National Statistics Office Publishes Key Findings of India's First National Household Travel Survey
Key Updates:
- The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), released the key findings of India's first-ever National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), conducted from July 2025 to June 2026.
- The survey covered 14,274 villages and 10,377 urban blocks, collecting information from 4,92,023 households covering 20,34,371 persons.
- Two-wheelers are the predominant mode of transport for commuting to fixed workplaces, used by 42.6% of workers.
- Buses (55.8%) and inter-city railways (17.7%) are the primary modes for household overnight travel, followed by cars (15.1%) and two-wheelers (8.8%); 73.5% of overnight trips rely on bus and rail.
- Around 87.6% of students reach their educational institutions within 30 minutes, while 83.4% of workers commute to fixed workplaces in less than 30 minutes.
- The average monthly expenditure on commuting to a fixed workplace is Rs 785 per worker, with urban workers spending Rs 1,044 compared to Rs 612 for rural workers.
- Male workers spend an average of Rs 835 per month on fixed-workplace commutes compared to Rs 533 for female workers, while urban students spend Rs 617 per month versus Rs 361 for rural students.
- States such as Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh show average travel times of around 20-23 minutes, with higher travel times in parts of southern India.
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India ranked 31st in the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2026, improving from 39th place in 2024. Japan topped the TTDI 2026, and 92% of the 110 economies in the index improved their…
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) September 2026 Inflation Expectations Survey of Households showed median one-year-ahead inflation expectations rising 60 basis points to 10 per cent, up from 9.4 per cent in July. Median…
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the results of eight forward-looking surveys, including the Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (UCCS) September 2026, Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH) September…
The National Statistics Office (NSO) reported India's unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above declined to 5.1% in July 2026 from 5.5% in June 2026. Rural unemployment rate fell to 4.5% in July from 5.0% in…
Key Updates:
- The GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, at its 57th meeting on October 8 approved proposals to rationalise input tax credit (ITC) and refund reforms to support manufacturing, liquidity and exports.
- Pharmaceutical companies will be able to claim ITC on free samples and on goods destroyed or written off upon expiry of shelf life, where destruction is required by law, effective from the next fiscal year (FY'28).
- The Council recommended allowing exporters to claim refunds of GST paid on plant and machinery, spread over five years; about 13,100 of roughly 38,700 taxpayers claiming export refunds carry such tax on plant and machinery that could not be recovered until now.
- Under the streamlined refund mechanism, refund applications will be acknowledged within 10 days and 90 per cent of the refund released automatically after a risk-based check, with the balance paid after verification.
- The Council eased four conditions that had prevented certain transactions from qualifying as exports, covering transactions with overseas branch offices, job work on goods owned by foreign clients, goods delivered to Special Economic Zones at a foreign buyer's instruction, and alignment of export payment receipt rules with the Reserve Bank of India's framework.
- The Council recommended limited ITC in the same line of business for hotel accommodation priced up to ₹7,500 per unit per day, restaurant and outdoor catering services, and gym and fitness services, without reducing GST rates on these services.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a faceless, centralised tax administration for about 2 lakh central GST (CGST) taxpayers operating in multiple states, out of nearly 69.5 lakh CGST-registered taxpayers, with a unified window for scrutiny, audit, adjudication, appeal and taxpayer services; the framework will be put to public consultation before the next budget and implemented during the next financial year.
- After last year's rate cuts, the effective GST rate on all goods and services has come down from 11.8 per cent to 10.8 per cent, and rate changes will now be an annual feature implemented from April every year.
- More than 16 lakh small businesses with turnover up to ₹5 crore may file only one GST return annually while paying GST quarterly, with late fees waived, penalties rationalised, a ₹10,000 threshold set for show-cause notices with pending cases below it closed, and eligible small e-commerce sellers allowed to sell across states without multiple registrations.
- The Council recommended amending section 17(5) of the CGST Act, 2017 to allow employers to claim ITC on GST paid on health and life insurance policies taken for their employees, lowering the effective cost of employer-sponsored coverage.
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The 57th Meeting of the GST Council was held on 8 October 2026 in New Delhi under the chairpersonship of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The GST Council recommended complete withdrawal of…
Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue rose 14.8% year-on-year to ₹1,99,853 crore in August 2026. Net GST revenue after refunds increased 8.3% to ₹1,68,057 crore in August 2026.
India improved its global rank from 82nd to 57th in structural and pro-competitive reforms between 2010 and 2023, advancing 25 places, according to a report by the Competere Foundation. The report, titled 'India's Next…
India Announces 3% IGST on Gold, Silver and Platinum Imports From April 1, 2026
Key Updates:
- India will levy 3% Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) on gold, silver and platinum imports through banks and government-recognised nominated agencies from April 1, 2026.
- Revenue Secretary Arvind Srivastava announced that the tax exemptions previously available to certain banks and nominated agencies will not be extended.
- In May, India increased the import duty on gold and silver from 6% to 15%, while the duty on platinum rose from 6.4% to 15.4%.
- India's gold imports rose 3.38% to $17.47 billion during April-August of the 2026-27 financial year, while silver imports fell 8.81% to $1.74 billion.
- India is the world's second-largest gold consumer after China.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to reduce gold purchases, citing the need to conserve foreign exchange.
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India won four gold and one silver medal at the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from September 25 to October 5. Pranjal Dixit (Hyderabad), Sumant Gupta (Delhi)…
Indian squash player Abhay Singh returned from the Asian Games with two medals — a silver in the men's individual event and a bronze in the men's team event, which had won gold at the previous edition. The 28-year-old…
17-year-old Kumkum Mohod won the women's recurve individual gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, becoming India's first Asian Games recurve gold medallist and earning an Olympic quota for the 2028 LA Olympics. She…
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has allowed duty-free imports of up to 10 lakh metric tonnes (1 million tonnes) of raw sugar until October 31, 2026. The imports are permitted under a tariff rate quota…
IRDAI data shows life insurers’ first-year premium grew 20.6% to ₹2.46 lakh crore in April–September FY26
Key Updates:
- Life insurers’ first-year premium rose 20.6% year-on-year to ₹2.46 lakh crore during April–September of FY26, against ₹2.04 lakh crore in the corresponding period last year, according to data released by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
- The life insurance industry collected ₹48,781 crore in first-year premium in September, up 21.3% from ₹40,207 crore a year earlier.
- Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) continued to dominate the market, with its first-year premium increasing 19.3% to ₹1.44 lakh crore during the six-month period.
- SBI Life’s first-year premium rose to ₹20,255 crore from ₹18,342 crore, while HDFC Life recorded an 18.3% increase to ₹19,571 crore.
- ICICI Life’s first-year premium grew 25% to ₹11,821 crore, while Bajaj Life reported a 39.8% increase to ₹8,848 crore.
- Group single premiums rose 24.3% to ₹1.45 lakh crore, while individual non-single premiums increased 12.7% to ₹57,942 crore.
- Individual single premiums grew 16.6% to ₹29,140 crore, while group non-single premiums declined 49.6% to ₹905 crore.
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India's non-life insurance industry recorded 8.92% growth in gross direct premium to Rs 1.8 lakh crore during April-September 2026, as per provisional data released by the General Insurance Council. Excluding specialised…
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has introduced statutory caps on commissions and expenses of management to end commission-driven bidding wars and excessive upfront distributor payouts…
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited, established in 2001, changed its name to ICICI Life Insurance Limited, effective from September 22, 2026. The insurance arm of ICICI Group informed the BSE and the…
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Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) issues draft guidelines for expenditure-side GSDP estimates under base year 2022-23
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released draft guidelines for compiling Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) estimates from the expenditure side with base year 2022-23.
- The draft guidelines aim to provide a uniform and comprehensive framework across States and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure consistency, comparability and methodological standardisation under the revised base year framework.
- GSDP is presently estimated primarily using the production approach, and no state or UT currently compiles Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) estimates, though some compile Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF).
- The draft guidelines cover concepts, coverage, data sources, estimation procedures and methodologies for major expenditure components including PFCE, GFCF, GFCE and Net Exports.
- MoSPI has sought stakeholder feedback on the draft guidelines by October 28.
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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation plans to expand the monthly Index of Services Production (ISP) to include education, healthcare, and public administration and defence, raising coverage to 78.4 per…
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) released the Guidelines for Responsible Labelling of Synthetically Generated Content (SGC) in Advertising, following stakeholder consultations on draft guidelines…
The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) held a workshop of Statistical Advisers and Chief Data Officers of Central Ministries and Departments in New Delhi on 8 September 2026, themed 'Data…
The dashboard now tracks 165 indicators across six sub-sectors: Civil Aviation (31), Roads (8), Power (14), Ports, Shipping & Waterways (62), Telecommunications (13), and Railways (37). 44 new indicators were added in…
Key Updates:
- Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated at the India Mobile Congress that India does not allow monopoly in any sector and licences have been given to all applicants in the satellite communications (satcom) sector.
- Three entities — Elon Musk's Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite venture Jio Satcom, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb — have already secured satcom licences in India, while Amazon's Kuiper has expressed interest and is undergoing the licensing process.
- Satcom licencees can begin commercial services in India only after meeting security requirements, as the security assessment of the three licensed entities is under way.
- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) are close to taking the final decision on the pricing regime for satcom spectrum, with revenue-based charges almost finalised.
- Starlink has received a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licence but is awaiting security clearance and spectrum assignment before starting commercial services; it has set up 20 gateway sites and partnered with Bharti Airtel.
- The dispute began after Elon Musk claimed on Wednesday that Starlink was being blocked by 'certain oligarchs'; the communications ministry rejected the charge as 'baseless and misconceived', stating India's satcom framework is fair and non-discriminatory.
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of imposing monopoly and duopoly, noting the number of telecom players fell from 13 in 2014 to 3 major private players now.
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The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered GitHub, a Microsoft subsidiary, to remove the Bluetooth-based messaging app Bitchat. The app enables peer-to-peer communication…
The Government of India has notified the dissolution of the Digital Communications Commission (DCC), an apex inter-departmental decision-making body at the Department of Telecom, via a notification dated September 19…
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has released draft rules to allow private companies to develop and operate nuclear power projects. The draft rules propose a single unified license covering construction, ownership…
The India Mobile Congress 2026 will be held from October 7 to October 10 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi. Mobile data tariffs in India have decreased from ₹287 per GB to approximately ₹8 per GB over the…
Commerce Ministry Creates FTA Utilisation Cell to Help Indian Businesses Leverage Free Trade Agreements
Key Updates:
- The Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has set up an FTA Utilisation Cell to help domestic businesses understand and tap opportunities in markets covered by India's free trade agreements.
- Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal announced the cell at the India-EFTA Prosperity Summit, stating it will educate entrepreneurs through industry associations, export promotion councils (EPCs) and state governments.
- The cell will work with EPCs to create action plans for each partner-country market over the next 4-5 years to integrate partner markets with the Indian market.
- A national workshop on FTAs has been held, with state-level discussions planned this month and district-level workshops during the current fiscal year.
- India has finalised trade pacts with the four-nation EFTA bloc, New Zealand, Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, Oman, the European Union (EU) and the UK.
- The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) was implemented in October last year; EFTA members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
- India will have free trade arrangements covering 32 countries, with the majority of trade at zero tariffs.
- The 32 partner countries are developed, high per capita income nations that import agricultural goods worth over a trillion dollars.
- India's share of EFTA's total imports is about USD 2-3 billion, less than one per cent, and the target is to reach about 2 per cent of the import basket in the next 3-4 years.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on October 5, 2026, that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) will realise USD 100 billion in investment and 10 lakh direct…
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) approved applications from seven companies to import 642 cars from the UK for the remainder of 2026 under the tariff rate quota (TRQ) provisions of the India-UK free trade…
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the India-EU trade agreement could boost exports and employment in labour-intensive sectors such as footwear, textiles, toys and processed products, largely linked to micro…
New Zealand's parliament passed legislation to implement a free trade agreement with India, under which tariffs on about 95% of New Zealand exports to India will be eliminated or significantly reduced. The legislation…
Centre Caps Trade Margins at 30% for 110 Non-Scheduled Cancer Drugs
Key Updates:
- The Centre has decided to cap the trade margin at 30 per cent for 110 non-scheduled cancer drugs, including 35 patented medicines, covering branded, generic, domestic, imported, patented and non-patented medicines.
- The move, likely to take effect in about 10 days, could reduce Maximum Retail Prices of some cancer drugs by up to 70 per cent.
- An analysis by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority found the average trade mark-up for such drugs was approximately 170 per cent, extending up to 700 per cent in some cases.
- The list of 110 drugs is being finalised by a committee under the Director General of Health Services; eligible drugs must be expensive, approved for cancer treatment in India, and in frequent use.
- In 2019, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority had capped trade margins for 42 cancer medicines at 30 per cent, resulting in MRP reductions of up to 91 per cent.
- Prices of scheduled drugs under the National List of Essential Medicines are already controlled by the government under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order 2013.
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The Centre has capped trade margins at 30% for all non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, which could reduce maximum retail prices (MRPs) by up to 70% and save patients an estimated Rs 2,500 crore annually. The cap covers…
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved daraxonrasib, an oral multi-selective RAS(ON) inhibitor, for adults with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have received at least one prior systemic therapy or…
The Supreme Court asked 19 remaining states and Union territories to declare cancer a notifiable disease. 17 states and UTs have already notified cancer as a notifiable disease.
CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026 Enforced: IPS Deputation Retained in Five Forces with Reserved Senior Posts
Key Updates:
- The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 came into force on October 8, 2026, to regulate recruitment, deputation, promotion and other service conditions for paramilitary officers, and empowers the central government to frame rules for officers of specified CAPFs.
- The Act retains IPS deputation in leadership positions of five CAPFs — BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB — reserving 67% of Additional Director General and 50% of Inspector General posts for IPS officers, while Special DG and DG posts are to be filled exclusively by deputation.
- In Sanjay Prakash & Others vs Union of India (2025), the Supreme Court ruled that CAPF Group A officers are an Organised Service, directed progressive reduction of IPS deputation to SAG posts up to IG rank within two years, and sought cadre review and service rules within six months.
- The CAPFs comprise the BSF, CISF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP, NSG and Assam Rifles, with the Ministry of Home Affairs as cadre-controlling authority for both IPS and CAPF officers, while Assam Rifles is administratively under the MHA but operationally controlled by the Ministry of Defence.
- Earlier, 20% of DIG posts and 50% of IG posts in CAPFs were reserved for IPS officers, and a CAPF officer takes on average 25 years to reach the rank of Commandant against an ideal 13 years.
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The Ministry of Home Affairs on September 25, 2026 extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland for another six months, effective from October 1, 2026. In…
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the conference on 'PRAHAAR - CT Policy and Strategy' in New Delhi on September 29, 2026. PRAHAAR stands for seven pillars: Prevention, Response, Aggregating Internal Capacities…
The National Security Guard (NSG) has launched its first Mahila Commando Conversion Course (MCCC) for women personnel from State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The 12-week course began on August…
The National Security Guard (NSG) Training Academy in Manesar, Haryana, launched the first-ever Mahila Commando Conversion Course (MCCC) for women personnel from State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces…
Health Ministry proposes stricter advertising rules for prescription drug sellers
Key Updates:
- The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare proposed stricter rules requiring prior approval from the Central Government for advertisements of drugs listed under Schedules H, H1 and X of the Drugs Rules, 1945.
- The proposal adds sub-rule (22) to Rule 65 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, extending existing advertising restrictions, which currently apply only to pharmaceutical manufacturers, to licensed retailers, wholesalers and other entities that sell, stock, display, offer or distribute such drugs.
- The move aims to improve regulatory oversight across the pharmaceutical supply chain, curb unauthorised promotion of prescription medicines, reduce the risk of inappropriate self-medication, and strengthen safeguards for medicines requiring medical supervision such as certain antibiotics and psychotropic drugs.
- The proposal follows recommendations from the 93rd meeting of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) in February 2026, and stakeholders and the public have been invited to submit objections and suggestions within 30 days of the Gazette copies being made available.
- Last month, the Health Ministry also proposed mandatory CCTV surveillance at all medical stores, with recordings preserved for at least three months, to prevent unauthorised sale of Schedule H, H1 and X medicines without valid prescriptions.
- Schedule H covers more than 500 prescription-only medicines; Schedule H1 contains around 46 medicines subject to stricter monitoring, including certain third- and fourth-generation antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis drugs, with red-bordered Rx labels and mandatory record-keeping retained for at least three years; Schedule X covers certain narcotic and psychotropic drugs subject to stricter controls.
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The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945 to mandate CCTV surveillance at licensed premises for the sale of prescription drugs. The proposal aims to curb…
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, on July 10, 2026. Medicinal formulations containing more than 12% v/v ethyl alcohol in quantities exceeding 30 mL now require manufacturing…
PM-KUSUM 2.0 to focus on agri-photovoltaics and solar pump upgrades for food and energy security
Key Updates:
- PM-KUSUM 2.0, announced by MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi, will integrate learnings from the first scheme to achieve a more sustainable blend of food and energy security.
- Component A (ground-mounted solar) largely took off only in Rajasthan because barren agricultural land was scarce elsewhere, so Kusum 2.0 will focus on agri-photovoltaics without compromising farm production.
- For Component B solar pumps, used only 120-150 days a year, a universal solar pump controller (USPC) will be integrated to use surplus electricity for purposes like threshers or harvesters.
- Individual Pump Solarisation under Component C has limited demand because states provide subsidised or free power, while feeder-level solarisation will continue voluntarily with battery energy storage systems (BESS).
- The offshore wind tender is expected within two months with capacity likely below 1 GW, supported by viability gap funding, government-built transmission infrastructure, a power purchase tie-up with the Tamil Nadu government, and VO Chidambaranar (Tuticorin) Port as the nodal port.
- India's peak electricity requirement is about 270 GW, and adding 50-60 GW of capacity a year is sufficient within the resource adequacy framework, with solar PV module manufacturing capacity already exceeding demand.
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The seventh observance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) falls on 29 September 2026, with the theme 'Transformative Potential of Reducing Food Loss and Waste'. The UN General Assembly…
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the implementation guidelines for National Coastal Mission 2.0 (NCM 2.0) in New Delhi on 30 September 2026. NCM 2.0 is a Central Sector Scheme with an approved outlay…
G20 Trade Ministers reached a consensus on a statement opposing the weaponisation of food through coercive trade actions at the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hosted under the United States G20…
World Biofuel Day is observed annually on August 10. The theme for World Biofuel Day 2026 is 'make a world filled with sustainable energy and innovations'.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta launches SOTTO HQ, expanded ANMOL scheme and ASHA incentive hike under Seva Sankalp Abhiyan
Key Updates:
- Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, launched several initiatives under 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' on 6 October 2026, including an expanded ANMOL scheme and a State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) headquarters.
- The incentive amount for ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers in Delhi has been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000, benefiting 6,690 ASHA workers.
- The SOTTO headquarters was launched at GB Pant Hospital and will coordinate the entire organ donation and transplantation process.
- Under the expanded ANMOL (Advanced Newborn Monitoring and Optimal Lifecare) scheme, 56 types of screening and tests will be conducted using a single blood sample from newborns, free of cost, to detect genetic, metabolic, and congenital diseases.
- A Nursing Home Management System portal was launched to make nursing home-related processes simpler, more transparent, and accountable.
- Health Minister Pankaj Singh attended the launch programme held at Thyagraj Stadium.
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Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the Delhi Udyog Mitra Portal, a single-window digital platform to simplify access to government approvals and services for traders, entrepreneurs, MSMEs, start-ups, industrial…
The Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is launching a 100-week nationwide Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) and the National Service Scheme (NSS), beginning with…
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the 'Delhi PM Surya Ghar' portal under the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' to help residents install rooftop solar systems. A combined Centre and Delhi government subsidy of up to ₹1.56…
The Mukhyamantri Swasth Bastar Abhiyan was launched by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on April 14, 2026. The campaign led to a significant decline in Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate…
Kerala Launches WOMN Scheme for Affordable Sanitary Napkins at KSRTC Terminals
Key Updates:
- Kerala's Women and Child Development department launched the WOMN (Women on the Move and Menstrual Needs) scheme, inaugurated by Minister Bindhu Krishna at the KSRTC bus terminal in Thampanoor, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Under the scheme, sanitary napkin vending machines and incinerators are being installed near toilets at 14 KSRTC terminals/depots initially, with each packet of three napkins costing ₹10.
- The scheme is implemented in association with HLL Lifecare, with ₹16 lakh allocated, and KSRTC staff will be trained to refill machines and clean incinerators.
- The scheme will gradually be extended to more public spaces including major tourist destinations, and KSRTC has sought its extension to 93 more depots.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay launched the expanded 'Vettri Payanam' free bus travel scheme for women on October 2, 2026, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, by issuing zero-fare tickets at Koyambedu Bus Terminus…
Kerala will hold a three-day ‘Reimagining Keralam’ roundtable conference from September 16 to 18, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram to prepare implementation plans, resources, timelines and financial models for 73 major…
The Maharashtra government increased the state subsidy under the Pink E-Rickshaw scheme from 20% to 40% for women beneficiaries. Existing beneficiaries will also receive the increased subsidy to reduce their remaining…
The Karnataka government launched Tathyakosh.in, a digital public good aimed at making India's fragmented public data ecosystem more accessible. IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge unveiled the Tathyakosh platform.
Supreme Court Directs States to Link Road Accident Data on eDAR Portal for Faster Compensation
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court ordered all states to upload road-accident data on the eDAR portal and link it with VAHAN, SARATHI, and the Insurance Information Bureau databases to create a national digital trail for speeding up compensation and exposing fraudulent claims.
- The integrated system covers hit-and-run cases and the PM-RAHAT scheme, enabling real-time cross-verification of accident reports, vehicle and licence records, insurance policies, and claims history.
- The court gave authorities four weeks to comply and directed states yet to form special investigation teams (SITs) to establish them within four weeks.
- The court issued contempt notices to several insurance company heads for non-compliance, rejecting their apologies as "cosmetic," with the next hearing scheduled for November 27.
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The Supreme Court, in its September 28 order in the road-safety case 'S Rajasekaran vs Union of India', directed states and Union Territories to recover unpaid e-challans by seizing vehicles and blocking registration…
The Supreme Court, taking suo motu cognisance of recent sexual offences in Delhi-NCR, pulled up the Delhi government and police for a 'systemic failure' to guarantee basic public safety and ordered the Commissioner of…
As per the WHO Global Health Estimates (GHE), road traffic injuries ranked 10th among causes of death for both males and females in India in 2023, while road injuries were the 8th leading cause among males and falls…
The Supreme Court's Jan Soochna Seva will provide simple Hindi summaries of selected major judgments and orders, each with a link to the corresponding official document. The service will release daily audio and video…
Supreme Court upholds Andhra Pradesh High Court order quashing 34% Backward Classes quota in local bodies
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court dismissed Andhra Pradesh's appeal against the high court verdict setting aside 34% reservation for Backward Classes in local bodies, holding there was a lack of empirical data to justify reservation beyond the 50% ceiling.
- A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu rejected the state's claim that its decision was backed by demographic and empirical material, including a unified family survey estimating Backward Classes population at 50.42% statewide.
- In March 2020, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had struck down the then government's law providing 34% Backward Classes reservation as the combined SC, ST and Backward Classes reservation would reach 59.85%, exceeding the 50% ceiling.
- In August 2026, the state issued government orders providing 34% Backward Classes reservation in rural local bodies and 33.33% in urban local bodies, which the high court set aside on October 1 to the extent aggregate vertical reservation exceeded 50%.
- The high court relied on the Supreme Court's ruling in Vikas Kishanrao Gawali Vs State of Maharashtra (2021) mandating a rigorous, data-driven empirical inquiry into backwardness for local body reservations.
- The high court noted an independent dedicated commission headed by a former bureaucrat submitted its report on August 14, 2026, but it remained under consideration and had not been accepted by the state government.
- The high court clarified the state could revisit a higher Backward Classes quota after completing the required data-gathering exercise in line with Supreme Court judgments.
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The Union Government has notified the appointment of three High Court Chief Justices — Sunita Agarwal, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Aparesh Kumar Singh — as judges of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Collegium…
The Centre notified the appointment of three High Court Chief Justices — Justice Sunita Agarwal (Gujarat High Court), Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya (Delhi High Court) and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh (Telangana High…
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has created a separate Ex-Agniveer category for recruitment of Constable (General Duty) in CAPFs and Rifleman in Assam Rifles. Ex-Agniveers will receive 50% reservation of vacancies for…
Indian Coast Guard Commissions Goa Shipyard-Built Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Ajit on October 9, 2026
Key Updates:
- The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned the indigenously built Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Ajit at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on October 9, 2026, and it will be stationed at Okha, Gujarat.
- The 52-metre vessel displaces 320 tonnes, carries a crew of 39, and is armed with a CRN 91 30mm naval gun and two 12.7mm M2 machine guns on remotely controlled stabilised mounts.
- ICGS Ajit is designed for maritime surveillance, search and rescue, anti-smuggling and marine pollution response operations.
- It is the seventh of eight Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessels being built by GSL for the ICG under a March 2022 contract worth Rs 473 crore, with over 60 per cent indigenous content.
- The first vessel of the class, ICGS Adamya, was commissioned at Paradip in September 2025, and GSL handed over ICGS Ajit to the ICG on August 25, 2026.
- The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Dr. Sirish Choudhary, IDAS, Principal Integrated Financial Advisor (ICG).
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Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) handed over the 51.43-metre fast patrol vessel ICGS Ajit to the Indian Coast Guard on 25 August 2026. The vessel, designated Yard 1277, was formally handed over after the First Reading…
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship 'Shaunak' sailed from Chennai on September 25, 2026 for Perth, Australia as part of the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission. Six sea riders embarked onboard ICG's 'Shaunak': two officers…
The 43rd edition of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Commanders’ Conference, the Service’s apex annual forum for 2026, was held at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi, from 17 to 19 September 2026. Minister of State for…
India and ASEAN agree to expedite AITIGA trade agreement review with time-bound targets
Key Updates:
- India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to expedite negotiations on the review of pending chapters of their trade agreement, setting time-bound deliverables for negotiating groups.
- The decision was taken at the 15th meeting of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee, held in Jakarta from October 6 to 9.
- The committee directed all eight sub-committees working on the review to accelerate negotiations, covering Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation, Legal and Institutional Issues, National Treatment and Market Access, Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures, Rules of Origin, standards and technical regulations, and trade remedies.
- The next Joint Committee meeting will be held in India in January 2027 in a hybrid format to assess progress.
- The meeting was co-chaired by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, and Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade) at Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
- ASEAN agreed to the review in November 2019, and the previous deadline of end-2025 to complete the review was missed.
- India's trade deficit with ASEAN widened from $4.98 billion in 2010-11 to $51.54 billion in 2025-26, prompting the review of the goods trade pact operational since 2010.
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Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik represented India at the 20th East Asia Summit (EAS) Energy Ministers’ Meeting held in Manila, Philippines on October 8, 2026. India…
An Indian delegation led by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, participated in the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers' Meeting (EAS-EMM) and the 23rd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers…
India's Eighth Trade Policy Review at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded on July 23, 2026, in Geneva. The Indian delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agarwal.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, stating it strengthens…
India joins United States and 13 economies in coalition to tackle global structural excess capacity
Key Updates:
- India has joined the United States and a dozen other economies, including Canada, the EU, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, France, Germany and the UK, in a joint statement to address global structural excess capacity in five sectors: autos and EVs, batteries, chemicals, foundational semiconductors and solar panels.
- The coalition will coordinate sectoral action and came days after a G20 trade ministers' meeting, with the United States taking the lead during its G20 presidency.
- The five sectors targeted by the coalition are globally dominated by China, which has long been blamed for offering subsidies and dumping goods.
- The United States Trade Representative is separately probing several countries, including India, for structural excess capacity under Section 301.
- The development came weeks after US President Donald Trump met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
- The countries committed to meeting at the technical level before December 2026 to develop terms of reference, share non-confidential information and data on structural excess capacity, and identify information gaps drawing on work of the OECD.
- In 2016, G20 trade ministers in Shanghai released a statement expressing concern about excess capacity in certain industries, which was endorsed months later by leaders at Hangzhou.
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G20 Trade Ministers met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 30 and October 1, 2026, and agreed to create dedicated sectoral platforms to examine and address structural excess capacity and production in key sectors. The…
Bengaluru-Based Hical Technologies Signs MoU with Safran Aerosystems to Explore Joint Venture for Rafale Systems Manufacturing in India
Key Updates:
- Hical Technologies signed an MoU with Safran Aerosystems on October 7, 2026, to explore a joint venture for manufacturing complex systems for the Dassault Rafale programme in India.
- The proposed joint venture would produce complex fluid and fuel systems and related assemblies for Rafale aircraft under the Make in India initiative.
- Hical Technologies is a Bengaluru-based precision electromechanical manufacturer serving global aerospace and defence platforms.
- Hical has already been selected to work directly with Dassault Aviation on control systems for the Rafale programme.
- Hical recently inaugurated a new aerospace manufacturing facility in Devanahalli, near Bengaluru.
- Joel Berkoukchi is the CEO of the Fluid & Fuel Systems Division of Safran Aerosystems.
- Yashas Jaiveer is the Managing Director of Hical Technologies.
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Samtel Avionics Ltd. (India) and BULL Co., Ltd. (Japan) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore space debris mitigation solutions. The collaboration combines BULL's proprietary passive Post-Mission…
Lohia Aerospace Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Israel-based Massivit to introduce large-format 3D printing technology for composite tooling and aerospace components in India. The company plans to…
India is pushing to finalise a proposed deal for 114 Rafale fighter jets with France by March 2027 to address the Indian Air Force's fighter squadron shortage. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh said…
MoSPI unveils five-year 2026-2030 strategy to measure India's natural wealth
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Strategy for Environmental Economic Accounts in India 2026-2030 on October 7, 2026, succeeding the 2022-2026 strategy released in December 2021.
- The strategy lists around 10 priority areas: forests, water, land, soil, minerals, carbon stock, biodiversity, pollination services, environment-related economic activity and an expanded environment statistics publication.
- India compiles its environmental accounts under the UN's System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), and these accounts can evaluate around 40 global indicators across nine Sustainable Development Goals.
- MoSPI published its first monetary pollination services account earlier this year.
- Water accounts were last published by MoSPI in 2018 and are described as critical for water-stressed regions and for monitoring groundwater depletion.
- All states have been requested to constitute Inter-Departmental Groups (IDGs) on Environment Accounting, and 18 states and Union Territories have done so far.
- The strategy rests on two pillars: improving the quality, timeliness and coverage of the accounts while bridging data gaps, and better communicating their relevance to policymakers, the media and other users.
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MoSPI released the ISP for June 2026 on August 31, 2026, based on the 2024-25 base year. The index covers 19 sub-sectors, with 18 recording positive growth compared to June 2025.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the National Accounts Statistics 2026 on 31 August 2026. The publication contains 60 statements based on updated Final Estimates for FY 2022–23 and FY…
The 2026 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) evaluates 177 nations across 47 metrics and 12 key issue categories related to climate change, ecosystem vitality, and environmental public health. Estonia topped the 2026…
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) signed an MoU with Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology to develop a Predictive and Analytical Framework for Monthly Consumption Expenditures in…
Puri's Greenfield Shree Jagannath International Airport Gets Environmental and CRZ Clearance from MoEFCC
Key Updates:
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted Environmental Clearance and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Clearance for the greenfield Shree Jagannath International Airport on 471.348 hectares of land in Sipasarubali, Puri district, Odisha.
- The clearance, based on the Expert Appraisal Committee's recommendation, was published on October 8, 2026, and the project is being developed in phases near Sipasarubali village on the outskirts of Puri.
- The first phase is expected to handle 4.6 million passengers per annum (MPPA), with most of the 471.348-hectare project area comprising government land.
- The proposed airport site is about 50 km aerial distance and 67 km road distance from the existing Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation had earlier accorded site clearance.
- A Wildlife Institute of India study flagged that migratory birds from Chilika Lake, a Ramsar Site and wetland of international importance, could pose a risk to flights, so MoEFCC directed the project proponent to prepare a bird hazard study from a reputed institute and submit it with the first six-monthly compliance report.
- The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is undertaking a comprehensive study of the proposed project area, and environmental protection measures for migratory birds must be designed with ecological and wildlife experts and incorporated into the Environmental Management Plan.
- Approval conditions require careful selection of plantation species to avoid bird nesting, prohibit water-intensive and invasive species for landscaping, and direct consultation with Odisha's Forest Department for shoreline plantation such as Casuarina in line with the regional marine ecosystem.
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The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) received approval for five trademark applications including 'Jagannath Dham', 'Shree Kshetra', 'Mahaprasad', 'Nilachakra', and 'Koili Vaikuntha'. The trademark…
The ₹2,200-crore master plan for expanding Coimbatore International Airport has been approved by NITI Aayog and awaits clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Expenditure, Airport Director Mohammad Arif said on September…
The Bhogapuram International Airport is located in Andhra Pradesh. The airport is officially named Visakhapatnam Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport.
Supreme Court Directs Centre To Keep Delhi Metro And Train Services Running In Regulated Manner Ahead Of October 10 Protest
Key Updates:
- The Supreme Court, hearing a plea on October 9, ruled out a blanket restriction on Delhi Metro and train services and asked the Centre to ensure public transport operates in a regulated manner ahead of the October 10 protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
- A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, said security measures should not bring public transport in the capital to a complete halt, while noting action can be taken if the protest is unlawful.
- Authorities had ordered closure of entry and exit gates at 57 Delhi Metro stations and cancelled or curtailed train services to Delhi on security grounds ahead of the protest.
- Delhi Police ordered liquor shops to remain closed for two days and imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the BNSS across the New Delhi area.
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Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated Indore Metro Priority Corridor-2 on 5 September at the Brilliant Convention Centre in Vijay Nagar. Regular…
Indian Railways introduced a single pan-India licence for container train operators, replacing the earlier route-wise permission system. The uniform registration fee for the all-India container train operator licence is…
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal released the Delhi Master Plan 2047 on August 20, 2026. The plan targets construction of 30-40 lakh housing units to accommodate Delhi's projected population of…
Southern Railway has completed 100% electrification of its entire 5,068 route kilometre broad-gauge network, enabling seamless electric train operations across the zone without traction change. The milestone was reached…
Three Sivaji Ganesan Classics Acquired by NFDC-National Film Archive of India for Preservation
Key Updates:
- The NFDC-National Film Archive of India acquired three classic Tamil films starring Sivaji Ganesan for its national collection, received on October 8, 2026.
- The three 35 mm films, all directed by A.P. Nagarajan, are Thiruvarutchelvar (1967), Thillana Mohanambal (1968), and Thiruvilayadal (1965).
- The new prints provide a second surviving copy of each film, allowing one print in protected storage while the other is used for reference, digitisation, and technical assessment.
- Aparna Subramanian, a Film Research Officer at FTII, facilitated the acquisition.
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The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 will be conferred on Shri Anant Nag, as announced by the Government of India on 16 September 2026. Anant Nag was born on 4 September 1948 in Karnataka, made his debut with the Kannada…
Gaurang Vyas, a renowned Gujarati music composer, singer and arranger, died at the age of 87 in Ahmedabad. He composed music for over 100 Gujarati films, including notable works such as Bhavni Bhavai and Maniyaro.
Kashmir hosted its first-ever four-day international film festival, beginning September 7, 2026, in Srinagar. The festival opened with the screening of the Lebanese film 'Dead Dog', directed by Sarah Francis, at the Inox…
Filmmaker Kuku Kohli died at the age of 77 following a heart attack. He was best known for directing the 1991 film Phool Aur Kaante, which marked the acting debut of Ajay Devgn.
Indian-origin South African jurist Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay conferred the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her work in promoting peace and international law
Key Updates:
- Indian-origin South African jurist Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2026, for her efforts to promote peace and international law.
- The chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, announced the award in Oslo and said Pillay played a key role in the development of international law.
- Pillay became the fifth South African winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, after Nelson Mandela and F W de Klerk (shared 1993), Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1984) and Albert Luthuli (1961), Africa's first Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
- Born in Durban in 1941 to Indian parents of Tamil descent, Pillay became the first woman to open a law practice in South Africa's Natal Province in 1967 and the first Black woman judge on South Africa's High Court.
- Pillay served as a judge and president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for eight years, including four as president, where rulings first established that rape and sexual violence could constitute acts of genocide.
- Pillay later served as a judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014.
- From 2021 to 2025, Pillay chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which concluded in 2025 that Israel had committed genocidal acts in Gaza, a finding Israel rejected.
- Aged 85, Pillay is currently a judge on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case where Myanmar stands accused of genocide.
- Pillay dedicated the prize to all survivors of international crime and to the practitioners and defenders of international justice.
- The 2026 award marked the 125th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Professor Mahesh Kakde of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been awarded the 2026 Ramanujan Prize for his contributions to algebraic number theory. The Ramanujan Prize is jointly administered by the…
On August 17, 2026, 210 Indian peacekeepers deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were awarded the UN Medal for exceptional service in Juba. The awarded contingent included 6 women and 7 Staff Officers.
Indian-American agricultural scientist Dr. Karim Maredia has been selected for the 2026 Borlaug CAST Communication Award, and the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology will honour him in Washington, D.C., on…
Belgian-American particle physicist Francis Halzen won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics, announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and…
Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar to Receive Israel's Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism
Key Updates:
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that Indian flydubai captain Smit Machchhar will receive Israel's Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for his bravery and professionalism in averting a catastrophe.
- Machchhar was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot on a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv in an attempt to crash the plane, causing the jet with 174 people on board to plunge nearly 14,000 ft in less than 30 seconds.
- Despite being injured, Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot so a second pair of flydubai pilots could land the jet in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
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Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Corporation (TNUAVC) to develop a structured drone pilot training programme for Agniveers, serving defence personnel and those…
