India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) raised India's FY27 real GDP growth forecast by 10 basis points to 6.8% from 6.7%. Ind-Ra lowered its baseline crude oil price assumption for FY27 to $85 per barrel from $95 per…
Finance Ministry lifts FY27 GDP growth estimate to 7.3% and Q2FY27 projection to 7.35%, warns of crude oil price risks
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Finance raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY 2026-27 (FY27) to 7.3% from the 6.8-7.2% estimated in the Economic Survey in February 2026, based on the Department of Economic Affairs' nowcasting model.
- The Ministry marginally raised the Q2FY27 (July-September) growth projection to 7.35% from 7.3% in its September report, with official Q2 GDP data to be released by MoSPI on November 30.
- The Indian economy grew 7.8% in Q1FY27 (April-June), and Q2 high-frequency indicators such as industrial output, energy consumption, port traffic, GST collections and automobile sales grew faster than in the previous quarter.
- Total merchandise and services exports grew 11% year-on-year in the month covered, with merchandise exports rising 23.1%, driven significantly by electronics and engineering goods.
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its FY27 growth forecast for India to 7% from 6.4%, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised its GDP growth projection to 7.1%.
- Elevated crude oil prices and maritime freight disruptions across West Asian transit routes pose upside risks to input costs; the RBI's direct dollar liquidity supply to public-sector oil marketing companies and curbs on currency speculation may help mitigate imported inflation.
- Household inflation jumped to 5.54% in September from 4.83% in August, and policymakers' focus in the second half of the year is sustaining economic activity while safeguarding price stability amid elevated crude oil prices, higher food inflation and an uncertain kharif crop outlook.
- Supply-side measures such as 'Kanda Express' kharif onion releases, stockholding limits on sugar dealers and customs duty cuts on crude edible oils are expected to ease prices of key kitchen staples; downside risks persist from an intensifying El Niño threatening rabi sowing.
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Asian Development Bank Lifts India's FY27 Growth Projection to 7% on Strong Q1 Performance (End of September)
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY2026-27 (FY27) to 7 per cent, up from 6.6 per cent projected in July, citing stronger-than-expected Q1 performance with GDP expanding 7.8 per cent…
International Monetary Fund Lifts India’s FY27 GDP Growth Projection to 7% in Latest World Economic Outlook (Mid of October)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its World Economic Outlook released during its annual meetings in Bangkok, raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY27 (2026-27) by 60 basis points to 7% from 6.4% estimated in…
State Bank of India (SBI) Research raises India's FY27 GDP growth forecast to 7.3% (Start of September)
State Bank of India (SBI) Research revised India's FY27 real GDP growth forecast to 7.3% from 6.6%. India's real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27, compared with 6.9% in Q1 FY26.
Industrial Production Registers 6.7% Growth in September, Driven by Manufacturing and Electricity Output
Key Updates:
- Industrial production grew 6.7% in September, compared to 6.1% expansion recorded a year ago.
- The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 6.8% during the April-September period, compared with 4.4% a year ago.
- Manufacturing, which holds a weight of 76% in the index, grew by 7.6% in September.
- Electricity and gas supply expanded by 11.2% due to higher temperatures caused by heat wave conditions.
- Electricity production from conventional sources recorded a double-digit growth of 16.5% in September.
- Use-based industries registered double-digit output growth in Capital goods (10.4%) and Intermediate goods (12.2%).
- Mining and quarrying activity contracted by 6.2% during the month.
- Consumer durables output decelerated by 6% in September.
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Annual Survey of Industries: Manufacturing GVA rises 9.6% to Rs 26.9 lakh crore in 2024-25; sector adds 1.4 million workers (Start of October)
India's formal manufacturing sector's Gross Value Added (GVA) grew 9.6% to Rs 26.9 lakh crore in 2024-25 from Rs 24.6 lakh crore in 2023-24, according to the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) released by the statistics…
India's industrial output (IIP) grew 8% in August, faster than expected, driven by strong manufacturing and electricity gains despite a contraction in mining, per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.…
MoSPI Publishes Sub-Sectoral Trial Index of Services Production for August 2026 with Base Year 2024–25
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Index of Services Production (ISP) for August 2026 covering 19 sub-sectors, with base year 2024–25.
- In August 2026, Retail Trade recorded an ISP of 139.2, while Air Transport recorded the lowest index at 89.2.
- Other notable August 2026 ISP values include Accommodation and food at 145.3, Repair Services at 130.7, Wholesale Trade at 122.9, Banking at 125.0, Insurance at 107.9, and Telecommunications at 120.7.
- The monthly ISPs are being published on an experimental basis, and the Trial Series enables MoSPI to examine data quality, test its resilience and receive feedback from stakeholders and users.
- The indices for the Railways, Banking and Insurance sub-sectors are based on provisional monthly data and would undergo revision on an annual basis.
- The ISP data is available at https://esankhyiki.mospi.gov.in and the press release is available on the MoSPI website.
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Index of Core Industries Grows 7.9% in September 2026; August 2026 Final Index Revised to 120.4 (End of October)
The Index of Core Industries (ICI) with Base Year 2022-23 grew by 7.9 per cent in September 2026 (Provisional) year-on-year, higher than the 5.9 per cent growth recorded in August 2026 (Final). In September 2026, Iron…
MoSPI releases Index of Services Production (ISP) for June 2026; 18 sub-sectors record positive growth. (Start of September)
MoSPI released the ISP for June 2026 on August 31, 2026, based on the 2024-25 base year. The index covers 19 sub-sectors, with 18 recording positive growth compared to June 2025.
New Index of Services Production shows 17 of 19 services sub-sectors growing in July, led by administrative services at 20.9% (End of September)
India's services economy grew broadly in July, with 17 of the 19 sub-sectors tracked by the new Index of Services Production (ISP) expanding year-on-year and 10 recording double-digit growth. The Ministry of Statistics…
Statistics Ministry to expand Index of Services Production to cover education, healthcare and defence (Start of October)
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation plans to expand the monthly Index of Services Production (ISP) to include education, healthcare, and public administration and defence, raising coverage to 78.4 per…
RBI data: Indian companies registered USD 8.13 billion in external commercial borrowings in August 2026, financial services took nearly USD 4 billion
Key Updates:
- Indian companies registered external commercial borrowings (ECBs) worth USD 8.13 billion in August 2026, as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data released on October 29, 2026.
- Of the total, USD 7.95 billion was registered under general permission and USD 180 million under special permission.
- Financial services companies accounted for nearly USD 4 billion of the ECB registrations, mainly for on-lending or sub-lending.
- Power Finance Corporation registered USD 775 million and REC registered USD 500 million, both for general corporate purposes.
- Flipkart Internet registered the largest ECB of the month at USD 1.14 billion, a three-year borrowing for on-lending or sub-lending raised from a foreign equity holder.
- Adani Airport Holdings registered a USD 1 billion ECB with five-year maturity from a financial institution in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) for modernisation and expansion of existing units.
- Reliance Industries registered about USD 382.3 million for refinancing of existing ECBs, while InterGlobe Aviation registered USD 180 million under the special permission route for import of capital goods.
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GIFT IFSC Emerges as International Banking Hub (Start of September)
As of 31 August 2026, 20 IFSC Banking Units (IBUs) at GIFT IFSC sanctioned USD 54.02 billion under the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) special swap facility for FCNR(B) deposits, with approximately USD 52.82 billion…
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Highlights UPI's Nearly 80 Crore Daily Transactions (End of October)
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…
Sebi seeks Irdai's help to add insurance details to consolidated account statements (Mid of October)
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has written to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) chairman seeking inclusion of insurance-related information in the consolidated account…
Reserve Bank of India allows bank deposits in CAS and enables account aggregator interoperability (Start of October)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed bank deposit details to be included in the Consolidated Account Statement (CAS) provided by entities registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), enabling…
India's pharmaceutical exports rise 4.9% to $16.14 billion in H1FY27 as European shipments climb
Key Updates:
- India's pharmaceutical exports grew 4.90% year-on-year to $16.14 billion during the first half of 2026-27 (H1FY27), driven by non-US markets even as shipments to the US moderated, per the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).
- Exports to Europe rose 9.66% to $3.29 billion, accounting for over one-fifth of total pharmaceutical exports in H1FY27, with Germany, the Netherlands and France recording strong growth.
- Shipments to ASEAN grew 21.54%, Latin America and the Caribbean grew 16.58%, and Africa grew 6.48% in H1FY27.
- Drug formulations and biologicals remained the largest export category at 73.84% of total shipments, with its share growing 3.81% over the previous corresponding period.
- Bulk drugs and drug intermediates grew 12.07%, while surgical exports increased 9.53% in H1FY27.
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India's merchandise exports to the UK rose 8% year-on-year to $2.43 billion in August-September 2026, the first two full months after the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) came into force on July…
India exported its first consignment of organic Palmyra Jaggery Powder to Bulgaria, flagged off on October 15 from Gobichettipalayam in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, to Varna, Bulgaria. The 1.755-tonne consignment was…
Supreme Court directs Union government to set up expert committee on statutory regulation of pharmaceutical marketing (Start of October)
The Supreme Court, through a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, directed the Union government to constitute an expert committee to consider a statutory mechanism to curb unethical pharmaceutical marketing…
WTO Lifts 2026 Global Merchandise Trade Growth Projection to 3.9% (Mid of October)
The World Trade Organization (WTO) raised its 2026 global merchandise trade growth forecast to 3.9% from 1.9% projected in March, citing trade resilience despite the West Asia conflict. The WTO expects global merchandise…
Resident Indians' outward remittances climb to USD 2.7 billion in August 2026 while overseas investments decline
Key Updates:
- Outward remittances by resident Indians rose to USD 2.7 billion in August 2026 from USD 2.6 billion in July, according to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data collated by 1Lattice.
- Travel remained the largest component of outward remittances, with its share rising to 63 per cent in August from 57 per cent in July.
- Education remittances increased 29 per cent month-on-month in August, with the category's share rising to 7 per cent from 6 per cent in July.
- Family maintenance accounted for 11 per cent of outward remittances in August, unchanged from July, while gifts accounted for 8 per cent compared with 9 per cent in July.
- Investment in overseas property declined around 22 per cent month-on-month in August, with its share falling to around 12 per cent from 13 per cent in July.
- Investments in overseas debt and equity declined nearly 7 per cent to USD 322 million in August from USD 345 million in July.
- Overseas debt and equity investments stood at USD 2.65 billion in FY26, up from USD 1.70 billion in FY25, and at USD 1.06 billion in the April-June quarter of FY27 compared with USD 885 million in January-March.
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India's outward remittances under LRS edge up nearly 1% to USD 2.6 billion in July 2026 (End of September)
India's outward remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) rose around 1 per cent month on month to USD 2.6 billion in July 2026, according to a 1Lattice analysis based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data.…
India's gross FDI inflows rose 67.7% to $11 billion in August, while net inflows stood at $3.3 billion against net outflows of $103 million in August 2025. Gross FDI inflows exceeded $55 billion during April-August, and…
EPFO prepares guidelines for proposed investments in startups and alternative funds
Key Updates:
- The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is developing guidelines to facilitate investments in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and startups.
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) discussed allocating up to 3% of EPFO’s fresh annual accretions to Category I and Category II AIFs.
- The proposal will be submitted to the central board of trustees, headed by Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in November.
- EPFO manages approximately Rs 30 lakh crore in retirement savings for nearly 30 crore members.
- The proposed framework includes safeguards such as a minimum AIF corpus of Rs 100 crore and restrictions on investments in foreign-incorporated entities.
- EPFO is permitted to invest up to 5% of its fresh accretions in asset-backed and trust-structured investments.
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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Launched IITM Unicorn Frontier Fund I at Bengaluru Event (End of September)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the IITM Unicorn Frontier Fund I in Bengaluru on September 26, 2026, at the seventh edition of the IIT Madras Alumni Association's Sangam 2026. The first close of the…
DPIIT's Trust-Based Governance Push: 2.5 Lakh Startups, 25.42 Lakh Jobs and 47,957 Compliances Reduced (End of October)
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has recognised 2,50,046 startups which have reported generating over 25.42 lakh jobs across 770+ districts and 56…
₹1 Lakh Crore RDIF Selects 19 Second Level Fund Managers with ₹7,131 Crore Commitment in First Cohort (Mid of October)
The Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF), a ₹1 lakh crore Government of India initiative, announced its first cohort of 19 Second Level Fund Managers (SLFMs). The Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS), in its…
Government's 1.16% EPS contribution remains capped at Rs 15,000 wages despite higher EPFO ceiling (End of October)
The Ministry of Labour and Employment amended the Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026 via Notification No. G.S.R. 890(E) dated October 15, 2026, specifying a monthly wage limit of Rs 15,000 for the government's contribution…
Supreme Court holds income tax reassessment void without mandatory Section 143(2) notice
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court held that income tax reassessment proceedings are invalid if the department fails to issue the mandatory notice under Section 143(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, even if the taxpayer participates in the proceedings.
- A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva dismissed the tax department's appeal against an Orissa High Court judgment that had set aside reassessment proceedings for non-issue of the notice.
- Section 143(2) is a scrutiny notice to verify that a taxpayer has not understated income, claimed excessive losses, or underpaid tax; without it, the department cannot proceed with reassessment under Section 147.
- The court ruled that Section 292BB, dealing with deemed service of notices, cannot apply when no notice was issued at all, only when a notice's service is disputed.
- The Bench clarified that taxpayers can challenge reassessment for non-issue of a Section 143(2) notice even after participating without objection, that the notice must be issued even when a Section 139 return is treated as the Section 148 response, and that a Section 142(1) letter does not satisfy the notice requirement.
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CBDT notifies Form 173A as mandatory for claiming tax exemption on interest and capital gains from government securities (Mid of October)
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has made it mandatory to furnish information in a new Form 173A to claim income-tax exemption on interest and capital gains from government securities. Form 173A was added to the…
Central Board of Direct Taxes amends Form 161 to extend penalty waiver route to income misreporting cases (Mid of October)
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) notified a revised Form 161 on October 8, 2026, bringing misreporting cases within the penalty waiver process under section 440(2) of the Income-tax Act, 2025. Form 161 allows…
India's Green Finance Climbs to $81.9 Billion in 2023-24 with Private Capital Dominating Flows
Key Updates:
- Tracked green finance for emission reduction in India grew from $50 billion in 2021-22 to $81.9 billion in 2023-24, as per the fourth edition of the 'Landscape of Green Finance in India' report by Climate Policy Initiative.
- Domestic and private sources accounted for 80% of tracked green finance in India in 2023-24.
- Private capital constituted 68% of domestic finance for mitigation in 2023-24, exceeding public funds.
- Clean energy accounted for the largest share of tracked mitigation finance at $41.4 billion, more than half of the total.
- Energy efficiency made up 31% of mitigation finance, with energy-efficient appliances the top category, and clean transportation accounted for 18%.
- Saket Kumar, Deputy General Manager at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), suggested creating a robust knowledge hub to help financiers assess lending risks for unestablished technologies.
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Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority Secures $70 Million IFC Blue Financing for Shore Power Project (Start of October)
The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has secured a US$70 million blue financing arrangement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for a shore-power project valued at ₹650 crore. The transaction is…
India plans blended domestic and international financing to achieve 500 GW renewable energy goal, says MNRE Secretary (End of October)
India aims to combine domestic funding, international capital and blended financing models to meet its target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity, according to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Secretary…
India Showcases Forest Cover Gains and Restoration Initiatives at FAO Committee on Forestry 28th Session in Rome (Start of October)
India presented its forest and landscape restoration achievements at the 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 28), held in Rome from September 28 to October 2, 2026. India's forest and tree cover stands at…
CEEW-GFC and Tata Sons Report: India Requires $500 Billion Investment by 2030 for Decarbonization (End of October)
India requires $500 billion in climate investment by 2030 across 20 low-carbon technologies in three key sectors, including power and renewables, green hydrogen, and electric mobility. The power and renewables sector…
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde Quits Eight Months Ahead of Term End
Key Updates:
- European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has announced her early resignation, deciding to step down on 7 February, ahead of her term's scheduled end in October 2027.
- Lagarde, aged 70, has led the ECB since November 2019 and previously headed the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- Lagarde stated that her early departure was driven by a wish to speak freely on issues beyond monetary policy, as ECB officials are bound by an obligation of neutrality.
- Lagarde informed the ECB Governing Council and European Council President António Costa of her decision, and the process to identify her successor has already begun.
- Under Article 283 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Lagarde's successor will be appointed by the European Council following the nomination process.
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India–New Zealand electronic origin-data pact takes effect after FTA implementation (End of October)
India and New Zealand signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on 19 October 2026 to enable electronic exchange of origin data for traded goods, signed by CBIC Chairman Vivek Chaturvedi and New Zealand Customs Service…
Basavaraj Horatti Resigns as Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council (Start of August)
Basavaraj Horatti, a Congress leader, resigned as Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council on August 7, 2026. He stated that he was asked to resign by the Congress government led by D K Shivakumar.
Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona was redesignated as Chiricahua National Park after President Donald J. Trump signed the Chiricahua National Park Act into law on October 20, 2026. The park, located near Willcox in…
Abelardo de la Espriella Sworn In as Colombia President (Start of August)
Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as the President of Colombia on August 7, 2026. He succeeded leftist President Gustavo Petro.
US Federal Reserve leaves benchmark rate near 3.9% as inflation stays above target
Key Updates:
- The United States Federal Reserve held its key rate unchanged at about 3.9 per cent at its October 2026 meeting, saying inflation remains elevated above its 2 per cent target and that holding off allows accumulation of more information for policy.
- The Fed had raised its benchmark rate in September 2026 for the first time in three years, defying President Donald Trump's demands for rate cuts, to return inflation to the 2 per cent target.
- Two officials dissented in favour of a quarter-point hike: Fed Governor Lisa Cook and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack; it was Cook's first dissent since her 2022 appointment.
- President Donald Trump renewed his attempt to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook last month by setting up a committee to investigate allegations she committed mortgage fraud, which she denies; the Supreme Court in June ruled she could keep her job while litigation played out.
- The Fed's decision came just six days before a US midterm election focused heavily on cost-of-living and affordability concerns.
- The average 30-year mortgage rate reached a three-year high of 7.4 per cent earlier in October 2026, making home purchases unaffordable for 5 million more Americans since the start of the year, according to Oxford Economics.
- US consumer price inflation rose 3.7 per cent in September 2026 from a year earlier, up from 2.4 per cent in February, with monthly CPI increases of 0.3 per cent in both August and September.
- The Personal Consumption Expenditures price index was forecast to rise 3.6 per cent in September year-on-year, up from 3.4 per cent in August, with core prices forecast at 3.1 per cent, up from 3 per cent.
- US unemployment remains low at 4.2 per cent, and July-September quarter GDP growth is forecast at 3 per cent by FactSet, up from 2.2 per cent in the April-June quarter.
- Wall Street closed slightly higher on October 28 after the widely expected rate pause: the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each rose about 0.3 per cent and the Dow Jones gained about 0.2 per cent.
- Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh said politics played no role in the central bank's decision to leave rates untouched.
- The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced that in 2027 it will hold eight meetings but dedicate one to broad monetary policy strategy, meaning one fewer rate decision, and in 2028 it plans two strategy meetings and six policy meetings.
- Before the decision, 90.6 per cent of traders bet on an October pause and 75 per cent predicted a quarter-point hike in December (CME FedWatch); of 100 economists polled by Reuters, 94 expected no change this month and all predicted a December hike.
- The FOMC's final meeting of 2026 is scheduled for December 9-10.
- US employers added 29,000 jobs in September while unemployment ticked up to 4.2 per cent from 4.1 per cent, and initial jobless claims fell to 194,000 for the week ending October 17, the lowest since the week of July 18.
- In September projections, of 18 FOMC participants, 12 expected one additional quarter-point hike by end-2026, four expected two quarter-point hikes or a half-point hike, and two expected no further hikes.
- The Dallas Fed's trimmed mean PCE inflation was up 2.2 per cent over the 12 months ending in August.
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National Statistics Office data shows India's unemployment rate steady at 5% in September 2026 (Mid of October)
India's overall unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above remained stable at 5% in September 2026, as per the National Statistics Office (NSO) Periodic Labour Force Survey. The overall unemployment rate was…
US CPI inflation accelerates to 3.7% in September 2026, lifting chances of a Federal Reserve rate hike (Mid of October)
The US annual inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), accelerated to 3.7% in September 2026, up from 3.4% in August and above the market forecast of 3.6%. The CPI rose 0.6% month-on-month in September…
Bank of Japan Lifts Key Rate to 1.25%, Highest Since 1995, to Fight Rising Prices (Mid of September)
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its main interest rate from 1% to 1.25% on Friday, a level not seen since 1995. The BOJ has hiked rates six times in the last two and a half years, beginning from minus 0.1% in 2024.
RBI Report Highlights Strong Domestic Demand Supporting India's Economic Growth Momentum (End of October)
Strong domestic demand, services activity, and exports supported India's economic momentum despite rising inflation and geopolitical tensions. Headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation reached 5.5% in September…
NPPA Announces Revised MRPs for 543 Anti-Cancer Drug Brands, Effective November 9
Key Updates:
- The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) released revised maximum retail prices for 543 brands of anti-cancer medicines, effective from November 9.
- The revision follows the government's October 17 policy capping trade margins at 30% for 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
- The government estimates the initiative could save cancer patients about Rs 2,500 crore annually.
- Anastrozole 1 mg tablets (Anarzole, RPG Life Sciences) fell from Rs 695.76 to Rs 73 per 10-tablet pack, and Azacitidine injection (Azacytin, Dr Reddy's Laboratories) dropped from Rs 6,337 to Rs 1,495.04.
- Bevacizab injection (Abbott Healthcare, 4 ml vial) was reduced from Rs 21,767.70 to Rs 5,930.13, Dasanat 20 mg tablets fell from Rs 2,812.50 to Rs 1,085.93, and Fulbreca injection dropped from Rs 26,072.16 to Rs 5,491.
- The revised list covers medicines for breast, prostate, colon, ovarian and cervical cancers, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy supportive care drugs, and builds on a similar 2019 exercise covering 42 anti-cancer drugs.
- State drug controllers are expected to monitor compliance as retailers and hospitals must charge the revised prices from November 9.
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National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority asks Union Health Ministry to list cancer drugs with profit margins capped at 30 per cent (Start of October)
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed the Union Health Ministry to submit, by October 14, a list of cancer medicines along with details of their profit margins, which are to be restricted to…
Government caps trade margins at 30% for non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, MRP cuts of up to 70% expected (Start of October)
The Centre has capped trade margins at 30% for all non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, which could reduce maximum retail prices (MRPs) by up to 70% and save patients an estimated Rs 2,500 crore annually. The cap covers…
Centre Caps Trade Margins at 30% for 110 Non-Scheduled Cancer Drugs (Start of October)
The Centre has decided to cap the trade margin at 30 per cent for 110 non-scheduled cancer drugs, including 35 patented medicines, covering branded, generic, domestic, imported, patented and non-patented medicines. The…
Government caps trade margins on cancer drugs at 30% of MRP; Supreme Court questions exclusion of other medicines (Mid of October)
The Central Government has decided to cap trade margins on cancer drugs at 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), a move expected to make cancer treatment more affordable. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority…
India and France's national library sign manuscript preservation partnership under Gyan Bharatam
Key Updates:
- India's Ministry of Culture signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bibliotheque nationale de France (BnF) in Paris under the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
- The agreement covers preservation, digitisation, research and dissemination of manuscript and documentary heritage.
- India's National Archives and the National Library in Kolkata will participate alongside BnF in identifying and digitising Indic-origin manuscripts held by the French library.
- Collaboration includes cross-sharing through the National Digital Repository, conservation and research, and exchanges in cataloguing standards and OCR/HTR tools for Indian scripts.
- The National Digital Repository is envisioned as a secure repository for Indian-origin manuscripts and Indian Knowledge Systems globally.
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NCRTC and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts Partner to Showcase Art and Heritage at Namo Bharat Stations (Mid of October)
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) to promote art, culture and heritage at Namo Bharat stations.…
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) signed a three-year MoU with the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) on July 30, 2025, to advance tribal welfare and conserve tribal bioresources. The partnership…
The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) signed two MoUs with Business France and the India & Arab Countries Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (IACCIA) on August 3, 2026. The MoU…
The National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH), Hyderabad, under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, signed an MoU with Sevadhi Museum & Indological Research…
Power Ministry unveils voluntary National Electricity Data Sharing framework with new CEA data division and portal
Key Updates:
- The Power Ministry has released a voluntary National Electricity Data Sharing framework to enable structured, secure and transparent data sharing across the power sector, with adoption optional for entities such as gencos, discoms, transmission licensees, load despatch centres, electricity regulatory commissions, the CEA and Grid India.
- A National Electricity Data Division (NEDD) will be created in the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to set up and maintain a National Electricity Data Portal (NEDP), built by leveraging the existing National Power Portal (NPP).
- An 8-member National Electricity Data Governance Committee (NEDGC) led by the CEA Chairman will oversee implementation of the framework, conduct annual reviews and coordinate with the IT Ministry, Cabinet Secretariat and other stakeholders.
- Each data issuing entity must designate a Data Governance Officer (DGO), not below two levels from the head of the institution and preferably of Chief Engineer rank, and constitute a Data Governance Committee with the DGO as member secretary or convenor.
- Datasets designated non-shareable by the data issuer will remain outside the framework, and consumer or personally identifiable data must be anonymised and de-identified by the issuing entity before publication and sharing.
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Central Electricity Authority notifies Cyber Security in Power Sector Regulations, 2026 (Mid of August)
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) notified the 'Central Electricity Authority (Cyber Security in Power Sector) Regulations, 2026', which will take effect from April 1, 2027. The regulations require power sector…
The Ministry of Jal Shakti issued a policy on data sharing, interoperability, and stakeholder access under the Sujalam Bharat Digital Public Infrastructure. The policy aims to establish a secure and accountable framework…
CEA's Manual on Transmission Planning Criteria 2026 mandates full grid-connection redundancy for critical facilities (Mid of October)
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) released the Manual on Transmission Planning Criteria, 2026 on October 15, 2026, requiring large consumers such as railways, metro rail systems, refineries, steel plants, hospitals…
Ayushman Vay Vandana Completes Two Years: 23.46 Lakh Hospital Admissions Worth ₹5,668.80 Crore for Senior Citizens Aged 70+
Key Updates:
- Ayushman Vay Vandana, extending Ayushman Bharat-PM Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) benefits to all citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of socio-economic status, was launched by the Prime Minister on 29 October 2024 and completed two years on 29 October 2026.
- The scheme is implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and covers approximately 6 crore senior citizens from around 4.5 crore families.
- All senior citizens aged 70 years and above are eligible for health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
- Senior citizens aged 70 and above in families already covered under AB PM-JAY get an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year exclusively for themselves, separate from coverage of family members below 70 years.
- As on 20 October 2026, the scheme recorded 23.46 lakh authorised hospital admissions valued at ₹5,668.80 crore.
- Cataract surgery was the most frequently availed procedure with 4.71 lakh treatments (about 20.1% of authorised treatments), followed by chronic haemodialysis with about 2.90 lakh treatments.
- In authorised value, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) accounts for the largest share at approximately ₹649 crore.
- Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority.
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NITI Aayog Releases Caregiving Report for Viksit Bharat@2047 (Start of August)
The NITI Aayog report titled 'Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047' presents India's caregiving ecosystem and outlines a roadmap for an organised, professional, accessible and…
Arogya Manthan 2026: Nadda to Lead Celebrations of 8 Years of AB PM-JAY and 5 Years of ABDM in New Delhi (End of September)
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will inaugurate Arogya Manthan 2026 on September 25 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, organised by the National Health Authority to mark eight years of Ayushman…
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) completed eight years, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister JP Nadda marking the milestone. AB PM-JAY, launched on September 23, 2018…
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…
Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi announces ₹1,000 crore subsidy under PMEGP for 11,333 micro enterprises
Key Updates:
- Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises minister Jitan Ram Manjhi released ₹1,000 crore in margin money subsidy under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
- The subsidy aims to support 11,333 new micro enterprises and facilitate bank credit of ₹3,260 crore.
- The latest tranche of the PMEGP is expected to generate over 1.02 lakh sustainable employment opportunities, primarily in rural areas.
- The PMEGP provides margin money subsidies against bank-sanctioned project loans for entrepreneurs setting up new micro enterprises.
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Government to cover full certification costs for micro and small enterprises under Export Promotion Mission (End of October)
The government will bear the entire cost of expensive certifications for micro and small enterprises under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM). The government will support micro and small enterprises in meeting European…
The Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) scheme trained over 1.87 lakh candidates from 2020-21 to 2023-24, out of whom 96,162 received placement offers for jobs, per a factsheet issued by the…
PM Vishwakarma Scheme Registers 30 Lakh Artisans in Three Years with Training, Loans and Toolkits (Mid of September)
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched in September 2023 by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, has registered 30 lakh artisans across 18 identified trades in its first three years of operation. 24.50 lakh…
Karnataka Records 2.04 Crore Person-Days of Employment Under VB-G RAM G Rural Scheme (Mid of October)
Karnataka generated a record 2.04 crore person-days of employment under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, scheme between July 1 and October 13, 2026, up from 1.71 crore…
HD Hyundai's shipbuilding arm advances proposed $4 billion Thoothukudi shipyard partnership
Key Updates:
- HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai's shipbuilding arm, reiterated its intent to be a primary strategic investor in the proposed greenfield shipyard at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
- National Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Park, Tamil Nadu Ltd and HD KSOE expressed their shared intent to advance the project.
- The proposed shipyard envisages a $4 billion investment, with the partners working towards a joint venture structure and a detailed project report within six months.
- The cluster spans 3,000 acres and is planned to include a dry dock over 300 metres long and facilities for the Korean shipbuilder's vendors.
- Under the Government of India's Shipbuilding Development Scheme, the shipyard is projected to have annual capacity of approximately 2.5 million gross tonnage, subject to validation through the detailed project report.
- NSHIP-TN will facilitate waterfront land, enabling infrastructure and utilities, and coordination for statutory approvals.
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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…
Mazagon Dock Inks ₹15,000 Crore MoU with NSHIP-AP for Greenfield Shipyard in Andhra Pradesh (End of September)
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) signed an MoU with National Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries Park-AP (NSHIP-AP) on September 18, 2026, to develop a greenfield shipyard at Dugarajapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, with an…
India Holds Launch and Keel Laying Ceremony for Naval Barges at M/s Suryadipta Projects in Thane (End of October)
The launch of the first Sullage Barge (Yard 142), keel laying of the third Sullage Barge (Yard 144), and keel laying of the first Bottom Opening Dumb Barge (Yard 148) were held on October 26, 2026, at M/s Suryadipta…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches first Fleet Support Ship 'Surya', lays FSS-5 keel and inaugurates upgraded Slipway-4 at Hindustan Shipyard, Visakhapatnam (Start of October)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the first Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1) named 'Surya', laid the keel of FSS-5, and inaugurated the upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane at Hindustan Shipyard Limited…
Uttarakhand Supplementary Budget Adds Rs 7,844.18 Crore, Taking 2026-27 State Budget to Rs 1,19,547.39 Crore
Key Updates:
- Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami presented the state's 2026-27 budget at the Vidhan Sabha Bhawan in Gairsain with a supplementary outlay of Rs 7,844.18 crore.
- The supplement raises the total state budget from Rs 1,11,703.21 crore to Rs 1,19,547.39 crore, with Rs 4,164.32 crore earmarked for capital expenditure and Rs 3,679.86 crore for revenue expenditure.
- Accepting the 6th State Finance Commission's recommendations, the local bodies' share of state tax revenue was raised from 10.5% to 12.5%, with Rs 721 crore for rural and urban local bodies and Rs 500 crore under the SASCI scheme.
- Rs 1,100 crore was allocated for procurement of paddy and wheat from farmers under the Food Supply Scheme, and Rs 300 crore provided for Jal Jeevan Mission contractor clearances.
- Rs 290 crore was allocated for infrastructure grants for the upcoming Divya Kumbh Mela, Rs 48 crore for Joshimath ground subsidence remediation, and Rs 100 crore for Atal Ayushman Yojana offering cashless medical coverage up to Rs 5.5 lakh per family.
- Rs 200 crore was allocated for digital learning across school and higher education departments, Rs 35 crore for establishing a Sports University, and Rs 5 crore under the Chief Minister Youth Future Building Scheme to coach students for NEET, JEE and CLAT exams.
- Rs 270 crore was allocated for power sector grid, transmission and distribution improvements including the Khurpia Farm project, and Rs 125 crore for cashless medical benefits to government employees under the Employee Golden Card Scheme.
- Rs 93 crore was set aside for welfare pensions and Rs 60 crore for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
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Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson Presents TVK Government's Maiden Budget (Start of August)
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson presented the maiden Budget of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led coalition government in the Legislative Assembly on August 5, 2026. The State's Own Tax Revenue (SOTR) is…
Puducherry presents Rs 14,300 crore tax-free budget for 2026-27 (End of August)
The Puducherry government presented a tax-free budget of ₹14,300 crore for the fiscal year 2026-27. Own revenue receipts are estimated at ₹7,890 crore, while central assistance including the State Disaster Relief Fund is…
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Launches 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Bhavishya Nirman Yojana' for Competitive Exam Preparation (Start of September)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Bhavishya Nirman Yojana' on September 7, 2026, in Dehradun to support the career prospects of the state's youth. Under the scheme, students…
Uttar Pradesh government presents ₹59,019.54 crore supplementary Budget for 2026-27 (Start of August)
Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented the first supplementary Budget for 2026-27 in the Assembly, proposing additional expenditure of ₹59,019.54 crore. The supplementary Budget includes ₹17,399.50…
Supreme Court flags Ministry of Corporate Affairs' control over NCLT administration, orders staffing and infrastructure fixes
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu case on NCLT administration, observed that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) had 'hijacked' the tribunal, undermining its autonomy.
- The Bench comprised Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
- The MCA had awarded a contract on October 6 to a foreign company operating in India to supply administrative personnel, including deputy registrars, assistant registrars and stenographers, which could displace existing contractual employees from November 1 or 2.
- The court declined interim protection to the employees and held that the entire power of appointment must rest with the NCLT president.
- Only 67 of the NCLT's 320 sanctioned regular administrative posts were filled, leaving 253 vacancies, and 16 posts of judicial and technical members were also vacant.
- Senior advocate Sanjiv Sen, for the NCLT Bar Association, said the principal bench in Delhi had two floors shut down and all courts functioning at half strength.
- The Bench asked the presidents of the NCLT and NCLAT to submit proposals on infrastructure, staffing and administrative requirements within four weeks.
- The court suggested appointing experienced government officials on deputation initially, followed by phased recruitment, and issued notice on the petition challenging outsourced recruitment.
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Supreme Court Rules Profitability No Shield Against Insolvency for Debt-Defaulting Companies (End of October)
The Supreme Court ruled that a profitable company cannot escape insolvency proceedings if it has defaulted on debt repayment, dismissing appeals against insolvency admission for Gstaad Hotels, operator of JW Marriott in…
Supreme Court notes 14 states back judicial retirement age of 62, declines individual urgent pleas (End of October)
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…
Supreme Court directs Rajasthan to shut illegal discharge points polluting Jojari-Luni-Bandi rivers and recover environmental compensation (End of October)
The Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in an order issued on September 29, directed Rajasthan to seal and dismantle all illegal and unauthorised discharge points, including bypass…
Supreme Court affirms Bombay High Court order voiding Yes Bank's ₹8,415-crore AT1 bond write-off (Mid of October)
The Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court's January 20, 2023 judgment setting aside Yes Bank's ₹8,415-crore Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond write-off announced on March 14, 2020, dismissing appeals by Yes Bank, the…
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) launches the Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Srishti for the Indian Navy
Key Updates:
- Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, launched the Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) INS Srishti (Yard 1283).
- The vessel was ceremonially launched at Goa Shipyard Limited, Vaddem, Goa, on Tuesday.
- The NGOPV program aligns with the Government of India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
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Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) handed over the 51.43-metre fast patrol vessel ICGS Ajit to the Indian Coast Guard on 25 August 2026. The vessel, designated Yard 1277, was formally handed over after the First Reading…
Indian Navy Launches Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel Shreyas (Yard 3040) at GRSE, Kolkata on 10 October 2026 (Start of October)
Yard 3040, named 'Shreyas' (meaning 'Best' or 'Most Excellent' in Sanskrit), a Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, on 10 October 2026…
India Launches Second Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel 'Shruti' at GRSE Kolkata on 11 August 2026 (Mid of August)
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) launched Shruti, the second Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), at its Kolkata facility on 11 August 2026. The vessel, designated as Yard 3037, was formally…
Indian Coast Guard Commissions Goa Shipyard-Built Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Ajit on October 9, 2026 (Start of October)
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned the indigenously built Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Ajit at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on October 9, 2026, and it will be stationed at Okha, Gujarat. The 52-metre vessel displaces 320…
US and Japan agree on AMRAAM assembly facility and expanded SM-3 cooperation
Key Updates:
- The United States and Japan finalized a plan to establish an Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) final assembly and inspection facility in Japan.
- AMRAAM is manufactured by RTX subsidiary Raytheon and can be fired from aircraft and ground-based launchers.
- The missile equips F-35 Joint Strike Fighters operated by both countries.
- The countries also agreed to share technical information to increase production of the jointly developed Standard Missile-3 Block IIA ballistic-missile interceptor.
- Both agreements form part of Operation Supercharge, a joint initiative to expand US-Japan defence technology cooperation.
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Tejas, Rafale, F-35A and Sukhoi jets fly in single formation at Indian Air Force's Tarang Shakti exercise (Start of October)
India's indigenously built Tejas light combat aircraft, France's Rafale, the United States' F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter and Russian-made Sukhoi jets flew together in a single formation during Tarang Shakti, the…
India and Japan Release Operational Manual for Joint Crediting Mechanism in New Delhi (Start of October)
India and Japan launched the Operational Manual for the India-Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) in New Delhi on September 30, 2026. The manual was jointly launched by Japan's Ambassador to India Keiichi Ono and…
Poland and United Kingdom Sign Three-Year Defence Cooperation Plan in Warsaw Amid Russian Threats (End of October)
Poland and the United Kingdom signed a three-year defence cooperation plan in Warsaw on October 28, 2026, aimed at strengthening military capabilities, developing new technologies and enhancing coordination against…
India begins drafting national action plan for inland small-scale fisheries under FAO framework, targets 30 million tonnes fish output in five years (End of October)
India formally launched the development phase of its National Plan of Action (NPOA) for small-scale inland fisheries, developed under the framework of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and led by the Union…
Rajnath Singh Puts Forward India's Counter-Terrorism Experience, 'Youth Bridge' Idea at 13th ADMM-Plus in Philippines
Key Updates:
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) held in Cebu, Philippines, on October 29, 2026, and offered to share India's battle-tested counter-terrorism expertise with ASEAN partners.
- India will share its operational counter-terrorism experience with ADMM-Plus partners through joint exercises, capacity-building programmes and intelligence sharing.
- Singh cited Operation Sindoor as demonstrating India's proactive counter-terrorism doctrine, during which India dismantled terrorist infrastructure and enforced a firm red line against state-sponsored terrorism.
- India and Malaysia are co-chairing the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Counter-Terrorism for the 2024-2027 cycle.
- Singh proposed a dedicated defence 'Youth Bridge' to strengthen institutional people-to-people connectivity between India and ASEAN countries, promoting digital innovation and capacity building, and the proposal was appreciated by ASEAN members.
- India designated 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation and conducted the second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise.
- The Indian Navy has maintained an uninterrupted operational presence in the Gulf of Aden since 2008, escorting thousands of merchant vessels and thwarting dozens of hijacking attempts irrespective of the vessels' flag or nationality.
- Singh reaffirmed India's commitment to ASEAN centrality and a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, with New Delhi continuing as a reliable net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific.
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India and ASEAN agree to expedite AITIGA trade agreement review with time-bound targets (Start of October)
India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to expedite negotiations on the review of pending chapters of their trade agreement, setting time-bound deliverables for negotiating groups. The…
Rajnath Singh to lead Indian delegation at 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Cebu, Philippines on October 28-29, 2026 (End of October)
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…
Indian Delegation Joins 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers' Meeting and 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultation in Manila (Start of October)
An Indian delegation led by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, participated in the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers' Meeting (EAS-EMM) and the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers…
India and Uzbekistan Hold 10th Joint Working Group Meeting on Counter-Terrorism in New Delhi (End of October)
The 10th meeting of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was held in New Delhi on October 22, 2026. The Indian delegation was co-chaired by Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Additional Secretary for Counter…
IUCN classifies 96% of assessed coral reef ecosystems as Critically Endangered, warning of collapse risk by 2075
Key Updates:
- The first global coral reef assessment under the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems, released on October 22, 2026 at CBD COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, classified 96% of assessed shallow-water coral reef ecosystems as Critically Endangered, indicating risk of collapse by 2075.
- The assessment covered reefs in more than 80 countries and territories, spanning 127 tropical and subtropical ecoregions and 188,362 square kilometres of coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Triangle, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System and Red Sea reefs.
- Heat stress from human-induced climate change, causing mass bleaching through ocean warming and marine heatwaves, is the single most dominant threat; overfishing of key species like parrotfish and grouper threatens 63% of reef ecosystems.
- The assessment uses the IPCC's middle-of-the-road scenario projecting 2.7°C warming by the end of the century. Based only on observed changes over the past 50 years and excluding future climate projections, 24% of assessed ecosystems would be Critically Endangered.
- Coral reefs support 25% of all marine species, and the Western Galápagos Islands ecosystem is already classified as Collapsed since the 1982-83 El Niño event.
- IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar and assessment scientific lead Mishal Gudka emphasized that reefs are not yet lost and require decisive emissions reductions, stronger protection, and sustained investment.
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Indian coral reef study reveals stark regional differences in bleaching during 2024 global event (Mid of October)
A study published in the journal Coral Reefs by Springer Nature examined the effects of the fourth global coral bleaching event on India's coral reefs in 2024. Rapid bleaching assessments were conducted across five reef…
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…
In 2025, coral cover in the Great Barrier Reef's northern region fell to 30% after its largest annual decline on record. The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) surveys conducted between August 2025 and June…
India Becomes Global Leader with Over 5.5 Lakh MTPA of Green Hydrogen Offtake Commitments
Key Updates:
- Till October 2026, Indian companies have signed the world's largest Green Hydrogen offtake commitments, totalling 5,55,610 MTPA, making India the global leader in Green Hydrogen supply commitments.
- In 2026 alone, Indian companies signed 18 new offtake agreements for over 4 lakh MTPA of Green Hydrogen equivalent.
- Since the launch of the National Green Hydrogen Mission in 2023, 23 offtake contracts covering about 5.5 lakh MTPA have been signed, with over 70% earmarked for exports.
- Fulfilling these agreements would require aggregate capital investment exceeding ₹90,000 crore (approximately USD 9.5 billion).
- The National Green Hydrogen Mission was approved with an initial outlay of ₹19,744 crore up to 2029-30, targeting production of at least 5 Million Metric Tonnes per Annum of Green Hydrogen by 2030, with expected outcomes including 125 GW of renewable energy capacity addition, over ₹8 lakh crore in investments, over 6 lakh full-time jobs, and abatement of 50 MMT per annum of CO2 emissions.
- ACME Group signed an offtake agreement for 4,88,000 MTPA of Green Ammonia with IHI, Japan, and another for 1,00,000 MTPA of Green Methanol with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Japan.
- L&T and ITOCHU formed a Special Purpose Vehicle for the supply of 3,00,000 TPA of Green Ammonia, with deliveries expected from December 2029.
- Reliance Industries Limited signed a long-term Supply and Purchase Agreement with Samsung C&T Corporation, South Korea, valued at over USD 3 billion, one of the largest Green Ammonia offtake contracts globally, with deliveries expected by 2028.
- AM Green won the Asian lot in the H2Global auction run by HINT.CO GmbH, securing a long-term agreement for RFNBO ammonia supply to Germany worth a minimum of EUR 585 million over 10 years, with first deliveries expected in 2029; it also signed a firm offtake with Uniper, Germany for 2,50,000 MTPA of Green Ammonia and a binding head of agreement with Japan's JERA for 70,000 MTPA.
- Agastya is in the process of offtake for supplying 2,50,000 MTPA of Green Methanol to SAR, Sri Lanka, while Jouno Joules signed an agreement with Select Energy GmbH for 600 TPD (about 2,19,000 MTPA) of Green Ammonia.
- Under the SIGHT Programme, agreements have been signed for production and supply of 6,70,000 MTPA of Green Ammonia to 11 fertilizer units, and projects awarded for 30,000 MTPA of Green Hydrogen to the refineries of IOCL, BPCL, HPCL and NRL.
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Uttar Pradesh Green Hydrogen Policy 2024: Key Features, Incentives and Eligibility (Start of September)
The Uttar Pradesh Green Hydrogen Policy, 2024 was notified on March 5, 2024, with the Department of Additional Sources of Energy as the administrative department and the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development…
Maruti Suzuki Starts Its First Green Hydrogen Plant at Manesar Facility (End of September)
Maruti Suzuki India Limited commissioned a 300 kW green hydrogen electrolyzer pilot plant at its Manesar facility in Haryana, announced on September 24, 2026. The company aims to reduce its manufacturing carbon footprint…
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Norway’s Hystar AS partner for PEM electrolyser manufacturing in India (Mid of August)
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Norway-based Hystar AS have entered into a strategic tie-up for phased indigenisation and local manufacturing of PEM electrolyser systems in India. The partnership is aimed at…
CEEW-GFC and Tata Sons Report: India Requires $500 Billion Investment by 2030 for Decarbonization (End of October)
India requires $500 billion in climate investment by 2030 across 20 low-carbon technologies in three key sectors, including power and renewables, green hydrogen, and electric mobility. The power and renewables sector…
India Refuses TB Alliance's Patent Bid for BPaL Drug-Resistant TB Treatment
Key Updates:
- The Indian Patent Office refused a patent application by the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) for a combination antibacterial composition and short-course treatment regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis, via an order issued on October 27, 2026 under Section 15 of the Patents Act, 1970.
- The BPaL regimen combines bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid, offering eligible drug-resistant TB patients a shorter, all-oral treatment; India's National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) has adopted the six-month BPaLM regimen, which adds moxifloxacin, for multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant TB patients.
- The application, numbered IN201817014361 and filed on April 16, 2018, faced two pre-grant oppositions under Section 25(1) of the Patents Act, 1970 — one jointly by Eldred Tellis and Ganesh Acharya, and another by the Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+).
- The Controller upheld objections on lack of novelty, lack of inventive step, non-patentability and insufficient disclosure, noting bedaquiline was already known, linezolid was off-patent, and pretomanid had benefited from public and philanthropic funding.
- Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks Dr Unnat Pandit said the decision was based on technical merits, and an aggrieved party may appeal before the High Court.
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GalaxEye Becomes First Indian Startup to Secure US Patent for Satellite Imaging Technology (Start of September)
GalaxEye, an Indian space technology company, became the first Indian startup to receive a US patent for satellite imaging technology, covering the core technology behind its OptoSAR imaging capabilities. The US patent…
DRDO and University of Hyderabad Secure Patent for Next-Generation Solid Rocket Propellant Fuel (Start of September)
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the University of Hyderabad (UoH) secured a patent for a next-generation solid rocket propellant fuel. The patent covers BAM-H24, a boron-, hydrogen- and…
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Wins Indian Patent for Technology That Extracts Copper from Wastewater (Mid of September)
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has been granted an Indian patent for an electrochemical reactor that recovers copper from wastewater. The patent, titled 'An Electrochemical Reactor for Cathodic Recovery of Copper from Wastewater'…
Ayush Patent Filings Rise Over Eightfold to 4,077 Applications Between FY 2014-15 and FY 2025-26 (Mid of October)
India recorded 4,077 Ayush-related patent applications and 711 patents granted between FY 2014-15 and FY 2025-26, as per the Status Report on Ayush Related Inventions in India (2014-2026) released during the 11th…
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Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak Take Silver as Manisha Reaches Final at World Wrestling Championships 2026
Key Updates:
- Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak won silver medals at the Wrestling World Championships 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan, becoming for the first time two Indian women to win silver medals at the same edition of the tournament.
- Neelam Sirohi lost the women's 50kg final to Japan's Yui Susaki, a four-time World Championship winner (once at 48kg and thrice at 50kg), who pinned her just before the end of the first period and did not concede a single point in her triumphant run.
- Eighteen-year-old Kajal Dhochak lost the women's 76kg final 6-8 to Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva, a two-time European champion, after the bout was level 4-4 with around 30 seconds left.
- Neelam and Kajal joined Anshu Malik (57kg, Oslo 2021) as the only Indian women with silver medals at the prestigious tournament.
- Rajnita's 65kg campaign ended in the repechage round with a 2-6 loss to Japan's Nana Ikehata, missing the bronze medal match.
- Indian wrestler Manisha entered the women's 59kg final at the World Championships in Astana by defeating home favourite Altyn Shagayeva by a dominant 10-nil by fall, and will face Abigail Nette of the United States in the final.
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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.
Wrestler Komal clinches bronze for India at Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas (Mid of October)
India's Komal won a bronze medal in the women's 59kg category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships held in Las Vegas, USA, defeating Kazakhstan's Viktoriia Khusainova 7-2 in the bronze-medal bout. En route…
Indian Para-Shooters Millie Shah and Rakesh Nidagundi Win Gold and Silver at Changwon 2026 WSPS World Championships (Mid of September)
Indian para-shooters Millie Shah and Rakesh Nidagundi won Gold and Silver in team events at the Changwon 2026 WSPS World Championships in South Korea. Millie Shah, a Vijayi Bharat Foundation (VBF) athlete, won the Gold…
Kumkum Mohod and Dhiraj Bommadevara claim recurve mixed team silver at Asian Games 2026 after losing final to China (Start of October)
Kumkum Anil Mohod and Dhiraj Bommadevara won the recurve mixed team silver at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, losing the final 3-5 to China on Friday. India fought back from a 0-4 deficit, winning the third set and…
Aditya Claims 55kg Gold and Megha Silver for India at World Boxing U19 Championships in Montenegro
Key Updates:
- Asian silver medallist Aditya won the men's 55kg gold medal at the World Boxing U-19 Championships in Budva, Montenegro, defeating Russia's Islam Magomedov 4:1 after trailing 3-2 in the opening round.
- Aditya had beaten Azerbaijan's Nihat Gasimov 5:0 by unanimous verdict in the semifinals to reach the final.
- India's Megha Sheokand won the silver medal in the women's 80kg category after losing 0:5 to Russia's Ekaterina Frolova in the final; she had stopped Kyrgyzstan's Meerim Chynybekova in the second round of her semifinal.
- India finished the championships with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals, with Harshika taking bronze in the women's 65kg category and Prachi Tokas bronze in the women's 80+kg division.
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India Awarded Hosting Rights for 2029 World Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad (End of October)
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…
Lovlina Borgohain wins Asian Games 2026 boxing gold on her birthday, ends India's 12-year wait (Start of October)
India's Lovlina Borgohain defeated China's Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the women's 75kg boxing final at the Asian Games 2026 on October 2, 2026, her birthday. The women's 75kg final was held at Nishio City General Gymnasium in…
Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal win Asian Games 2026 boxing golds as Sujeet Kalkal takes wrestling title (Start of October)
Lovlina Borgohain won the gold medal in the women's 75kg boxing event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, defeating China's Bao to claim her maiden Asian Games gold. Lovlina Borgohain became the first Indian woman…
Parveen Hooda wins women's 65kg boxing gold at Asian Games 2026, edging Chen Nien-chin 3-2 (Start of October)
Parveen Hooda won the women's 65kg boxing gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, defeating Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-chin 3-2 by split decision. Parveen became only the third Indian woman boxer to win an Asian Games gold…
Supreme Court shifts burden to accused to account for disproportionate assets once prosecution proves its case
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court ruled that once the prosecution establishes a public servant's assets are disproportionate to known sources of income, the burden shifts to the accused to explain the excess wealth with credible and verifiable material.
- A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva held that investigating agencies need not undertake an open-ended search for every conceivable income source an accused may later claim.
- The court dismissed the appeal of V Gopalakrishnan, a former Kerala government official convicted under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and directed him to surrender within two weeks to serve the remaining sentence.
- The prosecution alleged Gopalakrishnan accumulated disproportionate assets between January 1993 and January 2001, calculated at about 51.88% of the family's income after accounting for asset increase.
- The Kerala High Court had reduced Gopalakrishnan's sentence to one year in jail and a fine of ₹2 lakh, considering the delay in proceedings, his age and trauma.
- The court relied on its 2004 ruling in State of Madhya Pradesh v Awadh Kishore Gupta, which required the accused to satisfy the court that the explanation for wealth is worthy of acceptance, not merely plausible.
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Supreme Court clarifies that foreign nationality and visa overstay are insufficient grounds for UAPA bail restrictions (End of October)
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Supreme Court says Sahyog Portal can serve as foundation for national database to detect and remove child sexual exploitation material (Mid of October)
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Supreme Court rules Section 17A protection under anti-corruption law unavailable for bribe demands unrelated to official duties (End of October)
The Supreme Court held that Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 does not protect public servants accused of demanding bribes when the alleged act is unrelated to their official duties. A bench of…
Supreme Court Refines Industry Test on August 21, 2026 (End of August)
The Supreme Court delivered a 5:4 verdict on August 21, 2026, refining the 'industry' test under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The verdict was given by a nine-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of…
Patna’s Bihar Museum Placed Ninth Globally and First in Asia in 2026 World Museum Rankings
Key Updates:
- Bihar Museum in Patna has secured the ninth position in Worth a Journey’s World’s 100 Best Museums 2026 list, ranking first in Asia and ahead of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (10th) and the Louvre in Paris (31st).
- The 2026 list was published by Worth a Journey, a Germany-based travel guide edited in Munich, whose rankings combine algorithmic data analysis with in-person verification visits.
- Bihar Museum is reportedly the only Indian institution featured among the 100 museums on the 2026 list.
- Mexico City’s Museo Nacional de Antropología topped the 2026 list, followed by Madrid’s Museo del Prado and Denmark’s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, with Saint Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum and Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum completing the top five.
- Spread across more than 13 acres in Patna, the museum was designed by Japanese architect and Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Fumihiko Maki in collaboration with Mumbai-based Opolis Architects, and was inaugurated in 2015.
- The museum’s collections include historical artefacts, sculptures, coins, manuscripts and archaeological material spanning ancient civilisations to the 18th century, along with a Children’s Gallery and a Diaspora Gallery.
- Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary welcomed the achievement, while museum director general Anjani Kumar Singh said the ranking reflected the ambition to create a world-class institution.
- A proposed underground connection of around 1.5 kilometres between Bihar Museum and the older Patna Museum is intended to help visitors explore both collections.
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LiDAR Survey to Map Hidden Monuments at Lakkundi (Start of September)
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Bihar CM Announces Training of 100 Professors at Global Institutions Including Oxford (Mid of September)
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced on September 13, 2026 that the State will send 100 professors for training at prestigious global institutions, including the University of Oxford. The announcement was made…
Vastra Utsav 2026 Celebrates India’s Textile Heritage on July 31 and August 1, 2026 (Start of August)
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