Current Affairs 16 July 2026

In short

  • Cabinet approves Census 2027 with ₹11,718 crore allocation
  • India-UK free trade agreement comes into effect

…and 6 more stories on DEFENCE, POLITY, DIPLOMACY, SPORTS.

Top stories

GOVERNANCE

Cabinet approves Census 2027 with ₹11,718 crore allocation

The Union Cabinet approved the conduct of Census of India 2027 at an estimated cost of ₹11,718.24 crore. This is a major administrative exercise with implications for policy planning, welfare delivery, delimitation-related debates, and population data updates. The census will be one of the most important government exercises in the coming years because it provides the baseline for multiple social and economic indicators. The approval also signals that preparations for the next national enumeration are formally underway. For competitive exams, the announcement is important because census-related facts are frequently tested. The financial outlay and timing are the key details likely to be remembered. The decision also has relevance to governance and federal planning.

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Which year has the Union Cabinet approved for conducting the next Census of India?

ECONOMY

India-UK free trade agreement comes into effect

The India-UK comprehensive trade pact took effect, marking a major development in bilateral economic relations. The agreement cuts tariffs on thousands of goods and expands access for services firms and professionals in both markets. It is expected to improve the competitiveness of Indian exports to the United Kingdom. The pact also opens digital service delivery more fully and provides gains for global capability centres operating from India. A double contribution convention is part of the package and is intended to reduce costs for workers and employers. The implementation is important for exam preparation because India’s free trade agreements are frequently tested in current affairs. The agreement has both trade and strategic significance.

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The India-UK trade pact primarily affects which of the following?

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