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 26 Oct — Bhararisain (Gairsain) Assembly session opens tomorrow with ~₹5,000-cr supplementary budget; CM announces Mana Pass–Auli 100-mile ultra run; Centre rushes RAF to Arunachal over Siang dam protests
- Tue 27 Oct — Gairsain session opens with ₹7,412-crore supplementary budget; DAC clears ₹2.12 lakh crore defence buys; Cyclone Arnab nears Andhra coast
- Wed 28 Oct — Uttarakhand's ₹7,844 crore supplementary budget at Gairsain, new Fire & Emergency Services Bill, Cyclone Arnab hits Andhra coast
- Thu 29 Oct — Gairsain session passes ₹7,844 crore supplementary budget and 9 Bills; Kedarnath gets first snow as 18.5 lakh pilgrims log season; Cabinet clears PM Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana and ₹10,000 crore container scheme
- Fri 30 Oct — Uttarakhand passes ₹7,844 cr supplementary budget & 10 Bills at Gairsain; snowfall and orange alert in the hills as Char Dham closing dates near; Centre clears DA hike and ₹10,000 cr container scheme
All topics — key facts for revision
26 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Bhararisain (Gairsain) Assembly Session Opens 27 Oct; ~₹5,000-cr Supplementary Budget Expected
- 31 MLAs have submitted 426 questions — roads, drinking water, health, education, employment.
- Supplementary budget of about ₹5,000 crore for FY 2026-27 reported (₹5,315 crore in 2025-26).
- Uttarakhand GST (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (promulgated 3 Sept) to come as a Bill — aligns with CGST Act, 2017 changes.
- State Human Rights Commission report (2019–22): 16,388 cases, 15,075 disposed — to be laid in the House.
- Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan — Uttarakhand's first woman Speaker.
UTTARAKHAND Cabinet Notifies UCC Amendment Rules 2026; SC/ST Free-Coaching Income Cap Raised to ₹8 Lakh
- Civil Code (Amendment) Rules, Uttarakhand, 2026 to implement the UCC, Uttarakhand (Amendment) Act, 2026; they fix implementation hurdles and clerical errors.
- Free coaching for SC/ST students: family income limit ₹2 lakh → ₹8 lakh.
- Students with disabilities: 5% relaxation — pass at 28% in Uttarakhand Board exams.
- One District, One Sport: 14 head coaches (13 districts + Directorate), 3-year contract, ₹1.45 lakh/month.
- Maintenance grant renamed Mukhyamantri Ekal Nari Samman Yojana; new Uttarakhand Adventure Tourism Corporation Ltd.; OTS for ~3,600 stamp-duty cases.
UTTARAKHAND Adi Kailash Run 2.0 Ends at Gunji; CM Announces 100-Mile Mana Pass–Auli Ultra Run for May 2027
- 100 Miles Himalayan Endurance Ultra Run — first week of May 2027, from Mana Pass (~5,600 m) via Badrinath–Joshimath to Auli (Chamoli).
- Open to Indian and foreign runners; previous edition drew 700+ runners.
- Support from Army, ITBP and SSB in the border belt.
- Goals: adventure tourism, jobs for local youth, checking migration from border villages.
- Linked to Vibrant Villages Programme — border villages as the "first villages", not the "last".
UTTARAKHAND CM Reviews Amritpur Bypass to Ease Tourist Jams on Kumaon Circuit
- Kainchi Dham recorded 45,000+ pilgrims in a single day during the 2–4 Oct long weekend (usual: 20,000–25,000).
- Sanctioned: ₹1.75 crore (Phase I) + ₹4.69 crore (Phase II); work 15% complete.
- Rising footfall at Nainital, Ranikhet, Kausani, Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh.
- Kumaon Divisional Commissioner Deepak Rawat presented progress.
SCI-TECH 21st Uttarakhand State Science & Technology Congress Opens in Dehradun
- About 1,000 scientists, researchers and policymakers; 260+ papers in 13 technical divisions.
- Brainstorming on STI Policy 2026 — "Developed India, Empowered Uttarakhand 2047".
- UCOST DG Prof. Durgesh Pant introduced Vigyan Setu to link science with society.
- Exhibition by 60+ institutes and start-ups; 2nd Science & Technology Premier League; chief guest S&T Minister Pradeep Batra.
SOCIETY Recruitment Freeze Lifted in Aided Non-Government Secondary Schools
- Only sanctioned vacant posts formally revived/restored by the competent authority can be filled.
- Teaching posts to be aligned with student enrolment.
- Some management committees had approached the High Court; many schools ran with very few teachers.
- Announced by School Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat; rules-based, transparent selection ordered.
DEFENCE Operation Trident: NCB-led Strike on Drug–Hawala Network in the Northeast
- Raids at 38 locations in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur; 18 arrests.
- ₹100 crore+ hawala trail; 1,424 bank accounts frozen; assets of ₹17.82 crore attached; 500 detonators and ₹12 lakh cash seized.
- ED flagged a counter codenamed "Nuniang": 2,947 transfers worth ₹175.03 crore (2024–June 2026).
- Home Minister Amit Shah set 31 Dec 2029 as target to wipe out drug networks.
ECONOMY PM Opens RBI's ₹169-crore Data Centre & Cybersecurity Training Institute in Odisha
- Cost ₹169 crore; campus 18.55 acres; foundation stone laid by Governor Shaktikanta Das on 22 March 2023.
- Will host mission-critical payment and settlement systems; second such facility after Navi Mumbai.
- Site chosen for low seismic risk and distance from high-risk border areas.
- Present: FM Nirmala Sitharaman, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi.
ENVIRONMENT Centre Rushes RAF to Arunachal as Siang Dam Protests Turn Violent
- Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) — proposed 11,200 MW, India's largest planned hydro project; developer NHPC.
- Local communities (mainly Adi) fear displacement, submergence and ecological damage.
- Centre's rationale: buffer storage against China's mega-dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo.
- RAF airlifted from Navi Mumbai on an IAF aircraft.
DEFENCE Swavlamban 2026: Navy's 5th Innovation & Indigenisation Seminar Begins
- 5th edition; series began in 2022 (~800 participants); 100+ stalls this year.
- Focus: maritime surveillance, counter-UAS, AI, quantum, NBCD defence; highlights include quantum positioning and high-power microwave weapons.
- iDEX: 4,000+ proposals; AoN ₹3,500 cr+; contracts ₹1,900 cr+.
- Navy: 42 platforms on order; AoN for 78 more + 120 Fast Interceptor Craft (~₹2.41 lakh crore).
POLITY Vigilance Awareness Week 2026 (26 Oct–1 Nov): 'Probity for Prosperity'
- Theme: "Probity for Prosperity" (Satyanishtha se Samriddhi).
- Held in the week of Sardar Patel's birth anniversary (31 Oct, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas).
- Campaign focus: pending complaints, cyber hygiene, transparent buying on GeM, contract management.
27 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Gairsain Session Opens: ₹7,412-cr Supplementary Budget, 8 Bills
- 8 Bills listed; ordinances to be laid incl. Uttarakhand GST (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 and Minority Education (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.
- Sixth State Finance Commission report tabled with action-taken report (Art. 243-I & 243-Y).
- State Human Rights Commission report 2019-22: 16,388 cases, 15,075 disposed.
- 445 questions from 31 MLAs; House paid tribute to ex-CM B.C. Khanduri.
UTTARAKHAND Cabinet Amends UCC Rules; Clears Adventure Tourism Corporation
- UCC rules amended to remove implementation difficulties and clerical errors.
- New Uttarakhand Adventure Tourism Corporation Ltd. for adventure & eco-tourism.
- Stamp-duty One-Time Settlement scheme for ~3,600 pending cases.
- PWD second-phase works (slope cutting, retaining walls, culverts) now approved in a single stage.
- All 13 DIETs restructured — posts per institute cut from 48 to 44.
UTTARAKHAND Rudraprayag Bypass: Bridge + Tunnel Link Kedarnath & Badrinath Highways
- 200 m bridge over the Alaknanda + 900.30 m tunnel; route ~1.18 km.
- Cost ~₹156 crore, built under the Char Dham road project.
- Directly links NH-107 (Kedarnath route) with NH-07 (Badrinath route).
- CM also reviewed slope stabilisation on the Rudraprayag–Gaurikund highway.
UTTARAKHAND Pahadi Produce Goes Global: Chakrata Rajma, Turmeric to Canada & UAE
- Also in demand: Munsiyari rajma, red rice, pahadi dals, handloom.
- House of Himalayas has sold ₹6 crore+ of local products so far.
- Led by the Rural Development Department; gains to farmers & women SHGs.
- Chakrata lies in the Jaunsar-Bawar region of Dehradun district.
ENVIRONMENT Mann Ki Baat Hails Revival of Tehri's Heval River
- Falling flows had dried nearby naulas/dharas (natural springs).
- Methods: rainwater retention, groundwater recharge, mass plantation.
- Outcome: a 'new lease of life' for the river; dozens of springs revived.
- Joint campaign of administration + villagers — a Jan Bhagidari model.
SOCIETY Social-Sector Push: Free Coaching Income Cap Raised to ₹8 Lakh
- Maintenance grant scheme renamed Mukhyamantri Ekal Nari Samman Yojana.
- Students with disabilities in UBSE exams pass at 28% (5% relaxation).
- One District, One Sport: 14 head coaches, 3-year contract, ₹1.45 lakh/month.
- Free roadways bus travel for award-winning athletes; land for PM Poshan kitchens in Haridwar & Udham Singh Nagar.
DEFENCE DAC Clears ₹2.12-Lakh-Crore Proposals; 82% from Indian Industry
- Army: self-propelled tracked guns, VSHORADS, long-range kamikaze drones, counter-drone systems for tanks.
- Navy: Active Offboard Decoy System against anti-ship missiles.
- IAF: utility & Light Multi-Role Helicopters, air defence, mobile X-band Doppler weather radars.
- ~82% of value to come from Indian industry.
ECONOMY Centre to Bring Public Debt Down to 50% of GDP by 2030: FM
- Debt-to-GDP replaced fiscal deficit as the primary fiscal anchor from Budget 2025-26.
- Target: Central debt at 50 ± 1% of GDP by 31 March 2031.
- A group of ministers has worked on price stability since 2014.
- Lower debt frees space now taken by interest payments — the Centre's largest spending item.
ENVIRONMENT Very Severe Cyclone 'Arnab' to Hit Andhra Coast on 28 Oct
- Winds 115–125 km/h, gusting 140 km/h; storm surge 1.0–1.5 m.
- NCMC, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, reviewed preparedness on 26 Oct.
- NDRF/SDRF on standby; fishing ban; rain in Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh.
- Name 'Arnab' (meaning 'ocean') was contributed by Bangladesh.
IR India–US Trade Pact Being 'Fine-Tuned', Most Talks Over: Goyal
- Framework for the first phase was announced in February 2026.
- Mission 500: bilateral trade of US$ 500 billion by 2030.
- The US is among India's largest trading partners and top export market.
- India seeks to protect sensitive sectors such as agriculture & dairy.
IR India Hosts 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi
- Four themes: Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, Sustainability; incl. legislative oversight of AI.
- With China: shared responsibility for peace and tranquillity along the border.
- With Iran: Chabahar Port cooperation; with UAE: Digital Sansad, AI.
- India holds the BRICS chair in 2026.
HEALTH NMC Withdraws 2023 Medical-Education Standards Regulations
- Withdrawn rules had penalties up to ₹1 crore for institutions, ₹5 lakh for false declarations.
- NMC: minimum standards and statutory enforcement remain in force.
- Critics see weaker deterrence; NMC says it removes overlapping procedures.
28 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND ₹7,844.18 crore Supplementary Budget tabled at Gairsain; State budget crosses ₹1.19 lakh crore
- Budget rises from ₹1,11,703.21 cr to ₹1,19,547.39 cr; Capital ₹4,164.32 cr vs Revenue ₹3,679.86 cr
- Local bodies' share of state tax revenue raised from 10.5% to 12.5% per the 6th State Finance Commission; ₹721 cr for rural & urban local bodies
- Biggest head: ₹1,100 cr for paddy-wheat procurement; Jal Jeevan Mission ₹300 cr; Divya Kumbh Mela ₹290 cr; Nanda Raj Jat Yatra ₹20 cr
- Joshimath (land subsidence) ₹48 cr; new State Data Centre ₹40 cr; Gairsain water-supply dam ₹122 cr
UTTARAKHAND Gairsain session: 9 Bills incl. Irrigation & Drainage Bill and FRBM cap; UCC-linked Civil Law amendment
- Irrigation & Drainage Bill, 2026 to replace the colonial Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873
- FRBM (Amendment) Bill: fiscal deficit ≤3% of GSDP and debt ≤30% of GSDP for 2026-27 to 2030-31
- Civil Law (Amendment) Bill + cabinet-approved Civil Code (Amendment) Rules, 2026 align the UCC framework
- Others: Jan Vishwas (2nd Amdt), Investment & Infrastructure (Amdt), GST (Amdt), Private Universities (2nd Amdt)
UTTARAKHAND New Fire & Emergency Services Bill, 2026: mandatory Fire NOC, instant sealing of unsafe buildings
- Fire NOC mandatory: residential ≥12 m or ≥500 m²; hotels/homestays/schools ≥9 m; hospitals ≥1,000 m²; warehouses >250 m²
- Fire department may evacuate and seal a building on serious violation
- Fine of ₹10 per m² or up to 1.5× the cost of required safety equipment
- Death/serious injury due to negligence → action under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS); false fire reports punishable
UTTARAKHAND Char Dham Yatra 2026 sets record with 60 lakh+ darshans; winter closure from 10 Nov
- Badrinath ~20.71 lakh, Kedarnath ~17.66 lakh, Yamunotri ~9.46 lakh, Gangotri ~8.38 lakh, Hemkund ~3.91 lakh
- Closing: Gangotri 10 Nov (12:05 PM); Kedarnath & Yamunotri 11 Nov; Badrinath 16 Nov (9:37 PM)
- Rudranath (Chaturth Kedar) already closed for winter
- CM: new master plans for Kedarnath & Badrinath; Manaskhand corridor progressing
UTTARAKHAND CM's roadmap at Gairsain: 30+ policies, Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail ~80% complete
- ₹10,000 cr+ invested in infrastructure in the last 3 years
- Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail line about 80% complete
- Work on Char Dham all-weather road and Kedarnath & Hemkund connectivity projects; Sharda, Golju, Haridwar–Ganga corridors
- Separately, CM launched 67 schemes worth ₹284 cr in Pithoragarh
UTTARAKHAND Adi Kailash Ultra Run 2.0 held in Dharchula's high Himalaya to boost border tourism
- Organised by the district administration with Army, ITBP, SSB and BRO support
- Medical, hydration points and help desk at Chhiyalekh; route via Gunji
- Cabinet (22 Oct) cleared the new Uttarakhand Adventure Tourism Corporation Ltd
- Promotes winter/shoulder-season tourism in Vyas, Darma valleys
ENVIRONMENT Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Arnab' makes landfall near Narsapur on Andhra coast
- Sustained winds up to 135 km/h, gusting to 150 km/h
- Heavy rain in Kakinada, Konaseema, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, West Godavari
- Sea-water inundation in Kakinada; no casualties reported in early updates
- Yanam is part of the UT of Puducherry, enclaved in Andhra Pradesh
SCI-TECH PM inaugurates ESTIC 2026; push to take research 'beyond laboratories'
- 5,000+ delegates; 12 thematic domains incl. quantum, generative AI, semiconductors, Deep Ocean Mission
- Focus on the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund and ANRF to move deep-tech up technology-readiness levels
- Startups grew from ~400 (2014) to 2.3 lakh+ (as stated by MoS Jitendra Singh)
- Plenaries by Nobel laureates Joachim Frank (cryo-EM) and Richard J. Roberts (split genes)
POLITY SC: Multiple life sentences in a single trial cannot run consecutively
- Relied on the Constitution Bench ruling in Muthuramalingam v. State (2016)
- Trial court (2013) had ordered the two life terms to run consecutively; HC had upheld it
- Fines, default sentences and set-off (s. 428 CrPC) left intact
- Life imprisonment means imprisonment for the remainder of natural life (unless remitted)
IR Liechtenstein's first-ever State Visit to India; leaders hail India–EFTA TEPA
- First state visit from Liechtenstein to India
- Focus: trade-investment, innovation, S&T, skills, financial services
- Both back reform of multilateral institutions incl. the UN
- TEPA with EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) in force since 1 Oct 2025 — $100 bn investment, 10 lakh jobs pledge over 15 years
ECONOMY CMVR amended for E85 & E100: regulatory path opens for flex-fuel vehicles
- Applies only to vehicles designed and certified for these fuels; E20-compatible ≠ E85-ready
- E20 reached in 2025, ~5 years ahead of the 2030 target; E10 in June 2022
- Ethanol has ~one-third less energy per litre than petrol → lower mileage
- India imports >85% of its crude oil; PM JI-VAN Yojana (2019) backs 2G ethanol
29 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Gairsain session passes ₹7,844.18 crore supplementary budget; capex gets the lion's share
- Supplementary: ₹7,844.18 cr = revenue ₹3,679.86 cr + capital ₹4,164.32 cr.
- Total 2026-27 budget: ₹1,11,703.21 cr → ₹1,19,547.39 cr.
- Local bodies' share in state taxes: 10.5% → 12.5% (6th SFC); ₹721 cr to ULBs/PRIs.
- Farmers: ₹1,100 cr paddy-wheat procurement; ₹290 cr for Divya Kumbh; ₹122 cr Gairsain water dam.
- Supplementary size up 5.8x since Dec 2021; capex share 13.7% → 53.1%.
UTTARAKHAND Nine Bills cleared: new fire-safety law, minority-education curbs, Jan Vishwas decriminalisation
- Fire Services & Emergency Services Bill, 2026 replaces the 2016 Act; fire NOC mandatory (e.g. hotels/homestays/schools ≥9 m or >500 sq m).
- Fire-safety lapses: sealing, fine of ₹10/sq m or up to 1.5x equipment cost; deaths → action under BNS.
- Minority Education (Amendment) Bill: unauthorised religious teaching → sealing, fine up to ₹5 lakh, receiver, FIR.
- Jan Vishwas (Second) Bill: jail terms cut, fines raised (e.g. Fisheries Act 3 yrs → 2 months).
- Others: Irrigation & Drainage, FRBM, GST, Private Universities, Civil Laws amendments.
UTTARAKHAND ₹231.91 crore for Chamoli: Ramganga drinking-water dam and Karnaprayag land-subsidence works
- Total 12 projects ₹231.91 cr: foundation ₹197.87 cr, inaugurated ₹34.04 cr.
- Ramganga river dam for Gairsain drinking water: ₹122.69 cr.
- Land-subsidence protection, Bahuguna Nagar (Karnaprayag): ₹50.19 cr.
- Also: Govt Polytechnic Gairsain (₹12.17 cr), fire unit and police station buildings.
UTTARAKHAND Fresh snow at Kedarnath; season count crosses 18.53 lakh ahead of 11 November closing
- Kedarnath season total: 18,53,032 pilgrims.
- Kedarnath & Yamunotri portals close on 11 November (Bhai Dooj).
- Char Dham crossed 56.18 lakh by 7 Oct, beating 2023 record (~52 lakh).
- Yatra began 19 April 2026; Yamunotri had season's first snow on 25 Oct.
UTTARAKHAND Cyclone Arnab's remnant effect: yellow alert for thunderstorm and lightning on 30 October
- IMD yellow alert for 30 Oct: thunderstorm, lightning, strong winds.
- Udham Singh Nagar: max 27-31°C, min 13-14°C (G.B. Pant Univ., Pantnagar).
- Light rain/snow forecast in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh.
- Farmers advised to store harvested paddy under cover.
UTTARAKHAND 100-mile Himalayan Ultra Run from Mana Pass to Auli announced for May 2027
- Route: Mana Pass (~5,600 m) → Badrinath → Joshimath → Auli.
- Planned for first week of May 2027.
- Aim: livelihoods for homestays, guides, transporters in border areas.
- First Adi Kailash run (2025) drew 700+ runners.
POLITY Cabinet approves PM Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (₹7,395.55 crore) for Panchayat governance
- Outlay ₹7,395.55 cr: Centre ₹4,869.48 cr, States ₹2,526.07 cr.
- Covers 2.55 lakh Panchayats & traditional local bodies; ~32 lakh representatives trained.
- GPDPs on eGramSwaraj; 2.55 lakh online audit plans via AuditOnline.
- Multilingual PANCHAM platform (17 languages); 16th FC grants to RLBs ~₹4.35 lakh cr.
ECONOMY ₹10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme to build domestic capacity
- ₹8,891 cr operational assistance; ₹859 cr interest subvention (3%); ₹150 cr testing.
- Capacity: ~70,000 TEU → 7.5 lakh TEU; domestic content 70% → 90%.
- Port container handling: 24 mn TEU (2024) → 175 mn TEU by 2047.
- ~3,000 direct and 50,000+ indirect jobs.
IR India and Mexico sign Terms of Reference to launch Preferential Trade Agreement talks
- India's exports to Mexico: $5.73 bn (FY26); autos largest at $1.92 bn.
- Mexico's new tariff regime imposes up to 50% on many Indian goods.
- Focus: autos, textiles, footwear, plastics, steel, chemicals, toys.
DEFENCE Rajnath Singh-Hegseth review 10-year India-US defence framework at Cebu
- Marked 1st anniversary of the 10-year framework (signed Oct 2025).
- Rajnath urged zero tolerance for terror-sponsoring states.
- India raised concern over US support for Pakistan's F-16 fleet.
- Pacts: LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018), BECA (2020).
SCI-TECH ISRO to launch NVS-03 on GSLV-F18 on 30 October to restore NavIC services
- NVS-03 ~2,250 kg; indigenous atomic clock; adds L1 to L5/S signals.
- GTO: perigee 170 km, apogee 37,023 km.
- Coverage: India + ~1,500 km beyond borders.
- NVS-02 (Jan 2025) stuck after a valve failure in orbit-raising.
HEALTH NPPA cuts MRP of 543 anti-cancer brands; new prices effective 9 November
- 543 brands revised; effective 9 November 2026.
- Trade margin capped at 30%; cuts up to ~70% on many drugs.
- Example: one injectable vial ₹14,235 → ₹2,432 (~83% cut).
- No change for single-source (patented) medicines.
30 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UTTARAKHAND Gairsain session passes ₹7,844.18 cr supplementary budget — capex takes 53%
- Total ₹7,844.18 cr: capital ₹4,164.32 cr (53.1%) + revenue ₹3,679.86 cr.
- FY 2026-27 budget rises from ₹1,11,703.21 cr to ₹1,19,547.39 cr.
- Big heads: foodgrain procurement ₹1,100 cr, local bodies ₹721 cr (tax share 10.5% → 12.5%), SASCI ₹500 cr.
- Priorities named: Kumbh 2027, the Gairsain drinking-water dam, Ayushman, pensions, digital learning, medical & nursing colleges, a sports university.
UTTARAKHAND Ten Bills cleared: fire services law, Jan Vishwas, civil-law and GST amendments
- Bills: Appropriation (Supplementary), Irrigation & Drainage, FRBM (Amdt.), Investment & Infrastructure Dev. (Amdt.), Jan Vishwas (2nd Amdt.).
- Also: Minority Education (Amdt.), Higher Education (Amdt.), Civil Law (Amdt.), Fire & Emergency Services, GST (Amdt.).
- The GST (Amdt.) Bill replaces an ordinance promulgated on 3 Sept 2026.
- On 22 Oct the Cabinet had notified the Civil Code (Amendment) Rules, Uttarakhand, 2026 under the amended UCC.
UTTARAKHAND Snow at Kedarnath & Gangotri, orange alert in 5 districts before Char Dham closing
- Orange alert: Nainital, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Chamoli (thunderstorm/hail).
- Closing: Kedarnath 11 Nov 8:30 AM and Yamunotri 11 Nov 10:28 AM (Bhai Dooj); Badrinath 16 Nov 9:37 PM.
- Record season: about 56.9 lakh pilgrims by 7 Oct (incl. Hemkund Sahib), above the 2023 record of 56.13 lakh.
- Emergency helpline: 112.
UTTARAKHAND 'Lekhak Gaon' International Festival ends; two literary villages planned
- Two 'Sahitya Grams' planned, with homes, modern libraries, seminar halls and study spaces for writers.
- Released: the magazine 'Dharti ka Swarg Uttarakhand' and the booklet 'Devbhoomi ka Kavya Pushp'.
- Union MoS Ajay Tamta attended; the CM recalled Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under whom the state was formed.
UTTARAKHAND State Cabinet: UCC rules amended, free-coaching income limit raised to ₹8 lakh
- Civil Code (Amendment) Rules, 2026 fix practical and clerical issues in UCC implementation.
- Free coaching for SC/ST students: income limit raised from ₹2 lakh to ₹8 lakh.
- New Uttarakhand Adventure Tourism Corporation Ltd.; maintenance-grant scheme renamed 'Mukhyamantri Ekal Nari Samman Yojana'.
- One District, One Sport: 14 head coaches; OTS for about 3,600 stamp cases.
UTTARAKHAND Virasat Abhiyan: 10,404 inheritance-mutation cases registered, 4,943 resolved
- Total 10,404 cases; 4,943 resolved (about 47.5%).
- Section 34: 9,244 registered, 3,835 resolved.
- Section 33A: 1,160 registered, 1,108 resolved.
- CM ordered regular reviews so people don't need repeated office visits.
ENVIRONMENT Very Severe Cyclone 'Arnab' crosses Andhra coast; 1.8 lakh evacuated
- At landfall: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, 125–135 km/h, gusts 150 km/h.
- Name given by Bangladesh (from the 2020 WMO/ESCAP list).
- 1.8 lakh+ evacuated; Visakhapatnam 315 mm rain; Koraput (Odisha) 188 mm.
IR India and Mexico launch Preferential Trade Agreement talks
- FY26 trade $7.83 bn: exports $5.73 bn, imports $2.11 bn; India's surplus about $3.62 bn.
- Top items: automobiles (~$1.92 bn) from India; crude oil from Mexico.
- Talks cover market access, rules of origin, SPS/TBT, trade remedies and dispute settlement.
ECONOMY Union Cabinet: DA to 63%, ₹10,000 cr container scheme, ₹1,856.67 cr sports-goods scheme
- DA/DR 60% → 63% from 1 July 2026: 48.54 lakh employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners; cost ₹10,016.10 cr/yr.
- CMPS ₹10,000 cr (FY28–FY40): capacity 70,000 → 7.5 lakh TEU; 3% interest subvention; domestic content 70% → 90%.
- CMPS nodal ministry: Ports, Shipping & Waterways; about 3,000 direct and 50,000+ indirect jobs.
- Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme ₹1,856.67 cr (FY27–FY34): up to 4 zones of 300+ acres; 20% anchor capex support.
POLITY Supreme Court: banks must compensate digital-arrest fraud victims if due diligence fails
- 21,928 digital-arrest complaints involving ₹647+ cr in Jan–Aug 2026 (government data).
- Banks should compensate customers for losses caused by due-diligence failures; colluding officials to be prosecuted.
- Court will examine RBI KYC amendments, expected by 30 Nov 2026.
- Stronger checks on large withdrawals by senior citizens; the compensation framework is not final yet.
SCI-TECH 'Punah Bharan' app launched to map groundwater recharge zones
- Developed by BISAG-N (Gandhinagar) with the National Water Mission.
- Over-exploited groundwater units: Punjab 75.16%, Haryana 61.54%, Delhi 41.18%.
- Supports Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain and village-level recharge planning.
IR 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi adopts Joint Declaration
- Theme: 'Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development'.
- China chairs BRICS in 2027 and will host the 13th forum.
- The 11th forum was held in Brasília (June 2025).
Prelims rapid-fire — 30 facts
| India at Asian Para Games 2026 (Aichi–Nagoya, Japan): record 114 medals (30 G, 35 S, 49 B), 4th in table. |
| Mona Agarwal set a world record (357.5) in women's 50m rifle 3P SH1; Sumit Antil led a javelin podium sweep. |
| 26 Oct 1947: Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession — 79th J&K Accession Day today. |
| Uttarakhand formed on 9 Nov 2000 as India's 27th state; Assembly is unicameral with 70 seats. |
| Om Parvat & Adi Kailash — Vyas valley, Pithoragarh; base village Gunji, near Lipulekh Pass. |
| Tehri Dam on the Bhagirathi — 260.5 m, India's tallest dam. |
| Free-coaching income cap (Uttarakhand): ₹2 lakh → ₹8 lakh |
| UBSE pass mark, students with disabilities: 28% (5% relaxation) |
| 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum: New Delhi, 26–27 Oct 2026 |
| NMC replaced MCI on: 25 Sep 2020 |
| Uttarakhand Budget 2026-27: ₹1,11,703 cr; FD 3.7% of GSDP |
| India–US BTA first-phase framework: Feb 2026; Mission $500 bn by 2030 |
| 61st CIML meeting (governing body of OIML, est. 1955, HQ Paris) hosted in New Delhi, 26–28 Oct — first time in India |
| 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi (26–27 Oct); theme: Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development |
| Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential runoff (25 Oct) — a historic fourth term |
| Uttarakhand Cabinet (22 Oct): free-coaching family-income limit for SC/ST students raised ₹2 lakh → ₹8 lakh |
| Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: 1.55 crore+ recharge structures; merged with Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain from 1 June 2026 |
| Uttarakhand Board: 5% passing-marks relaxation for students with disabilities (pass at 28%) |
| Uttarakhand Speaker: Ritu Khanduri Bhushan — first woman Speaker of the state. |
| State declared a holiday for women employees on Karva Chauth (29 Oct). |
| Union Cabinet: 3% DA/DR hike from 1 July 2026; ~1.17 crore beneficiaries. |
| SC: 'Digital arrest is digital dacoity' — offenders to be dealt with sternly. |
| High-level team to probe death of a 19-month-old cheetah at Kuno NP (MP). |
| Estimate: India needs $220 bn for green-power transition by FY30. |
| Badrinath winter worship moves to Narsingh Temple, Jyotirmath (Chamoli). |
| Mukhyamantri Ekal Nari Samman Yojana is the new name of Uttarakhand's maintenance-grant scheme. |
| Ophiorrhiza shidiensis and O. pemae — new plant species (family Rubiaceae) from Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh. |
| Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 4.0 — a 60-day health ministry drive in higher-education institutions. |
| Kolamarka (Gadchiroli) to be a wildlife sanctuary — home of the Asiatic wild water buffalo. |
| National Unity Day (31 Oct) marks the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. |
Data points of the period
56.89 lakh
Char Dham Yatra 2026 — record pilgrim season
Footfall up to 7 Oct 2026 (state tourism data) crossed the 2023 record of 56.13 lakh. Shrine-wise: Badrinath 19.14 lakh, Kedarnath 16.79 lakh, Gangotri 9.10 lakh, Yamunotri 8.10 lakh. Portals close for winter in the Diwali week.
Footfall up to 7 Oct 2026 (state tourism data) crossed the 2023 record of 56.13 lakh. Shrine-wise: Badrinath 19.14 lakh, Kedarnath 16.79 lakh, Gangotri 9.10 lakh, Yamunotri 8.10 lakh. Portals close for winter in the Diwali week.
₹7,412 crore
Uttarakhand supplementary demands, 2026-27
≈ 6.6% of the ₹1,11,703-crore State Budget 2026-27. Budget basics: revenue receipts ₹67,526 cr (central transfers 53%), own tax revenue ₹25,913 cr, fiscal deficit 3.7% of GSDP, GSDP ₹4.28 lakh cr, liabilities 28.5% of GSDP.
≈ 6.6% of the ₹1,11,703-crore State Budget 2026-27. Budget basics: revenue receipts ₹67,526 cr (central transfers 53%), own tax revenue ₹25,913 cr, fiscal deficit 3.7% of GSDP, GSDP ₹4.28 lakh cr, liabilities 28.5% of GSDP.
₹1,19,547.39 crore
Uttarakhand Budget 2026-27 after supplementary demands
Up from ₹1,11,703.21 cr (+₹7,844.18 cr, ~7%); capital share of the supplementary outlay 53% (₹4,164.32 cr).
Up from ₹1,11,703.21 cr (+₹7,844.18 cr, ~7%); capital share of the supplementary outlay 53% (₹4,164.32 cr).
₹1,19,547.39 crore
Uttarakhand budget 2026-27 after supplementary (₹ crore)
Up ₹7,844.18 cr from the ₹1,11,703.21 cr passed in March; 53.1% of the supplementary is capital expenditure.
Up ₹7,844.18 cr from the ₹1,11,703.21 cr passed in March; 53.1% of the supplementary is capital expenditure.
53.1%
Capital-expenditure share of Uttarakhand's supplementary budget
₹4,164.32 cr of ₹7,844.18 cr (Oct 2026), up from 13.7% (₹184.88 cr of ₹1,353.80 cr) in Dec 2021. The supplementary size grew about 5.8 times and capex about 22.5 times in five years.
₹4,164.32 cr of ₹7,844.18 cr (Oct 2026), up from 13.7% (₹184.88 cr of ₹1,353.80 cr) in Dec 2021. The supplementary size grew about 5.8 times and capex about 22.5 times in five years.
10 practice MCQs — UKPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. Consider the following statements about Gairsain (Bhararisain): 1. It lies in Chamoli district. 2. It was declared the summer capital of Uttarakhand in 2020. 3. The Uttarakhand Legislature is bicameral. 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
Gairsain is in Chamoli and was declared summer capital in 2020; Uttarakhand has a unicameral legislature of 70 members.
Gairsain is in Chamoli and was declared summer capital in 2020; Uttarakhand has a unicameral legislature of 70 members.
Q2. Mana Pass, the starting point of the proposed 100-mile Himalayan ultra run (May 2027), lies on Uttarakhand's border with:
- Nepal
- Himachal Pradesh
- Tibet (China)
- Uttar Pradesh
Show answer
Answer: c
Mana Pass in Chamoli district is on the India–Tibet (China) border, beyond Badrinath and Mana village.
Mana Pass in Chamoli district is on the India–Tibet (China) border, beyond Badrinath and Mana village.
Q3. With reference to Gairsain, consider the following statements: 1. It was declared the summer capital of Uttarakhand in 2020. 2. It lies in Chamoli district. 3. The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly is bicameral. 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
Gairsain (Bhararisain) in Chamoli was declared summer capital in March 2020. The Uttarakhand legislature is unicameral (70 seats), so statement 3 is wrong.
Gairsain (Bhararisain) in Chamoli was declared summer capital in March 2020. The Uttarakhand legislature is unicameral (70 seats), so statement 3 is wrong.
Q4. With reference to Cyclone 'Arnab', consider the following statements: 1. The name was contributed by Bangladesh. 2. Names for North Indian Ocean cyclones are drawn from a list of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones. 3. IMD New Delhi is the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre for the region. 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: d
All three are correct: 'Arnab' (ocean) is Bangladesh's name; the list (169 names, 2020) is kept by the WMO/ESCAP PTC; IMD New Delhi is the RSMC.
All three are correct: 'Arnab' (ocean) is Bangladesh's name; the list (169 names, 2020) is kept by the WMO/ESCAP PTC; IMD New Delhi is the RSMC.
Q5. With reference to Uttarakhand's Supplementary Budget 2026-27, consider the following statements: 1. It was presented at Bhararisain (Gairsain). 2. It raises the state's annual budget to over ₹1.19 lakh crore. 3. Revenue expenditure forms the larger part of the supplementary outlay. 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
Capital expenditure (₹4,164.32 cr) exceeds revenue expenditure (₹3,679.86 cr), so statement 3 is wrong; the budget rose to ₹1,19,547.39 cr.
Capital expenditure (₹4,164.32 cr) exceeds revenue expenditure (₹3,679.86 cr), so statement 3 is wrong; the budget rose to ₹1,19,547.39 cr.
Q6. Consider the following pairs (Shrine : Winter seat): 1. Kedarnath : Ukhimath 2. Badrinath : Mukhba 3. Gangotri : Kharsali. How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
Show answer
Answer: A
Only Kedarnath–Ukhimath is correct. Badrinath's winter seat is Pandukeshwar/Joshimath; Gangotri's is Mukhba; Kharsali is Yamunotri's.
Only Kedarnath–Ukhimath is correct. Badrinath's winter seat is Pandukeshwar/Joshimath; Gangotri's is Mukhba; Kharsali is Yamunotri's.
Q7. With reference to the Uttarakhand supplementary budget passed in October 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The total supplementary outlay is ₹7,844.18 crore. 2. Revenue expenditure forms more than half of the supplementary outlay. 3. The local bodies' share in state tax revenue has been raised to 12.5%. 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
Capital expenditure (₹4,164.32 cr, 53.1%) exceeds revenue (₹3,679.86 cr), so statement 2 is wrong; the share rose 10.5% → 12.5% on the 6th SFC's advice.
Capital expenditure (₹4,164.32 cr, 53.1%) exceeds revenue (₹3,679.86 cr), so statement 2 is wrong; the share rose 10.5% → 12.5% on the 6th SFC's advice.
Q8. The winter seat (gaddi sthal) of Lord Kedarnath, where worship continues after the shrine closes, is located at:
- Joshimath
- Kharsali
- Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath
- Mukhba
Show answer
Answer: C
Kedarnath → Ukhimath; Badrinath → Pandukeshwar/Joshimath; Yamunotri → Kharsali; Gangotri → Mukhba.
Kedarnath → Ukhimath; Badrinath → Pandukeshwar/Joshimath; Yamunotri → Kharsali; Gangotri → Mukhba.
Q9. Match the Char Dham shrine with its winter seat and choose the correct option: 1. Badrinath – Jyotirmath; 2. Kedarnath – Ukhimath; 3. Yamunotri – Mukhba; 4. Gangotri – Kharsali.
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer
Answer: A
Badrinath → Narsingh Temple, Jyotirmath and Kedarnath → Omkareshwar, Ukhimath are correct. Yamunotri's winter seat is Kharsali and Gangotri's is Mukhba, so pairs 3 and 4 are swapped.
Badrinath → Narsingh Temple, Jyotirmath and Kedarnath → Omkareshwar, Ukhimath are correct. Yamunotri's winter seat is Kharsali and Gangotri's is Mukhba, so pairs 3 and 4 are swapped.
Q10. Consider these statements about the supplementary budget passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly in October 2026: 1. Its total was ₹7,844.18 crore. 2. Revenue expenditure was larger than capital expenditure. 3. It was passed at Bhararisain (Gairsain). Which are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B
The total was ₹7,844.18 cr and it was passed at Bhararisain (Gairsain) on 28 Oct. Capital expenditure (₹4,164.32 cr) was larger than revenue (₹3,679.86 cr), so statement 2 is wrong.
The total was ₹7,844.18 cr and it was passed at Bhararisain (Gairsain) on 28 Oct. Capital expenditure (₹4,164.32 cr) was larger than revenue (₹3,679.86 cr), so statement 2 is wrong.
Mains practice questions
- Pilgrimage and adventure tourism are both a lifeline and a stressor for Uttarakhand's hill economy. Discuss with reference to border-area tourism and carrying capacity. (UKPSC Mains, 125 words)
- Gairsain has been declared Uttarakhand's summer capital, yet Assembly sessions there remain short. Examine its significance for balanced hill-area development and suggest measures to make it a functional administrative centre. (150 words)
- The rapid growth of homestays and high-rise buildings in Uttarakhand's hill towns has raised fire-safety risks. Examine the key provisions of the Uttarakhand Fire and Emergency Services Bill, 2026 and suggest measures for its effective enforcement in hill areas. (150 words)
- Land subsidence in Himalayan towns such as Joshimath and Karnaprayag is as much a governance failure as a geological hazard. Discuss with reference to Uttarakhand and suggest measures. (200 words)
- Record Char Dham footfall brings income to the hills but also puts stress on fragile Himalayan slopes. Discuss how Uttarakhand can balance pilgrimage tourism with disaster safety. (125 words)
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