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India is advancing its space capabilities with next-generation technologies like the reusable NGLV, electric and green propulsion, and autonomous in-space docking.
Full form of NGLV: Next Generation Launch Vehicle
The Reserve Bank of India is actively draining surplus liquidity from the banking system to defend the rupee. This has caused a sharp fall in surplus cash from a record ₹11 lakh crore in early September to just ₹46,200 crore by late October, making fund-raising more expensive for banks and potentially leading to higher lending rates.
Surplus Cash in Early Sep 2026: ₹11 lakh crore (Record level)
The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), with a ₹19,744 crore outlay, aims to establish India as a global hub for green hydrogen, targeting 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of annual production capacity by 2030. It supports domestic electrolyser manufacturing, green hydrogen production, pilot projects, and assured demand and credible certification to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like steel, fertilisers and heavy transport, aligning with India's net-zero 2070 goal.
Full form of NGHM: National Green Hydrogen Mission
The Supreme Court has ruled that there is no blanket prohibition on granting bail to foreign nationals under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Court upheld that if a foreigner's entry into India was legal and authorized, the stringent bail conditions under Section 43D(7) of UAPA do not automatically apply, shifting the burden of proof regarding illegal entry onto the prosecution.
Full form of UAPA: Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's diplomatic visits to the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) highlight India's active engagement in multilateral forums. The agenda includes advancing the India-US strategic partnership, discussing a stalled trade deal amid tensions over tariffs and Russian oil purchases, and addressing the global energy crisis triggered by US-Iran conflict.
Full form of CHOGM: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
The Allahabad High Court has upheld the principle of 'equal pay for equal work' for daily wage workers in the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, rejecting the state government's appeals and imposing a cost of ₹1 lakh. The court ruled that the workers are entitled to the minimum wage of ₹18,000 per month applicable to regular Class IV employees, as established in the Puttilal case.
Court: Allahabad High Court
The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) is a flagship credit-linked subsidy scheme aimed at creating self-employment through micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector. The recent release of ₹1,000 crore in Margin Money subsidy will support 11,333 new enterprises, facilitating bank credit of ₹3,260 crore and generating over 1.02 lakh sustainable jobs, with a strong focus on rural areas, SC/ST/OBC beneficiaries, and women entrepreneurs.
Full form of PMEGP: Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme
India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) projects a $220 billion investment requirement in the renewable energy sector between FY27 and FY30. This investment is segmented across solar, wind, transmission, manufacturing, and green hydrogen technologies. The sector has already attracted $64 billion in private investment from July 2024 to June 2026.
Full form of MNRE: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
A Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee will comprehensively review the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the functioning of the Central Information Commission (CIC), which is currently grappling with over 10,000 pending cases despite having its full sanctioned strength of 11 commissioners. This review signals parliamentary oversight on transparency and accountability mechanisms.
Full form of RTI: Right to Information
The Supreme Court has questioned the Election Commission of India's (ECI) authority to permanently delete voters from rolls for not returning enumeration forms during Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The court highlighted the constitutional significance of the right to vote and directed the ECI to explore simpler remedies, impacting the status of nearly 13 crore voters nationwide.
Key Date: October 28, 2026
The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM-VGSY), a ₹7,395.55 crore scheme for 2026-31 to enhance local governance. It aims to train 32 lakh elected panchayat representatives and prepare 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GDPDs) through the eGramSwaraj portal.
Full form of PM-VGSY: Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana
2 sourcesThe Bihar Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary approved 44 decisions focusing on infrastructure, employment, and industry. Key approvals include an underground road corridor feasibility study for Patna (₹18.21 Cr), a ₹11,096 Cr plan to strengthen power distribution over three years, and the Bihar MSME Policy 2026 targeting to create 1 crore entrepreneurs in five years.
Full form of MSME: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
2 sourcesThe Indian Patent Office has rejected a patent application for the BPaL (Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid) drug regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis, citing lack of inventive step under India's Patents Act. This decision upholds key public health safeguards (Sections 3(d), 3(e), 3(i)) and concerns a WHO-recommended, six-month oral treatment. It is a significant development in India's fight against TB, which accounts for a quarter of global cases.
Full form of BPaL: Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid
The 10th Lancet Countdown report, released ahead of COP 31, frames climate change as a global health emergency, citing 3 million heat-related deaths from 2016-2023 and an annual economic loss of over $1 trillion. It highlights the severe health and economic impacts, calling for integrated policy responses to build resilience.
Report Name: Lancet Countdown Report (10th edition)
2 sourcesThe Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has introduced a 'Product/Startup-Driven PhD' pathway, the first of its kind in any IIT, allowing research scholars to earn a PhD degree by developing a commercial product or startup instead of writing a traditional 200-300 page thesis. This model aims to link academic research directly to industry needs and real-world problem-solving.
Nodal Institute: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar
India has released four strategic publications at the 17th CBD COP to guide biodiversity conservation and benefit-sharing. These include guidelines for recognizing conservation areas beyond protected zones (I-OECMs), a biosafety report, a CBD reference handbook, and a book on India's global leadership in Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS).
Full form of CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity
India's industrial output grew by 6.7% in September 2026 (Year-on-Year), indicating continued economic momentum. The growth was primarily driven by the Electricity & Gas Supply sector (11.2%) and Manufacturing (7.6%), while Mining & Quarrying contracted by 6.2%.
Full form of IIP: Index of Industrial Production
India is establishing a national electronic mineral exchange to create transparent, market-driven pricing for raw ores like iron ore and bauxite. This reform, enabled by Section 18B of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and the Mineral Exchange Rules 2026, aims to reduce information asymmetry and boost industrial competitiveness. The exchange will be a delivery-based physical marketplace initially, with PTC India investing ₹65 crore to set up a subsidiary for its operation.
Full form of IBM: Indian Bureau of Mines
The Union Cabinet has approved the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS) with a total outlay of ₹10,000 crore until 2039-40 to create a globally competitive container manufacturing ecosystem in India. The scheme aims to reduce import dependence, strengthen supply chains, and increase domestic manufacturing capacity tenfold to 7.5 lakh Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
Full form of CMPS: Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme
The Union Government will release the 24th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme on 30 October 2026, transferring ₹2000 each to over 9.34 crore farmer families via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Full Form of DBT: Direct Benefit Transfer
India is advancing a major shipbuilding initiative under the India–Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership. A $4 billion greenfield shipyard in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, aims for a capacity of 2.5 million Gross Tonnage (GT) per year, which would make it India's largest commercial shipyard. The project, steered by a Joint Working Group, focuses on technology transfer and workforce skilling to boost domestic shipbuilding.
Project Investment: $4 Billion
The 10-year India-US Defence Framework Agreement, signed in October 2025, aims to bolster bilateral defence partnership through strategic convergence, critical technology sharing, and co-production of military hardware. The review of its progress underscores its role as a cornerstone for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, building upon India's status as a 'Major Defence Partner'.
Full form of ADMM-Plus: ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus
Cyclone Arnab highlights the growing vulnerability of India's critical digital infrastructure to climate change. A 2025 assessment by XDI found that over 12% of India's 228 data centres could face high climate-related infrastructure risk by 2050, with damage risk projected to rise by 111% by 2100. This comes amid escalating economic losses from extreme weather, including an 84% increase in cropland affected in 2024.
Data Centres Assessed (XDI 2025): 228
The government highlights the success of its electronics manufacturing push, citing a six-fold production increase to ₹11.3 lakh crore (2014-15 to 2024-25) and ₹3.25 lakh crore in tax collections against a ₹19,000 crore mobile PLI outlay. A new Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with ₹62,500 crore in incentives has been launched to create indigenous smartphone brands by October 2028.
Full form of PLI: Production Linked Incentive
The Union Government has increased Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners by 3 percentage points to 63% of basic pay/pension. This revision, effective retrospectively from 1 July 2026, involves an annual financial implication of over Rs. 10,000 crore and benefits over 1.17 crore individuals.
New DA/DR Rate: 63% of basic pay/pension
2 sourcesThe Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban 2.0 includes an interest subsidy scheme offering up to ₹1.80 lakh subsidy on home loans up to ₹25 lakh. It targets Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), and Middle Income Group (MIG) families with annual incomes up to ₹9 lakh. The scheme aims to make home ownership affordable for urban poor and middle-class families.
Full form of PMAY-U: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban
The US Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held the benchmark interest rate steady at 3.75%-4.00%, prioritizing data accumulation over immediate hikes despite inflation remaining above its 2% target. This decision, taken 6 days before the US midterm elections, reflects a cautious approach amid complex economic pressures from geopolitical conflicts and technological investment booms.
Full form of FOMC: Federal Open Market Committee
2 sourcesIndia and Mexico have officially launched negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) by signing the Terms of Reference. This agreement aims to expand bilateral trade, boost investment flows, and create resilient supply chains, covering sectors like automotive, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals.
Full form of PTA: Preferential Trade Agreement
The 2026 Lancet Countdown report quantifies the severe health and economic impacts of climate change in India, attributing half of all heatwave days to human-induced warming. It highlights escalating risks from vector-borne diseases, air pollution, and substantial labour productivity losses, calling for urgent climate-health action.
Report Name: Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change 2026
An expert panel in Kerala has recommended winding up the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), an off-budget borrowing SPV, and absorbing its functions into the state government. This highlights the critical debate on state-level extra-budgetary resources (OBBs), fiscal discipline under the FRBM Act, and the trade-off between public investment and debt sustainability.
Full form of KIIFB: Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board
India's military restructuring into integrated theatre commands, directed in 2019, remains stalled due to inter-service turf wars over control of air assets and resources. This debate, centered on achieving 'jointness', is critical for modern warfare but faces resistance from the Air Force's doctrine of centralised control. The article argues for a political settlement before the next security crisis.
Full form of CDS: Chief of Defence Staff
The Election Commission of India (ECI) filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court defending its functioning during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, but it left key questions unanswered regarding internal dissent and transparency. This highlights critical issues about the erosion of checks and balances within the constitutional body, which is vital for safeguarding free and fair elections. Aspirants must understand the institutional challenges to the ECI's autonomy and the role of Article 324.
Constitutional Body: Election Commission of India (ECI)
Uttar Pradesh government has proposed developing a dedicated 'Singapore City' and high-tech industrial township near the upcoming Noida International Airport at Jewar to attract global supply chain hubs. This follows investment commitments of nearly ₹60,000 crore secured during the CM's Singapore visit in February 2026, with a new ₹775 crore FDI project also approved, creating 1,880 jobs.
Proposed Project: 'Singapore City' & High-Tech Industrial Township near Noida International Airport, Jewar
The Allahabad High Court has clarified a crucial principle for reservation in public employment: meritorious candidates from reserved categories (OBC, etc.) who score above the general/unreserved cutoff cannot be denied selection.
Total Posts Advertised (2018): 31,360 Civil Police + 18,208 PAC Constables
The United States has proposed an 'ambitious' new defense cooperation framework with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to enhance security partnership in the Indo-Pacific. This move is aimed at countering China's growing military assertiveness in the South China Sea and strengthening maritime security and military coordination among allies.
Full form of ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations
The Jharkhand Cabinet approved a two-day special session of the state legislative assembly to discuss the central Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act 2026 and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. It also approved a new mineral exploration policy, extended work hours for shop employees, and sanctioned funds for healthcare and medical infrastructure projects.
Full form of MMDR: Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation)
2 sourcesThe 2026 Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) elections for eight seats reveal a shifting political landscape. The ruling NDA improved its tally to four seats (up from three), while Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) made its debut, and the RJD wrested the Patna graduates' seat from the BJP.
Full form of MLC: Member of Legislative Council
2 sourcesA United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) appointed Commission has concluded that Israel has committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Gaza, resulting in over 75,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023. The report, presented by former Indian judge S Muralidhar, highlights the killing of children and use of sexual violence as methods of war, with little action taken to stop the atrocities.
Total Palestinian Deaths Reported: Over 75,000
The Railway Board has approved a new semi-high-speed overnight sleeper train between Varanasi and New Delhi. This 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, with a capacity of 823 passengers, will cover 760 km in about 9.5 hours, running six days a week via Kanpur, Prayagraj, Aligarh, and Ghaziabad. It marks the expansion of the indigenous Vande Bharat train family into overnight sleeper services.
Full form of ICF: Integral Coach Factory
2 sourcesA UNESCO expert committee reviewing the Hampi World Heritage Site has recommended strengthening community participation and institutional capacity for its conservation. The committee emphasized protecting Hampi's Outstanding Universal Value while ensuring local communities benefit from tourism and heritage development. A detailed report is expected by mid-December 2026.
Full form of HWHAMA: Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has emphasized strengthening Japan-India economic and infrastructure partnerships, particularly in Northeast India. This includes Japanese assistance for Bangladesh's Matarbari deep sea port, which will connect to Northeast India, and initiatives like Japanese language training for the local workforce to enhance regional connectivity under the 'BIG-B' framework.
Nodal Body: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
The Karnataka High Court has criticised the state government for violating its own law designed to curb delays in government litigation. The Karnataka Conduct of Government Litigation Act, 2023, mandates timely filing of appeals, but the government itself filed appeals with delays ranging from 466 to 1,099 days, leading the court to call it a case of 'red tapism arresting the law'.
Act Name: Karnataka Conduct of Government Litigation Act, 2023
India and Mexico have formally signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to begin negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), establishing the framework for talks. The PTA aims to create new economic opportunities by enhancing market access, with potential cooperation in sectors like automotive, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals. This follows a 2025 understanding between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Full form of PTA: Preferential Trade Agreement
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped the trade margin at 30% for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, effective November 9, 2026. The government claims this could save patients about ₹2,500 crore annually, but experts argue it's a tokenistic measure unless structural issues like bulk procurement and manufacturer price control are addressed.
Full form of NPPA: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority
The 2026 Israeli election resulted in a hung parliament, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc falling short of a majority at 54 seats. The Arab minority parties significantly increased their representation to 17 seats, emerging as potential kingmakers in coalition formation, highlighting the political polarization within Israeli society.
Total Seats in Knesset: 120
3 sourcesThe Ministry of Textiles is reopening the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles for a fourth round, with a reduced minimum turnover criterion of ₹100 crore to boost MSME participation. The scheme aims to promote manufacturing of Man-Made Fibre apparel, fabrics, and technical textiles, enhancing India's global textile value chain position.
Full form of PLI: Production Linked Incentive
The Supreme Court scrutinized the Election Commission's process for Delhi's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, questioning why nearly 43 lakh previously registered voters, now categorized as 'shifted or absent', must file a fresh Form-6 for re-registration.
Full form of SIR: Special Intensive Revision
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India to extend deadlines and simplify the enrolment process for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Delhi. The Court clarified that Form 6 for new voters is 'cast in stone' and cannot be changed, while also asking the ECI not to impose cut-off dates for re-inclusion applications.
Full form of SIR: Special Intensive Revision
2 sourcesThe Supreme Court has equated cybercrime to 'digital dacoity' and refused to consolidate over 30 criminal cases pending in 12 states, emphasizing victim rights over accused convenience. The court cited a specific case where an 81-year-old from Kerala was defrauded of ₹1.90 crore, with money routed through a 'mule account'. This ruling reinforces a strict judicial stance against organized cybercrime rackets targeting vulnerable citizens.
SC Bench Composition: CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana
2 sourcesThe Supreme Court has agreed to examine a legal challenge against the definition of 'industry' under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, which is central to determining worker protections. The challenge, filed by a trade union, argues the new definition is vague and excludes crucial sectors, while the Court's recent nine-judge bench had earlier delinked the new definition from a landmark 1978 'triple test' precedent.
Full form of IRC: Industrial Relations Code
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's state visit to Pakistan, resulting in 20 bilateral agreements, has intensified regional geopolitical tensions and raised concerns in India. This development, occurring within the context of Muizzu's 'India Out' campaign legacy, tests the delicate balance of power in the Indian Ocean Region, where Maldives holds significant strategic importance for India's maritime security and trade routes.
Full form of MDP: Maldivian Democratic Party
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched an annual concessional toll pass for non-commercial vehicles, effective November 1, 2026. Residents living within 20 km of a national highway toll plaza can avail unlimited travel through that specific plaza for a year at a cost of Rs 1,500 (outside municipal areas) or Rs 3,000 (within municipal areas), replacing the need for monthly renewals.
Full form of NHAI: National Highway Authority of India
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority's trade margin rationalisation policy has led to price cuts for some generic cancer drugs, with the highest reduction of 91% for Thiotepa. However, prices of all patented drugs like Pembrolizumab and Ribociclib remain unchanged, highlighting the policy's limitations in making cutting-edge therapies affordable.
Full form of NPPA: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority
The Allahabad High Court, invoking the Manusmriti and a Supreme Court judgment, has ruled that a husband's duty to maintain his wife and children is a 'pious obligation'. In a specific case, it directed the family court to order a 25% deduction from a bank employee's gross salary for maintenance, revising an earlier award of Rs 19,000 per month.
Bench: Justice Praveen Kumar Giri, Allahabad High Court
The Madras High Court has clarified that Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders must obtain prior government permission to undertake missionary activities in India. Upholding the cancellation of an American citizen's OCI registration, the court ruled that 'spreading the word of God' constitutes missionary work under the Citizenship Act, 1955, and doing so without approval is a violation.
Full form of OCI: Overseas Citizen of India
India is among the top four countries globally with the highest heatwave exposure for vulnerable infants and older adults, according to the Lancet Countdown report. Climate change is estimated to have caused almost 3 million heat-related deaths between 2016 and 2023, and 2025 was the second-highest year on record for heatwave exposure for vulnerable groups.
Full form of Lancet Countdown: Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change
India is preparing to highlight Pakistan's inaction against UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar at the upcoming FATF Plenary in Paris. The review will assess Pakistan's anti-terror efforts, with a focus on its failure to curb Azhar's activities despite past grey-listing from 2018-2022 for terror financing failures. This issue is central to India's counter-terrorism diplomacy.
Full form of FATF: Financial Action Task Force
The Supreme Court of India has sharply criticized the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and the government for failing to regulate exorbitant trade margins on essential drugs. Highlighting a case where a cancer injection costing Rs 11,000 was sold for Rs 1.3 lakh, the Court questioned the efficacy of existing price control mechanisms and called the current system 'loot and robbery'.
Full form of NPPA: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority
India's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Qatar surged to 0.44 million tonnes in October 2026, marking a 370% increase and recovering from a seven-month slump caused by the West Asia conflict disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. This underscores India's energy security challenges and its dependence on strategic maritime chokepoints.
Qatar LNG Imports (Oct 1-25, 2026): 0.44 million tonnes
