with these simpler MCQs to lock in recall of today's current affairs.
