Current Affairs 24 October 2026
36 stories from 23–24 October 2026 for UPSC, RBI, SEBI, NABARD, EPFO and PFRDA aspirants: the RBI's Tier IV Data Centre in Bhubaneswar, the 30th FSDC meeting, forex reserves, 11 crore Farmer IDs, the Shram Samvad on the Labour Codes, DRDO's AIP milestone, ITBP Raising Day, the AATAL air pollution lab, Sidhi's first rail link, and a historic table tennis medal.
On this page
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 |
|---|---|---|
| RBI Data Centre, Bhubaneswar | Uptime Institute Tier IV; 4 data centres for payment systems; Hon'ble PM to inaugurate 25 Oct | PMO / PIB, 24 Oct |
| 30th FSDC meeting | Chaired by FM, 23 Oct; Financial Sector Cyber Security Strategy noted; tokenisation discussed | MoF / PIB, 23 Oct |
| Forex reserves (16 Oct) | US$721.016 bn (−US$5.011 bn); FCA US$591.847 bn; gold US$105.8 bn | RBI, 23 Oct |
| 4-day VRR auction | ₹1,50,000 crore on 26 Oct; reversal 30 Oct | RBI, 23 Oct |
| SMFCL | India's first maritime NBFC; ₹5,107 crore disbursed; target ₹60,205 crore by FY2031 | MoPSW / PIB, 23 Oct |
| Farmer IDs | 11 crore created by 23 Oct, ahead of 31 March 2027 deadline (Digital Agriculture Mission) | MoA&FW / PIB, 24 Oct |
| Shram Samvad | 90-day outreach from 28 Sep 2026; 316 districts; Lucknow programme 26–27 Oct | MoLE / PIB, 24 Oct |
| BB-PPDR network | MHA seeks inputs on architecture by 5 Nov 2026 | MHA / PIB, 23 Oct |
| Forest Rights Act (31 Aug 2026) | ~54 lakh claims; 80.64% disposed; 25.42 lakh titles over ~238 lakh acres | MoTA / PIB, 23 Oct |
| J&K Chief Secretary | Dr. Sajjan Singh Yadav (1995, AGMUT) from 1 Nov 2026; succeeds Shri Atal Dulloo | The Hindu; AIR, 24 Oct |
| 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum | Samvidhan Sadan, 26–27 Oct; theme: Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development | Lok Sabha / PIB, 22 Oct |
| AIP Energy Module | DRDO-NMRL; STW Phase-2 at L&T Hazira, 24 Oct; Kalvari-class integration early 2027 | MoD / PIB, 24 Oct |
| ITBP | 65th Raising Day; raised 24 Oct 1962; guards 3,488-km India-China border | PIB; DD News, 24 Oct |
| Air Force Day Aerial Display | 'Wings over Ganges' at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, 25 Oct; IAF 94th anniversary | PMO / PIB, 24 Oct |
| AATAL | Real-time air pollution source analysis lab at IITM Delhi; under Mission Mausam | MoES / PIB, 24 Oct |
| AgriVoltaics World Conference | 7th edition in New Delhi concluded 23 Oct; 8th (2027) to be hosted by France | MNRE / PIB, 23 Oct |
| Sidhi rail link | Rewa–Churhat (65 km) + Satna–Devendra Nagar (53 km) opened 24 Oct | MoR / PIB; Indian Express |
| India Chem 2026 | 14th edition, Mumbai; Japan partner; sector goal US$1 trillion by 2040 | DCPC / PIB, 24 Oct |
| Fish production 2024-25 | 197.75 lakh tonnes; inland 151.60 lakh tonnes; exports ₹73,890 crore (2025-26) | DoF / PIB, 23 Oct |
| Asian TT Championships | Harmeet Desai–Yashaswini Ghorpade: first mixed doubles medal (bronze) in 72 years | The Hindu; Indian Express |
Economy
3 storiesSidhi district gets rail connectivity for the first time as 118 km of new lines open in Madhya Pradesh
Union Minister for Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav inaugurated the Satna–Devendra Nagar (53 km) and Rewa–Churhat (65 km) rail sections on 24 October 2026, covering a total of 118 km. The Rewa–Churhat section connects Sidhi district to the railway network for the first time since Independence, and the route includes a 3.33-km tunnel through hilly terrain. A new Devendra Nagar–Churhat train service was also flagged off. Both sections are linked to the Lalitpur–Singrauli new rail line project, which will connect mineral-rich areas such as Panna, Satna, Rewa, Sidhi and Singrauli with industrial and transport hubs. Madhya Pradesh has received a record railway budget allocation of ₹15,188 crore for 2026-27, and projects worth about ₹1,18,379 crore are under way in the State.
India Chem 2026 concludes; chemicals sector aims for US$1 trillion by 2040
The 14th edition of India Chem, held in Mumbai from 22 October on the theme 'Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Chemicals Hub', concluded on 24 October 2026. Japan was the partner country, and the event included a CEO Forum, India-Japan, India-USA and India-EU forums and roundtables on specialty chemicals, agrochemicals, infrastructure and environmental issues. Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda described the chemical and petrochemical industry as a sunrise sector with large growth potential. He said the sector needs to grow from a market size of about US$220 billion to about US$1 trillion by 2040 and around US$1.6 trillion by 2047. The event aimed to strengthen global partnerships and attract investment into the sector.
Fisheries Investors and Exporters Conclave in Bhopal; inland States contribute only 2% of fish exports
The Fisheries Investors and Exporters Conclave 2026 was held in Bhopal on 23 October 2026 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh with the Department of Fisheries of the Government of India and the National Fisheries Development Board. India's fish production reached 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, of which inland fisheries contributed 151.60 lakh tonnes, and seafood exports were valued at ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26. Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh noted that India exports fish to 130 countries, but inland States account for only 2 per cent of fisheries exports. The Madhya Pradesh Fisheries Investment and Export Guidelines, 2026 and Standard Operating Procedures on inland export potential were released at the event. An approval was also handed over under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for developing 49 reservoirs in the State at a cost of ₹8,755.60 lakh.
Banking & Markets
5 storiesHon'ble PM to inaugurate the RBI's Tier IV Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar
Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Reserve Bank of India's newly established Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 25 October 2026, the Prime Minister's Office announced on 24 October. The facility comprises four state-of-the-art data centres that will host the RBI's mission-critical payment and settlement systems along with other flagship initiatives. It has been certified to the Uptime Institute Tier IV standard, the global benchmark for data centre resilience, and is among the largest Tier IV certified facilities in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector worldwide. The Cybersecurity Training Institute will serve as a dedicated platform for training, research and capability building in cybersecurity and enterprise technology for the financial sector. Its focus areas include frontier technologies relevant to BFSI, such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence.
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman chairs the 30th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 30th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) in New Delhi on 23 October 2026. The Council discussed macro-financial stability, measures to promote fintech innovation and the prospects of tokenising financial and other real-world assets. It reviewed the cyber resilience of the financial sector and took note of the Financial Sector Cyber Security Strategy prepared by an Inter-Ministerial Group of regulators and cybersecurity agencies, along with the cybersecurity preparedness of Regional Rural Banks. The members also discussed simpler, digital KYC and onboarding for NRIs and FPIs, scaling up the Account Aggregator and Unified Lending Interface frameworks for MSMEs, and rationalising credit guarantee schemes. The Finance Minister urged regulators to speed up the refund of unclaimed deposits, dividends, shares, insurance and pension funds to their rightful owners, and suggested that FSDC meetings be held more frequently on a predefined schedule.
India's foreign exchange reserves dip by US$5.01 billion to US$721.02 billion
India's foreign exchange reserves declined by US$5.011 billion to US$721.016 billion in the week ended 16 October 2026, according to the Weekly Statistical Supplement released by the Reserve Bank of India on 23 October. Foreign currency assets, the largest component of the reserves, fell by US$5.758 billion to US$591.847 billion during the week. Gold reserves, in contrast, rose by US$706 million to US$105.800 billion. Special Drawing Rights increased by US$30 million to US$18.578 billion, and India's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund rose by US$11 million to US$4.791 billion. In the previous week, the reserves had fallen by US$8.578 billion to US$726.027 billion.
RBI announces a 4-day Variable Rate Repo auction of ₹1.5 lakh crore and the weekly Treasury Bill auction
The Reserve Bank of India announced on 23 October 2026 that, after reviewing current and evolving liquidity conditions, it will conduct a 4-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction for a notified amount of ₹1,50,000 crore on Monday, 26 October. The funds will be reversed on 30 October 2026, and the auction window will be open from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM. A Variable Rate Repo is a liquidity-injection tool under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), in which banks bid for funds at rates of their choice against government securities. The RBI also notified an auction of Government of India Treasury Bills worth ₹23,000 crore on 28 October, comprising ₹8,000 crore each of 91-day and 182-day bills and ₹7,000 crore of 364-day bills. Individuals can bid non-competitively through the RBI Retail Direct portal, with retail allocation capped at 5 per cent of the notified amount.
Sagarmala Finance Corporation opens its corporate office; disbursements reach ₹5,107 crore
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the corporate office of Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India's first dedicated non-banking financial company for the maritime sector, in New Delhi on 23 October 2026. As on 30 September 2026, SMFCL had sanctioned financing of ₹11,563 crore and disbursed ₹5,107 crore. The corporation aims to reach cumulative disbursements of ₹60,205 crore by the end of FY2031. The Government's contribution of up to ₹9,800 crore to the Maritime Investment Fund is channelled through SMFCL, with SBI Ventures Limited as the fund manager, and the first close of ₹5,000 crore is targeted by January 2027. Under the Interest Incentivisation Fund, loans of ₹4,500 crore have been supported so far and about ₹25 crore of interest subvention has been released.
Polity & Governance
4 storiesMHA seeks public inputs on a nationwide Broadband PPDR network for emergency services
The Ministry of Home Affairs has invited public and stakeholder inputs on the network architecture for a proposed pan-India Broadband Public Protection and Disaster Relief (BB-PPDR) communication system, according to a release of 23 October 2026. The dedicated network is intended to provide Mission Critical Push-to-Talk, Mission Critical Data and Mission Critical Video services to State and Union Territory police forces, the Central Armed Police Forces, the National Disaster Response Force, fire services, medical services and other public safety agencies. Stakeholders can comment on design options, the technology to be adopted, cost efficiency and suitability to Indian conditions. A concept note has been placed on the websites of the Ministry and the Directorate of Coordination Police Wireless (DCPW). Comments are to be submitted by 5 November 2026.
Third regional review conference on the Forest Rights Act held in Srinagar
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs held the third regional review conference on the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 in Srinagar on 23 October 2026. Officials from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir reviewed progress, completing a series that began in Bengaluru on 10 September and continued in Kolkata on 9 October. Joint Secretary Shri Anant Prakash Pandey said that, as of 31 August 2026, about 54 lakh claims had been received across the country, of which 43.56 lakh, or 80.64 per cent, had been disposed of. He added that 25.42 lakh titles covering nearly 238 lakh acres had been distributed, while 10.45 lakh claims were pending and 18.13 lakh had been rejected. He stressed that every rejection must be backed by a reasoned order communicated to the claimant, and called for convergence of Community Forest Resource management plans with Forest Department working plans.
8th All India Conference of GRP Chiefs concludes with focus on intelligence-led railway policing
The 8th All India Conference of Government Railway Police (GRP) Chiefs, convened by the Railway Protection Force, concluded in New Delhi on 23 October 2026, the Ministry of Railways said on 24 October. The conference was presided over by RPF Director General Ms. Sonali Mishra and attended by Railway Board Chairman and CEO Shri Satish Kumar and GRP chiefs from States and Union Territories. A key highlight was the onboarding of GRP personnel onto the RailMadad grievance platform by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). The participants discussed stone-pelting on trains, crowd management during Diwali and Chhath, joint training, narcotics detection and the handling of digital evidence. Good practices presented included South Central Railway's women-led 'Pink Patrol' with drone surveillance and Central Railway's Project DISHA for children living near railway tracks.
DARPG's 22nd National e-Governance Webinar showcases TRINETRA and the Panchayat Advancement Index
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) held the 22nd National e-Governance Webinar on 23 October 2026 on technology-enabled governance in public safety and rural development. Two Gold Award-winning initiatives under the National Awards for e-Governance 2026 were presented at the webinar. The first, TRINETRA, is an AI-based video surveillance system for the Mahakal Rudrasagar Integrated Development Area around the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, which uses more than 450 AI-enabled cameras to manage large pilgrim crowds. The second is the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, which uses data to measure the performance of Gram Panchayats and support evidence-based planning. The webinar series is meant to help States, districts and local bodies replicate award-winning e-governance practices.
International Relations
4 storiesShri Piyush Goyal concludes his Germany visit with industry and research engagements in Berlin
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal concluded his two-day official visit to Germany with a series of engagements in Berlin on 23 October 2026, the Ministry said on 24 October. He held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Levin Holle, Economic and Financial Policy Advisor and G7/G20 Sherpa at the German Federal Chancellery, on strengthening economic and investment ties. The Minister met the heads of Siemens Healthineers, Bertelsmann Investments and Volkswagen-Skoda Auto to explore business partnerships and investment. He also held a roundtable with heads of selected Fraunhofer Institutes on microelectronics, power electronics, smart manufacturing, logistics and battery technologies. Shri Goyal interacted with Indian researchers, students and members of the Indian diaspora in Germany, as the engagements underlined the growing scope of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.
India condemns the attack on a church in Karak, Jordan
India strongly condemned the attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the Karak region of Jordan on 23 October 2026, in a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on 24 October. The Ministry described the attack, which caused the loss of several innocent lives and injured many others, as heinous and cowardly. It conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. The Ministry said India stands firmly with the Government and the friendly people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in this difficult hour. India also reiterated its commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Parliament of India to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26–27 October
The Parliament of India will host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi, on 26 and 27 October 2026, under India's chairship. Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla has said that Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will grace the event and meet the leaders of the visiting delegations. The overarching theme is 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development', with four sessions on resilience, innovation in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, cooperation for a more representative system of global governance, and sustainability. A meeting of the secretaries of the delegations on 25 October will finalise the Joint Statement of the Forum. A special meeting of the chairpersons of the International Affairs Committees of BRICS member and partner parliaments will also be held on parliamentary diplomacy and capacity building.
NAAS showcases Indian agricultural research at the Borlaug International Dialogue in the USA
The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) took part in the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue organised by the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, from 20 to 22 October 2026, on the theme 'Before Hunger Wins'. The Academy set up an exhibition of NAAS and ICAR publications, organised a roundtable on agricultural higher education and signed an MoU with the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), USA. Seven Indian high school students selected through the NAAS-YUVA drive presented research papers on food security at the Foundation's Global Youth Institute. Ms. Ameena Nazreen A S won a Global Youth Institute Award carrying a cash prize of US$500. NAAS President and ICAR Director General Dr. M.L. Jat called for reimagining agricultural higher education to address climate change, biodiversity loss and the demand for nutritious food.
Schemes & Missions
4 stories11 crore Farmer IDs created five months ahead of the March 2027 deadline
The Government of India has created 11 crore Farmer IDs under the Digital Agriculture Mission, achieving the target five months ahead of the deadline of 31 March 2027, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on 24 October 2026. The target was completed on the night of 23 October through coordinated work by the Union Ministry, State Governments and field officials. The Farmer ID gives each farmer a unique digital identity that can be used to access bank credit and Kisan Credit Cards, crop insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, disaster relief and procurement at Minimum Support Price with less paperwork. The Digital Agriculture Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet on 2 September 2024, and more than 6 crore farmers have already received benefits through Farmer ID-based delivery. States and Union Territories are also taking steps to bring tenant farmers and actual cultivators onto the platform.
'Shram Samvad' programme on the Labour Codes to be held in Lucknow on 26–27 October
The Ministry of Labour and Employment, together with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, will hold a two-day state-level programme on the Labour Codes, labour welfare and social protection in Lucknow on 26 and 27 October 2026, the Ministry said on 24 October. The event is part of the nationwide 'Shram Samvad' initiative, a 90-day outreach campaign launched on 28 September 2026 that covers 316 districts in all 36 States and Union Territories, with a special focus on industrial clusters. The first day will cover labour reforms, social protection for unorganised and gig or platform workers, building and construction workers, and the role of ESIC, EPFO and digital platforms such as e-Shram and the Shram Suvidha Portal. The second day will explain compliance under the four Labour Codes, namely the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. Sessions on the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana and the elimination of child and bonded labour are also planned.
Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0: national Training of Trainers uses the story of 'Panipur'
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation of the Ministry of Jal Shakti organised a national-level Training of Trainers for State-level trainers under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 in New Delhi on 23 October 2026. The programme introduced a new capacity-building package of eight modules, titled 'The Story of Panipur', built around a fictional village, along with a Trainer's Facilitation Manual. The modules cover village water supply systems, source sustainability, water quality, operation and maintenance, digital governance and the development of sustainable 'Sujal Gaons'. The package is meant for Gram Panchayat representatives, Village Water and Sanitation Committees and Sujalam Shakti Groups, and nearly 54 lakh stakeholders are proposed to be covered under the wider training programme. Additional Secretary and Mission Director Shri Kamal Kishore Soan said the long-term sustainability of rural drinking water services depends on community ownership and responsible local management.
MY Bharat NSS takes the Nasha Mukt Yuva campaign to villages through traditional sports
The MY Bharat National Service Scheme (NSS) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organised 'Gram Seva evam Paramparagat Khel Diwas' in the sixth week of the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat 100 Week Sankalp Abhiyan, the Ministry said on 24 October 2026. The activities were held in more than 160 institutions and their adopted villages and involved over 80,000 participants, including youth, Gram Panchayat members and village elders. Traditional sports such as Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, tug of war and Kushti drew more than 21,500 participants, while over 19,800 people took part in village cleaning and plantation drives. The theme for the second month of the campaign is 'Fit Youth, Addiction-Free Youth (Shakti evam Seva)'. More than 29,500 young women took part in the sporting and community service activities.
Environment
4 storiesDr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates AATAL, a real-time air pollution source analysis laboratory for Delhi-NCR
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) at the Delhi branch of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) on 24 October 2026. Described as a first-of-its-kind integrated facility in the world, it is designed to identify the composition of pollutants, their sources, their relative contributions and their possible health effects in real time. The laboratory has been set up under Mission Mausam and combines advanced atmospheric instruments, chemical analysis and decision-support tools. It can separate contributions from vehicles, industry, biomass and crop-residue burning, construction and road dust, and pollution carried in from neighbouring regions. The Minister said that knowing where pollution originates, and not just how much is present, would help authorities base their action on scientific evidence.
CAQM flags rising stubble-fire incidents in Amritsar and Tarn Taran
A high-level team led by Shri Rajesh Verma, Chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), reviewed paddy stubble management with the Deputy Commissioners of Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts of Punjab on 24 October 2026. The Commission expressed concern at the increased number of farm fire incidents and noted that Tarn Taran continues to report among the highest numbers of stubble-burning cases. It directed that sector-wise Nodal Officers be made responsible for the actual use of paddy stubble as fuel in thermal power plants, brick kilns and industries. Officers were asked to visit villages regularly and ensure that crop residue management machinery and Custom Hiring Centre services reach farmers in time. A day earlier, the team had visited thermal power and compressed biogas plants, a Krishi Vigyan Kendra and farm fields in Ropar, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar, and directed the State to meet biomass co-firing targets.
MoEFCC Secretary reviews Uttar Pradesh's winter action plan against NCR air pollution
Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Narendra Bhooshan reviewed the action plans of the Uttar Pradesh Government and urban local bodies to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR during the coming winter, on 23 October 2026. The State presented 11 key initiatives covering road dust, construction and demolition activities, open biomass burning, vehicular and industrial pollution, traffic decongestion, greening and paddy stubble management. The review covered road redevelopment, electric buses and charging infrastructure, solid waste and construction waste processing, and the remediation of legacy waste dumpsites. Shri Bhooshan asked the State to engage truck and bus associations for faster use of the PARIVARTAN scheme to replace old vehicles. He also suggested that the Transport Department play a proactive role in issuing No Objection Certificates for moving old vehicles out of the NCR.
AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 concludes; France to host the 2027 edition
The 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference, hosted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in New Delhi, concluded on 23 October 2026 after three days of deliberations. Agrivoltaics refers to using the same agricultural land to grow crops and generate solar power, which can raise farm incomes while supporting the clean energy transition. Sessions co-convened by ICAR and the International Water Management Institute examined agro-climatic zoning, shade-tolerant crops and water-use efficiency, while farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations shared field experience in a session led by GIZ. International Solar Alliance Director General Shri Ashish Khanna presented the key outcomes of the conference. At the closing ceremony, hosting responsibility for the 8th AgriVoltaics World Conference in 2027 was formally handed over to France.
Science & Tech
3 storiesCSIR-CRRI hosts the Indian Airport Pavement Symposium 2026
The CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) organised the Indian Airport Pavement Symposium (IAPS 2026) in New Delhi on 23 October 2026 with Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India Private Limited. The theme was 'Advancing Performance-Based Airport Pavements for a Resilient and Sustainable Aviation Future'. The symposium was inaugurated by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Regulators, airport operators, the armed forces and pavement experts discussed pavement planning, quality control, sustainable airfields and modified bituminous materials. CSIR-CRRI also signed an MoU with Bharat Tiki Tar Shell for joint research on advanced modified bituminous binders and specialised airport pavement solutions.
STPI opens a new incubation facility in Dehradun
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), an organisation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, inaugurated a new incubation facility at the IT Park on Sahastradhara Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on 23 October 2026. The facility was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Commerce and Industry Shri Jitin Prasada. Spread over about 30,000 sq ft on four floors, it offers semi-furnished office space, high-speed connectivity, an auditorium, meeting and conference rooms and a Network Operations Centre. The facility aims to strengthen Uttarakhand's IT and IT-enabled services ecosystem by supporting startups and technology companies. Shri Prasada said technology and trade are the two key engines of India's journey towards becoming a developed nation.
ICAR-CIRCOT transfers technology for protective gloves for cotton pickers
The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai, signed an MoU with Trust ARS Rubber Private Limited, Chengalpattu, on 22 October 2026 for the transfer of its technology for protective gloves for cotton-picking workers. The gloves are designed to protect workers' hands from injuries caused by the sharp bracts of cotton bolls while remaining flexible and comfortable. They are reusable and durable, which makes them suitable for repeated use in demanding field conditions. The technology transfer is expected to support commercial production and make the gloves widely available to cotton farmers and agricultural labourers. The initiative aims to reduce hand injuries and promote safer harvesting practices across the cotton value chain.
Defence
3 storiesDRDO's indigenous AIP system for Navy submarines reaches the 'Setting to Work Phase-2' milestone
The 'Setting to Work Phase-2' activity of the indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Energy Module developed by DRDO's Naval Materials Research Laboratory was inaugurated at Larsen and Toubro's AM Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat, on 24 October 2026. An AIP system increases the underwater endurance of diesel-electric submarines by reducing their dependence on atmospheric oxygen, so they need to surface less often. Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, who attended virtually, appreciated the scientific work and industrial cooperation behind the programme and the support of the Indian Navy during testing. In the next phase, the Energy Module will be energised for power production and tested as per Navy protocols. It will then be handed over to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for integration on a Kalvari-class submarine in early 2027.
ITBP marks its 65th Raising Day; Hon'ble PM salutes the 'Himveers'
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) celebrated its 65th Raising Day on 24 October 2026, and Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi extended greetings to all its personnel. The Prime Minister said the ITBP 'Himveers' have distinguished themselves through exceptional valour and that their selfless service and sacrifices are a source of immense inspiration to the nation. Raised on 24 October 1962, the ITBP is a specialised armed police force that guards the 3,488-km India-China border from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. Many of its Border Out Posts are located at altitudes between 9,000 and 18,800 feet, where winter temperatures can fall to minus 45 degrees Celsius. The force's motto is 'Shaurya, Dridhta, Karmanishtha' (Valour, Steadfastness and Dedication), and it also acts as a first responder during disasters in the Himalayan region.
Hon'ble PM to witness the Air Force Day Aerial Display 'Wings over Ganges' at Varanasi
Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will witness the Air Force Day Aerial Display-2026 at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, as the Chief Guest on 25 October 2026, the Prime Minister's Office announced on 24 October. The programme commemorates the 94th anniversary of the Indian Air Force and is themed 'Wings over Ganges'. The display will feature the Tejas, the Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, the Su-30MKI and the Rafale, along with transport aircraft, and aircraft of the Indian Navy and the Indian Army will also take part to showcase jointness. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team and the Sarang Helicopter Display Team will perform during the event. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister will inaugurate a new, largely women-led garment manufacturing facility of Arvind Limited in Varanasi.
Appointments
1 storyDr. Sajjan Singh Yadav appointed Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir
The Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed Dr. Sajjan Singh Yadav, a 1995-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, according to an order reported on 24 October 2026. He will take charge from 1 November 2026 or the date of joining, whichever is later. The MHA order transfers Dr. Yadav from Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir. He will succeed Shri Atal Dulloo, a 1989-batch IAS officer, who is due to retire on 31 October 2026. The Chief Secretary is the senior-most civil servant in a State or Union Territory administration and heads its bureaucracy.
Sports
5 storiesHon'ble President hails India's record 114 medals at the Asian Para Games
Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu expressed joy and pride on 24 October 2026 at the unprecedented success of Indian para-athletes, who won a record 114 medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The President said the success, powered by hard work, perseverance and firm self-belief, inspires young people to remain undaunted by constraints, dream big and work with dedication. India's final-day highlights included a podium sweep in the men's javelin throw, in which Sumit won gold, while Mahendra Gurjar won silver and Sandip Sanjay Sargar won bronze, both with Games Records. In the men's club throw F51, Pranav Soorma retained his gold with a new Games Record and Dharambir won bronze. Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated the medallists, calling the javelin sweep a proud moment for Indian para-athletics.
Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade end India's 72-year wait for an Asian TT mixed doubles medal
Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade won bronze in mixed doubles at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, India's first medal in the event at the championships in 72 years. In the quarter-final on 23 October 2026, the pair came back from two games down to beat South Korea's Park Ganghyeon and Lee Daeun 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, which assured them of a medal. They then lost to Japan's Miwa Harimoto and Sora Matsushima in the semi-final, finishing with bronze. India's earlier mixed doubles medals at the championships came in 1952, when Gool Nasikwala and Kalyan Jayant won gold, and in 1954, when Yatin Vyas and Meena Parande won silver. The medal also follows a mixed doubles bronze for India at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
P V Sindhu reaches the French Open final
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu reached the final of the French Open, a BWF Super 750 tournament, by beating Japan's Hina Akechi in three games in Paris on 24 October 2026. The match lasted one hour and 13 minutes, and Sindhu took the first game 21-10 before Akechi levelled the contest. Sindhu held her nerve in the deciding game, in which a 38-shot rally ended in her favour at a crucial stage. It is her first French Open final in 13 years and her second Super 750 final of the year, after her Japan Open title in July. She will face South Korea's world No. 1 An Se-young in the final.
India beat New Zealand by four wickets to lead the T20I series 2-0
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the second Twenty20 International at Christchurch on 24 October 2026 to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. New Zealand had recovered from 41 for 3 to post a target of 181, thanks to a 116-run fourth-wicket partnership between Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs. India were 112 for 6 in the 15th over when Naman Dhir, who had made a brisk 31 off 17 balls, was dismissed. Tilak Varma, with an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, with 26 not out off 13 balls, then added an unbeaten 69 runs for the seventh wicket. India reached the target with one ball to spare.
MoS Smt. Raksha Khadse calls for more women coaches at AITA's all-women coaches course
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Smt. Raksha Khadse addressed the All-Women Coaches Course held under the All India Tennis Association's 'ACE 2032' initiative at the DLTA Tennis Stadium, New Delhi, on 24 October 2026. She said India's ambition to become a leading sporting nation depends on identifying talent early and ensuring that women and girls have access to qualified coaches, infrastructure and regular competition. She added that opportunities for women must extend beyond the field to coaching, sports science, administration and event management. The discussions highlighted the ASMITA women's leagues under the Khelo India framework, which have reached more than three lakh women since their launch in 2021. The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India.
Quick-revision MCQs
Ten questions drawn from today’s stories. Tap an option to check yourself.
Q1.The RBI Data Centre in Bhubaneswar, to be inaugurated on 25 October 2026, is certified to which Uptime Institute standard?
Answer: C. It is certified to the Tier IV standard, the highest tier of operational resilience, and is among the largest such facilities in the BFSI sector worldwide.
Q2.The 30th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was chaired by:
Answer: B. Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the meeting on 23 October 2026.
Q3.According to the RBI, India's foreign exchange reserves in the week ended 16 October 2026 stood at about:
Answer: A. The reserves fell by US$5.011 billion to US$721.016 billion, mainly due to a fall in foreign currency assets.
Q4.The target of creating 11 crore Farmer IDs was achieved under which mission?
Answer: D. The Digital Agriculture Mission was approved on 2 September 2024; the target was met five months before 31 March 2027.
Q5.Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) is India's first dedicated NBFC for which sector?
Answer: B. SMFCL had disbursed ₹5,107 crore by 30 September 2026 and targets ₹60,205 crore by FY2031.
Q6.The Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Energy Module that reached 'Setting to Work Phase-2' was developed by which DRDO laboratory?
Answer: C. It will be integrated on a Kalvari-class submarine by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in early 2027.
Q7.The Indo-Tibetan Border Police was raised on:
Answer: A. The ITBP celebrated its 65th Raising Day on 24 October 2026; it guards the 3,488-km India-China border.
Q8.AATAL, inaugurated on 24 October 2026, has been set up at which institution?
Answer: D. The Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory was set up under Mission Mausam.
Q9.Which district of Madhya Pradesh got rail connectivity for the first time since Independence on 24 October 2026?
Answer: B. The 65-km Rewa–Churhat section links Sidhi to the rail network; the Satna–Devendra Nagar section was opened the same day.
Q10.Which country will host the 8th AgriVoltaics World Conference in 2027?
Answer: C. Hosting responsibility was handed over to France at the close of the 7th edition in New Delhi on 23 October 2026.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Reserve Bank of India, All India Radio, DD News, The Hindu, The Indian Express and Hindustan Times.
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