Current Affairs 21 October 2026
34 stories from 21 October 2026 for UPSC, RBI, SEBI, NABARD, EPFO and PFRDA aspirants: the RBI MPC minutes, core sector growth in September, the Jio Platforms IPO, the financial inclusion saturation campaign, the AgriVoltaics World Conference, UNEP's Emissions Gap Report, the Army Commanders' Conference, Police Commemoration Day, India's Asian Para Games medals and other verified updates.
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Key facts at a glance
The numbers and names most likely to turn up in Prelims, Phase 1 or a GA section.
| Topic | What to remember | Source, date |
|---|---|---|
| Core industries | Sep 2026: +7.9% (Aug revised 5.9%); Apr–Sep 5.1%; iron ore +18.4%; base 2022-23 | MoCI / PIB, 21 Oct |
| MPC minutes (63rd) | Repo 5.50% (+25 bps, 6-0); SDF 5.25%; MSF & Bank Rate 5.75%; stance calibrated tightening | RBI, 21 Oct |
| RBI projections 2026-27 | GDP 7.1%; CPI 5.2% (Q3 peak 6.0%) | RBI, 21 Oct |
| Puducherry Co-op Urban Bank | Sec 35A r/w 56 BR Act; withdrawal cap ₹5,000; DICGC cover ₹5 lakh | RBI, 21 Oct |
| Jio Platforms IPO | ₹30,213 cr; band ₹1,065–1,119; fully subscribed in ~100 min; closes 23 Oct | The Hindu, 21 Oct |
| Rupee | Closed 94.43/USD (+48 paise), six-week high | The Hindu, 21 Oct |
| FI saturation campaign | 21 Oct–31 Dec 2026; 2.70 lakh GPs & ULBs; PMJJBY, PMSBY, APY, PMJDY, re-KYC | DFS / PIB, 19 Oct |
| Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026 | 22 Oct–30 Nov; launch from Karnal, Haryana | MoA&FW / PIB, 21 Oct |
| AgriVoltaics World Conference | 7th edition; Bharat Mandapam; first in Global South; theme Powering the Global South | MNRE / PIB, 21 Oct |
| Agrivoltaic potential | 47.5 mn ha (~30% of cropland) suitable (TERI); next PM-KUSUM phase to include AgriPV | MNRE / PIB, 21 Oct |
| UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2026 | 'The Point of Return'; cuts of 18%/45%/69% by 2030/35/40; current policies 2.8°C | The Hindu, 21 Oct |
| India Chem 2026 | 14th edition; Mumbai, 22–24 Oct; partner country Japan | DCPC / PIB, 21 Oct |
| LLLR-I radar | ₹770 cr contract with BEL; detects fighters and mini/micro drones | MoD / PIB, 21 Oct |
| Army Commanders’ Conference | New Delhi, 21–23 Oct; Land Warfare Doctrine to be released | MoD / PIB, 21 Oct |
| Police Commemoration Day | 21 Oct; Hot Springs 1959 (10 CRPF men); NPM honours 36,852 personnel | MHA / PIB, 21 Oct |
| Centaurus X-3 | HMXB ~24,000 ly away; accretion disk found by RRI team | DST / PIB, 21 Oct |
| Asian Para Games 2026 | Aichi-Nagoya; India 62 medals (14 G) by 21 Oct evening; Praveen Kumar HJ T64 2.05 m GR | PIB; The Hindu; Mint, 21 Oct |
| BCCI selectors | Ramesh Powar added; Pragyan Ojha chairman (after Ajit Agarkar) | The Hindu, 21 Oct |
Economy
3 storiesEight core industries grow 7.9% in September 2026, fastest in recent months
The Index of Eight Core Industries grew by 7.9 per cent year-on-year in September 2026, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 21 October 2026. This was higher than the 5.9 per cent growth recorded in August 2026, which was itself revised upward from a provisional 4.8 per cent. Iron ore led the expansion with 18.4 per cent growth, followed by electricity at 11.4 per cent, coal at 10.7 per cent, refinery products at 10.3 per cent, cement at 9.8 per cent and steel at 4.9 per cent, while fertilizers, natural gas and crude oil contracted. Cumulative growth for April–September 2026 stood at 5.1 per cent, compared with 2.5 per cent in the same period of the previous year.
India and New Zealand sign customs pact on electronic exchange of origin data
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the New Zealand Customs Service have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Electronic Origin Data Exchange of Trade in Goods, the Ministry of Finance said on 21 October 2026. The MoC was signed on 19 October 2026 by CBIC Chairman Shri Vivek Chaturvedi and Ms. Christine Stevenson, Comptroller and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service. It has been concluded under the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on 20 October 2026. The advance electronic sharing of certificate-of-origin data is expected to cut information gaps, speed up customs clearance and give traders greater certainty. Officials said the arrangement will help eligible businesses in both countries make full use of the tariff preferences negotiated under the FTA.
14th India Chem 2026 opens in Mumbai with Japan as partner country
The 14th edition of India Chem, the flagship biennial event of the chemicals and petrochemicals sector, will be held from 22 to 24 October 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, NESCO, Mumbai. It is being organised by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals in partnership with FICCI under the theme 'Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Chemicals Hub', and Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda will inaugurate it. Japan is the partner country, and participation is expected from more than 100 countries along with over 200 exhibitors and 8,000 business visitors. India is the sixth-largest producer of chemicals in the world and the fourth-largest in Asia. The Indian chemical industry is projected to reach USD 300 billion by 2030 and USD 1 trillion by 2040.
Banking & Markets
5 storiesMPC minutes: unanimous vote for 25 bps repo hike to 5.50% and 'calibrated tightening' stance
The Reserve Bank of India released the minutes of the 63rd meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee, held from 5 to 7 October 2026, on 21 October 2026, as required under Section 45ZL of the RBI Act, 1934. The minutes confirm that all six members, chaired by Governor Shri Sanjay Malhotra, voted to raise the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50 per cent, which moved the Standing Deposit Facility rate to 5.25 per cent and the Marginal Standing Facility rate and Bank Rate to 5.75 per cent. The committee also changed its stance to 'calibrated tightening', which the resolution explained means that rate cuts are off the table in the near term. The MPC projected real GDP growth of 7.1 per cent and CPI inflation of 5.2 per cent for 2026-27, with inflation expected to peak at 6.0 per cent in the third quarter. It cited a deficient south-west monsoon, strong El Niño conditions and high energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict as the main sources of price pressure.
RBI places Puducherry Co-operative Urban Bank under all-inclusive directions
The Reserve Bank of India has issued directions under Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to the Puducherry Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd, effective from the close of business on 21 October 2026. Without the prior written approval of the RBI, the bank cannot grant or renew loans, make investments, accept fresh deposits, borrow funds or dispose of its assets. Depositors will be allowed to withdraw no more than ₹5,000 from their savings, current or other deposit accounts in view of the bank's liquidity position. The RBI said it had engaged with the board and senior management of the bank, but the lack of concrete steps to address supervisory concerns made the directions necessary. Eligible depositors can claim deposit insurance of up to ₹5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
Jio Platforms IPO becomes the fastest-ever fully subscribed public issue
The initial public offering of Jio Platforms Ltd was fully subscribed within about 100 minutes of opening on 21 October 2026, making it the fastest-subscribed IPO in India so far. The ₹30,213 crore issue has a price band of ₹1,065 to ₹1,119 per share and is entirely a fresh issue of up to 27 crore shares, with no offer-for-sale component. The portion reserved for Qualified Institutional Buyers was covered within the first ten minutes. On 19 October, the company had allotted shares worth about ₹8,110 crore to 212 anchor investors at the upper end of the price band. The issue closes on 23 October and is set to surpass the ₹27,870 crore IPO of Hyundai Motor India in 2024 as the country's largest by value.
Rupee closes at a six-week high of 94.43 against the US dollar
The rupee rose 48 paise to close at a provisional 94.43 against the US dollar on 21 October 2026, its strongest closing level in about six weeks. Dealers attributed the gain to foreign currency inflows linked to the Jio Platforms IPO and to intervention by the Reserve Bank of India to contain dollar demand. The currency had settled at 94.91 on 19 October, and forex markets were closed on 20 October for Dussehra. Weak domestic equity markets and elevated crude oil prices limited further gains during the day. A stronger rupee tends to ease imported inflation and lowers costs for companies that import crude oil, electronics and other inputs.
SBI informs exchanges about exposure of customer records on the dark web
State Bank of India informed the stock exchanges on 21 October 2026 about the suspected exposure of some of its customer data on the dark web, five days after receiving alerts from its threat intelligence service provider, the Defence Cyber Agency and CERT-In. The bank said that a preliminary analysis of about 3.75 lakh records found 3,897 customer records containing personally identifiable information such as names, mobile numbers, dates of birth and addresses. It has activated its cyber incident response protocols and engaged an independent CERT-In-empanelled agency to assess the source and extent of the exposure. SBI said the incident has no material impact on its core operations, financial performance or business continuity. The disclosure was made under SEBI's listing obligation norms for material events.
Polity & Governance
2 storiesLaw Commission to hold national conference on co-operative federalism and law reform
The 23rd Law Commission of India will host a national conference on 'Co-operative Federalism and Law Reforms: National and State Perspectives' at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 22 October 2026. The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, will inaugurate it in the presence of Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice. The Commission's Chairperson, Justice (Retd.) Dinesh Maheshwari, and representatives of State Law Commissions, jurists and scholars will take part. The theme draws on the division of law-making powers among the Union, State and Concurrent Lists in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Two technical sessions will discuss the methods of law reform and collaborative drafting within a system of divided legislative powers.
DRI seizes over 9 kg of methamphetamine at Bhopal bus terminal
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 9.139 kg of crystalline methamphetamine and arrested one person at the Inter-State Bus Terminal in Bhopal on 20 October 2026, the Ministry of Finance said. Acting on specific intelligence, officers intercepted a passenger travelling by bus from Delhi to Bengaluru. The drug was found in 11 plastic packets hidden inside packets of salwar suits in two trolley bags. The accused was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The DRI noted that it had recently seized 231.8 kg of methamphetamine tablets in the North-East and 137 kg of suspected crystal methamphetamine in Tamil Nadu, showing the varied routes used for synthetic drug trafficking.
International Relations
2 storiesShri Piyush Goyal to visit Germany and the Netherlands with a 100-member business delegation
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal will visit Germany from 22 to 24 October and the Netherlands from 24 to 27 October 2026, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on 21 October. In Berlin, he will take part in the Berlin Global Dialogue and hold talks with Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, with a focus on investment, green mobility, clean technology and opportunities arising from the ongoing India–EU FTA negotiations. In The Hague, he will meet Dutch ministers in charge of economic affairs and foreign trade. Around 100 Indian businesses and start-ups will accompany him, and the delegation will visit the Port of Rotterdam on 25 October. He will address the India–Netherlands Business Forum in The Hague on 26 October.
India flags UN's liquidity crunch and high unpaid dues at the General Assembly's Fifth Committee
India voiced concern over the challenging liquidity situation of the United Nations in 2026 while speaking on 19 October 2026 at the Fifth Committee of the UN General Assembly on improving the organisation's financial situation. Counsellor Shri Surendra Adhana of India's Permanent Mission said that full, timely and unconditional payment of assessed contributions is a Charter obligation of every member state. He noted that unpaid regular-budget assessments had fallen only marginally, from USD 1.87 billion a year earlier to USD 1.46 billion, and that over 90 per cent of the arrears are owed by a single member state. India welcomed the fact that 141 member states had paid their assessments in full by 30 September 2026, compared with 136 a year earlier. The Fifth Committee handles administrative and budgetary matters of the UN.
Schemes & Missions
2 storiesNationwide financial inclusion saturation campaign begins in 2.70 lakh panchayats and urban bodies
A nationwide campaign for the saturation of financial inclusion schemes, organised by the Department of Financial Services, began on 21 October 2026 and will run until 31 December 2026. It covers about 2.70 lakh Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies, where banks will hold camps for enrolment under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and the Atal Pension Yojana. The camps will also open PMJDY accounts, carry out re-KYC of existing accounts, generate pending C-KYC identifiers and update nominations in savings accounts and lockers. Awareness sessions will cover digital frauds and the 'Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar' initiative on unclaimed financial assets. Banks will also source Kisan Credit Card applications from eligible PM-Kisan beneficiaries and enrol farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for the Rabi season.
Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026 to run from 22 October to 30 November
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare announced on 21 October 2026 that it will run the nationwide 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026' from 22 October to 30 November 2026. Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the campaign from Karnal in Haryana. It aims to promote the balanced use of fertilizers based on soil testing, crop diversification through the oilseed, pulse and horticulture missions, and the use of rice fallows after the paddy harvest. Crop residue management, natural farming, water conservation and climate-resilient practices will be promoted through farmers' conferences, Kisan Chaupals, training sessions and field demonstrations. The campaign will also help create Farmer IDs and spread awareness about crop insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Health & Nutrition
1 storyNigeria confirms its first Ebola case, caused by the Bundibugyo strain
Nigeria's first detected case of Ebola virus disease has been confirmed as being caused by the Bundibugyo strain, health officials told an emergency meeting on 21 October 2026. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said three levels of molecular tests had been carried out to identify the strain. Officials said the patient is a diplomat whose condition had deteriorated to multi-organ failure. The Bundibugyo strain is the same one driving the large ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ebola is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever spread through direct contact with the body fluids of infected people or animals.
Environment
3 storiesIndia hosts the AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026, the first in the Global South
The seventh AgriVoltaics World Conference began at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 21 October 2026, the first time the event is being held in the Global South. The three-day conference is hosted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy with support from Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment and is themed 'Powering the Global South'. It was jointly inaugurated by Union Ministers Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Shri Pralhad Joshi. Shri Chouhan said agrivoltaic policies must suit small and marginal farmers, who make up more than 85 per cent of India's farmers, and noted that the average landholding is only 0.96 hectares. Agrivoltaics refers to installing solar panels above farmland so that crops can be grown and electricity generated on the same land.
Next phase of PM-KUSUM to include a large agrivoltaics programme, says Shri Pralhad Joshi
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi said on 21 October 2026 that one of the world's most ambitious agrivoltaic programmes will be launched under the next phase of PM-KUSUM. Citing a TERI study, he said about 47.5 million hectares, roughly 30 per cent of India's 160 million hectares of cropland, are technically suitable for agrivoltaics. Decentralised solar capacity grew by 16.3 GW in the previous year, including 7.6 GW under PM-KUSUM and 8.7 GW of rooftop solar, much of it under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which has crossed 63 lakh beneficiaries. He noted that elevated and tilted structures make agrivoltaic plants 25 to 30 per cent costlier than ground-mounted solar, a gap the government aims to bridge. Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh together account for nearly half of the estimated potential.
Coal Controller's SUVIKALP mine-repurposing tool wins SKOCH Gold Award 2026
The Coal Controller Organisation under the Ministry of Coal has developed SUVIKALP, an in-house tool that helps stakeholders choose suitable projects for repurposing closed mines, the Ministry said on 21 October 2026. The tool ranks repurposing options on technical, environmental, social and economic criteria. Once a project is chosen, users can explore implementation pathways through PRISM, the Post-Mining Repurposing Implementation Strategy Model, which offers project concepts, case studies and sample project reports. SUVIKALP received the SKOCH Gold Award 2026 in the category of Digital Operational Efficiency – Data Driven Decision Making. The organisation also ran 12 thematic webinars under the SUVIKALP Samvaad series on mine closure, livelihoods, tourism and the reuse of abandoned mine voids.
Science & Tech
2 storiesRRI scientists find rare accretion disk around the X-ray pulsar Centaurus X-3
Scientists at the Raman Research Institute, an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology, have found that the bright X-ray pulsar Centaurus X-3 draws in matter through an accretion disk, the Ministry of Science and Technology said on 21 October 2026. Centaurus X-3 is a high-mass X-ray binary in which a neutron star orbits a companion more than ten times the mass of the Sun, about 24,000 light-years away. The team, led by researcher Kinjal Roy, studied four secondary emission lines and showed that the structure producing them co-rotates with the pulsar, pointing to an accretion stream fed by a disk. In most high-mass X-ray binaries, the neutron star captures stellar wind directly, so a disk is unusual. The researchers said future models of the system will have to account for emission from the disk.
Aditya-L1's VELC payload produces Doppler velocity images of the solar corona
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru have produced Doppler velocity images of the solar corona using data from the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) on board Aditya-L1, India's first solar mission. Positive and negative Doppler velocities show whether solar plasma is moving away from or towards the observer. Such images can reveal whether a coronal mass ejection is heading along the Sun–Earth direction, information that has not been available so far. The data-processing software was developed by a team led by Dr V. Muthupriyal, and the technical details have been published in the Astrophysical Journal. Principal Investigator Prof. R. Ramesh said VELC is currently the only instrument able to produce such images from the L1 point.
Defence
2 storiesArmy Commanders' Conference begins; Land Warfare Doctrine to be released
The Army Commanders' Conference, the apex biannual forum of the Indian Army, began in New Delhi on 21 October 2026 and will continue until 23 October. Chaired by the Chief of the Army Staff, it brings together the Army's senior leadership to review the security environment, operational preparedness, capability development and transformation initiatives. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will address the conference and release the Land Warfare Doctrine, which will provide an overarching framework to prepare the Army for the changing character of warfare. He will also unveil the annual United Nations Journal and felicitate Army personnel for their service as UN peacekeepers. The Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will deliver talks on contemporary security issues.
MoD signs ₹770 crore contract with BEL for improved low-level lightweight radars
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth about ₹770 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) on 21 October 2026 to procure Improved Low Level Light Weight Radars, known as LLLR-I, for the Indian Army. The contract was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh. The radar can detect and track fighter-sized targets as well as mini and micro drones, and can prioritise aerial targets. It will strengthen the Army's ability to counter threats from unmanned aerial systems. The Ministry said the procurement advances the indigenisation of air defence platforms and supports the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem, including MSMEs.
Appointments
1 storyRamesh Powar joins men's senior selection committee; Pragyan Ojha remains chairman
The BCCI has appointed former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar to the national men's senior selection committee, while Pragyan Ojha will continue as chairman on the basis of seniority. Ojha succeeds Ajit Agarkar, whose term as chairman ended on 4 October 2026. Powar was unanimously recommended by the Cricket Advisory Committee of Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape after interviews held in Mumbai on 15 October. The 48-year-old played two Tests and 31 ODIs, took 470 first-class wickets for Mumbai and later coached the India women's team to the 2022 Asia Cup title and a Commonwealth Games silver. The committee now consists of Pragyan Ojha, Shiv Sundar Das, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra and Ramesh Powar.
Reports & Indices
1 storyUNEP Emissions Gap Report 2026: emissions must fall 45% by 2035 to return to 1.5°C
The United Nations Environment Programme released the 'Emissions Gap Report 2026: The Point of Return' on 21 October 2026. It says global warming is set to exceed 1.5°C and examines a lowest-possible overshoot pathway in which peak warming is held to about 1.7–1.8°C around mid-century and brought back to 1.5°C by 2100. To follow that pathway, global greenhouse gas emissions would need to fall by 18 per cent by 2030, 45 per cent by 2035 and 69 per cent by 2040, compared with 2025 levels. The report estimates that current policies point to warming of 2.8°C this century, while full delivery of all Nationally Determined Contributions would limit it to 2.6°C. Even if all NDCs and net-zero pledges are met, warming would be held only to about 2.1°C, it adds.
Sports
6 storiesPraveen Kumar retains Asian Para Games high jump T64 gold with a Games record
Double Paralympic medallist Praveen Kumar defended his men's high jump T64 title at the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on 21 October 2026. He cleared 2.05 metres to break his own Games record and lead an Indian one-two finish. Banti took the silver with a personal best of 1.92 metres. Praveen said he had been unwell two weeks before the event and had worried about defending his title. Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated both athletes on their performance.
Sachin Khilari leads an all-Indian podium sweep in men's shot put F46
Sachin Khilari retained his men's shot put F46 gold at the Asian Para Games on 21 October 2026 with a season-best throw. Mohd Yasser won the silver and Parveen the bronze, giving India a clean sweep of the podium in the event. Both Yasser and Parveen also produced season-best efforts. Khilari, who won silver in the same event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, has now defended his continental title. The F46 class is for athletes with an impairment affecting one or both upper limbs.
Ayush Verma wins shot put F53 gold; Bhagyashree Jadhav and Manjeet take silver
Ayush Verma won the men's shot put F53 gold at the Asian Para Games on 21 October 2026 with a throw of 8.16 metres on his fifth attempt. The 35-year-old from Meerut ended his debut Games with two medals, having won bronze in the javelin throw F53/54 a day earlier. Athletes in the F53 class compete from a seated position because their trunk and leg movement is significantly affected. Bhagyashree Jadhav won silver in the women's shot put F34 with a personal best. Manjeet, who had finished fourth at the previous edition, won silver in the men's javelin throw F12/F13.
Simran wins second gold of the Games with a record in the women's 100m T12
Indian sprinter Simran won the women's 100m T12 gold at the Asian Para Games on 21 October 2026 in a Games record time of 12.02 seconds. It was her second gold of the edition after the 200m T12 title, also won in Games record time, a day earlier. Iran's Hajar Safarzadeh finished second in 12.30 seconds, and Indonesia's Made Ni Putri was third. The T12 class covers athletes with moderate visual impairment who may run with a guide, and Simran is now running with her new guide, Shivam. The 26-year-old, a bronze medallist at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, had won silver in both sprint events at the 2023 Hangzhou edition.
Dilip Gavit and Mohammad Basil finish one-two in the men's 100m T47
Dilip Gavit won the men's 100m T47 gold at the Asian Para Games on 21 October 2026 in 10.69 seconds, with compatriot Mohammad Basil taking the silver in 10.72 seconds. China's Kangjun Shi finished third in 10.80 seconds. The T47 class is for athletes with an impairment of one upper limb. On the same day, Rakeshbhai Bhatt won bronze in the men's 100m T37 and Anubhav Choudhary won bronze in the men's 100m T35, both with personal-best times. Anubhav's medal came on his debut at the Games.
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag win compound doubles silver; India's tally crosses 60
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag won the silver medal in the women's para compound doubles archery event at the Asian Para Games on 21 October 2026. The Indian pair lost the final to China by 141-150. Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi praised the duo for their teamwork. With a string of medals in athletics, archery, swimming and powerlifting on the day, India's tally rose to 62 medals, comprising 14 gold, 21 silver and 27 bronze, by Wednesday evening. India was placed fifth in the medals table at that stage of the Games.
Important Days
1 storyPolice Commemoration Day: Shri Amit Shah pays homage at the National Police Memorial
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah paid tribute to police personnel who laid down their lives on duty at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi on Police Commemoration Day, 21 October 2026. The day recalls 21 October 1959, when 10 CRPF personnel were killed while resisting an attack by Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh. The memorial, inaugurated in 2018, honours 36,852 police personnel who have died in the line of duty. Shri Shah also flagged off a nationwide motorcycle rally on the theme 'Fight Against Drugs' and called on police forces to work towards a drug-free India by 31 December 2029. Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the police, saying their courage and sacrifice will remain etched in the nation's memory.
Art & Culture
3 storiesHon'ble President presents Lalit Kala Akademi awards of the 65th National Exhibition of Art
Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu presented the Lalit Kala Akademi awards to selected artists of the 65th National Exhibition of Art in New Delhi on 21 October 2026. She also felicitated the Grand Prize winners and Honourable Mentions of the 3rd Print Biennale India, 2026. The President said art reflects a society's culture, memories and aspirations, and stressed the need to train traditional artists in remote areas in new technologies and contemporary techniques. She said artists need financial support, wider markets and links with collectors, and noted the efforts of the Akademi and the Ministry of Culture to promote the sale of artworks. She added that art should not be confined to galleries but should reach schools, universities and public spaces.
Hon'ble President to attend Bastar Dussehra's Muriya Darbar during Chhattisgarh visit
Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu will visit Chhattisgarh on 22 and 23 October 2026, Rashtrapati Bhavan announced on 21 October. On 22 October, she will release a commemorative coin in honour of Pujya Mata Hasi Devi Ji at Lok Bhavan, Raipur. On the same day, she will attend the 'Seva Samman Parv' and 'Yuva Prabodhan' programmes held on the occasion of the Nuakhai festival in Raipur. On 23 October, she will attend the Muriya Darbar and a public programme marking Bastar Dussehra at Jagdalpur. Bastar Dussehra is a long tribal festival dedicated to Goddess Danteshwari, and the Muriya Darbar is a traditional assembly where tribal representatives raise local issues.
Hon'ble Prime Minister condoles the passing of Sengol craftsman Thiru Vummidi Ethiraj
Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi expressed grief on 21 October 2026 at the passing of Thiru Vummidi Ethiraj, who is remembered for his part in crafting the historic Sengol. The Sengol was presented to India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the time of Independence. In 2023, the Sengol was installed in the new Parliament building. The Prime Minister recalled meeting Thiru Ethiraj during that time and said his life and craftsmanship formed a remarkable link between India's traditions and its national journey. Thiru Ethiraj hailed from a distinguished family based in Tamil Nadu.
Quick-revision MCQs
Ten questions drawn from today’s stories. Tap an option to check yourself.
Q1.According to provisional data, the Index of Eight Core Industries grew by how much in September 2026?
Answer: B. Core sector output grew 7.9% in September 2026; August's growth was revised to 5.9%.
Q2.After the 63rd MPC meeting, the Marginal Standing Facility rate and Bank Rate stand at:
Answer: C. The repo rate was raised to 5.50%, placing the MSF rate and Bank Rate at 5.75% and the SDF at 5.25%.
Q3.The MPC minutes are published under which section of the RBI Act, 1934?
Answer: A. Section 45ZL requires publication of the minutes on the fourteenth day after the meeting.
Q4.The financial inclusion saturation campaign that began on 21 October 2026 will run until:
Answer: D. It runs from 21 October to 31 December 2026 across 2.70 lakh GPs and ULBs.
Q5.The 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 is being held at:
Answer: B. It opened at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi — the first edition in the Global South.
Q6.Which country is the partner country for India Chem 2026 in Mumbai?
Answer: C. Japan is the partner country for the 14th India Chem, held from 22 to 24 October.
Q7.The LLLR-I radars ordered by the Ministry of Defence will be supplied by:
Answer: A. The ₹770 crore contract was signed with BEL.
Q8.Police Commemoration Day on 21 October recalls an attack in 1959 at:
Answer: D. Ten CRPF personnel were killed at Hot Springs, Ladakh, on 21 October 1959.
Q9.According to UNEP's Emissions Gap Report 2026, current policies point to warming of about:
Answer: B. Current policies lead to about 2.8°C; full NDC delivery would limit it to 2.6°C.
Q10.Centaurus X-3, studied by Raman Research Institute scientists, is a:
Answer: C. It is a high-mass X-ray binary with a companion more than ten times the Sun's mass.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Reserve Bank of India, The Hindu and Mint.
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