National Affairs

• SME Growth Fund: The Union Cabinet approved a ₹10,000 crore fund to provide equity support to high-potential small and medium enterprises.

• Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA): Newly approved body to coordinate transport planning and update the National Logistics Policy (2022). It will appraise central infrastructure projects over ₹500 crore and draft a 10-year National Transport Master Plan.

• Supreme Court Appointments: Three new judges appointed in October 2026—Sunita Agarwal, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, and Aparesh Kumar Singh.

• India Mobile Congress 2026: Focused on digital connectivity, telecom, emerging technologies, and digital inclusion.

• Mountain Guardian 2026: A joint military exercise between India and the UAE focusing on mountain warfare, which commenced on 5 October 2026 at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand.

• Environment: A high-altitude snow leopard safari was introduced in Ladakh to promote responsible ecotourism.

Economy & Banking

• RBI Monetary Policy: The RBI raised the repo rate by 25 basis points (0.25%) to 5.50%. The monetary policy stance was officially shifted from 'neutral' to 'calibrated tightening' to control inflation.

• Inflation: Early estimates indicate an expected rise in September 2026 consumer inflation due to food and energy prices. A September survey showed households expecting inflation to hit 10% over the next year. (Note: CPI measures consumer-level prices; WPI measures wholesale prices).

• Regulatory Updates: SEBI is reviewing share buybacks, alternative investment funds, and municipal debt. The GST Council is working on simpler registrations, refunds, and prosecution thresholds.

International Affairs

• Brazil Presidential Election: The first round concluded, resulting in a runoff between Flávio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva scheduled for 25 October 2026.

• Defence Technology: South Korea successfully tested a domestically developed hypersonic weapon (capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5).

Important Dates

• 9 October – World Post Day: Commemorates the 1874 establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Bern, Switzerland. Theme for 2026: “One Postal Network, Infinite Possibilities.”

• 9 to 15 October – National Postal Week: An India-specific observance to highlight the modernisation of digital postal services and financial inclusion.

Sports

• Asian Games 2026 (Aichi–Nagoya, Japan): The Indian men's hockey team retained its gold medal, securing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

• Asian Champions Trophy: India will host the men's tournament in Jalandhar and Mohali from 27 October to 5 November 2026.

Awards & Honours (Nobel Prizes 2026)

• Physiology or Medicine: Karl Deisseroth (Stanford), Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for discoveries in optogenetics (using light-sensitive proteins to control genetically modified cells).

• Physics: Francis Halzen for contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory (South Pole) and the discovery of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos.

• Chemistry: Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai for work on nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.