Weekly Current Affairs (October 2026 – Week 3) – Exam Revision Notes
1) International Current Affairs
US Suspends Eight IT Companies from PERM Programme
The United States government announced the suspension of eight major technology and IT services companies from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme on 8 October 2026 — Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Capgemini, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro and HCL Technologies. The decision was expected to affect skilled foreign professionals, particularly Indian IT workers seeking US permanent residency through employer sponsorship.
Cyclone Rachel 2026
Cyclone Rachel, a tropical cyclone that developed over the eastern North Pacific Ocean in September 2026, caused heavy rainfall, flooding and coastal damage in Mexico and the south-western United States in October 2026.
2) National Current Affairs
Noida International Airport Renamed
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved renaming Noida International Airport at Jewar as ‘Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar’ on 9 October 2026, announced by CM Yogi Adityanath. The airport is at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, near Greater Noida.
Lakshadweep Declared 100% Literate
Lakshadweep was declared 100% literate on 11 October 2026 under ULLAS–Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. Administrator Praful Patel made the declaration after completing adult literacy assessments across the islands.
PM Inaugurates Five Projects Worth ₹3,350 Crore in Ladakh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and dedicated five projects worth about ₹3,350 crore in Ladakh on 15 October 2026 through video conferencing, covering transport, energy, archaeological heritage and water security.
| Project | Key Feature |
|---|---|
| New Passenger Terminal Building | Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh |
| Nimmu–Padum–Darcha Road | 298-km strategic road by BRO; links Ladakh with Himachal Pradesh through the Zanskar Valley |
| Hanu Small Hydropower Project | 9 MW, with the Dah–Hanu–Khaltsi double-circuit transmission line |
| Rock Painting Conservation Park | India’s first, at Sindhu Ghat, Leh — preserves prehistoric rock paintings |
| Him Sarovar Project | 40 water bodies across 40 villages for water conservation and irrigation |
3) Andhra Pradesh Current Affairs
Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0
Deputy CM K. Pawan Kalyan launched Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0 on 11 October 2026 at Kaakavada village, Polavaram district, to improve road connectivity in remote tribal areas. It envisages 1,976 km of roads connecting 1,341 tribal habitations at an estimated cost of ₹2,052 crore.
National SARAS Mela 2026
The Ministry of Rural Development, with the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), AP, organised the National SARAS Mela 2026 at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada, from 13 to 31 October 2026 — the first time it was held outside the Delhi-NCR, per the Ministry’s announcement on 12 October.
Srisailam Dam Enters World Book of Records
The Srisailam Dam Project on the Krishna River along the AP–Telangana border earned recognition in the World Book of Records for its engineering features and structural resilience. According to Superintending Engineer M. Venugopal Reddy, it is the first project in India to receive this distinction.
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Construction | Began 1960, completed 1980 |
| Purpose | Multipurpose — irrigation and hydroelectric power |
| Notable feature | Massive crest gates, each 60 feet × 55 feet — regulate reservoir release, key for dam safety and flood management |
| Location | Near Srisailam in the Nallamala Hills; reservoir spans AP and Telangana |
‘Venkatadri’ App for Tirumala Pilgrims
CM N. Chandrababu Naidu virtually launched the ‘Venkatadri’ mobile app on 12 October 2026 to help pilgrims access facilities and services at Tirumala. It was developed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to improve navigation, accessibility and assistance for devotees.
31st CII Partnership Summit
The AP government signed investment agreements worth ₹6,200 crore on 12 October 2026 for industrial and infrastructure projects in the Godavari region, at a regional conference of the 31st Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit in Kakinada.
| Investor / Agency | Project |
|---|---|
| Nexon-Geochem Group (Hyderabad) | Rare earth permanent magnet plant — ₹1,250 crore, 600 tonnes/year, for EVs |
| SAF One Energy Group | Aviation fuel facility near Kakinada anchorage port |
| Ministry of Earth Sciences | Branch of INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services) — tsunami warnings and advisories for fishing communities |
4) Polity & Governance
Preventive Detention
The Supreme Court, on 11 October 2026, directed the Union Government and Delhi Police to prevent unlawful detentions and ensure free movement of people during protests in New Delhi, subject to law and public order.
Preventive detention is detention without trial or conviction to prevent anticipated activities threatening national security, public order or other legally specified interests — unlike punitive detention, which follows an offence. The Supreme Court has repeatedly said it is an exceptional power that cannot be used routinely.
| Key Point | Fact |
|---|---|
| Preventive detention laws | National Security Act (NSA), 1980; COFEPOSA, 1974 (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act) |
| Article 22 | Safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention |
| Article 22(4) | Detention beyond three months generally needs an Advisory Board opinion |
| Article 22(5) | Grounds of detention to be communicated as soon as possible; right to make a representation |
| Judicial review | Detention orders are subject to judicial review |
5) Economy
Retail Inflation Rises to 5.5% in September 2026
India’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 5.5% in September 2026 from 4.8% in August 2026, according to data released on 12 October 2026 — the highest since October 2024, driven mainly by rising food, fuel and transport costs.
IDBI Bank Strategic Disinvestment
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), on 14 October 2026, approved the strategic disinvestment of a 60.72% equity stake in IDBI Bank Limited to 10955230 Canada Inc., a company under Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, for about ₹52,878.08 crore. Shares held by the Government of India and LIC will be sold. It is expected to become India’s largest FDI transaction in the financial sector.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| RBI placed IDBI Bank under PCA (high NPAs, recurring losses) | 5 May 2017 |
| RBI lifted PCA restrictions (with conditions) | 10 March 2021 |
| CCEA approved strategic disinvestment | 14 October 2026 |
6) Science & Technology
World’s First Working Nuclear Clocks – Thorium-229
Scientists from Europe and China developed the world’s first working nuclear clocks using the thorium-229 isotope, published in two separate papers in the journal Nature. The clocks measure time using transitions within an atomic nucleus rather than the movement of electrons.
WHO Prequalifies CERVAVAC
The World Health Organization (WHO) granted prequalification to CERVAVAC, India’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, made by the Serum Institute of India (SII), effective 25 September 2026 — the first Indian-made quadrivalent HPV vaccine to receive it.
Air-Gapped Testing of AI Models
More than 200 AI and cybersecurity researchers called for immediate safety measures to prevent advanced AI models from escaping security controls and threatening critical infrastructure, recommending air-gapping of cyber-capable AI models during development and testing. Air-gapping physically isolates a computer or network from the internet and other external networks to prevent unauthorised access, data theft and cyberattacks.
‘Forever Chemicals’ in Visakhapatnam Coastal Waters
Studies have raised concerns about Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), or ‘forever chemicals’, in India’s water sources. PFAS are synthetic chemicals with strong carbon–fluorine bonds, making them highly resistant to degradation; they are used in industrial coatings, textiles and consumer products.
7) Environment
Bauxite Mining Threatens Jeypore Ground Gecko – Balda Hills
The rare and endangered Jeypore ground gecko, found in the Eastern Ghats of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, faces a habitat threat from a proposed open-cast bauxite mining project in Odisha’s Balda hills, covering about 147 hectares of forest in the Nageswari Reserve Forest. Only four individuals have been documented in the Balda hills over the past year.
India’s Ramsar Sites Rise to 103 – Sukhna Wetland (Chandigarh); Sauj Jheel (UP)
India’s Ramsar Sites increased to 103 with the designation of Sukhna Wetland, Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel, Uttar Pradesh as Wetlands of International Importance, announced by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on 15 October 2026.
8) Defence
Exercise INDRA 2026 – India–Russia
The Indian Navy’s warship INS Sahyadri arrived at Vladivostok, Russia, on 10 October 2026 for Exercise INDRA 2026, a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy.
Exercise KONKAN-26
Guided-missile stealth frigate INS Trishul took part in Exercise KONKAN-26, the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the UK’s Royal Navy, held from 8 to 15 October 2026 off Plymouth, United Kingdom.
IBSAMAR IX 2026
Frontline guided-missile stealth frigate INS Tarkash was deployed to South Africa for the ninth edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Exercise (IBSAMAR IX) 2026, a trilateral exercise under the IBSA framework. IBSAMAR was first held in 2008 and is organised biennially.
Indian Army Launches ‘Bharat Rice’ Initiative
The Indian Army launched the ‘Bharat Rice’ initiative on 12 October 2026 in New Delhi, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Food Minister Pralhad Joshi, to provide superior-quality rice to personnel, especially in remote areas such as Ladakh and the North-East. The rice will be milled to defence specifications and supplied through NAFED in FY 2026-27, with quality-control checks.
The Indian Army and the Food Corporation of India also signed an MoU to strengthen military logistics during operational emergencies.
MoD Signs ₹4,106-Crore Contracts
The Ministry of Defence signed two contracts worth about ₹4,106 crore on 15 October 2026 to strengthen defence communication and anti-submarine warfare, while promoting indigenous manufacturing.
| Contract | Value | Signed With |
|---|---|---|
| GSAT-7C communication satellite for the IAF | ₹2,563 crore | NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Bengaluru |
| Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Navy | ₹1,543 crore | Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad |
9) Schemes
PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana Completes One Year
The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) completed its first year on 11 October 2026. Approved by the Union Cabinet on 16 July 2025 and launched by PM Narendra Modi on 11 October 2025, it targets 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts. It runs for six years from 2025–26, focusing on productivity, crop diversification, irrigation, post-harvest storage, credit and governance.
NSAP Continued and Renamed ‘Prime Minister’s Social Assistance Scheme’
The Union Cabinet approved continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for five years (2026–27 to 2030–31) with an outlay of ₹53,428 crore. Implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, it assists elderly persons, widows, persons with disabilities and poor families facing the death of a breadwinner. NSAP is renamed the Prime Minister’s Social Assistance Scheme, along with its four sub-schemes.
| Existing Scheme | Approved New Name |
|---|---|
| National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) | Prime Minister’s Social Assistance Scheme |
| Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) | Prime Minister’s Old Age Pension Scheme |
| Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) | Prime Minister Widow Pension Scheme |
| Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) | Prime Minister’s Disability Pension Scheme |
| National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) | Prime Minister’s Family Benefit Scheme |
10) Awards & Honours
Nobel Peace Prize 2026
Navi Pillay, a South African-born international jurist and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for promoting international law, human rights and the rule of law. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced it in Oslo on 9 October 2026, marking the 125th anniversary of the prize, first presented in 1901.
Nobel Prize in Economics 2026
American economists Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford were awarded the 2026 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on 12 October 2026, for work on the “microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation” — how household and firm decisions drive economic fluctuations and how fiscal and monetary policy can respond.
11) Committees & Conferences
First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting
The First Home Ministers’ Meeting of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) was held in New Delhi on 13 October 2026, concluding with the Delhi Declaration on counter-terrorism, transnational crime and other security challenges.
12) Person in News
New Governors in Six States
President Droupadi Murmu appointed new Governors in six States.
| State | Newly Appointed Governor |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar |
| Keralam | Om Prakash Mathur |
| Karnataka | Sudha Yadav |
| Odisha | Braj Mohan Ram |
| Uttarakhand | Dhal Singh Bisen |
| Sikkim | Dushyant Gautam |
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| Article 153 | A Governor for each State; the same person may be Governor of two or more States |
| Article 155 | Appointment of Governors by the President |
| Article 156 | Holds office during the pleasure of the President; normal term five years |
| Article 157 | Qualifications for appointment as Governor |
| Article 158 | Conditions of the Governor’s office |
13) Important Days
International Day of the Girl Child – 11 October
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed on 11 October to highlight challenges faced by girls and promote their rights and empowerment. The 2026 theme is “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights”.
Mahila Kisan Diwas – 15 October
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) celebrated Mahila Kisan Diwas 2026 on 15 October 2026 with the theme “Role of Women Farmers in Building Developed Agriculture and a Developed India.”
World Food Day – 16 October
World Food Day 2026 was observed on 16 October with the theme “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow”, highlighting innovation for food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture, including climate-resilient farming, technology, better food distribution and inclusive financing.
14) Miscellaneous
Smriti Mandhana – UNICEF India Celebrity Advocate for Adolescent Girls
Indian women’s cricket star Smriti Mandhana was appointed a Celebrity Advocate by UNICEF India on 11 October 2026, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child, to promote equal opportunities, health, well-being and empowerment of adolescent girls.
Mount Mukut – Chamoli
Mount Mukut (Mukut Parbat) is a high-altitude peak in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, in the Garhwal Himalayas, in the Zaskar Range near Mount Kamet. Its name means crown, after its crown-like appearance. A 17-member Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team scaled it on 7 October 2026.
Ramya Anche to Lead NASA’s $20 Million PUFFINS Mission
Bengaluru-born astronomer Ramya Anche, Assistant Research Professor at the Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, has been selected as Principal Investigator of NASA’s $20 million PUFFINS space telescope mission, which will study interstellar dust and its role in forming stars and planets.
Quick Revision Table
| Topic | One-Line Summary |
|---|---|
| Noida Airport Renamed | On 9 October 2026 the UP Cabinet renamed Noida International Airport at Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, as ‘Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar’. |
| Lakshadweep 100% Literate | Lakshadweep was declared 100% literate on 11 October 2026 under ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society), a Ministry of Education scheme for adults aged 15+ targeting 5 crore learners during 2022–27. |
| Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0 | Pawan Kalyan launched Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0 at Kaakavada, Polavaram district on 11 October 2026 to build 1,976 km of roads to 1,341 tribal habitations at ₹2,052 crore. |
| National SARAS Mela 2026 | The National SARAS Mela was held at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada from 13 to 31 October 2026 by the Rural Development Ministry and SERP, the first time outside Delhi-NCR, in line with the target of 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029. |
| Srisailam Dam | The Srisailam Dam on the Krishna (built 1960–1980, crest gates of 60 ft × 55 ft) became the first project in India to enter the World Book of Records for engineering excellence. |
| Venkatadri App | CM Chandrababu Naidu launched TTD’s ‘Venkatadri’ app for Tirumala pilgrims on 12 October 2026. |
| Godavari Investments | AP signed ₹6,200 crore of agreements at the 31st CII Partnership Summit regional conference in Kakinada on 12 October 2026, including Nexon-Geochem’s ₹1,250 crore, 600-tonne rare earth magnet plant and an INCOIS branch. |
| Golden Triangle | Articles 14, 19 and 21 form the Golden Triangle of Fundamental Rights, which Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978) held must be read together, requiring any liberty-restricting procedure to be just, fair and reasonable. |
| CERVAVAC | WHO prequalified Serum Institute’s CERVAVAC, India’s first indigenous quadrivalent HPV vaccine (types 6, 11, 16, 18; ages 9–26), effective 25 September 2026. |
| Jeypore Ground Gecko | The endangered Jeypore ground gecko (Geckoella jeyporensis), described by Beddome in 1878 and rediscovered in Koraput in 2010, is threatened by a 147-hectare bauxite mining proposal in Odisha’s Balda hills. |
| Ramsar Sites – 103 | India’s Ramsar Sites rose to 103 on 15 October 2026 with Sukhna Wetland (Chandigarh) and Sauj Jheel (Uttar Pradesh), under the Ramsar Convention adopted on 2 February 1971 and joined by India on 1 February 1982. |
| Bharat Rice | The Indian Army launched ‘Bharat Rice’ on 12 October 2026 to supply quality rice through NAFED in FY 2026-27, and signed an MoU with FCI for emergency logistics. |
| Nobel Peace 2026 | South African-born jurist and former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, announced in Oslo on 9 October 2026, the prize’s 125th anniversary. |
| Nobel Economics 2026 | Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford won the 2026 Economics Nobel, announced on 12 October, for the microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation. |
| BIMSTEC Home Ministers | The first BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting was held in New Delhi on 13 October 2026 with all seven members and adopted the Delhi Declaration on counter-terrorism and transnational crime. |
| Important Days | The Day of the Girl Child (11 October) had the theme “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights”, Mahila Kisan Diwas was observed on 15 October and World Food Day (16 October) had the theme “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow”. |
| Smriti Mandhana – UNICEF | Smriti Mandhana was appointed UNICEF India Celebrity Advocate for adolescent girls on 11 October 2026. |
| Mount Mukut | A 17-member Indian Coast Guard team scaled Mount Mukut, a crown-shaped peak in the Zaskar Range near Kamet in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, on 7 October 2026. |
| PUFFINS Mission | Bengaluru-born Ramya Anche of the University of Arizona will lead NASA’s $20 million PUFFINS SmallSat mission to study interstellar dust, targeted for launch in 2030. |
