2 Nov – 8 Nov 202626 Oct – 1 Nov 202619 Oct – 25 Oct 202612 Oct – 18 Oct 20265 Oct – 11 Oct 202628 Sep – 4 Oct 202621 Sep – 27 Sep 202614 Sep – 20 Sep 20267 Sep – 13 Sep 202631 Aug – 6 Sep 2026
Weekly at a glance
- Mon 5 Oct — Dhami Cabinet's Banbasa decisions (₹200-crore skill scheme, 3% fiscal-deficit cap), Rajya Sabha poll for Uttarakhand on 16 Oct and RBI's MPC meet lead today's digest
- Tue 6 Oct — Dhami cabinet's ₹200-crore skill scheme & fiscal reset; India–UAE 'Mountain Guardian' begins at Chaubatia; three new Supreme Court judges sworn in to a 37-judge bench
- Wed 7 Oct — Char Dham Yatra sets all-time record of 56.18 lakh pilgrims; M4.9 quake jolts Chamoli; Cabinet clears Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority and ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund
- Thu 8 Oct — Uttarakhand's post-SIR roll at 71.59 lakh, Banbasa cabinet clears 24 proposals; RBI hikes repo to 5.50%
- Fri 9 Oct — Uttarakhand tests earthquake early-warning sirens statewide; Banbasa Cabinet caps fiscal deficit at 3% of GSDP; RBI hikes repo rate to 5.50%
All topics — key facts for revision
5 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Dhami Cabinet meets at Banbasa near Nepal border: ₹200-crore skill scheme for students, easier private-university norms
- CM Higher Education Skill Enhancement Scheme 2026: ₹200 crore over 5 years; skill/diploma courses for about 1.19 lakh college students.
- Private universities: minimum built-up area set at 2,500 sq m in hills and 20,000 sq m in plains; the ₹5-crore guarantee fund condition removed.
- ₹66.29 crore released to the Seeds & Tarai Development Corporation for Pantnagar greenfield airport expansion.
- PAN verification added to property registration; new Sub-Registrar office at Narendranagar (Tehri) for 133 revenue villages.
- New Director General post for Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries; ministers were presented the Farra–Chhantoli bamboo shield of the Bagwal tradition.
ECONOMY Fiscal discipline: Uttarakhand caps fiscal deficit at 3% and debt at 30% of GSDP till 2030-31
- Annual fiscal deficit ceiling: 3% of GSDP for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
- Maximum outstanding debt: 30% of GSDP up to 2030-31.
- Escape clause for natural disasters — vital for a disaster-prone Himalayan State.
- Sixth State Finance Commission report approved for devolution to local bodies for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
HEALTH Hill-first health push: bigger stipend hike for doctors in Uttarakhand's hill medical colleges
- Senior Resident (hills): ₹90,000 → ₹1,10,000 (+₹20,000); plains ₹84,000 → ₹1,05,000.
- Junior Resident / Demonstrator (hills): ₹76,000 → ₹85,000; plains ₹71,000 → ₹80,000.
- A ₹5,000 hill differential is kept at every level to draw doctors to the mountains.
UTTARAKHAND Colonial law out: Uttarakhand Irrigation & Drainage Bill 2026 to replace the 1873 Canal Act; forest-clearance unit set up
- New Bill replaces a 153-year-old colonial law on canals, water rates and drainage.
- Project Management Unit with 6 technical posts plus nodal officers to speed up forest-land transfer cases.
- Chief Conservators of Kumaon and Garhwal made heads of department in place of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve director, for quicker emergency response.
- Lalkuan (Nainital) lessees get transferable landholder rights; Class-4 land regularisation in Jaunsar-Bawar at 2004 circle rates.
POLITY Rajya Sabha poll on 16 October: BJP names Dinesh Arya for Uttarakhand's seat
- Nominations close 6 Oct; scrutiny 7 Oct; withdrawal 9 Oct; poll & counting 16 Oct (9 am–4 pm).
- The 12 seats: 10 Uttar Pradesh, 1 Uttarakhand, 1 West Bengal (bye-election).
- Uttarakhand has 3 Rajya Sabha and 5 Lok Sabha seats; Assembly strength 70.
- BJP's Assembly majority makes it comfortably placed to retain the seat.
UTTARAKHAND Gangotri Himalaya snow-trap: 67 climbers heli-rescued at ~20,000 ft; Gaumukh–Tapovan and Kedartal treks shut
- 67 mountaineers airlifted by 4 UCADA helicopters from Oden's Col, Kalindi Pass, Satopanth, Jogin-I and Vasukital — called the first successful heli-rescue at ~20,000 ft.
- ITBP, SDRF and the Forest Department ran ground operations; 121 trekkers on the Gaumukh–Tapovan route were brought back earlier.
- Trek ban ordered on 1 October by the Gangotri National Park administration; reopening only after a safety assessment.
ECONOMY RBI's MPC begins 3-day meet today; first rate hike since Feb 2023 in focus as CPI rises to 4.82%
- Current repo rate 5.25%, stance neutral (unchanged in August 2026).
- CPI inflation rose to 4.82% in August 2026 from 4.45% in July; food inflation 5.95%.
- Highest State inflation in August: Telangana 6.27%; the CPI series now uses base year 2024.
- A hike would be the first since February 2023.
IR First international cargo voyage from Dibrugarh since Independence: 540 t of Assam methanol sails to Bangladesh via NW-2
- 540 tonnes of methanol in 27 containers (20 t each).
- Route: ~908 km on National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra), then the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route; journey ~10 days.
- First cargo from Dibrugarh to a foreign port since Independence; run with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
ENVIRONMENT Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
- Captive stock: 97 birds at the Sam and Ramdevra centres — 40 from wild-collected eggs, 57 captive-bred.
- 11 birds earmarked for release; 24 chicks (2025) and 29 chicks (2026) produced.
- 'Jumpstart' approach (captive eggs placed in wild nests) yielded 8 chicks — 6 in Rajasthan, 2 in Gujarat.
- About 200 sq km of fenced grassland enclosures; technical support from the Wildlife Institute of India (Dehradun).
SCI-TECH India demonstrates its first 5.56-km free-space quantum key distribution link in Gujarat
- Secure key rate 230–260 bits/s; Quantum Bit Error Rate below 5%.
- Keys integrated with BISAG-N's 'Vedic Kavach' post-quantum cryptography platform — a dual-layer security design.
- Free-space links are a stepping stone to satellite-based QKD.
REPORT Asian Games 2026 close: India 4th with 85 medals (21 gold) at Aichi–Nagoya
- India edged Uzbekistan (also 21 gold) on silver count (27 vs 25).
- Top three: China (169 gold, 341 total), Japan (83 gold), South Korea (39 gold).
- Firsts: Kumkum Anil Mohod — women's individual recurve archery gold; Pranavi Urs — women's golf gold.
- India won both men's and women's golds in hockey and cricket.
6 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Dhami Cabinet at Banbasa: ₹200-cr Skill Scheme, New Fiscal Targets, 1873 Irrigation Law Repealed
- CM Higher Education Skills Enhancement Scheme 2026: ₹200 crore over 5 years, ~1.19 lakh students (skill diplomas).
- Fiscal responsibility targets revised: 3% annual fiscal deficit, 30% debt ceiling up to 2031.
- 1873 irrigation law repealed; new Uttarakhand Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2026.
- ₹66.29 crore to Tarai Development Corporation for Pantnagar Airport expansion; 92% of asset-monetisation proceeds to return to parent agencies.
- Private university norms eased (land 10 acres → 20,000 sq m); poultry-feed subsidy via DBT; Sub-Registrar office at Narendranagar.
DEFENCE India–UAE Exercise 'Mountain Guardian 2026' Opens at Chaubatia
- 92 personnel in all, equal strength from both sides; includes women officers in specialist roles.
- India: a Bhairav Battalion; UAE: a Mountain Infantry Battalion.
- Drills: joint planning, firing, surveillance, drone employment, rock-climbing and integrated field exercise.
- Aim: interoperability for operations in high-altitude terrain with restricted mobility.
UTTARAKHAND Western Disturbance After Monsoon Exit: Yellow Alert in 8 Districts, Snow on High Peaks
- Yellow alert: Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri, Almora, Nainital, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar.
- Gusty winds 30–40 km/h; snowfall likely above 4,200 m.
- Mangti nullah landslide (night of 1–2 Oct, Dharchula, Pithoragarh) stranded 350+ Adi Kailash pilgrims.
- Disaster Management Dept on 24×7 alert in Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi for the Yatra.
UTTARAKHAND Char Dham Crosses 53 Lakh Pilgrims; 20-Event Tourism Calendar for Year-Round Travel
- Badrinath 18.10 lakh (record), Kedarnath 15.57 lakh, Gangotri 8.41 lakh (highest ever), Yamunotri 7.5 lakh.
- Hemkund Sahib: 3,52,765 devotees; last year's corresponding total ~46 lakh.
- Calendar: 20 events, ₹21.35 crore; new — Himalayan Car Rally (19–21 Nov), ATOAI convention at Kausani (13–16 Dec).
- Weddings in Uttarakhand Conclave at Ramnagar (15–20 Dec); winter carnivals at Munsiyari, Auli, Dayara (Feb 2027).
ENVIRONMENT Wildlife Week 2026: Compensation Hiked to ₹10 Lakh, Corbett–Rajaji Tiger Shift Phase 2
- Ex-gratia for death in wildlife attack: ₹6 lakh → ₹10 lakh; injury treatment borne by the state.
- 18 persons who showed courage in conflict situations got ₹51,000 each.
- Phase 2 of tiger translocation from Corbett to Rajaji; Special Tiger Protection Force for both reserves.
- CM Young Eco-Entrepreneur scheme (target 1 lakh youth); snow-leopard tourism; GEP valuation of water & forests.
UTTARAKHAND 332 Recruits Get Appointment Letters; Resident Doctors' Stipend Raised to Over ₹1 Lakh
- 35,000+ government appointments in the last 5 years (CM's statement).
- Senior & junior resident stipend raised from ~₹75,000 to over ₹1 lakh per month.
- Wellness push built on yoga, Ayurveda and Himalayan medicinal herbs.
- Seva Sankalp Abhiyan for community service, launched on the PM's birthday (17 Sep).
POLITY Three High Court Chief Justices Elevated; Supreme Court Now at 37 of 38
- Justice D.K. Upadhyaya (CJ, Delhi HC); Justice Sunita Agarwal (CJ, Gujarat HC); Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh (CJ, Telangana HC).
- Acting CJs named under Art. 223: N.W. Sambre (Delhi), M.R. Pathak (Gujarat), P. Sam Koshy (Telangana).
- Same day, SC: an elector on the roll cannot be deleted without notice, except a dead voter.
- SC refused to suspend the CEC ex parte, but issued notice on pleas against ECI decisions.
IR India–Switzerland Sign 5 Agreements During President Parmelin's State Visit
- Pacts: Migration & Mobility Partnership, Young Professionals exchange, transport technologies, DST–Swiss National Science Foundation LoI, innovation & tech transfer.
- TEPA with EFTA in force since Oct 2025: $100 bn investment and 1 million direct jobs over 15 years.
- New areas flagged: defence production, military exchanges and nuclear energy.
ECONOMY RBI MPC Meets 5–7 Oct; Analysts Split on First Hike Since 2023
- A market poll: 35 of 61 economists expect a 25 bps hike to 5.50% — first since Feb 2023.
- 2025 easing cycle cut rates by a cumulative 125 bps; stance neutral since August.
- CPI (Aug 2026, base 2024): 4.82%; food 5.95%; rural 5.23% vs urban 4.31%.
- GST Council also meets on 7 Oct (process reforms).
SCI-TECH Nobel Prize in Medicine 2026 for Light-Gated Ion Channels & Optogenetics
- Karl Deisseroth (Stanford, USA), Peter Hegemann (Humboldt Univ., Berlin), Georg Nagel (Univ. of Würzburg).
- Channelrhodopsins from green algae open ion channels when hit by blue light.
- Inserted into neurons, they switch cells on/off in milliseconds; key 2005 study.
- Uses: brain-circuit mapping, vision restoration in retinitis pigmentosa.
ENVIRONMENT Great Nicobar Project: SC Declines Centre's Plea, Asks Calcutta HC to Decide Promptly
- ₹81,000 crore project: transshipment port, township, power plant, dual-use airport.
- PIL alleges FRA 2006 violations — rights not settled before forest diversion.
- Affected: Nicobarese and Shompen (a PVTG).
- Galathea Bay: nesting site of leatherback turtles; coral reefs at risk.
7 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Char Dham Yatra 2026 breaks all-time record: 56.18 lakh pilgrims
- New record: 56.18 lakh pilgrims vs 56.13 lakh in 2023.
- Yamunotri crossed 6.68 lakh pilgrims for the first time this season (23 Aug figure).
- Four Dhams: Yamunotri & Gangotri (Uttarkashi), Kedarnath (Rudraprayag), Badrinath (Chamoli).
- Registration-based crowd management and digital monitoring under the state's 2026 Yatra action plan.
- Portals close for winter after Vijayadashami-announced dates; deities shift to winter seats.
UTTARAKHAND M4.9 earthquake jolts Chamoli; tremors felt up to Delhi-NCR
- Magnitude 4.9 as per the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) under MoES.
- Shallow focus (13 km) — such quakes are felt widely even at moderate magnitude.
- No casualty or major damage was reported.
- Tremors also felt in Himachal, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and western UP.
- Chamoli lies close to the Main Central Thrust (MCT) — a major Himalayan fault.
UTTARAKHAND Dhami Cabinet meets at Banbasa: ₹200 crore skill scheme among 24 decisions
- CM Higher Education Skill Enhancement Scheme-2026: ₹200 crore over 5 years; ~1.19 lakh students of govt & private universities/colleges.
- Private universities: ₹5 crore guarantee fund removed; minimum land now 20,000 sq m (earlier 10 acres).
- ₹66 crore special package for Tarai Development Corporation Ltd.
- Land regularisation in Lalkuan (Nainital) and Jaunsar-Bawar (Dehradun) extended by 1 year at 2004 circle rate.
- New sub-registrar office at Narendra Nagar (Tehri) for 133 revenue villages; new DG post for Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries.
UTTARAKHAND Vishwanath-Shakti Temple Corridor announced for Uttarkashi
- Corridor to link the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Shakti temple of Uttarkashi.
- CM also flagged off a Seva Jyoti Kalash Yatra.
- CM claimed about 44% reverse migration in the state.
- Uttarkashi lies on the Bhagirathi; known as the 'Kashi of the North'.
ENVIRONMENT Early snowfall blankets Devtal near Mana Pass; yellow alert in 8 districts
- Yellow alert: Almora, Nainital, Champawat, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar.
- Nainital recorded max 19°C and min 14°C.
- Mana Pass links Chamoli with Tibet; Mana is the 'First Indian Village'.
- Early snow raises risk for late-season Badrinath & Hemkund pilgrims.
ENVIRONMENT Corbett-to-Rajaji tiger translocation enters phase 2 as Wildlife Week ends
- Phase 2: 5 tigers (1 male, 4 females) to Rajaji's western zone; phase 1 went to the eastern zone.
- Total translocated after phase 2: 10 tigers.
- Tigers to be radio-collared and soft-released after 3-4 days in enclosures; 3 months of tracking.
- Selection prioritises tigers near villages to cut conflict risk.
- Corbett Festival held 6-8 October at Ramnagar.
ECONOMY Cabinet approves Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA)
- Covers 8 domains: roads, railways, ports, civil aviation, inland waterways, coastal shipping, urban mobility, logistics.
- Will prepare a National Transport Master Plan with a 10+ year horizon.
- Technical appraisal & monitoring of central projects costing ₹500 crore or more.
- National Transport Data Repository (NTDR) using GSTN e-way bills, FASTag, Vahan, GPS.
- India ranked 38th of 139 in the World Bank LPI 2023.
ECONOMY ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund cleared for direct equity in SMEs
- To be structured as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) under SEBI rules.
- Targets the 'missing middle' — firms between startups and bank-dependent MSMEs.
- Majority focus on manufacturing SMEs in Tier-II/III industrial clusters.
- Uses: capacity expansion, technology, exports, global value chain integration.
- MSME limits (from 1 April 2025): Medium = investment ₹125 crore, turnover ₹500 crore.
IR Swiss President's State Visit: 5 outcomes; TEPA turns one
- Migration & Mobility Partnership: multiple-entry visas up to 5 years.
- Young Professionals Scheme: 300 persons/year per country, extendable to 500.
- MoUs on transport technologies (EVs, ropeways), research (DST–SNSF) and tech transfer.
- TEPA: EFTA pledged USD 100 billion investment and 1 million direct jobs in 15 years.
- Bilateral trade USD 24.4 billion (2024-25).
DEFENCE Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit named next Chief of the Air Staff
- Will be the 29th Chief of the Air Staff; tenure till 31 December 2028.
- Commissioned in the fighter stream on 6 December 1986; NDA alumnus.
- Over 3,500 flying hours on Mirage-2000, MiG, Jaguar, Tejas and others.
- Took part in operations including Op Safed Sagar, Op Rakshak and Op Sindoor.
DEFENCE First indigenous Fleet Support Ship 'Surya' launched at Visakhapatnam
- Five-ship programme worth about ₹19,000 crore; keel of FSS-5 also laid.
- Displacement about 43,500 tonnes; about 82% indigenous content.
- Can carry fuel, water, ammunition for replenishment at sea; has a helicopter deck.
- Launched 18 months after steel-cutting; HSL can now build ships up to 45,000 DWT.
8 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Uttarakhand's Final Electoral Roll after SIR: 71.59 Lakh Electors; Enrolment Drive Begins
- Electors fell from 79.61 lakh (SIR start, 8 June 2026) to 71.59 lakh — a net drop of ~8 lakh; over 17 lakh gross deletions reported across the revision cycle.
- Deletions under ASDD (Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate) were highest in the plains — Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar.
- Final roll: 37,37,701 men, 34,21,036 women; 72,656 voters aged 18–19 and 1,22,892 aged 80+.
- 12,543 polling stations; qualifying date 1 July 2026; draft roll 14 July.
- BLOs go door-to-door; eligible persons can file Form 6 for new enrolment.
UTTARAKHAND Dhami Cabinet at Banbasa Clears 24 Proposals: ₹200-cr Skill Scheme, New Irrigation Law
- Higher Education Skill Enhancement Scheme-2026: ₹200 crore over 5 years for ~1.19 lakh students.
- Uttarakhand Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2026 to replace the colonial Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873.
- Private universities: minimum land now 20,000 sq m; the ₹5-crore guarantee-fund condition dropped.
- New Sub-Registrar office at Narendra Nagar (Tehri) for 133 revenue villages; a DG-level post to coordinate Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries.
- Interviews scrapped for some Group C posts (e.g., Deputy Jailor).
DEFENCE India–UAE 'Mountain Guardian 2026' Underway at Chaubatia
- 92 personnel in equal strength — India from a Bhairav Battalion, UAE from a Mountain Infantry Battalion.
- Focus: mountain warfare, drone operations, surveillance grids, rock-climbing and integrated field drills.
- Women officers and combatants from both armies take part in specialist roles.
- Chaubatia is near Ranikhet (Almora), home of the Kumaon Regiment Centre.
ENVIRONMENT Post-Monsoon Western Disturbance: Yellow Alert, First Snow on High Peaks
- Yellow alert in 8 districts — Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri, Almora, Nainital, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar; winds 30–40 km/h.
- Snow possible at 4,200 m+; Hemkund Sahib (Chamoli, ~4,630 m) turned white.
- Thunder-clouds forecast on Rudraprayag–Joshimath and Joshimath–Badrinath–Hemkund routes; debris and road-block risk.
- Kedarnath season runs from 22 Apr to 11 Nov 2026; helicopter services pause in poor visibility.
ENVIRONMENT Maiden Corbett Literature Festival Concludes as Wildlife Week Ends
- Three days (6–8 Oct) of sessions, photo exhibitions and nature walks.
- Themes: forest communities, wildlife rescue, frontline staff (mahouts, ghasis), responsible tourism, Garhwali-Kumaoni folk music.
- Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal: conservation must go hand in hand with better local livelihoods.
- Corbett NP — India's first national park (1936, as Hailey NP); Project Tiger launched here in 1973.
UTTARAKHAND CM Announces Vishwanath–Shakti Temple Corridor in Uttarkashi
- Corridor to upgrade pilgrim facilities on the Gangotri route; cost and timeline yet to be notified.
- CM claimed 44% reverse migration in the state and cited the Lakhpati Didi scheme.
- The Shakti temple houses a giant ancient trishul with inscriptions; Uttarkashi on the Bhagirathi is called the 'Kashi of the North'.
ECONOMY RBI Raises Repo Rate to 5.50% — First Hike Since February 2023
- SDF 5.25%, MSF/Bank Rate 5.75% (corridor of ±25 bps).
- FY27 projections: GDP 7.1%, CPI inflation 5.2% (Q3 6.0%, Q4 5.7%).
- Governor Sanjay Malhotra: the next move can only be a hike or a pause.
- Risks: weak monsoon and strong El Niño for rabi; India imports 85%+ of its crude.
ECONOMY Cabinet: ₹10,000-cr SME Growth Fund & Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority
- SGF invests equity via an Alternative Investment Fund; majority for manufacturing SMEs, incl. Tier-II/III clusters.
- ITLA: apex SPV for a 10-year+ National Transport Master Plan across road, rail, ports, aviation, waterways and urban mobility.
- Technical appraisal of central projects ≥ ₹500 crore plus post-implementation impact assessment.
- National Transport Data Repository using e-way bill, FASTag, Vahan, GPS data.
- MSME limits: small — investment ≤ ₹25 cr, turnover ≤ ₹100 cr; medium — ≤ ₹125 cr / ₹500 cr.
POLITY 57th GST Council Meets Today: Process Reforms, Arrest Powers on the Table
- Agenda: simpler registration, returns and refunds; faster input tax credit (ITC) flow.
- Reported proposals: decriminalising GST offences and curbing arrest powers of GST officers — several states have reservations.
- Dispute-resolution reforms and easier compliance for e-commerce suppliers.
- The 56th meeting (Sept 2025) approved the two-slab GST 2.0 — 5% and 18%, plus 40% on demerit goods.
SCI-TECH Chemistry Nobel 2026: Mirror-Image Molecules — Kagan & Soai
- Kagan (1986): a catalyst of low enantiomeric purity can still give a highly pure product — the non-linear effect.
- Soai reaction (1995): a chiral product catalyses its own formation, amplifying a tiny imbalance to >99.5% of one hand.
- Offers clues to the origin of homochirality in life (L-amino acids, D-sugars).
- Earlier asymmetric-catalysis Nobels: 2001 (Knowles, Noyori, Sharpless), 2021 (List, MacMillan).
ENVIRONMENT Project Cheetah Gets a Third MP Home: Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve
- Cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952.
- Project Cheetah began on 17 Sept 2022 at Kuno with 8 Namibian cheetahs; 12 came from South Africa in 2023.
- Gandhi Sagar WLS received cheetahs in April 2025.
- VDTR, notified in 2023, is MP's 7th tiger reserve, formed from Nauradehi and Durgavati sanctuaries.
DEFENCE IAF Day at 94: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Named Next Air Chief
- Succeeds Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh; tenure up to 31 Dec 2028.
- Commissioned in the fighter stream in Dec 1986; 3,500+ flying hours.
- IAF raised on 8 Oct 1932 as an auxiliary of the RAF; prefix 'Royal' dropped in 1950.
- Motto 'Nabhah Sprisham Deeptam' — from the Bhagavad Gita.
9 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Uttarakhand tests earthquake early-warning sirens statewide; M 4.9 quake had jolted Chamoli
- Network: 112 sirens and 169 sensors installed; plan to double both at 5–10 km spacing (proposal with IIT Roorkee).
- Bhudev app sends a vibrating, beeping alert — keep it updated with location access on.
- EEW exploits the gap between fast P-waves and destructive S-waves, giving seconds of lead time.
- Chamoli epicentre ~50 km south of Joshimath, depth 13 km; no casualties reported.
- Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman: the siren test is not a real alert — no panic.
UTTARAKHAND Banbasa Cabinet: fiscal deficit capped at 3% of GSDP; new Irrigation Bill to replace 1873 canal law
- Uttarakhand FRBM (Amendment) Bill, 2026: fiscal deficit cap 3% of GSDP (2026–31); cumulative debt ceiling 30% of GSDP (2026-27 to 2030-31); relaxation for disasters and security emergencies.
- Uttarakhand Irrigation and Drainage Bill, 2026 to replace the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873.
- Sixth State Finance Commission report on PRIs and ULBs to be tabled in the next Assembly session.
- Public agencies to keep 92% of proceeds from asset monetisation (Investment & Infrastructure Act amended).
- Poultry-feed subsidy moves from e-Rupee (CBDC) to DBT in Aadhaar-seeded accounts.
UTTARAKHAND ₹200 crore skill scheme for 1.19 lakh students; land rights, PAN checks and university norms revised
- Outlay ≈₹200 crore over 5 years; ~1.19 lakh students of government and private universities and affiliated colleges.
- Mandatory PAN verification in property sale and purchase to curb fake PAN use.
- Private university norms: minimum built-up area 2,500 sq m (hills) and 20,000 sq m (plains).
- Bhumidhari (ownership) rights for eligible Class-3/4 lessees; transferable rights in Lalkuan (Nainital); Class-4 land in Jaunsar-Bawar regularised at 2004 circle rates for one year.
- New Sub-Registrar office at Narendranagar (Tehri) for 133 revenue villages; ₹66.29 crore for Pantnagar greenfield airport expansion.
POLITY Rajya Sabha: BJP's Dinesh Arya set for unopposed win from Uttarakhand
- Uttarakhand has 3 Rajya Sabha and 5 Lok Sabha seats.
- Assembly strength 70: BJP 47, Congress 20, BSP 1, Independents 2.
- RS members are elected by elected MLAs through STV (single transferable vote) with an open ballot.
- If candidates equal vacancies, the Returning Officer declares them elected (Sec. 53(2), RP Act, 1951).
UTTARAKHAND Uttarkashi: CM announces Vishwanath–Shakti Temple Corridor
- Uttarkashi, on the Bhagirathi, is called the "Kashi of the North"; gateway to Gangotri and Yamunotri.
- The Shakti Temple houses a giant ancient metal trishul (trident) bearing an inscription.
- CM flagged off the Seva Jyoti Kalash Yatra and cited Lakhpati Didi for SHG women's incomes.
- CM claimed 44% reverse migration — the state's marker of progress against palayan.
ECONOMY RBI hikes repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50% — first hike in over three years
- First hike since Feb 2023 (to 6.5%); follows 125 bps of cuts in 2025.
- FY27 projections: real GDP 7.1%; CPI 5.2% (up from 5.0%) — Q3 6.0%, Q4 5.7%.
- Risks: re-escalating West Asia conflict, volatile crude, weak monsoon / El Niño hurting rabi.
- Governor: next move can only be a hike or pause; retail CPI was 4.82% in Aug 2026 (base 2024=100).
SCI-TECH Nobel Prizes 2026: optogenetics, cosmic neutrinos, mirror-image chemistry and Anne Carson
- Medicine: Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, Georg Nagel — light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.
- Physics: Francis Halzen — IceCube Neutrino Observatory (South Pole) and high-energy cosmic neutrinos.
- Chemistry: Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai — non-linear effects and asymmetric autocatalysis.
- Literature: Canadian poet-classicist Anne Carson (*Autobiography of Red*, *Nox*).
IR Jaishankar's Africa outreach: Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Ethiopia (6–10 Oct)
- Ghana: met President John Dramani Mahama; MoUs ZSI–University of Ghana and ICAR–CSIR-Crops Research Institute.
- India–Ghana ties are a Comprehensive Partnership (upgraded during the PM's 2025 visit).
- Côte d'Ivoire: talks with Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara on anti-terrorism and training.
- Outreach to the African Union (HQ Addis Ababa; G20 member since 2023 under India's presidency) and ECOWAS.
SCI-TECH 10th India Mobile Congress opens on theme 'Scale Without Boundaries'
- 1.5 lakh+ attendees from 100+ countries; 500+ exhibitors; 600 startups.
- Nine anchor sectors incl. 5G/6G, AI networks, semiconductors, satellite (non-terrestrial) networks, quantum communication.
- Indigenous chip for Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) — live TV on phones without SIM or data.
- Alongside: NCCDFI 2026 cyber-security conference by NIELIT (9–10 Oct).
SOCIETY World Post Day (9 Oct) opens National Postal Week
- Marks the founding of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Bern, 1874; day declared at the 1969 Tokyo Congress.
- India joined the UPU on 1 July 1876; PIN code introduced on 15 Aug 1972.
- Showcase: N-Gen Post Offices, Jan Sewa Connect Post Offices, Dak Sewa and Dak Mitra apps.
- India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) launched 2018; runs alongside Special Campaign 6.0 (2–31 Oct).
Prelims rapid-fire — 30 facts
| Mussoorie carrying capacity: Uttarakhand High Court (1 Oct) gave the Chief Secretary 9 months to frame a carrying-capacity-based plan; tourists rose from ~8.5 lakh (2000) to ~30 lakh (2019). |
| State Finance Commission: Uttarakhand's Sixth SFC report covers 2026-27 to 2030-31; SFCs are mandated by Art. 243-I and 243-Y. |
| Bagwal fair: Held at Devidhura (Champawat) on Raksha Bandhan; Farra–Chhantoli is its bamboo shield. |
| Pantnagar Airport: ₹66.29 crore released for greenfield expansion in Udham Singh Nagar district. |
| NW-2: Brahmaputra, Sadiya–Dhubri, 891 km; Dibrugarh's Bogibeel terminal lies on it. |
| Next Asian Games: Doha, Qatar (2030), then Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2034). |
| Agniveer rally at Bengal Engineer Group & Centre, Roorkee: 5–23 Oct 2026, run by ARO Lansdowne for Garhwal & Kumaon districts. |
| Global Innovation Index 2026 (WIPO, 1 Oct): India 38th; 1st in ICT services exports. |
| Corbett Festival opens 6 Oct; Corbett = India's first national park (1936, Hailey NP). |
| Hemkund Sahib (Chamoli, ~4,632 m): 3,52,765 devotees this season. |
| Pantnagar Airport (Udham Singh Nagar) expansion gets ₹66.29 crore. |
| Nobel Chemistry 7 Oct, Literature 8 Oct, Peace 9 Oct, Economics 12 Oct. |
| Mussoorie Sharadotsav revived after 12 years, with 40 cultural teams. |
| Banbasa (Champawat) lies on the Sharda/Mahakali river at the India–Nepal border. |
| National Supercomputing Mission: 40 of 50 systems, 68 petaflops deployed (launched 2015). |
| India's first WASH social bond: NABKISAN raised ₹180 crore at 8.10%. |
| First 3D-printed PMAY-G houses: 177 units in Guntur (Andhra Pradesh). |
| HAL Koraput delivered its 2,000th aero-engine. |
| Kumaon Regiment Centre — Ranikhet (Almora); nearby Chaubatia hosts the Army's Foreign Training Node. |
| Banbasa barrage — on the Sharda (Mahakali), India–Nepal border, Champawat district. |
| Hemkund Sahib — ~4,630 m, Chamoli; trek via Ghangaria, near the Valley of Flowers. |
| Uttarakhand Doppler radars — Mukteshwar, Surkanda Devi, Lansdowne. |
| Repo / SDF / MSF — 5.50% / 5.25% / 5.75% (from 7 Oct 2026). |
| GST Council — Art. 279A, inserted by the 101st Amendment, 2016. |
| Cabinet's first meeting in Champawat district: Banbasa (NHPC guest house), 4 Oct |
| Chamoli quake, 6 Oct (NCS): M 4.9, depth 13 km, ~50 km S of Joshimath |
| Law replaced by new Irrigation & Drainage Bill: Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 |
| RBI repo rate / stance: 5.50% / "calibrated tightening"; FY27 CPI 5.2% |
| IMC 2026 theme (10th edition): "Scale Without Boundaries", Yashobhoomi |
| Nobel Chemistry 2026: Henri B. Kagan & Kenso Soai — asymmetric autocatalysis |
Data points of the period
3% of GSDP
Uttarakhand's new fiscal-deficit ceiling (amended FRBM targets, 2026-27 to 2030-31)
Outstanding-debt ceiling fixed at 30% of GSDP up to 2030-31, with an escape clause for natural disasters; approved by the State Cabinet at Banbasa on 4 Oct 2026.
Outstanding-debt ceiling fixed at 30% of GSDP up to 2030-31, with an escape clause for natural disasters; approved by the State Cabinet at Banbasa on 4 Oct 2026.
₹2,03,521 crore (+14.7% YoY)
Gross GST collection, September 2026
Third straight month above ₹2 lakh crore; IGST ₹1,20,396 cr, SGST ₹45,363 cr, CGST ₹37,762 cr; net GST ₹1,76,520 cr (+18.1%); H1 FY27 total ₹12,46,278 cr (+11.6%). Why it matters: buoyant GST boosts the SGST share and central devolution that hill states like Uttarakhand rely on.
Third straight month above ₹2 lakh crore; IGST ₹1,20,396 cr, SGST ₹45,363 cr, CGST ₹37,762 cr; net GST ₹1,76,520 cr (+18.1%); H1 FY27 total ₹12,46,278 cr (+11.6%). Why it matters: buoyant GST boosts the SGST share and central devolution that hill states like Uttarakhand rely on.
50.09 crore
eSanjeevani teleconsultations (cumulative)
India's national telemedicine platform, built by C-DAC, crossed 50 crore consultations — 57.14% by women, via 1.42 lakh+ Ayushman Arogya Mandir spokes and 19,473 hubs across 36 States/UTs; it won Gold at the National Awards for e-Governance 2026.
India's national telemedicine platform, built by C-DAC, crossed 50 crore consultations — 57.14% by women, via 1.42 lakh+ Ayushman Arogya Mandir spokes and 19,473 hubs across 36 States/UTs; it won Gold at the National Awards for e-Governance 2026.
71,58,949
Electors in Uttarakhand's final post-SIR roll (3 Oct 2026)
Down ~8 lakh from 79.61 lakh at SIR start; women 34.21 lakh (~915 per 1,000 men); 12,543 polling stations.
Down ~8 lakh from 79.61 lakh at SIR start; women 34.21 lakh (~915 per 1,000 men); 12,543 polling stations.
29,000+ units | 1.27 lakh jobs
Uttarakhand MSME push — new units set up and jobs created
Shared by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami at the 7th Uttarakhand Industrial Summit & Expo-2026 in Haridwar (8 Oct). Backed by a single-window system (206+ services, 26 departments), Nivesh Mitra, a ₹200 crore startup venture fund, Ek Janpad Do Utpad, and a 1,002-acre integrated manufacturing cluster at Khurpia (Udham Singh Nagar). The state is a 'Top Achiever' in the Business Reform Action Plan and ranked first in its category in the Export Preparedness Index 2024.
Shared by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami at the 7th Uttarakhand Industrial Summit & Expo-2026 in Haridwar (8 Oct). Backed by a single-window system (206+ services, 26 departments), Nivesh Mitra, a ₹200 crore startup venture fund, Ek Janpad Do Utpad, and a 1,002-acre integrated manufacturing cluster at Khurpia (Udham Singh Nagar). The state is a 'Top Achiever' in the Business Reform Action Plan and ranked first in its category in the Export Preparedness Index 2024.
10 practice MCQs — UKPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. With reference to the Uttarakhand Cabinet meeting held on 4 October 2026, consider the following statements: 1. It was held at Banbasa in Champawat district. 2. The amended FRBM targets cap the State's fiscal deficit at 3% of GSDP till 2030-31. 3. The Chief Minister Higher Education Skill Enhancement Scheme has an outlay of ₹500 crore. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: b
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The skill scheme's outlay is ₹200 crore over 5 years (about 1.19 lakh students), not ₹500 crore.
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The skill scheme's outlay is ₹200 crore over 5 years (about 1.19 lakh students), not ₹500 crore.
Q2. Consider the following pairs (Protected area — State): 1. Gangotri National Park — Uttarakhand 2. Desert National Park — Gujarat 3. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve — Uttarakhand. How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
Show answer
Answer: b
Desert National Park is in Jaisalmer–Barmer, Rajasthan, where the GIBs were released on 4 Oct 2026. Pairs 1 and 3 are correct.
Desert National Park is in Jaisalmer–Barmer, Rajasthan, where the GIBs were released on 4 Oct 2026. Pairs 1 and 3 are correct.
Q3. With reference to Exercise 'Mountain Guardian 2026', consider the following statements: 1. It is a bilateral exercise between India and the UAE. 2. It is being held at Chaubatia in Pithoragarh district. 3. The Indian contingent is drawn from a Bhairav Battalion. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B
Chaubatia is near Ranikhet in Almora district, not Pithoragarh; the exercise is India–UAE with a Bhairav Battalion.
Chaubatia is near Ranikhet in Almora district, not Pithoragarh; the exercise is India–UAE with a Bhairav Battalion.
Q4. Consider the following statements: 1. Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under Article 124(2). 2. An acting Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed under Article 223. 3. The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court, including the CJI, is 34. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: A
Sanctioned strength now stands at 38 (working 37 after the 5 Oct notification); Articles 124(2) and 223 are correctly matched.
Sanctioned strength now stands at 38 (working 37 after the 5 Oct notification); Articles 124(2) and 223 are correctly matched.
Q5. With reference to tiger conservation in Uttarakhand, consider the following statements: 1. Project Tiger was launched in 1973 at Corbett National Park. 2. Rajaji was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2015. 3. The second phase of Corbett-to-Rajaji translocation shifts tigers to Rajaji's eastern zone. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Phase 2 sends 5 tigers to Rajaji's western zone; phase 1 went to the eastern zone.
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Phase 2 sends 5 tigers to Rajaji's western zone; phase 1 went to the eastern zone.
Q6. Which one of the following is NOT a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), with which India's TEPA came into force in 2025?
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Austria
- Norway
Show answer
Answer: C
EFTA has four members: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Austria left EFTA when it joined the EU in 1995.
EFTA has four members: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Austria left EFTA when it joined the EU in 1995.
Q7. Consider the following statements about Jim Corbett National Park: 1. It was India's first national park, established in 1936 as Hailey National Park. 2. Project Tiger was launched here in 1973. 3. The Ramganga river flows through the park. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: d
All three are correct: Corbett was set up in 1936 as Hailey NP, Project Tiger began here in 1973, and the Ramganga flows through it.
All three are correct: Corbett was set up in 1936 as Hailey NP, Project Tiger began here in 1973, and the Ramganga flows through it.
Q8. Chaubatia, the venue of the India–UAE exercise 'Mountain Guardian 2026', is located in which district of Uttarakhand?
- Pithoragarh
- Almora
- Bageshwar
- Nainital
Show answer
Answer: b
Chaubatia lies near Ranikhet in Almora district — known for the Kumaon Regiment Centre and government apple orchards.
Chaubatia lies near Ranikhet in Almora district — known for the Kumaon Regiment Centre and government apple orchards.
Q9. With reference to the Uttarakhand Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2026, consider the following statements: 1. It caps the annual fiscal deficit at 3% of GSDP for 2026–31. 2. It sets a cumulative debt ceiling of 30% of GSDP. 3. It allows no relaxation of the limits under any circumstances. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: b
The Bill caps the fiscal deficit at 3% of GSDP and debt at 30% of GSDP, but permits relaxation for disasters and security emergencies, so statement 3 is wrong.
The Bill caps the fiscal deficit at 3% of GSDP and debt at 30% of GSDP, but permits relaxation for disasters and security emergencies, so statement 3 is wrong.
Q10. The 'Bhudev' mobile application, recently in news in Uttarakhand, is related to:
- Digitisation of land records
- Earthquake early warning
- Char Dham Yatra registration
- Forest fire alerts
Show answer
Answer: b
Bhudev, developed with IIT Roorkee for USDMA, delivers earthquake early-warning alerts; it carried today's test alert alongside 112 sirens.
Bhudev, developed with IIT Roorkee for USDMA, delivers earthquake early-warning alerts; it carried today's test alert alongside 112 sirens.
Mains practice questions
- Out-migration ('palayan') from Uttarakhand's hill districts is closely linked to gaps in health care, higher education and livelihoods. Evaluate how recent State measures — higher stipends for hill-posted doctors, skill schemes for college students and district-level Cabinet meetings — can address this challenge. (150 words)
- Record Char Dham footfall is coinciding with sharper weather extremes in the Uttarakhand Himalaya. Examine the challenges this poses and suggest a framework for sustainable pilgrimage management. (125 words)
- The record footfall of the Char Dham Yatra and recurring seismic and weather shocks in the Garhwal Himalaya call for a 'carrying-capacity first' pilgrimage policy. Discuss with reference to Uttarakhand. (200 words)
- Post-monsoon western disturbances and a long pilgrimage season heighten disaster risk along Uttarakhand's Char Dham routes. Discuss the challenges and suggest a risk-informed framework for yatra management. (250 words)
- Uttarakhand lies in one of India's most seismically active belts. Discuss the role of earthquake early-warning systems in disaster risk reduction and suggest measures to make hill settlements earthquake-resilient. (250 words)
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