Prelims Current Affairs includes Imf Projects 6.5% Growth For India In 2026, India Slips To Sixth In Imf Gdp Rankings 2025, China Becomes India’s Top Trade Partner In Fy26, India Unemployment Rate Rises To 5.1% In March 2026, Türkiye Outlines ‘Cop Of The Future’ Vision For Cop31, China Plans 120 Km Undersea Bullet Train Tunnel, Sanju Samson Wins Icc Men’s Player Of The Month, Melie Kerr Wins Women’s Award For March 2026, Karnataka High Court Directs State To Implement Menstrual Leave Policy  & Baisakh Pilgrimage Begins As Bijli Mahadev’s Palanquin Reaches Kullu’s Jia Village

ECONOMY

1. IMF PROJECTS 6.5% GROWTH FOR INDIA IN 2026

Current Context: India is set to remain the world’s fastest-growing major economy in 2026, with the IMF projecting a steady GDP growth rate of 6.5 per cent despite global uncertainties.

ABOUT THE IMF PROJECTIONS

• India’s GDP Growth (2027):5%
• India’s Growth (2025):Revised upward to 7.6% (carryover effect)
• Global Growth Estimates:
  • 2026: 3.1%
  • 2027: 3.2%
• Other Countries’ Growth (2026):
  • China: ~4.9%
  • United States: 2.3%
• Key Driver:Strong domestic demand and stable macroeconomic environment
• Key External Risk:Rising oil prices due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia

ECONOMY

2. INDIA SLIPS TO SIXTH IN IMF GDP RANKINGS 2025

Current Context: India has slipped to the sixth position in the global GDP rankings for 2025, according to the latest IMF estimates, impacted by currency fluctuations.

ABOUT THE RANKINGS

• India’s Rank (2025):6th (slipped from 5th in 2024)
• India’s Nominal GDP (2025):~$3.92 trillion

Global GDP Rankings (2025):

• Primary Factor for Slip:Depreciation of Indian Rupee against US Dollar
• Future Projections:
  • India could regain 4th position by 2027 (GDP: $4.58 trillion)
  • India expected to become 3rd largest economy by 2031 (GDP: $6.79 trillion)

ECONOMY

3. CHINA BECOMES INDIA’S TOP TRADE PARTNER IN FY26

Current Context: India’s trade dynamics witnessed a significant shift in FY 2025-26, with China overtaking the US to become India’s largest trading partner.

ABOUT INDIA’S TRADE (FY26)

• Total Trade with China:USD 151.1 billion
• India’s Imports from China:USD 131.63 billion (↑16%)
• India’s Exports to China:USD 19.47 billion (↑36.66%)
• Trade Deficit with China:USD 112.6 billion (all-time high)
• India-US Trade (FY26):
  • Exports to US: USD 87.3 billion (↑0.92%)
  • Imports from US: USD 52.9 billion (↑15.95%)
  • Trade surplus with US: USD 34.4 billion (declined from USD 40.89 billion)
• Historical Context:China was India’s top trading partner between 2013-14 and 2017-18, and again in 2020-21
• US was top trading partner from FY22 to FY25

ECONOMY

4. INDIA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES TO 5.1% IN MARCH 2026

Current Context: India’s unemployment rate climbed to 5.1% in March 2026, the highest level in five months, according to data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

ABOUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT DATA

• Unemployment Rate (March 2026):1% (up from 4.9% in February)
• Urban Unemployment:8% (up from 6.6%)
• Rural Unemployment:3% (up from 4.2%)
• Gender-wise Unemployment:
  • Male: 5.0%
  • Female: 5.3%
• Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR):4% (down from 55.9%)
  • Rural LFPR: 58%
  • Urban LFPR: 50.3%
• Worker Population Ratio (WPR):6% (down from 53.2%)
  • Rural WPR: 55.5%
  • Urban WPR: 46.8%
• Methodology:Current Weekly Status (CWS) – person considered unemployed if they did not work even for one hour during past week but were actively seeking work

ENVIRONMENT

5. TÜRKIYE OUTLINES ‘COP OF THE FUTURE’ VISION FOR COP31

Current Context: The incoming presidency of COP31 to the UNFCCC, led by Türkiye, has unveiled an ambitious roadmap aimed at reshaping global climate governance.

ABOUT COP31

• Venue:Antalya
• Year:2026
• Partnership Model:Türkiye-Australia partnership
  • Türkiye hosts summit and leads Action Agenda
  • Australia spearheads negotiations
  • Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen appointed President of Negotiations
• Vision:“COP of the Future”
• Three Guiding Principles:Dialogue, Consensus, Action
• Action Agenda Sectors:
  • Clean energy transition
  • Circular economy
  • Sustainable agriculture
  • Climate-resilient infrastructure
  • Ocean protection

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

6. CHINA PLANS 120 KM UNDERSEA BULLET TRAIN TUNNEL

Current Context: China is advancing plans for a massive 120-kilometre undersea high-speed rail tunnel across the Bohai Strait, connecting Dalian and Yantai in just 40 minutes.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

• Project Name:Bohai Strait Cross-Sea Channel
• Connection:Dalian (Liaoning province) to Yantai (Shandong province)
• Engineering Challenges:Seabed geology, fault lines, seismic risks, seasonal ice, heavy maritime traffic
• Design Features:Artificial islands and vertical shafts for ventilation, emergency access, construction logistics
• Current Status:Feasibility and evaluation stage
• Comparison:Channel Tunnel between UK and France is one of the longest existing subsea tunnels

SPORTS

7. SANJU SAMSON WINS ICC MEN’S PLAYER OF THE MONTH, MELIE KERR WINS WOMEN’S AWARD FOR MARCH 2026

Current Context: T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Tournament Sanju Samson has been awarded the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March 2026, while New Zealand captain Melie Kerr has won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for the third time.

ABOUT SANJU SAMSON’S PERFORMANCE

• Achievements:Player of the Tournament, Player of the Match awards
• Journey:From backup player to starting XI during Super 8 stage 

ABOUT MELIE KERR’S PERFORMANCE

• Current Ranking: 1 in ICC Women’s T20I All-Rounder rankings

STATE NEWS

8.  KARNATAKA HIGH COURT DIRECTS STATE TO IMPLEMENT MENSTRUAL LEAVE POLICY

Current Context: The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to strictly implement the menstrual leave policy across all sectors, including the unorganized workforce, recognizing it as a fundamental right under Article 21.

ABOUT THE JUDGMENT

• Key Ruling:Menstrual leave recognized as a fundamental right linked to dignity under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution
• Legal Basis:
  • Menstrual leave is not a privilege but a matter of dignity, equality, and humane working conditions
  • Menstruation is a natural biological process
  • Policies supporting women during menstruation uphold right to life and dignity under Article 21
  • Does not violate Article 14 (Right to Equality) – ensures substantive equality by acknowledging biological differences
• Directions to Karnataka Government:
  • Implement menstrual leave policy strictly across all workplaces
  • Extend benefits to unorganized sector (where women are most vulnerable)
  • Ensure uniform enforcement through guidelines, circulars, and administrative steps
• Order Validity:Remains in force until proposed Karnataka Menstrual Leave and Hygiene Bill, 2025 is formally enacted
• Background of Case:
  • Filed by a woman daily wage worker employed at a hotel in Belagavi
  • Existing government notifications (November 2025) provided one day paid menstrual leave in selected industrial establishments
  • Petitioner demanded extension to all sectors including informal jobs

HIMACHAL NEWS

9. BAISAKH PILGRIMAGE BEGINS AS BIJLI MAHADEV’S PALANQUIN REACHES KULLU’S JIA VILLAGE

Current Context: The annual circumambulation of Bijli Mahadev, the revered deity of the Kullu valley, commenced with the deity’s palanquin departing from the temple on Kharal hills and being lowered down using ropes to reach Jia village in Kullu district.

ABOUT THE PILGRIMAGE

• Key Features:
  • Palanquin lowered down hillside using ropes due to steep, treacherous slope
  • Path considered so dangerous that ropes are essential for descent
  • Traditional Bishu fair organized at Bhrain village
  • Three-day fair held at Jia village in honour of deity’s arrival
• Traditions:
  • Women perform traditional Laldi dance
  • Folk music using drums and ‘nagadas’
  • Unique tradition: Deity plays hide-and-seek with village children
• Welcome Ritual:Villagers welcomed Bijli Mahadev with flower garlands, seeking blessings for prosperity

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