Daily Current Affairs 22 October 2026: Centre and LIC to hold up to 15% stakes

Topic

Economy, Banking and Finance

Centre and LIC to hold up to 15% stakes as public shareholders in IDBI Bank after Fairfax strategic sale

Key Updates:

The Government of India and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) will become public shareholders in IDBI Bank after the strategic sale, with equity holdings capped at 15 per cent and no board representation.
The government approved the sale of a 60.72 per cent stake in IDBI Bank to Canada's Fairfax Financial Holdings for about ₹53,000 crore ($5.5 billion), the largest foreign investment in an Indian bank.
Fairfax will acquire the government's 30.48 per cent stake valued at about ₹26,620 crore and LIC's 30.24 per cent stake valued at about ₹26,440 crore.
Fairfax, led by Canadian billionaire Prem Watsa, will pay ₹81 per share, above the benchmark fair value of ₹75.99 set by two independent valuation agencies.
The market regulator directed LIC to reduce its stake in IDBI Bank from post-diluted 19 per cent to 15 per cent, raising the bank's public float by an additional 4 percentage points.
The IDBI Bank strategic transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year, subject to clearance from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), after which the share purchase agreement will be signed.
After the share purchase agreement is signed, Fairfax will be required to make an open offer to minority shareholders in accordance with applicable regulations.
Following the restructuring, the responsibility to run IDBI Bank and infuse capital whenever required will rest with the strategic buyer.
The IDBI Bank sale process began in 2022 and faced a setback earlier this year when initial bids fell below the government's reserve price.

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Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs clears sale of 60.72% IDBI Bank stake to Canada's Fairfax for ₹52,878 crore (Mid of October)

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the sale of a 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank to Canada-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd for ₹52,878 crore, set to be the…

Finance Ministry defends IDBI Bank stake sale to Fairfax citing 2003 Act and 2018 Delhi High Court ruling (Mid of October)

The Cabinet approved strategic disinvestment of a 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank to Canada's Fairfax Financial Holdings for about ₹53,000 crore ($5.5 billion). The deal is the largest foreign investment in India's financial…

Government of India offers 6.5% stake in LIC via OFS at ₹382 floor price (Start of August)

The Government of India is selling up to a 6.5% stake in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) through an Offer for Sale (OFS) at a floor price of ₹382 per share. Retail investors will receive a discount of ₹15 per…

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Approves LIC's Acquisition of Up to 9.99% Stake in ICICI Bank (Start of September)

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) received Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approval to acquire up to 9.99% of ICICI Bank's paid-up share capital or voting rights within one year. ICICI Bank received the RBI approval…

India Post Achieves Historic Revenue Milestone, Exceeding ₹4,000 Crore Quarterly Mark for Two Consecutive Quarters

Key Updates:

India Post achieved a historic milestone by crossing the ₹4,000 crore quarterly revenue mark for the second consecutive quarter.
The Department recorded revenue of ₹8,212.7 crore during the first half of FY 2026-27, registering a year-on-year growth of 24% over the previous financial year.
In the second quarter (Q2) of FY 2026-27, the Department earned ₹4,201.5 crore, registering a year-on-year growth of 25%.
The Parcels vertical registered the highest growth, increasing by 71% year-on-year in Q2.
Other business verticals saw significant growth, including PLI/RPLI by 44%, Mails by 36%, International Relations & Global Business by 38%, and Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) by 18%.
The Expenditure Cost Ratio reached 42% when including pension expenditure and 62% when excluding pension expenditure.
For the second quarter, Bihar Postal Circle led performance with 97.15% achievement, followed by West Bengal at 97.07% and North East at 94.79%.

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FASTag Annual Pass Surpasses One Crore Subscribers Within 13 Months Of Launch (End of September)

The FASTag Annual Pass crossed the one-crore subscriber mark in just over 13 months since its launch on August 15, 2025, as per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The pass is for non-commercial vehicles such as…

Press Information Bureau (PIB) Announces Union Government Receipts Reach ₹13.06 Lakh Crore by July 2026 (Start of September)

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) released the Monthly Review of Accounts of the Union Government of India up to July 2026 for FY 2026-27. Total receipts of the Union Government stood at ₹13,06,709 crore, forming 35.8%…

DigiLocker Crosses 72.43 Crore Users; UMANG Reaches 11.66 Crore (Mid of August)

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India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) Launches DakPay Sound Box, Digital Insurance and Mutual Fund Platforms on 9th Foundation Day (Start of September)

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) launched the DakPay sound box, digital insurance and mutual fund platforms on its 9th foundation day. The bank has over 13 crore customers, including a large rural and women customer base.

Indian Railways Registers All-Time High Coal Loading in October 2026 (Till 18th) with 22.5% Growth

Key Updates:

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 during this period.
Indian Railways dispatched an average of 430 coal rakes per day to thermal power plants in the first half of FY 2026-27, a 7.1% increase over the corresponding period last year.
In September 2026, coal rake dispatches rose 14% per day compared with September 2025.
Indian Railways is coordinating with the Ministries of Coal and Power to ensure reliable coal supply and maintain adequate coal stocks at thermal power plants.

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Paradip Port's Mechanised Coal Handling Plant Achieves Record 1.40 Lakh Tonnes Coal Loading in a Single Day (Mid of October)

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…

Federal Power Ministry Directs Over 100 Captive Coal Plants to Run at Full Capacity from October 1 (End of September)

India's federal power ministry has ordered more than 100 captive coal-fired power plants, each with installed capacity of at least 50 megawatts, to operate at maximum capacity from October 1 through year-end to meet an…

Indian Railways Approves ₹163 Crore Traction Upgrade for Parbhani-Mudkhed (End of July)

Indian Railways has approved a ₹163 crore project to upgrade the electric traction system on the Parbhani-Mudkhed double line section in the Nanded Division of South Central Railway. The project involves replacing the…

Indian Railways' September 2026 Freight Loading Rises 6.14% Year-on-Year (Mid of October)

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…

Topic

Government Schemes and Policy

View all Schemes & Policy

Government Notifies Telecom Regulatory Sandbox Rules 2026 to Enable Testing of New Technologies

Key Updates:

The Central Government has notified the Telecommunications (Regulatory Sandbox) Rules, 2026, allowing eligible startups, companies, researchers and individuals to test innovative telecom technologies, services and business models in a controlled regulatory environment.
Under the rules, the Central Government can create a regulatory sandbox on its own initiative or by accepting a proposal submitted by an applicant, either on their own initiative or in response to a government request for proposals.
The rules provide exemptions from certain provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 to facilitate testing under specified conditions.
A regulatory sandbox can initially operate for up to 24 months, with extensions of up to 12 months at a time, and extension requests must be submitted at least 30 days before the existing validity expires.
Applicants must apply through the designated government portal with a non-refundable processing fee of ₹10,000, along with reports of previous laboratory testing and the exemptions they seek from existing telecom regulations.
Approved applicants must obtain prior user consent for trials, inform participants of the testing's purpose and scope, and cannot charge users for participating.
Commercial sale or availability of technologies, services, products and business models under testing is prohibited during the sandbox period.
Applicants must retain testing records, including work plans, methodologies and user consent records, for at least one year after the sandbox's validity expires, or longer if required by the Central Government.

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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Updates Anti-Spam Regulations with AI Integration (Mid of September)

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has amended the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018, to incorporate AI and machine learning-based detection for unsolicited…

Central Electricity Authority notifies Cyber Security in Power Sector Regulations, 2026 (Mid of August)

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) notified the 'Central Electricity Authority (Cyber Security in Power Sector) Regulations, 2026', which will take effect from April 1, 2027. The regulations require power sector…

Draft SHANTI Rules 2026 mandate nuclear damage cover for plant operators (Mid of August)

The draft rules under the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy (SHANTI) Act, 2025 require nuclear plant operators to maintain an insurance policy, financial security, or a combination of both to cover…

Government's 1.16% EPS contribution remains capped at Rs 15,000 wages despite higher EPFO ceiling

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Labour and Employment amended the Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026 via Notification No. G.S.R. 890(E) dated October 15, 2026, specifying a monthly wage limit of Rs 15,000 for the government's contribution to the pension scheme.
The amendment, effective from September 17, 2026, changes paragraph 4, sub-paragraph 2 of the Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026, replacing the earlier wording referring to an amount specified by the Central Government with 'wages upto rupees fifteen thousand (Rs 15,000/-) per month'.
The statutory wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage was raised from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per month, effective September 17, 2026, under Notification No. S.O. 5109(E).
Despite the revised Rs 25,000 ceiling, the government's contribution to EPS remains 1.16% of wages up to Rs 15,000 per month, capped at a maximum of Rs 174 per month per member.
The revised ceiling expands mandatory coverage under EPF, EPS and EDLI, and the EPFO estimates it will bring more than 51 lakh additional employees under mandatory coverage.
The employer contributes 12% towards EPF and EPS components, with 8.33% allocated to EPS, while the employee contributes 12% of applicable EPF wages.
The October 15 notification does not change the pension calculation formula or announce any increase or reduction in pension payable to members.

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Labour Ministry tells employers not to reduce statutory wages after EPFO ceiling rises to Rs 25,000 (Start of October)

On September 17, the government raised the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000, extending mandatory coverage to over 10 million additional workers. The labour and…

Union Cabinet Approves Hike in EPFO Monthly Wage Ceiling to ₹25,000 (Mid of September)

The Union Cabinet approved the Ministry of Labour & Employment's proposal to raise the EPFO wage ceiling for mandatory coverage from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month. The move is expected to bring over 51 lakh additional…

SEZ Rules amended to let units take back goods rejected by domestic buyers, with conditions

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified the Special Economic Zones (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026 on October 15, amending Rule 49(2) of the SEZ Rules, 2006.
SEZ units may now bring back duty-paid goods rejected by domestic tariff area (DTA) buyers within 30 days of clearance, provided the goods' identity is established and the buyer has not availed benefits such as input tax credit.
Returned goods must be maintained in a separate inventory in an auditable format.
Units may resell returned goods in original condition to the same or another DTA buyer; the resale is treated as a fresh domestic sale with duty payable under Section 30 of the SEZ Act, and a refund of duty paid at original clearance can be sought separately under Rule 47(5), governed by the Customs Act, 1962.
The relief applies only when the buyer fails to take delivery due to change in fashion, market conditions, or breach of sale terms, not to every return.
The amendment also permits DTA-supplied goods to be returned to SEZ units for repairs within six months of clearance, an extended approved period, or the warranty period, whichever is later, with duty payable on the repair value.
Previously, the rules allowed bringing back DTA-cleared goods only for repairs, with no explicit route for goods whose buyers declined delivery.

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RoDTEP scheme extended to December 2026 as India boosts export insurance cover to 95% (Start of October)

The Government of India has extended the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme up to December 31, 2026, with existing rates and value caps unchanged. RoDTEP benefits apply to exports by…

New airfare rules: no general fare regulation, caps only in exceptional public-interest cases (Mid of October)

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…

Centre extends RELIEF scheme Component II to protect exporters from West Asia shipping risks (Start of October)

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Centre extends RoDTEP export duty refund scheme by three months to December 31, 2026 (Start of October)

The government extended the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme by three months till December 31, 2026, with existing rates and value caps unchanged. The extension covers exports by…

UDAN Scheme Completes 10 Years: 687 Routes Operational, Modified Phase Gets ₹28,840 Crore Outlay

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Civil Aviation's (MoCA) Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), launched on October 21, 2016, completed 10 years in 2026.
As of October 2026, UDAN has operationalised 687 regional routes and 95 aerodromes, including 17 heliports and two water aerodromes, with over 3.68 lakh flights and 1.72 crore passengers facilitated.
Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of ₹5,091.23 crore has been disbursed under the scheme as of October 15, 2026.
The modified phase of UDAN, formally launched on July 4, 2026, has an outlay of ₹28,840 crore for implementation from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36.
Modified UDAN allocates ₹12,159 crore for developing 100 airports over eight years, ₹2,577 crore for operation and maintenance support to about 441 aerodromes, ₹3,661 crore for 200 modern helipads over eight years, and ₹10,043 crore for airline viability support over 10 years.
The modified scheme proposes ₹400 crore for acquiring two HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Under the modified scheme, VGF for eligible regional routes is available for up to five years, financial support tapers from the third year, and route exclusivity is limited to three years.
Twenty-one memoranda of understanding have been signed between the government, participating States and Union Territories, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and a dedicated Challenge Mode Portal will allow States and UTs to nominate airstrips and helipads for development.
In the North-Eastern region, 90 priority RCS routes have been operationalised, 52 aerodromes identified, and 12 of them operationalised.
Purnea Airport in Bihar, operationalised in 2025, has a runway of about 2.8 km capable of handling aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, and extends air access to more than 10 districts.
Tezu Airport in Arunachal Pradesh, operationalised in 2021, provides air access to over two lakh people and has reduced travel time to Guwahati to about one hour.
Deoghar Airport in Jharkhand began operations in July 2022, reducing travel time between Delhi and Deoghar to approximately two hours.
Aviation sector employment increased from about three million in 2014 to nearly 7.7 million in 2026, with the Ministry projecting a potential of 25 million by 2040.

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Megamax Aviation's Air Ayodhya Secures Civil Aviation Ministry NOC to Fly Uttar Pradesh Towns Under UDAN (Start of October)

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Civil Aviation Ministry to Sign MoUs with 22 States for Next Phase of UDAN Scheme (End of September)

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Modified UDAN Scheme to Build 100 New Airports with Rs 30,000 Crore Outlay (Start of September)

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Ministry of Civil Aviation Signs MoUs with 22 States to Launch Next Phase of UDAN Scheme (End of September)

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Khet Bachao Abhiyan-Rabi 2026: Nationwide Sustainable Farming Campaign Launched from Karnal, Haryana

Key Updates:

The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's nationwide 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan-Rabi 2026' was launched by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on October 22, 2026, from Karnal, Haryana, and will run until November 30, 2026.
The campaign aims to reach approximately one crore participants through ATMA and ICAR, with 4,150 teams of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and ATMA personnel and over 12,000 scientists and ATMA personnel involved in implementation.
Key focus areas include balanced and judicious use of fertilisers and pesticides based on soil testing, crop diversification through oilseed, pulse and horticulture missions, water conservation, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, integrated pest management, climate-resilient agriculture, and natural farming promotion.
The campaign will use farmer conferences, Kisan Chaupals, training sessions and field demonstrations at state, district, block and Gram Panchayat levels, involving state agriculture departments, KVKs, ICAR institutes, agricultural universities, ATMAs, FPOs, cooperatives and self-help groups.
The campaign will also help farmers create Farmer IDs, spread awareness about crop insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), expand the reach of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme and inform farmers about benefits from trade agreements.

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Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs raises Minimum Support Prices for all mandated Rabi crops for 2027-28 marketing season (Start of October)

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NHAI Adds Toll Plaza Feedback Option to Rajmargyatra App for Rating Highway Toll Services

Key Updates:

NHAI launched a 'Toll Plaza Feedback' feature on its Rajmargyatra app that allows National Highway users to rate toll plaza services, report issues and share suggestions to improve service delivery.
Annual Pass users receive a notification from the Rajmargyatra app after crossing a National Highway toll plaza inviting them to share feedback, while all users can access the 'Toll Plaza Feedback' option from the app's menu section to submit feedback about any toll plaza.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways entrusted to it in India.

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NHAI Extends Digital FASTag Local Pass Facility to 121 Toll Plazas (Mid of August)

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Gadkari Launches OneTag to Let FASTag Users Change Issuer Banks Without Replacing Tag (Mid of September)

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India Introduces Digital Monthly Toll Pass (End of July)

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Ministry of Earth Sciences and AcSIR Sign MoU for Joint PhD Programmes Across All Ten MoES Research Institutes

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recognising all ten MoES research institutes as AcSIR Associated Research Institutes for joint doctoral programmes.
Students selected under AcSIR's PhD programme will conduct research at MoES institutes under MoES scientists recognised as AcSIR faculty, with AcSIR awarding the doctoral degree and explicitly naming the host institute on the certificate.
All ten MoES institutes are participating in AcSIR's latest PhD enrolment cycle, with nodal AcSIR coordinators appointed at each institute and a Central Coordinator at MoES.
The collaboration offers doctoral opportunities in specialised earth system science fields including weather forecasting and climate services, numerical weather prediction, polar and cryosphere research, ocean observation and marine robotics, deep-sea mining and desalination, seismology and earthquake hazard assessment, coastal processes, marine living resources, and AI/ML applications in earth sciences.
Intellectual Property Rights generated from research will credit the student as inventor, while joint intellectual property will be shared mutually.
MoES Secretary Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala said the ministry will benefit significantly from the partnership for the benefit of the earth science faculty and researchers.

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Topic

International, Defence and Summits

View all International & Defence

India-Poland Joint Statement: PM Modi and Poland PM Donald Tusk Agree to Double Bilateral Trade by 2030 and Launch Defence Industry Dialogue During 21-23 October 2026 Official Visit

Key Updates:

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk paid an official visit to India from 21-23 October 2026, accompanied by a high-level delegation including around 100 leading CEOs and industry representatives.
The Prime Ministers recalled PM Modi's August 2024 visit to Poland, when the relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership and the India-Poland Action Plan for 2024-2028 was adopted, and endorsed its mid-term review conducted by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in Warsaw in September 2026.
India and Poland set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
The two leaders proposed a Defence Industry Dialogue to build a forward-looking framework for defence industrial cooperation, including business-to-business engagement and, where mutually agreed, partnerships in technology, co-development and co-production.
The Leaders welcomed the outcomes of the 8th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Defence held in Warsaw in September 2026 and agreed to maintain regular exchanges between defence establishments.
Both sides underlined the importance of an Agreement on Mutual Protection and Exchange of Classified Information and expressed the expectation that it would be signed soon.
The Prime Ministers emphasised collaboration in circular economy and recovery industry, particularly recycling of batteries and refining of rare earth minerals, and underlined opportunities in geology, mining and critical minerals, with an MoU under negotiation.
The Leaders welcomed the prospect of enhancing direct flights between Poland and India and encouraged civil aviation authorities to hold direct talks.
The two leaders noted the importance of improving connectivity, including through the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative, and agreed on developing scientific cooperation in polar affairs.
The Leaders welcomed the ICCR Chair of Indian Studies at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and encouraged deeper institutional partnerships, student and faculty exchanges and collaborative research between higher education institutions.
A Cooperation agreement between the National Archives of India and the General Director of the State Archives of the Republic of Poland was concluded and would be signed soon.
Both sides acknowledged the memorial of Maharaja Jamsaheb (known as the Good Maharaja in Poland) and the Principality of Kolhapur in Warsaw, noting India sheltered thousands of Polish women and children during World War-II, and noted two editions of the Jam Saheb Memorial Youth Exchange Programme, the latest in October 2026.
Both sides recalled with appreciation Polish assistance to more than 2,000 Indian students stranded in Ukraine under Operation Ganga.
Poland expressed support for India's membership of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council and reiterated support for India's candidature for a non-permanent UNSC seat for 2028-29.
The two leaders condemned terrorism in all forms, condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir of 22 April 2025 in the strongest terms, called for action against terrorists including those designated by the UNSC 1267 sanctions committee, called for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), and agreed to a dialogue on counter-terrorism.
The Leaders reaffirmed the importance of a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific and respect for international law including UNCLOS 1982, and India invited Poland to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
Both Leaders welcomed the first Foreign Ministers' Meeting of India and the Visegrad Group (V4) comprising Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, and reaffirmed commitment to the V4+India format.
India welcomed Poland's announcement of joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and India invited Poland to join the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance.
The Leaders reaffirmed commitment to deepen the India-Poland Strategic Partnership and implement the Action Plan (2024-2028), and PM Tusk extended an invitation to PM Modi to visit Poland.
The Prime Ministers underlined the importance of the India-EU Summit held on 27 January 2026 in New Delhi, the Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda, the concluded EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation on Mobility, calling for the FTA's early signing, ratification and timely implementation.
PM Modi congratulated Poland on crossing the USD 1 trillion GDP mark, while Poland appreciated India's trajectory to become a USD 10 trillion economy in the coming years.
The Leaders agreed to expand agricultural cooperation by resuming the bilateral working group and welcomed the India-Poland Business Forum held during the visit.
Both leaders agreed to undertake collaborative research on AI, semiconductors and quantum technologies and to enhance startup partnerships.
Both sides highlighted opportunities for close cooperation on semiconductors.
An agreement on cooperation in culture, science and higher education will be concluded soon.
The Leaders highlighted the role of the G20 and expressed readiness to cooperate in G20 tracks in which Poland participates or may be invited.
The two leaders expressed deep concern over the war in Ukraine, reiterated the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with international law and the UN Charter, and noted the war's negative impacts on global food and energy security, especially for the Global South.
Poland joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and India and Poland agreed to a dialogue on counter-terrorism, as announced by MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George after the bilateral talks in New Delhi.
Secretary (West) said both sides discussed global developments including the Russia-Ukraine war, and that India's position is a settlement through dialogue and diplomacy, an approach appreciated by both Ukraine and Russia.
The Leaders underscored the need for accelerated global action on climate change, reaffirmed support for the UNFCCC process and the Paris Agreement, and encouraged bilateral cooperation in clean energy, sustainable technologies and climate-resilient development.

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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…

Sebi seeks Irdai's help to add insurance details to consolidated account statements (Mid of October)

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has written to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) chairman seeking inclusion of insurance-related information in the consolidated account…

India and Singapore Navies Launch 33rd Edition of SIMBEX Exercise in Visakhapatnam

Key Updates:

The 33rd edition of the Singapore–India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) commenced in Visakhapatnam on October 21, 2026 and will continue until October 26.
Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) ship RSS Supreme arrived in Visakhapatnam to participate in the exercise, and the opening ceremony was held onboard INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta.
SIMBEX was first conducted in 1994 as Exercise Lion King and has since evolved into a significant bilateral maritime engagement between the Indian Navy and the RSN.
The Harbour Phase, from October 21 to 23, includes professional interactions, subject matter expert exchanges, cross-deck visits, sporting engagements and planning conferences.
The Sea Phase, from October 24 to 26 in the Bay of Bengal, involves anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface and anti-air warfare drills, seamanship evolutions and tactical manoeuvres.

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PM-SETU: Shareholders' Agreements Signed with AM/NS India for Surat and Visakhapatnam ITI Clusters; ₹440 Crore Approved for Upgrading Nine Government ITIs (Mid of October)

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…

SCCA and GCAI Sign MoU to Strengthen India-Singapore In-House Legal Collaboration (Start of September)

The Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA) and the General Counsels’ Association of India (GCAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 28 August 2026. The MoU was signed during the Singapore Convention…

Chhattisgarh Inks Skilling MoU with Singapore's ITE Education Services During CM's Singapore Visit (Mid of October)

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…

Visakhapatnam Port Authority Approves ₹334.89-Crore Internal Flyover on August 11, 2026 (Mid of August)

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways approved a ₹334.89-crore internal flyover project at Visakhapatnam Port Authority on August 11, 2026. The proposed 3.584-km elevated corridor will connect Convent Junction…

Indian Navy Conducted Carrier Trials for French Rafale-M Fighters, Targeting 2028–29 Induction

Key Updates:

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 Rafale-Marine aircraft.
The procurement package includes 22 single-seat fighters and four twin-seat trainers, along with training, simulators, weapons, and maintenance support.
Deliveries of the Rafale-M are expected to begin by the end of 2028 or early 2029.
The Rafale-M is intended to operate from India’s aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
The Shore-Based Test Facility at INS Hansa replicates the ski-jump configuration used by Indian carriers.

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Indian Navy Frigate INS Trishul Reaches Plymouth, United Kingdom for Bilateral Exercise KONKAN-26 with Royal Navy (Mid of October)

Indian Navy's guided missile stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived at Plymouth, United Kingdom, to participate in Exercise KONKAN-26 with the Royal Navy. KONKAN-26 is the India-UK annual bilateral maritime exercise…

INS Sahyadri Reaches Vladivostok to Join India-Russia Naval Exercise INDRA 2026 (Mid of October)

Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri arrived at Vladivostok, Russia, on 10 October 2026 to take part in Exercise INDRA 2026, a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) scheduled from…

India Navy to Lease Two MQ-9B Sea Guardian Drones (Mid of August)

The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 1,943-crore contract with American defence major General Atomics to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the…

Indian Army to unveil new land warfare doctrine during Army Commanders’ Conference

Key Updates:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will release the new land warfare doctrine on Friday, the last day of the Army’s biannual Army Commanders’ Conference.
The doctrine is designed as a broad operational and strategic framework to prepare the Indian Army to meet the challenges posed by the evolving character of warfare and future conflicts.
The three-day conference, which opened in the national capital on Wednesday, is chaired by Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth.
Discussions at the conference will cover cross-domain security issues, inter-service synergy, and digital transformation within defense infrastructure.
The conference will also feature the unveiling of the annual United Nations Journal and the presentation of honors to personnel on international peacekeeping missions.
Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth will confer special awards for Green Military Stations and Aviation Flight Safety.

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Indian Army's First Dedicated Communication Satellite GSAT-7B Slated for Mid-2028 Launch (End of October)

The Navy received its new satellite GSAT-7R last November when ISRO launched it to replace the ageing Rukmini, enabling secure communication among warships, submarines, aircraft and shore-based control centres. The…

Indian Army launches 'Bharat Rice' initiative and signs FCI logistics MoU in New Delhi on October 12, 2026 (Mid of October)

The Indian Army launched 'Bharat Rice' for defence forces at a ceremony in New Delhi on October 12, 2026, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister…

Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited Supplies 450 Nagastra-1R Loitering Munitions to Indian Army in Largest Single Batch (Mid of October)

Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), the defence arm of Nagpur-based Solar Industries, delivered 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions to the Indian Army in a single batch, the largest such supply to the Army so…

India's Ministry of Defence Signs ₹770 Crore Contract with Bharat Electronics Limited for Improved Low Level Light Weight Radars for the Indian Army (End of October)

The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) on October 21, 2026, in New Delhi to procure the Improved Low Level Light Weight Radar (LLLR-I) at a cost of approximately ₹770 crore, in…

Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia sign Badr MoU in Doha to deepen defence cooperation

Key Updates:

Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia signed the Badr Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Doha to deepen defence cooperation, as announced by Türkiye's Defence Ministry on October 21, 2026.
The Badr pact aims to promote cooperation in military production, boost military capabilities, and facilitate collaboration in technical military training, research and development.
The agreement seeks to combine the four countries' defence manufacturing strengths to enhance industrial capacity and meet the requirements of allied and friendly nations.
Haluk Gorgun, chairman of Türkiye's Defence Industry Presidency, said the accord forms the foundation of strategic cooperation for joint production and technology sharing.
In August 2026, Türkiye signed a mutual defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia under which an attack on one party constitutes an attack on all.
Türkiye, which has NATO's second-largest army, has a military base in Qatar and has been helping Gulf nations bolster their defences amid the Iran war.

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India and Armenia Sign MoU on Defence Research and Production on August 17, 2026 (Mid of August)

India and Armenia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 17, 2026, in Yerevan to enhance cooperation in defence research, development, innovation and shared production. The MoU was signed during a meeting…

Mecca Joint Defence Agreement text reveals mutual defence clause binding Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye (End of October)

The full text of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, was published by UK-based digital news website Middle East Eye, which reported that Turkiye has submitted the pact to its…

Iran Reportedly Invited to Join Mecca Joint Defence Agreement; India Watches Closely (End of August)

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed on August 7, 2026, by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, with a collective defence principle treating an attack on one as an attack on all. Iran has reportedly been invited…

India to Host 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on October 26–27, 2026

Key Updates:

India will host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on October 26–27, 2026, at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi, under India's BRICS chairship.
The central theme of the forum is 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the forum and interact with leaders of visiting parliamentary delegations from BRICS member and partner countries.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the forum programme at a press conference at Parliament House.
Discussions will cover four themes: institutional resilience, human-centred approaches to artificial intelligence and digital technologies, global governance reforms, and sustainable and inclusive development.
Secretaries of participating delegations will meet on October 25 to finalise the forum's joint statement.
A separate meeting of chairpersons of International Affairs Committees of BRICS parliaments will focus on parliamentary diplomacy and capacity building, and the Vice-President of India will host a banquet for visiting dignitaries.

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Ahmedabad to Host BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 on October 12 (Start of October)

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat, will organise the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex…

12th BRICS Communications Ministers Meeting Held in Pune (End of August)

The 12th BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting was held in Pune, India, on August 20, 2026. The Digital BRICS Forum and Expo, institutionalised at the 7th BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting hosted by India in…

India to Host BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum (Start of September)

The BRICS Chief Justices' Forum commenced in New Delhi on Friday. The forum is being hosted by the Supreme Court till September 6.

18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi Unanimously Adopts New Delhi Declaration Covering Terrorism, Trade and Global Governance (Mid of September)

The 18th BRICS Summit, hosted by India at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration on September 12, 2026, at the end of the first day of the two-day summit. The declaration strongly…

DRDO's Hyderabad Lab DLRL Develops Man-Portable Electronic Intelligence System to Track Enemy Radar Signals

Key Updates:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing a portable electronic intelligence (ELINT) system to detect and analyse signals emitted by enemy radars and other electronic equipment.
The Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) in Hyderabad has issued a tender covering the development, integration and qualification of man-portable electronic intelligence modules.
The portable ELINT modules are intended to give field personnel electronic intelligence capability without depending entirely on larger or vehicle-mounted systems.
The tender covers three stages: development, integration, and qualification against required technical and environmental standards; the system has not completed qualification testing or entered service.

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India's DRDO Builds 30 Kilowatt Directed-Energy Weapon for Military Use (End of September)

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a directed-energy weapon with a stated power output of 30 kilowatts, built for military applications. The system is a defence-grade technology…

United States Navy Chooses L3Harris VAMPIRE Counter-Drone System for Littoral Defence (Mid of September)

L3Harris Technologies has been selected by the United States Navy to deliver its VAMPIRE (Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment) counter-unmanned systems for littoral defence against drone threats. The…

India's Bhargavastra Counter-Drone System to Complete Internal Trials in 2-3 Months (End of July)

The indigenous Bhargavastra counter-drone system is developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd (SDAL). Internal trials of the Bhargavastra system are expected to be completed within two to three months.

India's Ministry of Defence Signs ₹770 Crore Contract with Bharat Electronics Limited for Improved Low Level Light Weight Radars for the Indian Army (End of October)

India Adds Three Sites Including Baratang and Sirpur to UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Key Updates:

Three new sites — the Karst-mud-volcano Complex of Baratang, the Andaman Subduction Volcanoes (Narcondam and Barren Islands), and the Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape in Chhattisgarh — were added to India's Tentative List of UNESCO's World Heritage Convention, as announced by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO in October 2026.
Addition to the Tentative List is a prerequisite before any property can be nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List, and the Archaeological Survey of India was credited for preparing the documentation and heritage research.
Baratang Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands features limestone caves, mud volcanoes locally called 'Jalki', and the largest underground cave complex in the region within about one square kilometre; it is protected under the Baratang Reserve Forest/Jarawa Tribal Reserve.
Baratang's mud volcanoes emit cool slurries of mud, water, methane and hydrogen sulphide driven by overpressured shale layers rather than magma, and after 20 years of dormancy they erupted again in 2025.
Narcondam and Barren Islands are the only Quaternary-period (last ~2.6 million years) subduction volcanoes in the inner volcanic arc of the Burma-Andaman-Java complex; Barren Island has a 2-kilometre-wide caldera formed during the Pleistocene and was declared a Geoheritage site by the Geological Survey of India in 2025.
Narcondam Island is identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International and the Bombay Natural History Society and as a Key Biodiversity Area.
Sirpur Village in Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh, lies on the eastern banks of the Mahanadi River about 78 kilometres from Raipur, is a nationally protected monument, and sits within the Proterozoic Chhattisgarh Basin with landscapes built by stromatolites formed over a billion years by cyanobacteria.
Sirpur's buffer area includes Gond and Baiga tribes, around 300 houses with nearly 1500 residents, and the Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Sirpur in Chhattisgarh added to UNESCO tentative list, moves toward World Heritage status (Mid of October)

Sirpur, an archaeological site in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh on the eastern banks of the Mahanadi River, has been included in UNESCO's tentative list, bringing it a step closer to World Heritage Site status.…

India's 4 More Heritage Sites Added to UNESCO Tentative List, taking India's total to 73 (Start of September)

Four more properties were added to India's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, bringing the total number of Indian properties on the list to 73. The 73 properties include 53 cultural, three mixed and 17 natural…

India's UNESCO Tentative List Grows to 78 Sites with Five New Heritage Additions (Start of October)

India's UNESCO Tentative List now has 78 sites after five additions: Bagh Cave Paintings, Group of Temples of the Chambal Valley, Udaigiri Caves, Ginnorgarh, and the India-South Africa serial transnational proposal…

Rajasthan's Shekhawati Havelis Added to UNESCO Tentative List (Start of September)

Rajasthan's historic Shekhawati havelis have been included in UNESCO's Tentative List, a preliminary step towards potential World Heritage status, covering heritage properties across 14 towns including Alsisar, Bissau…

Brazilian Manufacturer Embraer to Acquire 51% Stake in Mahindra Group's Novavayu Aerospace

Key Updates:

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has announced an agreement to acquire a 51 per cent stake in Novavayu Aerospace Limited (NAL).
NAL is an Indian company belonging to the Mahindra Group.
The acquisition is expected to be completed by December 1, 2026.
The majority stake will give Embraer a controlling interest in Novavayu Aerospace.
The partnership aims to strengthen Embraer's presence in India's commercial aviation and defense sectors.

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GE Aerospace Ships Four Additional F404-IN20 Engines to India for HAL-Built LCA Mk-1A Fighter Programme (Start of October)

United States firm GE Aerospace shipped four F404-IN20 engines to India in September 2026 for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), in addition to 10 engines already…

Jupiter Wagons and Lucchini RS Partner to Build Railwheel Manufacturing Platform in India (Start of August)

Jupiter Wagons Limited and Italy's Lucchini RS Holding S.p.A. have partnered to establish India's first fully integrated private-sector railwheel manufacturing platform. Under the partnership, Lucchini RS and Italian…

Stellantis India Buys Out CK Birla Group Stake to Gain Full Ownership of Tiruvallur Plant (End of September)

Stellantis India has acquired full ownership of its Tiruvallur plant by buying the stake of Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation Ltd (HMFCL), a CK Birla Group company, in the joint venture Stellantis Automobiles India Pvt…

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to Take Full Control of HATSOFF Helicopter Training Venture from CAE Canada (Start of October)

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…

India extends duty-free raw sugar import deadline to December 31 under tariff rate quota

Key Updates:

India extended the deadline for duty-free imports of 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar by two months, from October 31 to December 31, via a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
The duty-free imports were allowed under the tariff rate quota (TRQ) mechanism after domestic sugar prices hit record highs in August, amid falling domestic production and exports.
Only about 3 lakh tonnes of the 10 lakh tonnes allowed under the August 20 notification have been imported so far, as government measures to curb domestic prices reduced the import incentive.
Industry expects sugar production in the 2026-27 sugar season (October-September) to be lower than last year due to El Nino-induced drought.

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Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) allows duty-free imports of 10 lakh tonnes raw sugar until October 31 (End of August)

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has allowed duty-free imports of up to 10 lakh metric tonnes (1 million tonnes) of raw sugar until October 31, 2026. The imports are permitted under a tariff rate quota…

RoDTEP scheme extended to December 2026 as India boosts export insurance cover to 95% (Start of October)

India imposes stricter sugar stock limits on dealers from October 15 for festive season (Start of October)

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…

United States Pulls Non-Essential Diplomats Out of Saudi Arabia Amid Intensifying Houthi Attacks

Key Updates:

The United States has ordered non-essential embassy staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as the kingdom faces near-daily attacks from the Iran-backed Houthis, including a strike on Riyadh's international airport that was the country's deadliest in years.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the order applied to non-emergency US government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia only, while families of embassy staff were also ordered to leave the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain, all targeted by Iran during the Middle East war.
The Saudi energy ministry said falling debris from the interception of a drone targeting the Shaybah oil field near the UAE border killed two people, a Filipino and a Nepali, and injured two others, without saying who launched the drone.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen reported intercepting six drones, and has backed the internationally recognised government since 2015; a four-year-old truce in Yemen's civil war collapsed in June, reviving the conflict that began in 2014.
The wider Middle East conflict began in late February when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, killing the country's supreme leader, and Iran has attempted to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, which in peacetime carried around a fifth of the world's oil supplies, prompting a US counterblockade on Iranian ports and ships.
Late on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported the sound of explosions in the Karpan area of Sirik in southern Hormozgan province, with the nature of the explosions not disclosed.

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United States Clears $24.3 Billion Foreign Military Sale of 48 F-35 Fighter Jets to Saudi Arabia (Mid of September)

The US Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of 48 F-35 Lightning 2 fighter aircraft and related equipment to Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of USD 24.3 billion. The package includes 48 F-35…

Yemen's Houthis Capture Greater and Lesser Hanish Islands in Southern Red Sea, Pressuring Key Shipping Route (Mid of September)

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea, strengthening their control over a key maritime shipping route near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The…

Oman Invites Indian Investment in Sohar Port to Bypass Strait of Hormuz for Energy Access (Mid of September)

On September 16, 2026, in New Delhi, Sohar Port and Freezone CEO Raid Al Rubaiey invited Indian investments, describing India as an important and growing part of Sohar's investment landscape. Sohar Port, located on…

Indian Navy First Training Squadron Ships Reach Maldives on Long Range Training Deployment

Key Updates:

Ships of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) – INS Tir, INS Sujata and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi – arrived off Malé, Maldives, on 21 October 2026 as part of the Squadron's Long Range Training Deployment.
During the port call, the Senior Officer, First Training Squadron, called on the Chief of Defence Force of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), the Commandant of the MNDF Coast Guard, and Shri G Balasubramaniam, High Commissioner of India to the Maldives.
Trainees of the First Training Squadron visited the Girifushi Training Centre in the Maldives, with cross-deck visits, sports fixtures and outreach activities planned during the visit.
The visit underscores growing India–Maldives maritime cooperation in line with the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

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United Kingdom Forms No. III Space Effects Squadron as RAF's First Unit to Counter Threats to British Satellites (End of September)

The Royal Air Force (RAF) launched No. III Space Effects Squadron, the UK's first dedicated unit to disrupt, degrade and deny hostile threats to British satellites, announced on 23 September 2026. The squadron was…

Indian Navy Ends First-Ever Command of Combined Maritime Forces Task Force 154 at Bahrain Ceremony (Mid of October)

The Indian Navy relinquished Command of Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) at a ceremony in Manama, Bahrain, on 14 October 2026, completing its maiden command of a CMF Task Force. The…

India Extends Rs 3,000 Crore Currency Swap Rollover for Maldives From October 23, 2026 (Mid of October)

India confirmed the first rollover of its Rs 3,000 crore currency swap arrangement with Maldives, effective from October 23, 2026, at the request of the Maldivian government. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)…

India and Australia Launch Fifth Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram (Mid of October)

The fifth edition of the India-Australia Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 began on October 19, 2026 at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam, and will conclude on November 1, 2026. Approximately…

Hyderabad-Based BharathCloud Signs MoU with Kazan IT-Park to Advance India-Russia AI and Cloud Collaboration

Key Updates:

Hyderabad-based sovereign AI cloud services provider BharathCloud signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the High-Technology Technopark IT-Park in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, on October 19, 2026, to explore cooperation in artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, investments and cross-border business partnerships.
The MoU was signed at the second Russia-India Business Forum, "TIME: Russia-India Mutual Efficiency Business Forum 2026".
BharathCloud Co-Founder Rahul Takkapally attended the forum at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan and participated in the "IT Bridge: Technologies Connecting Russia and India" session.
Under the MoU, the organisations will explore joint ventures, business partnerships between Indian and Russian companies, industry events, training programmes, workshops, business delegations, and discussions on infrastructure support and technical expertise.
BharathCloud proposed the concept of "cloud embassies" to strengthen cross-border digital infrastructure.
Ruslan Vlasov is the Director of the High-Technology Technopark IT-Park, Kazan.
The Bharat Digital Infrastructure Association (BDIA) also participated in the MoU to explore AI and cloud collaboration between India and Russia.

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Bharti Airtel's Airtel Business and ITI Limited sign MoU for enterprise digital transformation in India (Mid of August)

Bharti Airtel Limited's Airtel Business and ITI Limited (ITI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a strategic collaboration. The collaboration will enable Indian enterprises to modernise legacy systems…

Jaishankar Signs UN Cybercrime Convention and Holds Key Meetings During UNGA81 in New York (End of September)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, stating it strengthens…

Indo-Russia Innopraktika Technology Hub Signs Four Agreements at Innoprom India 2026 to Deepen India-Russia Technology Ties (End of September)

The Indo-Russia 'Innopraktika' Technology Hub, represented by CEO and Executive Director Debjit Chakraborty, signed four strategic Memoranda of Understanding at Innoprom India 2026 covering artificial intelligence in…

ReNew inks MoU with Maharashtra for ₹70,000 crore, 750 MW green data centre park in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (Mid of October)

ReNew Wind Energy Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of ReNew, signed an MoU with the Maharashtra government for a ₹70,000 crore integrated green data centre park in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The 750 MW park will be…

World Bank Group Unveils Digital Strategy to Boost Connectivity and AI Readiness in Developing Nations

Key Updates:

The World Bank Group launched its first digital strategy on October 20, 2026, to help developing countries expand affordable digital access, improve services, and create jobs.
The strategy addresses four key priorities: expanding connectivity, making devices and data affordable, strengthening digital services and skills, and building foundations for artificial intelligence.
The World Bank Group announced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative to provide emerging markets with affordable compute capacity through shared, pay-as-you-go GPU infrastructure.
The AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative will initially focus on Africa and Latin America, collaborating with partners Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA.
Digital technology can support job creation across five priority sectors: infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, health care, tourism, and value-added manufacturing.
The strategy emphasizes practical applications of 'small AI,' which are tools adapted to specific tasks and local conditions, such as helping farmers identify crop disease or supporting health workers.

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Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches World Bank Group's World Development Report 2026 on Artificial Intelligence in New Delhi (Start of October)

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Railways, and Information and Broadcasting Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the World Bank Group's World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial…

World Bank Group Mobilises $36 Billion Private Capital in India Over Four Years, Including $9.6 Billion for MSMEs (Mid of October)

The World Bank Group has helped mobilise $36 billion in private capital for development in India over the past four years, including $9.6 billion for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Private capital…

Trai Unveils Digital Connectivity Rating Platform to Certify In-Building Connectivity (End of September)

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) launched an integrated Digital Connectivity Rating (DCR) platform and a mobile application on September 26, 2026, to assess and certify in-building mobile and internet…

IMF and World Bank Unveil Bangkok Blueprint Framework to Fight Cyber-Enabled Fraud (Mid of October)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank released the 'Bangkok Blueprint for Fraud-Resilient Financial Services', a framework to tackle cyber-enabled fraud, launched at the annual IMF-World Bank meetings in…

India Hosts 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026 in New Delhi with Global Participation

Key Updates:

The 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference (AWC) 2026 commenced at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, hosted in the Global South for the first time, under the theme 'Powering the Global South'.
The three-day conference is hosted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) with support from Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV), and organised with Conexio-PSE.
Over 1,200 delegates, including more than 150 foreign participants, are attending the conference, which features a dedicated India Focus Track alongside two parallel scientific tracks and an AgriVoltaics Pitch Hub for start-ups.
Three knowledge resources were launched at the conference: the Decision-Making Tool by the India Agrivoltaics Alliance (IAA), the Book of Abstracts by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and the AgriPV Policy Handbook by MNRE.
Key speakers included Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Pralhad Joshi, MNRE Secretary Santosh K. Sarangi, and German Federal Minister Carsten Schneider, who addressed via video message, with closing remarks by German Ambassador Jasper Wieck.
The conference embodies the vision 'From Power to Empower', positioning farmers as both food producers (Annadatas) and clean-energy producers (Urjadatas).

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India Hosts World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar, Its First Edition in South Asia (Mid of September)

The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 began in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, marking the first time the event is held in South Asia. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel are set to…

PM Modi Opens NGT International Conference 2026 on Environment and Climate in New Delhi (End of September)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Green Tribunal (NGT) International Conference on 'The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics' on 19 September 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The two-day…

India Hosts Third Sagarmanthan Maritime Dialogue in New Delhi with Delegates from Nearly 75 Nations (Start of October)

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…

Kolkata Launches 19th World Sudoku and 33rd World Puzzle Championship 2026 (Mid of October)

Kolkata launched the 19th World Sudoku and 33rd World Puzzle Championship (WSPC) 2026 on October 11, 2026, organised by Logic Masters India (LMI) at The Westin in Rajarhat, with elite solvers from 35 countries competing…

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Indian Researchers Detect Accretion Stream Confirming Disk Around X-Ray Pulsar Centaurus X-3

Key Updates:

Researchers at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), led by Kinjal Roy, found evidence that the X-ray pulsar Centaurus X-3 accretes material from its companion star through an accretion disk.
The Raman Research Institute (RRI) is an autonomous institution under India's Department of Science and Technology, and the finding was announced by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Centaurus X-3 is a high-mass X-ray binary about 24,000 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus, containing a highly magnetized neutron star orbiting a companion star more than 10 times the Sun's mass.
Analysis of four secondary emission lines revealed variations indicating a rotating accretion stream flowing from the accretion disk toward the neutron star, confirming disk-fed accretion.

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NASA Telescope Study of Blazars Uncovers New X-Ray Clues About Black Hole Energy (End of September)

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…

Rare Venomous Bangka Slow Loris Rediscovered After Decades of Scientific Neglect

Key Updates:

The Bangka slow loris, scientifically named Nycticebus bancanus, was last scientifically documented in the 1930s and was listed as critically endangered and possibly extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2020.
Between 2015 and 2025, the Alobi Wildlife Rescue Center documented over 90 Bangka slow lorises across the island, with 86 of them being released into suitable natural habitats.
The Bangka slow loris is a venomous primate that produces a secretion from specialized glands near its elbows, which is delivered through a bite.
The species' habitat on the island of Bangka is diminished due to tin mining and land clearing for oil palm plantations.
In the primate evolutionary lineage, the Bangka slow loris is more closely related to the lemurs of Madagascar and the galagos of Africa than to monkeys or apes.

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Venomous Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake Reappears on Southern California Beach After Nearly a Decade (Mid of September)

A yellow-bellied sea snake, one of the world's most venomous sea snakes, was found at Crystal Cove State Beach in Orange County, Southern California, on the night of September 11 by Jackie Aguilar, marking the species'…

Wild Buffaloes From Kaziranga Move Into Larger Enclosure at Kanha as Madhya Pradesh Restores Species After Nearly 100 Years (Mid of October)

Eight wild buffaloes from Assam's Kaziranga National Park were moved into a 17-hectare enclosure at the Supkhar range of Kanha Tiger Reserve, marking the species' return to Madhya Pradesh after nearly 100 years. Chief…

Lakshmanan Meyyappan Sets World Record as Youngest Male Chartered Accountant (Mid of August)

Lakshmanan Meyyappan, an Indian-origin Dubai-based teenager, was officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's youngest male Chartered Accountant. He qualified in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 30 June…

Abhishek Sharma Smashes 30-Ball Hundred to Record Fastest T20I Century by an Indian (Mid of September)

Abhishek Sharma scored the fastest century by an Indian in men's T20 internationals, reaching 100 in 30 balls against Afghanistan in the third T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, breaking Rohit Sharma's record of a…

Zoological Survey of India Identifies Three New Centipede Species in Western Ghats

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Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India’s Western Ghats Regional Centre and Malabar Christian College discovered three new centipede species in the forests of Kerala and Karnataka in the Western Ghats.
The newly identified species belong to the genus Rhysida and increase the total number of Rhysida species in India to 23.
The three species were named Rhysida quadrispinosa, Rhysida coorgensis, and Rhysida neyyarensis.
Scientists identified the species by analyzing fine anatomical features, such as spines on legs and body segments, using microscopes and digital cameras.
The discovery underscores the ecological significance of small organisms in maintaining the biodiversity and environmental balance of the Western Ghats.

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Centre Notifies Seventh Draft of Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) (End of July)

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued the seventh draft notification declaring 56,825.7 sq km of the Western Ghats as an Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA). The proposed ESA covers 449 sq km in…

Researchers Discovered New Lichen Species Buellia maharajensis in Kerala (Start of September)

A new lichen species, Buellia maharajensis, was discovered in Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki, Kerala, and named in honour of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, as it marks its 150th anniversary. The species was…

Researchers Document 3,261 Flowering Plant Species in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (End of September)

Researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) have documented 3,261 species of flowering plants in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in Kerala. The comprehensive…

New Legless Amphibian Discovered in Maharashtra (Start of September)

Scientists have discovered a new species of legless, worm-like amphibian named Gegeneophis chandgadi from a rural village in Maharashtra. The discovery was made during field surveys in August 2025 in Buzawade village, in…

China Records Its First-Ever Freshwater Cavesnail: Eyeless Erhaia dijiang Found in Yunnan Karst Cave

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Researchers have documented Erhaia dijiang, a tiny, translucent, completely eyeless snail found in a limestone cave in Hongta District, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province, as the first freshwater cavesnail formally recorded from China.
The new species belongs to the family Erhaiidae within the superfamily Truncatelloidea and was described in the journal Subterranean Biology.
The discovery pushes the known upper elevation limit for cave-dwelling freshwater snails in Asia above 2000 meters, with the holotype shell (2.05 mm long, 0.98 mm wide) collected at 2062 meters.
The snails were first collected in August 2025 using a fine net with mesh smaller than 1.5 millimeters; only three live individuals and one empty shell were found, and specimens were preserved in 95 percent ethanol and deposited at the Museum of Biology, Nanchang University.
The species shows classic troglobitic traits: complete absence of eyes, loss of pigment, a thin slightly reflexed outer lip, no tooth on the columella, and photophobic behavior in laboratory aquaria.
Molecular analysis of a 623-base-pair COI sequence (GenBank accession PZ310334) placed Erhaia dijiang as a sister group to Erhaia daliensis with an uncorrected p-distance of 10.2 percent.
Prior to this finding, freshwater cavesnails of the family Erhaiidae had only been recorded in Japan, making the Yunnan discovery a significant expansion of the known range of subterranean freshwater gastropods in East Asia.

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New Freshwater Shrimp Species Found in Gomti River (End of July)

A new freshwater shrimp species, Caridina sharmai, was discovered in the Gomti River near Lucknow. The species was identified during surveys conducted between 2023 and 2024 by researchers from BSNV PG College, University…

ZSI Discovers Two New Spider Species: Simonia lawbah and Hamataliwa papikonda (End of July)

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) scientists discovered two new spider species: Simonia lawbah from Meghalaya and Hamataliwa papikonda from Andhra Pradesh. Simonia lawbah, found in the Krem Lawbah cave, measures less than…

New Legless Amphibian Discovered in Maharashtra (Start of September)

China Expands South China Sea Footprint with New Installations Near Antelope Reef (End of August)

China has completed the first phase of construction at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, including land reclamation of about 1,490 acres. New military-style installations have been spotted on Yagong Island…

CDSCO Grants Marketing Authorization for Qfitlia to Prevent Bleeding in Haemophilia Patients

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Sanofi Healthcare received marketing authorization from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for Qfitlia, a therapy used to prevent bleeding in haemophilia patients.
The CDSCO approval covers adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older, applicable to patients with or without factor VIII or IX inhibitors.
Qfitlia (Fitusiran) is a therapy used for routine prophylaxis to prevent or reduce bleeding episodes in patients with Haemophilia A or B.
The approval was based on data derived from the ATLAS phase 3 clinical development programme.

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Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Five Special Courts for SC/ST Atrocity Cases with ₹4.51 Crore Outlay (End of July)

The Maharashtra cabinet approved the establishment of five exclusive special courts under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in Ahilyanagar, Parbhani, Solapur, Nanded and Yavatmal. Each special court will have one…

Takeda's Dengue Vaccine Qdenga, Distributed by Dr Reddy's, Expected in India by First Half of 2027 (End of September)

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company and Dr Reddy's Laboratories signed a distribution agreement on September 18, 2026, under which Dr Reddy's will promote and distribute the dengue vaccine Qdenga across India's private market…

India Crosses 80 Lakh HPV Vaccinations in Cervical Cancer Prevention Drive (Mid of September)

India has administered over 80 lakh HPV vaccinations, as announced by the Union health ministry, marking a milestone in prevention of HPV infection and associated cancers. The nationwide HPV vaccination campaign was…

India cleared to join Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) as Central Government approves accession (Mid of October)

The Central Government has approved India's accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA), a strategic milestone in global fisheries governance. India has been a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party…

Bird Flu Outbreak: Chennai's Arignar Anna Zoological Park Shuts Public Entry for Two Days

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H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed among aquatic birds at Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, near Chennai, by the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal.
The zoo suspended public entry for two days (Thursday and Friday) as a preventive measure, applying to the entire park, not just bird enclosures.
Authorities intensified biosecurity measures and began cleaning and disinfecting bird housing areas to contain the infection.
Spread across about 1,260 acres, the Vandalur zoo houses thousands of animals and birds from more than 150 species and attracts several lakh visitors annually.

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Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Confirms No New H1N1 Strain in India (End of August)

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has clarified that no new strain of Influenza A (H1N1) has been identified in India. The currently circulating influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 viruses are similar to the…

India’s First Virtual Zoo Inaugurated in Indore on August 16, 2026 (Mid of August)

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated India's first virtual zoo at Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden in Indore on August 16, 2026. The virtual zoo includes a 14-D cinema theatre and a virtual jungle safari…

India Gifts Five Peacocks to UN Geneva on August 10, 2026 (Mid of August)

India donated five Indian peacocks, including a rare white-feathered male, to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). The birds were formally handed over by India's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva…

FDA Approves Generic Estradiol and Levonorgestrel Transdermal System for Women

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Estradiol and Levonorgestrel Transdermal System manufactured by Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.
The transdermal patch contains both estrogen and progestogen in a single formulation, differing from estrogen-only patches.
The medication is specifically approved for women with an intact uterus to reduce the risk of endometrial hyperplasia.
The transdermal hormone therapy patch is designed to be applied once a week.
The generic system is therapeutically equivalent to Climara Pro, which is a registered trademark of Bayer.

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approves Daraxonrasib for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer (End of August)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved daraxonrasib, an oral multi-selective RAS(ON) inhibitor, for adults with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have received at least one prior systemic therapy or…

US FDA Approves AstraZeneca's Etcamah with CDK4/6 Inhibitor for HR-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer (Start of September)

Etcamah (camizestrant) in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor (abemaciclib, palbociclib or ribociclib) has been approved in the US for adult patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast…

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Glenmark's Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Spray (End of August)

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Glenmark Pharmaceuticals' Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Spray on August 20, 2026. Glenmark's Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Spray is bioequivalent and therapeutically…

Vultr Launches 20 MW AI Supercluster in Chennai Featuring AMD Instinct GPUs

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Vultr has launched a 20 MW artificial intelligence (AI) supercluster in Chennai, India, to support AI workloads including large language model training and inference.
The facility is equipped with AMD Instinct MI355X graphics processing units (GPUs), which feature 288GB of HBM3E memory and 8TB/s of memory bandwidth per unit.
The Chennai deployment is the largest AMD Instinct infrastructure project for Vultr, alongside its existing flagship supercluster in Springfield, Ohio.
The supercluster utilises the AMD ROCm open software ecosystem to provide developers with access to AI frameworks, libraries, and models.

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Tamil Nadu CM announces Motor Sports City and Olympic City in Chennai (Start of September)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced a proposal to establish a world-class Motor Sports City in the State. The Motor Sports City will promote sports tourism and develop Tamil Nadu into a major…

NCDEX Launches RAINCHNNAI Weather Derivatives Contract for Chennai's Northeast Monsoon (Start of September)

NCDEX launched RAINCHNNAI, a rainfall-based weather derivatives futures contract for Chennai's Northeast Monsoon, on August ularly 31. The contract is based on the Cumulative Deviation Rainfall (CDR) model, which tracks…

L&T's Vyoma.AI to build India's largest Nvidia B300 AI factory in Chennai for Together AI (Mid of August)

Vyoma.AI, the data centre business of L&T, secured India's largest single-cluster AI infrastructure order for a 10,000-GPU Nvidia B300 AI factory. The AI factory will be set up at Vyoma's Chennai data centre campus…

Qualcomm Teams Up with Amazon to Build Custom AI Chips for AWS Data Centres (Mid of September)

Qualcomm and Amazon will jointly develop multiple generations of customised chips for Amazon Web Services' (AWS) AI data centre infrastructure, focusing on chips used for AI inference. The partnership also covers…

ISRO clears delayed NavIC satellite NVS-03 for October 30 launch aboard GSLV Mk II from Sriharikota

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ISRO has cleared the much-delayed NVS-03 navigation satellite for launch on October 30, 2026, aboard the GSLV Mk II from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; the launch was earlier tentatively slotted between October 15 and 20.
NVS-03 will bolster India's indigenous NavIC navigation system, which is operating below strength after the atomic clock aboard IRNSS-1F stopped functioning on March 13, 2026, leaving only IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1L and IRNSS-1J (NVS-01) functional for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services.
At least four fully functional satellites are needed for standalone NavIC PNT services, though a seven-satellite constellation is considered ideal.
Of the 11 navigation satellites launched since July 2013 for the nearly Rs 2,250-crore NavIC system, six have failed, mainly due to defective imported atomic clocks and, in a few cases, orbital issues.
The successful EOS-05 launch on GSLV Mk II on September 4, 2026, cleared the path for the NVS-03 attempt; the GSLV Mk II with an indigenous cryogenic engine has had six successive successful flights since 2021.
ISRO has adopted a cautious launch approach after successive PSLV failures on May 18, 2025 and January 12, 2026, which also delayed the Gaganyaan programme's first unmanned crew module test flight to probable late 2026 or early 2027.
NVS-03's launch has been planned since late 2025, with Union Minister Jitendra Singh stating in mid-2025 that NVS-03 would launch by end-2025, followed by NVS-04 and NVS-05 at six-month gaps to augment the NavIC constellation.
A full-fledged NavIC system can support real-time tracking of around 12,000 trains, with around 8,700 trains already equipped.
ISRO began work on NavIC in 1999 after the Kargil war, when Indian forces could not use the US-owned GPS for locational aid in conflict zones.
The NVS-03 satellite was moved to Sriharikota nearly three months before launch in anticipation of clearance, and ISRO has undertaken only one launch in 2026 prior to this mission.

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Indian Army's First Dedicated Communication Satellite GSAT-7B Slated for Mid-2028 Launch (End of October)

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Successfully Launches India's First Geosynchronous Imaging Satellite EOS-05 (Start of September)

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite. The launch was conducted from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra…

Indo-French TRISHNA satellite in realisation stage, launch planned within 12-16 months (Mid of October)

The Indo-French satellite TRISHNA (Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment) is in the realisation stage and will be launched in the next 12-16 months, said Jasvinder Singh…

Tadoba Tiger Reserve Pilots Sensor-Based System for Automated Waterhole Management

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The Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra has introduced a sensor-based system on a pilot basis to regulate water levels at wildlife waterholes.
The automated system utilizes a level sensor, controller, and relay to start and stop pumps when water levels fall below a predefined limit or reach the upper level.
TATR manages approximately 130 natural water sources and 350 artificial waterholes, many of which are supported by solar-powered pumping systems.
The technology is designed to reduce water loss, limit unnecessary groundwater extraction, and aid groundwater conservation.
TATR has divided its core area into grids and plans to provide waterholes in each grid to improve the spatial distribution of water sources.

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Union Environment Minister Inaugurates Inception Workshop for 6th Cycle of Tiger Reserve Management Effectiveness Evaluation; MEE-TR 2026 Technical Manual Released (End of September)

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the Inception Workshop for the 6th Cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves (MEE-TR) in New Delhi on September 25, 2026, organised by the National…

Project STRIPES Releases 216 Trafficked Indian Star Tortoises in Tadoba Tiger Reserve (End of August)

The Maharashtra Forest Department and Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) launched Project STRIPES (Star Tortoise Repatriation Initiative Protecting Endangered Species) to rehabilitate trafficked Indian Star…

Two Tribal Representatives Join Kerala Wildlife Board (Mid of August)

Raman Raja Mannan, the Mannan tribal king, and Vinod, a researcher from the Cholanaikkan community, were inducted as members of the State Wildlife Board. This is the first time tribal representatives have been included…

France Reports World's First Human Infection with Shamonda Virus in Deceased Lyon Patient

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French authorities confirmed the first documented human case of the Shamonda virus, previously found only in animals, in a severely immunocompromised patient treated at the Hospices Civils de Lyon who died in early October 2026.
The Shamonda virus is transmitted by biting midges of the Culicoides species and mainly affects cattle, with symptoms including fever, lethargy and diarrhoea, and reduced milk production in dairy cows.
French authorities believe the patient was infected through a midge bite in eastern France, and brain complications before death were very likely linked to the virus, though investigations with the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are ongoing.
The Shamonda virus was first detected in Nigeria in the mid-1960s and has since been reported sporadically in cattle in West, East and southern Africa and in Japan.
In summer 2026, the virus was detected for the first time in Western Europe, with cases in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Jersey island.
Authorities stated that no health risk to the general population has been identified to date.

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Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Confirms No New H1N1 Strain in India (End of August)

WHO Confirms End of Polio Type 2 Outbreaks in Five African Countries (End of August)

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa confirmed the closure of poliovirus type 2 outbreaks in Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Congo, and Uganda. Independent Outbreak Response…

WHO prequalifies India’s first indigenous HPV vaccine Cervavac for global use (Start of October)

Cervavac, India's first indigenously developed gender-neutral quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII), received prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO)…

France Conducts First Sea Launch of M51.3 Nuclear-Capable Missile from Submarine Le Vigilant (Start of October)

On October 6, 2026, France test-fired its M51.3 nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile from the submarine Le Vigilant off the coast of Brittany, the variant's first launch from a submarine rather than a…

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Nepal and Bangladesh to jointly host ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2027

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule for the U-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2027, jointly hosted by Nepal and Bangladesh, from January 21 to February 6.
A total of 16 teams will compete in 41 matches, with venues in Chattogram and Sylhet in Bangladesh and in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Matches in Nepal will be held at the Tribhuvan International Cricket Ground and the Upper Mulpani International Cricket Ground, with Nepal playing its first match against Ireland on January 22.

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India Women's Cricket Captain Harmanpreet Kaur Quits Leadership Role Across Formats (Start of October)

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of India's women's cricket team across all three formats, announcing her decision in an Instagram post on October 6, 2026. The 37-year-old led India to its maiden women's ODI…

Smriti Mandhana Named India Women's White-Ball Captain as Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down (Start of October)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Smriti Mandhana as captain of the Indian women's cricket team after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down across all formats. Mandhana, 30, vice-captain since 2022, will…

Zimbabwe Cricket Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani Named International Cricket Council (ICC) Deputy Chairperson Till November 2027 (Mid of September)

Tavengwa Mukuhlani, Chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the International Cricket Council (ICC) until November 2027, replacing Singapore's Imran Khwaja. Mukuhlani becomes the first…

FIFA Unveils 2027 Women’s World Cup Schedule (End of August)

The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be the 10th edition of the tournament and the first to be staged in South America. The tournament will run from June 24 to July 25, 2027, with 64 matches played across eight host cities.

Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026: Mohali to Stage Semi-Finals and Final

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The Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026 hockey tournament will be held from October 27 to November 5 across Jalandhar and Mohali, Punjab.
League-stage matches will be played at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2.
The semi-finals and final will be hosted at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, with semi-finals on November 4 and the bronze-medal match and final on November 5.
Six teams — India, Bangladesh, China, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia — will compete, with each team playing five round-robin matches and the top four advancing to the semi-finals.
India will open its campaign against Bangladesh on October 27 and will play all its league matches at 7 PM.
India is the most successful team in Asian Champions Trophy history, having won the title five times.
Pakistan has withdrawn from the tournament after its reported request for a neutral venue was not accepted; Bangladesh has taken its place.
Entry for spectators at all matches is free.

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FIFA Unveils 2027 Women’s World Cup Schedule (End of August)

India to Host Inaugural Women's Champions Trophy 2027 (Start of September)

India will host the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy from February 14 to 28, 2027. The tournament will be played at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium.

UEFA Awards 2028 and 2029 Champions League Finals to Munich and Barcelona (Mid of September)

UEFA's Executive Committee, meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, announced that Munich's Allianz Arena will host the 2028 Champions League final and Barcelona's renovated Camp Nou will host the 2029 final, with Camp Nou…

Asian Para Games 2026: India's medal haul with historic firsts in archery, athletics, badminton and table tennis

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India's Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar won the compound mixed team archery gold at the Asian Para Games 2026, defeating Indonesia's Teodora Audi Ayudia Ferelly and Ken Swagumilang 151-148 in the final.
Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar, the top seeds, set a new world record by aggregating 1,402 points in the compound mixed team ranking round, surpassing the previous record by two points.
Sheetal Devi, born without arms, uses her feet and legs to position the compound bow and her shoulder and jaw to draw and release the string.
Dilip Gavit won gold in the men's 100m T47 at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on October 21, 2026, clocking 10.69 seconds, while Mohammed Morssinganakath took silver in 10.72 seconds and China's Kangjun Shi won bronze in 10.80 seconds.
Simran won her second gold of the 2026 Asian Para Games by taking the women's 100m T12 title in a Games record 12.02 seconds, finishing ahead of Iran's Hajar Safarzadeh (12.30s) and Indonesia's Made Ni Putri (12.51s); she had earlier won the 200m gold with a new Games record.
Simran, who won bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics and silver in both her events at the 2023 Hangzhou edition, is competing with new guide Shivam after her previous guide Umar Saifi was banned for a doping violation.
Shailesh Kumar won gold with a Games record in the men's High Jump T42/T63 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, and India swept the men's High Jump T63 podium with Varun Bhati taking silver and Rahul bronze.
Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant Yadav won bronze in the men's Doubles SL3-SU5 para badminton at the Asian Para Games 2026, India's first-ever medal in that category, achieved on their debut.
Bhavina Patel and Shubham Wadhwa won bronze in the Mixed Doubles Class XD7 para table tennis event at the Asian Para Games 2026, securing India's first-ever medal in Mixed Doubles at the Games.
Swati Chaudhary won silver in the women's W1 individual recurve archery on her debut, India's first-ever medal in that category, after losing 4-6 to China's Cen Mengkan in the final having led 4-2.
India's Ravi Rongali won bronze in the men's shot put F40 at the Asian Para Games 2026, and Preeti Pal won silver in the 100m T35 for her second medal of the edition.
Dharmaraj Solairaj defended his men's long jump title at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with a record-breaking 7.15m leap.
Dilip Mahadu Gavit won his second gold of the Games in the men's 400m T47 while Bhavikkumar Bharwad took silver, giving India a double podium finish at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.

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Asian Para Games 2026: India's Latest Medals, Records and Standings (End of October)

India completed a podium sweep in the men's shot put F46 event at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan, with Paralympic medallist Sachin Sarjerao Khilari winning gold with a Games-record throw of 15.87m on his…

Asian Para Games 2026: India's Day 2 Medals, Records and Competition Progress (Mid of October)

Deepthi Jeevanji of India won gold in the women's 400m T20 event at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya on October 20, setting a Games record of 56.36 seconds; it was her second successive Asian Para Games gold and…

Asian Para Games 2026 open in Aichi-Nagoya as India targets 100 medals with 168 athletes (Mid of October)

The fifth Asian Para Games 2026 began in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and will run until October 24, featuring competitions across 18 sports. The opening ceremony was held at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya under the theme…

Asian Para Games 2026: India's record performances, gold medals and para-badminton progress (Mid of October)

Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi equalled the world record in the women's compound archery ranking round at the 2026 Asian Para Games on October 19, scoring 704 out of a possible 720 points at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park…

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Supreme Court rules Section 17A protection under anti-corruption law unavailable for bribe demands unrelated to official duties

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The Supreme Court held that Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 does not protect public servants accused of demanding bribes when the alleged act is unrelated to their official duties.
A bench of Justices S V N Bhatti and N V Anjaria dismissed the appeal of a Rajasthan police constable, Tejaram, who had challenged the framing of a bribery charge for demanding Rs 1.5 lakh allegedly on behalf of the Superintendent of Police.
The court held the bribe demand was not linked to any official decision or recommendation, calling it a pure criminal act with no linkage to the appellant's capacity as a public servant.
Section 17A requires prior approval from the central or state government before investigating offences linked to a public servant's decisions during official duty, with a decision due within three months extendable by one month, and no approval needed for on-the-spot arrest while accepting a bribe.
The court also held that sanction under Section 19 was required, and the delay in granting it did not invalidate the criminal proceedings since it was granted before the trial court took cognisance in 2024.
Tejaram was arrested in September 2021, received sanction in December 2023, and his plea was earlier dismissed by the Rajasthan High Court.
Earlier in 2026, a split verdict arose on Section 17A, with Justice K V Viswanathan upholding it and Justice B V Nagarathna striking it down as protecting the corrupt rather than the honest; the matter was referred to a larger bench, which the court said had no bearing on this appeal.

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DARPG's 53rd CPGRAMS Monthly Report Records 2,38,579 Grievances Redressed by Central Ministries/Departments in September 2026 (Mid of October)

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.…

GST Council's Law Committee recommends raising prosecution threshold to ₹10 crore and reducing jail terms (Mid of October)

The GST Council's Law Committee has proposed raising the monetary threshold for prosecution under GST law to ₹10 crore from the existing ₹5 crore, which was last revised in 2017. The Committee proposed reducing the…

World Environmental Health Day 2026 Observed on September 26 with Theme 'Standing with Science to Protect Communities' (Start of October)

World Environmental Health Day 2026 was observed on 26 September with the theme 'Standing with science to protect communities'. The Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), a registered charity organization in Tanzania, marked…

Union law ministry notifies 2026 rules for adjudicating court-fee penalty violations in Union territories (Mid of October)

The Union law ministry notified the Union Territories Court Fees (Adjudication of Penalties and Appeal) Rules, 2026, issued on Saturday, to handle violations related to court fees and stamp rules in Union territories.…

Tuticorin International Container Terminal at VOC Port declared a fully electrified green terminal

Key Updates:

Tuticorin International Container Terminal (TICT) at VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, was declared a 'Green Terminal' after 100 per cent of its operational equipment was electrified.
Union Shipping Secretary Vijay Kumar officially designated the terminal as a green facility during a review meeting of ongoing projects valued at ₹18,000 crore this week.
The Secretary flagged off 13 electric Internal Transfer Vehicles (E-ITVs) to support cleaner and more energy-efficient container handling operations.
VOC Port Chairman Sushanta Kumar Purohit said the port has an annual cargo handling capacity of 82 million tonnes (MTPA) and is one of the oldest operational ports, with trade links dating back to 123 AD.
During the visit, the Secretary reviewed the port's green maritime infrastructure, including a pilot methanol bunkering and refuelling facility, a green hydrogen pilot project and wind energy facilities worth over ₹18,400 crore.
The outer harbour project, being built at over ₹15,000 crore, will add 4 MTPA cargo-handling capacity and aims to position Tamil Nadu as a major transhipment hub of southern India.
Port management is developing a golf course, a Kendriya Vidyalaya for employees and similar facilities to improve the social ecosystem.

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Mandar, Jharkhand's folk musical instrument, awarded Geographical Indication status (End of September)

Jharkhand's traditional folk musical instrument Mandar has been granted a Geographical Indication tag by the Geographical Indications Registry of the Government of India, based in Chennai. The GI tag application for…

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority Secures $70 Million IFC Blue Financing for Shore Power Project (Start of October)

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has secured a US$70 million blue financing arrangement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for a shore-power project valued at ₹650 crore. The transaction is…

Assam's Dibrugarh Flags Off First International Cargo Shipment to Bangladesh via Brahmaputra Waterway (Start of October)

A barge carrying 540 metric tons of methanol left Bogibeel Terminal in Dibrugarh for Bangladesh, the first cargo shipped from upper Assam to a foreign port since India's independence in 1947. Union Minister of Ports…

Rs 2,300-Crore E-Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla: India’s First Port-Based Green Fuel Facility (End of September)

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…

BCGCL commences construction on its ₹25,000 crore coal gasification project in Odisha

Key Updates:

Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd (BCGCL), a joint venture between Coal India Ltd and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, has begun ground construction activities for its ₹25,000 crore coal gasification project in Odisha.
The project is designed to produce approximately 0.66 million tonnes per annum of technical grade ammonium nitrate through coal gasification.
This development supports the National Coal Gasification Mission's goal of achieving 100 million tonnes of coal gasification capacity by 2030.
Contracts worth ₹15,000 crore have been awarded, with ₹10,000 crore allocated to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd and ₹5,000 crore to Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
The project scope is divided between BHEL, which executes the coal gasification and syngas purification packages, and L&T, which handles the ammonia synthesis and ammonium nitrate production packages.

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RIL Proposes India’s First Integrated Underground Coal Gasification Complex in Andhra Pradesh (End of August)

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has proposed a ₹2.73 lakh crore investment over 30 years for India's first integrated Underground Coal Gasification complex in Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh. The complex will be…

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Approves Ladakh's First Government Medical College Operationalization for 2027-28

Key Updates:

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has approved the operationalization of the Government Medical College (GMC) in Ladakh, scheduled for the 2027-28 academic year.
The proposed GMC is located at Stipuk Pharka in Leh, Ladakh.
The Ministry granted a one-time relaxation on the 80% infrastructure completion requirement to allow the initiation of preparatory recruitment for faculty and support staff.
A total of 103 sanctioned regular posts were approved for recruitment through a Department of Expenditure note dated November 27, 2024.
Recruitment for the posts will be undertaken in a staggered manner, in accordance with academic requirements starting from the 2027-28 academic year.

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PM Modi launches five projects worth ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh, including Leh airport terminal, 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road and India's first petroglyph park (Mid of October)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 15, 2026 virtually inaugurated and dedicated five major development projects worth around ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh via video conferencing. A new passenger terminal building at Kushok…

PM Modi to Launch Five Projects Worth About ₹3,350 Crore in Ladakh on 15 October 2026 (Mid of October)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and dedicate five development projects worth around ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh on 15 October 2026 at around 12:30 PM via video conferencing. The new Passenger Terminal Building at…

Centre amends Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council rules, fixes 7-24 elected seats (Mid of October)

The Centre has amended the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation to align the councils with the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, under which the Union territory of Ladakh was…

CJI Surya Kant inaugurates Ladakh Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court at Leh, bringing courts closer to litigants (Mid of October)

Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant inaugurated the Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Leh on October 18, 2026. The inauguration was attended by Supreme Court Justices MM Sundresh, PS…

IIT Madras Introduces UDYOG Finishing School for Biotechnology Graduates

Key Updates:

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) launched UDYOG (Upskilling and Development for Young Graduates), an industry-oriented finishing school for biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors.
The programme is open to pre-final-year and final-year B.Tech., M.Tech. and M.Sc. students in biotechnology and allied disciplines across all colleges and institutes in India.
The first batch commences on January 18, 2027, and early-bird registration closes on December 15, 2026.
The three-stage pathway includes three months of online learning through CODE, IIT Madras, a four-week intensive hands-on training at the IIT Madras Biofoundry, and opportunities for long-term industry internships.
UDYOG was launched through SynBioME, the IIT Madras-TICEL Biofoundry, by Director Prof. V. Kamakoti, and is coordinated by Prof. Guhan Jayaraman of the Department of Biotechnology.

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NIRF 2026 Sustainable Development Goals Rankings: India's Leading Institutes for Sustainability (End of September)

The NIRF 2026 Rankings are expected to be released soon by the Ministry of Education. The Sustainable Development Goals category was introduced in NIRF 2025 as a new addition, shifting the total national ranking…

IIT Madras Launches Phiball Three-Team Basketball Format (End of August)

IIT Madras launched Phiball, a three-team basketball variant, on August 29, 2026, the eve of National Sports Day. The inaugural Phiball match was won by A M Jain College team.

Defence Minister Launches IIT Kanpur's USD 1 Billion Fundraising Campaign as Institute Plans Defence Drone Hub (Mid of October)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched IIT Kanpur's 'Greater Than Us' fundraising campaign at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, targeting USD 1 billion by March 2029, the largest fundraising campaign by any IIT. Rs 4,155…

IIT-M’s Bodhan AI Launches 4 Multilingual AI Models to Build India’s Education Stack (Start of September)

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.

Amit Shah launches ₹8,941 crore Yamuna rejuvenation projects in Delhi, targeting a clean river by 2029

Key Updates:

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah attended the inauguration and foundation-stone laying of Yamuna rejuvenation projects worth ₹8,941 crore in Delhi on 22 October 2026, with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta present.
Of the projects, 10 were inaugurated and 33 were initiated, covering upgradation and installation of sewage treatment plants (STPs), a decentralised STP pumping station, sewer line connections to households, and sewer rehabilitation, tapping and drainage work.
Amit Shah said over 40% of the Yamuna purification plan, placed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the new Delhi government was formed, has been completed, and the Yamuna will be cleaned by 2029 (before May 2029) through joint roadmaps of the Centre and the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The Delhi government under Rekha Gupta, with central help, has cleared 2.17 crore metric tonnes of garbage and freed 100 acres of land; the Okhla and Bhalswa garbage mountains have been reduced by 30 to 40 metres and Ghazipur's by 10 to 15 metres, with gardens planned in their place within two years.
World-class works such as Asita East, Bansera and Vasudev Ghat at Sarai Kale Khan and ITO were highlighted, along with a three-year action plan to provide sewerage connections to every household in Delhi.

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PM Modi launches five projects worth ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh, including Leh airport terminal, 298-km Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road and India's first petroglyph park (Mid of October)

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to Present Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2024 and 2025 to 106 Young Artists in New Delhi (Mid of October)

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will confer the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025 on 106 young artists in music, dance and drama on 19 October 2026 at Meghdoot…

Six States Sign MoA for Kishau Multipurpose Project on Tons River with 90% Central Funding for Water Component (Mid of September)

Chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the Kishau multipurpose project on September 16, 2026, in the presence of Union Home…

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announces India will host the First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on 13 October 2026 (Mid of October)

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…

Registration portal launched for Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0, scheduled November 28 to December 12, 2026, on the theme of learning the Thirukkural

Key Updates:

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the registration portal on October 22, 2026, for the fifth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 5.0), scheduled from November 28 to December 12, 2026.
The theme of KTS 5.0 is “Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen” (Let Us Learn the Thirukkural), aiming to bring the ethical and moral wisdom of the classical Tamil text Thirukkural closer to youth and learners across the country.
Around 1,400 participants from Tamil Nadu, organised into seven groups of about 200 persons each, will undertake an eight-day journey comprising four days of travel and four days of visits and structured programmes.
The itinerary will include Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya, featuring cultural, academic, domain-specific and spiritual engagements.
Registration is through the portal https://kashitamil.iitm.ac.in/ hosted by IIT Madras, open from October 22 to November 13, 2026, under seven categories: Students, Teachers, Writers and Media Professionals, Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Professionals and Artisans, Women, and Spiritual leaders.
A nationwide Students' Engagement Programme will be undertaken through 1,000 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country to promote wider understanding of the Thirukkural.
Thirukkural experts from Tamil Nadu will visit schools and colleges in Varanasi to introduce students to the core values of the text through orientation modules, interactive sessions and quizzes.
The National Book Trust, in association with the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, will conduct interactive sessions in Varanasi schools on reading habits, storytelling and creative activities.
The first Kashi Tamil Sangamam was held in 2022, and over four editions it has facilitated exchanges of knowledge, language, traditions and lived experiences between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.
KTS 5.0 is organized by the Department of Higher Education, Union Ministry of Education, in collaboration with IIT Madras, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai, the Uttar Pradesh Government and central ministries including Culture, Railways, School Education, Tourism, Textiles, Food Processing Industries, Information & Broadcasting, and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

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Thirukkural: The Ancient Tamil Text PM Modi Presented to Vladimir Putin (Mid of September)

Thirukkural, also known as Kural, is a classical Tamil text written in Old Tamil and traditionally attributed to the poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar. The work consists of 1,330 couplets called kurals, arranged into 133…

Padma Shri-Winning Tamil Scholar and Pattimandram Speaker Solomon Pappaiah Passes Away at 90 (Mid of September)

Veteran Tamil scholar, orator and 'Pattimandram' moderator Solomon Pappaiah died at age 90 at a private hospital in Chennai after suffering chest pain. Born in 1936, Pappaiah was a former professor in the Tamil…

Tamil Nadu Assembly Mandates Tamil Thai Vazhthu at All Official Programmes (Mid of August)

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a resolution making the rendition of Tamil Thai Vazhthu mandatory at the beginning of all official state programmes. The resolution applies to educational institutions…

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Folk Artist Devadas Chimakode Chosen for Karnataka Janapada Academy's 2026 Honorary Award

Key Updates:

Folk artist Devadas Chimakode, a 56-year-old from Chimakod village in Bidar taluk, Bidar district, Karnataka, has been selected for the Karnataka Janapada Academy's annual honorary award for 2026.
The award was announced on 21 October 2026 and comprises a cash prize of ₹25,000 along with a citation for his efforts to preserve Karnataka's folk traditions.
He has spent around 35 years performing and promoting traditional folk arts, including folk singing, instrumental music, Suggi Kunitha and Halage.

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20 Artists Win Lalit Kala Akademi Awards at 65th National Exhibition of Art (End of September)

The Lalit Kala Akademi, National Academy of Art, announced 20 Lalit Kala Akademi Awards at the 65th National Exhibition of Art. The Akademi received 6,175 artworks from 2,495 artists representing 27 States and Union…

Indian Scientists Roxy Mathew Koll and Neelima Satyam Win American Geophysical Union 2026 Awards (End of September)

Indian scientists Roxy Mathew Koll and Neelima Satyam have been selected among the American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2026 awardees for excellence and leadership in research, education, and innovation in advanced earth and…

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to Present Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2024 and 2025 to 106 Young Artists in New Delhi (Mid of October)

Karthikeyan Lanka Selected for National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) Young Scientist Award 2026 (Start of August)

Karthikeyan Lanka, Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay's Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering (CSRE) and Centre for Climate Studies, was selected for the National Academy of…

President Droupadi Murmu Honours Artists at 65th National Exhibition of Art

Key Updates:

President Droupadi Murmu presented awards to artists at the 65th National Exhibition of Art and the 3rd Print Biennale India 2026 in New Delhi on Wednesday, at a ceremony held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre.
The event was organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi under the Union Ministry of Culture.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presented President Murmu with a Gond painting and praised the Lalit Kala Akademi's role in promoting Indian visual arts.
The National Exhibition of Art was established in 1955 and has served as a major national platform for Indian artists.
The ceremony also featured a film documenting the history of the Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Exhibition of Art.

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20 Artists Win Lalit Kala Akademi Awards at 65th National Exhibition of Art (End of September)

President Droupadi Murmu Approves 78 Gallantry Awards on Independence Day Eve (Mid of August)

President Droupadi Murmu approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous honours, for Defence Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on the eve of the 80th Independence Day. The gallantry awards comprise…

President Droupadi Murmu Presented Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025 (Start of August)

President Droupadi Murmu presented the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025 at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi, on August 8, 2026. The awards were presented during the 12th National…

Anant Nag Selected for Dadasaheb Phalke Award as 72nd National Film Awards Move to Ekta Nagar (End of September)

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 will be conferred on Shri Anant Nag, as announced by the Government of India on 16 September 2026. Anant Nag was born on 4 September 1948 in Karnataka, made his debut with the Kannada…

Daily Current Affairs: 22 October 2026

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Economy, Banking and Finance

Centre and LIC to hold up to 15% stakes as public shareholders in IDBI Bank after Fairfax strategic sale

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India Post Achieves Historic Revenue Milestone, Exceeding ₹4,000 Crore Quarterly Mark for Two Consecutive Quarters

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Indian Railways Registers All-Time High Coal Loading in October 2026 (Till 18th) with 22.5% Growth

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Government Schemes and Policy

Government Notifies Telecom Regulatory Sandbox Rules 2026 to Enable Testing of New Technologies

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Government's 1.16% EPS contribution remains capped at Rs 15,000 wages despite higher EPFO ceiling

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SEZ Rules amended to let units take back goods rejected by domestic buyers, with conditions

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UDAN Scheme Completes 10 Years: 687 Routes Operational, Modified Phase Gets ₹28,840 Crore Outlay

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Khet Bachao Abhiyan-Rabi 2026: Nationwide Sustainable Farming Campaign Launched from Karnal, Haryana

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NHAI Adds Toll Plaza Feedback Option to Rajmargyatra App for Rating Highway Toll Services

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Ministry of Earth Sciences and AcSIR Sign MoU for Joint PhD Programmes Across All Ten MoES Research Institutes

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International, Defence and Summits

India-Poland Joint Statement: PM Modi and Poland PM Donald Tusk Agree to Double Bilateral Trade by 2030 and Launch Defence Industry Dialogue During 21-23 October 2026 Official Visit

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India and Singapore Navies Launch 33rd Edition of SIMBEX Exercise in Visakhapatnam

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Indian Navy Conducted Carrier Trials for French Rafale-M Fighters, Targeting 2028–29 Induction

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Indian Army to unveil new land warfare doctrine during Army Commanders’ Conference

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Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia sign Badr MoU in Doha to deepen defence cooperation

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India to Host 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on October 26–27, 2026

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DRDO's Hyderabad Lab DLRL Develops Man-Portable Electronic Intelligence System to Track Enemy Radar Signals

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India Adds Three Sites Including Baratang and Sirpur to UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

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Brazilian Manufacturer Embraer to Acquire 51% Stake in Mahindra Group's Novavayu Aerospace

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India extends duty-free raw sugar import deadline to December 31 under tariff rate quota

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United States Pulls Non-Essential Diplomats Out of Saudi Arabia Amid Intensifying Houthi Attacks

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Indian Navy First Training Squadron Ships Reach Maldives on Long Range Training Deployment

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Hyderabad-Based BharathCloud Signs MoU with Kazan IT-Park to Advance India-Russia AI and Cloud Collaboration

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World Bank Group Unveils Digital Strategy to Boost Connectivity and AI Readiness in Developing Nations

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India Hosts 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026 in New Delhi with Global Participation

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Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment

Indian Researchers Detect Accretion Stream Confirming Disk Around X-Ray Pulsar Centaurus X-3

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Rare Venomous Bangka Slow Loris Rediscovered After Decades of Scientific Neglect

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Zoological Survey of India Identifies Three New Centipede Species in Western Ghats

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China Records Its First-Ever Freshwater Cavesnail: Eyeless Erhaia dijiang Found in Yunnan Karst Cave

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CDSCO Grants Marketing Authorization for Qfitlia to Prevent Bleeding in Haemophilia Patients

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Bird Flu Outbreak: Chennai's Arignar Anna Zoological Park Shuts Public Entry for Two Days

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FDA Approves Generic Estradiol and Levonorgestrel Transdermal System for Women

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Vultr Launches 20 MW AI Supercluster in Chennai Featuring AMD Instinct GPUs

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ISRO clears delayed NavIC satellite NVS-03 for October 30 launch aboard GSLV Mk II from Sriharikota

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Tadoba Tiger Reserve Pilots Sensor-Based System for Automated Waterhole Management

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France Reports World's First Human Infection with Shamonda Virus in Deceased Lyon Patient

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Sports