India's Gross Goods and Services Tax Collections Reach ₹2.31 Lakh Crore in October 2026
Key Updates:
- India's gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose 22.9% year-on-year to ₹2,31,290 crore in October 2026.
- The October 2026 collection is the second-highest monthly figure recorded since the implementation of the GST regime in July 2017.
- Import-linked GST collections increased by 42.2% year-on-year to ₹72,246 crore.
- Collections from domestic transactions grew by 15.8% to reach ₹1,59,044 crore.
- Net GST collections for October 2026 stood at ₹2,03,356 crore after accounting for refunds of ₹27,934 crore.
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Gross GST collections stood at ₹2,03,521 crore in September 2026, up 14.7% year-on-year from ₹1,77,365 crore in September 2025. Net GST revenue after refunds rose 18.1% to ₹1,76,520 crore in September 2026, from…
Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue rose 14.8% year-on-year to ₹1,99,853 crore in August 2026. Net GST revenue after refunds increased 8.3% to ₹1,68,057 crore in August 2026.
Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose 15.4% year-on-year to ₹2.11 lakh crore in July 2026. Domestic GST revenue increased 10.1% to ₹1.45 lakh crore, while GST on imports surged 28.8% to ₹66,511 crore.
Reserve Bank of India reports record $239.2 billion net short dollar forward position for September
Key Updates:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recorded an outstanding net short dollar position of $239.2 billion in the forward market at the end of September.
- The net short position increased from $200.06 billion reported at the end of August.
- Net shorts with a maturity exceeding one year rose to $199 billion, while those in the three-month to one-year tenor reached $13.22 billion.
- The rise in net short positions was driven by a special concessional swap window for Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) (FCNR(B)) deposits, which was operational until September 11.
- Banks mobilised $133 billion in FCNR(B) deposits through the special swap window.
- The 12-month dollar-rupee forward premium rose to 4.57 per cent in October, compared to 3.36 per cent at the end of September.
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The Reserve Bank of India recorded a record net purchase of $43.26 billion in the spot foreign exchange market during August. Foreign exchange reserves did not increase due to the central bank simultaneously undertaking…
India's foreign exchange reserves fell by $1.269 billion to $719.748 billion, according to the RBI data reported on October 30, 2026. The reserves had previously reached an all-time high of $785.706 billion for the week…
India's banking system deposits hit a record ₹284 trillion (about $2.99 trillion) in the second half of September, as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data. The RBI's discounted dollar swap window, announced in June to…
India's foreign exchange reserves declined by $5.011 billion to $721.016 billion in the week ended October 16, according to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data released on Friday. In the previous reporting week, reserves…
Ministry of Coal Reports 5.83% Reduction in India's Total Coal Imports for August 2026
Key Updates:
- India's total coal imports fell by 5.83% to 104.57 million tonnes (MT) in August 2026, compared to 111.05 MT in August 2025.
- Coal imports by the power sector decreased by 6.39%, dropping from 22.77 MT in August 2025 to 21.32 MT in August 2026.
- Imports for blending at domestic coal-based (DCB) power plants declined by 35.23%, falling to 3.00 MT in August 2026 from 4.64 MT in August 2025.
- Imports by imported coal-based (ICB) power plants saw a marginal increase of 0.98%, rising to 18.31 MT in August 2026 from 18.13 MT in August 2025.
- The share of imported coal in India's total coal consumption decreased by 1.90 percentage points to 19.30% in August 2026, down from 21.20% in August 2025.
- Coking coal imports decreased by 4.18%, from 28.49 MT in August 2025 to 27.30 MT in August 2026.
- The Ministry of Coal (MoC) is coordinating with the Ministry of Railways and Coal India Limited (CIL) to enhance domestic coal supply and infrastructure.
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Indian Railways achieved an all-time high coal loading record with 22.5% growth in October 2026 (up to 18th) compared with the corresponding period last year. Coal loading increased by 87 rakes per day over October 2025…
Outward remittances under RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme exceed $20 billion in January-August 2026
Key Updates:
- Outward remittances under the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) crossed $20 billion during January-August 2026, reaching approximately $20.09 billion against $19.08 billion in the same period of 2025, a rise of 5.26%.
- The RBI's LRS allows resident individuals to remit up to $250,000 in a financial year for permitted current and capital account transactions.
- Travel was the largest LRS component with $10.96 billion in January-August 2026, up from $10.67 billion a year earlier.
- Investments in overseas equity and debt instruments rose 86% to $2.61 billion during the eight months ended August 2026, from $1.40 billion a year ago.
- In August 2026, travel remittances of $1,630.26 million accounted for nearly 60% of total outward remittances of $2,738.58 million, with investments at $321.53 million and maintenance of close relatives at $275.43 million.
- Education-related travel remittances nearly doubled from $450.16 million in March 2026 to $855.52 million in August 2026, while other travel remittances rose from $623.05 million to $713.80 million over the same period.
- In FY 2025-26, travel remittances totalled $16.438 billion, followed by maintenance of close relatives at $3.539 billion and equity and debt investments at $2.652 billion.
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Outward remittances by resident Indians rose to USD 2.7 billion in August 2026 from USD 2.6 billion in July, according to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data collated by 1Lattice. Travel remained the largest component of…
India's outward remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) rose around 1 per cent month on month to USD 2.6 billion in July 2026, according to a 1Lattice analysis based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data.…
GST Council Clears 5% Tax on E-commerce Delivery Services Effective 1 November 2026
Key Updates:
- The GST Council, at its 57th meeting on 8 October 2026, recommended a 5% GST rate without input tax credit (ITC) on delivery services for goods supplied through electronic commerce operators, reduced from the earlier 18%.
- The Central Government issued Notification No. 09/2026-Central Tax (Rate) on 27 October, with the revised treatment effective from 1 November 2026.
- The 5% rate excludes postal and courier services, and under Sections 9(5) and 22(1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, the electronic commerce operator must pay the GST when the delivery service provider is not liable to register.
- On 28 October, the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) asked the Finance Ministry to defer implementation until 1 January 2027, citing time needed to update technology, billing, accounting and tax systems, and sought consultation with e-commerce operators and logistics providers.
- The GST Council includes the Union finance minister and state counterparts, and recommends tax rates, rules and regulations.
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The 57th GST Council meeting held on October 8 approved GST reforms covering registration, returns, refunds and post-supply discounts, to be implemented in phases from November 1, 2026. Small e-commerce sellers with…
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) notified changes in Central GST rules allowing small e-commerce sellers to declare an e-commerce operator's warehouse in another state or Union Territory as their…
The 57th GST Council has recommended extending e-invoicing to imported services and purchases from unregistered suppliers under the reverse charge mechanism, applying to businesses with an annual turnover of ₹5 crore or…
The 57th Meeting of the GST Council was held on 8 October 2026 in New Delhi under the chairpersonship of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The GST Council recommended complete withdrawal of…
Sebi plans to delist firms with no economic activity and deploy AI-based surveillance to protect penny stock investors
Key Updates:
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is working to delist companies with no economic activity from stock exchanges to protect investors, particularly penny stock investors, as these firms pose a potential danger and could enable market manipulation.
- Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced the delisting efforts on Saturday in Kolkata.
- Pandey said such companies are used in pump and dump operations by manipulators and their continued listing could expose investors to risks through social media groups.
- Sebi is planning to use an artificial intelligence-based system to monitor companies with minimal economic activity and generate faster alerts, and is already using AI techniques to track and scrutinise such accounts.
- Penny stocks are typically priced below Rs 10 or Rs 20, attracting investors with limited stock market knowledge who risk losing money when prices correct.
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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is working with Google to introduce verified badges on the Google Play Store to help identify genuine SEBI-related apps. SEBI has launched a WhatsApp channel on investor…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) notified a Common Advertisement Code (CAC) for market intermediaries through a notification dated October 8. The CAC applies to regulated entities including stock…
Supreme Court Asks Reserve Bank of India to Frame Mandatory Rules Against Digital Arrest Fraud
Key Updates:
- A three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, pulled up the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for soft pedalling on digital arrest fraud, described as the biggest financial fraud on the economy running into thousands of crores of rupees.
- The Supreme Court proposed directing that banks compensate victims of digital arrest fraud and face prosecution where failure of due diligence on their part resulted in the fraud.
- The Supreme Court sought a mandatory RBI provision requiring banks to suspend unusual transactions in an individual's account unless a complete verification protocol is followed.
- Attorney General R Venkataramani informed the court that the RBI was in advanced stages of operationalising guidelines to prevent digital arrest frauds, which would take effect by December 2026.
- Amicus curiae N S Nappinai informed the court of a digital arrest case in the previous week in which a person lost Rs 2.5 crore, and the court sought inputs from state police on prevention and prosecution of such cases.
- Prevention measures are being implemented at three levels: awareness, bank intervention, and RBI and MeitY rules, with operation targeted by December 2026.
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The Supreme Court directed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to frame a standard operating procedure (SOP) within four weeks for dealing with mule bank accounts used to launder cyber fraud proceeds. The court directed all…
UPI average daily transaction value tops ₹1 trillion for the first time in October on festive spending
Key Updates:
- The average daily value of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions crossed ₹1 trillion for the first time in October 2026, with UPI recording 25.47 billion transactions worth ₹31.53 trillion and a record average daily volume of 822 million transactions.
- October 2026 volumes rose around 23 per cent from 20.7 billion transactions in October 2025, while transaction value grew 16 per cent from ₹27.27 trillion, boosted by festival shopping, Navratri and online sales.
- Transaction value grew slower year-on-year than volumes partly because Dhanteras and Diwali fell in November 2026, unlike October 2025; September recorded 24.06 billion transactions worth ₹29.37 trillion and August recorded 24.5 billion payments worth ₹29.82 trillion.
- After months of shrinking average payment sizes, September and October saw transaction value grow faster than volumes, raising the average payment size for two consecutive months.
- As of September, 756 banks were live on UPI.
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The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will introduce a 0.4 per cent merchant discount rate (MDR) on specified UPI person-to-merchant payments above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. For high-value merchant…
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has emerged as the world's largest real-time payment system, processing nearly 80 crore transactions a day. UPI handles more than…
India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed 24.07 billion transactions worth ₹29.37 lakh crore in September, with average daily transactions crossing 800 million for the first time, according to data shared by…
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched on August 25, 2016, completing a decade of operations in 2026. UPI was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the regulatory oversight of…
Coal India achieves record October coal supplies above 70 MT with all-time-high power-sector deliveries
Key Updates:
- Coal India (CIL) supplied 70.3 mt of coal in October, crossing the 70-mt monthly mark for the first time, a 19 per cent rise over the 59.2 mt supplied in the corresponding month last year.
- The previous CIL monthly supply record was 69.4 mt, achieved in March.
- CIL's supplies to the power sector hit an all-time monthly high of 57.1 mt, up 19 per cent from 48 mt in October 2025 and surpassing the previous record of 56.5 mt recorded in May 2024.
- CIL's coal production in October stood at 67.2 mt, the highest ever for the month in any financial year, about 19 per cent higher than 56.38 mt produced in October last year and above the previous October record of 62.47 mt achieved in 2024.
- CIL recorded an average power-sector railway loading of 310 rakes per day in October, the highest monthly average in its history; the loading last crossed the 300-rake mark in March 2025 at 302.8 rakes per day.
- CIL subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields crossed the 20-mt monthly supply mark for the first time in October.
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Indian Railways achieved an all-time high coal loading record with 22.5% growth in October 2026 (up to 18th) compared with the corresponding period last year. Coal loading increased by 87 rakes per day over October 2025…
Central Government Amends Import Regulations for Pharmaceutical Products
Key Updates:
- The Central Government brought the Drugs (Thirteenth Amendment) Rules, 2026 into force on 28 October 2026.
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued the amendment to Rule 31 of the Drugs Rules, 1945.
- Most imported drugs now require a minimum of 12 months of residual shelf life on the date of import.
- Biological drugs and radiopharmaceuticals are permitted for import if at least 60% of their labelled shelf life remains.
- The final amendment was formulated following consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and public feedback.
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The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has asked all state and Union Territory drug control bodies to mandate testing of raw materials and finished formulations by manufacturers under their jurisdiction.…
Government extends investment deadlines for Pharma MSMEs under Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme
Key Updates:
- The government has granted Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the pharmaceutical sector an additional year to complete their investment commitments under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
- Companies are now required to complete their promised investments by the end of the 2026-27 financial year (FY27).
- The deadlines for meeting each of the earlier investment milestones have been extended by one financial year.
- The pharma PLI scheme was launched with a total financial outlay of Rs 15,000 crore to promote domestic manufacturing of high-value medicines and reduce import dependency.
- As of June 2026, the scheme has attracted Rs 46,744 crore in actual investment and generated 1.21 lakh jobs.
- A total of 55 companies, including 20 MSMEs, have been selected as beneficiaries under the scheme.
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The Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers announced a New Discovery Track under the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma & MedTech (PRIP) Scheme for startups and MSMEs in…
The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has constituted a three-member committee to examine the effectiveness of the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), including oversight and enforcement…
The Commerce and Industry Ministry announced that ₹36,754 crore has been disbursed to beneficiary companies under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes as on June 30, 2026. Launched in 2020 for 14 key sectors…
Digital Bharat Nidhi Signs Agreement with Tamil Nadu and TANFINET for BharatNet Use under Amended BharatNet Program
Key Updates:
- Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications signed a Utilisation Agreement with the Government of Tamil Nadu and Tamil Nadu FibreNet Corporation (TANFINET) for use of the BharatNet network in Tamil Nadu under the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP), at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi on 30 October 2026.
- The agreement covers Government of India financial subsidy support for over 5 lakh rural home fibre connections in Tamil Nadu and on-demand connectivity to 4,767 villages.
- The Union Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Program on 4 August 2023 to upgrade, consolidate and expand BharatNet for broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats and villages on demand.
- Digital Bharat Nidhi, the erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), was established under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 effective 01.04.2002, and renamed DBN under The Telecommunications Act, 2023; it is an attached office of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
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Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) signed an agreement for implementation of the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) in Chhattisgarh under the state-led model. The agreement was signed between DBN, Department of Telecommunications…
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications signed a five-way agreement with the Government of Maharashtra, MahaNet Digital Infrastructure Limited (MDIL), BSNL and Maharashtra Information…
Digi Yatra Launches International Passenger Trials at Seven Indian Airports for 2027 Rollout
Key Updates:
- Digi Yatra has commenced trials for international passengers at seven airports — Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar — running from November to December 2026.
- Eligible Indian nationals holding e-passports can use Digi Yatra on select international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo at terminal entry points, Security Hold Areas and boarding gates.
- Passengers must create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential through the Digi Yatra app by scanning the passport's Machine Readable Zone, reading the chip via NFC, capturing a selfie and verifying details; the facility complements, and does not replace, existing travel and immigration processes.
- Feedback from the trials will inform a wider rollout planned for 2027.
- The Digi Yatra platform has over 26.5 million users and has enabled more than 110 million journeys across 39 domestic airports, with 25 more domestic airports planned by 2027.
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Digi Yatra is initiating international passenger trials at seven Indian airports, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai, and Amritsar, starting November 1, 2026. The trials enable eligible Indian…
Punjab Transfers ₹1,291 Crore to Over 37.43 Lakh Women Under Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna
Key Updates:
- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that ₹1,291 crore was transferred directly into the bank accounts of over 37.43 lakh women under the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, taking total disbursement under the scheme to ₹3,934.80 crore.
- Registrations for 80.05 lakh women were completed as of October 29, 2026, against a target of one crore beneficiaries, with 1,37,723 Satkar Sakhis assisting the registration drive.
- The next instalment will be transferred on December 1, followed by a payment on January 1 covering three months of assistance, and the scheme is expected to involve annual financial assistance of ₹12,000 crore.
- There are no household-based restrictions on the benefit, and every eligible woman can register independently even if multiple eligible beneficiaries belong to the same family.
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EPFO Introduces WhatsApp Services and Automated Settlement for Small Inoperative Accounts
Key Updates:
- Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya launched Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) services on WhatsApp.
- Subscribers can access their Provident Fund (PF) balance, the latest five transactions, and passbook information through the verified WhatsApp service.
- The EPFO initiated the automatic settlement of Aadhaar-verified inoperative EPF accounts with balances up to Rs 1,000.
- The automatic settlement process removes the requirement for subscribers to file individual claims for these accounts.
- Approximately one lakh accounts involving a total of Rs 5 crore are expected to benefit from the automatic settlement initiative.
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The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is developing guidelines to facilitate investments in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and startups. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) discussed…
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launched an official WhatsApp channel to give members and pensioners updates on provident fund developments, scheme alerts, and important announcements. The channel works…
Government notifies airfare rules under Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026, effective from January 1, 2027
Key Updates:
- The Centre has notified airfare rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026, which will come into force on January 1, 2027.
- Under Rule 192, the Central government may issue written directions on airline tariffs during extraordinary situations, provided such directions are proportionate and limited to a specified period; the rules do not prescribe a fare ceiling or require prior government approval of fares.
- Air transport undertakings must establish tariffs based on factors including cost of operation, submit them to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in the specified form and periodicity, and publish them on their websites or another digital platform; the DGCA will monitor the tariffs.
- The rules require the total amount payable to be shown on both the booking website and the ticket, with a complete break-up of fare, taxes, fees, cancellation charges, refund conditions and other charges.
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Under the new airfare rules, the Centre may cap unjustified airfares on individual routes only in exceptional circumstances deemed necessary in the public interest, with no general airfare cap envisaged. Airlines must…
Indian Navy Begins Carrier Trials as Rafale Marine Jet Lands on INS Vikrant for First Time
Key Updates:
- A Rafale Marine fighter jet landed on India's indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant for the first time on October 29, 2026, succeeding on its maiden attempt, as confirmed by the Indian Navy.
- The ongoing sea trials mark the first major step toward operationalising the French-origin Rafale Marine aircraft within the Indian Navy's carrier aviation wing.
- Before the deck landing, the Navy conducted simulated flight trials at the Shore-Based Test Facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa in Goa, which replicates the ski-jump ramp system used on Indian carriers.
- The Rafale Marine, built by Dassault Aviation, is designed for France's Charles de Gaulle carrier (CATOBAR), while India's INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya use the STOBAR ski-jump launch and arrestor-wire recovery configuration.
- The evaluation program focuses on validating the jet's STOBAR takeoff and landing margins, deck-handling protocols, hangar clearances, and lift compatibility for its 10.9-metre wingspan.
- India signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement with France on April 28, 2025, to procure 26 Rafale Marine aircraft at an estimated cost of ₹63,000 crore.
- The order comprises 22 single-seat combat fighters and four twin-seat trainers, with deliveries scheduled to conclude by 2030.
- The deal includes weapons suites, simulators, training in France and India, MRO facilities, fuselage fabrication in India, and technology transfer for integrating indigenous weapons.
- Once inducted, the Rafale Marine fleet will operate from INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, boosting the Navy's long-range maritime strike and fleet air defence capabilities across the Indian Ocean region.
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The Indian Navy is conducting trials of the French-made Rafale-Marine fighter in Goa to assess its suitability for Indian aircraft carriers. India and France signed an agreement in April 2025 for the procurement of 26…
Hical Technologies signed an MoU with Safran Aerosystems on October 7, 2026, to explore a joint venture for manufacturing complex systems for the Dassault Rafale programme in India. The proposed joint venture would…
Quad commits $10 million for critical minerals recycling in India and ASEAN at Atlanta foreign ministers' meeting
Key Updates:
- The Quad foreign ministers of India, the United States, Japan and Australia met in Atlanta, Georgia on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Summit, attended by Dr S Jaishankar, Marco Rubio, Toshimitsu Motegi and Penny Wong.
- The United States committed $10 million to support critical minerals recycling initiatives in India and ASEAN member states.
- The Quad committed over $85 million in technical and financial assistance to support access to trusted Super Intelligence across the Indo-Pacific, including through the Quad Super Intelligence Accelerator.
- The second Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer mission sailed from Chennai, India to Perth, Australia from September 25 to October 7 aboard an Indian Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel to strengthen maritime interoperability.
- The Quad plans to hold its first exercise under the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration initiative at Sea Dragon 2027, announced in May in New Delhi.
- The ministers reiterated that the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework, announced in May 2026, strengthens cooperation on critical mineral supply chains.
- This comes over a year after the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved a Rs 1,500 crore incentive scheme under the National Critical Mineral Mission to develop recycling capacity for critical minerals from secondary sources.
- This was the third Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the year, after earlier meetings in New Delhi and Manila.
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Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy launched the Critical Minerals Innovation Hackathon 2026 (CMiH 2026). The hackathon aims to strengthen the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission by…
The Ministry of Mines organised a roadshow for the 8th tranche of critical and strategic mineral block auctions in Patna, Bihar, on August 17, 2026. The 8th tranche includes 20 mineral blocks, comprising 3 Mining Lease…
Canada and European Union Establish Alliance for the Future at Montreal Summit
Key Updates:
- Canada and the European Union (EU) launched the Alliance for the Future during a two-day summit held in Montreal.
- Canada committed to contributing €500 million to the EU-led Ukraine Support Loan for the 2026–2027 period.
- The Canadian government announced a stake worth up to C$1.6bn in the artificial intelligence company Cohere Inc.
- Canada and the EU reached an agreement to integrate Canada into the European supercomputing network to facilitate AI model training.
- Leaders discussed the potential for Canada to become an associate member of the EU, with a clearer scope for this designation expected at a 2027 summit.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to become the first-ever 'associate member' of the European Union (EU), speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the European Parliament…
India Names Artificial Intelligence and Maritime Security as Key Priorities in Its 2028–29 UN Security Council Candidature
Key Updates:
- India has identified artificial intelligence (AI) and maritime security as important priorities for its candidature for a non-permanent UN Security Council seat for the 2028–2029 term, with the election to be held next year, stated India's Permanent Representative P Harish.
- P Harish made the statement at a UN Security Council open debate on 'Emerging Technologies and Maritime Security: Implications for Peace and Security', convened by Greece as Council president and chaired by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Greece's Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis had co-chaired a high-level discussion on AI and maritime security last month, which India said was an opportunity to build upon.
- India's Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), set up in 2018, is hosted by the Indian Navy near New Delhi and has 12 partners, demonstrating cooperation and information-sharing in maritime security.
- India's maritime cooperation is guided by the vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), and India condemned attacks on commercial vessels, reaffirming freedom of navigation and safety of seafarers under international law.
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The inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise is being conducted from October 30 to November 3, 2026, marking a milestone in maritime cooperation among BIMSTEC member states. The exercise brings together Bangladesh…
The 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) concluded on October 26, 2026, at Visakhapatnam. The exercise strengthened maritime cooperation and operational engagement between the…
New Delhi to Host CGIAR Science and Partnership Week 2027 at Yashobhoomi from April 12-17
Key Updates:
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and CGIAR announced on 30 October 2026 that New Delhi will host the CGIAR Science and Partnership Week 2027 from 12 to 17 April at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, with ICRISAT as the host centre.
- This is the second edition of the event; the first CGIAR Science Week was held in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2025, and over 5,000 delegates are expected in New Delhi.
- India will push South-South cooperation, especially with Africa; ten CGIAR research centres work in India and the India-CGIAR partnership spans over 50 years.
- The announcement was made by Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary DARE and Director General of ICAR, and Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR.
- CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership of 15 centres working in over 100 countries, formed in 1971, with its System Organization headquartered in Montpellier, France.
- Event themes include climate-resilient and digital agriculture, AgriStack, mechanisation, millets, natural farming, water, soil health and public-private partnerships.
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India and Ghana signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi and the Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), Accra, covering joint agricultural…
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), based in Ames, Iowa, and India's National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), based in New Delhi, signed a five-year memorandum of understanding on Oct.…
Strong El Niño Drives India's Third-Warmest October Since 1901 With Record Day Temperatures
Key Updates:
- India recorded its third-warmest October since 1901, after 2024 and 1951, with an average monthly temperature of 26.6°C, about 0.94°C above normal.
- Average day-time temperatures in October hit an all-time record for the month at nearly 32.4°C, 1.06°C above normal, the highest since 1901, driven partly by a strong El Niño per India Meteorological Department chief Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra.
- The southern peninsula recorded its highest average day and night October temperatures since 1901, with its five warmest Octobers occurring in the last 15 years.
- The strong El Niño is likely to peak in November and its conditions are expected to last until spring next year, with the IMD predicting above-normal day and night temperatures in November except parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
- October ended with a rainfall deficit of nearly 31% below the long-term average, despite very severe cyclonic storm 'Arnab' hitting the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28 and moving towards Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.
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Tropical peatland fires are slow-burning, highly polluting, and difficult to extinguish because they smolder at low temperatures and burn underground through expansive peat deposits. Peat fires generate three times more…
September 2026 was the second-warmest September ever recorded globally, with the global-average surface air temperature at 16.27°C, 0.82°C above the 1991–2020 average and 0.11°C cooler than September 2023, according to…
IN-SPACe Extends Rs 67.15 Crore Funding Offers to Four Space Startups for Indigenous Technology Development
Key Updates:
- The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) selected four more space startups for funding offers totalling Rs 67.15 crore under its Technology Adoption Fund (TAF), taking the total number of companies under the fund to seven.
- The four selected startups are Maharashtra-based Manastu Space, Inspecity Space Laboratories, MumbaiSemi and Bengaluru-based VyomIC.
- Manastu Space was offered Rs 22.08 crore to develop an iodine-based hall effect thruster for small satellites that eliminates the need for high-pressure tanks.
- Inspecity Space Laboratories was offered Rs 21.18 crore to develop a refuellable six-degree-of-freedom propulsion system for microsatellites to support flexible manoeuvring and in-space servicing.
- VyomIC was offered Rs 12.55 crore to develop highly stable and secure clocks for space applications.
- MumbaiSemi was offered Rs 11.34 crore to develop an indigenous multi-channel NavIC and GPS receiver system-on-chip (SoC) integrating RF and digital components.
- IN-SPACe's first TAF selection in June included Astrobase Space Technologies, SatSure Analytics India and TM2SPACE Technologies for work on launch vehicle propulsion, Earth observation analytics and satellite navigation systems.
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The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), signed an agreement with M/s Manastu Space Technologies Private Limited for ₹116 crore under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI)…
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) issued guidelines dated September 17, 2026, under the Indian Space Policy-2023 for hosted payloads, requiring authorisation for Indian payloads on…
Saffron flowers within a record 30 days in experimental cultivation on restored barren land in Leh
Key Updates:
- Experimental saffron cultivation on restored barren land at Spituk Pharka in Leh produced its first flowers within a record 30 days of planting, compared with the usual two-month period for first bloom.
- Around 90,000 premium Iranian saffron corms weighing nearly 800 kg were planted across approximately 4,000 square metres of previously barren land as part of Project Him Sarovar, a degraded land restoration initiative.
- Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena inspected the field on Sunday, reporting 20 to 25 flowers blooming daily on average, with 72 flowers recorded on Sunday morning and nearly 22 grams of saffron collected in the first four days of flowering.
- Water from the restored Igoo-Phey irrigation canal is being channelled to the area to improve soil moisture and support cultivation.
- Jammu and Kashmir accounts for nearly 90 per cent of India's saffron production, making the Ladakh experiment a significant attempt to grow the crop beyond its traditional areas.
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Ladakh has established the world’s highest-altitude flower cultivation project across 40 acres in Choglamsar and Stakna, Leh. The project features a total of 25 lakh flowers, consisting of 24 lakh Lilium and one lakh…
India's indigenous B28 bullet train undergoes vehicle body shell 'squeeze test' at BEML Bengaluru
Key Updates:
- India's first indigenous high-speed train, B28 (Bharat 28), has undergone the vehicle body shell 'squeeze test' at BEML's production facility in Bengaluru to verify the car body can withstand heavy external forces without excessive deformation in a collision.
- The central PSU BEML is manufacturing the first two indigenous bullet trains, each comprising eight coaches.
- The trains are designed for an operating speed of 249 kmph and a testing speed of 275 kmph.
- Trial runs of B28 are planned on the 100-km Surat-Vapi section of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai High Speed Rail corridor by May-June 2027, with commercial operations on this stretch scheduled to begin in August 2027.
- Two prototype trains are expected to be ready for trial runs in the first quarter of 2027; the entire Gujarat section of the corridor is expected to be completed by December 2027, and the full 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor is targeted for completion by December 2030.
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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the north corridor of the bullet train project. The north corridor route will connect Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya…
Manisha Bhanwala Becomes First Indian Woman Wrestler to Win World Championships Gold
Key Updates:
- Manisha Bhanwala became the first Indian woman wrestler to win a World Championships gold medal, defeating American Abigail Nette 8-6 in the final at Astana.
- The 29-year-old wrestler from Jind, Haryana, achieved the success in the non-Olympic 59kg category after previously competing at 62kg, 65kg and 57kg.
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India's Komal won a bronze medal in the women's 59kg category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships held in Las Vegas, USA, defeating Kazakhstan's Viktoriia Khusainova 7-2 in the bronze-medal bout. En route…
India's Amruta Pujari won a silver medal in the women's 72-kilogram category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, United States. She lost 0-6 to Ukraine's Iryna Zablotska in the gold-medal bout.
Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak won silver medals at the Wrestling World Championships 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan, becoming for the first time two Indian women to win silver medals at the same edition of the tournament.…
Tamil Nadu Cabinet approves incentives for eight industrial projects and Social Justice Survey commission
Key Updates:
- The Tamil Nadu Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, approved a structured package of incentives for eight new industrial companies setting up or expanding projects across Coimbatore, Krishnagiri, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu and Erode districts.
- The projects involve investments of ₹3,767 crore and are expected to generate employment for 4,853 people.
- The projects span emerging sectors including technical textiles, aerospace and defence, life sciences and electronics.
- The Cabinet also approved the expansion plans of three companies, and the government did not disclose the names of the companies or a district-wise break-up of investments.
- The Cabinet also approved constituting a multi-member commission, headed by a retired High Court judge, to conduct the Social Justice Survey, a key poll promise of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam ahead of the 2026 Assembly election.
- The Social Justice Survey is expected to be conducted next year after completion of the ongoing Census, with the overseeing commission to be constituted by February or March next year.
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The Tamil Nadu government introduced the Business Facilitation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, setting a 21-day deadline for regulatory clearances for new businesses. Under the bill, applications not processed within the 21-day…
Nitin Gadkari Lays Foundation for Multi-Modal Logistics Park at Sindi Railway in Wardha
Key Updates:
- Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari performed the bhoomipujan of a Multi-Modal Logistics Park at Sindi Railway in Wardha district on November 1, 2026.
- The project is jointly developed by National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a special purpose vehicle of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority across 150 acres near Sindi Railway station.
- The park will enable direct export of cotton, cotton lint, yarn, oranges and vegetables from Vidarbha to international markets via Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and boost employment for local residents.
- A dry port at Sindi Railway will transport Vidarbha's cotton, textiles and oranges directly to Bangladesh via Haldia in Kolkata, cutting per-container transport cost from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹1 lakh.
- The facility, connected to the dry port, will include cold storage, warehouses, exporter clusters and a customs office, with a first rake carrying Maruti cars already commencing operations.
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The Union Cabinet on October 6, 2026 approved setting up a special purpose vehicle called the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact…
Railway Board sanctions six-day Vande Bharat Express linking Bengaluru's Yesvantpur to Madgaon in Goa via 12 stops
Key Updates:
- The Railway Board has sanctioned a new Vande Bharat Express service between Yesvantpur in Bengaluru and Madgaon in Goa, to run under train numbers 26655 and 26656 six days a week in each direction, as per a Railway Board letter dated October 30, 2026.
- Train No. 26655 will depart Yesvantpur at 7:35 am and reach Madgaon at 8:55 pm, covering the journey in 13 hours and 20 minutes, with Wednesday as the weekly off.
- Train No. 26656 will depart Madgaon at 8:20 am and reach Yesvantpur at 9:15 pm in 12 hours and 55 minutes, running six days a week except Thursdays.
- The train will have 12 intermediate stops: Shravanabelagola, Sakleshpur, Hassan, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Kundapura, Subrahmanya Road, Udupi, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Gokarna Road, Murdeshwar and Karwar, providing direct connectivity from Bengaluru to Karnataka's coastal destinations.
- The Railway Board has also permitted discontinuation of the existing Madgaon-Mangaluru Central Vande Bharat Express, which ran under train numbers 20645 and 20646.
- The approval follows completion of electrification of the Bengaluru-Mangaluru railway route in December 2025, a project begun in December 2023 involving five switching stations and overhead electrification through the Western Ghats, with an electric locomotive trial held on December 28, 2025.
- The commencement date of the new Yesvantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat service has not yet been announced.
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India's second Vande Bharat Sleeper train is scheduled to launch on November 1, 2026, connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai. The new semi-high-speed train is expected to reduce the travel time between the two cities by up to…
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath jointly flagged off the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express between Varanasi and New Delhi from Banaras Railway Station on October 31…
Jatin Kumar Nayak Assumes Office as Chairman and Managing Director of IREDA
Key Updates:
- Jatin Kumar Nayak has assumed charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).
- Prior to this appointment, Nayak held the position of Executive Director Finance at REC Ltd., and his appointment was earlier approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
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