Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
CCEA approves Fairfax as strategic buyer of 60.72% IDBI Bank stake for ₹52,878 crore
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the strategic sale of IDBI Bank on 14 October 2026.
- The buyer is 10955230 Canada Inc., whose parent is Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. The price is ₹52,878 crore for 60.72% equity.
- The stake comes from the Government of India (30.48%) and LIC (30.24%). The Government keeps 15% and LIC keeps 19%.
Why it matters
[Policy] This is the first full strategic sale of a public-sector bank. It was decided through a two-stage competitive bid. RBI had put IDBI under Prompt Corrective Action in May 2017 and lifted the curbs in March 2021. The sale shows how disinvestment is moving to ownership transfer. Use it in GS-3 on banking reform and public-sector privatisation.
First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting in Delhi adopts Declaration on terrorism and scam centres
- The first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting was held in New Delhi on 13 October 2026. All seven member states took part.
- It adopted the Delhi Declaration. The text condemns terrorism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism.
- The declaration backs full use of UN Security Council sanctions, including the 1267 Sanctions Committee.
Why it matters
[First] BIMSTEC had only National Security Advisers' meetings on security before this. The 6th Summit in Bangkok on 4 April 2025 welcomed a Home Ministers' mechanism. Delhi has now started it. The declaration links security to development. It also names the BIMSTEC Convention on Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking, in force since March 2021. Use it in GS-2 answers on neighbourhood policy and regional groupings.
RBI tightens rupee derivative rules, raises daily CRR maintenance to 99% and opens dollar window for oil firms
- In October 2026, the RBI cut the limit for forex derivative deals with no underlying exposure from $100 million to $5 million.
- It also created a Foreign Exchange Risk Reserve (FERR). Banks must hold cash equal to 20% of qualifying hedge contracts above $2 million.
- From 16 October 2026, banks must maintain 99% of the required CRR every day, up from 90%.
Why it matters
[Policy] These steps defend the rupee and drain surplus liquidity. They follow the repo rate hike of 7 October 2026. The CRR is the share of deposits banks must keep with the RBI. A higher daily CRR requirement leaves banks with less money to lend. The FERR makes speculative hedging costlier. Link this to GS-3 monetary policy, exchange rate management and the RBI's toolkit.
Supreme Court directs that peaceful gatherers in Delhi not be illegally detained and movement stay unhindered
- On 11 October 2026, the Supreme Court told authorities not to illegally detain people gathering peacefully.
- It said free movement must be allowed, subject to traffic regulations. Lawyers must not be obstructed from their work.
- It asked for a review of barricading in Delhi.
Why it matters
[SC Ruling] Article 19(1)(b) gives citizens the right to assemble peacefully and without arms. Article 19(3) allows reasonable restrictions. This order shows how the Court balances the two. It treats detention without legal basis as a violation of Article 21. Compare it with the 2018 ruling against a blanket ban on protests at Jantar Mantar and Boat Club. Link this to GS-2 fundamental rights and policing.
Supreme Court refuses to restore Andhra Pradesh’s 34% Backward Classes quota in local bodies
- On 9 October 2026, the Supreme Court dismissed Andhra Pradesh's appeal. The High Court had struck down its 34% Backward Classes quota in local bodies.
- The High Court ruled on 1 October 2026 that the State lacked the empirical data needed to cross the 50% ceiling.
- The Bench said a unified family survey could not justify the higher quota without a specific assessment of backwardness and representation.
Why it matters
[SC Ruling] The 50% ceiling on total reservation is settled law. A State can cross it only with specific empirical data on backwardness and representation. This ruling shows that a general population survey is not enough. It links to GS-2 reservation policy and local self-government.
RBI raises repo rate 25 bps to 5.50% and shifts stance to ‘calibrated tightening’
- On 7 October 2026, the MPC voted unanimously to raise the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50%.
- The SDF rate is now 5.25%. The MSF rate and Bank Rate are 5.75%.
- The stance changed to calibrated tightening. Two members, Nagesh Kumar and Ram Singh, wanted to keep it neutral.
Why it matters
[Policy] This is a clear change of direction. Rate cuts are now off the table, and the next move can only be a hike or a pause. Inflation is rising because of a deficient monsoon, El Niño and high energy prices. Exams ask about the repo rate, SDF, MSF and Bank Rate corridor. Mains answers can use the supply-shock debate: the MPC mainly curbs second-round effects. This links to GS-3 inflation and monetary policy.
VB-G RAM G: Centre notifies 375 permissible rural works, 41% more than under MGNREGA
- On 6 October 2026, PIB said the Rural Development Ministry had notified 375 permissible works under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025.
- That is 41% more than the 266 works allowed under the previous framework.
- The works sit under four pillars: Water Security (128), Core Rural Infrastructure (111), Livelihood (98) and Disaster Preparedness (38).
Why it matters
[Policy] This schedule is the list of assets that wage work can build under the law that replaced MGNREGA on 1 July 2026. Disaster preparedness and extreme-weather works get their own category for the first time. Every work must come from a Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan approved by the Gram Sabha. Works will be tracked on the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack. This links to GS-2 welfare schemes and GS-3 rural development.
Asked before: CDS I 2020 asked which of the given options is not an objective of MGNREGA, the scheme VB-G RAM G replaced.
Cabinet approves Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority to plan all transport modes together
- On 6 October 2026, the Union Cabinet approved setting up the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA).
- ITLA is a Special Purpose Vehicle and will be the apex body for transport and logistics planning.
- It will prepare a National Transport Master Plan with a horizon of ten years or more.
Why it matters
[Policy] Roads, railways, ports, airports and waterways are planned by separate ministries today. ITLA is meant to end this fragmented planning with one multimodal master plan. It will build a National Transport Data Repository from e-way bill, FASTag and Vahan data. It complements PM GatiShakti and the National Logistics Policy, 2022. This links to GS-3 infrastructure and logistics costs.
Cabinet commits ₹10,000 crore to an SME Growth Fund for equity in small and medium firms
- On 6 October 2026, the Union Cabinet approved a ₹10,000 crore commitment to the SME Growth Fund (SGF).
- The money goes to an Alternative Investment Fund that makes direct equity investments in SMEs.
- Most of the fund will go to small and medium manufacturing firms.
Why it matters
[Policy] Most existing equity funds back early-stage and micro firms. Small and medium firms that want to scale find little long-term risk capital. The SGF fills this gap with patient growth equity, as promised in Para 28 of Union Budget 2026-27. Since April 2025, a small enterprise means investment up to ₹25 crore and turnover up to ₹100 crore. This links to GS-3 MSMEs and industrial policy.
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.
First international cargo voyage from Dibrugarh since Independence to sail to Dhaka via NW-2
- A methanol cargo was set to be flagged off from Bogibeel Terminal, Dibrugarh, on 5 October 2026.
- It will sail to Pangaon Port in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- The route uses National Waterway-2 (the Brahmaputra) and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.
Why it matters
[First] Before Independence, the Brahmaputra was Upper Assam's main trade link to world markets. This voyage restores that link for the Northeast. NW-2 is the 891 km stretch of the Brahmaputra from the Bangladesh border to Sadiya. It was declared a National Waterway in 1988 (IWAI). Inland waterways are a cheaper, greener way to move freight. Waterway numbers and routes are asked often in SSC and UPSC Prelims.
2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine goes to Deisseroth, Hegemann and Nagel for optogenetics
- On 5 October 2026, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel.
- It honours their discoveries on light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.
- Hegemann and Nagel found channelrhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein, in the single-celled alga Chlamydomonas.
Why it matters
[Milestone] Optogenetics lets scientists turn chosen nerve cells on or off with light. Older methods could map brain areas but could not prove cause and effect. Now researchers can link specific circuits to memories, feelings and behaviour. Doctors are testing the method to restore sight in people with visual impairment. Nobel prizes are a regular GK question in SSC, CDS and NDA papers.
Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into the wild at Desert National Park
- On 4 October 2026, two male Great Indian Bustards were released at Sam, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer.
- The breeding centres at Sam and Ramdevra hold 97 birds; 11 are earmarked for release.
- Of the 97, 40 came from wild-laid eggs and 57 were bred in captivity.
Why it matters
[First] The programme now moves from captive breeding to rewilding. It is run by the Environment Ministry, Rajasthan Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India. National CAMPA funds it. About 200 sq km of fenced grassland enclosures inside the park serve as breeding habitat. The Supreme Court's GIB judgment guides the conservation work.
National Supercomputing Mission reaches 40 supercomputers with 68 petaflops of capacity
- As of September 2026, 40 supercomputers had been deployed under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).
- Their combined capacity is 68 petaflops. Thirteen of them are high-end systems above 1 petaflop.
- The Mission plans 50 supercomputers with more than 123 petaflops in total.
Why it matters
[Data] NSM was launched in April 2015 with an outlay of about ₹4,500 crore. It is steered jointly by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and MeitY. C-DAC Pune and IISc Bengaluru implement it. India's journey began with C-DAC's PARAM 8000 in 1991. The Rudra servers show the shift from assembling imports to building indigenous hardware. This is GS-3 science and technology and Aatmanirbhar Bharat material.
Five Centres of Excellence approved for Classical Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit
- On 3 October 2026, the Education Ministry approved five Centres of Excellence for Classical Language studies.
- They cover Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit.
- Hosts: Tezpur University, Visva-Bharati, Deccan College Pune, Central University of Odisha and Central University of Gujarat.
Why it matters
[Policy] These five languages got classical status on 3 October 2024. That took India's total to 11 classical languages. The new centres give each of them a dedicated research home. Earlier centres for Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia run under the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru. (PIB, 2024)
Asked before: UPSC Prelims 2015 asked which language was given classical language status most recently.
Asian Games 2026: India wins 85 medals; both hockey teams take gold and qualify for LA 2028
- India won 85 medals at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan: 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze.
- That is down from 106 medals at the previous edition in Hangzhou.
- India's men's and women's hockey teams both won gold, securing direct berths at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Why it matters
[First] The women's hockey team beat China 1-0 for India's first Asian Games women's hockey gold since 1982 (Indian Express). Asian Games hockey champions qualify directly for the next Olympics. As of 3 October 2026, India was fourth on the medal table. It was level with Uzbekistan on 21 golds, ahead on silvers. Equestrian events on 4 October could still change that order.
INS Sahyadri and Kulish join second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2026) in the Philippines
- The second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2026) was held at Subic Bay, Philippines, from 28 September to 2 October 2026.
- India sent stealth frigate INS Sahyadri and missile corvette INS Kulish.
- Its theme was 'Anchored in Trust, United at Sea'.
Why it matters
[Data] AIME is India's only naval exercise with ASEAN as a group. The sea phase covered disaster relief, boarding drills, underway replenishment and casualty evacuation. The Navy linked it to the Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision. Exercise names, hosts and editions are asked often in defence and SSC papers.
First captive-bred Great Indian Bustards set for pilot release into the wild in Jaisalmer
- Two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustard chicks are set for a pilot wild release on 4 October 2026.
- They will go into enclosures in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, fitted with radio tags.
- The release starts the 'rewilding' phase of Project GIB, running since 2013.
Why it matters
[First] This is the first time captive-bred Great Indian Bustards will enter the wild. The bird is critically endangered, with about 140 left in the wild. Collisions with power lines from renewable projects are a major threat. The Supreme Court has ordered such lines outside the park buried by December 2027.
Asked before: UPSC Prelims 2020 asked a statement question on India's Desert National Park.
Law Ministry notifies rules for the new National Tribunals Commission
- On 30 September 2026, the Law Ministry issued rules for the National Tribunals Commission.
- The Commission will appoint chairpersons and members to 16 tribunals and appellate bodies.
- It has a chairperson and four members: two judicial and two technical.
Why it matters
[Policy] These rules put the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2026 into action. The Supreme Court had struck down parts of the 2021 Act for hurting judicial independence. It also asked for an independent body to select tribunal members. Tribunals and judicial independence are a regular GS-II theme.
Asked before: UPSC Mains 2025 (GS-II) asked candidates to assess the 2021 tribunal reforms.
Cabinet approves Green Energy Corridor Phase-III with 50 GWh battery storage
- The Union Cabinet approved Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) on 30 September 2026.
- It will strengthen intra-state transmission to carry up to 135 GW of renewable power.
- It also adds 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for grid flexibility.
Why it matters
[Policy] Solar and wind power is useless if it cannot reach consumers. GEC-III builds the state-level wires and adds battery storage for non-solar hours. It supports the 900 GW non-fossil target for 2035. Expect questions on GEC phases and BESS.
Ministry of Power notifies new CAFE fuel-economy norms for cars from April 2027
- The Ministry of Power notified new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms on 30 September 2026.
- They apply to new passenger vehicles from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032.
- The fuel benchmark tightens from 3.996 to 3.3273 litres per 100 km, about 16.7% better.
Why it matters
[Policy] CAFE sets one fuel-economy average for each carmaker's whole fleet. The final rules now replace the July 2026 draft. They reward EVs, hybrids and biofuels inside the compliance maths. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency runs the credit buyout.
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.
Tigress T138 released in Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve to begin tiger reintroduction
- On 2 October 2026, three-year-old tigress T138 was released into Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal.
- She was brought from Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve, chosen for its similar terrain.
- Two to three more tigers are likely to be added to the reserve.
Why it matters
[Policy] This starts a phased plan to build a breeding, self-sustaining tiger population in Buxa. Reintroduction means bringing tigers back where they went locally extinct. India began this at Sariska and Panna in 2008. The NTCA has since run it across 12 tiger reserves. Buxa connects to forests in Bhutan and to Manas Tiger Reserve.
Rabi MSP 2027-28: wheat up only ₹25 to ₹2,610; safflower gets the biggest hike
- On 30 September 2026, the CCEA raised wheat MSP by ₹25 to ₹2,610 per quintal for 2027-28.
- This is wheat's smallest absolute MSP hike since 2010-11.
- Safflower got the biggest hike, ₹675, taking it to ₹7,215 per quintal.
Why it matters
[Data] MSP figures change every season, so exams test the latest numbers. The tiny wheat hike and big oilseed hikes signal a push towards oilseeds. The rule of at least 1.5 times cost dates from the 2018-19 Budget.
Asked before: CDS (II) 2018 asked which crop got the largest percentage MSP increase.
2026 southwest monsoon ends 12.6% below normal, the weakest since 2015
- India got 759.4 mm of rain from June to September 2026, against a normal of 868.6 mm.
- That is 87% of the Long Period Average, the lowest seasonal total since 2015.
- East and northeast India were 25.6% short, their driest monsoon since 1901.
Why it matters
[Data] A weak monsoon hits kharif output, rural incomes and food prices. This one also confirms the El Niño warning IMD gave in spring. Know the LPA figure and which regions were hit hardest.
Asked before: CDS (I) 2022 asked which one is not a result of the El Niño effect.
GOBARdhan Central Sector Scheme launched with ₹23,731 crore for compressed biogas
- Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the GOBARdhan Central Sector Scheme on 1 October 2026.
- The Cabinet approved it on 6 August 2026, with an outlay of ₹23,731 crore over ten years.
- It aims to raise compressed biogas (CBG) output nearly ten-fold, to about 5 MMSCMD.
Why it matters
[Policy] India imports nearly half of its natural gas. This scheme turns farm and cattle waste into home-grown gas. It also makes the Petroleum Ministry the single nodal ministry for biogas. Expect questions on the blending targets and the six support tools.
Asked before: NDA (I & II) 2020 asked which gas makes up the largest share of biogas.
India hosts ninth Deputy NSA-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave
- India virtually hosted the ninth Deputy NSA-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave on 30 September 2026.
- Bangladesh, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Seychelles took part.
- Deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor led the Indian delegation.
Why it matters
[Data] The Colombo Security Conclave is a small Indian Ocean security grouping led by India. It covers maritime security, counter-terrorism and disaster relief, among its five pillars. It is a key part of India's neighbourhood security plan. Its member list is a likely exam question.
India retains Gaprindashvili Trophy at 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand
- The 46th Chess Olympiad was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15 to 27 September 2026.
- India won silver in the Open section on tie-break; hosts Uzbekistan took gold.
- India's women won bronze; China won the women's gold.
Why it matters
[Data] The Gaprindashvili Trophy goes to the best nation across both sections combined. India also won it in 2022 at home and in 2024 in Budapest, where it took double gold. Olympiad hosts, winners and India's medals are common sports questions.
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.
India-EU FTA to be signed in Brussels on 16 December 2026, sources say
- On 23 September 2026, sources said the India-EU FTA will be signed on 16 December 2026 in Brussels.
- Talks restarted in June 2022 and ended in January 2026.
- The deal does not need separate approval by each EU country.
Why it matters
[Policy] Leaders on both sides call it the 'mother of all deals'. The EU is one of India's largest trading partners. Both sides left out the hardest issues to get it done.