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 — RBI's first repo hike since 2023 sets stage for today's CPI print; PMDDKY turns one; SC curbs illegal detentions during Delhi protests
- Tue 13 Oct — Retail inflation hits 21-month high of 5.54%, IMF lifts India's FY27 growth to 7%, Navy commissions INS Mangrol
- Wed 14 Oct — Retail inflation hits 5.54% in Sept; BIMSTEC adopts Delhi Declaration on terror; India rejects China's objection to 28 Ladakh names
- Fri 16 Oct — INS Samarthak commissioned; SC denies quota to converts on pre-conversion caste; exports jump 23% in September; Ramsar tally hits 103
All topics — key facts for revision
12 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →ECONOMY RBI turns hawkish: first repo hike since 2023; September CPI print due today
- First hike since February 2023; SDF 5.25%, MSF & Bank Rate 5.75%; hike was unanimous (6-0).
- Stance changed from neutral to 'calibrated tightening' by a 4-2 vote; Governor Sanjay Malhotra.
- CPI: July 4.45% → August 4.82%; food inflation (CFPI) 5.95% in August; WPI 9.92% in August.
- RBI raised FY27 CPI forecast to 5.2% (from 5.0%); GDP growth projected at 7.1% (Q1 FY27: 7.8%).
- Crude basket averaged $114-116/barrel in September amid the US-Iran conflict re-escalation.
ECONOMY PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana completes one year: 100 districts, 36 schemes converge
- Outlay ₹24,000 crore per year for 6 years (from 2025-26); covers 100 districts, at least one per State/UT.
- Converges 36 schemes of 11 departments; districts chosen on low productivity, low cropping intensity, low credit.
- Monitored through 117 KPIs on a monthly dashboard; District Dhan-Dhaanya Samiti prepares district plans.
- Pulses Mission: ₹11,440 crore (2025-26 to 2030-31); target 350 lakh tonnes output on 310 lakh ha.
- 100% procurement of tur, urad and masoor for four years; both schemes together: ₹35,440 crore.
DEFENCE Navy's Next-Generation OPV 'Shreyas' launched at GRSE, Kolkata
- 11 NGOPVs contracted on 30 March 2023 for ₹9,781 crore – 7 at Goa Shipyard, 4 at GRSE.
- Earlier launches: Shachi (GSL, Mar 2026), Sanghmitra (May 2026), Shruti (Aug 2026).
- Approx. 113 m long, about 3,000 t displacement; deliveries scheduled from September 2026.
- Roles: EEZ surveillance, anti-piracy, coastal defence, search & rescue and HADR.
DEFENCE Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 concludes at Jodhpur with 7 foreign air forces
- 7 foreign air forces: USA, France, Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, UAE; 32 observer countries.
- US F-35 Lightning II flew in an IAF-hosted exercise for the first time.
- France: Rafale, A400M, MRTT (PEGASE 26 deployment); UAE: F-16; Bangladesh: C-130J.
- 1st edition (2024) was held in two phases – Sulur (Tamil Nadu) and Jodhpur.
SCI-TECH Indo-French TRISHNA thermal satellite in advanced stage; launch in 12-16 months
- TRISHNA = Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural resource Assessment.
- 3rd joint Indo-French Earth-observation mission after Megha-Tropiques (2011) and SARAL (2013).
- CNES builds the thermal infrared (TIR) payload; ISRO builds the VSWIR payload and the bus.
- Sun-synchronous orbit ~761 km; ~57 m resolution over land; revisit about 3 days; life 5 years.
ENVIRONMENT Heat-driven sex reversal pushing frogs towards earlier extinction: new study
- Sex-reversed males sired fewer offspring and were more vulnerable to heat and ranavirus.
- Models: decline may begin ~10 years earlier and extinction ~9.5 years sooner in affected populations.
- About 40% of amphibian species already face extinction risk – the most threatened vertebrate class.
POLITY SC special sitting: no detention except by procedure established by law during Delhi protests
- No one to be detained except through procedure established by law, esp. peaceful, unarmed assemblies.
- Metro and rail to run normally; internet to stay undisturbed; free movement subject to traffic rules.
- Sec 163 BNSS notice near the Supreme Court to be removed to ensure access to courts; advocates not to be hindered.
- Compliance report due 13 October; Court to examine whether the Police Act is consistent with Article 19.
IR Pakistan imposes emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, suspends provincial government
- Art 232 (Pakistan): emergency on war or internal disturbance; Art 234: failure of constitutional machinery in a province.
- KP borders Afghanistan (Durand Line); instability affects terrorism and CPEC security.
- Move follows weeks of talk of Governor's Rule in the PTI-governed province.
SOCIETY Mizoram to count refugees separately in Census 2027
- 29,575 from Myanmar (mostly Chin), 6,959 IDPs from Manipur, 1,679 from Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts).
- Biometric enrolment of Myanmar refugees at 98.9%; refugees need not disclose Aadhaar.
- Census 2027 is India's first digital Census and will also enumerate caste; reference date 1 March 2027.
REPORT RTI transparency audit: only 63% of public authorities file third-party audit reports
- Of 2,303 public authorities registered with CIC, only 1,446 (~62.8%) submitted third-party audit reports.
- More than half of submitted reports scored Grade C or below.
- Only 33 of 94 department websites carried 2024-25 audit reports.
- About 23 lakh RTI requests handled in 2024-25; 5.1 lakh pending.
IR Katchatheevu: Sri Lanka's President says India has acknowledged island belongs to Sri Lanka
- Uninhabited islet of about 285 acres in the Palk Strait, north-east of Rameswaram.
- 1974 agreement (Indira Gandhi – Sirimavo Bandaranaike) placed it on Sri Lanka's side; 1976 pact ended fishing rights.
- AG: fishermen's issues to be handled diplomatically; matter listed for hearing in February 2027.
- Annual St. Anthony's Church festival on the island draws pilgrims from both countries.
13 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →ECONOMY Retail inflation climbs to 21-month high of 5.54% in September
- Food inflation (CFPI): 7.74% (Aug: 5.97%); rural CPI 6.08%, rural food 8.06%.
- 11 of 12 sub-groups rose — inflation is broadening; onion prices up 108% y-o-y.
- MPC recently raised the repo rate by 25 bps; FY27 inflation projection raised to 5.2%.
- Upside risks: crude above $100/bbl, below-normal rain, adverse base effect in Oct–Dec.
ECONOMY IMF raises India's FY27 growth forecast to 7% in October WEO
- FY27: 7.0% (up 0.6 pp from July); FY28: 7.0% (up 0.3 pp).
- FY26 actual growth: 7.8% — projections imply a moderation.
- India = 8.2% of world GDP and 13.6% of EMDE GDP (China 32.3%).
- Assumes crude at ~$95.7/bbl (2026) and Strait of Hormuz reopening by March 2027.
ECONOMY Economics Nobel 2026 to Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford
- Hall: household consumption — tested Friedman's permanent-income hypothesis (1978).
- Woodford: firms' pricing; *Interest and Prices* (2003) underpins the New Keynesian model and forward guidance.
- Core insight: forward-looking households and firms — policy works via expectations.
- Prize: SEK 12 million; instituted 1968, first awarded 1969.
ECONOMY PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana completes one year
- Outlay ₹24,000 crore/year for 6 years; at least one district per State/UT.
- District selection on 3 deficits: low productivity, low cropping intensity, low credit.
- Convergence of 36 schemes of 11 ministries, plus State schemes and private partnerships.
- 121 indicators (74 output, 47 outcome); monthly district rankings on a NITI Aayog portal.
DEFENCE Navy commissions INS Mangrol, third Mahe-class anti-submarine craft
- Built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) — 3rd of 8 Mahe-class craft; >80% indigenous content.
- ~78 m long, 900–1,100 t, top speed 25 knots; hunts submarines in shallow coastal waters.
- 16 ASW SWC sanctioned: 8 by CSL (Mahe-class) + 8 by GRSE (Arnala-class).
- Named after Mangrol port town (Junagadh, Gujarat); earlier INS Mangrol minesweeper served till 2004.
ENVIRONMENT Siang Upper Multipurpose Project faces fresh protests in Arunachal
- SUMP: ~11,000 MW capacity and 9.2 bcm storage; national project status since 2008.
- China's Medog project on the Yarlung Tsangpo: ~60,000 MW (as per State government).
- 30 Sept violence at Ugeng village (Siang district); protesters fear displacement of Adi villages.
- Same river: Yarlung Tsangpo (Tibet) → Siang (Arunachal) → Brahmaputra (Assam) → Jamuna (Bangladesh).
REPORT Living Planet Index 2026: wildlife populations down 73% since 1970
- 50% of populations declining, 43% increasing, 7% stable — the index is not a count of extinctions.
- Steepest regional falls: Latin America & Caribbean 95%, Africa 80%; Asia 49%, Europe 23%.
- 2022 edition showed 69%; trend line revised as ~1,000 populations were added; only native species counted.
- Main drivers: habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, disease and climate change.
HEALTH SC pushes Centre to cap margins on all essential medicines, not just cancer drugs
- 30% cap expected to save patients ~₹2,500 crore a year.
- Court flagged a cardiac stent costing ~₹5,000 sold for ₹25,000+; saline drip costing ₹11 sold at ₹270.
- Scheduled drugs: ceiling = average market price + 16% retailer margin; non-scheduled MRP rise capped at 10%/year.
- 2019: trade margin rationalisation capped margins at 30% on 42 anti-cancer drugs.
POLITY Jantar Mantar de-notified as Delhi's designated protest site
- Art 19(1)(a) & 19(1)(b) — speech and peaceful assembly without arms; restrictions under Art 19(3).
- Prohibitory orders now under Sec 163, BNSS 2023 (earlier Sec 144 CrPC).
- MKSS v. UoI (2018): SC said a blanket ban on protests at Jantar Mantar is impermissible; needs regulation.
- Amit Sahni (2020): public ways cannot be occupied indefinitely for protests.
POLITY President appoints Governors in six States; Arlekar to Tamil Nadu
- Tamil Nadu: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (moves from Keralam; held TN as additional charge).
- Keralam: Om Prakash Mathur (from Sikkim); Sikkim: Dushyant Gautam.
- Karnataka: Sudha Yadav; Odisha: Braj Mohan Ram; Uttarakhand: Dhal Singh Bisen.
- Outgoing: Thaawarchand Gehlot (Karnataka), Hari Babu Kambhampati (Odisha), Gurmit Singh (Uttarakhand).
IR Canadian Foreign Minister in India; CEPA talks targeted for end-2026
- CEPA negotiations — 5th round held in Ottawa; aim to conclude by end-2026.
- Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu leads ~300 business delegates — Canada's largest to India in 30+ years.
- Bilateral trade USD 30.4 bn (2025); target USD 70 bn by 2030.
- Focus areas: energy, critical minerals, aerospace, clean tech, agri-food.
IR IBSAMAR IX: India, Brazil, South Africa navies drill at Simon's Town
- India: INS Tarkash (stealth frigate) with an integral Chetak helicopter; India is lead nation.
- Brazil: BNS Barroso; South Africa: SAS Amatola, SAS King Sekhukhune I, SAS Adam Kok III and submarine SAS Manthatisi.
- Theme: "Stronger Together Towards a Shared Future in the Maritime Domain".
- Drills: anti-submarine, anti-air, surface warfare, anti-piracy, SAR, maritime interdiction.
14 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →ECONOMY Retail inflation climbs to 5.54% in September 2026
- Food inflation (CFPI) jumped to 7.74% from 5.97%; onion +108%, garlic +54.6%, while potato (-11.5%) and tomato (-8.6%) deflated.
- Rural 6.08% vs urban 4.88%; highest states: Tamil Nadu 6.81%, Odisha 6.70%, MP 6.68%.
- New series uses base year 2024=100; next release (October data) on 12 Nov 2026.
- RBI MPC (5-7 Oct) hiked repo 25 bps to 5.50%; SDF 5.25%, MSF/Bank Rate 5.75%; FY27 CPI projection 5.2%.
ECONOMY UPI merchant charge (MDR) deferred till after Deepavali
- Applies to specified P2M payments above ₹2,000; capped at ₹300 for payments of ₹75,000+.
- P2P transfers, payments up to ₹2,000 and eligible small merchants are exempt – about 96% of merchant transactions unaffected.
- Deferred, not cancelled; revised date to be notified separately.
- Since 2020, UPI and RuPay debit payments have carried zero MDR, with the Centre paying an incentive to the ecosystem.
ECONOMY Hyundai Motor Group commits $15.5 bn India investment till 2032
- Covers manufacturing expansion at Hyundai Motor India and Kia India, localisation and supplier development.
- About $700 mn for the Indian R&D centre, including a vehicle testing track.
- Installed capacity over 1.4 mn vehicles/yr: Chennai 8.24 lakh, Anantapur (Kia) 4.31 lakh, Pune 1.70 lakh.
- New verticals: auto finance, EV charging, end-of-life vehicle recycling; a new India investment entity to execute it.
DEFENCE INS Samarthak: first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel to be commissioned
- Length 107 m, beam 19 m, speed 15 knots, range 4,500 nm; contract signed in 2022.
- Roles: surveillance & patrol, weapon/sensor trials, target launch & recovery, unmanned-systems mothership, HADR.
- Sister ship INS Utkarsh launched in January 2025; crest shows an elephant rising from waves.
- Defence production about ₹1.51 lakh crore and exports about ₹23,622 crore in 2024-25 (record highs).
ENVIRONMENT 'Forever chemicals' (PFAS) in Indian water: no standard yet
- An IIT-Madras study found treated water had 5-103% higher PFAS than raw water; highest near garbage dumps.
- IARC (2025): PFOA 'carcinogenic to humans'; PFOS 'possibly carcinogenic'.
- IS 10500:2012 (BIS) is under revision; a BIS working group is examining PFAS limits.
- No specific Indian rule bans PFAS manufacture; conventional treatment removes little – activated carbon, ion exchange, RO work better.
SCI-TECH Researchers warn of 'rogue AI' containment failures
- Reported incidents include unauthorised access to foreign government websites during testing.
- Proposals: air-gap cyber-capable models, mandatory reporting of containment failures, an international AI security body.
- Key safety terms: red teaming, AI alignment, air-gapped systems.
IR First BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting adopts Delhi Declaration
- Condemns terrorism in all forms, explicitly including cross-border terrorism; backs UNSC 1267 sanctions regime.
- Flags trafficking into online scam centres ('forced criminality', 'cyber slavery'); proposes an SoP for rescue and repatriation.
- Seeks early conventions on extradition, transfer of sentenced persons; CT Convention in force since March 2021.
- Five focus areas: drugs, counter-terror & legal cooperation, fugitives, cyber security, capacity building.
IR India rejects China's objection to naming 28 features in Ladakh
- Names include PP-15, Gogra, Hot Spring, Zorawar Peak, Kanishka Peak, Skamri Glacier, Chapchingal Pass.
- Mix: 5 mountains, 6 land areas, 2 glaciers, 2 passes, 1 valley, 1 river, 1 lake and other features.
- Gogra-Hot Spring (PP-15) was a 2020 friction point; disengagement agreed in September 2022.
- Mirrors China's own 'renaming' of places in Arunachal Pradesh, which India has repeatedly rejected.
IR ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum: Rajnath pitches co-development
- 2026 is the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation.
- Proposals: maritime info-centre exchanges, joint SAR/HADR drills, review of underwater domain awareness gaps.
- Shift from buying to co-development & co-production – patrol vessels, radars, air defence, helicopters, drones.
- Backs ASEAN centrality and ADMM-Plus; links Act East, SAGAR and MAHASAGAR.
HEALTH JOSH campaign gives youth push to TB Mukt Bharat
- TB incidence fell 21% (2015-2024) vs 12% globally; deaths down 28%; treatment coverage 92%.
- 28.1 crore screened; 46,118 Gram Panchayats certified TB-free; 5.7 lakh new Ni-kshay Mitras.
- BPaLM regimen cuts drug-resistant TB treatment to 6 months; Nikshay Poshan now ₹1,000/month via DBT.
- India carries roughly one-fourth of the global TB burden; SDG target 2030 (national goal was 2025).
POLITY Legal aid sharply raises bail success for undertrials
- Bail success 84% for programme participants vs 26% for all undertrials in the same courts.
- Participants had spent an average 171 days in jail before joining.
- In 2022, over three-fourths of India's prisoners were undertrials; incarceration rate ~41 per lakh.
- BNSS Sec 479: first-time offenders eligible for bail after one-third of maximum sentence.
16 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →DEFENCE INS Samarthak: Navy commissions first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel at Karwar
- Over 75% indigenous content, with indigenous sensors, weapons and electronic systems.
- Roles: surveillance and patrol, low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO), and support for naval systems trials.
- Can act as a mothership for unmanned systems, serve as a limited hospital ship for HADR, and support salvage.
- Motto 'Vijayartham Eknishthata' (Victory is Our Sole Aim); crest shows an Indian elephant rising from the waves.
- Karwar is home to INS Kadamba, being expanded under Project Seabird.
SCI-TECH DRDO tests Quantum Key Distribution on live defence network at Chandipur
- Designed under DRDO's MCC cluster (Microelectronic Devices, Computational Systems & Cyber Security) with a Bengaluru start-up as production partner.
- Earlier field trial (July 2026): 100-km fibre link Prayagraj–Vindhyachal (UP), key rate ~5 kbps, QBER 6%.
- Any eavesdropping disturbs quantum states and raises the error rate, so interception is detectable.
- Aims at quantum-safe military communication against future code-breaking quantum computers.
ECONOMY Merchandise exports jump 23% to US$ 44.40 bn in September; deficit narrows
- Imports US$ 74.61 bn vs US$ 69.08 bn in September 2025.
- Total exports (goods + services) US$ 80.75 bn, up ~11%; overall deficit US$ 13.30 bn.
- July–September total exports ~US$ 242.6 bn — highest ever for a second quarter.
- Drivers: electronics (+70.44%), petroleum products (+31.9%), chemicals (+24.21%), engineering goods.
- Headwind: Brent above US$ 100/barrel amid tension near the Strait of Hormuz.
ECONOMY CCEA clears IDBI Bank strategic sale: 60.72% stake for ₹52,878 crore
- Sellers: Government (30.48%) and LIC (30.24%).
- After the deal: Fairfax 60.72%, Government ~15%, LIC ~19%.
- Price ₹81 per share; completion expected around March 2027, subject to RBI conditions.
- IDBI was under RBI's PCA framework from 5 May 2017 till 10 March 2021.
ENVIRONMENT India's Ramsar tally rises to 103: Sukhna Wetland and Sauj Jheel added
- Sukhna — Site No. 2602, Chandigarh's first, at the foothills of the Shivaliks; hosts common pochard (VU) and Pallas's fish eagle (EN).
- Sauj Jheel — Site No. 2603, a shallow lake in the Ganga floodplain, linked to Saman Bird Sanctuary.
- Mainpuri becomes the only UP district with two Ramsar sites.
- Convention signed 1971 at Ramsar (Iran), in force 1975; India joined on 1 February 1982.
ENVIRONMENT Barda emerges as second home of Asiatic lions after ~144 years
- Barda now supports 17 lions; area 192.31 sq km in Porbandar & Devbhumi Dwarka districts (Saurashtra).
- 6 lions radio-collared, generating >1.69 lakh GPS fixes (Jan 2023–Jul 2025).
- 441 chital translocated from Gir in 2025-26 to build the prey base.
- Asiatic lion: Endangered (IUCN), Schedule I (WPA 1972); 2025 census: 891 lions.
POLITY SC: Converts can't claim backward-class quota on pre-conversion caste alone
- Converts to a non-Hindu social order cannot claim Article 16(4) benefits solely on pre-conversion backwardness.
- Conversion alone does not make one a member of a notified Backward Class Muslim group (e.g., Labbai, Rowther, Marakayar).
- Under the Constitution (SC) Order, 1950, only Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists can be SC members.
- Reconversion to Hinduism requires a fact-specific inquiry into revival of caste identity.
POLITY SC issues notice on lifelong immunity to CEC & ECs under 2023 Act
- Section 16 bars courts from civil or criminal proceedings against serving and former CEC/ECs for official acts.
- Plea: violates Articles 14 & 21 and the basic structure; even the President/Governors (Art 361) lack post-tenure immunity.
- Clause was added as a late amendment with little debate; tagged with a similar pending petition.
- Act's selection panel: PM, Leader of Opposition, a Union Cabinet Minister (replacing the Anoop Baranwal, 2023 arrangement).
SOCIETY NSAP renamed Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana; ₹53,428 crore for 2026-31
- Covers ~3.20 crore beneficiaries in all 36 States/UTs; 100% central assistance.
- Disability benchmark cut from 80% to 40% (aligned with RPwD Act, 2016); eligibility since birth.
- Disability pension: ₹375/month (0–79 yrs), ₹625/month (80+ yrs).
- Sub-schemes renamed: PM Vridhavastha, PM Vidhawa, PM Divyangjan Pension and PM Parivar Labh Yojana.
- Launched 15 August 1995; rooted in Article 41 (DPSP).
IR IBSAMAR IX: INS Tarkash in India–Brazil–South Africa naval drill
- India: INS Tarkash (stealth frigate) with Chetak helicopter; Brazil: BNS Barroso; South Africa: ships plus submarine SAS Manthatisi.
- Theme: 'Stronger Together Towards a Shared Future in the Maritime Domain'.
- Drills: anti-submarine, anti-air, surface warfare, maritime interdiction, anti-piracy and SAR.
- First held in 2008; part of the IBSA Dialogue Forum (Brasilia Declaration, 2003).
IR US Secretary of State's India visit (Oct 17–22): energy and trade in focus
- Second India visit since May 2026, when he attended the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi.
- Jamnagar hosts the world's largest single-site refinery (~1.4 million barrels/day).
- At Samarkand: C5+1 Ministerial with the five Central Asian states.
- Commerce Minister says the trade deal's first tranche is finalised, pending legal vetting.
Prelims rapid-fire — 24 facts
| Nobel Peace Prize 2026: Navi Pillay, ex-UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and ICTR judge; 125th Peace Prize, to be presented in Oslo on 10 December. |
| Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport hit by Houthi-claimed missile strikes; India condemned the attacks and issued an advisory for nationals in Saudi Arabia. |
| Russia–Ukraine 'energy ceasefire' announced by the US President – both sides to stop striking refineries and power systems. |
| Manipur: Kuki–Naga clashes in Kamjong, Kangpokpi and Ukhrul left 9 dead; ITBP and SSB companies deployed. |
| Kerala Assembly set to move a resolution seeking removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar – CEC is removable only like a SC judge (Art 324(5)). |
| Norway proposes temporary curbs on smart glasses in schools, hospitals and museums over covert recording and privacy concerns. |
| Tarang Shakti 2026 (2nd edition) concluded on 12 Oct at AF Station Jodhpur — theme "Power in Partnership"; 7 foreign air forces, 32 observer nations. |
| Lakshadweep declared fully literate under ULLAS (benchmark 95%); Ladakh was the first UT (2024), Mizoram the first State (2025). |
| IPCC-65 at Addis Ababa: deadlock over AR7 timeline — 2028 (to feed Global Stocktake at COP33) vs a longer timeline sought by India, China, Saudi Arabia. |
| JOSH Teams (Joint Squad for Health) under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan pair MY Bharat volunteers with NCC cadets — 6,347 squads. |
| TRISHNA — ISRO–CNES thermal-infrared satellite due in 12–16 months; 3rd Indo-French satellite after Megha-Tropiques (2011) and SARAL (2013). |
| Garba of Gujarat — inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in Dec 2023 as India's 15th element. |
| Nobel Economics 2026: Robert Hall (Stanford) & Michael Woodford (Columbia) – 'for microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation'. |
| World Standards Day (14 Oct): by ISO, IEC, ITU; 2026 focus SDG 7 (clean energy); India's body – BIS (BIS Act, 2016). |
| OPEC cut India's 2026 oil demand growth forecast to 40,000 bpd (from 60,000); global growth ~4 lakh bpd. |
| US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to visit Uzbekistan and India (Mumbai, Jamnagar) on 17-22 Oct. |
| Dhammachakra Pravartan Din: 14 Oct 1956 – Dr B.R. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur. |
| Preventive detention laws: NSA 1980, COFEPOSA 1974, UAPA 1967; prohibitory orders now under BNSS Sec 163 (ex-CrPC 144). |
| Nagastra-1R: 450 indigenous loitering munitions delivered to the Army (>80% indigenous). |
| World Food Day (16 Oct) marks the founding of FAO (1945); HQ Rome. |
| Calling Name Presentation: caller's registered name to show on 4G+ networks from 1 November 2026. |
| Ladakh: 5 projects incl. 298-km Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road and a rock-art park at Sindhu Ghat, Leh. |
| UNSC bid: India seeks a non-permanent seat for 2028-29; vote in June 2027; rival Tajikistan. |
| Railways bonus: 78 days' wages for ~11.4 lakh non-gazetted employees. |
Data points of the period
$734.6 billion
India's foreign exchange reserves (week ended 2 October 2026)
Down $12.95 bn in a week – the 4th straight weekly fall – and $51.1 bn below the record $785.7 bn (week ended 4 Sep) as RBI defends the rupee. Foreign currency assets $604.7 bn, gold $106.4 bn, SDRs $18.7 bn; reserves cover about 11 months of imports.
Down $12.95 bn in a week – the 4th straight weekly fall – and $51.1 bn below the record $785.7 bn (week ended 4 Sep) as RBI defends the rupee. Foreign currency assets $604.7 bn, gold $106.4 bn, SDRs $18.7 bn; reserves cover about 11 months of imports.
5.54%
CPI (retail) inflation, September 2026
21-month high, up from 4.83% in August; food inflation 7.74%, rural CPI 6.08% — above the 4% target but within the 2–6% tolerance band.
21-month high, up from 4.83% in August; food inflation 7.74%, rural CPI 6.08% — above the 4% target but within the 2–6% tolerance band.
5.54%
CPI inflation, September 2026 (base 2024=100)
Up from 4.83% in August; food inflation 7.74%; rural 6.08%, urban 4.88%; highest among states – Tamil Nadu 6.81%.
Up from 4.83% in August; food inflation 7.74%; rural 6.08%, urban 4.88%; highest among states – Tamil Nadu 6.81%.
11.39%
WPI inflation, September 2026
Up from 9.92% in August; retail CPI inflation was 5.54% — above the 4% target but inside the 2–6% band. A wide WPI–CPI gap signals fuel and commodity cost pressure.
Up from 9.92% in August; retail CPI inflation was 5.54% — above the 4% target but inside the 2–6% band. A wide WPI–CPI gap signals fuel and commodity cost pressure.
8 practice MCQs — UPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. With reference to the TRISHNA mission, consider the following statements: 1. It is a joint mission of ISRO and the French space agency CNES. 2. It will be placed in a geostationary orbit. 3. Its thermal infrared payload is designed to estimate land surface temperature and evapotranspiration. How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
Show answer
Answer: B
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. TRISHNA will fly in a sun-synchronous polar orbit (~761 km), not a geostationary orbit.
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. TRISHNA will fly in a sun-synchronous polar orbit (~761 km), not a geostationary orbit.
Q2. After the RBI's October 2026 policy, the repo rate stands at 5.5%. Which of the following correctly gives the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rates respectively?
- 5.00% and 6.00%
- 5.25% and 5.75%
- 5.75% and 5.25%
- 5.50% and 6.00%
Show answer
Answer: B
The LAF corridor is repo ± 25 bps: SDF (floor) 5.25% and MSF (ceiling) 5.75%; the Bank Rate is aligned with MSF.
The LAF corridor is repo ± 25 bps: SDF (floor) 5.25% and MSF (ceiling) 5.75%; the Bank Rate is aligned with MSF.
Q3. With reference to the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) programme of the Indian Navy, consider the following statements: 1. Mahe-class craft are being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. 2. INS Mangrol is the first ship of the Mahe-class. 3. Sixteen ASW SWC have been sanctioned, split between two shipyards. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B
INS Mangrol is the third Mahe-class craft, so statement 2 is wrong. 16 ASW SWC are split as 8 CSL (Mahe-class) and 8 GRSE (Arnala-class).
INS Mangrol is the third Mahe-class craft, so statement 2 is wrong. 16 ASW SWC are split as 8 CSL (Mahe-class) and 8 GRSE (Arnala-class).
Q4. Consider the following statements about the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: 1. Districts are selected on the basis of low productivity, low cropping intensity and low credit disbursement. 2. It converges 36 schemes of 11 ministries/departments. 3. It is implemented only in States, excluding Union Territories. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: C
The scheme covers 100 districts with at least one in every State and UT, so statement 3 is wrong; statements 1 and 2 are correct.
The scheme covers 100 districts with at least one in every State and UT, so statement 3 is wrong; statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Q5. With reference to the BIMSTEC, consider the following statements: 1. It was established by the Bangkok Declaration of 1997. 2. Its permanent secretariat is located in Kathmandu. 3. India leads the Security pillar of the grouping. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B
BIMSTEC was formed by the Bangkok Declaration (6 June 1997); its secretariat is in Dhaka, not Kathmandu; India leads the Security pillar.
BIMSTEC was formed by the Bangkok Declaration (6 June 1997); its secretariat is in Dhaka, not Kathmandu; India leads the Security pillar.
Q6. Under the flexible inflation targeting framework in India, which of the following is correct?
- The target is set by the RBI Governor in consultation with the MPC
- The target is based on the Wholesale Price Index
- The RBI must report to the Central Government if inflation stays outside the band for three consecutive quarters
- The tolerance band is 3% to 5%
Show answer
Answer: C
The Central Government sets the target (4% CPI, band 2-6%) under Sec 45ZA; failure for three consecutive quarters requires a report to the Centre.
The Central Government sets the target (4% CPI, band 2-6%) under Sec 45ZA; failure for three consecutive quarters requires a report to the Centre.
Q7. Consider the following statements: 1. Sukhna Wetland is the first Ramsar site of Chandigarh. 2. India became a party to the Ramsar Convention in 1975. 3. Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh now has two Ramsar sites. 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
The Convention entered into force in 1975, but India joined only on 1 February 1982. Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
The Convention entered into force in 1975, but India joined only on 1 February 1982. Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Q8. Under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, a person can be deemed a member of a Scheduled Caste only if he/she professes:
- Hinduism only
- Hinduism or Sikhism only
- Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism
- Any religion, if born in a listed caste
Show answer
Answer: C
Para 3 of the Order originally covered Hindus; Sikhs were added in 1956 and Buddhists in 1990.
Para 3 of the Order originally covered Hindus; Sikhs were added in 1956 and Buddhists in 1990.
Mains practice questions
- The right to protest is an essential facet of democracy, but it must be balanced with public order. In the light of recent judicial directions, examine the constitutional safeguards against arbitrary preventive detention and restrictions on movement and internet during protests. (250 words, 15 marks)
- High trade margins on medicines undermine the right to health. Critically examine India's drug-price regulation framework in light of recent Supreme Court observations and suggest reforms. (15 marks, 250 words)
- Undertrials make up over three-fourths of India's prison population. Examine how early and effective legal aid can address this crisis, and suggest institutional reforms. (150 words, 10 marks)
- Social assistance in India must move from welfare to rights. Discuss in the light of the revamped Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana and Article 41. (150 words, GS2)
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