GST 2.0. Explained for UPSC 2026

https://youtu.be/MbvH3N2xknY?si=B39LgGzSOjkNHP8r

WTO - Fisheries subsidies pact & China’s waiver of SDT

Comprehensive explanation for UPSC CSE 2026 Prelims & Mains

https://youtu.be/hOIpZorHBMs?si=o_2DocDvvRoh7OLz

India is transitioning its stance on stablecoins to preparing for formal engagement, as highlighted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s statement about the need to engage with assets such as stablecoins.
• There are three main types of stablecoins: fiat-backed (e.g., USDT, USDC), crypto-backed (e.g., DAI), and algorithmic, each with differing mechanisms for maintaining price stability and varying degrees of risk.
• Stablecoins are part of a broader modernization of financial infrastructure, offering benefits like instant cross-border settlement, lower remittance costs, and new opportunities for decentralized financial services within India’s growing fintech landscape.
• Globally, regulatory frameworks are emerging—such as the EU’s MiCA and the US GENIUS Act—aimed at ensuring stablecoins are transparent, well-backed, and integrated safely into traditional finance. India is considering similar approaches to balance innovation with financial stability.
• The article foresees that interoperable digital assets like stablecoins, integrated with technologies such as UPI and Aadhaar, will fundamentally redefine payment systems by making money movement faster, more inclusive, and machine-speed efficient, bridging gaps between banks, blockchains, and algorithms.

Capital Formation
Capital formation refers to the process of building up the capital stock of a country through investing in productive plants and equipment, infrastructure, and other assets that increase the production capacity and economic growth of an economy.

Key Points from the Article
- The article argues that it is urgent for Indian private capital to focus on domestic investment rather than seeking quick returns overseas, especially in an uncertain global environment with trade disruptions and shrinking export demand.
- Historically, public investment by the Indian government has driven growth, but now private sector investment is lagging behind despite high profits, which hampers job creation and inclusive economic progress.
- There is a need for private capital to align with national priorities, including manufacturing, innovation, regional development, and sectors such as green energy, digital infrastructure, and R&D, in order to make India globally competitive.
- The article highlights that India's GDP growth above 7%, strong foreign reserves, and large-scale public investment have created a foundation for a potential economic leap, but sustained long-term growth depends on ramping up domestic private investment moving forward.

- The path ahead requires Indian business houses to collaborate closely with the government, adapt to changing global realities, and channel private sector funds into domestic opportunities to ensure resilient, inclusive, and innovati

Gold Monetisation Scheme
Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) refers to an initiative by the Government of India that aims to mobilise the gold held by households and institutions and put it into productive use, reducing the country’s reliance on gold imports, and enabling depositors to earn interest on their gold accounts.

Key Points from the Article
• The article highlights Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) as a central part of India’s story, especially in the context of financial resilience; recent global uncertainties strengthen the case for mobilising India’s vast domestic wealth.
• Despite Indian households holding nearly 25,000 tonnes of gold (worth over half of India’s GDP), the country remains one of the largest importers of gold, with imports causing a significant trade deficit—presenting both a challenge and an opportunity.
• The author calls for a revitalised, trust-based gold monetisation scheme, which can integrate household gold into the formal economic system, lowering the cost of capital and fostering sustainable domestic growth.
• For effective gold monetisation, three essentials are needed: strong infrastructure (hallmarking and purity-testing centres), robust logistics (secure bank-led collection and movement), and digitalisation (allowing households to transparently track gold holdings and earnings)
• The article concludes that mobilising household gold can reinforce India’s financial self-reliance, creating a vast pool of domestic capital for investment, infrastructure, and innovation, thus enabling India to define its own growth trajectory

Best way to make Notes for UPSC CSE Aspirants

https://youtu.be/2tkxoX-gNT8?si=8NHDYEWEjiFbeqYo

Watch this session to save your time in notes making and learn from my experience of more than 15 years in UPSC CSE field

Key Points
The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed recently marks a bipartisan consensus in the UK and sets a broad framework for cooperation, including trade reaching an expected $110 billion by 2030 and increasing bilateral trade to $26 billion. It promotes competitive market access and duty-free exports for Indian goods.

Economic cooperation covers goods, services, IT, financial and professional services, and mutual recognition of qualifications, especially in engineering and education sectors. The agreement supports Indian startups and SMEs with easier market access in the UK.

Defense cooperation includes a new roadmap for collaboration in design, production of defense technologies, and joint exercises, enhancing security ties amid geopolitical uncertainties.

The education partnership envisions growing Indian student numbers in UK universities, scholarship and young professional schemes, and mutual recognition of academic qualifications to boost talent exchange.

Cultural and people-to-people ties are emphasized through film co-production, creative industries growth, and easing visa opportunities for skilled professionals, reinforcing the historical connections and future collaboration.

UPSC Key Term
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) - An accord between countries to reduce or eliminate trade barriers like tariffs, quotas, and import restrictions, thereby promoting freer flow of goods and services and enhancing economic cooperation.