Have you been reading the posts? To refresh our memory, here is a list of “Important Definitions” which we learnt last week (Jul 19-Jul 25, 2026). Click HERE to download the PDF of “Important Definitions”.

“Important Definitions” We Learnt Last Week (Jul 19-Jul 25, 2026)

Viksit Bharat (noun) – a vision or goal set by the Government of India to make India a fully developed nation by 2047; developed India.
demonetisation (noun) – the act of stripping a currency unit of its status as legal tender; currency invalidation, note ban.
Goods and Services Tax (noun) – a comprehensive, multi-stage, destination-based indirect tax levied on every value addition in India.
Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) (noun) – financial institutions that offer various banking services but do not have a banking license; shadow banks, non-bank lenders, microfinance institutions.
gross value added (GVA) (noun) – the measure of the value of goods and services produced in an area, industry, or sector of an economy.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (noun) – the total monetary or market value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders; economic output, national income.
Chief Economic Adviser (noun) – a high-ranking government official who advises the government on economic matters and policy.
work participation rate (WPR) (noun) – the percentage of total workers to the total population; workforce ratio, working population percentage.
female WPR (noun) – Female Work Participation Rate; the percentage of women who are actively employed or seeking employment; women’s workforce engagement, female employment ratio.
labour force participation rate (LFPR) (noun) – the section of the working population in the economy currently employed or seeking employment; active workforce ratio, employment participation index.
Make in India (noun) – an initiative by the Government of India to encourage companies to manufacture in India and incentivize dedicated investments into manufacturing.
Performance-Linked Incentives (noun) – a scheme by the Government of India that gives companies incentives on incremental sales from products manufactured in domestic units; output-based subsidies, performance grants.
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) (noun) – the national regulatory body for Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices responsible for the approval and regulation of drugs; national drug regulator.
Qdenga (noun) – a live-attenuated dengue vaccine developed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to protect against all four dengue serotypes; Takeda dengue vaccine, dengue shot.
World Health Organization (WHO) (noun) – a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health; UN health agency, global health body.
Dengvaxia (noun) – the first approved dengue vaccine, developed by Sanofi Pasteur, which faced significant controversy due to safety risks in individuals who had not previously contracted dengue.
DENV-1 (noun) – Dengue virus serotype 1; a distinct variation of the dengue virus; dengue strain 1.
DENV-2 (noun) – Dengue virus serotype 2; one of the four distinct but closely related virus serotypes that cause dengue fever; dengue strain 2.
DENV-3 (noun) – Dengue virus serotype 3; a specific strain of the dengue virus; dengue strain 3.
DENV-4 (noun) – Dengue virus serotype 4; one of the four types of dengue virus; dengue strain 4.
Tetrivalent Immunization against Dengue Efficacy Study (TIDES) trial (noun) – a massive, multi-year Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the long-term efficacy and safety of Takeda’s Qdenga dengue vaccine.
Jantar Mantar (noun) – a historic site and an astronomical observatory in New Delhi, often used as a designated location for public protests and demonstrations in India; protest site, demonstration venue, gathering place.
Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) (noun) – an act of the Parliament of India that amends the Citizenship Act of 1955 to provide a path to Indian citizenship for religious minorities from certain neighboring countries.
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) (noun) – the uniform nomenclature of security forces in India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs, deployed to maintain internal security and border guarding; paramilitary forces.
University Grants Commission (noun) – a statutory body set up by the Government of India for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education; higher education regulator, academic commission, education funding body, university authority.
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) (proper noun) – an all-India pre-medical entrance examination introduced in 2013 for students wishing to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS), and AYUSH courses in government and private institutions across India.
National Testing Agency (NTA) (noun) – an Indian government agency that has been approved by the Union Council of Ministers and established to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions.
Common University Entrance Test (CUET) (noun) – an all-India examination conducted by the NTA for admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate programs in central and other participating universities.
Index of Eight Core Industries (noun) – a monthly production volume index compiled and released by the Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
national accounts (noun) – the official, comprehensive financial records that summarize a country’s economic activity, including GDP, national income, and expenditure.
Consumer Price Index (CPI) (noun) – an economic indicator designed to measure the changes over time in the general level of retail prices of selected goods and services that households purchase for the purpose of consumption; retail inflation index.
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) (noun) – an economic indicator that measures the average change in the prices of commodities for bulk sale at the early stage of transactions in the domestic market; wholesale inflation index.
Index of Industrial Production (IIP) (noun) – an abstract number or composite index that measures the short-term changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products (mining, manufacturing, and electricity) during a given period.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) (noun) – a ministry of the Government of India responsible for collecting, compiling, and disseminating official statistical data, conducting national surveys, and monitoring the implementation of major government programmes and projects.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) (noun) – a ministry of the Government of India responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to commerce, trade, industry, investment, and industrial development.
Houthis (noun) – officially known as Ansar Allah; a Zaydi Shia political and militant group that emerged from Saada in northern Yemen in the 1990s; Ansar Allah, Yemeni rebel group.
Sana’a (noun) – the largest city in Yemen and the capital of the country; Yemeni capital.
Red Sea (noun) – a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia, crucial for global maritime trade.
Strait of Hormuz (noun) – a strategically important strait or narrow strip of water between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Yanbu (noun) – a major Red Sea port city in the Al Madinah Province of western Saudi Arabia; Saudi port city.
Bab-el-Mandeb Strait (noun) – a strait between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
East-West Pipeline (noun) – a 1,200-km pipeline in Saudi Arabia transporting crude oil from the eastern oilfields to the western port of Yanbu.
Persian Gulf (noun) – an arm of the Arabian Sea, between the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Iran.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) (noun) – a youth-led satirical political movement in India that emerged online to organize protests demanding educational reforms and government accountability.
Kejriwal-Anna movement of 2011 (noun) – a significant Indian anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal that galvanized public anger against political graft.
farmers’ protests of 2020-21 (noun) – a major series of protests by Indian farmers against three controversial agricultural laws passed by the government, leading to their eventual repeal; agrarian agitation.
Nirbhaya rape and murder protests of 2012 (noun) – widespread public demonstrations across India demanding stricter laws and justice following a brutal gang rape in Delhi.
Gujarat Navnirman movement (1974) (noun) – a socio-political movement in Gujarat, India, initiated by students and middle-class people against economic crisis and corruption in public life.
JP Movement (1974) (noun) – a massive political movement initiated by veteran leader Jayaprakash Narayan against corruption in the Bihar government, which later expanded to demand the dismissal of the central government.
Teesta Stage-VI (noun) – a 500 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric power project currently under construction on the Teesta river in Sikkim.
National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) (noun) – an Indian public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Power, dedicated to the planning, development, and generation of hydroelectric power.
Teesta basin (noun) – the drainage basin or catchment area of the Teesta River, which flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal.
Teesta (noun) – a major river flowing through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal, known for its extensive hydroelectric projects.
Sonam Wangchuk (noun) – an Indian engineer, innovator, and education reform activist known for undertaking fasts and protests to demand accountability, climate action, and educational reforms; education reformer, social activist, climate campaigner.
three-language formula (noun) – an educational policy in India designed to promote multilingualism by encouraging students to study three languages during their school education.
Aragalaya (noun) – the Sinhalese word for ‘struggle,’ referring to the mass public protests in Sri Lanka in 2022 that led to the resignation of the government over the economic crisis.
Gen Z (noun) – Generation Z; the generation of people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s; The term ‘Gen Z’ refers to individuals born between 1997 and 2012; post-millennials, zoomers.
Nepal’s Gen Z revolt (noun) – a youth-led movement or wave of political dissent in Nepal driven primarily by Generation Z, reflecting growing frustration with the political establishment and demands for reform.
Bangladesh’s student uprising (noun) – a student-led protest movement in Bangladesh driven by demands for political reform, accountability, and social justice, with students playing a central role in challenging government policies.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (noun) – a management concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders; corporate philanthropy.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) (noun) – an instant real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India facilitating inter-bank peer-to-peer and person-to-merchant transactions.
Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) (noun) – an Indian law enacted to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions by individuals or associations to prevent activities detrimental to national interest; foreign funding law.
Foreign Agents Registration Act (noun) – a United States law requiring persons engaged in domestic political or advocacy work on behalf of foreign principals to disclose their relationship and financial compensation.
NITI Aayog (noun) – National Institution for Transforming India; the premier policy think tank of the Government of India providing directional and policy inputs; government think tank.
NGO Darpan (noun) – a platform maintained by NITI Aayog that provides an interface between Voluntary Organizations/NGOs and government departments in India; NGO portal.
Bain-Dasra India Philanthropy Report 2026 (noun) – an annual comprehensive report published collaboratively detailing trends, data, and insights regarding philanthropic giving in India.
FCRA 2.0 (noun) – a proposed or upgraded digital version of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act platform intended to streamline compliance.
Section 80G (noun) – a provision in the Indian Income Tax Act that allows taxpayers to claim deductions for donations made to specified charitable funds; tax exemption clause, charity deduction rule.
Gift Aid (noun) – a UK tax incentive that allows charities to reclaim the basic rate tax paid by the donor on a donation.
80G deduction (noun) – the specific tax benefit claimed under Section 80G for charitable donations; tax write-off, donation rebate, charity deduction.
Social Stock Exchange (noun) – an electronic fundraising platform that allows social enterprises and voluntary organizations to raise capital from investors.
10 Downing Street (noun) – the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister.
Labour Party (noun) – a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom; socialist-leaning party.
Brexit (noun) – the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union; British exit, UK departure from EU, separation, withdrawal.
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) (noun) – an official administrative process conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to thoroughly update, correct, and verify electoral rolls by deleting non-existent voters and adding new eligible citizens.
Annapurna Yojana (noun) – a welfare scheme by the Government of India aimed at providing food security to senior citizens who, though eligible, remain uncovered under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS).
National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) (noun) – a government welfare scheme aimed at providing pensions to destitute senior citizens.
Public Distribution System (PDS) (noun) – a government-sponsored chain of shops entrusted with the work of distributing basic food and non-food commodities to the needy sections of the society at very cheap prices; ration system.
Maniyar Iliyaz @ Shaik Riyaz vs P. Ayyappan (2026) (noun) – a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of India affirming that pedestrians have a fundamental right to safe footpaths.
Article 19(1)(d) of the Constitution of India (noun) – a provision in the Constitution of India guaranteeing all citizens the fundamental right to move freely throughout the territory of India.
Article 21 of the Constitution of India (noun) – a fundamental right in the Indian Constitution guaranteeing the protection of life and personal liberty, which courts interpret to include a safe environment and pedestrian pathways; right to life.
India Physical Activity Profile 2024 (noun) – a dataset outlining the levels of physical exercise and sedentary behavior among the Indian population.
Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (Transport Research Wing) (noun) – a government department in India responsible for formulating and administering rules relating to road transport and research.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) (noun) – an Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data.
European Championship (noun) – the primary association football tournament contested by the senior men’s national teams of UEFA members; Euros.
Ballon d’Or (noun) – an annual football award presented by France Football, honouring the player deemed to have performed best over the previous season; Golden Ball award, world player of the year.
Golden Ball (noun) – an award presented to the best player at a major football tournament, such as the FIFA World Cup.
Golden Boot (noun) – an award presented to the top goalscorer in a football tournament; top scorer award, highest goalscorer prize.
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) (noun) – the international governing body of association football; international football authority.
Chennai Cyber Crime (noun) – the dedicated law enforcement division of the Greater Chennai Police responsible for investigating and combating digital, internet-based, and electronic crimes; cyber police.
IT Act (noun) – Information Technology Act, 2000; the primary law in India dealing with cybercrime and electronic commerce; cyber law.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) (noun) – an annual survey launched by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation to estimate key employment and unemployment indicators in India.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) (noun) – an expendable medium-lift launch vehicle designed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); ISRO launch vehicle.
Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) (noun) – a small-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO to launch smaller satellites into low earth orbit; small launch vehicle, ISRO mini-rocket.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) (noun) – the national space agency of India responsible for the country’s space program and related aerospace research; Indian space agency.
2023 Space Policy (noun) – Indian Space Policy 2023; an overarching policy framework formulated by the Indian government to encourage and formalize the participation of non-governmental entities in the space sector.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) (noun) – an investment made by a firm or individual in one country into business interests located in another country; foreign investment, external funding, cross-border investment, overseas capital.
Space Activities Act (noun) – a proposed or enacted national legislation designed to regulate and promote private and commercial space activities, outline liabilities, and provide a legal framework for space operations; national space law.
India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) (noun) – a proposed bilateral free trade agreement between India and the United Kingdom aimed at reducing tariffs, enhancing market access, and boosting economic cooperation across various sectors.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (noun) – a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, promoting intergovernmental cooperation and facilitating economic integration; Southeast Asian bloc.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) (noun) – businesses that fall under defined limits of investment and turnover, playing a crucial role in employment generation and economic growth; small businesses, small-scale industries, medium enterprises.
Double Contribution Convention (noun) – a social security agreement between two countries aimed at avoiding double taxation on social security contributions for cross-border workers, ensuring they don’t pay social security in both their home and host countries.