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 19 Oct — Dr Dhal Singh Bisen sworn in as Uttarakhand Governor; DM-led committees to tackle human-wildlife conflict; ₹24,000 crore more investment set for grounding
- Tue 20 Oct — Dhal Singh Bisen sworn in as Uttarakhand's 9th Governor; Char Dham Yatra heads into winter closure after record footfall; India–New Zealand FTA comes into force today
- Wed 21 Oct — New Governor Dhal Singh Bisen takes charge in Uttarakhand; CM announces 1,600 police posts on Police Commemoration Day; India-US-UAE trilateral and India-NZ FTA in force
- Thu 22 Oct — Char Dham footfall crosses 60 lakh as shrines set winter closure; CM doubles police-station budget; core sector hits 7.9% new-series high
- Fri 23 Oct — Uttarakhand Cabinet notifies UCC (Amendment) Rules 2026 and clears 25 proposals; Char Dham Yatra crosses a record 60 lakh pilgrims; India–Poland set to double trade by 2030
All topics — key facts for revision
19 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Dr Dhal Singh Bisen takes oath as Uttarakhand's new Governor
- Succeeds Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd); part of a reshuffle naming Governors for Karnataka, Odisha, Sikkim too.
- Former Balaghat (MP) Lok Sabha MP (17th LS, 2019–24); 4-time MLA; MP Cabinet Minister (2003–05: forests, transport, mines).
- An Ayurvedic practitioner by profession.
- Priorities stated: education, health, agriculture, tourism, environment, employment.
ENVIRONMENT District committees under DMs to curb human-wildlife conflict
- Nodal DFO = member-secretary; members from police, agriculture, horticulture, education, animal husbandry, energy, UREDA + 2 gram pradhans of sensitive areas.
- Tasks: village-level hotspot mapping, QRTs, e-surveillance, early-warning systems, a mitigation cell in every division; meet at least once in 3 months.
- Jan–Sep 2026: 55 deaths, 407 injuries; 29 deaths by leopard/tiger (17 by leopards).
- Injuries: monkeys/langurs 154, snakes 102, leopards 75, bears 40.
ECONOMY ₹24,000 crore more investment readied for grounding in Uttarakhand
- GIS-2023 (Dehradun): MoUs worth ₹3.56 lakh crore; ₹1.01 lakh crore+ already grounded (~28%).
- Heavy industry concentrated in Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and parts of Nainital.
- 'Nivesh Mitra' facilitators appointed; data on single-window portals.
- Policy aim: balance ecology & economy while maximising employment.
UTTARAKHAND Rudranath closes for winter as record Char Dham season winds down
- Rudranath (~3,600 m) — Shiva worshipped as 'mukh' (face); reopened on 18 May 2026.
- Panch Kedar: Kedarnath → Madhyamaheshwar → Tungnath → Rudranath → Kalpeshwar (Kalpeshwar open all year).
- Badrinath closing date is traditionally fixed on Vijayadashami; Kedarnath closes on Bhai Dooj.
- Winter seats: Kedarnath — Omkareshwar, Ukhimath; Badrinath — Pandukeshwar/Jyotirmath.
SOCIETY Jaunsar-Bawar's 'Gagli war': a Dussehra of atonement, not Ravana dahan
- Legend of two girls, Rani and Munni, who died in a well; villagers seek to lift the resulting curse, on the advice of a mali (attendant) of deity Mahasu.
- Straw effigies are immersed in a well at Kyani Danda; then a ~1-hour fight with arbi (colocasia) stalks & leaves.
- No winner, no loser; ends in embraces and folk dances — Harul, Tandi, Raso, Jhenta.
- Linked locally to the Painta festival.
ENVIRONMENT India's Ramsar sites reach 103 with Sukhna Lake and Sauj Jheel
- Sukhna: artificial lake (1958) at the Shivalik foothills; bird habitat, groundwater recharge.
- Sauj Jheel: Kishni tehsil, Mainpuri; Ganga floodplain wetland; an Important Bird Area.
- UP now has 14 sites — second only to Tamil Nadu.
- Uttarakhand's only Ramsar site: Asan Conservation Reserve (Dehradun, 2020).
IR India to accede to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement
- SIOFA signed in Rome, 7 July 2006; in force June 2012; 10 existing parties incl. Australia, China, Japan, Korea.
- Covers non-highly-migratory high-seas stocks — fish, molluscs, crustaceans.
- Indian vessels may target squid, toothfish, alfonsino.
- Gives India a vote in conservation & quota decisions.
ECONOMY Principal Purpose Test now part of India–Mauritius tax treaty
- Protocol signed March 2024, Port Louis; in force 10 Aug 2026; notified under Sec. 159(1), Income Tax Act, 2025.
- PPT = new Article 27B: benefits denied if obtaining them was one of the principal purposes.
- 2016 Protocol grandfathering (investments before 1 April 2017) not expressly repealed.
- Mauritius has long been among India's top FDI sources.
REPORT WTO lifts 2026 world merchandise trade growth forecast to 3.9%
- AI-related goods drove 47% of merchandise trade growth in H1 2026; AI investment up 67% y-o-y.
- 2027 merchandise trade forecast: 4.1%; services trade 3.3% in 2026.
- World GDP: 2.6% (2026), 2.9% (2027).
- Middle-East tensions flagged as a downside risk.
DEFENCE INS Samarthak: Navy commissions first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel
- Built by L&T, Kattupalli (Tamil Nadu); ~107 m long; >75% indigenous content.
- First of four MPVs; an auxiliary platform, not a frontline warship.
- Roles: weapon/sensor trials, towing, surveillance, training, unmanned systems, HADR.
- Boosts Aatmanirbhar Bharat in shipbuilding.
REPORT Female labour force participation jumps in rural India, urban lags
- Rural: 33.0% → 45.9%; Urban: 23.3% → 27.7%.
- Biggest gains: Arunachal Pradesh; declines in Lakshadweep.
- Uttarakhand: urban gains above national average, rural gains below.
- Rise partly reflects unpaid self-employment in agriculture.
20 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Dr Dhal Singh Bisen sworn in as Uttarakhand's 9th Governor
- Bisen (b. 1952) was a 4-term MLA in Madhya Pradesh and Lok Sabha MP, Balaghat (2019–24).
- He chaired the 4th State Finance Commission of MP (2011–13).
- Uttarakhand's 1st Governor: Surjit Singh Barnala (2000); first woman: Margaret Alva (2009).
- Raj Bhavans are now styled ‘Lok Bhavan’.
UTTARAKHAND Assembly to meet at Bhararisain (Gairsain) from 27 Oct; Kumbh 2027 logo unveiled
- Gairsain was declared the summer capital in March 2020; Dehradun remains the (interim) capital.
- Kumbh logo shows Maa Ganga, Har Ki Pauri, Dhanush bridge, Mansa Devi & Chandi Devi hills.
- Haridwar Kumbh is held every 12 years; Ardh Kumbh every 6 years.
- Kumbh Mela is on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list (2017).
UTTARAKHAND Haridwar: 17 elephants under watch, 6 to get radio collars ahead of Kumbh
- Uttarakhand's elephant count: 2,026 (2020 census), up from 1,839 (2017).
- Elephants mainly in the Terai–Shivalik belt, incl. the Rajaji–Corbett corridor.
- A collared herd leader acts as a proxy for the whole herd.
- Proposal for collaring was sent to MoEFCC for approval.
UTTARAKHAND Adventure tourism: 141 youth trained as paragliding pilots
- Target: 100 hours of flight time with practical tandem training.
- Final test: a 35 km cross-country flight.
- Qualifiers get a Commercial Tandem Pilot Licence.
- Operations allowed only at sites cleared by a technical committee.
UTTARAKHAND Char Dham Yatra: record 56.89 lakh pilgrims, winter closure calendar set
- Shrine-wise: Badrinath 19.14 lakh, Kedarnath 16.79 lakh, Gangotri 9.10 lakh, Yamunotri 8.10 lakh.
- Closures: Gangotri 10 Nov, Yamunotri 11 Nov (Bhai Dooj), Tungnath 6 Nov, Madhyamaheshwar 16 Nov.
- Winter seats: Kedarnath → Ukhimath (Omkareshwar); Gangotri → Mukhba; Yamunotri → Kharsali.
- Tungnath doli goes to Makku Math; Badrinath to Pandukeshwar/Jyotirmath.
UTTARAKHAND Medical Education University, Selaqui: ₹20.55 crore projects; super-speciality hospital proposed
- Foundation: admin block, amphitheatre, Nakshatra Vatika (₹20.21 cr); inaugurated: gate & dental hospital (₹34 lakh).
- State has 5 govt medical colleges, 2 under construction, 9 nursing colleges, 3 nursing schools.
- ₹351 crore AIIMS satellite centre coming up at Kichha (Udham Singh Nagar); cancer institute at Haldwani.
IR India–New Zealand FTA comes into force on Vijayadashami
- India liberalises about 70% of its lines; dairy, sugar, edible oils kept out.
- Apples, kiwifruit, Manuka honey via tariff-rate quotas & minimum import prices — shields Uttarakhand/HP growers.
- 5,000 temporary employment visas; 1,000 working-holiday visas a year.
- NZ to facilitate $20 billion investment; FY25 goods trade US$1.3 bn.
POLITY SC: Internet access is a fundamental right of children too
- Right flows from Art. 19(1)(a) and Art. 21; relies on Anuradha Bhasin (2020).
- Centre to build a national hash & URL database, each entry verified by 3 human analysts.
- Platforms: act within 2 hours on flagged cases; weekly removal reports.
- A default ‘child mode’; universal age-gating rejected on privacy grounds.
ENVIRONMENT Ramsar network reaches 103 with Sukhna and Sauj Jheel
- Uttar Pradesh now has 14 sites, second only to Tamil Nadu.
- Uttarakhand's only Ramsar site: Asan Conservation Reserve (Dehradun), 2020.
- Ramsar Convention: 1971, Ramsar (Iran); India joined in 1982.
- India's first sites: Chilika (Odisha) & Keoladeo (Rajasthan), 1981.
DEFENCE INS Samarthak: Navy's first indigenous multi-purpose vessel commissioned
- About 107 m long; over 75% indigenous content.
- Roles: weapon & sensor trials, surveillance, towing, training, HADR.
- An auxiliary platform, not a frontline warship.
21 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →POLITY Dr Dhal Singh Bisen sworn in as Uttarakhand's 9th Governor
- Oath administered by Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari of the Uttarakhand High Court
- Bisen: former Balaghat (MP) Lok Sabha MP (17th LS, 2019-24); four-time MLA in Madhya Pradesh
- Was MP Cabinet Minister (2003-05) for forests, transport and mines; an Ayurvedic practitioner
- He is the 9th Governor of Uttarakhand (first: Surjit Singh Barnala, 2000)
UTTARAKHAND Police Commemoration Day: 1,600 police posts, station funds doubled
- Recruitment to 1,600 vacant posts across police wings
- Annual police-station expense fund raised from ₹4 crore to ₹8 crore
- Modern investigation kits for IOs; review of staff strength at each thana
- Police transit hostel in Dehradun; upgrade of Police Modern School and Police Hospital
UTTARAKHAND Gairsain session on 27-28 Oct; fiscal-deficit cap of 3% of GSDP
- 426 questions received from 31 MLAs; Speaker: Ritu Khanduri Bhushan
- Cabinet (at Banbasa, Champawat — first-ever there) cleared Fiscal Responsibility (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Fiscal deficit ≤ 3% of GSDP and debt ≤ 30% of GSDP for 2026-27 to 2030-31; relaxation for disasters
- Sixth State Finance Commission report to be tabled; Irrigation & Water Drainage Bill, 2026 to replace the 1873 canal Act
UTTARAKHAND Char Dham Yatra 2026 sets record with 59.08 lakh pilgrims
- As of 28 Sep: Badrinath 18.10 lakh, Kedarnath 15.57 lakh, Gangotri 8.41 lakh (its highest ever), Yamunotri 7.5 lakh
- Tentative closing: Gangotri 10 Nov, Kedarnath & Yamunotri 11 Nov, Badrinath 13 Nov
- Winter seats: Kedarnath — Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath; Badrinath — Narsingh Temple, Joshimath
- Gangotri — Mukhba; Yamunotri — Kharsali
ENVIRONMENT Western disturbance alert and pre-hibernation bear movement in hills
- 23 Oct: light rain in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli (Garhwal) and Pithoragarh (Kumaon)
- Pilgrims and trekkers advised to check forecasts — roads to shrines may be affected
- Bears move toward settlements in Sep-Nov (and again in Feb) to build fat reserves before hibernation
- Measures: camera traps, patrols, awareness, and clearing garbage dumps near villages (Chamoli, Uttarkashi)
UTTARAKHAND ₹1.01 lakh crore of GIS investment grounded; film policy push
- Global Investors Summit, Dec 2023 (Dehradun): MoUs of about ₹3.56 lakh crore
- Grounding after three groundbreaking ceremonies; 'Nivesh Mitras' assist investors
- About 70% of the state's area is forest — a constraint on land for industry
- Uttarakhand Film Policy-2024: single-window shooting permits and financial grants
IR India-US-UAE trilateral in Mumbai; trade deal 'close'
- Agenda: energy, connectivity and regional developments; bilateral talks on trade, technology and defence
- Rubio called India a 'refining superpower'; discussed processing Venezuelan oil at Jamnagar
- US tariff on most Indian goods cut from 50% to 18% under the February framework
- Jaishankar stressed zero tolerance for terrorism
IR Rajnath at SCO Dushanbe: dismantle the terror ecosystem
- Urged members to dismantle the terrorism ecosystem; no double standards
- India to host the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum by end-2026
- Backed a 2026-2030 action plan on multilateral trade and economic cooperation
ECONOMY India-New Zealand FTA comes into force
- Duty-free access for 100% of Indian exports to New Zealand
- Expected US$20 billion investment into India over 15 years
- Gains for textiles, leather, engineering goods, pharma; NZ gains in wood, wool, sheep meat
- Import quotas for apples and kiwifruit — relevant for Uttarakhand and Himachal orchardists
SCI-TECH China curbs export of tunnel-boring machines from 18 Nov
- Covers earth-pressure-balance, slurry-shield and rock TBMs plus cutterheads and main drives
- Not a blanket ban — other destinations need registration and an export certificate
- Rishikesh-Karnaprayag line (125 km): 16 main tunnels (105 km)
- First Himalayan use of a TBM on the ~14.6-km T-8 (Devprayag-Janasu) tunnel, now through
REPORT Global Hunger Index 2026: India ranked 100th of 122
- Child wasting 19.0% (up from 16.9%) — highest in South Asia
- Child stunting 29.3% — fell from 'very high' to 'high' for the first time
- Undernourishment 9.8% (from 10.5%); child mortality 2.7%
- Ranks better than Pakistan; behind Bangladesh
22 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Char Dham Yatra 2026 crosses 60 lakh pilgrims; winter closure dates fixed
- Badrinath 20,70,500; Kedarnath 17,65,520; Yamunotri 9,45,572; Gangotri 8,38,422; Hemkund Sahib 3,90,696.
- Closure: Gangotri 10 Nov (12:05 pm); Kedarnath & Yamunotri 11 Nov (Bhai Dooj); Badrinath 16 Nov.
- Winter seats: Kedarnath → Ukhimath (Omkareshwar); Badrinath → Pandukeshwar/Jyotirmath; Gangotri → Mukhba; Yamunotri → Kharsali.
- Opening dates 2026: Yamunotri & Gangotri 19 Apr, Kedarnath 22 Apr, Badrinath 23 Apr.
UTTARAKHAND Police Commemoration Day: CM announces 1,600 police posts, doubles thana budget
- Recruitment for about 1,600 vacant posts; annual police-station operational budget raised from ₹4 crore to ₹8 crore.
- Quick Response Teams at every police station for women's safety; 24x7 help desk at AIIMS Rishikesh.
- State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under construction at about ₹32 crore.
- 206 Uttarakhand police personnel have died on duty since statehood; 154 died nationwide in the past year.
UTTARAKHAND ASI resumes excavation at Kashipur's Govishan mound, linked to Dronasagar
- Xuanzang (7th century CE) described Govishan; Alexander Cunningham identified it with Kashipur.
- Earlier digs in 1939-40, 1965-66, 1970-71; the Bhim-Gaja temple complex shows three phases (earliest possibly Gupta).
- Finds include Painted Grey Ware (PGW) and Kushan, Gupta and medieval pottery, plus brick and circular structures.
- Local tradition links Drona Sagar lake to Dronacharya; the ASI notes such links alone do not prove historicity.
UTTARAKHAND Assembly's third session at Bhararisain from 27 Oct; Haridwar Kumbh 2027 logo unveiled
- The Cabinet has cleared the Second Uttarakhand Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Uttarakhand Fire and Emergency Services Bill, 2026 for tabling.
- The fire Bill is modelled on the Centre's Model Fire Service Bill, 2019.
- Logo imagery: Maa Ganga, Har Ki Pauri, Dhanush Bridge, trident-damru, and the Mansa Devi & Chandi Devi hills.
- The opposition plans a Vidhan Sabha gherao at Gairsain on 26 Oct during its 'Nyay Yatra'.
ENVIRONMENT Upper Ganga Canal shut for 20 days; waste surfaces at Haridwar ghats
- The canal headworks at Bhimgoda barrage, Haridwar, are managed by Uttar Pradesh, a legacy issue since the state's creation in 2000.
- Pilgrims are bathing with vessels, as the dip at Har Ki Pauri is not possible.
- Normal discharge will be restored after the 20-day maintenance drive, around Dhanteras.
- The exposed waste raises questions on the impact of Namami Gange spending in the upper Ganga stretch.
UTTARAKHAND Hill weather alert: snow above 3,500 m, rain in four districts; floodplain rules in focus
- The 2026 Rules operationalise the 2012 Act: they regulate land use near rivers, curb encroachment and keep flood paths open.
- Only about four states have enacted floodplain-zoning laws, based on the CWC's Model Bill (1975).
- The four alert districts host Gangotri-Yamunotri (Uttarkashi), Kedarnath (Rudraprayag), Badrinath (Chamoli) and the Adi Kailash route (Pithoragarh).
- Early snowfall raises the risk of road blockades and hypothermia on high-altitude yatra routes.
ECONOMY Core sector grows 7.9% in September — highest in the new 2022-23 series
- Iron ore +18.4%, electricity +11.4%, coal +10.7%, refinery +10.3%, cement +9.8%, steel +4.9%.
- Contractions: crude oil -1.4%, natural gas -4.6%, fertilizers -11.7%.
- August revised to 5.9% (from 4.8%); April-September cumulative growth 5.1%.
- The new series (base 2022-23, from July 2026) adds iron ore as the 9th industry; electricity has the top weight at 30.9%.
IR Modi-Tusk talks: India and Poland push the Strategic Partnership
- Ties were raised to a Strategic Partnership during Modi's Warsaw visit (Aug 2024).
- Trade goal: from about US$6 bn to US$10 bn; focus on defence, technology and space.
- Agenda included the India-Poland Business Forum, followed by a Bengaluru visit on 23 Oct.
- The Russia-Ukraine war and the India-EU FTA also featured in the talks.
IR India-New Zealand FTA in force from 20 Oct; customs e-origin data pact signed
- 100% of Indian exports get duty-free access to New Zealand.
- Expected US$20 bn investment into India; bilateral trade target to be doubled in 4-5 years.
- E-origin exchange cuts paperwork and certificate-of-origin fraud.
- Sensitive farm and dairy lines were protected on the Indian side.
ENVIRONMENT India plans 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel blending for international flights from 2027
- Blending path: 1% (2027) → 2% (2028) → 5% (2030).
- IOC Panipat co-processes used cooking oil and is building an alcohol-to-jet unit (about 30,000 t/yr).
- CORSIA (ICAO, 2016): voluntary phases 2021-26, mandatory 2027-35; baseline 85% of 2019 emissions.
- Indian airlines face an estimated offset liability of about 5 Mt CO₂ per year.
POLITY SC: converts to non-Hindu faiths cannot claim BC quota solely on pre-conversion status
- Art. 16(4) benefits cannot rest solely on pre-conversion caste; the 'source of social backwardness' must be tested afresh.
- Under the Constitution (SC) Order, 1950, SC status is limited to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.
- Reconversion to Hinduism needs independent, fact-specific verification.
- Private religious bodies cannot decide statutory entitlements.
DEFENCE Army Commanders' Conference: Defence Minister to release new Land Warfare Doctrine
- Release of the annual UN Journal, and honours for Indian UN peacekeepers.
- Awards for Green Military Stations and Aviation Flight Safety.
- The CDS, the Navy Chief and the MeitY Secretary will address the conference.
- The previous Land Warfare Doctrine was issued in 2018.
23 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Cabinet notifies UCC (Amendment) Rules, 2026; clears 25 proposals ahead of Gairsain session
- New rules remove implementation difficulties and clerical errors in registration of marriage, divorce, live-in relationships and succession.
- Earlier amendment (Ordinance, Jan 2026, Article 213): identity misrepresentation = ground for annulment; Registrar issues a termination certificate for live-ins; delays auto-escalate to Registrar / Registrar General.
- Uttarakhand GST (Amendment) Bill approved for introduction, in line with central GST changes.
- One-time settlement scheme for about 3,600 pending stamp-duty cases.
- Business Advisory Committee meets 24 Oct; Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan.
UTTARAKHAND Char Dham Yatra 2026 crosses a record 60 lakh pilgrims; portals to close from 10 November
- Opened: Gangotri & Yamunotri 19 Apr (Akshaya Tritiya), Kedarnath 22 Apr, Badrinath 24 Apr.
- Expected closing: Gangotri 10 Nov, Kedarnath & Yamunotri 11 Nov (Bhai Dooj), Badrinath ~13 Nov (tentative).
- Biometric/online registration is mandatory for every pilgrim.
- Kanwar Yatra 2026 drew nearly 5 crore pilgrims (state figure).
SOCIETY Social-justice push: SC/ST free-coaching cap raised to ₹8 lakh; 'Ekal Nari Samman Yojana'; relief for divyang students
- Free coaching for SC/ST students: family income limit raised from ₹2 lakh to ₹8 lakh.
- Maintenance grant renamed Mukhyamantri Ekal Nari Samman Yojana (single women).
- 5% relaxation in pass marks for divyang students in Uttarakhand Board exams — 28% is now a pass.
- All 13 DIETs restructured; sanctioned posts per DIET cut from 48 to 44.
- State Human Rights Commission report (2019–22) approved: 16,388 cases, 15,075 disposed (~92%).
UTTARAKHAND Uttarakhand Adventure Tourism Corporation approved; 'One District, One Sport' gets 14 head coaches
- New state PSU: Uttarakhand Adventure Tourism Corporation Ltd to plan, regulate and market adventure tourism.
- One District, One Sport: 14 head coaches on 3-year contracts at a fixed ₹1.45 lakh/month.
- Free travel in Uttarakhand Transport Corporation buses for athletes with state/national awards.
- PWD: second-phase works (slope cutting, retaining walls, culverts, drains) approved in a single stage.
- PM POSHAN: land for centralised kitchens in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar.
SOCIETY 'Drug-Free Uttarakhand' walkathon flagged off in Dehradun — 'Nashe ko Na, Zindagi ko Haan'
- Organised by the ONGC Officers Association; Cabinet Minister Khajan Das attended.
- Slogan: 'Nashe ko Na, Zindagi ko Haan' (No to drugs, yes to life).
- Strategy: enforcement against peddlers + awareness + de-addiction & treatment + rehabilitation.
- Promote sports, yoga and exercise; involve parents, teachers, workplaces and NGOs.
UTTARAKHAND Police Commemoration Day: 1,600 posts to be filled; police-station budget doubled to ₹8 crore
- About 1,600 vacant posts across police units to be filled soon.
- Annual police-station operational budget raised from ₹4 crore to ₹8 crore.
- State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under construction (~₹32 crore).
- 206 Uttarakhand Police personnel have died on duty since statehood (DGP Deepam Seth); 154 nationwide in the past year.
- 24x7 police help desk at AIIMS Rishikesh; quick response teams for women's safety at every police station.
IR India–Poland: Tusk visit sets goal to double trade by 2030; Defence Industry Dialogue launched
- Bilateral trade ~US$6 billion; target: double by 2030.
- New Defence Industry Dialogue and counter-terrorism dialogue; mid-term review of Action Plan 2024–28 endorsed.
- Poland to join CDRI; invited to ISA, Global Biofuels Alliance and IPOI.
- Poland backs India's UNSC non-permanent seat (2028–29).
ENVIRONMENT AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 in New Delhi — 'One land, two harvests'
- Theme: 'Powering the Global South'; 1,200+ delegates.
- Agrivoltaics = solar PV + crops on the same land (elevated, inter-row, greenhouse, aquavoltaic).
- ~47.5 Mha cropland technically suitable (~30% of cropland); elevated systems cost 25–30% more.
- Reported (site-specific) gains: yield +10–20%, water use ~30% lower.
SCI-TECH ISRO to launch NVS-03 on GSLV Mk II on 30 October to restore NavIC
- Only 3 NavIC satellites working now: IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I, NVS-01.
- NVS-02 (Jan 2025) failed to reach orbit — a pyro valve did not fire.
- NVS-03: ~2,250 kg, I-2K bus, ~3 kW, rubidium atomic clocks, geosynchronous orbit.
- L1 band suits common smartphone chips; encrypted Restricted Service for the armed forces.
HEALTH CDSCO flags 330 'Not of Standard Quality' drug samples in September; one spurious
- Split: 42 from Central Drugs Laboratories + 288 from State Drugs Testing Laboratories.
- August: 220 NSQ (29 central + 191 state) → September up 50%.
- Spurious drug made by unauthorised makers using another firm's brand name; under investigation.
- NSQ applies only to the tested batch; lists are published monthly.
DEFENCE Navy in two oceans: SIMBEX-2026 at Visakhapatnam, IBSAMAR IX off South Africa
- SIMBEX began in 1994 as 'Exercise Lion King'; India: INS Nilgiri (Project 17A), INS Kamorta (Project 28); Singapore: RSS Supreme.
- Sea phase in the Bay of Bengal (24–26 Oct): anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air drills.
- IBSAMAR IX: India fielded INS Tarkash (Talwar-class frigate); series began 2008.
- IBSA formed by the Brasilia Declaration, 6 June 2003; IBSA Fund (2004).
Prelims rapid-fire — 30 facts
| Bhagirathi Bisht (Chamoli, Uttarakhand) won bronze at the Delhi Half Marathon (18 Oct). |
| Uttarakhand Cabinet (Banbasa, 4 Oct): CM Higher Education Skill Enhancement Scheme-2026 — ₹200 crore, ~1.19 lakh students. |
| Census (Amendment) Rules, 2026: private-sector employees & teachers can now be enumerators (amends Rule 3, Census Rules 1990). |
| BIS Silver Refinery Scheme launched on World Standards Day (14 Oct); hallmark purities 999.9 / 999.5 / 999.0. |
| T. M. Balakrishnan Nair (Director, INCOIS) elected Chair of IOCINDIO (UNESCO-IOC, Indian Ocean). |
| Aditya-L1 (VELC) + ESA's Proba-3 (ASPIICS) jointly studied coronal mass ejections near the Sun. |
| Khet Bachao Abhiyan (22–30 Oct) — 2,375 programmes in Uttarakhand; target 1.20 lakh farmers |
| Vasundhara Tal (Chamoli) — Uttarakhand's first glacial-lake early-warning system; 13 of 344 lakes high-risk |
| Tungnath (3rd Kedar) — Closes 6 Nov; winter seat Makku Math |
| Census (Amendment) Rules, 2026 — Private employees & teachers can be appointed enumerators |
| India–Mauritius DTAA — Amended with a Principal Purpose Test; pre-1 Apr 2017 investments protected |
| WTO trade outlook — 2026 goods-trade growth raised to 3.9% (from 1.9%), led by AI investment |
| Police Commemoration Day: 21 Oct — Hot Springs (Ladakh) ambush, 1959; 10 CRPF martyrs |
| Azad Hind Government: Proclaimed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore, 21 Oct 1943 |
| Kedarnath winter seat: Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath (Rudraprayag) |
| ISRO LME-1100: 1,100 kN methane-fuelled engine; hot-fire qualification targeted mid-2027 |
| INS Samarthak: Commissioned at Karwar on 16 Oct 2026 |
| Polish PM visit: Donald Tusk in India 21-23 Oct; Strategic Partnership since Aug 2024 |
| Virasat Arts & Heritage Festival (31st) — 5 days from 23 Oct, Dehradun; organised by REACH |
| Gangotri winter seat — Mukhba village (Harsil valley), Uttarkashi |
| Hemkund Sahib 2026 footfall — 3,90,696; lake at about 4,632 m, Chamoli |
| Upper Ganga Canal — Opened 1854; engineer Proby Cautley; headworks at Haridwar |
| IBSAMAR IX (2026) — India-Brazil-S. Africa naval exercise, Simon's Town; India sent INS Tarkash |
| RBI MPC minutes (63rd meeting) — Repo 5.50%; stance calibrated tightening; 2 external members dissented on stance |
| UNESCO Tentative List (20 Oct): Baratang karst–mud-volcano complex, Andaman Subduction Volcanoes (Barren & Narcondam) and Sirpur (Chhattisgarh) added. |
| Rupee fell 44 paise to 94.82/US$ on 22 Oct; Brent near US$112 on West Asia tensions. |
| Uttarakhand Assembly session at Bhararisain (Gairsain) from 27 Oct; Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan. |
| India's fish production: 197.75 lakh tonnes (2024–25), inland share 151.60 lakh tonnes. |
| 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi on 26–27 Oct. |
| Sheetal Devi won two golds in compound archery at the Asian Para Games, Aichi-Nagoya. |
Data points of the period
₹1.01 lakh crore of ₹3.56 lakh crore (~28%)
Uttarakhand GIS-2023: MoUs grounded so far
State Industries Department figures (18–19 Oct 2026): another ₹24,000 crore is lined up for the 4th ground-breaking ceremony; if grounded, the total would rise to about ₹1.25 lakh crore (~35%).
State Industries Department figures (18–19 Oct 2026): another ₹24,000 crore is lined up for the 4th ground-breaking ceremony; if grounded, the total would rise to about ₹1.25 lakh crore (~35%).
5.54%
CPI inflation, September 2026 (base 2024=100)
All-India headline inflation rose from 4.83% (Aug) to 5.54% (Sep); food inflation jumped to 7.74%. Rural 6.08% vs urban 4.88%. Uttarakhand: 5.47% (rural 5.95%, urban 4.63%). Highest item inflation: onion 108.09%. RBI's target band is 4% ±2%.
All-India headline inflation rose from 4.83% (Aug) to 5.54% (Sep); food inflation jumped to 7.74%. Rural 6.08% vs urban 4.88%. Uttarakhand: 5.47% (rural 5.95%, urban 4.63%). Highest item inflation: onion 108.09%. RBI's target band is 4% ±2%.
5.54%
CPI (retail) inflation, September 2026
Up from 4.83% in August (base 2024=100); food inflation 7.74%, rural 6.08% vs urban 4.88%. The RBI raised the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50% on 7 Oct and shifted to 'calibrated tightening'; FY27 CPI projection 5.2%, GDP 7.1%. Target: 4% ± 2%.
Up from 4.83% in August (base 2024=100); food inflation 7.74%, rural 6.08% vs urban 4.88%. The RBI raised the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50% on 7 Oct and shifted to 'calibrated tightening'; FY27 CPI projection 5.2%, GDP 7.1%. Target: 4% ± 2%.
7.9%
Index of Core Industries — September 2026 (y-o-y growth)
Highest since the new 2022-23 base series began; 9 industries incl. iron ore; weight leader electricity 30.9%; Apr-Sep cumulative 5.1%.
Highest since the new 2022-23 base series began; 9 industries incl. iron ore; weight leader electricity 30.9%; Apr-Sep cumulative 5.1%.
308.03 GW (>55%)
India's non-fossil power capacity
Out of about 560 GW installed — the 2030 NDC goal of 50% non-fossil capacity is already crossed; next target 500 GW by 2030 (Panchamrit). Hill States like Uttarakhand get 50% central aid under PM-KUSUM.
Out of about 560 GW installed — the 2030 NDC goal of 50% non-fossil capacity is already crossed; next target 500 GW by 2030 (Panchamrit). Hill States like Uttarakhand get 50% central aid under PM-KUSUM.
10 practice MCQs — UKPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. With reference to the Governor of a State, consider the following statements: 1. The oath of office is administered by the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court. 2. A person must have completed 35 years of age to be appointed Governor. 3. The Governor can be removed only by impeachment for violation of the Constitution. 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: a
Art. 159 (oath by HC Chief Justice) and Art. 157 (35 years) are correct. There is no impeachment for a Governor — he holds office during the pleasure of the President (Art. 156).
Art. 159 (oath by HC Chief Justice) and Art. 157 (35 years) are correct. There is no impeachment for a Governor — he holds office during the pleasure of the President (Art. 156).
Q2. Gopinath Temple at Gopeshwar serves as the winter seat of which of the following Panch Kedar shrines?
- Tungnath
- Rudranath
- Madhyamaheshwar
- Kalpeshwar
Show answer
Answer: b
Rudranath (4th Kedar, face of Shiva) is worshipped at Gopinath Temple, Gopeshwar in winter. Tungnath — Makkumath; Madhyamaheshwar — Ukhimath; Kalpeshwar stays open all year.
Rudranath (4th Kedar, face of Shiva) is worshipped at Gopinath Temple, Gopeshwar in winter. Tungnath — Makkumath; Madhyamaheshwar — Ukhimath; Kalpeshwar stays open all year.
Q3. With reference to the Governor of a State, consider the following statements: 1. The Governor is appointed by the President by warrant under hand and seal. 2. A person must have completed 30 years of age to be appointed Governor. 3. The oath of the Governor is administered by the Chief Justice of the High Court of that State. 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 — minimum age is 35, not 30; Art. 159 — oath by the Chief Justice of the High Court. Dr Dhal Singh Bisen took oath as Uttarakhand's 9th Governor on 19 Oct 2026.
Art. 155 — appointment by warrant; Art. 157 — minimum age is 35, not 30; Art. 159 — oath by the Chief Justice of the High Court. Dr Dhal Singh Bisen took oath as Uttarakhand's 9th Governor on 19 Oct 2026.
Q4. Which one of the following pairs of a Himalayan shrine and its winter seat is NOT correctly matched?
- Kedarnath — Ukhimath
- Gangotri — Mukhba
- Yamunotri — Kharsali
- Badrinath — Makku Math
Show answer
Answer: D
Makku Math is the winter seat of Tungnath (closes 6 Nov). Badrinath's winter worship is at Pandukeshwar/Jyotirmath.
Makku Math is the winter seat of Tungnath (closes 6 Nov). Badrinath's winter worship is at Pandukeshwar/Jyotirmath.
Q5. With reference to the Governor of a State, consider the following statements: 1. The Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President. 2. The oath of office of the Governor is administered by the President. 3. A person must have completed 35 years of age to be appointed Governor. 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 156 (President's pleasure) and Art 157 (35 years) are correct. Under Art 159 the oath is administered by the Chief Justice of the High Court, not the President — as when Dr Dhal Singh Bisen took oath on 19 Oct 2026.
Art 156 (President's pleasure) and Art 157 (35 years) are correct. Under Art 159 the oath is administered by the Chief Justice of the High Court, not the President — as when Dr Dhal Singh Bisen took oath on 19 Oct 2026.
Q6. Which one of the following correctly matches a Char Dham shrine with its winter seat?
- Kedarnath — Narsingh Temple, Joshimath
- Badrinath — Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath
- Gangotri — Mukhba
- Yamunotri — Pandukeshwar
Show answer
Answer: C
Gangotri — Mukhba; Kedarnath — Omkareshwar, Ukhimath; Badrinath — Narsingh Temple, Joshimath; Yamunotri — Kharsali. Portals close for winter in mid-November 2026.
Gangotri — Mukhba; Kedarnath — Omkareshwar, Ukhimath; Badrinath — Narsingh Temple, Joshimath; Yamunotri — Kharsali. Portals close for winter in mid-November 2026.
Q7. With reference to the Char Dham shrines of Uttarakhand, consider the following pairs (shrine : winter seat): 1. Kedarnath : Ukhimath 2. Gangotri : Kharsali 3. Badrinath : Pandukeshwar/Jyotirmath How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
Show answer
Answer: B
Pairs 1 and 3 are correct. Gangotri's winter seat is Mukhba; Kharsali is the winter seat of Yamunotri.
Pairs 1 and 3 are correct. Gangotri's winter seat is Mukhba; Kharsali is the winter seat of Yamunotri.
Q8. Consider the following statements about the Index of Core Industries (ICI): 1. It is released by the National Statistics Office (MoSPI). 2. In its 2022-23 base series, iron ore has been added as a new industry. 3. Electricity carries the highest weight in the new series. 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: B
The ICI is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT (Commerce & Industry), not the NSO, which releases the IIP. Iron ore is the new 9th industry, and electricity (30.9%) carries the top weight.
The ICI is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT (Commerce & Industry), not the NSO, which releases the IIP. Iron ore is the new 9th industry, and electricity (30.9%) carries the top weight.
Q9. With reference to the Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand, consider the following statements: 1. It came into force on 27 January 2025. 2. Scheduled Tribes of the State are exempt from its application. 3. Registration of live-in relationships under it is optional. 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 UCC took effect on 27 Jan 2025 and exempts Scheduled Tribes; registration of live-in relationships is mandatory, with penalties for non-registration, so statement 3 is wrong.
The UCC took effect on 27 Jan 2025 and exempts Scheduled Tribes; registration of live-in relationships is mandatory, with penalties for non-registration, so statement 3 is wrong.
Q10. Which one of the following pairs of a Char Dham shrine and its winter seat is NOT correctly matched?
- Kedarnath — Ukhimath
- Badrinath — Joshimath (Pandukeshwar)
- Gangotri — Mukhba
- Yamunotri — Guptkashi
Show answer
Answer: D
Yamunotri's deity moves to Kharsali in winter; Guptkashi is in Rudraprayag on the Kedarnath route. Kedarnath → Ukhimath (Omkareshwar temple), Gangotri → Mukhba.
Yamunotri's deity moves to Kharsali in winter; Guptkashi is in Rudraprayag on the Kedarnath route. Kedarnath → Ukhimath (Omkareshwar temple), Gangotri → Mukhba.
Mains practice questions
- Human-wildlife conflict in Uttarakhand has become as much a governance challenge as an ecological one. Examine its causes and evaluate the newly ordered district-level committee approach. (250 words)
- Record footfall in the Char Dham Yatra is both an economic opportunity and an ecological risk for Uttarakhand. Discuss, and suggest a carrying-capacity based model for pilgrimage management. (UKPSC Mains, 200 words)
- The Char Dham Yatra has crossed a record 59 lakh pilgrims in 2026. Discuss the economic benefits and ecological risks of rising pilgrim numbers, and suggest a sustainable pilgrimage-management model for Uttarakhand. (250 words)
- The record Char Dham footfall of 2026 is both an economic opportunity and an ecological risk for Uttarakhand. Discuss, and suggest a framework for sustainable pilgrimage management in the Himalaya. (UKPSC Mains, 200 words)
- Record pilgrim footfall in the Char Dham Yatra is both an economic opportunity and an ecological risk for Uttarakhand. Discuss measures for sustainable pilgrimage management in the Himalayan State. (UKPSC Mains, 200 words)
Preparing for Uttarakhand PCS (UKPSC)?
Read the daily edition every day, practise free Static GK MCQs and track your syllabus micro-topic by micro-topic.