Finance Ministry Removes Petrol Export Duty and Adjusts Levies on Diesel and Aviation Turbine Fuel
Key Updates:
- The Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance issued two notifications on October 31, 2026, to revise export duties on fuel products.
- The export duty on petrol was reduced to nil, effective from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
- The special additional excise duty (SAED) on diesel was increased to ₹11.5 per litre.
- The export duty on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) was fixed at ₹11 per litre, consisting entirely of SAED.
- The government introduced export levies on petrol, diesel, and ATF on March 27 to ensure domestic availability of petroleum products.
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The Government of India has reduced the windfall tax on diesel exports to ₹24 per litre from ₹25.5 per litre. The levy on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) exports has been cut to ₹19.5 per litre from ₹22 per litre.
The government raised the export duty on petrol fivefold to Rs 2.5 per litre from Rs 0.5 and cut the diesel export duty to Rs 8.5 per litre from Rs 16, effective October 16. The export duty on aviation turbine fuel (ATF)…
The Finance Ministry cut the windfall tax (export levy of Special Additional Excise Duty/Road and Infrastructure Cess) on diesel to ₹16 per litre from ₹20 per litre, and on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to ₹10.5 per litre…
Ministry of Finance releases additional tax devolution of ₹1,09,019 crore to States
Key Updates:
- The Union Government released an additional tax devolution instalment of ₹1,09,019 crore to State Governments on 31 October 2026.
- This release marks the second additional instalment of the current financial year, provided in addition to the regular monthly devolution.
- The funds are intended to assist State Governments in accelerating capital spending and financing development and welfare-related expenditure during the festive season.
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The Press Information Bureau (PIB) released the Monthly Review of Accounts of the Union Government of India up to July 2026 for FY 2026-27. Total receipts of the Union Government stood at ₹13,06,709 crore, forming 35.8%…
The Union Government released an additional tax devolution instalment of ₹1,09,019 crore to State governments on August 1, 2026. The additional instalment is in addition to the normal monthly devolution scheduled for…
Finance Ministry reports 55.4% growth in commercial sector funding for April-August FY27
Key Updates:
- Total financial resources flowing to the commercial sector from banks and non-bank sources reached ₹17.5 lakh crore during April-August FY27, compared to ₹11.2 lakh crore in the same period of the previous year.
- Non-food bank credit contributed ₹9.8 lakh crore to commercial sector funding, while corporate bond issuances by non-financial entities declined to ₹0.3 lakh crore from ₹1.5 lakh crore.
- As of 30th September, total bank credit registered a growth of 21.6%, with non-food credit growth recorded at 21.4%.
- Credit to the industry sector grew by 18.2% year-on-year in August 2026, with sub-sector growth of 31.8% for medium industries, 23.0% for micro and small industries, and 14.9% for large industries.
- The services sector recorded a 24.3% year-on-year credit growth, with lending to shipping and computer software services increasing by 25.6% and 41.8% respectively.
- According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) bank lending survey for the second quarter of FY27, the loan demand net response rose to 46.7 from 32.1 in the previous quarter.
- Banks expect loan demand to remain strong in the third quarter of FY27, with an expectations net response of 43.3.
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National highway projects awarded rose 62.9% year-on-year to 2,236.3 km during April-September of FY27, per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). Electronic toll collection transactions…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data released on October 30, 2026 shows large industry loans rose 16% to ₹33 lakh crore in the fortnight ended September 30, 2026, the highest in six years. The year-on-year growth rate of 16%…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released data on sectoral deployment of bank credit for September 2026, collected from 41 select scheduled commercial banks accounting for about 95 per cent of total non-food credit.…
Bank credit grew at an annual rate of 17.94% to reach ₹232.54 lakh crore as of October 15, 2026. Bank deposits grew at 16.6% to stand at ₹284.37 lakh crore as of October 15, 2026.
GST Council approves easier registration, faster refunds and flexible discount rules from November 1
Key Updates:
- The 57th GST Council meeting held on October 8 approved GST reforms covering registration, returns, refunds and post-supply discounts, to be implemented in phases from November 1, 2026.
- Small e-commerce sellers with input tax credit of up to Rs 2.5 lakh per month can use an e-commerce operator's warehouse as their principal place of business for GST registration in states where they lack a physical presence.
- Sellers must maintain a genuine physical presence in at least one state with Aadhaar authentication and physical verification, while registrations in other states require only the e-commerce platform's consent.
- The warehouse-based registration change is expected to benefit around 9.5 lakh small sellers and create greater tax parity between competing e-commerce business models.
- Refund claims for the full excess balance in a taxpayer's electronic cash ledger will be sanctioned automatically without tax officer approval.
- For refunds related to zero-rated supplies and inverted duty structure, 90% of the claimed amount will be provisionally sanctioned through an automated, risk-based process.
- Businesses can now offer post-supply discounts without a pre-existing agreement or invoice linkage, while credit note safeguards and input tax credit reversal requirements remain in place.
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The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) notified changes in Central GST rules allowing small e-commerce sellers to declare an e-commerce operator's warehouse in another state or Union Territory as their…
The GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, at its 57th meeting on October 8 approved proposals to rationalise input tax credit (ITC) and refund reforms to support manufacturing, liquidity and…
The 57th Meeting of the GST Council was held on 8 October 2026 in New Delhi under the chairpersonship of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The GST Council recommended complete withdrawal of…
The 57th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has proposed a 2% tax deducted at source (TDS) on specified waste and scrap transactions between registered businesses, along with a reverse charge mechanism (RCM) on…
CBDT notifies stricter rules for mergers of charitable trusts with five-year objective lock-in
Key Updates:
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) notified new rules on October 30 imposing stricter conditions on mergers of charitable trusts and non-profit organisations.
- Under the rules, the surviving organisation cannot change its objectives for five years from the end of the financial year in which the merger takes place.
- All assets, liabilities and tax obligations of the absorbed organisation, including pending tax demands, assessments and appeals, pass to the surviving organisation.
- Organisations must file a new Form 112A with the jurisdictional income tax authority within one month after the end of the month in which the merger takes effect, online via digital signature or electronic verification code.
- Both merging organisations must get their accounts audited as on the date of the merger and disclose the reasons for the merger.
- Mergers must not result in any direct or indirect benefit to specified related persons, and organisations with regular registration cannot merge with those holding provisional registration.
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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…
The government has amended the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 through the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which will come into…
The Amnesty Scheme, 2026 was introduced as a transitional measure in the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme 2026, notified on 29.06.2026, offering a one-time opportunity for regularisation of exemption status of…
International Day of Charity 2026 is observed on September 5. The date marks the death anniversary of Mother Teresa, who died on September 5, 1997.
Sebi extends KYC review timelines for foreign portfolio investors to ease compliance
Key Updates:
- Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) extended the periodicity of Know Your Client (KYC) review for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) registered in India from one year to two years and from three years to eight years.
- Currently, FPIs are subject to periodic KYC review annually or once every three years, depending on the applicable category and other criteria.
- For the special category of FPIs labelled Swagat-FIs, the periodicity of KYC review will remain unchanged at 10 years.
- The existing relaxations for GS-FPIs will remain unchanged under the revised framework.
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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board approved amendments to the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Securitised Debt Instruments and Security Receipts) Regulations, 2008 after deliberations. The Board approved…
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced on October 28, 2026 that the regulator will review compliance requirements for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and issue a…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board approved the proposal for payment of FPI and FVCI registration and related fees in Indian Rupees (INR). The SEBI Board also approved the proposal for capturing the…
SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey Announces Investor Protection Measures Against Online Financial Fraud
Key Updates:
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is working with Google to introduce verified badges on the Google Play Store to help identify genuine SEBI-related apps.
- SEBI has launched a WhatsApp channel on investor awareness in eleven languages, including Bengali.
- The SEBI Saarthi App and SEBI Check facility help investors verify accounts before transactions in the securities market.
- SEBI has developed an artificial intelligence-based tool called 'Sudarshan' to identify violations and suspicious activities across social media platforms through a five-stage checking process.
- SEBI is running the 'Samajh ke Investing Simple' campaign in regional languages and introduced the SCORES 2.0 portal for registering complaints, including financial fraud complaints.
- SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said West Bengal's economy is estimated to have grown by 7.6 per cent in financial year 2025-26.
- Investors from West Bengal have crossed 90 lakh, up from around 12 lakh in financial year 2014-15, with around 36 per cent below 30 years of age.
- More than 40 small and medium-sized businesses from West Bengal have raised over 1,400 crore rupees through SME Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).
- The revival of the Calcutta Stock Exchange will depend on attracting sufficient trading volumes, building a sustainable business model and making substantial investments in technology.
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Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced on October 28, 2026 that the regulator will review compliance requirements for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and issue a…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) proposed an automatic approval route allowing market infrastructure institutions to deploy funds and undertake activities related to their core functions without prior…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Bank of England (BoE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen regulatory cooperation and information exchange concerning SEBI-recognised clearing…
Indian tourists can now book Burj Khalifa and Singapore attraction tickets online via UPI
Key Updates:
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)'s international arm, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), partnered with the UAE on July 29 and Singapore on September 9 to enable UPI-based online ticket bookings.
- In the UAE, UPI acceptance has been enabled for At the Top, Burj Khalifa, in partnership with NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment, making it the first attraction in the UAE to implement UPI for e-commerce.
- In Singapore, UPI acceptance has been extended to Resorts World Sentosa in collaboration with FOMO Pay, covering Universal Studios Singapore, the Singapore Oceanarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark.
- Singapore welcomed 1.2 million Indian visitors in 2025.
- UPI-based ticket booking for the Eiffel Tower in France was launched on January 26, 2024.
- UPI is currently accepted in 10 countries: Singapore, the UAE, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Greece.
- Uzbekistan is set to become the 11th country to accept UPI after a commercial agreement announced on August 30, 2026, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.
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FOMO Pay and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) announced a strategic partnership at Global Fintech Fest 2026 on September 9, 2026, to enable UPI QR code acceptance for merchants in Singapore. Resorts World…
The Central government has barred banks and payment system providers from levying charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions of up to Rs 2,000 and payments made through RuPay debit cards. On September 14…
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). UPI was launched on August 25, 2016.
NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and Uzbekistan's National Interbank Processing Centre (NIPC) have entered a commercial partnership to enable UPI payments across Uzbekistan through the UZQR interoperable QR…
India Post and UTI Asset Management Company Sign MoU for Pan-India Doorstep KYC Verification
Key Updates:
- India Post and UTI Asset Management Company Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding on October 29, 2026, at UTI AMC's corporate office in Mumbai to expand Pan-India KYC verification services.
- The MoU was signed by Adnan Ahmed, Chief General Manager, Parcel and CCS Directorate, Department of Posts, and Vetri Subramaniam, Managing Director and CEO of UTI Asset Management Company Limited.
- Under the Pan-India KYC Verification Project, India Post will use its postal network and last-mile connectivity to facilitate KYC verification at investors' doorsteps, including in remote and underserved areas.
- The expanded agreement builds on an earlier KYC remediation initiative between India Post and UTI Mutual Fund that helped investors complete pending KYC requirements and address documentation gaps.
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The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of ARCs in India. The collaboration aims to…
The National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) signed an MoU with the Pahle India Foundation to strengthen collaboration in official statistics, research, data…
1 Finance has received in-principle approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to establish India's first MF Lite asset management company, with launch targeted for Q4 of FY 2026-27. The proposed AMC…
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Bank of England (BoE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen regulatory cooperation and information exchange concerning SEBI-recognised clearing…
Census of India 2027 Schedule and Reference Date Announced
Key Updates:
- The population census will be conducted from January 25 to February 28, 2027, followed by a revisional round from March 1 to March 5, 2027.
- The reference date for the census is set at 00:00 hours of March 1, 2027.
- A self-enumeration option will be available to citizens from January 10, 2027, to January 24, 2027.
- The census will be conducted in all states and Union Territories, excluding Manipur, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, and specific snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
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The Census 2027 questionnaire includes 40 questions covering caste, Aadhaar, bank accounts, and other personal details. The Census 2027 will collect caste information for the first time in Indian Census history.
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on September 5, 2026, deferring the house-listing operations for Census 2027 in Manipur. The deferment was made under provisions of section 3 and section 17A of the…
The Bombay High Court at Goa issued an interim order restraining the Census Commissioner from notifying the estimated Scheduled Tribes population in the state. The legal challenge was brought by petitioner Edwin Lucio…
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a Gazette notification introducing the Census (Amendment) Rules, 2026, under the Census Act, 1948, revising the list of eligible enumerators. Under the amended rules, teachers of…
Tamil Nadu Launches Vetri Magalir Goat Rearing Scheme with Rs 109.75 Crore Outlay for Rural Women
Key Updates:
- The Tamil Nadu government has announced the Vetri Magalir Goat Rearing Scheme for the financial year 2026-27 to empower rural women.
- Under the scheme, 30,000 rural women will be provided with goats under a 100 percent government subsidy.
- The scheme will be implemented with a total financial outlay of 109.75 crore rupees to promote sustainable livelihoods and economic independence in rural areas.
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Tamil Nadu announced the 'Vetri Vaanmagal' scheme to train women farmers in drone operation. The scheme was announced in the state's first agriculture budget by Agriculture Minister R Vinoth.
The Tamil Nadu government allocated ₹44,527 crore for school education in the 2026-27 budget. The 'Palli Niraivu Thittam' will upgrade infrastructure in 3,734 government schools at an estimated cost of ₹2,132 crore, with…
Ministry of Panchayati Raj and CESL Sign MoU to Deploy EV Charging Infrastructure on Panchayat Land
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) to set up electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery swapping stations on Panchayat land.
- The partnership aims to generate own-source revenue (OSR) for Gram, Block, and District Panchayats while expanding clean mobility infrastructure.
- CESL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), which operates under the Ministry of Power.
- The infrastructure will support two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and medium and heavy commercial vehicles.
- CESL is responsible for site assessment, demand aggregation, installation, testing, commissioning, and the operation and maintenance of the facilities.
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will coordinate with state Panchayati Raj departments to identify and monitor suitable sites for the project.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will release the new land warfare doctrine on Friday, the last day of the Army’s biannual Army Commanders’ Conference. The doctrine is designed as a broad operational and strategic…
The National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC), under the Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance, conducted Day 1 of its first end-to-end e-auction of surplus land parcels of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam…
The Delhi Cabinet approved the DURGA (The Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender Green E-Auto) electric auto scheme in September 2026, which will provide 1,300 pink electric autos in its first phase, with 1,170…
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…
BIMSTEC Nations Begin First Maritime Security Exercise in Bay of Bengal from October 30 to November 3, 2026
Key Updates:
- The inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise is being conducted from October 30 to November 3, 2026, marking a milestone in maritime cooperation among BIMSTEC member states.
- The exercise brings together Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
- The exercise builds on the outcomes of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held under the theme 'BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient and Open'.
- Its aims include enhancing interoperability, strengthening maritime domain awareness, improving coordination mechanisms and exchanging best practices among member states.
- The exercise highlights the strategic importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), India's first integrated tri-service command.
- The exercise embodies the theme 'Shared Seas, Shared Security and Shared Prosperity' and reflects BIMSTEC's resolve of 'Translating Vision to Action'.
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Indian Naval Ship Tarkash, a frontline guided missile stealth frigate, is deployed to South Africa for the ninth edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime (IBSAMAR) Exercise 2026. IBSAMAR has been conducted…
The 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) concluded on October 26, 2026, at Visakhapatnam. The exercise strengthened maritime cooperation and operational engagement between the…
The 33rd edition of the Singapore–India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) commenced in Visakhapatnam on October 21, 2026 and will continue until October 26. Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) ship RSS Supreme…
India hosted the first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on October 13, 2026, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with delegations from all seven member states—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal…
Financial Action Task Force Concludes Paris Plenary with New Measures Against Financial Crime
Key Updates:
- The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) held its inaugural Plenary meeting under the presidency of Giles Thomson in Paris.
- Member countries agreed to accelerate the implementation of FATF standards regarding virtual assets in jurisdictions with significant activity.
- The FATF removed Bulgaria, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Monaco from its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring.
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Pakistan has raised the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar to PKR 70 lakh and listed him as a fugitive in its latest Red Book of most wanted terrorists. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank released the 'Bangkok Blueprint for Fraud-Resilient Financial Services', a framework to tackle cyber-enabled fraud, launched at the annual IMF-World Bank meetings in…
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 30th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) in New Delhi on October 23, 2026. The meeting was attended by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)…
Pakistan will assume the chairmanship of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) in 2027, its first time in the role since 1953. The announcement was made at the…
United Nations Report Reveals Escalating Impact of Global Armed Conflicts on Women and Girls in 2025
Key Updates:
- Women and girls accounted for one in four civilian deaths in armed conflicts worldwide in 2025, representing a doubling of their proportion since 2021.
- At least 25 women and girls were killed every day in armed conflicts throughout 2025.
- Approximately 750 million women and girls currently live within 50 km of an active conflict zone, the highest figure recorded since 1990.
- Global military expenditure reached a record $2.9 trillion in 2025.
- Women comprised only 5 per cent of negotiators across 57 formal peace processes worldwide in 2025.
- Cases of conflict-related sexual violence verified by the United Nations (UN) nearly quadrupled between 2022 and 2025.
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World Day Against the Death Penalty is observed on 10 October; in 2026, UN experts issued a statement ahead of the day calling for complete abolition of the death penalty. According to available data, in 2025 at least…
UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) released 'The Gender Snapshot 2026' on September 17, 2026, stating that no target under the Sustainable Development Goal on gender…
UNESCO's 2026 Gender Report 'Gender equity in access to education' and its Africa edition accompany the 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report on access and equity. By 2024, global gender parity in enrolment had…
India accounted for the largest share of demonstrations worldwide for five consecutive years, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a US-based nonprofit. India recorded 18,074…
ISRO's GSLV-F18 rocket successfully launches NVS-03 navigation satellite from Sriharikota
Key Updates:
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the NVS-03 navigation satellite aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket on October 30, 2026, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, placing the 2,250 kg satellite into the intended geosynchronous transfer orbit 18 minutes after liftoff.
- NVS-03 is the third satellite in the next-generation navigation satellite series for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), carries an indigenous atomic clock along with procured atomic clocks, and has a mission life of 12 years.
- The satellite adds an L1 signal to the existing L5/S signals, with coverage over the Indian landmass and a region extending 1,500 km beyond India's geopolitical boundary.
- With NVS-03's success, the NavIC constellation is restored to its minimum operational configuration of four satellites, reviving position, navigation and timing services weakened by atomic clock failures, including the stoppage of the last functioning clock aboard IRNSS-1F on March 13, 2026.
- This was ISRO's third mission of 2026, after the failed PSLV-C62 mission on January 12, 2026, and the successful GSLV-F17 mission carrying EOS-05 on September 4, and was achieved with a turnaround of just 56 days between successive GSLV missions.
- ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan stated that NavIC is a strategic national asset used for civilian applications such as real-time tracking of trains, vehicles and shipping vessels, and is a component of the One Nation One Time project.
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ISRO has cleared the much-delayed NVS-03 navigation satellite for launch on October 30, 2026, aboard the GSLV Mk II from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota; the launch was earlier tentatively slotted between October…
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite. The launch was conducted from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra…
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is scheduled to launch its GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite on September 4, 2026, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra…
Government releases DEPA handbook for responsible AI training data collaboration
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched a handbook on Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) for AI training, unveiled by IT Secretary S Krishnan at a roundtable in Bengaluru with support from the iSPIRT Foundation.
- The handbook outlines a techno-legal framework combining contractual permissions, controlled computing environments and privacy-enhancing safeguards, enabling institutions to collaborate on AI training data while retaining control of it.
- The framework incorporates data provenance, allowing the origin, permissions and use of data to be traced throughout the training process for accountability and transparency.
- Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood explained that under DEPA the model travels to the data, enabling multi-party and cross-border collaboration.
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The Ministry of Defence is working with the AI Mission to develop a dedicated military AI layer providing secure domestic computing infrastructure for decision-making support, target acquisition and data fusion, leading…
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…
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) selected CoRover.ai to build a unified agentic AI platform for government services, with DigiLocker as the first implementation. The contract was awarded by…
Bengaluru-based Sarvam AI signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), Ministry of Defence. The collaboration covers AI applications, research, knowledge management…
Delhi Logs Best October Air Quality in Eight Years with Average AQI of 166
Key Updates:
- Delhi recorded an average AQI of 166 for October 2026, the lowest monthly average for October in the last eight years, compared to 223 in 2025 and 269 in 2018.
- Delhi's average AQI for January to October 2026 stood at 167, better than 170 in 2025, though higher than 156 in 2020.
- The average PM2.5 concentration in Delhi for January 1 to October 29, 2026 was 69 µg/m³, the lowest in the period since 2018, compared to 93 µg/m³ in 2018.
- Delhi recorded 220 'Good to Moderate' AQI days (daily average AQI below 200) during January–October 2026, the highest since 2018 except 2020, which had 224 such days.
- Delhi recorded 84 'Poor to Severe+' category days (daily average AQI above 200) during January–October 2026, down from 104 in 2025 and 147 in 2018.
- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is working with stakeholders on measures to prevent, control and abate air pollution and improve air quality in Delhi-NCR.
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The Department of Consumer Affairs is dispatching the first-ever Kanda Express to Agartala, Tripura, carrying approximately 440 MT of buffer onions under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF), expected to arrive by 18th…
Antarctic sea ice likely reached its annual maximum extent on September 14, covering an estimated 17.59 million square kilometres, the third-lowest winter maximum in satellite records, about a million square kilometres…
The Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) was inaugurated in Delhi NCR on October 24, 2026, by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. AATAL is designed to move beyond simple AQI…
Indian para table tennis players win five bronze medals at Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya
Key Updates:
- Indian para table tennis players won five bronze medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya, surpassing their tally of two bronzes from the previous edition.
- Ravi Baby Sahana and Prachi Pandey became the first Indian para table tennis players to win medals in the standing category at the Asian Para Games.
- Sahana lost 8-11, 2-11, 4-11 to five-time Paralympic gold medallist Mao Jingdian of China in the Class 9 semifinal, while Prachi lost 9-11, 2-11, 8-11 to reigning Paralympic champion Najlah Al-Dayyeni of Iraq in the Class 6 semifinal.
- Bhavina Patel, a former Paralympic silver-medallist, lost 7-11, 5-11, 7-11 to China's Zhang Bian in the Class 4-5 semifinal to claim her second successive Asian Para Games bronze; she won silver at the 2018 edition.
- Sonalben Patel lost 7-11, 5-11, 6-11 to defending champion Jiyu Yoon of South Korea in the Class 3 semifinal, while Jehan Madan won bronze in men's singles Class 1 by finishing fourth in a five-paddler field.
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India finished fourth in the overall standings at the Asian Para Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with a record 114 medals - 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze. The tally surpassed India's previous best of 111…
India's Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar won the compound mixed team archery gold at the Asian Para Games 2026, defeating Indonesia's Teodora Audi Ayudia Ferelly and Ken Swagumilang 151-148 in the final. Sheetal Devi and…
India won both the men's and women's team titles at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. The men's team defeated Malaysia 3-2 in the final.
Sandeep Kumar won Gold in the Men’s 400m T64 event at the Asian Para Games, setting a new World Record and securing India's 100th medal. Haney won Gold and set a new World Record in the Men’s Javelin Throw F37/F38 event…
India Clinch Gold at Maiden Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship for Women
Key Updates:
- India won the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship women's title in Ahmedabad, defeating Uganda 35-15 in the final.
- The Indian men's team reached the final after beating Bangladesh 56-27 in the semi-finals and will face Sri Lanka at 9:00 PM Indian time.
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India won the men's kabaddi gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 by defeating Iran 40-34, completing a golden double hours after the women's team beat Iran 37-34 for the women's title. This was India's record-extending…
India won the overall title at the Commonwealth Fencing Championship 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, with a total of 35 medals (13 gold, 8 silver, 14 bronze). India claimed the Wilkinson Sword Trophy, awarded to the nation with…
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…
India beat Iran 37-33 to clinch the women's kabaddi gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Tokai City, Japan, on September 26, 2026. This was India's fourth gold medal in women's kabaddi at the Asian Games, after…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi approves North Corridor of the Bullet Train Project
Key Updates:
- Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the north corridor of the bullet train project.
- The north corridor route will connect Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, Siliguri, and extend to Guwahati.
- The project is planned to be fully Make in India, with construction work from pillar to girder to be executed domestically.
- Travel times on the proposed corridor include Delhi to Agra in 59 minutes, Delhi to Kanpur in 1 hour and 45 minutes, Delhi to Lucknow in 2 hours and 12 minutes, and Lucknow to Varanasi in 1 hour and 21 minutes.
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Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated Indore Metro Priority Corridor-2 on 5 September at the Brilliant Convention Centre in Vijay Nagar. Regular…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara, including key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor…
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…
North Eastern Railway (NER) operated its longest-ever freight train 'Awadh Mahashakti' on August 20, 2026. The 'Awadh Mahashakti' freight train comprised 129 wagons and three engines.
Overnight Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Launched on Varanasi–New Delhi Route
Key Updates:
- Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath jointly flagged off the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express between Varanasi and New Delhi from Banaras Railway Station on October 31, 2026.
- The overnight service connects Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad before reaching New Delhi, covering the journey in less than 10 hours.
- The train departs Varanasi at 8.50 pm and arrives in New Delhi at 6.10 am the next morning, while the return service leaves New Delhi at 9.40 pm and reaches Varanasi at 7.10 am the following day.
- The service operates six days a week, with no run on Fridays for the Varanasi-originating train and Saturdays for the New Delhi-originating train.
- Compared with the existing Shiv Ganga Express, the new train reduces journey time from Varanasi to New Delhi by 55 minutes and from New Delhi to Varanasi by 35 minutes.
- The fully air-conditioned, 16-coach train has a passenger capacity of 823, comprising one First AC, four AC 2-Tier and 11 AC 3-Tier coaches.
- The same ceremony also flagged off two new MEMU train services connecting Varanasi City Railway Station with Rajatalab and Prayagraj Rambagh with Varanasi.
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Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) signed a joint venture agreement on September 15, 2026, to maintain 80 Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets. The joint venture company will…
India's second Vande Bharat Sleeper train is scheduled to launch on November 1, 2026, connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai. The new semi-high-speed train is expected to reduce the travel time between the two cities by up to…
Indian Railways has approved a new tri-weekly Amrit Bharat Express between Bhuj in Gujarat and Barauni in Bihar, covering 2,532 km across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Train No. 19427 will run from Bhuj to…
The Indian Railways has started a direct daily train between Sabarmati in Gujarat and Katra town in Jammu region, keeping in mind the interest of lakhs of pilgrims visiting the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and…
President Murmu unfurls Dharmadhwaja to launch Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela
Key Updates:
- President Droupadi Murmu hoisted the Dharmadhwaja (religious flag) at Ramtirtha in Nashik at 12.02 pm on October 31, 2026, formally launching the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hoisted the flag at Trimbakeshwar's Kushavarta Teerth in the presence of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Vidhushekhara Bharati of Sringeri Peeth.
- Jupiter's entry into the zodiac sign Leo (Simha) is the key planetary alignment that gives the Simhastha Kumbh Mela its religious significance.
- The Simhastha Kumbh Mela will continue until July 2028, with closing ceremonies scheduled for July 24, 2028 at Trimbakeshwar and July 29, 2028 at Nashik, making the period approximately 21 months.
- The Shri Ganga-Godavari Dharma Dhvaj features an Amrit Kumbh symbolising immortality, Omkar, the letter 'Shri', twelve silk tassels representing social unity, bells, and symbols of the crocodile, sun and moon.
- Preparations for infrastructure, sanitation, traffic management, security and civic amenities are underway in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar to welcome devotees from India and abroad.
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President Droupadi Murmu presented awards to artists at the 65th National Exhibition of Art and the 3rd Print Biennale India 2026 in New Delhi on Wednesday, at a ceremony held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre. The…
President Droupadi Murmu released a Rs 200 commemorative coin honouring Sindhi spiritual leader Mata Sahib Hasi Devi Ji at Lok Bhavan in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on October 22, 2026. The coin was issued by the Union Finance…
President Droupadi Murmu granted assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill 2026, which was passed unanimously by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on September 3, 2026. The Bill provides for…
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Takes Over as Indian Air Force Chief, Succeeding Retiring A P Singh
Key Updates:
- Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday, October 31, 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, who retired the same day after 42 years of service.
- Outgoing Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh's tenure was marked by decisive leadership during Operation Sindoor, and he was credited with strengthening the IAF's combat readiness.
- Air Chief Marshal Dixit, 59, was commissioned as a fighter pilot in 1986 and previously served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff and head of the Central Air Command.
- An IAF Chief of the Air Staff serves up to three years in the post or until the retirement age of 62.
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Air Marshal KAA Sanjeeb has been appointed as the Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance of the Indian Air Force (IAF), succeeding Air Marshal Sanjiv Ghuratia who superannuated after 39 years of service. He was commissioned…
Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma became the first woman non-medical officer in the Indian Defence Services to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal (or equivalent) on September 1, 2026. She assumed charge as Assistant Chief…
Vice Admiral AN Pramod assumed charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy (IN). He is a CAT 'A' Sea King Air Operations Officer and a Communication and Electronic Warfare Specialist.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, currently the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has been appointed as the next Chief of the Air Staff, the Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday. He will take charge after the…
