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 12 Oct — Dhami Cabinet meets in Haridwar; twin Himalayan tremors hit Uttarkashi & Chamoli; Char Dham Yatra sets a 56.89-lakh record
- Tue 13 Oct — Dhami Cabinet at Haridwar notifies Floodplain Zoning Rules 2026; Char Dham Yatra sets all-time record; CPI inflation climbs to 5.54%
- Wed 14 Oct — Dhal Singh Bisen named Uttarakhand Governor; Cabinet clears Floodplain Zoning Rules; WPI inflation jumps to 11.39%
- Fri 16 Oct — Dr Dhal Singh Bisen named Uttarakhand's 9th Governor; Gairsain session from 27 Oct with ~₹5,000 cr supplementary budget; SC rules converts can't claim BC quota
All topics — key facts for revision
12 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Dhami Cabinet meets in Haridwar under 'Cabinet in every district' model; Assembly session due before 30 Oct
- Agenda: proposals of health, housing & urban development; a possible separate cadre for specialist doctors.
- Session must be convened before 30 Oct — Art 174 bars a gap of over six months between sessions.
- Gairsain (Chamoli) is being considered as venue for a session around 21-24 Oct.
- Banbasa meet (4 Oct) cleared 24 proposals, incl. FRBM (Amendment) Bill 2026 (fiscal-deficit cap 3% of GSDP) and CM Higher Education Skill Enhancement Scheme-2026 (₹200 crore, ~1.19 lakh students).
UTTARAKHAND Char Dham Yatra 2026 sets all-time record of 56.89 lakh pilgrims; Hemkund Sahib closes for winter
- Shrine-wise: Badrinath 19.14 lakh, Kedarnath 16.79 lakh, Gangotri 9.10 lakh, Yamunotri 8.10 lakh.
- Snowfall at Kedarnath on 11 Oct; the yatra was halted for about 3 hours and then resumed.
- Badrinath's closing date is customarily fixed on Vijayadashami (20 Oct 2026).
- Hemkund Sahib (~4,600 m) opened on 23 May 2026; it lies near the Valley of Flowers (UNESCO site).
UTTARAKHAND Twin tremors in four days: M4.2 at Uttarkashi after M4.9 in Chamoli put Himalayan seismic risk in focus
- Both recorded by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Shallow-focus quakes (< 70 km) cause stronger surface shaking.
- Past big events: Uttarkashi 1991 (M6.8) and Chamoli 1999 (M6.6).
- BIS revised zonation (IS 1893: 2025) puts the Himalayan arc in the new highest-hazard Zone VI.
- Uttarakhand SDRF (raised 2013) was congratulated by the CM on its ISO 9001:2015 certification.
UTTARAKHAND Western Disturbance brings early snow: rain-snow advisory for hill districts till 17 Oct
- Snow already reported at Kedarnath and Hemkund on 10-11 Oct.
- 14 Oct: light-to-moderate rain likely in all districts; snow in high reaches.
- 16-17 Oct: rain/snow likely in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh.
- Cold to intensify in the hills; plains to get relief from humidity.
UTTARAKHAND CM sanctions ~₹81 crore: ₹61.42 crore for Kumbh 2027 works plus rural roads, gools and heritage sites
- ₹9.94 crore for 20 km of internal rural roads in Tanakpur & Banbasa (Champawat).
- ₹3.30 crore for the Saneh drinking-water scheme (tube well + lifting reservoir), Kotdwar.
- ₹44.13 lakh for a field irrigation channel (gool) at Tauk Bhaura, Pithoragarh.
- Heritage: Kanvashram (Pauri) — statue of Emperor Bharat; Bhaunadevi Shaktipeeth (Almora); Guru Gorakhnath fairground (Pithoragarh).
SOCIETY Day of the Girl Child: smartphones for 149 meritorious girls; women's 30% horizontal quota highlighted
- International Day of the Girl Child: 11 October, declared by the UNGA in 2011, first observed in 2012.
- Uttarakhand gives 30% horizontal reservation to domiciled women in state services (law of 2022).
- Also on 11 Oct: 15 PMAY housing projects near completion; 12,856 families to get homes.
IR Katchatheevu: India tells SC it won't reopen 1974/1976 maritime pacts; Sri Lanka welcomes assurance
- The 1974 pact fixed the boundary in the Palk Strait, placing Katchatheevu (~285 acres) on Sri Lanka's side.
- The 1976 pact covered the Gulf of Mannar & Bay of Bengal; fishing rights were curtailed.
- Fishermen's concerns to be handled via diplomatic channels; next hearing in Feb 2027.
- The island's annual St Anthony's church festival draws Indian pilgrims.
DEFENCE Defence roundup: INDRA-2026 with Russia from 13 Oct, Tarang Shakti-2026 concludes, NGOPV 'Shreyas' launched
- INDRA: India–Russia naval exercise with harbour + sea phases; linked to the MAHASAGAR vision.
- Tarang Shakti-2026 is the 2nd edition (1st in 2024), 26 Sep–12 Oct, with partner F-35s, Rafales, F-16s.
- NGOPV class: 11 ships — 7 at Goa Shipyard, 4 at GRSE; about 3,000 t.
- INS Sahyadri is an indigenous Shivalik-class (Project-17) stealth frigate.
POLITY Supreme Court special sitting: no detention of peaceful protesters except by procedure established by law
- Peaceful protesters not to be detained except under the procedure established by law.
- Normal Metro & rail services and internet to be restored; curbs only if justified under Art 19(2).
- Assemblies allowed outside areas under Sec 163 BNSS orders; lawyers and journalists not to be obstructed.
- Notice to the Centre on a contempt plea; habeas corpus petitions listed for 13 Oct.
SCI-TECH TRISHNA: ISRO–CNES thermal-infrared satellite in advanced stage, launch due in 12-16 months
- Joint mission of ISRO and France's space agency CNES; the 3rd joint Earth-observation satellite.
- Measures land-surface temperature and evapotranspiration at high resolution (~57 m).
- Uses: crop water stress, irrigation planning, urban heat islands, snow and glaciers.
- Took about a decade from concept to realisation.
REPORT IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings open in Bangkok (12-18 Oct); World Economic Outlook due
- Host theme: 'Thailand's New Horizons: Empowering People, Building Resilience'.
- Development Committee on 15 Oct; IMFC plenary on 17 Oct.
- The IMF's flagship World Economic Outlook is scheduled for release on 13 Oct.
- Meetings are held in Washington DC two years out of three; every third year in a member country.
ECONOMY PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana completes one year: 100 districts, 36 schemes converged
- Cabinet approval on 16 July 2025 for 6 years from 2025-26; outlay ₹24,000 crore a year.
- Converges 36 schemes of 11 ministries/departments, plus state and private-sector schemes.
- District selection: low productivity, low cropping intensity, low credit disbursement.
- Targets 1.7 crore farmers: crop diversification, irrigation, storage and credit.
13 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Cabinet notifies Uttarakhand Floodplain Zoning Rules 2026
- Rules give procedures & standards for the Uttarakhand Flood Plain Zoning Act, 2012 — the State calls itself the first to enact such a law.
- Aim: curb unauthorised construction & encroachment, keep natural flood flow, protect lives & critical infrastructure.
- About 697.6 km of riverine stretches already finally notified — incl. Alaknanda 197.35 km, Bhagirathi 133.35 km, Mandakini 76.9 km.
- Zones are based on the magnitude of floods of the last 25 to 100 years; studies done for 1,175.54 km across 18 river basins.
UTTARAKHAND Haridwar Cabinet: ex-Agniveer rules, Child Bravery Award & two new Bills
- Ex-Agniveer Horizontal Reservation Rules 2026 for direct recruitment to Group C uniformed posts, with recruitment relaxations (builds on the 10% horizontal quota of 2025).
- New CM State Child Bravery Award scheme approved.
- Bills for the Assembly: Uttarakhand Fire & Emergency Services Bill 2026 and the 2nd Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill 2026 (decriminalising minor offences).
- 92% of proceeds from disinvestment/monetisation of assets to go to the owning public agency; society for Madan Mohan Malaviya Oriental Research Institute, Rishikul (Haridwar).
UTTARAKHAND Char Dham Yatra 2026 crosses 56 lakh — an all-time record
- Badrinath 19.14 lakh (Chamoli, Alaknanda) and Kedarnath 16.79 lakh (Rudraprayag, Mandakini) lead.
- Gangotri 9.10 lakh (Uttarkashi, Bhagirathi), Yamunotri 8.10 lakh (Uttarkashi, Yamuna).
- Badrinath closing date is customarily fixed on Vijayadashami; Kedarnath & Yamunotri close around Bhai Dooj.
- Ropeways approved for Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib to ease trek congestion.
UTTARAKHAND Haridwar Kumbh 2027 gets official logo, website and anthem
- Logo shows Maa Ganga, Har Ki Pauri, the Dhanush bridge, trishul & damru, and the Mansa Devi & Chandi Devi hills.
- Design by Madhu Sharma (Vikasnagar), chosen from 13 shortlisted entries; anthem by Haridwar singer Raghav Raja.
- On 11 Oct, ₹61.42 crore was sanctioned for 18 Kumbh infrastructure works.
- Kumbh is on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list (2017).
UTTARAKHAND CM seeks Centre's nod for 315 PMGSY roads to link 610 habitations
- 315 road proposals sent to the Centre to connect 610 habitations.
- Union Minister assured early action on approvals.
- Separately, ₹9.94 crore was sanctioned for 20 km of internal roads in Tanakpur & Banbasa (Champawat).
DEFENCE Mountain Guardian 2026: India-UAE drill at Chaubatia
- 92 personnel: 46 Indian Army (incl. a Bhairav Battalion) + 46 UAE Land Forces.
- Drills: joint planning, drone operations, surveillance grids, firing, integrated field exercise.
- Women officers of both armies in specialist roles.
- Other India-UAE exercise: Desert Cyclone (desert terrain).
ECONOMY Economics Nobel 2026 to Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford
- Hall (Stanford): consumption follows a random walk; hand-to-mouth households spend income as it comes.
- Woodford (Columbia): expected future rates drive inflation; Interest and Prices (2003) underpins New Keynesian models & forward guidance.
- Prize: 12 million SEK; instituted 1968, first given 1969.
- Indian-origin laureates: Amartya Sen (1998), Abhijit Banerjee (2019).
POLITY SC: price caps must go beyond cancer drugs
- Bench flagged mark-ups up to 1,000% — “broad daylight dacoity”.
- Made-in-India stent of about ₹5,000 sold for over ₹25,000.
- NLEM 2022 lists 384 medicines; non-scheduled MRP may rise max 10% a year.
- Para 19 of DPCO lets government fix prices in extraordinary cases.
REPORT Living Planet Index 2026: 73% average fall in wildlife
- Covers 35,803 vertebrate populations; compiled with the Zoological Society of London.
- It is a weighted geometric mean — not the share of animals lost.
- Steepest falls: Latin America-Caribbean 95%, Africa 80%; Asia 49%.
- 50% of populations declining, 43% increasing, 7% stable.
POLITY Jantar Mantar de-notified as Delhi's protest site
- Old rules: apply 10 days ahead; cap of 1,000 people.
- Art. 19(3) permits reasonable restrictions on assembly.
- Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (2018): earmarked sites allowed, no blanket ban.
- Sec. 163, BNSS 2023 = prohibitory orders (old Sec. 144 CrPC).
HEALTH JOSH Teams launched to speed up TB elimination
- Each team: 5 volunteers + 5 cadets, led by a Class-I officer.
- 6,347 squads; Phase 1 in 55 districts of 11 States/UTs.
- 67,933 panchayats recognised TB Mukt in 2026.
- Ni-kshay Poshan: ₹1,000/month (raised from ₹500 in 2024).
14 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Dhal Singh Bisen appointed new Governor of Uttarakhand
- Succeeds Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), who took oath on 15 September 2021 and served over five years.
- Same reshuffle: Sudha Yadav (Karnataka), Braj Mohan Ram (Odisha), Dushyant Gautam (Sikkim).
- CM Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed him, citing his long political experience.
- New Governor will summon/prorogue sessions and assent to Bills - first test: the 27 Oct Gairsain session.
ENVIRONMENT Cabinet clears Uttarakhand Floodplain Zoning Rules, 2026
- 697.60 km of river stretches notified finally; longest: Alaknanda (197.35 km), Ganga (142 km), Bhagirathi (133.35 km).
- Studies done for 1,175.54 km across 18 river basins; Sharda/Kali (244 km) and Nayar (180 km) under study.
- Same Cabinet: Uttarakhand Fire & Emergency Services Bill, 2026 (on Centre's Model Fire Service Bill, 2019) and Second Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
- Agniveer recruitment rules for Group 'C' uniformed posts; 92% of asset-monetisation proceeds to the respective agencies.
POLITY ECI reviews preparedness for 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections
- Day 1: workshop on First Level Checking (FLC) of EVMs for DEOs and EVM nodal officers.
- Day 2: DMs/District Election Officers and police presented plans on force deployment and law & order.
- 21 agencies briefed the Commission - paramilitary forces, Excise, GST, Transport, Forest, AAI, Customs.
- ECI expressed satisfaction; officials told to follow the prescribed election plan.
UTTARAKHAND Assembly to meet at Bhararisain (Gairsain) from 27 October; ~₹5,000 crore supplementary budget likely
- Supplementary budget of about ₹5,000 crore for 2026-27 (last year: ₹5,315 crore).
- Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan: Secretariat ready for the Gairsain sitting.
- Likely Bills: Fire & Emergency Services Bill, Jan Vishwas II, Uttarakhand Irrigation & Drainage Bill, 2026 (to replace the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873).
- Unspent departmental funds may be redirected to other development schemes.
UTTARAKHAND Unseasonal rain & hail damage 8,372 ha of kharif crops; hill orchards hit
- Udham Singh Nagar ~7,730 ha (paddy, sugarcane - Bajpur, Gadarpur); Haridwar ~600.1 ha (paddy - Bahadrabad).
- Two plains districts = ~99.5% of affected area; other districts 42.2 ha.
- Horticulture: Almora 15-70% (Chaukhutia, Lamgara), Champawat >33%, Tehri (Ghansali) ~30%, Pauri ~30%.
- Agri Minister Ganesh Joshi: aid as per central norms (cited ₹17,000/ha) plus State top-up; joint survey with Revenue dept.
SOCIETY Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2027: official logo, website and anthem unveiled
- Logo designed by Madhu Sharma of Jagjeetpur, Haridwar - picked from entries by youth and students of the State.
- Theme song written, sung and composed by Haridwar singer Raghav Raja.
- Logo motifs: Maa Ganga, Har Ki Pauri, Dhanush Bridge, Shiva statue, trishul & damru, Mansa Devi & Chandi Devi hills.
- Aim: global branding, digital information for pilgrims and safe, well-managed arrangements.
ECONOMY Inflation spikes: WPI 11.39% and CPI 5.54% in September 2026
- WPI: fuel & power 25.85%, manufactured products 9.76%, primary articles 8.67%, food index 8.66%.
- CPI food (CFPI) 7.74%; rural 6.08% vs urban 4.88%; onion +108.09%.
- Crude petroleum & natural gas WPI at 57.32%; basic metals 16.96%.
- Highest CPI States: Tamil Nadu 6.81%, Odisha 6.70%, MP 6.68%.
ECONOMY IMF WEO (Oct 2026) raises India's FY27 growth forecast to 7%
- India FY27: 7% (+60 bps from 6.4% in July); FY28: 7%; FY26 estimate 7.8%.
- World growth: 3.1% (2026), 3.4% (2027); China 4.5% (2026).
- India retail inflation projected at 5% (FY27), easing to 4.4% (FY28).
- UNCTAD Trade & Development Report 2026: India 7.3% in 2026 - fastest-growing large economy; world 2.6%.
DEFENCE INS Mangrol, third Mahe-class anti-submarine shallow water craft, commissioned
- About 80% indigenous content; built to DNV classification rules.
- Fit: Abhay hull-mounted sonar, lightweight torpedoes, indigenous ASW rocket launcher, Maareech torpedo decoy.
- Three diesel engines + waterjet propulsion for shallow-water manoeuvrability; also mine-laying.
- Named after Mangrol (Junagadh, Gujarat); earlier INS Mangrol (M85) minesweeper retired in 2004.
IR India hosts first BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi
- Members (7): Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka (South Asia) + Myanmar, Thailand (South-East Asia).
- Agenda: terrorism, transnational organised crime, narcotics, trafficking, illicit financial flows, cyber threats.
- Grouping: ~1.7 billion people (22% of world) and GDP of ~USD 5 trillion.
REPORT Nobel Economics 2026 to Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford
- Prize money SEK 12 million, shared equally.
- Hall (b. 1943): Stanford / Hoover Institution; Woodford (b. 1955): Columbia University.
- Woodford's 'Interest and Prices' (2003) shaped New Keynesian models and inflation targeting / forward guidance.
16 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Dr Dhal Singh Bisen named Uttarakhand's 9th Governor; likely to assume charge on 19 October
- Succeeds Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd.), Governor since 15 Sept 2021; Bisen becomes the state's 9th Governor.
- 4-time MLA in Madhya Pradesh; MP Cabinet Minister 2003–05 (forests, transport, mines); 17th Lok Sabha MP from Balaghat; an Ayurvedic practitioner.
- Same reshuffle: Kerala – O.P. Mathur, Tamil Nadu – R.V. Arlekar, Sikkim – Dushyant Gautam, Odisha – Braj Mohan Ram, Karnataka – Dr Sudha Yadav.
- First Governor of Uttarakhand: Surjit Singh Barnala (2000).
UTTARAKHAND Third session of Fifth Assembly at Gairsain (Bhararisain) from 27 October; ~₹5,000 crore supplementary budget
- Haridwar cabinet (12 Oct) cleared tabling of the Second Uttarakhand Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Uttarakhand Fire and Emergency Services Bill, 2026.
- Last year's supplementary budget (FY 2025-26): ₹5,315 crore.
- Gairsain was declared the summer capital in 2020; sessions alternate between Dehradun and Gairsain.
- CM Pushkar Singh Dhami unveiled the logo, website and theme song of Haridwar Kumbh 2027 (logo: Har Ki Pauri, Mansa Devi & Chandi Devi hills).
UTTARAKHAND Cabinet approves Uttarakhand Floodplain Zoning Rules, 2026 to curb construction along rivers
- Rules set procedures, standards and operational frameworks for land use and development in flood-prone areas.
- Aim: stop unauthorised construction & encroachment near rivers, keep natural river flow, protect lives and critical infrastructure.
- Recurring disasters — e.g., the Dharali (Uttarkashi) flash flood, Aug 2025 — exposed riverbed construction risk.
- Same meeting: 215 posts under Swajal / State Water & Sanitation Mission continued.
UTTARAKHAND Haridwar cabinet: new recruitment rules for ex-Agniveers in uniformed posts; CM State Child Bravery Award approved
- New rules for recruiting ex-Agniveers to uniformed Group 'C' posts; 10% horizontal reservation for them already exists.
- Chief Minister's State Child Bravery Award scheme approved.
- In-principle nod to a society for the Madan Mohan Malaviya Oriental Research Institute.
- Amendment to the schedule of the Uttarakhand Investment & Infrastructure Development Act; road-width relaxation for an affordable housing project in Haridwar.
UTTARAKHAND CM sanctions ₹124.21 crore for free textbooks, plus funds for hill roads and Haldwani sports complex
- ₹52.21 crore — free textbooks for Class 9–12 in government & aided schools (General, OBC, SC, ST).
- ₹72 crore — textbooks & teaching material under Elementary Education this FY.
- ₹4.15 crore — 5-km tiled road in Dineshpur (Udham Singh Nagar); ₹80 lakh CC road in Bhautadri GP, Kanalichhina (Pithoragarh).
- ₹9.35 crore — Integrated Sports Infrastructure Project, Indira Gandhi International Sports Complex, Gaulapar (Haldwani); ₹1 crore released.
UTTARAKHAND Rain, snow above 3,500 m chill Uttarakhand; Char Dham Yatra 2026 at a record 56.18 lakh pilgrims
- Light–moderate rain likely in Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Almora, Champawat, US Nagar, Bageshwar, Nainital, Pithoragarh; Mussoorie got 8.1 mm.
- Kedarnath helicopter services were halted on 15 October.
- Char Dham footfall crossed an all-time record 56.18 lakh by 7 October 2026.
- Winter seats: Ukhimath (Kedarnath), Jyotirmath/Pandukeshwar (Badrinath), Mukhba (Gangotri), Kharsali (Yamunotri).
POLITY ECI orders Special Summary Revision in 17 States/UTs incl. poll-bound Uttarakhand; final rolls on 4 January 2027
- Unlike the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), SSR needs no citizenship documents and no house-to-house enumeration.
- Transparency: readable-PDF rolls for parties; a BLA filing >30 Form-7 objections triggers ERO/AERO cross-verification.
- No transfer of DEO/ERO/AERO officials without ECI approval during the revision.
POLITY SC: a Hindu who converts to Islam cannot claim the Backward Class Muslim quota on pre-conversion backwardness
- A convert from the Hindu social order cannot claim Art. 16(4) benefit merely on pre-conversion social backwardness.
- The G.O. let converts from BC, MBC, Denotified Communities & SC claim status in 7 notified BC Muslim sects (e.g., Muslim Lebbai).
- Para 3, Constitution (SC) Order 1950: SC status only for those professing Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism.
POLITY SC issues notice to Centre on lifelong immunity for the CEC and Election Commissioners
- Sec. 16 bars civil/criminal proceedings against CEC/ECs for official acts — even after they demit office.
- Broader than Art. 361 protection for President & Governors; no such blanket shield for judges, CAG, Lokpal, PSCs.
- Clause was added by amendment at the Rajya Sabha stage; the 1991 Act had no such provision.
IR India's UNSC 2028–29 bid faces a rare contested Asia-Pacific race as Tajikistan enters the fray
- Needs a two-thirds majority — about 129 of 193 votes.
- India won 187/191 votes in 2010 and 184/192 in 2020; rivals Kazakhstan and Afghanistan earlier withdrew.
- Trend: first-time candidate Kyrgyzstan reportedly beat the Philippines this year.
ENVIRONMENT Ramsar sites rise to 103: Chandigarh's Sukhna Wetland and UP's Sauj Jheel added
- Sukhna: at the Shivalik foothills; Site No. 2602; stopover on the Central Asian Flyway.
- Sauj Jheel: part of the Saman Wetland Complex, an Important Bird Area.
- Glaw Lake (Arunachal Pradesh) became the 101st site in Aug 2026.
- Uttarakhand's only site: Asan Conservation Reserve (Dehradun, 2020) at the Asan–Yamuna confluence.
ECONOMY Russia, UAE and US supplied a record 66.85% of India's crude imports in August
- Russia ~44% (84.8 lakh t), down from 51% in July; UAE 17.4%; US 5.1%.
- US crude cost $810.6/t vs all-source average $640/t.
- Commerce Minister: the first tranche of the India–US trade deal is finalised, pending legal vetting.
Prelims rapid-fire — 24 facts
| Kunjapuri (Tehri) nine-day tourism-development fair opened by the CM; Kunjapuri is a Siddhpeeth near Narendra Nagar. |
| District Planning Committee elections in all districts except Haridwar on 16 Oct — DPCs flow from Art 243ZD (74th Amendment). |
| BRICS Traditional & Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games opened in Ahmedabad on 12 Oct under India's BRICS chairship (non-competitive). |
| NHRC foundation day — set up on 12 Oct 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. |
| Mizoram to count refugees separately in Census 2027: 38,213 registered, incl. 29,575 from Myanmar. |
| Pakistan declared an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Arts 232 & 234 of its Constitution — compare India's Art 356. |
| Uttarakhand SDRF certification — ISO 9001:2015 |
| Venue of 12 Oct UK Cabinet meeting — Haridwar |
| New UK award scheme for children — CM State Child Bravery Award |
| First fully literate UT under ULLAS (2024) — Ladakh; now Lakshadweep joins |
| ISRO-CNES thermal imaging satellite — TRISHNA (launch in 12-16 months) |
| 13 October observed as — Intl. Day for Disaster Risk Reduction |
| Brihattar Bharat: IGNCA's international conference (14-16 Oct, New Delhi) on India's global cultural links; marks centenary of Greater India Society (1926). |
| Skill Scheme (UK): CM Higher Education Skill Enhancement Scheme-2026 - ~1.19 lakh students, ~₹200 crore over 5 years (Banbasa Cabinet, 4 Oct). |
| Irrigation Bill (UK): Uttarakhand Irrigation & Drainage Bill, 2026 to replace the 1873 Northern India Canal and Drainage Act. |
| PMDDKY: PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana completes 1 year (launched 11 Oct 2025); 100 districts, ₹24,000 crore/yr. |
| KONKAN-26: India-UK naval exercise off Plymouth (UK), 8-15 Oct 2026, with INS Trishul. |
| Legion of Honour: Sunil Bharti Mittal named Knight of France's Legion of Honour (announced 12 Oct). |
| Uttarakhand's 9th Governor — Dr Dhal Singh Bisen — former MP, Balaghat (MP) |
| Assembly session venue — Bhararisain, Gairsain (Chamoli) — from 27 Oct 2026 |
| Haridwar Kumbh 2027 — Logo, website & theme song launched by CM Dhami |
| New Ramsar sites (103) — Sukhna (Chandigarh), Sauj Jheel (Mainpuri, UP) |
| Defence deals — ₹4,106 crore — IAF communication satellite + Navy torpedoes |
| Unemployment (NSO, Sept) — Overall rate steady at about 5%; urban joblessness up marginally |
Data points of the period
56.89 lakh
Char Dham Yatra 2026 footfall (till 7 Oct)
All-time record, ahead of 56.13 lakh (2023); Badrinath leads with 19.14 lakh, followed by Kedarnath (16.79 lakh). Tourism is a key driver of Uttarakhand's tertiary-sector-led GSDP — and of pressure on fragile Himalayan routes.
All-time record, ahead of 56.13 lakh (2023); Badrinath leads with 19.14 lakh, followed by Kedarnath (16.79 lakh). Tourism is a key driver of Uttarakhand's tertiary-sector-led GSDP — and of pressure on fragile Himalayan routes.
5.54%
CPI retail inflation, September 2026
Up from 4.83% in August — highest in the new CPI series; food 7.74%, rural 6.08%, urban 4.88%, onion 108.09%. Came days after the RBI MPC raised the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50% (stance: calibrated tightening).
Up from 4.83% in August — highest in the new CPI series; food 7.74%, rural 6.08%, urban 4.88%, onion 108.09%. Came days after the RBI MPC raised the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50% (stance: calibrated tightening).
11.39%
WPI Inflation, September 2026
Up from 9.92% in August; fuel & power at 25.85% drove the jump. April-September cumulative WPI inflation: 9.85%.
Up from 9.92% in August; fuel & power at 25.85% drove the jump. April-September cumulative WPI inflation: 9.85%.
$44.40 bn (+23.04% YoY)
India's merchandise exports, September 2026
Imports $74.61 bn; merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $30.21 bn (from $33 bn). Overall (goods + services) exports $80.75 bn (+10.99%); Jul–Sep 2026 overall exports $242.6 bn — highest ever for a Q2. Electronics +70.44%, petroleum products +31.9%.
Imports $74.61 bn; merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $30.21 bn (from $33 bn). Overall (goods + services) exports $80.75 bn (+10.99%); Jul–Sep 2026 overall exports $242.6 bn — highest ever for a Q2. Electronics +70.44%, petroleum products +31.9%.
8 practice MCQs — UKPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. With reference to recent seismic activity in Uttarakhand, consider the following statements: 1. The 1991 Uttarkashi earthquake was of higher magnitude than the 1999 Chamoli earthquake. 2. The revised seismic zonation code (IS 1893: 2025) places the Himalayan arc in Zone VI. 3. The Uttarkashi earthquake of 10 October 2026 was a deep-focus earthquake (focal depth over 300 km). 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
Uttarkashi 1991 was M6.8 vs Chamoli 1999 M6.6; IS 1893: 2025 created Zone VI for the Himalayan arc. The 10 Oct quake was shallow (11 km), so statement 3 is wrong.
Uttarkashi 1991 was M6.8 vs Chamoli 1999 M6.6; IS 1893: 2025 created Zone VI for the Himalayan arc. The 10 Oct quake was shallow (11 km), so statement 3 is wrong.
Q2. Katchatheevu, recently in the news, is located in which of the following water bodies, and under which agreement was it recognised as part of Sri Lanka?
- Gulf of Mannar — 1964 agreement
- Palk Strait — 1974 agreement
- Gulf of Kutch — 1976 agreement
- Lakshadweep Sea — 1986 agreement
Show answer
Answer: B
The 1974 India–Sri Lanka agreement demarcated the boundary in the Palk Strait, placing Katchatheevu on Sri Lanka's side; the 1976 pact covered the Gulf of Mannar and Bay of Bengal.
The 1974 India–Sri Lanka agreement demarcated the boundary in the Palk Strait, placing Katchatheevu on Sri Lanka's side; the 1976 pact covered the Gulf of Mannar and Bay of Bengal.
Q3. Consider the following statements about Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026: 1. It is a joint military exercise between India and the UAE. 2. It is being held at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubatia, Uttarakhand. 3. It is the first edition of the exercise. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
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Answer: B
Mountain Guardian 2026 (5-18 Oct) is the 3rd edition of the India-UAE exercise, held at Chaubatia (Almora). Statement 3 is wrong.
Mountain Guardian 2026 (5-18 Oct) is the 3rd edition of the India-UAE exercise, held at Chaubatia (Almora). Statement 3 is wrong.
Q4. With reference to floodplain zoning in Uttarakhand, consider the following statements: 1. The Uttarakhand Flood Plain Zoning Act was enacted in 2012. 2. The Mandakini stretch from Kedarnath to Rudraprayag has been notified. 3. The Floodplain Zoning Rules 2026 have been framed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: A
The Rules 2026 operationalise the State's own Flood Plain Zoning Act, 2012, not the DM Act 2005. The Mandakini (Kedarnath-Rudraprayag, 76.9 km) stretch is notified.
The Rules 2026 operationalise the State's own Flood Plain Zoning Act, 2012, not the DM Act 2005. The Mandakini (Kedarnath-Rudraprayag, 76.9 km) stretch is notified.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding floodplain zoning in Uttarakhand: 1. The State enacted a Flood Plain Zoning Act in 2012. 2. The Floodplain Zoning Rules, 2026 were approved by the State Cabinet at Haridwar. 3. Among notified stretches, the Alaknanda has the longest demarcated length. 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 correct: Act of 2012; Rules approved on 12 Oct 2026 at Haridwar; Alaknanda 197.35 km is the longest of the 697.60 km notified.
All correct: Act of 2012; Rules approved on 12 Oct 2026 at Haridwar; Alaknanda 197.35 km is the longest of the 697.60 km notified.
Q6. With reference to the Governor of a State in India, consider the following statements: 1. The oath of office is administered by the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court. 2. The Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President. 3. A person must be a resident of the State to be appointed its Governor. 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
Art 159 (oath by CJ of HC) and Art 156 (pleasure of President) are correct; residency is not required - by convention, an outsider is usually appointed.
Art 159 (oath by CJ of HC) and Art 156 (pleasure of President) are correct; residency is not required - by convention, an outsider is usually appointed.
Q7. With reference to the office of the Governor, consider the following statements: 1. The Governor is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. 2. A person must have completed 30 years of age to be appointed Governor. 3. The Supreme Court has held that the Governor's office is not an employment under the Government of India. 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
Art. 155 – appointment by warrant; Art. 157 requires 35 years, so statement 2 is wrong; Hargovind Pant (1979) held it is an independent constitutional office.
Art. 155 – appointment by warrant; Art. 157 requires 35 years, so statement 2 is wrong; Hargovind Pant (1979) held it is an independent constitutional office.
Q8. Consider the following pairs (Dham — Winter seat): 1. Kedarnath — Ukhimath 2. Badrinath — Jyotirmath (Pandukeshwar) 3. Gangotri — Kharsali Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B
Gangotri's winter seat is Mukhba; Kharsali is the winter seat of Yamunotri.
Gangotri's winter seat is Mukhba; Kharsali is the winter seat of Yamunotri.
Mains practice questions
- Record pilgrim inflows and repeated tremors in 2026 highlight the tension between religious tourism and Himalayan fragility in Uttarakhand. Discuss a carrying-capacity based framework for managing the Char Dham Yatra. (UKPSC GS, 200 words)
- “Floodplain zoning is a low-cost but under-used tool of disaster risk reduction in the Himalaya.” Discuss in the context of Uttarakhand's Floodplain Zoning Rules 2026. (125 words / 8 marks)
- Unseasonal rain and hailstorms in October 2026 damaged over 8,000 hectares of kharif crops and hill orchards in Uttarakhand. Examine the vulnerability of the State's agriculture and horticulture to climate extremes and suggest a resilience strategy. (200 words)
- Floodplain zoning is a cost-effective non-structural tool for reducing flood losses in Himalayan states. Examine in the context of the Uttarakhand Floodplain Zoning Rules, 2026. (150 words, 10 marks)
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