Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit appointed 29th Chief of the Air Staff from 31 October 2026
- On 6 October 2026, the government appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff.
- He takes over on the afternoon of 31 October 2026, in the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
- He succeeds Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retires on 31 October 2026.
Why it matters
[Appointment] The Chief of the Air Staff is the professional head of the Indian Air Force. Exams often ask who heads each service. Dixit is an experimental test pilot who has flown the Tejas, Mirage-2000 and Jaguar. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy.
UPSC turns 100: PM releases stamp, coin and a book of 100 landmark judgements
- PM Narendra Modi attended the UPSC Centenary Celebrations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 1 October 2026.
- He released a commemorative postage stamp and a special UPSC centenary coin.
- He also released a book of 100 landmark judgements that shaped UPSC and state commission policies.
Why it matters
[Milestone] UPSC is a constitutional body under Article 315. Its centenary brings its history back into focus. Exams often test the Lee Commission, the 1919 Act and the 1950 renaming. The PM also asked for recruitment that checks a candidate's motive, not just knowledge.
Asked before: UPSC 2023 asked which of four commissions are constitutional bodies, the same status UPSC holds.
Centre extends AFSPA in parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for six more months
- The Home Ministry extended AFSPA, 1958 in 'disturbed areas' of three states for six months from 1 October 2026.
- In Manipur, it covers the whole state except areas under 13 police stations.
- In Nagaland, it covers nine districts, including Dimapur, Mon, Kiphire and Phek.
Why it matters
[Polity] AFSPA gives the armed forces special powers in areas declared 'disturbed'. The Centre or a state can make that declaration. Extensions come every six months, so the covered states and districts are a favourite exam detail.
Supreme Court split verdict on CEC selection panel; minister on panel ‘fails perception test’
- On 23 September 2026, a two-judge Supreme Court Bench gave a split verdict on the 2023 CEC Act case.
- The 2023 Act replaced the Chief Justice with a Cabinet Minister on the CEC selection panel.
- Justice Dipankar Datta said this gives the government an effective veto and fails the 'perception test'.
Why it matters
[SC Ruling] An independent Election Commission is part of the Basic Structure. The panel now has the PM, a minister and the Leader of Opposition. The validity of the 2023 Act is still undecided.
Asked before: NDA (I) 2026 asked how the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed under Article 324.
President gives assent to Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act; State to be called Keralam
- The Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 on 11 August.
- The Rajya Sabha passed it on 12 August 2026.
- President Droupadi Murmu gave assent, so it is now law.
Why it matters
[Polity] Article 3 lets Parliament change a State's name by a simple majority. The Bill needs the President's recommendation and the State's views first. Earlier renames include Orissa to Odisha in 2011.
Asked before: CDS II 2019 asked about Parliament's power to alter the name and boundaries of a State.
Census 2027 notifies 40 questions; caste to be counted for all for the first time
- The Registrar General notified 40 questions on 14 August 2026.
- They are for Population Enumeration, the second phase of Census 2027.
- Caste will be recorded for all, not only SCs and STs, for the first time since Independence.
Why it matters
[Society] Caste data shapes reservation and welfare debates. The last full caste count was in 1931. The first phase, House Listing, ends by 30 September 2026.
Asked before: CDS 2024 asked when the first All-India Census was attempted.
Seven-judge Bench to decide if legislative privilege overrides free speech
- A seven-judge Constitution Bench will start hearing on 6 October 2026.
- It will decide if legislative privilege can override free speech under Article 19(1)(a).
- A three-judge Bench headed by CJI Surya Kant passed the order.
Why it matters
[Polity] Articles 105 and 194 give privileges to Parliament and State Legislatures. These privileges are still not codified. Earlier cases like Keshav Singh (1965) left the conflict with free speech unsettled.
Asked before: CDS II 2020 asked whether MPs' privileges are fettered by Article 19(1)(a).
Supreme Court tells 19 States and UTs to declare cancer a notifiable disease
- The Supreme Court gave the order on 11 August 2026.
- Only 17 of 36 States and UTs had notified cancer so far.
- The remaining 19 must now declare it a notifiable disease.
Why it matters
[Governance] A notifiable disease must be reported to the government. That builds better cancer data and helps early detection. The PIL linked this to the right to health under Articles 14 and 21.
President gives assent to law protecting Vande Mataram like the National Anthem
- President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Bill on 11 August 2026.
- It is the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026.
- Intentionally disrupting or preventing the singing of Vande Mataram is now a crime.
Why it matters
[Polity] The 1971 Act earlier protected only the Flag, the Constitution and the National Anthem. Vande Mataram is now covered too. The Constitution itself names only the Anthem and the Flag under Fundamental Duties.
Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan and Home Secretary Govind Mohan get one-year extensions
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet extended T.V. Somanathan's term as Cabinet Secretary by one year.
- His term was due to end on 30 August 2026.
- Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan also got a one-year extension.
Why it matters
[Polity] The Cabinet Secretary is India's senior-most civil servant. The post heads the Cabinet Secretariat. The ACC is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Parliament passes Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2026 with tougher penalties for exam cheating
- The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on 30 July 2026, a day after the Lok Sabha.
- Jail for using unfair means rises to 5–10 years, with fines up to ₹50 lakh.
- Organised exam crime now gets at least 7 years and a minimum ₹10 crore fine.
Why it matters
[Polity] The Bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. That Act covers exams by UPSC, SSC, railway boards, IBPS and the NTA. Service providers caught cheating can now be barred for eight years.
President Droupadi Murmu completes four years in office
- Droupadi Murmu completed four years as President on 25 July 2026.
- She took oath as India's 15th President on 25 July 2022.
- She is India's first President from a Scheduled Tribe.
Why it matters
[Polity] The President is elected for five years under Article 56. The electoral college has elected MPs and elected MLAs of states and some UTs. Murmu's term runs till July 2027.
Monsoon Session opens; Bill introduced to raise Supreme Court judges’ strength from 34 to 38
- Parliament's Monsoon Session began on 20 July 2026.
- Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill that day.
- It raises the number of judges, other than the CJI, from 33 to 37.
Why it matters
[Polity] Article 124 lets Parliament fix the number of Supreme Court judges by law. That number is set in the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. An ordinance lapses six weeks after Parliament reassembles unless replaced by a law.
National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 and its 2025 Amendment come into force after four years
- The Sports Ministry brought the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 into force from 15 July 2026.
- The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Act, 2025 came into force the next day, 16 July 2026.
- The Act makes NADA a statutory body. NADA handles testing, investigations and anti-doping education.
Why it matters
[Polity] Parliament passed the Act in August 2022. The World Anti-Doping Agency objected that it gave government too much control. India amended the law in 2025 before switching it on.