Weekly Current Affairs (October 2026 – Week 2) – Exam Revision Notes
1) International Current Affairs
Kaliningrad Emerges as Russia–NATO Flashpoint
Kaliningrad, Russia’s westernmost exclave on the Baltic Sea, has emerged as a major geopolitical flashpoint amid heightened Russia–NATO tensions. On 1 October 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia could use all weapons at its disposal if Russian territory, including Kaliningrad, were directly attacked. NATO responded that it is a defensive alliance and its activities do not threaten Russian territory.
India–Ghana MoU on Agricultural Research
India and Ghana signed an MoU between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, and Ghana’s Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) to strengthen cooperation in agricultural research, education and technology transfer, reinforcing South-South Cooperation and India–Africa collaboration. The MoU will remain in force for five years and covers joint research, scientific exchanges, capacity building and commercialisation of agricultural technologies.
2) National Current Affairs
Names of 28 Geographical Features in Ladakh Standardised
The Government of India, in consultation with the UT of Ladakh, has formally identified 28 places and geographical features by standard names on the official map of the Survey of India (SoI). The Ministry of Home Affairs announced this on 2 October 2026 to ensure accurate recognition and standardised representation.
| Place | Type | Exam Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gogra | Land area | India–China border standoff in eastern Ladakh |
| Hot Spring | Water body | India–China border friction point |
| Dehra Compass | Land area | Located in the Aksai Chin region, per reporting on the mapping exercise |
| Zorawar Peak | Peak | Notable in Ladakh-related history and geography |
India’s Transport Infrastructure
India’s expanding network of bridges, tunnels, expressways and faster railway services is reducing travel time between major cities and regions, overcoming physical barriers such as rivers and mountains — an important Geography–Transport topic.
| Bridge | State/Region | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Bhupen Hazarika Setu / Dhola–Sadiya Bridge | Assam–Arunachal Pradesh | Improves Assam–Arunachal Pradesh connectivity |
| Bogibeel Bridge | Assam | Rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra; links Dhemaji and Dibrugarh |
| Atal Setu / Mumbai Trans Harbour Link | Maharashtra | Direct connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai |
| Kosi Rail Mahasetu | Bihar | Rail link between Nirmali and Saraigarh |
| Sisseri River Bridge | Arunachal Pradesh | 200-metre bridge; connects Dibang Valley and Siang |
| Tunnel | State/UT | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Atal Tunnel | Himachal Pradesh | 9.02 km; bypasses Rohtang Pass; all-weather connectivity to Lahaul-Spiti |
| Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel | Jammu & Kashmir | 9 km; on the Jammu–Srinagar route |
| Banihal–Qazigund Road Tunnel | Jammu & Kashmir | 8.45-km twin-tube tunnel |
| Sela Tunnel | Arunachal Pradesh | At about 13,000 feet; all-weather connectivity on the Tezpur–Tawang route |
Seven High-Speed Rail Corridors were announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, covering nearly 4,000 km with an estimated investment of ₹16 lakh crore.
| High-Speed Rail Corridor | Indicative Travel Time |
|---|---|
| Delhi–Varanasi | ~3 hours 50 minutes |
| Varanasi–Patna–Siliguri | ~2 hours 55 minutes |
| Chennai–Bengaluru | ~1 hour 13 minutes |
| Bengaluru–Hyderabad | ~2 hours |
| Chennai–Hyderabad | ~2 hours 55 minutes |
| Mumbai–Pune | ~48 minutes |
| Pune–Hyderabad | ~1 hour 55 minutes |
Tiger Reintroduction Begins at Buxa Tiger Reserve
A three-year-old tigress, T138, translocated from Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), was released at Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR), West Bengal, on 2 October 2026, beginning a phased tiger reintroduction programme to establish a self-sustaining population. Three more tigers are expected to follow.
Dhokra Craft
Dhokra (Dokra) craft, in the news after its showcase at the 8th PM Mementos auction, is an ancient lost-wax metal-casting tradition prominently associated with Chhattisgarh, particularly its tribal communities. The Ministry of Culture highlighted that it has a history of more than 4,000 years in India.
Artisans first prepare a wax model and use it to create a mould for casting metal. Chhattisgarh, especially the Bastar region, is one of India’s best-known Dhokra centres.
JOSH Teams Launched – Joint Squad for Health; TB Mukt Bharat; 55 Districts in 11 States; ‘Khushi Avatar’
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Defence, launched JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams to strengthen youth-led community mobilisation for TB Mukt Bharat and take tuberculosis awareness to the grassroots.
3) Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs
₹1 Lakh-Crore Global Horticulture Hub in Madanapalle
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, CM N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM K. Pawan Kalyan launched the ₹1 lakh-crore ‘Global Horticulture Hub – Rayalaseema Rising’ project at Madanapalle on 2 October 2026, to transform drought-prone Rayalaseema into a global horticulture centre through irrigation, technology, food processing, logistics and export infrastructure. It proposes a “seed-to-shipment” ecosystem.
| Key Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Investment | ₹40,000 crore government support + ₹60,000 crore private investment |
| Coverage | 5,860 villages in 201 clusters across 10 districts (incl. erstwhile Prakasam district) |
| Implementation | Three phases; additional six lakh acres under horticulture |
| Crops promoted | Apples, strawberries, bananas, avocado, kiwi, dates |
| GVA | Horticulture now ~₹1.5 lakh crore GVA; hub expected to add ₹1 lakh crore |
AP Gets 3 Lakh Houses Under PMAY-G 2.0
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and CM N. Chandrababu Naidu launched 3 lakh permanent houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G) 2.0 at Burripalem village, Guntur district, on 4 October 2026, with an allocation of ₹3,600 crore.
PMAY-U Awards 2026
At the World Habitat Day observance, the PMAY-U Awards 2026 recognised States, UTs, ULBs and partner agencies under PMAY-Urban and PMAY-U 2.0. Andhra Pradesh ranked first among States/UTs for the highest number of groundings against houses sanctioned under PMAY-U 2.0, followed by Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
| Award / Recognition | Winner |
|---|---|
| Highest groundings vs sanctioned (PMAY-U 2.0) | 1st Andhra Pradesh, 2nd Bihar, 3rd Uttar Pradesh |
| Fastest completed Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) project | Naidupetta, Tirupati Urban Development Authority (AP) — Premier Energy Global Environment Pvt. Ltd. |
| Best Primary Lending Institution (ISS loans) | HDFC Bank |
| Highest % of houses sanctioned vs target (large States) | Bihar |
| Highest number of reforms under PMAY-U 2.0 | Gujarat |
Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0
The AP government launched Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 – Amarajeevi Jaladhara at Kothapalli, Proddatur constituency, YSR Kadapa district, on 5 October 2026, to provide safe and adequate drinking water to rural households on a long-term basis.
AP Policy for Foreign Higher Educational Institutions and Private Universities, 2026
The AP Cabinet, chaired by CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, approved the Andhra Pradesh Policy for Promotion of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) and Private Universities, 2026 on 7 October 2026.
| Key Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Target | At least five FHEIs by 2029; ~5,000 international students |
| Eligibility | Foreign universities in the top 500 of QS or THE rankings |
| Preference | Top 100 in particular subjects; Indian private universities in the NIRF top 100 |
| Also approved | Centre of Excellence for tribal students at Marikavalasa, Visakhapatnam — residential coaching for JEE and NEET |
AP Wins Award at Windergy India 2026
Andhra Pradesh received the “Leadership State in Renewable Energy Investment Mobilisation Award” at the 8th International Trade Fair and Conference, Windergy India 2026, held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
4) Polity & Governance
Parliamentary Committee Report on NTA Reforms
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik, presented its 382nd Report, “Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency (NTA)”, to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha on 9 October 2026. It examines examination security, accountability, infrastructure, transparency and accessibility.
| Recommendation / Finding | Detail |
|---|---|
| NEET-UG | Phased transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) |
| CBT infrastructure | 1,000 secure government-owned centres |
| District access | At least one examination centre in every district |
| IT laboratories | 100–200 computer nodes in schools and colleges |
| NTA staffing | 23 officers against 39 sanctioned posts — ~41% vacancies |
| Exam security | Large question banks, cybersecurity teams, AI-based malpractice detection |
| Future model | Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) — adjusts questions to candidate performance |
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
The NHRC is a statutory body established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to protect and promote human rights — rights to life, liberty, equality and dignity guaranteed by the Constitution or recognised in international covenants and enforceable by Indian courts. It was established in line with the Paris Principles, 1993.
| Aspect | Provision |
|---|---|
| Composition (2019 amendment) | Chairperson, five full-time members and designated ex-officio members |
| Chairperson | A former Chief Justice of India or Judge of the Supreme Court |
| Full-time members | A serving/former SC judge; a serving/former HC Chief Justice; three human-rights experts, at least one woman |
| Appointment | By the President, on the recommendation of a six-member committee headed by the PM — Lok Sabha Speaker, Union Home Minister, Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman |
| Tenure | Three years or age 70, whichever is earlier; eligible for reappointment |
| Present Chairperson | Justice V. Ramasubramanian |
Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC)
The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) is a separate State-level statutory institution under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, dealing with human rights matters within its jurisdiction in AP. The NHRC and State Commissions are distinct bodies; State Commissions are not subordinate branches of the NHRC.
5) Economy
India’s First WASH-Focused Social Bond
NABKISAN Finance Limited, a subsidiary of NABARD, listed India’s first Social Bond dedicated exclusively to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Mumbai, on 1 October 2026. Proceeds will expand access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene in rural and underserved communities.
| Key Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Amount raised | ₹180 crore; oversubscribed 1.8 times |
| Tenure / Coupon | Five years; 8.10% |
| Maturity | September 2031 |
| Ratings | CRISIL AAA (Stable) and CARE AAA (Stable) |
57th GST Council Meeting
The 57th GST Council meeting was held on 8 October 2026 in New Delhi, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It recommended reforms to simplify GST registration, returns, refunds, dispute resolution and compliance.
| Provision | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Section 69 (arrest power of GST Commissioner) | Recommended deleting Section 69 entirely — needs legislative process; the Council cannot repeal a law itself |
| Prosecution threshold | Raised from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore |
| Section 125, CGST Act 2017 (general penalty) | Maximum reduced from ₹25,000 to ₹10,000 |
6) Science & Technology
Metal-Free Catalyst for Zinc-Air Batteries
Indian researchers developed a metal-free porous catalyst called TTT-DHTD that could reduce dependence on expensive platinum in clean-energy technologies, particularly zinc-air (Zn-air) batteries. It was developed by the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata; the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali; and SRM University, Amaravati.
India’s Cement Industry
India’s cement industry faces major challenges in cutting emissions as India targets developed nation status by 2047 and net-zero by 2070. Cement is hard to decarbonise because CO₂ is released both from fuel and from the chemical processing of limestone. The sector contributes about 7–11% of global emissions. India’s cement production is projected to rise from 334 million tonnes (2019–20) to 1,546 million tonnes by 2070.
| Key Point | Fact |
|---|---|
| Main raw material | Limestone — mainly calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) |
| Calcination | Thermal decomposition of CaCO₃ into calcium oxide (CaO) and CO₂ |
| Clinker | Hard, nodular material from heating limestone and clay to ~1,450°C; ground with gypsum to make cement |
| Emissions intensity | Current 0.62 t CO₂/t cement; TERI–GCCA roadmap: 0.56 t by 2030, 0.51 t by 2047 |
| NITI Aayog | 20% thermal substitution using Refuse-Derived Fuel by 2030 |
| Decarbonisation methods | Clinker substitution, alternative fuels, renewable energy, electrification, carbon capture |
| Top limestone producers | Rajasthan (29%), Madhya Pradesh (17%), Chhattisgarh (13%), Andhra Pradesh (11%) |
| Top limestone resources (NMI) | Karnataka (25%), then Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan (~13% each) |
| Feature | OPC | PPC | PSC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full form | Ordinary Portland Cement | Portland Pozzolana Cement | Portland Slag Cement |
| Clinker content | Over 95% | 65–80% | 35–64% |
| Main composition | Clinker and gypsum | Clinker, fly ash and gypsum | Clinker, granulated blast-furnace slag and gypsum |
7) Environment
Great Indian Bustard Release
In a step toward conserving the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav released two male Great Indian Bustards into the wild at Sam in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan — a milestone in the captive breeding programme to restore the wild population of one of India’s most threatened birds.
8) Defence
Exercise MOUNTAIN GUARDIAN 2026
The India–UAE Joint Military Exercise MOUNTAIN GUARDIAN 2026 commenced at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubatia, Uttarakhand, on 5 October 2026 and will continue until 18 October 2026, with a primary focus on Mountain Warfare. It aims to improve interoperability, tactical proficiency and India–UAE military cooperation.
India’s First Indigenous Fleet Support Ship
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched Surya (FSS-1), India’s first indigenous Fleet Support Ship, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, in October 2026, and laid the keel for FSS-5, the fifth vessel in the series.
The project is under a ₹19,000-crore contract between the Ministry of Defence and HSL for five indigenous auxiliary vessels, to strengthen the Indian Navy’s operational endurance and logistics during extended deployments.
SAREX-2026
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the 12th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026) on 8 October 2026 off Paradip, Odisha, under the aegis of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSARB).
9) Schemes
PM-SETU Completes One Year
The Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme completed one year on 4 October 2026. Launched on 4 October 2025, it aims to transform Government ITIs into modern, industry-aligned institutions, with a total outlay of ₹60,000 crore — ₹30,000 crore Centre, ₹20,000 crore States, ₹10,000 crore industry.
| Partner Country | NSTI |
|---|---|
| Singapore | NSTI Chennai |
| France | NSTI Kanpur |
| Australia | NSTI Bhubaneswar |
| Germany | NSTI Hyderabad |
10) Awards & Honours
Nobel Prize in Medicine 2026
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet announced it on 5 October 2026.
Nobel Prize in Physics 2026
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Francis Halzen, a Belgium-born physicist of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA, for pioneering contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Henri B. Kagan (France) and Kenso Soai (Japan) for discoveries concerning molecular chirality — “for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.” The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced it on 7 October 2026.
Nobel Prize in Literature 2026
Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature for innovative works that combine classical Greek and Roman traditions with modern writing styles.
11) Ranks & Reports
First-Ever National Household Travel Survey 2025-26
The National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI released key findings of India’s first-ever National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), conducted from July 2025 to June 2026. It covered 14,274 villages and 10,377 urban blocks, collecting data from 4,92,023 households comprising 20,34,371 persons. A regular trip counts as travel when it covers one kilometre or more.
| Finding | Fact |
|---|---|
| Student commute – leading mode | Walking – 37% |
| Workforce commute – leading mode | Two-wheelers – 42.6% |
| Household overnight journeys | Buses – 55.8%; inter-city railways – 17.7% |
| Fixed-workplace commute expenditure | ₹785 per worker per month (average) |
World Development Report 2026
Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the World Bank Group’s World Development Report 2026, “The Promise of Artificial Intelligence”, on 8 October 2026 in New Delhi, jointly organised by the IndiaAI Mission, MeitY and the World Bank Group.
| Highlight | Detail |
|---|---|
| Low-income countries | Only one of 25 had published a national AI strategy |
| Baramati, Maharashtra | AI-supported farming raised sugarcane yields by 40%, cut water and fertiliser use by 30% |
| Sarlaben (by Amul) | AI-enabled animal healthcare for ~3 crore cattle and their farmers |
| Navachetana (Andhra Pradesh) | AI-enabled early screening for developmental delays in children aged 0–6 years |
12) Committees & Conferences
10th India Mobile Congress 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 10th India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 on 8 October 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. The four-day event runs from 7 to 10 October 2026, jointly organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), with the theme “Scale Without Boundaries”.
13) Person in News
Shyamji Krishna Varma
Revolutionary freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma was remembered on his birth anniversary on 4 October 2026, with PM Narendra Modi paying homage. A memorial named Kranti Teerth was inaugurated in 2010 near Mandvi, Gujarat; it includes a replica of India House, London.
| Key Point | Fact |
|---|---|
| Indian Home Rule Society | Founded by Shyamji Krishna Varma |
| India House | Founded in London in 1905 |
| Journal | The Indian Sociologist (London) |
| Inspiration | Admirer of Swami Dayanand Saraswati |
Ashutosh Dixit
The Ministry of Defence announced the appointment of Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force. He will assume office on 31 October 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retires the same day.
Veteran Actor Nana Patekar Dies at 75
Veteran actor Nana Patekar, known for Hindi and Marathi cinema, reportedly passed away at the age of 75. He received three National Film Awards for Parinda, Krantiveer and Agni Sakshi, and the Padma Shri in 2013.
14) Important Days
World Habitat Day – First Monday of October
MoHUA celebrated World Habitat Day 2026 on 5 October with the theme “Adequate Housing for All”, focusing on affordable, resilient and inclusive housing. It is observed on the first Monday of October every year; the 2026 global observance was held in Muscat, Oman, under UN-Habitat. The UN General Assembly established the Day in 1985, and it was first observed in 1986.
World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day – 8 October
World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day is observed on 8 October to raise awareness about hydrogen energy and fuel cell technologies in the clean-energy transition. The date, written 10/08 (month/day), represents 10.08, the approximate atomic weight of hydrogen. There was no officially confirmed global theme for 2026; India’s focus was on hydrogen standards and safety.
World Mental Health Day – 10 October
World Mental Health Day was observed on 10 October 2026 to raise awareness about mental health, reduce stigma and promote access to quality care. The 2026 theme was “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”, announced by the World Federation for Mental Health and supported by the WHO.
World Cotton Day – 7 October
World Cotton Day was observed on 7 October 2026; the global celebration was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, under the theme “Cotton for Good: Building Prosperity Through Trade, Transformation and Partnership.” It was first celebrated on 7 October 2019 on the initiative of the Cotton-4 (C-4) countries — Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali; the UNGA officially proclaimed it in 2021.
15) Sports
Asian Games 2026 Golds
India recorded major gold-medal wins across disciplines at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Indian Women’s Hockey Team beat China 1–0 in the final to win gold after 44 years (last in 1982), also securing a quota for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The Men’s Hockey Team and Men’s Cricket Team retained their gold medals.
| Sport | Gold Medal Winner |
|---|---|
| Wrestling – Men’s 65 kg Freestyle | Sujeet Kalkal |
| Wrestling – Men’s 57 kg Freestyle | Aman Sehrawat — India’s first-ever Asian Games gold in this category |
| Boxing – Men’s 80 kg | Ankush Panghal |
| Boxing – Women’s 65 kg | Parveen Hooda |
| Boxing – Women’s 75 kg | Lovlina Borgohain — only the second Indian woman boxer after M.C. Mary Kom to win Asian Games gold (silver at the previous Games) |
| Golf – Women’s Individual | Pranavi Sharath Urs — India’s first-ever gold in this event |
| Archery – Women’s Recurve Individual | Kumkum Anil Mohod — first Indian woman to win it |
Max Verstappen Wins Bahrain Grand Prix
Max Verstappen secured his and Red Bull Racing’s first Formula One victory of the year with a dominant performance in the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Indian Olympic Association Awards
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) named archer Kumkum Anil Mohod and wrestler Sujeet Kalkal as the inaugural recipients of the Jaspal Rana Award and Raja Randhir Singh Award respectively, instituted to recognise the best female and male sportspersons of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.
India Finishes Fourth at Asian Games 2026
India concluded the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 with 85 medals — 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze — finishing fourth overall. It was India’s second-highest medal tally, after its record at the previous edition in Hangzhou.
| Rank | Country | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | China | 169 gold medals |
| 2nd | Japan | |
| 3rd | South Korea | |
| 4th | India | 85 medals (21 G, 27 S, 37 B) |
16) Miscellaneous
PRASHAST Portal
PRASHAST is a school-based digital screening tool to identify children with probable disability conditions covered under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. Through a two-part checklist, teachers identify observable indicators, while special educators validate cases and facilitate referrals for medical assessment. It is a screening mechanism, not a medical diagnostic tool.
Quick Revision Table
| Topic | One-Line Summary |
|---|---|
| Kaliningrad Flashpoint | Kaliningrad, Russia’s westernmost exclave on the Baltic Sea between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, became a flashpoint after Vladimir Putin’s 1 October 2026 warning, with NATO having launched Baltic Sentry in January 2025. |
| Dhokra Craft | Dhokra, a lost-wax metal-casting craft over 4,000 years old associated with Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, was showcased at the 8th PM Mementos auction. |
| Rayalaseema Horticulture Hub | The ₹1 lakh-crore ‘Global Horticulture Hub – Rayalaseema Rising’ (₹40,000 crore government, ₹60,000 crore private) was launched at Madanapalle on 2 October 2026, covering 5,860 villages in 10 districts and adding six lakh acres, alongside the Indian School of Agriculture and Reliance’s ₹1 lakh crore CBG plan. |
| PMAY-G 2.0 in AP | Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chandrababu Naidu launched 3 lakh PMAY-G 2.0 houses worth ₹3,600 crore at Burripalem, Guntur on 4 October 2026, with a ₹14-crore pilot of 177 3D-printed houses. |
| PMAY-U Awards 2026 | Andhra Pradesh ranked first for the highest groundings under PMAY-U 2.0 (followed by Bihar and Uttar Pradesh) and won for the fastest ARH project at Naidupetta, Tirupati. |
| Amarajeevi Jaladhara | AP launched Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 – Amarajeevi Jaladhara at Kothapalli, Proddatur (YSR Kadapa) on 5 October 2026 to add 27.36 lakh rural tap connections, named after Potti Sriramulu. |
| AP FHEI Policy 2026 | The AP Cabinet on 7 October 2026 approved a policy to attract at least five foreign universities (top 500 in QS/THE) by 2029 and a tribal Centre of Excellence at Marikavalasa, Visakhapatnam for JEE and NEET coaching. |
| Windergy India 2026 | Andhra Pradesh won the “Leadership State in Renewable Energy Investment Mobilisation Award” at Windergy India 2026 in Chennai. |
| NTA Reform Report | The Parliamentary Standing Committee chaired by Mukul Wasnik submitted its 382nd Report on NTA reforms on 9 October 2026, recommending a phased shift of NEET-UG to CBT, 1,000 government centres and noting 41% NTA vacancies. |
| NHRC | The NHRC, a statutory body set up on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, has a Chairperson and five full-time members appointed by the President on the advice of a PM-led six-member committee, and is now chaired by Justice V. Ramasubramanian. |
| APSHRC | The AP State Human Rights Commission is a separate statutory body under the 1993 Act, not subordinate to the NHRC, and its new chairperson’s appointment is pending before the CM-led selection committee. |
| WASH Social Bond | NABARD subsidiary NABKISAN listed India’s first WASH-focused Social Bond on the NSE on 1 October 2026, raising ₹180 crore at an 8.10% coupon for five years with AAA ratings. |
| 57th GST Council | The 57th GST Council (8 October 2026) under Nirmala Sitharaman recommended deleting Section 69 arrest powers, raising the prosecution threshold to ₹5 crore and cutting the Section 125 general penalty to ₹10,000, the Council being a constitutional body under Article 279A. |
| Zinc-Air Battery Catalyst | SNBNCBS Kolkata, INST Mohali and SRM University Amaravati developed TTT-DHTD, a metal-free porous catalyst that aids the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in zinc-air batteries and can replace platinum. |
| Cement Industry | Cement, made from clinker produced by heating limestone and clay to about 1,450°C, has an Indian emissions intensity of 0.62 t CO₂ per tonne, with Rajasthan the top limestone producer (29%), Andhra Pradesh at 11% and Karnataka holding the largest resources (25%). |
| MOUNTAIN GUARDIAN 2026 | The India–UAE exercise MOUNTAIN GUARDIAN 2026 on mountain warfare runs from 5 to 18 October 2026 at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubatia, Uttarakhand. |
| Fleet Support Ship Surya | Rajnath Singh launched Surya (FSS-1), India’s first indigenous Fleet Support Ship, at Hindustan Shipyard, Visakhapatnam under a ₹19,000-crore contract for five vessels, and laid the keel of FSS-5. |
| SAREX-2026 | The Indian Coast Guard held the 12th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise off Paradip, Odisha on 8 October 2026 under the NMSARB. |
| Nobel Medicine 2026 | Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (announced 5 October) for light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. |
| Nobel Physics 2026 | Belgium-born Francis Halzen of the University of Wisconsin–Madison won the 2026 Physics Nobel for the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole (completed 2010, 5,160 sensors) and high-energy astrophysical neutrinos. |
| Nobel Chemistry 2026 | Henri B. Kagan (France) and Kenso Soai (Japan) won the 2026 Chemistry Nobel, announced on 7 October, for non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis (molecular chirality). |
| Nobel Literature 2026 | Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. |
| New IAF Chief | Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will become the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. |
| World Habitat Day | World Habitat Day (first Monday of October, 5 October 2026) had the theme “Adequate Housing for All”, with the global observance in Muscat, Oman; the UNGA established it in 1985. |
| World Cotton Day | World Cotton Day (7 October), first held in 2019 on the initiative of the Cotton-4 countries and proclaimed by the UNGA in 2021, was celebrated globally in Tashkent in 2026. |
| World Mental Health Day | World Mental Health Day (10 October) 2026 had the theme “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”. |
| Asian Games – Medal Tally | India finished fourth at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 with 85 medals (21 gold, 27 silver, 37 bronze), its second-highest tally, while China topped with 169 golds. |
| IOA Awards | The IOA named Kumkum Anil Mohod and Sujeet Kalkal the inaugural winners of the Jaspal Rana Award and Raja Randhir Singh Award for the best female and male athletes of the Asian Games. |
