Saturday, Oct 24

Daily Current Affairs: 24 October 2026

Daily current affairs for 24 October 2026 with exam-focused key facts, connected news context, and revision notes for UPSC, SSC, banking and government exams.

Editorial note for exam revision Last updated: 24 October 2026. This briefing is structured for current affairs revision, with key updates and related coverage links to help readers connect recurring topics across days.

Today at a glance

Top current affairs to revise

  1. Reserve Bank of India records $43.26 billion net forex purchase in August, offsetting impact with swaps
  2. Reserve Bank of India Governor defends Tata Sons' upper-layer NBFC status, mandates listing for large NBFCs
  3. Sebi reviews short selling and SLB framework, plans AI sandbox and corporate bond market-making
  4. RBI Bulletin confirms banks passed on 93 bps lending rate cut following RBI's 125 bps repo reduction.
  5. BSE and MMTC-PAMP Partner to Expand India’s Electronic Gold Receipts Market
  6. Odisha Secures ₹53,894 Crore Investment Proposals Across Key Industrial Sectors at India Chem 2026

Headlines by topic

Topic-wise current affairs headlines

All topic pages
Economy, Banking and Finance9 headlines
  1. Reserve Bank of India records $43.26 billion net forex purchase in August, offsetting impact with swaps
  2. Reserve Bank of India Governor defends Tata Sons' upper-layer NBFC status, mandates listing for large NBFCs
  3. Sebi reviews short selling and SLB framework, plans AI sandbox and corporate bond market-making
  4. RBI Bulletin confirms banks passed on 93 bps lending rate cut following RBI's 125 bps repo reduction.
  5. BSE and MMTC-PAMP Partner to Expand India’s Electronic Gold Receipts Market
  6. Odisha Secures ₹53,894 Crore Investment Proposals Across Key Industrial Sectors at India Chem 2026
  7. Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and Association of ARCs Sign Five-Year MoU for Insolvency Education Enhancement
  8. RBI Report Highlights Strong Domestic Demand Supporting India's Economic Growth Momentum
  9. Sagarmala Finance Corporation targets cumulative disbursals of Rs 60,205 crore by fiscal 2030-31
Open Economy & Banking topic page
Government Schemes and Policy5 headlines
  1. AgriStack crosses 11 crore Farmer IDs months ahead of March 2027 deadline
  2. MHA partners with Indian Army to create 60,000-volunteer civil defence network across 12 states and Union Territories
  3. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Launches ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026’ Campaign Running from 22 October to 30 November
  4. Tripartite MoU supports Scheduled Tribe youth training at Rourkela livelihood centre
  5. Government to cover full certification costs for micro and small enterprises under Export Promotion Mission
Open Schemes & Policy topic page
International, Defence and Summits2 headlines
  1. SDAL Supplies Indigenous Nagastra-2 Anti-Tank Loitering Munition System to Indian Army
  2. India plans to expand missile and defence equipment production while boosting global defence exports
Open International & Defence topic page
Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment8 headlines
  1. Supreme Court directs Rajasthan to shut illegal discharge points polluting Jojari-Luni-Bandi rivers and recover environmental compensation
  2. IMD study finds northwest India growing drier and south peninsula wetter over seven decades
  3. ICAR-CMFRI delivers five lakh hatchery-produced green mussel seeds to fisher communities in Maharashtra
  4. Scientists synthesise diamondiyne, a newly created carbon allotrope
  5. Global report warns climate change is worsening heat, chemical and exploitation risks for food system workers
  6. Global nuclear power use may more than triple by 2060, projects IAEA chief Rafael Grossi
  7. Study finds El Niño reshaped India's winter PM2.5 pollution pattern
  8. World's First Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) Launched in Delhi NCR
Open Science & Environment topic page
Miscellaneous Current Affairs9 headlines
  1. Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: October Observance, Theme and Key Facts
  2. International Stuttering Awareness Day 2026 online conference unveils 'Shades of Stuttering' theme
  3. WHO Marks International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026 with Theme 'From Detection to Prevention'
  4. NCERT rolls out 20-hour activity-based AI and computational thinking module for Classes 9 to 12 covering deepfakes and responsible AI use
  5. Union Government Sanctions 320 New Postgraduate Medical Seats Across Six Himachal Pradesh Medical Colleges
  6. Karnataka High Court issues guidelines to police against mechanical FIRs over social media posts
  7. Indian Railways to open 118 km of new rail sections in Madhya Pradesh and flag off Devendranagar-Churhat train
  8. Indian Railways reports improved train punctuality over the past eight years
  9. President Droupadi Murmu Unveils Rs 200 Commemorative Coin Honouring Sindhi Saint Mata Hasi Devi Ji in Raipur
Open Miscellaneous topic page
People, Positions and Obituaries4 headlines
  1. Sunil Kumar Named Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
  2. Ashoke Sen becomes first Indian to receive Oskar Klein medal for theoretical physics
  3. Usha Mangeshkar to receive inaugural Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award
  4. Anca-Maria Verma Named IIMSAM Ambassador-at-Large for India on Five-Year Term
Open People & Positions topic page
Jump to current affairs headlines
  1. Reserve Bank of India records $43.26 billion net forex purchase in August, offsetting impact with swaps
  2. Reserve Bank of India Governor defends Tata Sons' upper-layer NBFC status, mandates listing for large NBFCs
  3. Sebi reviews short selling and SLB framework, plans AI sandbox and corporate bond market-making
  4. RBI Bulletin confirms banks passed on 93 bps lending rate cut following RBI's 125 bps repo reduction.
  5. BSE and MMTC-PAMP Partner to Expand India’s Electronic Gold Receipts Market
  6. Odisha Secures ₹53,894 Crore Investment Proposals Across Key Industrial Sectors at India Chem 2026
  7. Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and Association of ARCs Sign Five-Year MoU for Insolvency Education Enhancement
  8. RBI Report Highlights Strong Domestic Demand Supporting India's Economic Growth Momentum
  9. AgriStack crosses 11 crore Farmer IDs months ahead of March 2027 deadline
  10. MHA partners with Indian Army to create 60,000-volunteer civil defence network across 12 states and Union Territories
  11. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Launches ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026’ Campaign Running from 22 October to 30 November
  12. Tripartite MoU supports Scheduled Tribe youth training at Rourkela livelihood centre
  13. Government to cover full certification costs for micro and small enterprises under Export Promotion Mission
  14. SDAL Supplies Indigenous Nagastra-2 Anti-Tank Loitering Munition System to Indian Army
  15. India plans to expand missile and defence equipment production while boosting global defence exports
  16. Supreme Court directs Rajasthan to shut illegal discharge points polluting Jojari-Luni-Bandi rivers and recover environmental compensation
  17. IMD study finds northwest India growing drier and south peninsula wetter over seven decades
  18. ICAR-CMFRI delivers five lakh hatchery-produced green mussel seeds to fisher communities in Maharashtra
  19. Scientists synthesise diamondiyne, a newly created carbon allotrope
  20. Global report warns climate change is worsening heat, chemical and exploitation risks for food system workers
  21. Global nuclear power use may more than triple by 2060, projects IAEA chief Rafael Grossi
  22. Study finds El Niño reshaped India's winter PM2.5 pollution pattern
  23. World's First Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) Launched in Delhi NCR
  24. Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: October Observance, Theme and Key Facts
  25. International Stuttering Awareness Day 2026 online conference unveils 'Shades of Stuttering' theme
  26. WHO Marks International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026 with Theme 'From Detection to Prevention'
  27. NCERT rolls out 20-hour activity-based AI and computational thinking module for Classes 9 to 12 covering deepfakes and responsible AI use
  28. Union Government Sanctions 320 New Postgraduate Medical Seats Across Six Himachal Pradesh Medical Colleges
  29. Karnataka High Court issues guidelines to police against mechanical FIRs over social media posts
  30. Indian Railways to open 118 km of new rail sections in Madhya Pradesh and flag off Devendranagar-Churhat train
  31. Indian Railways reports improved train punctuality over the past eight years
  32. President Droupadi Murmu Unveils Rs 200 Commemorative Coin Honouring Sindhi Saint Mata Hasi Devi Ji in Raipur
  33. Sunil Kumar Named Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
  34. Ashoke Sen becomes first Indian to receive Oskar Klein medal for theoretical physics
  35. Usha Mangeshkar to receive inaugural Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award
  36. Anca-Maria Verma Named IIMSAM Ambassador-at-Large for India on Five-Year Term
  37. Sagarmala Finance Corporation targets cumulative disbursals of Rs 60,205 crore by fiscal 2030-31
☰

Jump to current affairs

Headlines 24 October 2026
  1. Reserve Bank of India records $43.26 billion net forex purchase in August, offsetting impact with swaps
  2. Reserve Bank of India Governor defends Tata Sons' upper-layer NBFC status, mandates listing for large NBFCs
  3. Sebi reviews short selling and SLB framework, plans AI sandbox and corporate bond market-making
  4. RBI Bulletin confirms banks passed on 93 bps lending rate cut following RBI's 125 bps repo reduction.
  5. BSE and MMTC-PAMP Partner to Expand India’s Electronic Gold Receipts Market
  6. Odisha Secures ₹53,894 Crore Investment Proposals Across Key Industrial Sectors at India Chem 2026
  7. Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and Association of ARCs Sign Five-Year MoU for Insolvency Education Enhancement
  8. RBI Report Highlights Strong Domestic Demand Supporting India's Economic Growth Momentum
  9. AgriStack crosses 11 crore Farmer IDs months ahead of March 2027 deadline
  10. MHA partners with Indian Army to create 60,000-volunteer civil defence network across 12 states and Union Territories
  11. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Launches ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026’ Campaign Running from 22 October to 30 November
  12. Tripartite MoU supports Scheduled Tribe youth training at Rourkela livelihood centre
  13. Government to cover full certification costs for micro and small enterprises under Export Promotion Mission
  14. SDAL Supplies Indigenous Nagastra-2 Anti-Tank Loitering Munition System to Indian Army
  15. India plans to expand missile and defence equipment production while boosting global defence exports
  16. Supreme Court directs Rajasthan to shut illegal discharge points polluting Jojari-Luni-Bandi rivers and recover environmental compensation
  17. IMD study finds northwest India growing drier and south peninsula wetter over seven decades
  18. ICAR-CMFRI delivers five lakh hatchery-produced green mussel seeds to fisher communities in Maharashtra
  19. Scientists synthesise diamondiyne, a newly created carbon allotrope
  20. Global report warns climate change is worsening heat, chemical and exploitation risks for food system workers
  21. Global nuclear power use may more than triple by 2060, projects IAEA chief Rafael Grossi
  22. Study finds El Niño reshaped India's winter PM2.5 pollution pattern
  23. World's First Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) Launched in Delhi NCR
  24. Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: October Observance, Theme and Key Facts
  25. International Stuttering Awareness Day 2026 online conference unveils 'Shades of Stuttering' theme
  26. WHO Marks International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026 with Theme 'From Detection to Prevention'
  27. NCERT rolls out 20-hour activity-based AI and computational thinking module for Classes 9 to 12 covering deepfakes and responsible AI use
  28. Union Government Sanctions 320 New Postgraduate Medical Seats Across Six Himachal Pradesh Medical Colleges
  29. Karnataka High Court issues guidelines to police against mechanical FIRs over social media posts
  30. Indian Railways to open 118 km of new rail sections in Madhya Pradesh and flag off Devendranagar-Churhat train
  31. Indian Railways reports improved train punctuality over the past eight years
  32. President Droupadi Murmu Unveils Rs 200 Commemorative Coin Honouring Sindhi Saint Mata Hasi Devi Ji in Raipur
  33. Sunil Kumar Named Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
  34. Ashoke Sen becomes first Indian to receive Oskar Klein medal for theoretical physics
  35. Usha Mangeshkar to receive inaugural Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award
  36. Anca-Maria Verma Named IIMSAM Ambassador-at-Large for India on Five-Year Term
  37. Sagarmala Finance Corporation targets cumulative disbursals of Rs 60,205 crore by fiscal 2030-31
Topic

Economy, Banking and Finance

View all Economy & Banking

Reserve Bank of India records $43.26 billion net forex purchase in August, offsetting impact with swaps

Key Updates:

  • The Reserve Bank of India recorded a record net purchase of $43.26 billion in the spot foreign exchange market during August.
  • Foreign exchange reserves did not increase due to the central bank simultaneously undertaking large foreign exchange sell/buy swaps.
  • Measures introduced by the RBI in June attracted more than $127 billion in foreign currency by the August 31 deadline.
  • The RBI's net forward dollar sales position reached a record $200.06 billion by the end of August, up from $136.77 billion a month earlier.
  • The RBI's foreign exchange reserves peaked at $785 billion in early September.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Reserve Bank of India Governor defends Tata Sons' upper-layer NBFC status, mandates listing for large NBFCs

Key Updates:

  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra defended the classification of Tata Sons as an upper-layer NBFC, stating that large NBFCs and core investment companies handling public funds or leveraging group balance sheets must register with the RBI and follow mandatory listing norms.
  • RBI last month rejected Tata Sons' application to surrender its NBFC licence, making its public listing imminent; Tata Sons was placed in the upper layer in September 2022 and had applied to surrender its registration in March 2024 after repaying its debt.
  • Malhotra reaffirmed the RBI's primary objective of maintaining price stability through inflation targeting while supporting long-term economic growth.
  • Malhotra stated the average inflation projection stands at 5.1 per cent for the current year, with inflation within the RBI's tolerance band despite supply-side pressures from food and fuel.
  • On the rupee, Malhotra said the RBI is not targeting any specific exchange-rate level but focuses on ensuring orderly conditions in the foreign exchange market and managing volatility.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Sebi reviews short selling and SLB framework, plans AI sandbox and corporate bond market-making

Key Updates:

  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced a review of short selling and securities lending and borrowing (SLB) rules to improve liquidity and price discovery.
  • Sebi is exploring an artificial intelligence (AI) sandbox to test new tools safely and is finalising guidelines on responsible AI use with a tiered approach covering accountability, data controls, kill switches and human oversight, in line with the International Organization of Securities Commissions' toolkit.
  • Sebi is developing a market-making framework to boost secondary trading in corporate bonds.
  • Sebi is exploring graded compliance requirements for stockbrokers based on scale, client exposure and reliance on technology.
  • Sebi will extend the automated give-up and take-up facility to custodial clients such as portfolio management services (PMS) and alternative investment funds (AIFs) in the cash segment.
  • Sebi is reworking depository participant rules, extending the Samuhik Prativedan Manch to depositories, and addressing parallel clearing in tender offers, buybacks and offers for sale.

Connects with 1 related update for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

RBI Bulletin confirms banks passed on 93 bps lending rate cut following RBI's 125 bps repo reduction.

Key Updates:

  • Banks passed on 93 basis points of lending rate reductions to borrowers.
  • This action followed the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) cumulative 125 basis points cut in the policy repo rate.
  • The policy repo rate reduction occurred between February 2025 and March 2026.
  • The weighted average lending rate (WALR) on fresh loans declined by 93 basis points.
  • The 93 basis points decline was attributed to an 80 basis points interest rate effect and a 13 basis points composition effect.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

BSE and MMTC-PAMP Partner to Expand India’s Electronic Gold Receipts Market

Key Updates:

  • BSE Ltd and MMTC-PAMP India Private Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop and expand India’s Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR) market.
  • MMTC-PAMP is India’s only London Bullion Market Association (LBMA)-accredited gold and silver refiner.
  • Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) are SEBI-regulated, exchange-traded securities that enable investors to hold gold in dematerialised form within demat accounts.
  • BSE currently offers EGR contracts in denominations of 100 mg, 1 gram, and 10 grams at fineness levels of 999 and 995.
  • The collaboration aims to reduce India’s dependence on gold imports by mobilizing domestically held gold and improving price transparency.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Odisha Secures ₹53,894 Crore Investment Proposals Across Key Industrial Sectors at India Chem 2026

Key Updates:

  • Odisha attracted investment proposals worth ₹53,894 crore with the potential to generate 20,210 jobs during its two-day investment outreach at India Chem 2026 in Mumbai.
  • NLC India led the investment commitments with a proposed investment of ₹37,000 crore in the power and minerals sectors.
  • The total investment commitments comprised nine memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth ₹51,443.51 crore and four investment intents worth ₹2,450 crore.
  • Odisha secured an investment proposal worth ₹8,100 crore from Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
  • JSW is developing a 13.2 million tonne integrated steel complex at Dhinkia in Jagatsinghpur district with an investment of over ₹1 trillion.
  • The 15th India Chem, a biennial international exhibition and conference on chemicals and petrochemicals, will be organized in Bhubaneswar.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and Association of ARCs Sign Five-Year MoU for Insolvency Education Enhancement

Key Updates:

  • The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of ARCs in India.
  • The collaboration aims to strengthen the Post Graduate Insolvency Programme (PGIP) by integrating theoretical knowledge with practical industry experience.
  • The MoU establishes a framework for industry experts from ARCs to contribute to teaching and faculty support to reorient PGIP course modules.
  • The partnership promotes joint research projects in areas such as debt restructuring, financial markets, stressed assets, and insolvency resolution.
  • The partners will explore internships and placement-related opportunities for PGIP participants; the MoU also envisages an annual joint conference.
  • The Association of ARCs in India is the representative body for Asset Reconstruction Companies registered with the Reserve Bank of India.
  • The regulatory framework issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on October 11, 2022, permitted eligible ARCs to act as resolution applicants under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016.
  • The MoU has been signed for a period of five years.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

RBI Report Highlights Strong Domestic Demand Supporting India's Economic Growth Momentum

Key Updates:

  • Strong domestic demand, services activity, and exports supported India's economic momentum despite rising inflation and geopolitical tensions.
  • Headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation reached 5.5% in September, marking a 23-month high from 4.8% in August.
  • Core inflation rose to 4.3%, while core inflation excluding precious metals stood at 3.2%.
  • Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation climbed to 11.4% under the 2022-23 base series.
  • Higher minimum support prices were announced on September 30 for the 2027-28 rabi marketing season to ensure remunerative prices and incentivise crop diversification.
  • The IMF outlook remains subject to downside risks, including the West Asia conflict, trade tensions, high sovereign bond yields, elevated public debt, and concerns over fiscal sustainability.
  • Global growth projections for 2027 assume the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in March and a broad return to pre-war conditions by October 2027.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

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Sagarmala Finance Corporation targets cumulative disbursals of Rs 60,205 crore by fiscal 2030-31

Key Updates:

  • Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India's first dedicated maritime sector NBFC, targets cumulative disbursements of Rs 60,205 crore by the end of fiscal 2030-31.
  • SMFCL has sanctioned Rs 11,563 crore in financing, of which Rs 5,107 crore has been disbursed as of September-end.
  • Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated SMFCL's new office in New Delhi, highlighting its role in port-led development, shipbuilding and coastal connectivity.
  • SBI Ventures Limited has been appointed Fund Manager for the Maritime Investment Fund (MIF) component of the Maritime Development Fund (MDF).
  • MIF registration as an Alternative Investment Fund with SEBI is due by end of November, with a first close of Rs 5,000 crore targeted by January 2027; the Centre's contribution of up to Rs 9,800 crore is channelled through SMFCL.
  • The Interest Incentivisation Fund (IIF) portal is live and has supported loans of Rs 4,500 crore, with about Rs 25 crore of interest subvention released to borrowers.

Connects with 1 related update for revision context.

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Topic

Government Schemes and Policy

View all Schemes & Policy

AgriStack crosses 11 crore Farmer IDs months ahead of March 2027 deadline

Key Updates:

  • The Centre has created 11 crore unique 11-digit Farmer IDs (Kisan Pehchaan Patra) under the AgriStack framework, five months ahead of the March 2027 deadline set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • The milestone was achieved on the night of October 23, 2026, and announced by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on October 24.
  • The Farmer IDs are being issued as part of the Digital Agriculture Mission.
  • The Farmer ID will be the only document a farmer needs to access bank loans, crop insurance, disaster relief and to sell produce, eliminating repeated paperwork.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

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MHA partners with Indian Army to create 60,000-volunteer civil defence network across 12 states and Union Territories

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will collaborate with the Indian Army to establish a civil defence network of around 60,000 volunteers across 12 states and Union Territories under a pilot project.
  • The first phase involves specialised three-day training for civil defence master trainers at designated Indian Army training establishments.
  • A total of 600 master trainers, 50 from each participating state and Union Territory, will undergo the training.
  • The training programme is scheduled to be completed by the second week of November 2026.
  • The initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address outlining a vision for a vibrant civil defence network with modern systems, advanced technologies and contemporary preparedness capabilities.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

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Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Launches ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026’ Campaign Running from 22 October to 30 November

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare will launch the nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026’ campaign from 22 October to 30 November 2026 to promote sustainable agriculture, improve soil health and encourage judicious use of agricultural resources.
  • Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the campaign from Karnal, Haryana.
  • The campaign aims to create awareness among farmers about balanced and judicious use of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs based on soil testing, and will promote crop diversification through oilseed, pulse and horticulture missions, utilization of rice fallows after paddy harvesting and proper crop residue management.
  • Farmers will be trained in the appropriate use of organic and bio-based agricultural products and promotion of natural farming through awareness programmes, training sessions and field demonstrations.
  • The campaign will emphasize water conservation, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, water-use efficiency and climate-resilient farming practices to conserve natural resources.
  • Key themes include appropriate fertilizer use including green ammonia and biological products, crop diversification and intercropping, efficient utilization of rice fallows, natural farming, integrated farming systems, integrated pest management, soil health management, promotion of oilseeds and pulses, seed distribution, capacity building, farm mechanization and demonstrations of regenerative agriculture technologies.
  • The campaign will facilitate creation of Farmer IDs, spread awareness about crop insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), expand Kisan Credit Card (KCC) coverage through saturation efforts and disseminate information on benefits of trade agreements.
  • Farmers’ conferences, Kisan Chaupals, training sessions and field demonstrations will be organized at State, district, block and Gram Panchayat levels, with State Agriculture Departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities and Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMA) collaborating with agricultural scientists, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and progressive farmers.
  • The campaign targets reaching approximately one crore participants through ATMA and ICAR, with 4,150 teams involving KVKs and ATMA and more than 12,000 scientists and ATMA functionaries expected to contribute, supported by outreach through local-language materials, radio, Doordarshan, social media and other IEC activities.

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Tripartite MoU supports Scheduled Tribe youth training at Rourkela livelihood centre

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Tribal Affairs reported a tripartite MoU to support livelihood promotion, skill development and entrepreneurship among Scheduled Tribe youth through the Livelihood Business Incubation Centre at Rourkela, Odisha.
  • The centre was established in 2018 and is recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
  • Its training and entrepreneurship programmes aim to promote sustainable enterprises, improve productivity and support livelihood creation for local Scheduled Tribe youth.
  • Current-year courses include Assistant Beautician, Self Employed Tailor, Assistant Computer Operator (Tally and Accounting), Assistant Electrician, Bread and Bakery Manufacturing, and Mushroom Farming.
  • Under the arrangement, Rourkela Steel Plant is to provide the site, plant and machinery are installed under the MSME ASPIRE scheme, and NSTFDC bears recurring expenses through a Ministry of Tribal Affairs grant.
  • More than 600 students have benefited from the centre, with trainees setting up businesses in trades such as bakery, mushroom cultivation, beauty parlour services and tailoring.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

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Government to cover full certification costs for micro and small enterprises under Export Promotion Mission

Key Updates:

  • The government will bear the entire cost of expensive certifications for micro and small enterprises under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
  • The government will support micro and small enterprises in meeting European Union requirements, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the EU Deforestation Regulation.
  • The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) was approved in November last year with an outlay of 25,060 crore rupees over six financial years.
  • EPM is implemented through two sub-schemes: Niryat Protsahan, with an allocation of 10,401 crore rupees, and Niryat Disha, with 14,659 crore rupees.
  • Exporters are advised to approach the Directorate General of Foreign Trade for assistance with certifications and regulatory compliance.

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National Small Industry Day 2026 – August 30 (Start of September)

National Small Industry Day is observed annually on August 30 in India. The day traces its formal recognition to August 30, 2000, when a comprehensive policy package for small scale industries was launched.

Topic

International, Defence and Summits

View all International & Defence

SDAL Supplies Indigenous Nagastra-2 Anti-Tank Loitering Munition System to Indian Army

Key Updates:

  • Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), a Nagpur-based defence manufacturer and subsidiary of Solar Industries India, began delivering the Nagastra-2 anti-tank loitering munition system to the Indian Army on October 23, 2026.
  • The Nagastra-2 system is equipped with a 4-kg tandem shaped-charge warhead designed to penetrate armour up to 650 mm thick.
  • The loitering munition system offers a range of up to 25 km in recover-and-reuse mode and 50 km in fire-and-forget mode, with an endurance of up to 60 minutes.
  • The Nagastra-2 features Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) capability to improve resistance to electronic warfare threats, including GPS jamming.
  • The delivery of the Nagastra-2 follows the previous supply of 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions to the Indian Army.

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Munitions India, Drogo Aerospace Sign MoU for UAV Systems (Start of September)

Munitions India Limited (MIL), a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, signed an MoU with Drogo Aerospace Private Limited for collaboration in design, development and integration of indigenous…

India plans to expand missile and defence equipment production while boosting global defence exports

Key Updates:

  • Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh announced that India plans to expand domestic production of conventional missiles, drones and other defence equipment to meet future warfare demands.
  • The government is opening missile technologies developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to private manufacturers through technology transfers, with around 17 large private and public sector players having taken up or in the process of taking up these technologies.
  • A new procurement framework provides five years of assured orders for successful defence startup prototypes developed against armed forces requirements, with contracts worth around Rs 2,000 crore generated so far.
  • India's defence exports have reached a record Rs 38,424 crore (about €3.6 billion), while domestic defence production has risen to nearly Rs 1.78 lakh crore.
  • India now exports defence equipment to more than 80 countries and has become the third-largest exporter of arms to Europe.
  • BrahMos supersonic missiles have attracted significant interest from buyers in Southeast Asia, with some contracts signed and others under negotiation.
  • India's defence industrial base includes nearly 840 companies holding industrial licences and around 17,000 micro, small and medium enterprises, beyond the traditional 16 large government-owned defence companies.
  • The government prioritises Indigenous Design, Development and Manufacturing (IDDM) in procurement, followed by the 'Buy Indian' category, with pure global procurement as the last resort.
  • India aims to spend 75% of its annual defence capital expenditure domestically, with annual capital outlay of around $20-25 billion.
  • India is developing a domestic artificial intelligence layer for the armed forces in coordination with the IndiaAI Mission, with computing capacity already procured.

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Topic

Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment

View all Science & Environment

Supreme Court directs Rajasthan to shut illegal discharge points polluting Jojari-Luni-Bandi rivers and recover environmental compensation

Key Updates:

  • The Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in an order issued on September 29, directed Rajasthan to seal and dismantle all illegal and unauthorised discharge points, including bypass arrangements, manholes, chambers, pipelines and conduits, into the Jojari-Luni-Bandi river system.
  • The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) was directed to initiate proceedings for assessment, imposition and actual recovery of Environmental Compensation for the entire period of violations from the industrial units, persons or entities that benefited from them.
  • The court took suo motu cognisance in September 2025 after news reports highlighted severe pollution in the Jojari river, a lifeline for about 2 million people, where sewage mixed with industrial effluents damaged crops and caused health problems in cattle, including infertility, miscarriage and skin diseases.
  • The court ordered a comprehensive technical survey of all bridges and road crossings across the Luni, Jojari and Bandi river systems and their tributaries to identify and remove structures impeding the rivers' natural flow.
  • A nine-member committee headed by former Rajasthan High Court judge Justice (retd) Sangeet Lodha, constituted in November 2025, is assisting the court, and the state was directed to take immediate enforcement action against illegal sand mining and provide the committee details of mining leases, quantities extracted and restoration obligations.
  • Rajasthan was directed to establish a permanent, district-wise coordinated enforcement mechanism involving the RSPCB, district administration, police, revenue, transport and local bodies, with nodal officers for regular field surveillance.
  • The state chief secretary was directed to process all pending proposals for Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and their upgradation to zero liquid discharge (ZLD) through a single-window mechanism.
  • In August, the Supreme Court had barred construction within 100 metres of the edges of the three rivers and restrained hazardous industries within 500 metres on either side of their existing flood lines.

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Supreme Court Sets November 30 Deadline for Aravalli Panel (Start of September)

The Supreme Court rejected a six-month extension sought by its high-powered committee on the Aravallis and directed it to submit its final report by November 30, 2026. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant questioned whether…

IMD study finds northwest India growing drier and south peninsula wetter over seven decades

Key Updates:

  • A new study by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, published in IMD's peer-reviewed journal Mausam, finds northwest India has turned drier and the south peninsula wetter over the past seven decades.
  • In northwest India, the hot semi-arid zone expanded from about a quarter of the region's area in 1951-1980 to a third in 1991-2020, while the temperate zone shrank from about a quarter to less than a fifth, shifting roughly 7% of the region into the drier zone.
  • The dry climate zone, which once ended in western Uttar Pradesh, has extended eastward into the state, and scientists warn the change could affect paddy cultivation in the north.
  • In peninsular India, the hot semi-arid zone shrank from about 30% of the region to 16%, with most of that land shifting to the tropical savannah zone, which now covers three-quarters of the peninsula due to rising rainfall over southern India.
  • Marathwada and west Vidarbha in Maharashtra moved into the hot semi-arid zone, while the tropical monsoon zone extended along the Konkan coast, coastal Karnataka and Kerala.
  • The study compared India's climate map decade by decade from 1951 to 2020; its lead author Ananya Karmakar said the clearest change was the hot, dry zone pushing east into Uttar Pradesh, a key farming region where sowing and harvesting timings need close watching.

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ICAR-CMFRI delivers five lakh hatchery-produced green mussel seeds to fisher communities in Maharashtra

Key Updates:

  • The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) supplied an additional five lakh hatchery-produced green mussel seeds to fisher-folk and tribal communities in Maharashtra, taking the cumulative supply to one million in the past six months.
  • The green mussel seeds, measuring 2–4 mm, were produced at CMFRI's bivalve hatchery at its Vizhinjam Regional Centre under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
  • One lakh oyster seeds produced at CMFRI's Madras Regional Station were also supplied to Maharashtra to promote oyster farming.
  • A scientific team led by Principal Scientist M.K. Anil trained 30 government officials from Maharashtra's Mangrove Cell in nursery rearing and farming techniques for mussels and oysters.
  • The Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation in Maharashtra is coordinating farmer participation, and the project is supported by the Union Department of Fisheries.

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Maharashtra Bans Sale of Loose Edible Oil (End of August)

The Maharashtra FDA banned the sale of loose (unpacked) edible oil across the state. Violations of the ban can attract imprisonment of up to seven years.

Scientists synthesise diamondiyne, a newly created carbon allotrope

Key Updates:

  • Scientists from the University of Gothenburg, Stock University and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have synthesised a new carbon allotrope called diamondiyne, first proposed more than three decades ago, with findings published in Angewandte Chemie.
  • Diamondiyne is a three-dimensional network of carbon atoms resembling diamond but more open, like two jungle gyms pushed through each other, with spacious cages that could contain other atoms within.
  • The material was made at a boundary between water and chloroform over about a week, producing thin films of about five square centimetres with thickness controllable from a few nanometres up to 60 nanometres.
  • Researchers confirmed small diamondiyne crystals in the films using spectroscopy and electron microscopy, though it made up only 1% of the reaction yield.
  • Carbon atoms bond to form allotropes; the three most famous are graphite, diamond and graphene, with each diamond carbon atom bonded to four neighbours while graphene atoms form a flat sheet.

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Global report warns climate change is worsening heat, chemical and exploitation risks for food system workers

Key Updates:

  • A global report by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), released on October 5, found that climate change exposes food workers to extreme heat, wildfire smoke and pesticide hazards amid poverty wages and weak labour protections.
  • Nearly 1.4 billion people work in the global food system, and about 30% (around 416 million) earn below a living wage.
  • Agriculture is among the world's most dangerous sectors, accounting for one-third of all occupational deaths globally, with heat stress the most common occupational health threat in agriculture.
  • Around 90% of agricultural employment and 60%-80% of non-agricultural food employment worldwide is informal; informal workers earn on average only 56% of the monthly wages of formally employed workers.
  • A January 2026 study of 200 male paddy-harvesting workers in West Bengal found dehydration rose from 16.5% to 33% over the summer 2024 work period.
  • An April 2025 study of 400 small-scale fisher households in Ernakulam district, Kerala, found female-headed households had a higher livelihood vulnerability index (0.40) than male-headed households (0.37).
  • In India, drought-driven crop failures have pushed tens of thousands of landless farmworkers into cycles of high-interest debt and bonded labour, and a study across five Indian States found farmer suicides increased significantly after droughts.

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Global nuclear power use may more than triple by 2060, projects IAEA chief Rafael Grossi

Key Updates:

  • Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the UN General Assembly that nuclear power use could more than triple by 2060, driven by electrification, AI-powered data centres and technology companies' demand for reliable, carbon-free power.
  • In 2025, more than 400 operating reactors in over 30 countries produced 10 per cent of global electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon electricity.
  • More than 60 new reactors are under construction and projections for future nuclear capacity have shifted dramatically upward.
  • On Iran, whose nuclear sites were struck by the US before the US and Israel launched a war on February 28, Grossi said the technical work for a diplomatic agreement has been done and urged a return to the negotiating table so IAEA inspectors can return to Iran expeditiously.
  • Grossi warned that North Korea's growing nuclear programme under Kim Jong Un operates without any IAEA oversight, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning nuclear weapons production.
  • Grossi said the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, remains in a precarious position due to frequent power losses, limited back-up diesel supplies and military activity threatening the plant and its workers.
  • The IAEA has made significant progress in clarifying outstanding questions on Syria's nuclear activities, after reporting in September that the Bashar Assad-era government, ousted in December 2024, was constructing a nuclear reactor configured to produce fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons.

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Study finds El Niño reshaped India's winter PM2.5 pollution pattern

Key Updates:

  • A study titled 'Air quality in flux: The baffling ENSO transition in India', published in the journal Atmospheric Pollution Research in October 2026, found that La Niña and El Niño conditions altered atmospheric circulation, PM2.5 transport pathways and weather conditions across India.
  • During the La Niña winter of 2022-23, PM2.5 levels in north India fell by up to 30% from the 2019-22 average, while Mumbai's average PM2.5 spiked by about 45%.
  • In the El Niño winter of 2023-24, the pattern reversed, with PM2.5 rising in north India and falling sharply in peninsular India.
  • During La Niña 2022-23, stronger winds dispersed stubble-burning and local emissions, transporting pollutants southwards and raising PM2.5 in cities such as Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram.
  • Under El Niño 2023-24, weaker winds over northern India caused stagnation, with Jaipur recording about a 50% increase in PM2.5 and Delhi over a 10% spike compared with the 2019-22 average.
  • In Jaipur, rainfall was more strongly linked to lower PM2.5 during 2022-23, while surface pressure became more important during 2023-24, causing pollution spikes after rain.
  • Backward air-mass trajectory analysis showed Jaipur received air from polluted northern regions during the El Niño winter, while Hyderabad received more marine and southern air.
  • The study found PM2.5 variations ranging from about a 40% decline to a 70% increase from 2019-22 average levels despite no major changes in emissions or pollution-control policies.
  • Study author and atmospheric scientist Gufran Beig cautioned that the two studied years were unusual and not predictive of future winters, though this year's El Niño is likely to be the strongest on record.

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Malaysia Declares Emergency as Serian Haze Index Hits 519 (Start of September)

Malaysia declared a state of emergency in the Serian district of Sarawak state after thick haze from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia pushed air pollution to hazardous levels on Friday. The Air Pollution Index…

World's First Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) Launched in Delhi NCR

Key Updates:

  • The Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) was inaugurated in Delhi NCR on October 24, 2026, by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.
  • AATAL is designed to move beyond simple AQI reporting by identifying the composition, sources, and potential health implications of air pollutants.
  • The laboratory can distinguish between various sources of air pollution, including vehicular emissions, industrial activity, biomass and crop-residue burning, construction and road dust, and pollutants transported from surrounding regions.
  • The facility is equipped with advanced instruments to analyze the chemical composition of atmospheric gases and aerosols, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), metals, and toxic elements.
  • AATAL is integrated with IITM’s AIRWISE (Air Quality Warning and Integrated Decision Support System for Emissions), which provides air-quality forecasts at a spatial resolution of 400 meters for the next 72 hours.
  • The facility was established under 'Mission Mausam' to strengthen scientific understanding of atmospheric pollution in Delhi-NCR.

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Agnikul Cosmos Opens New Testing Units in Chennai (Start of September)

Spacetech startup Agnikul Cosmos inaugurated two new units at its Assembly & Testing Facility in Chennai. The new units are the Stage Testing & Inspection Facility (STIF) and the Pressurant Tank Realization…

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Miscellaneous Current Affairs

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Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: October Observance, Theme and Key Facts

Key Updates:

  • National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is observed every October and is co-led in the United States by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance.
  • The 2026 campaign theme, set by the National Cybersecurity Alliance, is "Don't Make It Easy for Them", emphasising online safety through repeated everyday habits.
  • CISA runs Cybersecurity Career Week inside the month, from October 19 to 24 in 2026.
  • The five C's of cybersecurity in security management writing are change, compliance, cost, continuity and coverage; they are a planning shorthand, not a standard owned by any standards body.

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Territorial Army Launches Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (End of August)

The Territorial Army, in collaboration with CyberPeace, launched Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0), the third edition of the national-level hackathon. The hackathon aims to develop innovative solutions in Artificial…

International Stuttering Awareness Day 2026 online conference unveils 'Shades of Stuttering' theme

Key Updates:

  • International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) is observed on October 22, and the theme for 2026 is 'Shades of Stuttering – What's Yours?'.
  • The 28th ISAD Online Conference runs from October 1 to October 31, 2026, acknowledging events worldwide on October 22.
  • The ISAD online conference, first held in 1998, is a private volunteer-run initiative that is totally independent of any organisation.
  • The 2026 conference is coordinated by a volunteer team including Michele Ayoub, Anita Blom, Paul Goldstein, McKenzie Jemmett, Nicole Kulmaczewski, Pamela Mertz and Manon Spruit, continuing the work of Judy Kuster who ran previous editions.
  • Participants can submit papers, videos, poems, drawings, stories, research or reflections at www.isad.live, with questions and comments to be posted before October 22, 2026.

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WHO Marks International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026 with Theme 'From Detection to Prevention'

Key Updates:

  • International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026 runs from 18 to 24 October.
  • The 2026 campaign theme is 'From Detection to Prevention'.
  • The campaign aims to raise awareness of lead exposure health effects, highlight global prevention efforts especially in children, and urge countries to eliminate lead paint through regulation.
  • The Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation (IHME) estimates over 3.5 million deaths globally were attributed to lead exposure in 2023, primarily due to cardiovascular effects, accounting for more than 71 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide.
  • The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 2011, supports legally-binding measures to phase out lead paints in every country.
  • All WHO Member States are encouraged to phase out lead paint as a key national action under the WHO Chemicals Road map.
  • The majority of global lead consumption is used in manufacturing lead-acid batteries for motor vehicles; other lead-containing products include paints, toys, cosmetics like kohl and sindoor, contaminated spices and traditional medicines.
  • Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure, which can cause irreversible damage to the developing brain, such as reduced intellectual ability.
  • Official campaign hashtags are #BanLeadPaint and #LeadPoisoning.

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NCERT rolls out 20-hour activity-based AI and computational thinking module for Classes 9 to 12 covering deepfakes and responsible AI use

Key Updates:

  • The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has released an activity-based 20-hour introductory module on computational thinking and artificial intelligence (AI) for Classes 9 to 12, developed by faculty from IIT Madras, IIT Jodhpur and NCERT and aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
  • Designed for students with no prior knowledge of AI, the module is organised into five units covering AI in everyday life, how machines learn, why AI gets things wrong, data privacy and responsible use of AI, and the use of modern AI tools.
  • The third unit examines AI-generated misinformation, deepfakes and hallucinations with a five-step verification method, while the fourth introduces India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 and cautions against entering sensitive details such as Aadhaar or PAN numbers, passwords and one-time passwords into AI tools.
  • The teaching plan spans 20 classroom hours, with activities in three modes: one device per student or pair, teacher-led demonstrations on a shared screen, and unplugged paper-based exercises for schools with limited devices or internet connectivity.
  • Students maintain a 'Curious Notebook' portfolio of observations and reflections, and the module promotes a 'helper-stance' in which AI tools improve, rather than replace, independent thinking.
  • Earlier, on April 2, the CBSE launched a structured CT and AI curriculum for Classes 3 to 8, recommending 50 hours annually for Classes 3 to 5 and 100 hours for Classes 6 to 8.

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Union Government Sanctions 320 New Postgraduate Medical Seats Across Six Himachal Pradesh Medical Colleges

Key Updates:

  • The Central Government approved an increase of 320 postgraduate medical seats across six medical colleges in Himachal Pradesh, announced by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda.
  • The government will provide a grant of approximately 415 crore rupees for the project.
  • The additional seats will be created in Hamirpur (57), Chamba (28), Mandi (55), Nahan (32), Shimla (91) and Tanda (57).
  • The initiative aims to expand medical education and strengthen specialised healthcare services in fields including surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology and obstetrics, paediatrics and oncology.

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Karnataka High Court issues guidelines to police against mechanical FIRs over social media posts

Key Updates:

  • Karnataka High Court Justice M Nagaprasanna issued guidelines on October 16 to prevent multiple cases over the same incident and the arbitrary exercise of police powers, directing the state's director general and inspector general of police to circulate them and ensure compliance.
  • The guidelines were issued while quashing a criminal case against Sandeep Kumar, who was booked for allegedly promoting enmity after reposting on X a news report about six young men threatening a woman with a knife.
  • The guidelines direct police to examine whether a complaint discloses the essential ingredients of an offence before registering an FIR and to check whether a case has already been registered over the same incident or a substantially identical post.
  • Police must conduct a preliminary inquiry under Section 173(3) of the BNSS where legally permissible and scrutinise the specific ingredients and intent required to invoke Section 353(2) of the BNS, which penalises circulating false information or rumours to promote enmity between communities.
  • The court held that the effect of words must be judged by the standards of reasonable, strong-minded and courageous people, not those who perceive every criticism as a threat.
  • The court noted that the Supreme Court has recognised in previous judgments that criticism and protest fall within the protection of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

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Indian Railways to open 118 km of new rail sections in Madhya Pradesh and flag off Devendranagar-Churhat train

Key Updates:

  • Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will inaugurate two railway sections totalling 118 km in Madhya Pradesh on October 24, 2026, and flag off a new train service between Devendranagar and Churhat.
  • The sections comprise the 53-km Satna-Devendranagar stretch and the 65-km Rewa-Churhat stretch, both part of the Lalitpur-Singrauli new railway line project in the Vindhya region.
  • The 65-km Rewa-Churhat section connects Sidhi district to the railway network for the first time and includes major engineering works such as bridges, tunnels and a 3.33-km-long tunnel.
  • The new rail links are expected to improve connectivity to areas including Panna, Satna, Rewa and Singrauli, and support limestone-based industries, cement manufacturing and freight movement.

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Indian Railways reports improved train punctuality over the past eight years

Key Updates:

  • Indian Railways' train punctuality improved from 69.2% in 2018-19 to 77.43% in 2025-26, with 77.11% recorded so far in 2026-27, according to Ministry of Railways data shared via PTI.
  • Punctuality has remained above 77% over the last three financial years, and the Ministry refuted social media claims of declining performance as misleading.
  • Punctuality is measured by trains arriving at destination stations within the prescribed time limit, per a PIB March 2026 release.
  • During 2025-26 up to February, 24 railway divisions recorded punctuality above 90% and 19 divisions achieved between 80% and 90%.
  • Improvements are attributed to better monitoring, timetable rationalisation, maintenance planning and infrastructure upgrades, supported by digital systems such as the Integrated Coaching Management System (ICMS), National Train Enquiry System (NTES) and Control Office Application.
  • Comparisons with Covid-19 years (2020-21 and 2021-22) are considered inappropriate benchmarks because significantly fewer trains operated then.

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President Droupadi Murmu Unveils Rs 200 Commemorative Coin Honouring Sindhi Saint Mata Hasi Devi Ji in Raipur

Key Updates:

  • President Droupadi Murmu released a Rs 200 commemorative coin honouring Sindhi spiritual leader Mata Sahib Hasi Devi Ji at Lok Bhavan in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on October 22, 2026.
  • The coin was issued by the Union Finance Ministry to mark the 200th birth anniversary of Mata Hasi Devi Ji, the fifth spiritual head of Shadani Darbar, a Sindhi religious institution based in Raipur.
  • Governor Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai were present at the coin release event, and Shadani Darbar head Sant Dr Yudhishthir Lal delivered the welcome address.
  • The coin features an image of Mata Hasi Devi Ji on one side and the Lion Capital of Ashoka with the Rs 200 denomination on the other; devotees and collectors can book it through units of Shadani Darbar.
  • President Murmu arrived in Raipur on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh, attending the 'Seva Samman Parv' and 'Yuva Prabodhan' programmes at the Indoor Stadium in Raipur on the occasion of the Nuakhai festival, and will attend the Muriya Darbar, a traditional tribal assembly or 'Aadim Jan Sansad', as part of the Bastar Dussehra festival in Jagdalpur.

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People, Positions and Obituaries

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Sunil Kumar Named Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

Key Updates:

  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Sunil Kumar, an Executive Director at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), as the company's Chairman.
  • The appointment was made based on the recommendation of the SCSC.
  • Kumar's appointment will take effect from the date he assumes charge, on or after 7 December 2026.
  • The Chairman's post carries an IDA pay scale of Rs 2,00,000–3,70,000.
  • Kumar will serve until his superannuation on 31 December 2028, followed by a contract period; the combined tenure will be three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

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Ashoke Sen becomes first Indian to receive Oskar Klein medal for theoretical physics

Key Updates:

  • Noted string theorist Ashoke Sen, a professor at the Bengaluru-based International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), has been awarded the prestigious Oskar Klein medal, one of the highest honours in theoretical physics.
  • Sen is the first Indian to win the Oskar Klein medal, which has been awarded every year since 1988 by Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
  • Sen, an ICTS-Infosys Madhava Chair Professor known for his work on string theory, has earlier won the Dirac medal and the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, and is recognized for his pioneering work on S-duality, precision counting of black hole entropy and string field theory.
  • As part of the award, Sen delivered a lecture titled 'Gravity from Strings and Strings from Gravity' at Stockholm University.
  • Theoretical physicist Deepak Dhar was earlier named winner of the Dirac medal, making him the second Indian after Sen to win it, and he is the only Indian to have won both the Dirac Medal and the Boltzmann Medal.
  • Last year, Indian-origin American physicist Jainendra Jain, associated with multiple institutions in India, was named one of the winners of the Wolf Prize.

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Deepak Dhar Awarded 2026 Dirac Medal (Mid of August)

Deepak Dhar has been awarded the 2026 Dirac Medal by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) for his contributions to statistical mechanics. He is one of four physicists selected this year for the honour…

Annapurni Subramaniam Wins COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026 (Start of August)

Annapurni Subramaniam, director of Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, was awarded the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026. The medal is awarded jointly by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the…

Usha Mangeshkar to receive inaugural Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award

Key Updates:

  • Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the inaugural Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award will be presented to eminent singer Usha Mangeshkar for her contributions to Indian music.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the award at the concluding ceremony of Bhupen Hazarika's birth centenary celebrations on November 29 at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi.
  • The award will be conferred once every three years to a nationally or internationally recognised figure in music, arts or cinema, and carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a citation.
  • Around 5,000 people from different walks of life are expected to attend the concluding ceremony, according to the Chief Minister's Office.

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Anca-Maria Verma Named IIMSAM Ambassador-at-Large for India on Five-Year Term

Key Updates:

  • Anca-Maria Verma has been appointed Ambassador-at-Large of the Inter-Governmental Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM) for India.
  • The appointment, issued by IIMSAM Secretary-General H.E. Remigio Maradona, is effective 20 October 2026 for a five-year term concluding on 19 October 2031.
  • UN IIMSAM is an intergovernmental institution holding Permanent Observer status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), with a humanitarian mandate covering malnutrition, food security, public health and the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • In her new role, Verma will support IIMSAM's humanitarian initiatives across India, fostering institutional partnerships, international cooperation and stakeholder engagement.

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