RBI expands 20% forex risk reserve to banks' own hedges and restricts rupee NDFs to hedging only
Key Updates:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) widened the scope of the 20% cash deposit (Foreign Exchange Risk Reserve) requirement to cover all foreign exchange derivative contracts involving the rupee undertaken by authorised banks, including those hedging the banks' own assets and liabilities.
- The Foreign Exchange Risk Reserve equals 20% of the INR equivalent of the notional amount of each derivative contract, must be deposited in cash with the RBI on a daily basis, and maintained until contract termination.
- The RBI restricted Authorised Dealers, including banks with IFSC Banking Units and Standalone Primary Dealers (Authorised Dealer Category-III), to offering non-deliverable rupee derivative contracts to non-resident users only for hedging purposes, ending the earlier unrestricted use.
- The directions, issued on October 12, 2026 under FEMA, 1999 and the RBI Act, 1934, apply to foreign exchange derivative contracts undertaken after their issuance.
- The measures, announced since Saturday, aim to support the rupee, which has been falling due to high oil prices and capital outflows; the rupee rose about 1% on Monday after the weekend measures, which also included a special dollar window for state-run oil refiners.
- Bankers said the reserve requirements raise the cost of protection against rupee weakness and should slow hedging demand; Chinese authorities have used similar tools to discourage one-way bets against the yuan.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Reserve Bank of India (All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs) – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Fifth Amendment Directions, 2026 on October 07, 2026, effective from the…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday, October 10, 2026, announced restrictive measures on foreign exchange derivative contracts involving the rupee to strengthen market discipline and ensure orderly functioning of…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the minimum daily Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) maintenance requirement for scheduled banks to 99 per cent from the existing 90 per cent, effective from the fortnight beginning…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra clarified on October 7, 2026 that individuals need not report transactions of a personal nature, such as paying for TV channels, apps, journals or newspapers, or…
Indian Railways' September 2026 Freight Loading Rises 6.14% Year-on-Year
Key Updates:
- Indian Railways loaded 135.35 million tonnes of freight in September 2026, up 6.14% from 127.52 million tonnes in September 2025.
- In September 2026, Food Grain loading grew 25%, Clinker 20%, Domestic Container 10%, Coal 9%, Balance Other Goods 8.2%, Mineral Oil 6%, Finished Steel 5.5% and Iron Ore 5.2%.
- Average daily coal rakes supplied to power houses rose 11.6% to 443 in September 2026 from 397 in September 2025.
- Freight revenue in September 2026 increased by ₹1,266 crore over September 2025, a 9.3% growth.
- Cumulative freight loading during April-September 2026 reached 833.7 million tonnes, a 4.1% growth over the corresponding period last year, with freight revenue growing 3.7%.
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Indian Railways has electrified 99.6% of its broad gauge network, making it the world's second-most electrified rail network after Switzerland. According to the International Union of Railways (UIC) report, India's…
Indian Railways has approved the doubling of the Chouk-Karjat railway section in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 497 crore. The project is part of the Panvel-Chouk-Karjat route, which serves as a corridor for both…
Indian Railways has approved a ₹493 crore new railway line between Mukutban in Yavatmal district and Gadchandur in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, under South Central Railway. The 38.21-km line is expected to handle…
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) raised India's FY27 GDP growth forecast by 80 basis points to 7.1%, up from 6.3% projected in June. In its September Interim Economic Outlook, the OECD…
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) notifies new Portfolio Management Services framework with wider investment avenues and PRIM route
Key Updates:
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) notified the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2026, replacing the 2020 framework, effective from April 1, 2027.
- The new Portfolio Management Services (PMS) framework allows portfolio managers to invest in IPOs, primary market debt issuances, listed securities, money market instruments, mutual funds, foreign securities, unlisted securities and exchange-traded derivative instruments.
- Portfolio managers may offer discretionary, non-discretionary or advisory services for investment up to hundred per cent of assets under management of large value accredited investors in unlisted securities, subject to disclosures and agreed terms.
- Sebi introduced the Portfolio Managers Route for Investing in Mutual Fund units (PRIM) to invest clients' funds in direct plans of mutual funds, including ETFs, Index Funds and Specialised Investment Funds of Indian AMCs, with a minimum investment threshold of Rs 25 lakh.
- Entities exclusively offering PRIM must maintain a minimum net worth of Rs 2 crore.
- Sebi introduced the concept of Independent Fund Managers, who can manage client portfolios in association with registered portfolio managers, with the registered portfolio manager retaining responsibility and liability.
- Sebi relaxed the educational qualification for principal officers, making graduates eligible to function as principal officer.
- The notification follows the Sebi board's clearance of the proposal in September.
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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…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) notified new regulations on October 6 providing a revised formula for calculating settlement amounts and a fast-track settlement route. Under the new framework…
PMS Bazaar has partnered with NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML) to facilitate the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Accredited Investor certification process. The collaboration aims to make Accredited…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a comprehensive review of the SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2020. Assets under management (AUM) of the PMS industry more than doubled to ₹42.61 lakh…
SEBI allows IPO issuers to revise fresh issue size by up to 50% until March 31, 2027
Key Updates:
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) extended the relaxation allowing IPO issuers to increase or decrease the fresh issue portion of their issues by up to 50% till March 31, 2027.
- The relaxation, communicated to the Association of Investment Bankers of India (AIBI), extends the earlier deadline of September 30, 2026 that was introduced amid market volatility due to the West Asia conflict.
- All issuers whose IPOs open on or before March 31, 2027 are eligible for this extension, which permits changes to fresh issue size without filing fresh draft documents.
- Book running lead managers can file revised offer documents only if the main objective of the issue remains unchanged and all relevant regulations are complied with.
- Bankers must conduct adequate due diligence, justify the revision, and issue a public addendum informing investors about the change in issue size.
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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board approved proposals for the re-introduction of Open Market Buy-Back through Stock Exchange and the review of the SEBI (Buy-Back of Securities) Regulations, 2018…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board approved amendments to the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Securitised Debt Instruments and Security Receipts) Regulations, 2008 after deliberations. The Board approved…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board Memorandum proposes amending Regulation 62A of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 to remove the requirement for mandatory…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board approved a review of the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Municipal Debt Securities) Regulations, 2015 after deliberations. The Board approved the proposals contained in…
National Payments Corporation of India Postpones UPI Merchant Discount Rate Rollout to After Diwali
Key Updates:
- The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has deferred the implementation of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI transactions until immediately after Diwali, with the exact date to be notified separately; the decision was taken by the UPI and Services Steering Committee on October 13, 2026, considering the festive season.
- Under the framework announced in September 2026, an MDR of 0.4% will apply to specified merchant transactions above Rs 2,000, capped at Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75,000 and above, while transactions up to Rs 2,000 remain free.
- For essential sectors including railways, telecommunications, insurance, fuel, utilities and education, a flat MDR of Rs 5 will apply to transactions above Rs 2,000.
- Person-to-person (P2P) UPI transfers will remain free irrespective of amount, and small merchants receiving up to Rs 1 lakh per month through UPI QR codes will continue to be exempt under the zero-MDR framework.
- Approximately 96% of all P2M transactions will remain unaffected by the MDR framework, and MDR is a fee shared among banks and payment providers, not a tax collected by the government or NPCI.
- The new MDR framework was originally scheduled to take effect from October 15, 2026, and the deferral delays but does not scrap the proposed charges; merchants cannot pass on the MDR to customers as a separate UPI charge.
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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 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…
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) issued a gazette notification on Monday under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, specifying that banks and payment system providers cannot impose charges on UPI transactions of up…
The Central government has barred banks and payment system providers from levying charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions of up to Rs 2,000 and payments made through RuPay debit cards. On September 14…
National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC) raises ₹366.33 crore from 150 RINL land parcels on Day 1 of its first end-to-end e-auction
Key Updates:
- The National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC), under the Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance, conducted Day 1 of its first end-to-end e-auction of surplus land parcels of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity operating the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
- 150 plots were sold in the first phase, generating successful bids worth ₹366.33 crore against an aggregate reserve price of ₹312.48 crore, an average premium of 17.23% over the reserve price.
- The highest auction price crossed ₹1.80 lakh per square yard.
- Quikr India Private Limited (QIPL) is the Transaction Consultant, and the online bidding is conducted through RailTel's E-Nivida platform.
- NLMC and RINL conducted investor outreach in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Hyderabad during September 2026.
- The second and final phase of the e-auction, covering the remaining 216 land parcels, is scheduled for October 30, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with registration to be completed by October 27, 2026.
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has roped in Muthoot FinCorp as title sponsor for all international matches organised by the board till March 2028 for up to Rs 150 crore. Muthoot FinCorp's per-match…
India's first port-based e-methanol production facility was launched with a foundation stone ceremony at Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Kandla, led by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister Sarbananda…
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and BJP national president Nitin Nabin launched the 'Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nispadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana-2026' at Gandhi Nagar Ground, Indore, on September 17, 2026, as part…
India is setting up its first port-based e-methanol plant at Kandla, Gujarat, with a total investment of Rs 2,300 crore, developed by Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd (APCL). The plant will…
21st Maritime State Development Council Meeting in Mumbai Launches Shipbuilding Insurance Policies and Sets ONOP Reform Deadline
Key Updates:
- The 21st Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) meeting concluded in Mumbai on 13 October 2026, chaired by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.
- This was the first MSDC meeting after it became a statutory consultative body under the Indian Ports Act, 2025, notified on 15 May 2026; the Council was originally constituted in 1997.
- The Council adopted the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 targets, which together identify over 500 initiatives across ports, shipping, inland waterways, shipbuilding, green shipping and global collaboration.
- States were urged to prepare Port Master Plans for Other Than Major Ports aligned with national targets and to fast-track multimodal connectivity projects through road, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and conveyors.
- States, in coordination with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, are to develop port-linked industrial clusters with plug-and-play infrastructure and fast-tracked approvals.
- The Council approved draft MSDC Regulations and Guidelines on port data and tariff transparency and instructed all States and Union Territories to notify subordinate rules under Section 77 of the Act within three months.
- One Nation One Port Process (ONOP) reforms, including One Nation One Documentation, Port Process Re-engineering and Inter-ministerial Process Reforms, are to be implemented across all ports by March 2027, with all ports integrating with the Maritime Single Window (MSW – Sagar Setu) by March 2027 and electronic publication of port tariffs mandated.
- Two first-of-their-kind credit risk insurance products were launched under the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS): the Shipbuilding Project Credit Risk Insurance Policy (SbPCP) by ECGC Ltd. for export projects and the Business Credit Shield Policy–Shipbuilders (BCSPS) by The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. for domestic projects, with the Government of India subsidising premiums and supporting insurers on claims.
- The Council resolved to prioritise Sagarmala connectivity projects, implement the National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan, promote modal shift of cargo to coastal shipping, develop shipbuilding, ship-repair and recycling clusters, and leverage the Maritime Development Fund, Shipbuilding Development Scheme and Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Programme.
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The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mangrol (P82), the third Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, on 12 October 2026. The commissioning ceremony was presided over…
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal held bilateral talks with Panama's Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez to deepen maritime cooperation. Both sides identified logistics…
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Trade Jonathan Reynolds participated in the 8th…
India is hosting the third edition of Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue in New Delhi from October 7 to 9, 2026, with over 1,200 participants from nearly 75 countries. The dialogue is co-hosted by the Observer…
Ministry of Ayush Issues Standard Treatment Guidelines for Skin Disorders in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Ayush issued Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) on Management of Dermatological Disorders for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy, with the inclusion of Yoga, released on 13 October 2026 on the occasion of the 11th Ayurveda Day.
- The guidelines were prepared by the Ayush Vertical of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and cover prevention, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and rehabilitation for conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis, vitiligo, urticaria and dermatophytosis.
- Field-level validation of the protocols was carried out with the Directorate of Ayush, Government of NCT of Delhi, testing them with Medical Officers in primary and secondary healthcare before finalisation.
- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav and Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said the guidelines would promote standardisation, quality assurance and evidence-based practice across the Ayush systems.
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Women account for 43 per cent of the overall Ayush services workforce, with representation exceeding 50 per cent in hospitals, day-care centres, educational institutes and wellness establishments. Female representation…
The Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) and the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) renewed their Memorandum of Understanding for the 'One Herb, One Standard' initiative for three years.…
The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Ayurveda quality standards.…
Ayurveda Day 2026, the 11th edition, was observed on September 23, 2026, with the main national celebration held in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The theme for Ayurveda Day 2026 is 'Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow,' focusing on…
EPFO Amnesty Scheme, 2026: One-Time Retrospective Regularisation of Exempt Status for PF Trusts with 28 December 2026 Deadline
Key Updates:
- The Amnesty Scheme, 2026 was introduced as a transitional measure in the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme 2026, notified on 29.06.2026, offering a one-time opportunity for regularisation of exemption status of Provident Fund (PF) Trusts recognized under the Income Tax Act, 1961 but lacking a formal exemption order under section 17 of the EPF&MP Act, 1952 or section 143 of the Code on Social Security (CoSS), 2020.
- The Amnesty window is open for six months from notification, expiring on 28.12.2026, and the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is urging eligible establishments pan-India to expedite submissions.
- Key benefits include retrospective regularisation of exempt status, waivers of statutory requirements under the CoSS, 2020 such as minimum employee headcount, corpus size, and the 3-year compliance rule, and operational flexibility post-regularisation to comply as an exempt or unexempt establishment.
- Operational guidelines for the Amnesty, including the manner of application and procedural requirements, were detailed in a circular issued on 11.07.2026.
- EPFO conducted outreach with industry bodies including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), and engaged Chartered Accountants and statutory auditors to assist qualifying PF Trusts.
- EPFO coordinated with the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue / Income Tax Department) to institutionalize data sharing of exempted establishment records to identify and bring unnotified or non-compliant PF trusts under the statutory umbrella.
- Training for EPFO field officials and employers was conducted through hybrid programs and at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Academy of Social Security (PDUNASS), while Regional Offices continue follow-ups to facilitate applications within the stipulated timeframe.
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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…
The Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF), a ₹1 lakh crore Government of India initiative, announced its first cohort of 19 Second Level Fund Managers (SLFMs). The Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS), in its…
The government has retained the Public Provident Fund (PPF) interest rate at 7.1 per cent for the October-December 2026 quarter. The Department of Economic Affairs notified the small savings rates decision on September…
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Tribal Affairs Ministry and Karmayogi Bharat MoU extends iGOT Karmayogi training platform to Adi Karmayogi Volunteers
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and Karmayogi Bharat signed an MoU in New Delhi to develop and operate the Tribal Affairs Capacity Building Platform under the iGOT Karmayogi framework.
- The MoU extends Mission Karmayogi's capacity-building framework, previously focused on civil servants, to Adi Karmayogi Volunteers (AKVs) and grassroots functionaries implementing tribal development schemes.
- The initiative is part of the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, under which the Ministry is institutionalising over 76,000 Adi Sewa Kendras (ASKs) and a network of over 1,54,000 AKVs.
- According to data reported by States on the portal, 60,507 ASKs and 1,22,072 AKVs have been registered so far.
- A dedicated AKV microsite on iGOT provides standardised, mobile-friendly learning resources covering tribal development schemes and volunteers' roles, with assessments and certification, central content updates and State-wise progress tracking.
- Karmayogi Bharat will host, operate and maintain the platform, onboard learners and provide technical support and analytics, while MoTA as domain owner will identify target groups, develop and approve content and nominate learners; a joint Steering Committee will review progress.
- The platform will complement a three-day in-person training programme for AKVs designed and delivered by State Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs) with State Tribal Welfare Departments.
- Maharashtra, Odisha, Goa and Tripura are expected to complete the training by 31 October 2026, while all States are expected to complete it by 31 December 2026.
- The AKV microsite is operational, with instructional videos disseminated through bulk SMS to over 1,25,000 AKVs and the number of AKVs who have logged in and enrolled in courses crossing 500.
- The platform has recorded 646 course enrolments, 235 course completions and 112 Adi Karmayogi Volunteers having completed at least one course.
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The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department signed a five-year MoU with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business (ISB-BIPP) to unlock the state's estimated ₹22,600 crore forest and pastoral economy…
The three-day National Conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums began on August 25, 2026, in Mysuru, Karnataka. The conclave was organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs with the Karnataka State Tribal Research…
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Government caps trade margins on cancer drugs at 30% of MRP; Supreme Court questions exclusion of other medicines
Key Updates:
- The Central Government has decided to cap trade margins on cancer drugs at 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), a move expected to make cancer treatment more affordable.
- The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) approved the proposal during a meeting on October 8, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court of the decision on Monday.
- The government says the cap could reduce cancer drug MRPs by 20% to 70%, potentially saving patients around Rs 2,500 crore every year.
- An expert committee headed by the Director General of Health Services has been constituted to finalise the list of medicines covered, with recommendations due within 10 to 15 days.
- The Supreme Court bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta questioned why trade margins are being regulated only for cancer drugs and not other medicines and medical devices.
- The court cited examples including a cardiac stent supplied at about Rs 5,000 with an MRP of Rs 25,000, and a saline drip line sold for Rs 270 despite an MRP of Rs 11.
- The Centre opposed a uniform margin cap, arguing that manufacturing, storage and distribution costs vary and that uniform limits could affect supply of low-cost medicines in remote areas.
- Under the Drugs Price Control Order, 2013, ceiling prices have been fixed for 935 formulations and retail prices for 3,881 new drugs, with a 16% retailer margin added in ceiling price determination.
- The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for October 27.
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The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed the Union Health Ministry to submit, by October 14, a list of cancer medicines along with details of their profit margins, which are to be restricted to…
The Centre has decided to cap the trade margin at 30 per cent for 110 non-scheduled cancer drugs, including 35 patented medicines, covering branded, generic, domestic, imported, patented and non-patented medicines. The…
The Centre has capped trade margins at 30% for all non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, which could reduce maximum retail prices (MRPs) by up to 70% and save patients an estimated Rs 2,500 crore annually. The cap covers…
Centre Clears Rs 65 Crore DRISHTI Initiative to Speed Up Property Rights Under PM-UDAY in Delhi's Unauthorised Colonies
Key Updates:
- The Centre approved a Rs 65-crore project named DRISHTI (Delhi Revenue and Imaging Survey, Spatial Technology Initiative) to fast-track granting property rights to residents of Delhi's unauthorised colonies under the PM-UDAY scheme.
- DRISHTI will use GIS-based technology to survey and map properties, ensuring transparent, organised and time-bound property surveys and documentation.
- The project will be implemented by the Delhi Government's Revenue Department, with PM-UDAY Cells opened in all 13 districts of Delhi and a dedicated unit at the headquarters.
- Of the Rs 65-crore cost, Rs 52 crore (80 per cent) will come from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through the Urban Development Fund, and Rs 13 crore (20 per cent) from the Delhi Government's Revenue Department.
- The Rs 52-crore central grant will be released in four instalments, or in a single instalment if procurement is done through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
- The PM-UDAY Scheme is implemented by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Revenue Department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
- Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the scheme aims to provide legal security and property rights to lakhs of families living in unauthorised colonies without unnecessary delays.
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On August 12, 2026, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) approved the Master Plan for Delhi 2047. The approval ended a five-year delay in finalising Delhi's Master Plan.
DARPG's 53rd CPGRAMS Monthly Report Records 2,38,579 Grievances Redressed by Central Ministries/Departments in September 2026
Key Updates:
- The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the 53rd monthly CPGRAMS report on Central Ministries/Departments performance for September 2026, recording 2,38,579 grievances redressed.
- For the 51st month in a row, monthly disposal crossed 1 lakh cases in the Central Secretariat.
- The Average Grievance Disposal Time in Central Ministries/Departments for 2026 is 13 days.
- The reports are part of the 10-step CPGRAMS reform process adopted by DARPG to improve disposal quality and reduce timelines.
- A total of 92,822 new users registered on CPGRAMS in September 2026, with the highest registrations from Uttar Pradesh at 17%.
- A total of 1,87,362 feedbacks were collected from Call Centre and Online in September 2026, of which 1,11,794 were for Central Ministries/Departments.
- CPGRAMS is integrated with the Common Service Centre (CSC) portal, available at more than 5 lakh CSCs with 2.5 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs, and 12,996 grievances were registered through CSCs in September 2026.
- The Review Meeting Module, operationalised on 14th September 2025, facilitated 454 Secretary-level review meetings as of 30th September 2026, including 27 in September 2026.
- In September 2026, 2,27,837 PG cases were received on the CPGRAMS portal, 2,38,579 were redressed, and pendency stood at 85,687 cases.
- Key departments receiving grievances in September 2026 included Ministry of Labour and Employment (37,492), Department of Financial Services (Banking Division) (31,968), and Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) (9,914).
- In September 2026, 48,653 appeals were received, 42,116 were disposed, and appeal pendency was 23,230.
- In the Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) for September 2026, Department of Posts, Department of Financial Services (Insurance Division) and Department of Telecommunications topped Group A (500 or more grievances).
- Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Ministry of Tourism topped GRAI Group B (less than 500 grievances) for September 2026.
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The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of seven unions representing close to 90% of India's bank officers and staff, called a three-day nationwide strike on September 28, 29 and 30, 2026. The immediate…
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DARPG Releases 50th CPGRAMS Monthly Report for States/UTs Covering September 2026 Grievance Data
Key Updates:
- The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the 50th monthly CPGRAMS report for States/UTs for September 2026, under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
- In September 2026, 99,134 public grievance cases were received for States/UTs and 1,15,168 cases were redressed, the highest disposal of the year.
- Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest disposals with 45,970 PG cases, followed by Andhra Pradesh (8,340) and Haryana (6,437).
- As of 30th September 2026, total pendency on the CPGRAMS portal stood at 2,37,128 cases across all States/UTs, an approximate 6.3% decrease over August 2026, with 23 States/UTs having more than 1,000 pending cases each.
- A total of 92,822 new users registered on CPGRAMS in September 2026, with the highest registrations from Uttar Pradesh (15,742).
- CPGRAMS is integrated with the Common Service Centre (CSC) portal, available at over 5 lakh CSCs with 2.5 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs; 12,996 grievances were registered through CSCs in September 2026, with Karnataka accounting for 54%, the highest share.
- Under the Sevottam Scheme, 1,312 training courses were conducted between FY 2022-23 and FY 2026-27, training approximately 43,738 officers.
- West Bengal completed its full integration with the CPGRAMS portal on 22nd September 2026, and a review meeting with States/UTs was held on 24th September 2026.
- A total of 1,87,362 feedbacks were collected through Call Centre and Online channels in September 2026, of which 75,568 were from States/UTs.
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The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment released ₹45.59 crore under the SMILE-Beggary Scheme since its launch on 23 October 2023. As of 31 July 2026, 10,446 persons including 2,824 children have been rehabilitated…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the indicative calendar of market borrowings by State Governments and Union Territories for the quarter October–December 2026. Total market borrowings by State Governments and UTs…
The Ministry of Jal Shakti issued a policy on data sharing, interoperability, and stakeholder access under the Sujalam Bharat Digital Public Infrastructure. The policy aims to establish a secure and accountable framework…
Maharashtra releases third list of 3.51 lakh farmers under Puneashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Loan Waiver Scheme
Key Updates:
- The Maharashtra government released the third list of 3,51,192 farmers eligible under the Puneashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Loan Waiver Scheme on October 12, taking the total published eligible farmers to 24.67 lakh for Aadhaar authentication.
- Under the scheme, crop loans disbursed between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2025, overdue as of September 30, 2025, and unpaid as of March 31, 2026, are eligible for a waiver of up to ₹2 lakh, including restructured and re-restructured loans.
- Banks uploaded details of 31.17 lakh overdue loan accounts on the scheme's portal; the first list of 16.96 lakh farmers was released on July 24 and the second list of 4.20 lakh on September 11.
- Of the third list, 2,06,450 farmers are from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, 85,076 from Amravati, 30,738 from Nagpur, 14,244 from Nashik, 11,928 from Pune and 2,756 from Konkan division.
- Interest and other charges accruing from April 1, 2026, onwards will be waived, and loans of farmers with dues exceeding ₹2 lakh will be fully settled under the government's 'haircut' policy.
- Eligible farmers must verify outstanding dues and complete Aadhaar authentication at Aaple Seva Kendras, after which the waiver amount will be credited to their loan accounts; a standard operating procedure issued on August 19 covers farmers who died, are elderly, or cannot provide fingerprints.
- State Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil made the announcement regarding the scheme.
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The Maharashtra government began disbursing the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar loan waiver with ₹5,027 crore released into 6.2 lakh farmer accounts through direct benefit transfer. The loan waiver was declared by the state…
PM GatiShakti National Master Plan marks five years with 400+ projects worth Rs 20.23 lakh crore evaluated and ITLA cleared by Union Cabinet
Key Updates:
- The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13, 2021, completed five years, with the Network Planning Group (NPG) having evaluated over 400 infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs 20.23 lakh crore based on PM GatiShakti principles.
- The NPG, constituted under the PM GatiShakti initiative, evaluates all logistics and connectivity infrastructure projects entailing investments of over Rs 500 crore, and the Union Cabinet approved the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment in transport and logistics.
- The PM GatiShakti digital platform, developed indigenously by BISAG-N under Atmanirbhar Bharat, integrates more than 1,800 data layers covering 58 central ministries/departments and all 36 states and Union Territories, with data on land records, ports, forests, schools, railway stations, water bodies, telecom towers and highways.
- The platform has facilitated development and integration of more than 65 software modules/tools and over 100 mobile and web applications for data-driven infrastructure planning.
- The PM GatiShakti Public platform, through the Unified Geospatial Interface (UGI), was launched in September 2025, extending selected data-analytics capabilities to private entities and the general public.
- Phase-wise progress: in 2022-23, eight key infrastructure ministries were onboarded and 71 projects evaluated; in 2023-24, social-sector integration was undertaken with 1,463 data layers and all 36 States/UTs onboarded; in 2024-25, economic-sector integration and the District Master Plan were launched with 121 projects evaluated; in 2025-26, 352 projects were evaluated by February 2026, and in 2026 a total of 421 projects worth Rs 20.23 lakh crore had been evaluated.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 11, 2026 inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore across Tamil Nadu. Modi inaugurated the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of…
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…
Shareholders' Agreements have been signed under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme between the Directorate General of Training (DGT), Ministry of Skill…
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in 2020 with a total outlay of ₹20,750 crore, completed six years on September 10, 2026. A record ₹2,500 crore has been allocated under PMMSY in Budget Estimates…
Indian Navy to Commission Indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel Samarthak at Karwar on October 16, 2026
Key Updates:
- The Indian Navy will commission the Multi-Purpose Vessel Samarthak at Naval Base, Karwar on 16 October 2026.
- Samarthak is the first of four Multi-Purpose Vessels being inducted into the Indian Navy and was built by Larsen and Toubro Ltd under the Make in India initiative.
- Designed primarily for maritime surveillance and patrol, Samarthak can also undertake Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), serve as a target deployment and trials platform, act as an unmanned/autonomous system mothership, provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), be converted to a limited hospital ship, and support salvage operations.
- Samarthak's integrated combat suite combines indigenous sensors, weapons and electronic systems optimized for challenging maritime operations.
- The ship's crest features the Indian elephant emerging from the waves, and its motto is 'Vijayartham Ekanishtha' — Victory is Our Sole Aim.
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The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mangrol (P82), the third Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, on 12 October 2026. The commissioning ceremony was presided over…
The Indian Navy will commission Mangrol, its third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), on 12 October 2026 at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, with Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer…
INS Mahendragiri is a 6,670-ton indigenous stealth frigate capable of carrying BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. The frigate was commissioned into the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh…
Larsen & Toubro delivered Samarthak, the Indian Navy’s first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel, at Kattupalli on 27 August 2026. Samarthak has over 75 percent indigenous content and was built under the Ministry of…
India and Czech Republic Agree to Broaden Defence Industrial Ties Under Joint Defence Committee
Key Updates:
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Czech Republic's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlicek in New Delhi, where both sides agreed to expand defence industrial cooperation under the India-Czech Joint Defence Committee to promote 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.
- The leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of defence industrial cooperation and welcomed the progress and success of various joint ventures between the two countries.
- Both sides discussed ongoing issues of peace and security and acknowledged the need for greater cooperation to maintain regional stability.
- The India-Czech Republic partnership is based on historical and cultural ties and shared values of mutual trust and respect, according to the Ministry of Defence.
- Havlicek is on a four-day visit to India, holding interactions with various ministries, trade representatives and businesses, and is scheduled to visit industries in Bengaluru and Mumbai.
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England defeated Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka in a Nations League match, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scoring twice each and Jude Bellingham scoring once with three assists. Kane's international goal tally reached 89 goals…
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh addressed participants of the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur on October 10, 2026. The Indian Air Force hosted the multinational air exercise from 26…
India and Canada held annual Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi on September 2, 2026. The Indian delegation was led by MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon, while Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun…
India hosts inaugural BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on October 13, 2026, chaired by Amit Shah, which adopts the Delhi Declaration and five security cooperation agreements
Key Updates:
- India hosted the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on October 13, 2026, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with delegations from all seven member states—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand—participating.
- Amit Shah highlighted five key areas of cooperation: drug control, counter-terrorism and legal cooperation, repatriation of fugitive criminals, cyber-security and cybercrime investigation, and institutional cooperation and capacity building.
- Home Ministers approved the BIMSTEC Convention against Trafficking in Persons, the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Drug Control, an MoU on Capacity Building to Combat Money Laundering and Terror Financing, the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Illicit Financial Flows and Their Prevention, and a Plan of Action for Enhancing Preparedness and Coordination to Address Natural Disasters in the Bay of Bengal Region.
- The meeting adopted the Delhi Declaration, which emphasised combating cross-border terrorism, terror financing, radicalisation, drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime and organised crime, and prioritised information sharing, mutual legal assistance, extradition and capacity building.
- A BIMSTEC Disaster Management Centre, proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on April 4, 2025, is planned to be established in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
- The decision to convene BIMSTEC Home Ministers' meetings was taken at the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit in 2018, and India committed to hosting the first such meeting during the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit.
- Shah described drug trafficking as 'death trafficking' and called for a 'Whole of Region' approach, noting that drug proceeds can fund organised crime and terror financing, with precursor chemical diversion and dark web transactions complicating the challenge.
- The Union Home Minister led the Indian delegation at the ministers' meeting, while the Union Home Secretary led the meeting of senior officials held before it.
- BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) links South and Southeast Asia and promotes cooperation among its seven member states.
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India will host the First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on 13 October 2026, as announced by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah on 12 October 2026. The meeting aims to combat…
United Kingdom and India unveil over £1 billion in commercial deals at first JETCO meeting after CETA implementation
Key Updates:
- India and the United Kingdom announced over £1 billion in new commercial deals during the first Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting held after the implementation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
- The JETCO meeting was co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds.
- The India-UK CETA came into effect on July 15, and both sides agreed to exchange data annually on its use, covering tariff claims and implementation feedback, beginning a year after the pact came into force.
- Focus sectors of the UK trade mission include aviation services, artificial intelligence, healthcare, advanced communications and engineering.
- More than 100 businesses arrived in India as part of the UK trade mission, along with the UK business secretary, Scotland secretary, environment, food and rural affairs secretary, and seven mayors from northern England.
- Meta announced a £50 million investment in Data Technologies to fund AI research in the UK, while Menzies Aviation seeks to generate over £600 million in revenue through an expanded presence in India.
- The UK has opened 99.99% of its market to India at zero duty, with exceptions including rice, poultry and possibly eggs.
- India and the UK share a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030, and Goyal proposed sectoral meetings every 15 days to accelerate CETA implementation.
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Mastercard, through its affiliate Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pte Ltd, sold its entire 4.31 per cent stake in Noida-based fintech firm Pine Labs for Rs 933.57 crore via 13 block deals on the BSE. The transaction involved…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Commercial Banks – Miscellaneous Amendment Directions, 2026 on October 7, 2026, under reference RBI/2026-27/285. The Amendment Directions amend the RBI Commercial Banks –…
The 16th meeting of the India–UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) was held in New Delhi on 12 October 2026, co-chaired by India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for…
India's indigenous Light Utility Helicopter reaches final certification stage for Army and IAF induction
Key Updates:
- The indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) has entered the final stages of certification and mission equipment integration for induction into the Indian Army and Indian Air Force.
- After certification by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) aims to deliver the first 12 limited series production LUHs to the Army and IAF in FY 2027-28.
- Ongoing flight trials are refining the LUH's autorotation characteristics and integrating an automatic flight control system to reduce pilot workload and improve lateral stability.
- HAL expects the Army and IAF to place combined orders for at least 187 light helicopters.
- The LUH is intended for reconnaissance and surveillance, logistics support, troop movement, casualty evacuation, training, disaster relief, and high-altitude operations.
- HAL has established dedicated LUH production facilities at Tumakuru with an initial capacity of around 30 helicopters annually, scalable to about 60.
- The LUH will replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, designed six decades ago, with the Army beginning phase-out in a year or two and completing replacement over eight to 10 years.
- The replacement plan involves inducting LUHs and leasing similar helicopters as a stopgap to meet critical requirements.
- HAL licence-produced 625 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, signing an agreement with French firm Aerospatiale in 1970 for Cheetahs and partnering with Sud-Aviation (now Airbus) for Chetaks eight years earlier.
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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed an agreement on 2 October 2026, announced via regulatory filing, to acquire the remaining 50 per cent stake in HATSOFF Helicopter Training Private Limited from CAE, Canada, for…
The Indian Air Force's Sarang Helicopter Display Team arrived in El Alamein, Egypt, to participate in the second edition of the El Alamein International Airshow scheduled from 8 to 10 September. The team, along with five…
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered its 2,000th aero-engine from its Koraput Division, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh witnessing the delivery on October 6, 2026, marking six decades of aero-engine…
China flight-tested its GJ-21 stealth attack drone in August 2026. The GJ-21 is the naval variant of the GJ-11 stealth attack drone.
Bangladesh Secures $335.78 Million Chinese Concessional Loan for Mongla Port Modernisation
Key Updates:
- Bangladesh and China signed a $335.78 million (RMB 2.404 billion or Tk 3,592.90 crore) concessional loan agreement on October 10, 2026 in Dhaka to finance the expansion and modernisation of Mongla Port.
- The agreement was signed between Alia Meher, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Fengjun Tian, Assistant General Manager of the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank), which is the lending entity.
- The loan carries a preferential interest rate of 2 per cent per annum with a 20-year tenure including a 5-year grace period.
- The project includes construction of two container terminals, cargo-handling yards, modern quay gantry cranes, automated cargo systems, and dredging and channel widening along the Pasur River.
- Mongla Port, Bangladesh's second-largest maritime gateway after Chattogram, is located about 80 kilometres from the Indian border.
- Mongla Port sits on the east bank of the Pasur River, roughly 71 nautical miles inland from the Bay of Bengal.
- The expansion was originally earmarked for Indian contractors under a bilateral Line of Credit framework, with Evita Constructions (a Hiranandani Group subsidiary) designated, but the Indian contract was cancelled due to delays and political transitions, allowing China to step in.
- Indian experts view the deal as part of China's 'String of Pearls' strategy in the Indian Ocean Region, alongside Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Kyaukphyu (Myanmar), and Djibouti.
- Mongla lies close to India's Siliguri Corridor, the narrow 22-kilometre strip of land connecting eastern India to its North-Eastern states.
- Bangladesh formally joined China's Belt and Road Initiative during President Xi Jinping's 2016 visit to Dhaka, unlocking over $20 billion in proposed infrastructure loans.
- China supplies roughly 70-80 per cent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces' military hardware, including submarines, frigates, fighter jets, and tanks.
- Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Beijing in June 2026 as part of his first overseas trip in office.
- India is expected to respond by accelerating its own port projects, including Sittwe Port in Myanmar under the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, Chabahar Port in Iran, and the Galathea Bay transshipment port in the Great Nicobar Island, while deepening rail, waterway, pipeline, and grid connectivity with Dhaka.
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REC Limited and Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC) signed a Rs 26,850 crore common loan agreement with Meja Urja Nigam Private Limited (MUNPL) to finance a 2,400 MW thermal power expansion in Uttar Pradesh. MUNPL is…
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) selected CoRover.ai to build a unified agentic AI platform for government services, with DigiLocker as the first implementation.
- The contract was awarded by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) through a quality-and-cost based selection process, with CoRover topping the evaluation with a score of 100 ahead of Kyndryl Solutions at 91.24.
- The DigiLocker implementation includes a four-month development phase followed by 12 months of operations and maintenance support.
- The platform will let government departments develop and deploy AI assistants and bots, with safeguards against prompt injection and jailbreak attempts and monitoring of agent activity, task completion, failures, latency and AI-related costs.
- CoRover, developer of the BharatGPT platform, said more than 80 firms participated in the tender, with six empanelled for pan-India implementation.
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The proposed Centre of Excellence in artificial intelligence (AI-CoE) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha has received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Software Technology…
Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan launched the sovereign AI stack 'Artha' developed by Bengaluru-based startup Gnani at his official residence in New Delhi on August 28, 2026. Artha is an end-to-end sovereign AI stack for…
The MeitY IndiaAI Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam (CAIK), along with its first cohort of 15 AI startups, was launched on September 30, 2026, by Kerala Minister for Industries…
The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) and Intel India organised a National Leadership Dialogue on 'Preparing the Future Workforce for the Agentic AI Era' at the India Habitat Centre in…
India Meteorological Department Unveils Web-Based Decision Support System for Cyclone and Marine Weather Alerts
Key Updates:
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) launched an interactive web-based Decision Support System (DSS) for cyclone warnings and marine weather services, dedicated to the nation on October 12, 2026.
- The WebGIS-based platform displays observed and forecast cyclone tracks, storm intensity, wind distribution, rainfall warnings, storm surge information and rainfall forecasts for river catchments.
- The system was unveiled during IMD's biannual Pre-Cyclone Exercise Meeting for the post-monsoon season, chaired by Director General of Meteorology Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
- The meeting, held twice a year since 2008, brought together about 230 participants from over 30 organisations including the National Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Response Force, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard.
- The launch coincided with the October 12 landfall anniversaries of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Phailin (2013) and Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Hudhud (2014), both successfully predicted by IMD.
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INSAT-3DR is an advanced meteorological satellite launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 8 September 2016 aboard GSLV-F05. The satellite operates in a Geostationary Orbit (GSO) and provides…
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) ruled out the Bay of Bengal system intensifying into Cyclone Arnab, saying it would cross the North Andhra Pradesh-South Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, close…
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) celebrated its 20th Foundation Day at Prithvi Bhawan, New Delhi. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) established 13 specialized Centers of Excellence across India.
NASA's Perseverance Rover Surpasses Opportunity to Claim Off-World Driving Record
Key Updates:
- NASA's Perseverance Mars rover set a new off-world driving record on October 11, 2026, when its odometer reached 28.10 miles (45.22 kilometers), surpassing the 28.06-mile (45.16-kilometer) record of the Opportunity rover, which explored Mars from 2004 to 2018.
- Perseverance achieved the record on the 2,006th Martian day (sol) of its mission, covering in five and a half years a distance that took Opportunity almost 15 years.
- The milestone occurred as Perseverance traveled toward an area called 'Idubi' in the region nicknamed 'Lac de Charmes' off the western rim of Jezero Crater, where scientists hope to find traces of ancient hydrothermal systems in some of the oldest terrain explored in the solar system.
- Perseverance's self-driving capability, AutoNav, builds 3D hazard maps and plots courses autonomously, with the rover driving over 90% of its total distance using AutoNav compared with about 5% for Opportunity and Spirit, and processing 600,000 measurement points per look versus 20 for Sojourner.
- NASA approved the mission's first extension, which began in October 2026 and will carry Perseverance's exploration of the crater rim through roughly the end of 2028.
- Earlier NASA Mars rovers include Sojourner, which covered about 330 feet (100 meters) in 1997; Spirit, which logged 4.8 miles (7.7 kilometers) before ending in 2010; and Curiosity, which landed in Gale Crater in 2012 and has driven more than 23.65 miles (38.07 kilometers).
- Perseverance also surpassed the lunar driving records of Apollo 17 astronauts (22.2 miles/35.7 kilometers in 1972) and the Soviet Lunokhod 2 rover (24.2 miles/39 kilometers in 1973).
- Perseverance has collected 29 rock and regolith samples spanning the crater floor, a delta fan, and the crater rim, and previously found a potential biosignature at a rock called 'Cheyava Falls'.
- After Lac de Charmes, the rover will head south along the crater rim toward Rainbow Falls, a 328-foot-wide (100-meter-wide) block of ancient crust uplifted by the impact that created Jezero.
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Paradip Port Authority's Mechanised Coal Handling Plant (MCHP) achieved its highest-ever single-day coal loading of 1,40,022 metric tonnes on 10 October 2026, surpassing the previous record of 1,37,500 MT set on 29 May…
South African swimmer Pieter Coetze set a new short-course world record of 22.09 seconds in the men's 50-metre backstroke at a World Aquatics World Cup meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, surpassing the previous record of…
Astronomers from the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, studied four TeV blazars — Mrk 421, Mrk 501, PG 1553+113 and PKS 2155-304 — using NASA's NICER and NuSTAR telescopes…
Railways runner Ankita Dhyani won gold in the women's 3000m steeplechase at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships with a meet-record time of 9:34.86 seconds on the final day at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Her time…
Antarctic sea ice peaked at 17.59 million sq km on September 14, marking its third-lowest winter maximum on record
Key Updates:
- Antarctic sea ice likely reached its annual maximum extent on September 14, covering an estimated 17.59 million square kilometres, the third-lowest winter maximum in satellite records, about a million square kilometres (nearly 400,000 square miles) below the long-term average, according to NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC).
- With this peak confirmed, the four lowest winter sea ice maximum years on record have all occurred in the past four years; NSIDC's Dr Walt Meier noted the centre delayed declaring the maximum due to high potential variability at this stage of the ice cycle.
- Antarctic sea ice typically peaks in September at the end of the Southern Hemisphere winter and retreats to a minimum in February; unlike the land-locked Arctic ocean basin, Antarctica is a continent surrounded by ocean, allowing greater winter expansion but exposing ice to warmer latitudes and more summer melting.
- Dr Ariaan Purich, a Southern Ocean expert at Monash University in Melbourne, said four consecutive record-low winter maxima indicate the system has changed due to climate warming, warning that low sea ice is "not a future problem" but "a now problem".
- From 1979 to 2014 Antarctic sea ice grew about 1 per cent per decade, with record winter highs from 2012 to 2014, but declines began after 2015 and 2016, and both the record-low minimum and maximum occurred in 2023; scientists will keep monitoring to determine whether the decline is long-term or a statistical fluctuation.
- Sea ice extent is measured by satellites with passive microwave sensors that detect microwave energy emitted by Earth, which passes through clouds regardless of weather; the record began in late 1978 with NASA's Nimbus-7, continued with Defence Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites from 1987 and NASA's Aqua from 2002 to 2011, and since 2025 scientists have used observations from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's GCOM-W satellite.
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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…
Tamil Nadu meets National AIDS Control Programme-Phase V 95-95-95 target, says Health Minister
Key Updates:
- Tamil Nadu achieved the National AIDS Control Programme-Phase V (NACP-V) target of 95-95-95 during 2026-27, meaning 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression; officials said the target was achieved in September 2026.
- HIV/AIDS prevalence in Tamil Nadu has halved, dropping from 0.40% in 2010 to 0.19% in 2023.
- Currently, 1,63,151 people are under treatment in the State, with 311 integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC) funded by the National AIDS Control Organisation, 403 ICTCs funded by the National Health Mission, and 2,656 testing facilities at primary health centres and government hospitals.
- Free HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services are provided through ART centres in 58 government health facilities, 28 ART centres in private medical college hospitals, and 172 linked ART centres; 104 NGOs work with high-risk groups.
- Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B is a key priority, and babies born to HIV-positive women receive a prophylactic ART dose soon after birth.
- The State enhanced monthly financial assistance for children affected by HIV/AIDS — ₹3,000 for children living with HIV who lost both parents, ₹2,000 for those who lost one parent, ₹1,500 for those living with parents, and ₹1,500 for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS but not infected — with an additional ₹1.21 crore allocated, benefiting children from November onward.
- Red Ribbon Clubs have been set up in 2,329 colleges through the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS), and life skills education training is imparted to students of classes VIII, IX, and XI in 9,830 schools.
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The Centre will launch Joint Squad for Health (JOSH) teams across 55 districts in 11 states to strengthen youth-led community mobilisation for tuberculosis (TB) elimination. Union Health Minister J P Nadda will lead the…
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda performed the Bhumi Pujan and laid the foundation stone of the ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong, Himachal Pradesh…
Central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) achieved 51% of their FY27 capital expenditure target of ₹8.43 trillion, spending around ₹4.30 trillion during April-September, a rise of nearly 12% year-on-year. Capex by 63…
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava reaffirmed India's commitment to eliminating Hepatitis B and C as public health threats by 2030 at a UN General Assembly side event titled 'Advancing Global Action to…
Indian-Led Study Ties Solar Microwave Polar Brightening to Polar Magnetic Field Strength
Key Updates:
- A 2026 Indian-led study linked solar microwave polar brightening more closely with the strength of polar magnetic fields than with the area of polar coronal holes.
- Coronal holes are low-density regions of the solar corona with predominantly open magnetic field lines extending into interplanetary space; they appear dark in extreme-ultraviolet and X-ray images and generate high-speed solar wind.
- Polar brightening is enhanced microwave radio emission from the Sun's polar regions, not ordinary visible-light brightness.
- Large-scale polar magnetic fields shape coronal holes, while small closed magnetic loops produce compact coronal bright points within them.
- A coronal bright point is a small, transient bright feature associated with magnetic loops, often found inside coronal holes.
- 17 GHz microwave observations are used for solar mapping, and solar radio emission is produced by energetic electrons and thermal plasma processes.
- The solar magnetic cycle lasts approximately 11 years, and polar magnetic fields reverse near solar maximum.
- NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), launched in 2010, provides continuous solar observations including extreme-ultraviolet imaging.
- The Nobeyama Radioheliograph is a Japanese solar radio observatory operating at microwave frequencies, and the Wilcox Solar Observatory is a ground-based facility measuring the Sun's large-scale magnetic field.
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Team AgniRath from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras secured third place overall at the Sasol Solar Challenge 2026 in South Africa. The team drove its solar-powered vehicle Aagneya across 1,192.6 km over…
Indian scientists demonstrated India's first free-space quantum-key distribution (QKD) link over 5.56 km through open air on the night of September 27-28, connecting the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space…
An 82.6 GHz, 400 kW gyrotron has been installed and integrated with the SST-1 tokamak at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in Gujarat, boosting India’s fusion research programme. The Steady State Superconducting…
A study by Kerala University faculty, published in the journal Astrophysics and Space Science, used historical bifilar magnetometer records from the Trivandrum Observatory to provide new insights into the Carrington…
Key Updates:
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur launched an AI-powered learning assistant and a free online preparatory platform for GATE and JAM on October 13, 2026, during its Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
- The initiatives were launched by Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar at the IIT Kharagpur Research Park in Rajarhat, Kolkata.
- The NDLI-FERMI AI Tutor, developed in collaboration with Fermi AI and integrated with the National Digital Library of India (NDLI), provides free personalised academic assistance through a guided learning approach using questions, hints, and contextual guidance.
- The AI tutor's 'Scan & Ask' feature helps students with problems in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.
- The NDLI, sponsored by the Union Ministry of Education, serves more than one crore learners and hosts over 130 million learning resources.
- The free GATE and JAM platform aims to reduce dependence on expensive commercial coaching and improve access for students from rural areas and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Majumdar said the initiatives align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and stressed responsible use of AI that encourages independent thinking rather than instant answers.
- IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty said the AI tutor should empower students to think critically and learn independently rather than replace the process of thinking.
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Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary launched the 'Bihar Vidya Saathi' app for 700 Saraswati Vidya Niketan Model Schools across 38 districts. The app will directly benefit approximately 3 lakh students.
IIT Madras' Bodhan AI launched four AI models for Indian languages. The models are available as open-weight models and APIs on sovereign digital infrastructure.
MC²+ Ignite, an accelerator programme by the energy innovation platform MC²+, has been launched to support energy deep-tech startups. The inaugural cohort will include approximately 30 startups, each eligible for up to…
Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) launched ANUGYAN – Nuclear Technology Orientation Programme (NTOP) in collaboration with Crimson Energy Experts Private Limited (CEEPL) on August 3, 2026. ANUGYAN is…
INST Mohali develops eco-friendly ML-enabled PLA-ZnO nanofiber filter for dye-laden wastewater treatment
Key Updates:
- The Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) Mohali, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), developed a machine learning enabled filter integrating green-synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibers for treating dye-contaminated wastewater.
- ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using turmeric extract, with bioactive compounds like curcumin, flavonoids and phenolic compounds acting as reducing and stabilizing agents, avoiding harmful reagents.
- PLA-ZnO nanofibers were fabricated through electrospinning, producing a porous, high-surface-area, mechanically stable catalytic membrane that combines photocatalysis and piezocatalysis, with mechanical vibrations generating piezoelectric polarization that suppresses electron-hole recombination.
- The PLA-ZnO nanofibers achieved 98.6% methylene blue (MB) and 96.7% Congo red (CR) decolorization within 120 minutes under combined light and ultrasonic excitation.
- The material showed antibacterial activity, inactivating approximately 75% of E. coli and 71% of S. aureus after 6 hours.
- Machine learning was used to predict dye-decolorization behaviour from parameters such as wavelength, time, catalyst amount, ultrasonic frequency, light intensity and dye concentration.
- The work was published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials (Wiley).
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The CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) has developed a phytopharmaceutical from the medicinal plant Gymnema sylvestre for treating diabetic foot ulcers. The therapy also shows potential for managing…
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has been granted an Indian patent for an electrochemical reactor that recovers copper from wastewater. The patent, titled 'An Electrochemical Reactor for Cathodic Recovery of Copper from Wastewater'…
ICAR-National Soybean Research Institute's NRC 268 and NRC 270 Varieties Show Around 20 Quintals per Hectare Yields Despite Adverse Weather
Key Updates:
- The ICAR-National Soybean Research Institute, Indore, organised a Soybean Harvest Day on 9 October 2026 to assess the yield potential of its improved soybean varieties NRC 268 and NRC 270.
- Preliminary data from harvesting one acre each of the two varieties indicated encouraging yields of approximately 20 quintals per hectare despite adverse weather conditions.
- India's current average soybean productivity is approximately 10-11 quintals per hectare, while improved varieties and production technologies can achieve 15-20 quintals per hectare, potentially reaching 22-25 quintals under favourable conditions.
- Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, said scientific analysis of the yield data would guide future research strategies for increasing soybean productivity.
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Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) developed India's first fully annotated telomere-to-telomere (T2T) reference genome of the pigeonpea variety 'Asha'. The genome assembly, designated NIPB_CcT2T_4, comprises…
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on September 5, 2026, deferring the house-listing operations for Census 2027 in Manipur. The deferment was made under provisions of section 3 and section 17A of the…
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is working on genome-editing of around 40 crop varieties across 34 of its research institutes. The goal of the initiative is to develop climate-resilient and…
The Centre has tightened stockholding limits for sugar dealers, effective October 15, barring them from holding stocks for more than 15 days or keeping more than 1,000 quintals at any location, with the limits in force…
Shubman Gill and Shafali Verma named ICC Players of the Month for September 2026
Key Updates:
- The International Cricket Council announced Shubman Gill as the ICC Men's Player of the Month for September 2026 on Tuesday, October 13, with the batter finishing ahead of fellow Indian Abhishek Sharma and Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza.
- Gill's standout performance came in Guwahati on September 30, when India chased down a target of 406 against the West Indies after the visitors posted 405 for seven.
- Gill struck an unbeaten 223 off 133 deliveries, hitting 26 fours and eight sixes, as India reached 406 for two in 43.3 overs, completing the chase with eight wickets in hand and 39 balls remaining.
- Gill reached his century in 62 balls and completed his double-century in 117 deliveries, making it the fastest double-century in men's ODI cricket.
- Rohit Sharma supported the chase with 101 off 75 balls, sharing a 255-run opening partnership with Gill.
- Gill scored 333 runs in the first two ODIs against the West Indies, including a century in the opening match and an unbeaten double-century in the second, with India winning both matches by eight wickets.
- In the opening ODI, Gill scored 110 off 108 deliveries while chasing 296, and although the West Indies won the third ODI on October 3, India claimed the three-match series 2-1.
- Gill had previously won the ICC Men's Player of the Month award in January and September 2023, followed by February and July 2025, and the September 2026 award takes his total to five, extending his record for the most wins in the men's category.
- India opener Shafali Verma was named the ICC Women's Player of the Month for September after contributing to her team's successes in the Asia Cup and Asian Games.
- Verma scored 360 runs at a strike rate of 184.61 and took six wickets during the period, and was India's leading run-scorer during the Asia Cup campaign.
- Verma scored an unbeaten century against Bangladesh in the Asian Games semi-final and 48 runs in the final against Sri Lanka, while Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and India's Sree Charani were also shortlisted for the women's award.
- Verma previously won the monthly honour in November 2025 after her performances during India's Women's ODI World Cup campaign.
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Shubman Gill equalled MS Dhoni's tally of seven Player of the Series awards in ODI cricket after India's three-match series against the West Indies. Gill scored a century in the opening ODI and an unbeaten 233 in the…
Smriti Mandhana became the first woman cricketer to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket during India's Asian Games gold-medal final against Sri Lanka at Korogi Sports Park in Aichi-Nagoya. Before the final…
Mohun Bagan's Lallianzuala Chhangte was named Indian Player of the Year at the FPAI Indian Football Awards 2026. Manisha Kalyan won the Indian Women's Player of the Year award.
Shafali Verma broke the world record for most runs in a calendar year in women's T20Is, reaching 825 runs in her 24th T20I of 2026 during the Asian Games 2026 final against Sri Lanka on September 22 at Korogi Sports Park…
Alexander Zverev Secures Year-End ATP World No. 1 Ranking For First Time
Key Updates:
- Alexander Zverev clinched the year-end ATP No. 1 ranking, becoming the first German and the oldest player to achieve the year-end top spot for the first time.
- Zverev won his first two Grand Slam titles this year at the French Open and the U.S. Open, and also reached the Wimbledon final and the Australian Open semifinals.
- Zverev's No. 1 finish was assured after Zizou Bergs defeated No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz at the Shanghai Masters.
- Zverev could become No. 1 as early as November 2 and is mathematically certain of the top spot by the season's final rankings on November 23.
- Jannik Sinner, who beat Zverev in the Wimbledon final in July, announced he is sitting out the rest of the season due to inflammation in his right knee.
- Zizou Bergs stunned second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6 (4) at the Shanghai Masters to reach the fourth round.
- Bergs will next face Tommy Paul, who knocked out defending champion Valentin Vacherot 6-4, 6-2.
- Daniil Medvedev beat Dalibor Svrcina 6-2, 6-3, while Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 and Stefanos Tsitsipas knocked out Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
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Jannik Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon 2026. Linda Nosková defeated Karolina Muchová 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to win the women's singles title at Wimbledon 2026.
Novak Djokovic won his seventh China Open title in Beijing when Alex de Minaur retired injured with Djokovic leading 7-6 (3), 0-1. The 39-year-old Djokovic remains unbeaten in Beijing at 34-0 and claimed the 102nd…
Alexander Zverev won the 2026 US Open men's singles title, defeating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in the final at Flushing Meadows. Elena Rybakina won her first US Open women's singles title, beating…
Indian Oil Commits ₹40 Crore via MoU with NSDF and SAI to Boost Indian Boxing
Key Updates:
- The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), Sports Authority of India (SAI), and Indian Oil Corporation signed an MoU on 13 October 2026 to strengthen boxing in India through talent identification and athlete development.
- Indian Oil will provide ₹40 crore over two years to support talent identification, athlete development, coaching, sports science, international exposure, boxing academies, and capacity building of coaches, referees and technical officials.
- The MoU follows the inclusion of sports as a dedicated thematic area under the Department of Public Enterprises' Common CSR Theme Framework.
- At the Asian Games 2026, Indian boxers won six medals, including three gold and three bronze.
- The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Secretary (Sports) Shri Hari Ranjan Rao, Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh, and Indian Oil Director (HR) Rashmi Govil.
- The National Sports Development Fund was established by the Government of India in 1998 under the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890.
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India, the world's biggest vegetable oil importer, is considering lowering import taxes on vegetable oils to curb food inflation as the peak demand festival season gets under way. Prices of vegetable oils in India have…
Chhattisgarh signed an MoU with ITE Education Services, Singapore, for collaboration in technical and vocational education and training, in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, on October 6, 2026, during the…
The Sports Authority of India (SAI), Badminton Association of India (BAI) and Sports Authority of Assam (SAA) signed a tripartite agreement to strengthen sports infrastructure in the North East. The Olympic-size swimming…
Max Verstappen Claims Maiden Singapore Grand Prix Victory for Red Bull
Key Updates:
- Max Verstappen of Red Bull won the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Circuit, his maiden win at the circuit in his 250th Formula 1 Grand Prix appearance.
- Starting from his 50th career pole position, Verstappen converted the advantage into a controlled win under the Singapore lights.
- Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished second, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes in third.
- With the win, Verstappen moved from fifth to fourth in the F1 Drivers' Standings.
- Lando Norris finished fourth and Oscar Piastri fifth for McLaren, Lewis Hamilton sixth for Ferrari, Liam Lawson seventh for Racing Bulls, Nico Hulkenberg eighth for Audi, George Russell ninth for Mercedes, and Isack Hadjar tenth for Red Bull Racing.
- George Russell finished ninth after starting 19th on the demanding Singapore street circuit.
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Kimi Antonelli won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza from 19th on the grid, leading a Mercedes one-two ahead of George Russell. Antonelli became the first Italian to win at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966, ending a…
Lando Norris won the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. The race was held at Circuit Zandvoort, which hosted its final Formula 1 race before being removed from the calendar.
UN Experts Call for Death Penalty Moratorium Ahead of World Day Against the Death Penalty on October 10, 2026
Key Updates:
- World Day Against the Death Penalty is observed on 10 October; in 2026, UN experts issued a statement ahead of the day calling for complete abolition of the death penalty.
- According to available data, in 2025 at least 25,508 people were on death row worldwide, 2,334 people were newly sentenced to death, and 2,707 people were executed.
- The 2,707 executions in 2025 represented the highest number of recorded executions globally since 1981 and a 78 per cent increase compared with the previous year.
- Nearly half of all known executions in 2025 were reportedly carried out for drug-related offences, while 93 per cent of recorded executions took place in just two countries.
- As of 2026, 145 States have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice.
- UN experts called on States that retain capital punishment to establish an immediate moratorium on executions in compliance with UN General Assembly resolution 79/179 (2024) and to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
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World Mental Health Day is observed every year on October 10. The theme of World Mental Health Day 2026 is 'Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change'.
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World Senior Citizens Day falls on August 21, 2026. The day was established in the United States on August 21, 1988, by President Ronald Reagan through Proclamation 5847.
Lebanon's parliament approved a draft law abolishing the death penalty on August 11, 2026. Lebanon became the first country in West Asia to formally end capital punishment.
