Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 04-10 October 2026, Weekly Updates
04 – 10 October 2026
National Current Affairs
1. PM-SETU: Skill Development Initiative
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched youth-focused initiatives worth over ₹62,000 crore at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, according to the supplied dossier.
- PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs) has a reported outlay of ₹60,000 crore.
- The programme aims to upgrade 1,000 ITIs: 200 Hub ITIs and 800 Spoke ITIs.
- Another component includes 1,200 vocational skill labs across 400 Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools in 34 States/UTs.
2. RBI Monetary Policy
- The supplied notes report a 25-basis-point repo-rate increase to 5.50%, from 5.25%, with the stance described as “Calibrated Tightening.”
- The reported SDF rate was 5.25%, and the MSF rate was 5.75%.
- The FY 2026–27 GDP growth forecast was reported at 7.1%.
3. Mann Ki Baat: 12 Years: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme marked 12 years on 3 October 2026. It began on 3 October 2014, on Vijayadashami.
4. Andhra Pradesh: PMAY-G 2.0: Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan handed over the first instalment for three lakh houses worth ₹3,600 crore. The event was held in Guntur district in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
5. Andhra Pradesh: 3D-Printed Housing: A project involving 177 houses using 3D concrete-printing technology was reported at Burripalem, Guntur district, under PMAY-G 2.0. The initiative highlights the potential of construction technology in affordable rural housing.
6. Vikramshila Central University: 1. The Bihar Government identified 202 acres at Antichak village, Bhagalpur district, for the proposed university near the historic Vikramshila site.
7. Noida International Airport: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet reportedly approved a proposal to name the airport at Jewar Narendra Modi International Airport.
8. Brahmaputra International Cargo Route: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off a cargo vessel carrying methanol from Dibrugarh, Assam, to Bangladesh. The move was described in the supplied notes as a revival of the Brahmaputra’s role as an international trade route after nearly eight decades.
9. Supreme Court: Electoral Rolls and Form 6
- The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear petitions challenging the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and aspects of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- The Election Commission rejected allegations concerning unilateral changes to Form 6, used for voter registration.
- The Court reportedly sought records relating to Form 6 and clarified that it had not approved a modified version.
Defence Update
1. INS Mangrol: The Indian Navy announced the upcoming commissioning of INS Mangrol, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited. Such vessels support coastal surveillance and shallow-water submarine detection.
2. INS Surya: Fleet Support Ship: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the first indigenous Fleet Support Ship, Surya, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, on 6 October.
3. BrahMos Fire-Control Systems: The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹661.5-crore contract with BrahMos Aerospace for fire-control systems and launchers for Indian Navy warships.
4. Appointment of Air Chief: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was named the next Chief of the Air Staff, with assumption of office scheduled for 31 October 2026.
5. DRDO: Indigenous Protection Technology: DRDO reportedly developed and tested lightweight STANAG-6-compliant armour designed to withstand 30-mm armour-piercing ammunition. DRDO also conducted a maiden live jump of an advanced high-altitude parachute and a flight trial of a high-altitude platform.
6. Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026: The multinational air exercise is scheduled from 26 September to 12 October at Jodhpur and adjoining airbases in Rajasthan.
7. Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026: India and the United Arab Emirates commenced the joint military exercise in Uttarakhand.It aims to strengthen coordination, military cooperation and interoperability.
8. Other Defence Updates
- Indian Naval Ships INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish completed participation in the ASEAN–India Maritime Exercise in the Philippines.
- The IAF confirmed plans to train and reinstate former officer Priyanka Saxena as a Squadron Leader, in compliance with Supreme Court directions.
- The Indian Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Ajit, an indigenously built Fast Patrol Vessel, at Goa Shipyard Limited on 9 October.
- BEML secured an order worth approximately ₹75.58 crore for military-vehicle exports and maintenance services in Southeast Asia.
- The IAF’s Sekhon Marathon commemorated Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, the Air Force’s sole Param Vir Chakra recipient.
International Current Affairs
1. India–United States Security Cooperation: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral J. Paparo on 4 October. Discussions focused on maritime cooperation and the India–US security partnership in the Indo-Pacific.
2. India–Switzerland Relations: Swiss President Guy Parmelin visited India and held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussions covered trade, investment, technology, innovation and people-to-people relations. The India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) was highlighted.
3. India–Austria Security Cooperation: MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George met Austria’s National Security Adviser Peter Vorhofer. Discussions covered counter-terrorism, strategic cooperation and regional and global issues.
4. India–Ghana Relations: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Accra to advance the India–Ghana Comprehensive Partnership.
5. India–Ethiopia Relations: 1. Jaishankar visited Ethiopia’s National Palace and Museum in Addis Ababa on 9 October.
6. G7 Emergency Oil Release: The G7 reportedly agreed on 2 October to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products from emergency reserves. The coordinated release was described as involving G7 members and the European Union, managed through the International Energy Agency (IEA).
World Current Affairs & Geopolitics
1. UNCTAD Trade and Development Report 2026: The supplied dossier projected global economic growth of 2.6% and global trade growth of 4%. India’s GDP growth was projected at 7.3% in 2026, supported by infrastructure investment and domestic demand.
2. Nobel Prizes 2026
- Physiology or Medicine: Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel — optogenetics and light-gated ion channels.
- Physics: Francis Halzen — contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and high-energy astrophysical neutrinos.
- Literature: Anne Carson — inventive works engaging with classical traditions.
- Chemistry: Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai
- Peace: Navi Pillay .
3 West Asia and Strait of Hormuz
- Iran reportedly stated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States met seven conditions under an interim agreement.
- Fighting involving Houthi targets and Saudi-led coalition operations intensified in Yemen, according to the supplied notes.
- India issued a security advisory to Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia amid reported attacks and flight suspensions.
4. Russia–Ukraine Conflict: A major Russian strike was reported to have killed 25 people and injured 100 in Ukraine. The report described missile and drone attacks targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions.
Science & Technology
1. ISRO Human Spaceflight Preparation: ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre invited bids to design and establish a Human Space Analog System at its astronaut-training facility in Bengaluru. The project aims to support preparation for extended human-spaceflight missions.
2. AI and Digital Agriculture: IIT Ropar launched AVNI – Grow with Nature, a digital learning platform for children about plants, crops, food and agriculture.
Sports Update
1. Asian Games 2026: India’s Final Performance
- India finished fourth in the medal standings with 85 medals: 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze.
- The Asian Games closing ceremony took place in Nagoya, Japan, on 4 October.
- Qatar received the Olympic Council of Asia flag for hosting the 2030 Asian Games in Doha, with the motto “The Games We Live For.”
2. Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down: India’s women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur reportedly stepped down as captain across all three formats. She led India to its maiden ODI World Cup title and the Asian Games gold
Important Observances Day
1. World Habitat Day — 5 October 2026: Observed on the first Monday of October. Highlights human settlements, sustainable urbanisation and access to adequate shelter.
2. World Cotton Day — 7 October: Promotes sustainable cotton production, fair trade and value-chain opportunities for smallholder farmers.
3. National Wildlife Week — 2–8 October: Theme: “Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife.”
Miscellaneous One-Liners Current Affairs
- ICSI: Launched the MSME Compliance Calendar 2027 during its 58th Foundation Day.
- Great Indian Bustard: Two captive-bred males were reportedly released into the wild at Sam, Desert National Park, Rajasthan.
- Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2027: Scheduled for 7–9 January in Kolkata.
- Sikkim highways: ₹993.64 crore was approved for National Highway-10 between Rangpo and Ranipool.
- Bathukamma: Telangana’s floral festival
- Kaziranga National Park reopened to tourists for the 2026–27 season.
- Five Centres of Excellence for Classical Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit were approved by the Ministry of Education.
- Ladakh launched a high-altitude wildlife safari to promote regulated tourism and snow-leopard conservation.
- The Health Ministry launched JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams on 8 October to strengthen community participation in tuberculosis control.
- NHAI introduced a barrierless Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system in Tamil Nadu, according to the supplied notes.
- eSanjeevani crossed 50 crore teleconsultations.
- Khadi Festival 2026: An exhibition at Delhi Haat showcased traditional textiles and handicrafts.
- The 14th International Tourism Mart is scheduled for Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, from 29–31 October 2026.