Daily Current Affairs 26 October 2026: NHAI routes 80% of FY monetisation

Topic

Economy, Banking and Finance

View all Economy & Banking

NHAI routes 80% of FY monetisation pipeline through its sponsored InvITs

Key Updates:

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has allocated nearly 80% of this financial year's monetisation pipeline to the two Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) it sponsors.
Of 17 operational highway stretches spanning 1,692 km earmarked for monetisation via ToT and InvIT structures this financial year, NHAI will route 1,360 km through the InvIT platform.
In July, NHAI completed its first Toll-Operate-Transfer (ToT) transaction of the financial year, monetising 184.5 km of highways in Tamil Nadu under ToT Bundle 19 for Rs 2,259 crore.
Bidding is open for ToT Bundles 20, 21 and 22 as NHAI targets Rs 30,000 crore in asset monetisation this year.
InvIT monetisation proceeds are used exclusively for debt repayment, and NHAI plans to reduce its outstanding debt, now below Rs 2 lakh crore, from a peak of Rs 3.42 lakh crore at the end of 2022-23.
The public InvIT Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) has been offered 10 stretches totalling 910 km this financial year; in its debut last year, RIIT acquired 260 km of roads for Rs 9,500 crore, with NHAI holding 15% of its units.
National Highway Infra Trust (NHIT) has been offered 450 km of roads in its sixth acquisition round; last year it acquired highways for Rs 6,550 crore, with NHAI's unit share reduced to 10%.
RIIT units are open to retail investors, while NHIT's unit holders are Indian and overseas investment funds.
NHAI has prepared a three-year monetisation strategy to meet the Rs 4.42 lakh crore roads-sector monetisation target over five years; the second National Monetisation Pipeline targets Rs 16.32 lakh crore by 2029-30, with highways accounting for 26%.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

NHAI Announces Winners of ‘Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026’ (Start of September)

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced the winners of the Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026. The awards were presented in three categories: Avenue Plantations, Median Plantations, and Plantation in…

NHAI Releases Guidelines for Upgradation, Maintenance and Smart Monitoring of Toilets and Parking at Toll Plazas (End of October)

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued guidelines for the upgradation, maintenance and smart monitoring of public toilet facilities and designated parking areas at National Highway toll plazas.…

NHAI extends exempted FASTag validity for Divyangjan and PwD users to three or five years from October 2, 2026 (Start of October)

Revised government guidelines effective from October 2, 2026 exempt eligible Divyangjan and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) from annual renewal of their exempted FASTags, extending validity to three or five years based…

NHAI Adds Toll Plaza Feedback Option to Rajmargyatra App for Rating Highway Toll Services (End of October)

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…

CAST and India's National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) Sign Five-Year MoU to Boost U.S.–India Agricultural Science Collaboration

Key Updates:

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), based in Ames, Iowa, and India's National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), based in New Delhi, signed a five-year memorandum of understanding on Oct. 20, 2026, during the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines.
Proposed initial activities include a jointly hosted webinar, a jointly produced science communication or policy product, a leadership exchange on strengthening scientific organizations, a possible CAST–NAAS Distinguished Agricultural Science Lecture series, and mentoring and scientific exchanges for students and early-career scientists.
CAST President P.V. Vara Prasad is a university distinguished professor at Kansas State University, while NAAS President M.L. Jat is secretary of India's Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Shared areas of interest include food and nutrition security, water availability and quality, adapting agriculture to environmental stresses, artificial intelligence and digital farming tools, biotechnology and gene editing, renewable energy, and protecting natural resources.
CAST is an independent nonprofit founded in 1972 and based in Ames, Iowa, while NAAS was established in 1990 and is based in New Delhi.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

India and Ghana sign five-year agricultural research MoU between ICAR and CSIR-CRI (Start of October)

India and Ghana signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi and the Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), Accra, covering joint agricultural…

India and New Zealand ink customs pact for electronic exchange of trade origin data (End of October)

India and New Zealand signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to enable electronic exchange of origin data for trade in goods, aimed at facilitating cross-border trade and improving utilisation of tariff concessions…

India's NTPC and Africa50 Sign Cooperation Agreement to Develop Power Projects Across Africa (Mid of October)

NTPC Ltd, India's largest integrated power utility, signed a cooperation agreement with Africa50, a pan-African infrastructure investment platform, to identify, assess and develop power generation projects and…

India and Netherlands Sign Tripartite MoUs for Technical Cooperation on Gujarat's Kalpasar Project (End of September)

The Ministry of Jal Shakti signed two tripartite MoUs with the Netherlands on 24 September 2026 for technical cooperation and capacity building for the Kalpasar project in Gujarat. The MoUs were signed between the…

Key Updates:

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) extended a $150 million social loan to State Bank of India, which represents its first-ever credit line to a public-sector bank.
The transaction is expected to support nearly 8,64,000 rural women engaged in agriculture and allied activities across India.
The social loan is designed to benefit women across agricultural value chains, including crop cultivation, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing.
Nearly 90 per cent of the financing will be channeled through women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
The remaining funds will support women entrepreneurs under SBI’s Svayam Siddha Scheme.
IFC and SBI signed a derivative partnership under an ISDA Master Agreement, making SBI IFC’s first domestic swap counterparty in India and South Asia.
The swap arrangement is intended to strengthen IFC’s ability to source rupee-denominated funding and reduce foreign exchange risk for borrowers.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

UN Women Statement Marks International Day of Rural Women on 15 October 2026 with Theme on Rural Women Farmers (Mid of October)

The International Day of Rural Women is observed on 15 October; in 2026 the theme was 'Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature'. UN Women marked the day with a statement issued on 13 October 2026 honouring rural…

National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II Launched to Train Five Lakh SHG Women (End of August)

Rural Development Secretary Rohit Kansal launched the three-month 'National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II' under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). The campaign will run from…

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…

Microfinance institutions hold 43% of ₹3.3 lakh crore loan portfolio in June 2026, per TransUnion CIBIL data (Mid of October)

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) constituted 43% of the ₹3.3 lakh crore loan portfolio balance in June 2026, according to TransUnion CIBIL data. The MFI share stayed at around 36% to 38% between June 2022 and June 2025…

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Highlights UPI's Nearly 80 Crore Daily Transactions

Key Updates:

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has emerged as the world's largest real-time payment system, processing nearly 80 crore transactions a day.
UPI handles more than 2,400 crore transactions every month, reflecting the widespread adoption of digital payments in everyday life.
UPI transactions have increased nearly 13,000-fold since 2016–17.
The fintech ecosystem built around UPI is helping more people access financial services, including credit, insurance and investment products, many for the first time.
The government granted infrastructure status to data centres in 2022, which Sitharaman described as the 'vault of the digital age'.
The Union Budget 2026–27 announced a tax holiday for foreign companies offering global cloud services through data centres located in India.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) new campus will house key payment infrastructure, including the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) systems.
The RBI campus will also include a training institute and a dedicated research wing focused on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data centres.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

NPCI's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) expands international acceptance to 11 countries (Mid of October)

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). UPI was launched on August 25, 2016.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) records highest-ever UPI transaction volume of 24.51 billion in August (Start of September)

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) processed a record 24.51 billion UPI transactions in August 2026. The total value of UPI transactions in August 2026 stood at Rs 29.82 lakh crore, up 20% year-on-year.

UPI average daily transactions top 800 million for first time as September volume reaches 24.07 billion (Start of October)

India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed 24.07 billion transactions worth ₹29.37 lakh crore in September, with average daily transactions crossing 800 million for the first time, according to data shared by…

Finance Ministry Announces UPI Completes 10 Years with 13,000-Fold Rise in Transaction Volume (End of August)

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched on August 25, 2016, completing a decade of operations in 2026. UPI was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the regulatory oversight of…

Reserve Bank of India Study Reveals Banks Transmit Monetary Policy Tightening More Effectively Than Easing to Lending Rates

Key Updates:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) study found that banks transmit monetary policy changes more fully during a tightening cycle than during an easing cycle.
During the tightening cycle between March 2022 and January 2025, banks passed on 76.4% of a cumulative 250-basis-point repo rate hike through contracted lending rates.
The Weighted Average Lending Rate (WALR) increased by 181 basis points during the tightening cycle following a 250-basis-point repo rate hike.
During the easing cycle between February 2025 and March 2026, banks transmitted 64% of a cumulative 125-basis-point repo rate cut to contracted lending rates.
The WALR saw a decline of 93 basis points during the easing cycle following a 125-basis-point repo rate cut.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) recorded the most significant impact on fresh-loan WALR during the easing cycle.
MSME lending rates declined by 122 basis points between February 2025 and March 2026.
MSMEs contributed 24 basis points to the overall decline in the banking system's WALR during the easing cycle.
Education loan rates recorded the sharpest decline among analyzed segments, falling by 162 basis points during the easing cycle.
In March 2026, fresh lending rates increased by 12 basis points despite the easing stance.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holds repo rate at 5.25%, retains neutral stance for fourth straight meeting (Start of August)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), at its August 2026 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% for the fourth consecutive meeting. The six-member MPC unanimously decided to continue…

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) MPC Raises Repo Rate by 25 Bps to 5.50%, Shifts Stance to Calibrated Tightening (Start of October)

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% on October 7, 2026, the first rate hike since February 2023. The MPC changed its…

RBI Bulletin confirms banks passed on 93 bps lending rate cut following RBI's 125 bps repo reduction. (End of October)

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.

RBI Hikes Bank Rate to 5.75 Per Cent, Revises Penal Interest Rates on CRR and SLR Shortfalls (Start of October)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised the Bank Rate upwards by 25 basis points from 5.50 per cent to 5.75 per cent with immediate effect, as announced in the Monetary Policy Statement 2026-27 dated October 07, 2026.…

Topic

Government Schemes and Policy

View all Schemes & Policy

Road Ministry Drafts Rule for Automatic Emergency Braking in New Cars from October 2030

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a draft notification dated October 19, 2026, proposing that M1 category vehicles (cars) be fitted with Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) conforming to AIS-185 from October 1, 2030 for new models and October 1, 2032 for all models still in production.
AEBS provides automatic braking if a driver fails to respond in an emergency, to avoid a crash or reduce collision impact.
A revised braking standard and mandatory electronic stability control systems (AIS 162) for trucks take effect from October 1, 2027.
The draft rules will be considered after 30 days from the date the notification is published and made available in the Gazette of India.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Supreme Court Orders Insurance Cover For All Counter-Sold Train Tickets From October 27, 2026 (Mid of October)

The Supreme Court has directed Indian Railways to ensure all tickets sold at railway station counters receive insurance coverage in the same manner as tickets booked online, with the arrangement coming into force from…

MoRTH Draft Notification Proposes 600W Motor Limit for Registration-Free Low-Speed Electric Scooters (Mid of September)

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a draft notification on August 21, 2026 proposing an amendment to Rule 2(u) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, raising the permitted thirty-minute motor power…

Centre Proposes Rules for Two-Wheeled Ambulances to Boost Emergency Medical Access (Start of August)

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) proposed a regulatory framework for two-wheeled road ambulances to improve emergency response times and last-mile healthcare access in rural, remote and hilly areas.…

Government Notifies CAFE-III Norms Targeting About 17% Better Car Fuel Efficiency by 2032 (Start of October)

The Indian government has notified tighter Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE-III) norms for passenger vehicles, targeting a 16.7% improvement in fleet-average fuel consumption over five years. The CAFE-III norms will…

Centre relaxes Central Motor Vehicles Rules to permit flex-fuel vehicles using up to E100 ethanol

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) notified changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, allowing flex-fuel vehicles that can run on up to E100, nearly pure ethanol.
Fuel beyond E20 and up to E100 is meant only for vehicles designed and certified to use it; vehicles using E20 or normal fuel cannot use E85 or E100.
The government raised the vehicle weight limit for light petrol and diesel vehicles affected by these changes to 3,500 kg from the earlier 3,000 kg threshold.
Maruti Suzuki launched India's first flex-fuel passenger vehicle, the Wagon R Flex Fuel, in June this year, capable of running on ethanol-petrol blends from E20 to E100.
India has already rolled out E20 fuel containing 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol as part of its strategy to reduce dependence on imported crude oil.
Major automakers including Toyota, Tata Motors, and Hyundai are developing flex-fuel vehicles for the Indian market.
Earlier draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, also aimed to provide for wider use of fuels such as E85, B100 biodiesel, and hydrogen-CNG combinations.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

DGFT Approves Import of 642 UK Cars Under India-UK FTA Quota (Mid of September)

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) approved applications from seven companies to import 642 cars from the UK for the remainder of 2026 under the tariff rate quota (TRQ) provisions of the India-UK free trade…

Government Notifies CAFE-III Norms Targeting About 17% Better Car Fuel Efficiency by 2032 (Start of October)

India to Phase In BS-VII Emission Norms Aligned with Euro 7 Between April 2029 and April 2035 (Mid of October)

The government will roll out BS-VII emission standards, aligned with Euro 7 norms, in three phases from April 2029 to April 2035, starting with new cars and SUVs from April 2029, small goods delivery and pick-up vans…

PM E-DRIVE scheme supports 26.59 lakh EVs with ₹11,900-crore outlay running till March 2028 (Start of October)

The PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme had supported 26.59 lakh electric vehicles as of 30 June 2026, against an approximate target of 28.30 lakh EVs. PM E-DRIVE has a…

TRAI Recommends Light-Touch Authorisation Framework for Application-based Linear Television Distribution (ALTD) Services

Key Updates:

TRAI released its Recommendations on the Authorisation Framework for Application-based Linear Television Distribution (ALTD) Services on 26 October 2026.
The recommendations follow a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) dated 15 December 2025 under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997, seeking a regulatory framework for Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) Services.
TRAI issued a Consultation Paper on 6 April 2026, received 207 comments and 11 counter-comments, and held an Open House Discussion on 10 June 2026.
ALTD Service is recommended as a distinct sub-category under 'Television Channel Distribution Services' within the broadcasting authorisation framework under Section 3(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
Authorisation terms should be notified as Rules under Section 56 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, with authorisation, channel registration and reporting processes enabled through an online portal.
The light-touch framework includes a national service area, initial validity of 20 years renewable for successive 10-year periods, ₹10,000 application processing fee and ₹1 lakh one-time entry fee, with no authorisation fee, bank guarantee or security deposit.
The Application Provider is the primary entity responsible for obtaining authorisation and serves as the primary point of contact for consumer complaints and grievance redressal.
OEMs and OS providers must ensure only authorised ALTD applications are available through their devices and app stores, submit annual compliance reports to MIB, which will maintain a 'Master ALTD app repository'.
ALTD viewership is to be integrated into the television audience measurement framework, with providers permitted to publish anonymised periodic viewership data under the TV Ratings Policy, 2026.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

No monopoly in India; satcom firms must clear security norms before launch: Communications Minister Scindia (Start of October)

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated at the India Mobile Congress that India does not allow monopoly in any sector and licences have been given to all applicants in the satellite communications…

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…

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Unveils Five New Initiatives at Aadhaar Samvaad in Kolkata on 17th Aadhaar Day (Start of October)

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) held a day-long stakeholders conference 'Aadhaar Samvaad' in Kolkata, coinciding with the 17th Aadhaar Day, attended by over 600 stakeholders. Minister of State for…

DoT mandates Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) on 4G and newer networks from November 1, 2026 (Mid of October)

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), through a circular dated October 13, 2026, directed telecom operators to roll out Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) across 4G and newer wireless networks from November 1, 2026…

Goa launches governance AI hackathon, Granthika records initiative and rural AI report at Panaji conclave

Key Updates:

The Goa AI Hackathon was launched at the Goa AI Tech Conclave 2026 in Panaji to encourage technology-based solutions for governance and public service delivery through a phased implementation strategy.
Granthika is designed to digitise and preserve historical, legal and manuscript records through citizen participation, including elderly people.
The conclave launched the Living Library of Goa Rural AI report by Hyprlocl and felicitated 12 Drone Didis who completed foundational drone training and are progressing to advanced courses.
The first batch of 10 AI trainees trained by TAWAI Studio was showcased.

Connects with 1 related update for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Goa's new AI policy: Rs 250-crore innovation fund and target of 50,000 AI-ready professionals by 2030 (End of October)

Goa's new AI policy centres on a Rs 250-crore innovation fund spread over five years, aimed at diversifying its tourism-led economy into a 'knowledge destination'. The policy targets creating 50,000 AI-ready…

Kerala Approves Co-Kerala, India's First Cooperative Airline, With Rs 400 Crore Funding Model

Key Updates:

Kerala has approved the country's first cooperative airline, provisionally named Co-Kerala, announced by Chief Minister V D Satheesan.
The airline will be managed by the Kerala Civil Aviation Development Cooperative Society, led by MVR Cancer Centre Chairman C N Vijayakrishnan.
The venture will be a public-private partnership modelled after Cochin International Airport Limited, with the Chief Minister as Chairman and the State Cooperative Minister as Vice-Chairman.
Around 200 cooperative societies will invest Rs 2 crore each as equity shares, raising Rs 400 crore without financial burden on the state government.
Headquartered at Nedumbassery in Kochi, the airline will start with two leased 72-seater aircraft connecting Kerala with Kozhikode, Kannur, Mangaluru, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai, expanding later to four and then six aircraft.
Ticket fares are proposed between Rs 3,500 and Rs 7,000, with discounted last-minute fares for unsold seats up to an hour before departure.
The project is expected to create around 200 jobs initially, with plans for aviation training institutes.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Singapore Airlines Takes Top Spot in Skytrax World Airline Awards 2026 as Air India Emerges as Leading Indian Carrier (Start of October)

Singapore Airlines was named the world's best airline for 2026 in Skytrax's World Airline Awards, moving up from second place in 2025, with Qatar Airways second and Cathay Pacific third. Air India was the highest-ranked…

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

Megamax Aviation Private Limited received the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation for its regional airline Air Ayodhya, to be operated under the Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN. Air…

Kerala State Biodiversity Board Begins India’s First-Ever Red List Assessment of Ecosystems (Mid of October)

The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has launched India’s first Red List Assessment of Ecosystems (RLE) project, a one-year initiative to shift conservation from species-focused efforts to landscape-wide ecosystem…

Akasa Air and BPCL Fly Commercial Flight Using 1 Percent SAF Blend (Mid of September)

Akasa Air and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) operated a commercial flight using jet fuel blended with 1 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), flying from Mumbai to Goa on September 8, 2026, departing at…

Supreme Court notes 14 states back judicial retirement age of 62, declines individual urgent pleas

Key Updates:

On October 26, 2026, the Supreme Court expressed satisfaction that 14 states had agreed to raise district judicial officers’ retirement age from 60 to 62 years.
The court refused urgent listing of separate pleas by judges nearing or just past retirement, stating that the issue was between the Supreme Court and the states.
The petition seeks a uniform increase in the retirement age of district judiciary judges to 62 years across the country.
In its earlier September 4 directions, the court had asked consenting states to amend service rules, preferably within two months, with the extension subject to the High Court’s suitability assessment.

Connects with 1 related update for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Supreme Court Directs States to Raise Retirement Age of District Judiciary to 62 (Start of September)

The Supreme Court directed states to raise the retirement age of judicial officers in district judiciary from 60 to 62 years. The move aims to address the backlog of 5.18 crore pending cases in district courts.

First National SARAS Mela 2026 at Vijayawada Showcases Lakhpati Didi Enterprises with Turnovers up to ₹1 Crore

Key Updates:

The First National SARAS Mela, organised by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh and support from NABARD, NIRDPR and Kudumbashree, is being held at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada till 31 October 2026, open daily from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm.
A Lakhpati Didi is a woman from a self-help group (SHG) household with a sustainable annual household income of at least ₹1 lakh, under the Prime Minister's vision of six crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029, supported through the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Chandrakala of Lotus SHG, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, runs a woodcarving enterprise with annual turnover over ₹1 crore, employment for over 100 members, and supplies through the Lepakshi emporium.
Siddhi of Mahamaya SHG, North Goa, runs an ethnic wear business with annual turnover of ₹60 lakh, sending orders via India Post to Singapore, the UAE and the USA, and aims to create work for around 100 more women in Goa.
Kunwari Barwa's farmer producer organisation in Gumla, Jharkhand, formed in 2022 with 381 members and now 1,501 members, makes ragi products with monthly sales of ₹6-7 lakh and provides regular work for over 150 women.
Singampalli Parwathi of Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh, built a cashew-processing enterprise with annual turnover of about ₹50 lakh, processing cashews into 11 grades, using loans of ₹20,000 and ₹50,000 from her farmer producer group plus ₹2 lakh from the group and ₹3 lakh under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
President Droupadi Murmu, inaugurating the Mela, encouraged women to grow enterprises beyond the Lakhpati milestone and noted that SARAS Melas would be organised every year in different states.
The Lakhpati Didi Pavilion at the Mela features a 16-foot installation titled 'SHAKTI - The Spirit of Lakhpati Didi'.

Connects with 2 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

National SARAS Mela 2026: President Droupadi Murmu to Inaugurate First Mela outside Delhi-NCR at Vijayawada from 13-31 October (Mid of October)

The Ministry of Rural Development, in collaboration with the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Andhra Pradesh, is organising the first National SARAS Mela 2026 at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada, from 13 to 31…

PMAY-Gramin 2.0: Centre Sanctions 3 Lakh Houses Worth ₹3,600 Crore for Andhra Pradesh; Foundation Laid for India's First 3D Concrete-Printed Housing Project (Start of October)

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan handed over the first instalment of 3 lakh houses worth ₹3,600 crore to Andhra Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin 2.0 at Burripalem village in Guntur district on October…

Counter-ticket travel insurance rollout scheduled for October 27 with digital-only payment of fare and premium

Key Updates:

The Railway Board, in its letter dated October 24, 2026, directed PRS reservation counters to be ready to offer optional travel insurance from October 27, 2026.
Where a passenger opts for insurance at the counter, the insurance premium and ticket fare must both be collected through digital means only.
The premium is 45 paise per passenger inclusive of taxes, effective from February 17, 2024; on ticket cancellation, 9 paise is deducted from the premium along with other cancellation charges.
The existing scheme covers Rs 10 lakh for death or permanent total disability, Rs 7.5 lakh for permanent partial disability, Rs 2 lakh for hospitalisation expenses for injuries, and Rs 10,000 for transportation of mortal remains.
Optional insurance is available for confirmed (CNF), Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) and partially confirmed (PartCNF) tickets; travelling passengers on a partially confirmed PNR can obtain insurance at 45 paise per passenger.
Passengers' mobile numbers are mandatory, and staff must accurately record passenger details so the information can reach the insurance company for policy issuance.
CRIS is undertaking system development and integration with IRCTC; software testing is underway, with implementation scheduled for October 27 and zonal railways responsible for field-level preparedness.

Connects with 1 related update for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Supreme Court Orders Insurance Cover For All Counter-Sold Train Tickets From October 27, 2026 (Mid of October)

IIIT-Bangalore and Poland's AGH University of Krakow sign MoU covering AI and Quantum Technologies collaboration

Key Updates:

IIIT-Bangalore and AGH University of Krakow, Poland, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on October 23, 2026, for academic and research collaboration, with the MoU exchanged in the presence of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Debabrata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore, and Mr Rao Maddukuri, Senior Advisor at AGH University of Krakow.
The MoU promotes collaboration in Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technologies and other emerging technologies, covering joint research, joint academic programmes, exchange of academic materials, and faculty and student mobility.
Other cooperation areas include joint seminars, symposia, educational conferences, career guidance, promotional-information events, and participation in winter and summer schools.

Connects with 2 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

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

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…

C-DAC and Bank of India Collaborate on Quantum Financial Innovation and Emerging Technologies (End of October)

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and Bank of India (BOI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on October 22, 2026, to collaborate on quantum financial innovation and emerging technologies in…

Topic

International, Defence and Summits

View all International & Defence

DAC chaired by Rajnath Singh approves defence capital acquisition proposals of about ₹2.12 lakh crore for Army, Navy and Air Force

Key Updates:

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared capital acquisition proposals of the Defence Forces worth around ₹2.12 lakh crore on October 26, 2026.
For the Indian Army, the DAC approved procurement of High Mobility Vehicles, Self-Propelled Tracked Gun System, Light Multi Role Helicopters, Very Short-Range Air Defence System, Surveillance UAV, Integrated Surveillance and Strike System and Long Range Kamikaze Drone System.
The Light Multi Role Helicopters will be used by both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force for reconnaissance and surveillance, combat, search and rescue of troops, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
For the Indian Navy, the DAC approved procurement of the Active Offboard Decoy System and other major naval platforms to enhance anti-missile defence credibility against modern anti-ship missiles.
For the Indian Air Force, the DAC approved procurement of helicopters, air defence systems, weapons and Mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar System, including Special Utility Helicopters for air transport requirements.
Nearly 82 per cent of the procurements will be made from the Indian Industry.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

India clears ₹2,400 crore defence procurement from startups and MSMEs, Rajnath Singh flags 90% ammunition self-reliance (Mid of October)

The Ministry of Defence has approved procurement worth over ₹2,400 crore from startups and MSMEs, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on October 16, 2026. Defence projects worth over ₹1,500 crore have been approved…

Indian Navy: 78 platforms and 120 fast interceptor craft worth ₹2.41 trillion get Acceptance of Necessity; RFP issued for four LPDs (Mid of October)

Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar said on October 19, 2026 that 42 naval platforms are on order, while another 78 platforms and 120 fast interceptor craft worth approximately ₹2.41 trillion have…

India plans to expand missile and defence equipment production while boosting global defence exports (End of October)

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…

DAC Approves Rs 1.10 Lakh Crore Defence Procurement for Indian Armed Forces (Start of September)

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on September 7, 2026, approved Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for defence acquisition proposals worth around Rs 1.10 lakh crore. The…

DRDO's Indigenous Air Independent Propulsion Energy Module Begins Setting-to-Work Phase-2 for Indian Navy Submarines

Key Updates:

The Setting to Work Phase-2 (STW-2) activity of the indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system Energy Module, developed by Naval Materials Research Laboratory, DRDO, was inaugurated on October 24, 2026 at Larsen and Toubro's AM Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat.
The AIP system enhances underwater endurance of diesel-electric submarines by reducing dependence on atmospheric oxygen.
Defence Secretary and Chairman DRDO Rajesh Kumar Singh attended the inauguration virtually as Chief Guest, while Chief of Materiel Vice Admiral B Sivakumar and Director General Naval Systems & Materials Dr R Balamuralikrishnan attended in person.
In the next phase, the AIP Energy Module will be energised for power production and tested as per Indian Navy protocols before handover to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for integration on a Kalvari-class submarine in early 2027.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

EyeROV Delivers India's First Indigenous Military-Grade Underwater Robots to the Indian Navy (Start of October)

Kerala-based company EyeROV has delivered two EyeROV TROUT military-grade underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) systems to the Indian Navy, the first supply of a military-standard underwater robotic platform fully…

Indian Navy commissions Samarthak, its first warship built by a private shipyard (Mid of October)

The Indian Navy commissioned the multi-purpose vessel Samarthak, the first major warship contracted to and built by a private shipyard, at its base in Karwar. Samarthak was built by Larsen and Toubro (L&T) at its…

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…

Indian Navy to Host Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 in Delhi Focusing on Science and Technology (End of October)

The Indian Navy will host the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2026 in Delhi from November 3 to 5. The 2026 edition of the IPRD is centered on the theme 'Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the…

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Inaugurates 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi

Key Updates:

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026 on 26 October 2026 at Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.
The two-day Forum's theme is 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development', with deliberations on four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
The Forum follows the unanimous adoption of the Joint Statement at the BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh also addressed the gathering, and the Lok Sabha Secretary-General delivered the welcome address.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with parliamentary delegations from BRICS member and partner countries, and referred to his vision of transforming BRICS into an 'ecosystem of solutions'.
BRICS is marking two decades of its journey and represents nearly half of the world's population.

Connects with 1 related update for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

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

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…

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Defeats Flavio Bolsonaro to Secure Historic Fourth Term

Key Updates:

Brazil's incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a historic fourth term on Sunday, defeating Senator Flavio Bolsonaro with 51.75% of the vote against 48.25%, with over 98.76% of votes counted, as confirmed by Brazil's electoral court.
This is the first time since Brazil's military dictatorship ended in 1985 that a candidate trailing in the first round has come back to win the runoff; Lula trailed by 2.2 million votes after the October 4 first round.
Lula's fourth term begins on January 5, 2027.
During the runoff, Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin extended voting nationwide by two hours, till 7pm local time, after Lula's campaign cited transport issues preventing voters from reaching polling stations, pausing the ongoing counting.
The 80-year-old Lula first won the presidency in 2002 and was reelected in 2006 and in 2022 for his third term after a hiatus that included 580 days in prison.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Max Verstappen Claims Maiden Singapore Grand Prix Victory for Red Bull (Mid of October)

Max Verstappen of Red Bull won the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Circuit, his maiden win at the circuit in his 250th Formula 1 Grand Prix appearance. Starting from his 50th career pole position, Verstappen…

Hakainde Hichilema Re-elected as President of Zambia for Second Term (Mid of August)

Hakainde Hichilema was re-elected as President of Zambia for a second five-year term, receiving about 61.4 percent of valid votes. Election Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis declared Hichilema president-elect on…

Ülle Madise Elected as President of Estonia (Start of September)

Ülle Madise was elected as the next President of Estonia by the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) on 2 September 2026. She received 71 votes in a secret ballot, surpassing the required two-thirds majority of 68 votes in…

Harsh Sanghani Wins Second Term as President of International Cooperative Alliance Youth Committee (End of September)

Harsh Sanghani was re-elected unopposed as President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Youth Committee and confirmed as Youth Representative to the ICA Global Board at the ICA Global Cooperative Conference…

Rajnath Singh to lead Indian delegation at 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Cebu, Philippines on October 28-29, 2026

Key Updates:

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh will lead the Indian delegation at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Cebu, Philippines from October 28 to 29, 2026.
He will address the forum on 'Exchange of Views on Regional and International Security Issues' and hold bilateral meetings with counterparts of participating countries on the sidelines.
ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam) and its eight Dialogue Partners, including India, the United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
India became an ASEAN dialogue partner in 1992, and the inaugural ADMM-Plus was held in Hanoi, Vietnam on October 12, 2010; ministers have met annually since 2017.
The Philippines is the chair of ADMM-Plus for 2026.
India is co-chairing the Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for the 2024-2027 cycle.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Rajnath Singh Addresses Multinational Air Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Jodhpur, Highlights Defence Self-Reliance and Global Partnerships (Start of October)

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh addressed participants of the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur on October 10, 2026. The Indian Air Force hosted the multinational air exercise from 26…

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh urges SCO members at 25th Council of Heads of Government in Dushanbe to jointly dismantle terrorism's entire ecosystem; India to host first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum by year-end (Mid of October)

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh addressed the 25th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 20, 2026, calling on Member States to make concerted efforts to dismantle the…

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh Flags Off NCC's All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek 'Aparajita - Parang La 2026' (Mid of August)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the NCC's All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek 'Aparajita - Parang La 2026' on August 18, 2026, at Kartavya Bhawan, New Delhi. The expedition comprises 28 NCC girl cadets led…

India's Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish Reach Subic Bay, Philippines for ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity (End of September)

Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kulish arrived at Subic Bay in the Philippines on September 21, 2026 to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Joint Cooperation Activity (JCA) as part of the…

Topic

Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment

View all Science & Environment

TDB-DST signs agreement with Manastu Space for ₹116 crore RDI support to develop indigenous green propulsion technology

Key Updates:

The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), signed an agreement with M/s Manastu Space Technologies Private Limited for ₹116 crore under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund.
The project aims to develop a scalable, integrated green propulsion system for satellites and launch vehicles, advancing the technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-6 to TRL-9.
The indigenous green propulsion system utilizes a hydrogen peroxide-based green propellant with additives, supported by an integrated engine and catalyst system.
The propulsion system is designed to serve propulsion requirements ranging from 5 mN to 300 N thrust class and includes the development of an ultra-high-temperature ceramic catalyst.
The propulsion system has already been demonstrated in space.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Technology Development Board commits ₹151 crore debt funding under RDI Fund to ideaForge for developing YETI heavy-lift autonomous VTOL logistics aircraft (Mid of October)

The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology signed an agreement with Mumbai-based ideaForge Technology Limited on 14 October 2026 for ₹151 crore financial support under the…

Technology Development Board under DST commits ₹150 crore from RDI Fund to QNu Labs for indigenous quantum-secure technology development (Mid of October)

The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) signed an agreement with Bengaluru-based QNu Labs Private Limited on 16 October 2026 for financial support of ₹150 crore under the…

Technology Development Board commits ₹37.51 crore from RDI Fund to Multi Nano Sense Technologies for indigenous MEMS multi-gas sensor development (End of September)

The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology, signed an agreement with M/s Multi Nano Sense Technologies Private Limited, Nagpur, Maharashtra, for ₹37.51 crore financial support under the…

Technology Development Board Inks ₹130 Crore RDI Fund Deal with BigEndian Semiconductors (Start of October)

The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), signed an agreement with Bengaluru-based BigEndian Semiconductors for ₹130 crore support under the Research Development and Innovation…

Two New Ophiorrhiza Plant Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Key Updates:

Researchers Krishna Chowlu, Renthlei Lalnunfeli and Dr Vinay Kumar Sahani discovered two new plant species, Ophiorrhiza shidiensis and Ophiorrhiza pemae, belonging to the Rubiaceae family, during botanical surveys in Arunachal Pradesh's Vijoynagar.
One of the newly discovered species, Ophiorrhiza pemae, was named after Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein described the discovery as a significant contribution to documenting the state's biodiversity and advancing botanical research.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) researchers discover new sunflower species Doronicum Sanctum in Arunachal Pradesh (End of August)

Researchers from the Palampur-based Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) discovered a new species of the sunflower family named Doronicum Sanctum in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh. The species…

New Begonia Species Begonia neelamorum Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh (End of September)

A new plant species, Begonia neelamorum, was discovered in Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh and described in the journal Taiwania, with Dipankar Borah of Kaliabor College, Nagaon, as lead author. The tuberous…

Leafless Ghost Orchid Gastrodia keyiensis Identified Near Keyi River in Arunachal Pradesh (End of September)

Botanists discovered a rare leafless orchid, named Gastrodia keyiensis, in a remote gorge near the Keyi River in Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh, finding only five flowering individuals at an elevation of 1,000…

Researchers Record Ophiopogon japonicus in India for the First Time in Arunachal Pradesh (Mid of September)

Researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Uluberia Botanical Institute Herbarium, West Bengal, recorded Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb) Ker Gawl in India for the first time, from West Kameng district…

Study finds nearly 1 in 11 high-risk hospitalised adults in India had melioidosis, with high in-hospital deaths

Key Updates:

A multicentre study published in The Lancet Global Health, led by Nitin Gupta of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, assessed high-risk hospitalised adults at 15 Indian tertiary-care centres between January 2023 and December 2025.
Culture-confirmed melioidosis was found in 262 of 2,953 patients (8.9%), and 50 of those diagnosed (19.1%) died in hospital.
The study found the highest proportions of confirmed cases in Odisha (26%), Madhya Pradesh (22.7%) and Karnataka (19.3%), though these figures describe selected hospital populations, not State-wide prevalence.
The study found associations between melioidosis and monsoon admission, outdoor high-risk occupations and groundwater as the main drinking-water source, though these do not establish causation.
Melioidosis is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a bacterium found in soil and water in tropical and subtropical regions, which enters the body through cuts or wounds, inhalation of contaminated dust or droplets, or ingestion of contaminated water.
Diabetes is a major risk factor for melioidosis, while chronic kidney, lung and liver diseases, heavy alcohol use and reduced immunity also increase vulnerability.
Melioidosis treatment has two phases: an initial intensive phase with intravenous antibiotics such as ceftazidime (meropenem preferred in severe illness), followed by prolonged oral eradication therapy commonly using trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for several months.
India's National Centre for Disease Control provides technical guidance for melioidosis treatment in its 2025 manual on zoonotic diseases of public health importance.
There is currently no licensed vaccine against melioidosis.
Diagnostic challenges include nonspecific symptoms and misidentification of B. pseudomallei by automated systems such as VITEK 2, while MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry can aid identification but faces cost and availability barriers.
Experts recommend a phased surveillance system beginning with hospitals and laboratories equipped to confirm melioidosis, tracking confirmed cases, exposures, antimicrobial susceptibility, treatment outcomes, deaths and relapse.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Government prohibits reuse of single-use medical devices in healthcare facilities (End of October)

The government has prohibited the reuse of single-use medical devices and disposable surgical items in both public and private healthcare facilities, citing patient safety risks. The directive was issued by the…

Akums Launches DCGI-Approved Triple Therapy Combikit to Treat H. pylori Infection in Adults (End of September)

Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., an Indian pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has introduced a DCGI-approved triple therapy combikit to treat Helicobacter pylori infection in…

Guntur Doctors Treat Drug-Resistant Knee Implant Infection with Phage Therapy in India First (End of October)

A team at Samishta Hospital (SHRI), Guntur, treated a 72-year-old man's carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of an artificial knee joint with phage therapy, reported as India's first successful use of…

India Sends 10 Tonnes of Relief Aid to Nepal After Deadly Floods (End of August)

India dispatched 10 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) supplies, including essential medicines, to Nepal. The relief material was carried by an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft from Hindon…

Balloon-Borne Sunrise-III Observatory Reveals Twisted Magnetic Threads in the Sun's Atmosphere

Key Updates:

An international team led by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan detected thin, thread-like magnetic structures in the Sun's chromosphere using Sunrise-III, a balloon-borne solar observatory that flew a one-meter telescope about 35 kilometers above Earth during a July 2024 mission lasting roughly six and a half days.
Some of the detected magnetic threads, typically narrower than one arcsecond, had polarities opposite to the surrounding magnetic canopy, with line-of-sight field strengths around 10 to 20 gauss weaker than the surrounding canopy.
The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and highlighted by ScienceDaily on October 24, 2026, were made above quiet-Sun regions without prominent sunspots, which cover most of the solar surface.
The Sun's photosphere is about 5,500 degrees Celsius while the corona above reaches millions of degrees, a temperature increase that has puzzled scientists for decades.
Numerical simulations suggest surface motions twist magnetic field lines into rope-like formations, where magnetic reconnection could convert magnetic energy into heat, though the study did not establish that these threads heat the corona.
The Sunrise Chromospheric Infrared spectroPolarimeter (SCIP), developed under Japanese leadership, measured magnetic fields using polarized infrared light across a region of about 58 by 58 arcseconds.
Sunrise-III also mapped magnetic fields along spicules, narrow jets of solar material extending thousands of kilometers above the visible surface.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

New 82.6 GHz Gyrotron Installed at India’s SST-1 Tokamak to Advance Fusion Research (Mid of September)

An 82.6 GHz, 400 kW gyrotron has been installed and integrated with the SST-1 tokamak at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in Gujarat, boosting India’s fusion research programme. The Steady State Superconducting…

Astronomers Confirm Jupiter-Size Elias 2-24 b as the Youngest Known Planet, Less Than 1 Million Years Old (Mid of September)

Astronomers have confirmed Elias 2-24 b, a Jupiter-mass planet less than 1 million years old, as the youngest known planet, orbiting a star about 450 light-years from Earth. The study, led by Andrea Bernardi of…

Indian Researchers Detect Accretion Stream Confirming Disk Around X-Ray Pulsar Centaurus X-3 (End of October)

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…

Indian-Led Study Ties Solar Microwave Polar Brightening to Polar Magnetic Field Strength (Mid of October)

A 2026 Indian-led study linked solar microwave polar brightening more closely with the strength of polar magnetic fields than with the area of polar coronal holes. Coronal holes are low-density regions of the solar…

Kerala Opens Regulated Trekking as Neelakurinji Flowers on Meeshapulimala Slopes

Key Updates:

The Kerala Forest Development Corporation has opened regulated trekking access at Meeshapulimala in the Munnar landscape following the rare Neelakurinji flowering on its high-altitude slopes, capping daily footfall at 750 visitors with travel slots coordinated through an application developed with the Wildlife Trust of India.
Neelakurinji typically does not flower above 2,500 metres; while Anamudi lacks blooms, slopes around Meeshapulimala at about 2,470 metres near the Rhodo Mansion have witnessed active flowering.
Botanists noted that climatic disruptions linked to El Nino and monsoon variability initially raised apprehensions of delayed or aborted flowering before the current blooms emerged.
The flowering terrain also provides crucial habitat for the endangered Nilgiri tahr, underscoring the ecological sensitivity of opening such zones to ecotourism.
The bloom usually progresses along an altitudinal gradient, beginning at lower points such as Chokramudy and culminating at upper elevations between October and December.
The event relates to Western Ghats montane ecosystems, high-altitude biodiversity, and plant phenology under climatic variations like El Nino, with the next major blooming cycle in the Munnar region projected at Eravikulam National Park in 2030.

No connected coverage yet.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

No similar coverage

Tata Communications to Spend $450 Million on 10,000-km AI Fibre Network Across India

Key Updates:

Tata Communications will invest nearly $450 million to build a 10,000-km high-speed fibre network connecting India's AI data centre corridors and key business hubs.
The investment, disclosed in a stock exchange filing on October 26, will add around 6 petabits per second (Pbps) of network capacity between FY2030 and FY2036 and will be funded through operating cash flows.
Branded an "AI Super Highway", the network will connect data centre clusters with hyperscalers, cloud service providers, global capability centres (GCCs), banks and other enterprises.
The rollout will happen in three phases, starting with the Mumbai-Pune-Hyderabad-Chennai corridor, followed by expansion to eastern and western India's data centre ecosystems including Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Jamnagar and GIFT City.
Tata Communications currently has 1.25 Pbps of network capacity, with utilisation of around 70-80%.
The company's existing infrastructure includes more than 500,000 km of subsea optical fibre network and over 200,000 km of terrestrial fibre.
Tata Communications MD and CEO Ganesh Lakshminarayanan said the data centre-to-data centre connectivity market could exceed $1 billion over the medium term.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Tata Electronics Signs 16 MoUs at Semicon India 2026, Announces 363-Acre Vendor Park in Dholera (End of September)

Tata Electronics signed the maximum number of MoUs at Semicon India 2026, with 16 agreements planned with players from Europe, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and India, CEO Randhir Thakur said. The company announced a…

ASML Starts India Operations, Ties Expansion to Tata Electronics Chip Unit and Government Semiconductor Push (End of September)

Semiconductor equipment maker ASML has begun operations in India and plans to initially hire 20-30 young engineering graduates. ASML's scaling-up plan in India depends on the success of Tata Electronics' chip unit and…

SASTRA Deemed University and Tata Communications Launch Centre of Excellence in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics (Start of October)

SASTRA Deemed University and Tata Communications launched a centre of excellence (CoE) in cybersecurity and digital forensics, built at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore, at the university's Thanjavur campus. The CoE is a research…

C-DOT Inks MoU with IIT (BHU) Varanasi to Launch Its Sixth Centre of Excellence for Advanced Telecom Research (End of October)

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the telecom R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of…

FAHR-Face AI estimates biological age from facial photos and flags mortality risk in cancer patients

Key Updates:

Researchers developed an AI model called Foundation Artificial Intelligence for Health Recognition-Face (FAHR-Face), trained on more than 40 million facial photographs, to estimate biological age and predict death risk.
The findings were published in The Lancet Digital Health in 2026; on publicly available photographs the model estimated biological age with an average error of about five years.
Among 38,183 patients treated at six US centres affiliated with Harvard, those appearing biologically older than their actual age tended to have poorer survival outcomes.
A second model, FAHR-FaceSurvival, was trained on photographs of 34,363 cancer patients and tested on 3,820 others; patients in the highest-risk group were more than three times as likely to die as those in the lowest-risk group, even after accounting for clinical and demographic factors.
The models were also tested on 4,892 cancer patients in the Netherlands, suggesting the AI could estimate survival risk beyond the original US population.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

IARC Classifies Three Medicines as Carcinogenic (Start of August)

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have classified hydrochlorothiazide, voriconazole, and tacrolimus as Group 1 carcinogens. Hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide…

Microsoft AI Tool Achieves Diagnostic Accuracy Exceeding Human Physicians in Complex Medical Cases (End of October)

Microsoft researchers developed an artificial intelligence tool that diagnoses patients step by step, following a process similar to doctors. The AI model employs an 'orchestrator' to coordinate a simulated panel of…

Veteran Hindi Film Actor Mushtaq Khan Passes Away at 75 After Battling Lung Cancer (End of September)

Veteran actor Mushtaq Khan, known for comic and supporting roles in Hindi cinema, died at the age of 75 after battling lung cancer. His business partner Shivam confirmed that Khan passed away around 7pm on Thursday after…

ICMR-Funded GITAM Research Aims to Detect Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Via Blood Test (End of October)

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has funded a project led by Rama Rao Malla, professor in the Department of Life Sciences at GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, to develop a blood test for early…

IIT Bombay researchers create affordable blood-smear device to detect anaemia and sickle cell disease

Key Updates:

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), led by Prof. Mahesh Tirumkudulu of the Department of Chemical Engineering, have developed a low-cost point-of-care device that screens for anaemia and sickle cell disease using a drop of blood.
The patented automated smearing device creates a uniform blood smear, and the test detects disease by measuring the length of the smear, since more viscous blood spreads less and produces a shorter, thicker smear.
The test requires only a pipette, glass slides, an inexpensive chemical, vials for sickling treatment, and a ruler or imaging device to measure smear length, and can be manufactured cost-effectively.
Dr. Mahrukh Mir, a former PhD scholar in Prof. Tirumkudulu's lab, is the first author of the study.
Blood viscosity cutoffs vary among population groups because genetic differences affect how blood reacts when oxygen levels drop, and the anaemia test may miss patients with hyperviscosity syndrome, where blood plasma is unusually thick.
The technology is licensed to IIT Bombay startup Rheoheme Private Limited, and the team is working with the National Institute for Research in Tribal Health, Jabalpur, and AIIMS Nagpur toward regulatory approval while exploring measurement of clotting time and glucose levels.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

IIT Delhi Researchers Build India's First Working Indigenous Micro-GPU on FPGA Platform (End of September)

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi's Electrical Engineering Department have developed India's first working, demonstrable indigenously designed micro-GPU from a university, demonstrated on a…

Technology Development Board (TDB) Supports AI-Enabled Cervical Cancer Screening Technology (Mid of August)

The Technology Development Board (TDB) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, signed an agreement with Griva Healthcare to support the manufacture and commercialisation of the AI-enabled…

IIT Guwahati Develops Two-Stage Microalgae Process to Boost CO2 Capture and Bioenergy (Mid of August)

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a two-stage microalgae cultivation process that enhances CO2 capture, biomass production, and bioenergy generation. The first stage grows…

Kolkata's Command Hospital Gives Serving Soldier India's First Indigenous CAR-T Cell Therapy (Start of October)

Command Hospital (Eastern Command), Kolkata administered India's first indigenous CAR-T cell therapy, NexCAR19, to a 39-year-old serving soldier with relapsed/refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. NexCAR19 was…

Topic

Sports

View all Sports

India Become First Team to Claim 200 Wins in Men's T20 Internationals

Key Updates:

India became the first team to register 200 victories in men's T20 Internationals after defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the second T20I of the five-game series at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, taking a 2-0 lead.
Chasing 181, India recovered from 70 for five to reach 181 for six, with Tilak Varma (47 not out) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (26 off 13 balls) sharing an unbeaten 69-run seventh-wicket partnership and completing the chase off the penultimate ball.
India have won 200 of their 300 T20Is since debuting in the format in 2006, losing 83, and boast a 71.20 per cent winning percentage among Full Member nations.
The 69-run stand surpassed India's previous seventh-wicket T20I record of 63 runs by Dinesh Karthik and Krunal Pandya against New Zealand in 2019.
New Zealand posted 180 for five after being asked to bat, recovering from 41 for three through a 116-run partnership between Glenn Phillips (70 off 43) and Bevon Jacobs (58 off 46).
Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Prince Yadav took early wickets for India, dismissing Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and Finn Allen respectively.
In India's chase, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma added 40 for the opening wicket, but a New Zealand fightback led by Mitchell Santner left India in serious trouble before Varma and Reddy sealed the win.
The teams will next meet in the third T20I in Wellington on October 27.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Ajinkya Rahane Announces Retirement from International Cricket (Start of August)

Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats with immediate effect. The 38-year-old played 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is for India in a career that began in 2013.

England Fast Bowler Mark Wood Announces Retirement from International Cricket (End of September)

England fast bowler Mark Wood, aged 36, retired from international cricket with immediate effect, ending a career that began with his debut in 2015. Wood finished with 119 wickets in 38 Tests, 80 wickets in 70 ODIs, and…

Nepal and Bangladesh to jointly host ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2027 (End of October)

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…

Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma fifties power India to 211/6 against Pakistan in Asian Games 2026 T20 gold medal match (Start of October)

India posted 211/6 against Pakistan in the men's T20 cricket gold medal match at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on October 3, 2026. Abhishek Sharma scored 61 off 28 balls with seven sixes and three fours, while…

India Awarded Hosting Rights for 2029 World Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad

Key Updates:

India has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2029 World Weightlifting Championships, to be held in Ahmedabad, at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Executive board meeting in Ningbo, China.
India beat competition from Venezuela and Russia for the 2029 bid; Russia won the 2030 bid and Venezuela got the 2028 Junior World Championships.
This is the first time India will host the global weightlifting championship, after hosting the Commonwealth and Asian Championships earlier this year.
The IWF World Championships in Ningbo, starting Tuesday, is the first qualification tournament for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Mirabai Chanu will lead a seven-member Indian team at the 2026 World Championships in Ningbo, China.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Pune Awarded 2032 UCI Road World Championships as India Prepares First-Ever Hosting (End of September)

India will host the UCI Road World Championships for the first time in 2032, with Pune confirmed as the venue. The decision was announced at the 195th UCI Congress in Montreal, held alongside the 2026 World…

International Olympic Committee Confirms Seven Bidders Including India and Qatar for 2036 Olympics Hosting Race (Start of October)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed on Tuesday that India and Qatar are among seven bidders in the race to host the 2036 Olympics, with South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary and Turkey also in talks…

First Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship Gets Underway in Ahmedabad (End of October)

The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship is being held in Ahmedabad from October 23 to 31, 2026, featuring 13 countries and more than 400 players across 62 matches. The tournament is organised by the Amateur…

Pune Defeats Netherlands to Win Right to Host 2032 UCI Road World Cycling Championships (End of September)

Pune, India has won the bid to host the Road World Cycling Championships in 2032, becoming the first Indian city to get the event, after defeating the Netherlands. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) awarded the 2032…

Yuki Bhambri and Ryan Seggerman Claim Almaty Open Doubles Crown

Key Updates:

Yuki Bhambri won the Almaty Open 2026 doubles title with American partner Ryan Seggerman, beating top seeds Lucas Miedler and Neil Oberleitner of Austria in the final.
The Indo-American fourth-seeded pair won the ATP 250 final 7-6(3), 6-7(1), [10-2], giving Bhambri his fifth career ATP Tour doubles title.
Bhambri's earlier ATP doubles titles came at Mallorca (2023), Gstaad and Munich (2024), and the ATP 500 Dubai event (2025).
It was Bhambri's second ATP final of 2026 after a runner-up finish at the ATP 250 Geneva Open with New Zealand's Michael Venus.
Bhambri's best Grand Slam result was reaching the 2025 US Open doubles semifinals with Venus.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Anmol Kharb Claims Women's Singles Crown at Türkiye International Challenge Badminton (Mid of October)

India's Anmol Kharb won the Women's Singles title at the Türkiye International Challenge badminton tournament. In the final, Anmol Kharb defeated fellow Indian Aakarshi Kashyap 21-11, 21-14 in straight games.

Pankaj Advani Captures 29th World Crown at World Billiards Championship in Birmingham (End of October)

Pankaj Advani won the WBL World Billiards Championship in Birmingham to claim his 29th career world title, defeating England's Rob Hall in the final. The 41-year-old, the only Indian in the last-four stage, beat…

USTA announces record $108 million prize purse for US Open 2026 (End of August)

The US Open 2026 total player compensation is $108 million, the largest in tennis history. The singles champions each receive $5.5 million, the highest single payout in Grand Slam history.

Indian Teenager Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi Claims Maiden Pro Singles Crown at W35 Lagos (Mid of October)

17-year-old Indian tennis player Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi won her maiden professional singles title at the W35 Lagos Tournament in Nigeria, defeating Spain's Celia Cervino Ruiz 6-4, 6-2 in the final. With the title…

Topic

Miscellaneous Current Affairs

View all Miscellaneous

Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2026: Dates and UNESCO-Led Annual Observance

Key Updates:

Global Media and Information Literacy Week is an annual international observance held every year from October 24 to October 31.
The 2026 theme is 'We All Play a Part – Media and Information Literacy for the People'.
UNESCO brings together educators, researchers, journalists, young people and other partners to advance media and information literacy.
The 2026 programme takes a decentralised approach with regional and thematic activities.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: October Observance, Theme and Key Facts (End of October)

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…

IICT and Netflix announce scholarships for 100 students in creative arts (End of August)

IICT and Netflix announced scholarships for 100 students offering up to 80% financial support. The scholarships cover two one-year diploma programmes and four six-month certificate programmes.

Iran's Parliament Approves Framework to Criminalise Interviews with US and Israeli Media (Mid of August)

On August 16, 2026, Iran's parliament approved the broad framework of a bill that would criminalise engagement with foreign media outlets considered hostile to the Islamic Republic. Under the proposed legislation…

Karnataka High Court issues guidelines to police against mechanical FIRs over social media posts (End of October)

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…

MoSPI's September 2026 Flash Report Monitors 1,853 Central Sector Infrastructure Projects Worth ₹37.56 Lakh Crore

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) monitors 1,853 ongoing Central Sector infrastructure projects with a total latest cost of ₹37.56 lakh crore as of September 2026, across 17 Central Ministries/Departments.
Cumulative expenditure on these projects stands at ₹17.73 lakh crore, approximately 47.21% of the total project cost.
Of the 1,853 projects, 780 are Mega projects (cost ₹1,000 crore and above) and 1,073 are Major projects (below ₹1,000 crore); 654 projects (~35%) have achieved over 80% physical progress and 338 (~18%) have crossed 80% financial completion.
Transport & Logistics is the largest category with 1,320 projects (71.2%) costing ₹20.07 lakh crore, followed by Energy with 225 projects (12.1%) costing ₹11.04 lakh crore; together they account for 83.4% of monitored projects and about 82.9% of the aggregate revised project cost.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has the highest number of projects at 974 (53% of total) with a revised cost of ₹9.46 lakh crore, followed by Ministry of Railways with 284 projects (15%) costing ₹7.21 lakh crore and Ministry of Coal with 121 projects (6%) costing ₹2.22 lakh crore.
Notable projects commissioned during September 2026 include the Buxar Thermal Power Project (1,320 MW, ₹13,756.56 crore) of Ministry of Power, commissioned on 12.09.2026, and the NMDC Slurry Pipeline Project Phase-1 (₹5,427 crore) of Ministry of Steel, commissioned on 26.09.2026.
During September 2026, 83 additional projects were onboarded under PAIMANA monitoring: 57 from Ministry of Railways, 16 from Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, 7 from Ministry of Power, 2 from Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and 1 from Ministry of Coal.
Water & Sanitation records the highest expenditure-to-cost ratio among HML categories at 70.81%, followed by Transport & Logistics (51.03%) and Communication (48.66%).
The Flash Report covers Central Sector infrastructure projects of ₹150 crore and above; the October 2026 Flash Report is scheduled for release on 25th November 2026.
The PAIMANA project monitoring interface has been renamed PAIMANA-PROJ, and the PAIMANA-CRIP (Central Repository of Infrastructure Projects), launched in July 2026, serves as the underlying data repository with nearly 80% of data updated via APIs.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Cabinet Clears Eight Railway Multitracking Projects Worth Rs 20,804 Crore Spanning Nine States (Mid of September)

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved eight railway multitracking projects worth Rs 20,804 crore across nine states, covering around 1,196 km and targeted for…

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…

PM GatiShakti National Master Plan marks five years with 400+ projects worth Rs 20.23 lakh crore evaluated and ITLA cleared by Union Cabinet (Mid of October)

The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13, 2021, completed five years, with the Network Planning Group (NPG) having evaluated over 400 infrastructure…

BHAVYA: ₹33,660 Crore Scheme to Build 100 Plug-and-Play Industrial Parks Across India (Mid of October)

Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) is a ₹33,660 crore initiative approved by the Cabinet in March 2026 and notified on 10 April 2026 to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India. BHAVYA provides financial…

Railway Board clears Punjab-built Alstom-powered Vande Bharat trainset for 160 kmph operation subject to safety conditions

Key Updates:

The Railway Board has approved the introduction of a 16-car Vande Bharat Chair Car trainset with an Alstom propulsion system, manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, for speeds of up to 160 kmph, subject to specified safety and operational conditions.
The approval follows recommendations and technical clearances from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS), and requires compliance with RDSO's Final Speed Certificate dated 21.07.2026.
The trainset must operate on tracks meeting standards under the Indian Railways Permanent Way Manual (IRPWM), 2024, including track geometry requirements for a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
The Board asked RDSO and RCF to re-examine the rating of certain equipment, including the traction motor, which is rated at 270 kW compared with 210 kW in the Medha-powered version and 225 kW in the Siemens-powered version.
The Board raised concerns over single-pole miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) in the Electrical Control Cabinets, which replace the double-pole MCBs used in earlier versions and could make fault tracing difficult, directing correction in the current rake and double-pole MCBs in all future trainsets.
The Board directed that fire extinguishers be properly secured and equipment cubicle doors locked, and that future production include fire-survival cables for CCTV systems and crash-hardened memory modules.
The approval lays down maintenance and passenger safety requirements, including emergency training for onboard staff, tools to uncouple the semi-permanent coupler within 15 minutes, a driver's cab locked from inside while running, and pre-recorded passenger safety announcements in three languages.

Connects with 3 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Railway Board Approves Seven New Amrit Bharat Express Trains (Mid of August)

The Railway Board approved seven new Amrit Bharat Express trains on August 14, 2026, to expand rail connectivity. The trains are designed to provide affordable service for passengers from lower and lower-middle income…

Vande Bharat crosses Chenab and Anji bridges at 100 kmph as Katra-Banihal speed limit raised (Start of October)

The maximum permitted speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal railway section has been raised from 75 kmph to 100 kmph, over a year after the section was inaugurated in June 2025. Vande Bharat Express…

Vande Bharat trainset built at Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala clears 180 kmph high-speed trial on Mathura-Nagda section (Start of October)

A new 16-coach Vande Bharat Chair Car trainset, manufactured at Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, Punjab, completed a high-speed trial at 180 kmph on the Mathura-Nagda section. The trial took place on October 8…

DP World begins two double-stack rail services connecting Jawaharlal Nehru Port with National Capital Region and Ahmedabad depots

Key Updates:

DP World has launched two double-stack rail services linking Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) with its inland container depots in the National Capital Region and Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Both new rail services are enabled by the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC).
The first service, effective September 2026, connects JNPA with DP World's inland container depot network at Pali/Rewari, Jhattipur–Panipat and Modinagar in the National Capital Region.
The second service connects JNPA with ICD Sachana in Ahmedabad, extending JNPA's double-stack rail connectivity into Gujarat.
DP World's Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager, Subcontinent (India), said expanding double-stack rail connectivity through the dedicated freight corridor is an important step towards making India's logistics more efficient.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Gwalior-Chambal Region Gets New Rail Connectivity with Kailaras-Birpur Section (Mid of August)

The Kailaras-Birpur rail section (56 km) was virtually inaugurated on August 19, 2026, by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan…

Fourth Rail Line Approved in Siliguri Corridor (Mid of August)

The Centre approved a fourth railway line through the strategically important 'Chicken's Neck' corridor. 'Chicken's Neck', also known as the Siliguri Corridor, is a narrow stretch about 20-22 km wide and nearly 60 km…

Ministry of Civil Aviation launches Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Ahmedabad (Start of September)

The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Ahmedabad on 01 September 2026. Ahmedabad became the third spoke airport under India's International Aviation Hub Strategy, after…

Amit Shah Flags Off India's First LNG-Powered Train Along with ₹1,472 Crore Railway Projects at Sabarmati (End of September)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off India's first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and inaugurated railway development projects worth ₹1,472 crore. A WAG-12 Maintenance Shed…

Gujarat government declares Kutch, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Porbandar drought-hit with relief package for farmers

Key Updates:

The Gujarat government declared Kutch, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Porbandar districts as drought-hit on October 26, 2026, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announcing the decision after a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar.
Farmers will receive ₹8,500 per hectare for affected crops, subject to a maximum of two hectares, under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
Cattle in the four drought-hit districts will receive ₹80 per animal per day for two months, and 1.21 crore kg of subsidised fodder has already been distributed at ₹2 per kg, with a current stock of 3 crore kg.
Under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar & Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) scheme, 150 days of employment will be provided in the affected districts from November 1.
Gujarat received 810 mm rainfall till October 26, 19 percent less than the 996 mm received last year, and the state's 206 major dams recorded 66 percent water storage.
Irrigation water will be supplied to command areas of 76 dams during the upcoming Rabi season, with drinking water reserves maintained until June 30, 2027.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Maharashtra Government Declares Drought in 265 of 358 Talukas After Deficient Kharif Rainfall (End of September)

Maharashtra has declared drought in 265 of its 358 talukas after inadequate monsoon rainfall disrupted the 2026 Kharif season, with the Relief and Rehabilitation Department issuing a Government Resolution under Trigger-1…

Gujarat Govt Approves ₹20 Crore for Four Centres of Excellence for Natural Farming (Mid of August)

The Gujarat government has approved the establishment of four Centres of Excellence for natural farming with a provision of ₹20 crore for the 2026-27 financial year. The centres will be located in Navsari, Morbi…

PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) Marks One Year as Kutch, Dahod and Chhota Udepur Win Excellence Awards (Mid of October)

The Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 12, 2025, for 100 agricultural aspirational districts with an outlay of Rs 24,000 crore, completed its first…

Gujarat Registers Over 63.35 Lakh Farmers on Digital Farmer Registry Under Digital Agriculture Mission (End of September)

More than 63.35 lakh farmers in Gujarat have been registered under the state's Farmer Registry, which is being implemented under the Centre's Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM) to create a single digital identity for…

Orissa High Court rules Scheduled Caste and Tribe status cannot be transferred between states

Key Updates:

The Orissa High Court, in a ruling by Justice Sashikanta Mishra, held that SC/ST status is state-specific and a person migrating to another state does not carry the status enjoyed in the state of origin.
The court quashed the April 23 letter of Mayurbhanj's district registrar-cum-ADM that asked Jharkhand resident Binoy Krishna Das to obtain prior permission to sell his land under Odisha Regulation 2 of 1956, and directed the sub-registrar-cum-tehsildar, Kuliana, to register the sale deed.
Das, a Bhuiya (notified as a Scheduled Caste in Jharkhand but a Scheduled Tribe in Odisha), sold 0.14 acres of his land in Mayurbhanj district to an SC community member for ₹10 lakh via a deed executed in March this year.
The court held that since Bhuiya is not notified as an SC in Odisha, Das could not claim SC status there, nor be automatically treated as an ST, so restrictions under Regulation 2 of 1956 and Section 22 of the Odisha Land Reforms Act did not apply.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Karnataka Cabinet Grants Tulu Additional Administrative Language Status in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada (End of September)

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced after a Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru that Tulu would be made the state's second additional administrative language, applicable to Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The…

United States Pulls Non-Essential Diplomats Out of Saudi Arabia Amid Intensifying Houthi Attacks (End of October)

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…

Ministry of Jal Shakti’s ‘Catch the Rain’ Campaign: Chhattisgarh Emerges Top-Performing State with 77,719 Water Conservation Structures Completed (Start of September)

Chhattisgarh emerged as the top-performing state in the third phase of the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) and Catch the Rain campaigns, with nearly 78,000 water conservation structures…

Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana Boost Integrated Care and Support for Senior Citizens (End of October)

The Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, promotes senior citizen welfare through an integrated framework of care services and institutional support. The…

Adani Airports to expand Mumbai airport Terminal 1 capacity by 33% to 20 million passengers through phased redevelopment aided by flight shifts to Navi Mumbai

Key Updates:

Adani Airports plans to increase the annual passenger-handling capacity of Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai by around 33%, from 15 million to 20 million passengers, under a phased redevelopment programme.
The redevelopment will be facilitated by shifting some flight operations of IndiGo and Air India Express to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
The initial phase of the transition aims to move around 5 million passengers from CSMIA to NMIA, of which approximately 3.6 million passengers, about 70% of the first-phase relocation target, are planned to be transferred.
The Terminal 1 redevelopment is expected to include safety improvements, modernised passenger facilities and upgrades to the terminal's operational infrastructure.
The planned transfer of flights to NMIA followed consultations between the airport operator and airlines over nearly 18 months.
Only 9% of CSMIA's annual 55 million passenger traffic will be temporarily transitioned under the redevelopment programme, while around 91% of the traffic will continue to operate from Mumbai Airport.
Airlines shifting services to NMIA will retain their historical slots at CSMIA, which will be restored once the Terminal 1 redevelopment is complete.
The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has built three bridges, SBR-9, BR-4 and BR-5, across Panvel Creek and the Gadhi River to improve road connectivity between NMIA, Atal Setu, Ulwe Coastal Road, Amra Marg and NH-4B.
NMIA's Terminal 1 is designed to handle 20 million passengers annually, with further expansion planned to raise the airport's overall capacity to 90 million passengers a year.
The development of NMIA alongside CSMIA is expected to create a dual-airport system for Mumbai, increasing the region's capacity to handle domestic and international traffic.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Tuticorin International Container Terminal at VOC Port declared a fully electrified green terminal (End of October)

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…

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…

Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) incorporates AACL Global IFSC Limited for global treasury operations (Mid of August)

Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) has incorporated a new company named AACL Global IFSC Limited. AACL Global IFSC Limited will function as a wholly-owned step-down subsidiary of Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL).

NITI Aayog Approves ₹2,200-Crore Master Plan for Coimbatore International Airport Expansion (Mid of September)

The ₹2,200-crore master plan for expanding Coimbatore International Airport has been approved by NITI Aayog and awaits clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Expenditure, Airport Director Mohammad Arif said on September…

Topic

People, Positions and Obituaries

View all People & Positions

Sitaram Raul Wins Behaviour: Invertebrates Category at 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Key Updates:

Indian photographer Sitaram Raul won the 'Behaviour: Invertebrates' category at the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for his photograph 'Shifting Sand', which depicts an Indian Buthacus scorpion burrowing into sand in Rajasthan's Thar Desert.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is organised by the Natural History Museum in London and received more than 65,000 entries from around the world in 2026.
The 2026 overall award went to Italian photographer Federico Veronesi for 'The Aftermath', and an exhibition of winning photographs opened at the Natural History Museum on 16 October 2026.
Raul, based in Badlapur, Maharashtra, with about 14 years of experience, earlier received a 'Highly Commended' distinction in the Urban Wildlife category in 2025 for his photograph 'Nature Reclaims its Space'.

Connects with 3 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Living Planet Index 2026 Reports 73% Average Decline in Global Wildlife Populations (Start of October)

The 2026 Living Planet Index (LPI) report records an average decline of 73% in studied wildlife populations between 1970 and 2022. The study analysed 35,803 wildlife populations, covering mammals, birds, reptiles…

Amruta Pujari of India takes silver in women's 72kg at U-23 World Wrestling Championships (Mid of October)

India's Amruta Pujari won a silver medal in the women's 72-kilogram category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, United States. She lost 0-6 to Ukraine's Iryna Zablotska in the gold-medal bout.

Lionel Messi wins the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports (End of October)

Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on October 23, 2026. The award recognizes Messi's sporting accomplishments and his charitable work through the Leo Messi Foundation.

Maharashtra Initiative Shabari Naturals Receives G-Mark Global Design Award for Tribal Art Packaging

Key Updates:

Shabari Naturals, a Maharashtra government initiative, received the G-Mark Global Design Award on 25 October 2026 for packaging inspired by traditional tribal art.
The Japan Institute of Design Promotion will formally present the award in Tokyo on 4 November 2026.
Leena Bansod, Managing Director of the Nashik-headquartered Shabari Tribal Finance and Development Corporation (STFDC), will accept the award on behalf of the Maharashtra government.
The packaging incorporates Warli, Gond and Chitrakathi art forms and depicts tribal culture and legends.
The award grants Shabari Naturals the right to display the G-Mark logo on its packaging; it had previously received the India Design Mark.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the award in his Mann Ki Baat broadcast on 25 October 2026, highlighting the initiative's promotion of tribal products and the 'Vocal for Local' movement.
Shabari Naturals markets natural and organic tribal products including wild honey, unpolished rice, pulses, millets, spices and handmade traditional artefacts.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

UNEP Cool Coalition Names Singapore, UAE and Dong Mingzhu as First Cool Leaders (End of September)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cool Coalition named Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Dong Mingzhu, Chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, as the inaugural Cool Leaders. The recognition was…

NHAI policy mandates independent design verification of major bridges from December 1 (Mid of October)

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced a uniform system for independent checking of designs and drawings for major bridges and other critical structures, effective December 1. The policy applies…

Ashoke Sen becomes first Indian to receive Oskar Klein medal for theoretical physics (End of October)

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…

Architecture Student from Kochi Awarded 28th Charles Correa Gold Medal in Mumbai (End of October)

The 28th Charles Correa Gold Medal, presented in Mumbai on 22 October 2026, was awarded to an architecture student from Kochi by the Charles Correa Foundation (CCF). The winning undergraduate thesis, titled 'Energy…

Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan, passes away at age 90

Key Updates:

Yasuo Fukuda, who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 2007 to 2008, died at the age of 90.
He was known for seeking to deepen relations with China, notably hosting President Hu Jintao during a state visit in 2008.
His administration also laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Consumer Affairs Agency and secured legislation for hepatitis C compensation.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama dies at 97 (End of August)

Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, known for polka dot works and Infinity Mirror Rooms, died at the age of 97. She died at a hospital in Tokyo on 14 August.

Russia's Putin Visits Disputed Iturup Island on August 13, Exacerbating Japan-Russia Tensions (End of August)

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup Island on August 13, 2026. Iturup, known in Japan as Etorofu, is the largest of the disputed Southern Kurils, occupied by Russia since World War II and also claimed by…

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Dies at 97 (Mid of August)

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji died of illness at the age of 97 in Beijing on August 12, 2026. He served as China's premier from 1998 to 2003.

PM Modi Releases Former President Ram Nath Kovind's Autobiography (Mid of August)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the autobiography of former President Ram Nath Kovind titled 'Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles' on August 12, 2026. The release event was held at Vigyan Bhavan…

Painter Jogen Chowdhury, known for modern Indian art and Rashtrapati Bhavan curatorship, dies aged 87

Key Updates:

Jogen Chowdhury, a celebrated Indian painter and former Rajya Sabha member, died in Kolkata at the age of 87.
A major figure in modern Indian art, Chowdhury served as curator of the art gallery at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
His works are displayed at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Connects with 4 related updates for revision context.

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Historian Sumit Sarkar Dies at 87 (Mid of August)

Sumit Sarkar, a prominent historian of modern India, died at the age of 87 at his Delhi residence on August 14, 2026, following age-related ailments. He was a founding member of the Subaltern Studies Collective, a group…

Swiss President Guy Parmelin Receives Ceremonial Welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan During Three-Day State Visit to India (Start of October)

Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin arrived in India on Monday for a three-day State visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was warmly welcomed at Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Droupadi…

Gaurang Vyas, Gujarati Music Composer, Dies at 87 (Start of September)

Gaurang Vyas, a renowned Gujarati music composer, singer and arranger, died at the age of 87 in Ahmedabad. He composed music for over 100 Gujarati films, including notable works such as Bhavni Bhavai and Maniyaro.

Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar Dies at 80 (End of August)

Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar died at the age of 80 in Delhi. He was serving a life sentence in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Daily Current Affairs: 26 October 2026

Top current affairs to revise

Topic-wise current affairs headlines

Economy, Banking and Finance

NHAI routes 80% of FY monetisation pipeline through its sponsored InvITs

Related Current Affairs Coverage

CAST and India's National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) Sign Five-Year MoU to Boost U.S.–India Agricultural Science Collaboration

Related Current Affairs Coverage

International Finance Corporation extends $150 million social loan to State Bank of India for rural women

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Highlights UPI's Nearly 80 Crore Daily Transactions

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Reserve Bank of India Study Reveals Banks Transmit Monetary Policy Tightening More Effectively Than Easing to Lending Rates

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Government Schemes and Policy

Road Ministry Drafts Rule for Automatic Emergency Braking in New Cars from October 2030

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Centre relaxes Central Motor Vehicles Rules to permit flex-fuel vehicles using up to E100 ethanol

Related Current Affairs Coverage

TRAI Recommends Light-Touch Authorisation Framework for Application-based Linear Television Distribution (ALTD) Services

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Goa launches governance AI hackathon, Granthika records initiative and rural AI report at Panaji conclave

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Kerala Approves Co-Kerala, India's First Cooperative Airline, With Rs 400 Crore Funding Model

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Supreme Court notes 14 states back judicial retirement age of 62, declines individual urgent pleas

Related Current Affairs Coverage

First National SARAS Mela 2026 at Vijayawada Showcases Lakhpati Didi Enterprises with Turnovers up to ₹1 Crore

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Counter-ticket travel insurance rollout scheduled for October 27 with digital-only payment of fare and premium

Related Current Affairs Coverage

IIIT-Bangalore and Poland's AGH University of Krakow sign MoU covering AI and Quantum Technologies collaboration

Related Current Affairs Coverage

International, Defence and Summits

DAC chaired by Rajnath Singh approves defence capital acquisition proposals of about ₹2.12 lakh crore for Army, Navy and Air Force

Related Current Affairs Coverage

DRDO's Indigenous Air Independent Propulsion Energy Module Begins Setting-to-Work Phase-2 for Indian Navy Submarines

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Inaugurates 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Defeats Flavio Bolsonaro to Secure Historic Fourth Term

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Rajnath Singh to lead Indian delegation at 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Cebu, Philippines on October 28-29, 2026

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment

TDB-DST signs agreement with Manastu Space for ₹116 crore RDI support to develop indigenous green propulsion technology

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Two New Ophiorrhiza Plant Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Study finds nearly 1 in 11 high-risk hospitalised adults in India had melioidosis, with high in-hospital deaths

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Balloon-Borne Sunrise-III Observatory Reveals Twisted Magnetic Threads in the Sun's Atmosphere

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Kerala Opens Regulated Trekking as Neelakurinji Flowers on Meeshapulimala Slopes

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Tata Communications to Spend $450 Million on 10,000-km AI Fibre Network Across India

Related Current Affairs Coverage

FAHR-Face AI estimates biological age from facial photos and flags mortality risk in cancer patients

Related Current Affairs Coverage

IIT Bombay researchers create affordable blood-smear device to detect anaemia and sickle cell disease

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Sports

India Become First Team to Claim 200 Wins in Men's T20 Internationals

Related Current Affairs Coverage

India Awarded Hosting Rights for 2029 World Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Yuki Bhambri and Ryan Seggerman Claim Almaty Open Doubles Crown

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Miscellaneous Current Affairs

Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2026: Dates and UNESCO-Led Annual Observance

Related Current Affairs Coverage

MoSPI's September 2026 Flash Report Monitors 1,853 Central Sector Infrastructure Projects Worth ₹37.56 Lakh Crore

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Railway Board clears Punjab-built Alstom-powered Vande Bharat trainset for 160 kmph operation subject to safety conditions

Related Current Affairs Coverage

DP World begins two double-stack rail services connecting Jawaharlal Nehru Port with National Capital Region and Ahmedabad depots

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Gujarat government declares Kutch, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Porbandar drought-hit with relief package for farmers

Related Current Affairs Coverage

Orissa High Court rules Scheduled Caste and Tribe status cannot be transferred between states