Current Affairs One- Liner: 8th October 2026

National:

• On 6 October 2026, the Union Cabinet approved two major initiatives: the creation of an Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) and a ₹10,000-crore SME Growth Fund. ITLA will function as an apex body for integrated transport planning, appraisal, monitoring and data analytics, while the SME Growth Fund will provide direct equity capital to scalable SMEs in manufacturing, services, technology and strategic sectors. 

• On 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Rural Development notified 375 permissible works under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB–G RAM G] Act, 2025. This is a 41% increase over the earlier 266 works. The new framework covers 128 water-security works, 111 core rural infrastructure works, 98 livelihood-related works and 38 works for disaster preparedness and extreme weather. 
• In October 2026, Uttarakhand became India’s sixth fully literate state, joining Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The achievement is linked to literacy initiatives including ULLAS – New India Literacy Programme, which targets adults who missed formal schooling. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the state will now focus more on digital literacy, financial literacy, health awareness and life skills. 
• On 7 October 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed 25 consecutive years as head of government, beginning with his assumption of office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7 October 2001 and continuing as Prime Minister since 2014. The Union Cabinet passed a resolution marking the milestone, while several foreign leaders also sent congratulatory messages. 
• On 8 October 2026, the Union Health Ministry is scheduled to launch JOSH or Joint Squad for Health Teams at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, to strengthen community participation in the TB Mukt Bharat campaign. In the first phase, JOSH Teams will operate across 55 districts in 11 states, bringing together Class-I officers, MY Bharat volunteers and NCC cadets for grassroots TB awareness and mobilisation. 
• On 7 October 2026, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Strategy for Environmental Economic Accounts in India 2026–2030. The five-year roadmap aims to measure natural wealth alongside conventional economic indicators, with priority areas including forests, water, land, soil, minerals, carbon stocks, biodiversity and pollination services. It succeeds the 2022–26 environmental-accounting strategy. 
• On 7 October 2026, Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh became the state’s third cheetah habitat, after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released two Botswanan cheetahs, Vyom and Neera, into soft-release enclosures. It is also the first tiger reserve in India to receive African cheetahs under Project Cheetah.
• On 7 October 2026, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified the names of 13 journalist members of the Press Council of India, comprising six newspaper editors and seven other working journalists. The appointments are part of the reconstitution of the Council’s 15th term. The Press Council Act, 1978 provides for a Chairperson and 28 other members. 
• On 6–7 October 2026, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs organised the National Conclave on Constitutional Rights and Legal Provisions for Tribal Communities at Scope Complex, New Delhi. Inaugurated by Union Minister Jual Oram, it brought together more than 75 delegates from around 30 states and UTs to discuss constitutional safeguards, documentation, grievance redressal, digitisation and implementation challenges faced by tribal communities. 
• In October 2026, Command Hospital (Eastern Command), Kolkata successfully administered NexCAR19, India’s indigenous CAR-T cell therapy, to a 39-year-old serving soldier with relapsed/refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. NexCAR19 was developed through collaboration among IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Centre and ImmunoACT and is intended to make advanced cell-based treatment for blood cancers more accessible in India. In October 2026, the West Bengal government moved towards introducing a Bill to rename the state Paschim Banga. The proposal has not yet become the official name. A state-renaming process requires legislative action and subsequent constitutional procedure involving the Centre and Parliament. The move revives a long-running debate over changing the name of West Bengal. 
• On 6 October 2026, the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a Letter of Intent to the University of Colorado Denver to establish a degree-granting campus in Hyderabad. It will become the first public American university authorised to establish such a location in India and the first foreign university in Telangana, with the first student cohort expected in August 2027. 

International:

• The 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opened on 8 September 2026 at UN Headquarters in New York under the presidency of Khalilur Rahman. Its theme is Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar led India’s delegation during the High-Level Week and addressed the General Debate on 26 September. 
• In October 2026, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Greece and Cyprus were reported to have expressed interest in joining the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The development was highlighted by French President’s Special Envoy for IMEC Gérard Mestrallet. IMEC seeks to build resilient transport, digital and energy links connecting India with the Middle East and Europe. 

Banking:

• On 7 October 2026, the Reserve Bank of India removed Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) from the list of scheduled banks following cancellation of its banking licence in April 2026. The removal means PPBL is no longer included in the Second Schedule to the RBI Act, 1934. Paytm’s UPI, QR, Soundbox and payment-gateway services operating through partner banks remain separate from PPBL.

Economy:

• On 6 October 2026, the World Bank raised India’s real GDP growth forecast for FY2026-27 to 7.1% from 6.6% in its latest India Development Update. The upgrade reflects strong domestic demand, resilient exports and momentum in industry and services. The World Bank nevertheless flagged risks from high oil prices, El Niño-related disruption and volatility in international capital flows. 
• In its October 2026 India Development Update, the World Bank identified India as one of the top 10 emerging-market performers in AI readiness. It highlighted India’s technical workforce, globally integrated IT sector and digital public infrastructure, while recommending broader AI adoption, better worker skills, stronger infrastructure and effective governance to spread the productivity gains of artificial intelligence. 

Science & Technology:

• In October 2026, a rare two-headed wolf snake was rescued from Dahod district, Gujarat. The non-venomous hatchling had two heads and four eyes due to bicephaly, a rare developmental abnormality. It was reported as the first such case in Gujarat and the fifth documented two-headed snake case in India, drawing attention from wildlife researchers and conservationists. 
• In October 2026, Elon Musk-led Starlink said it had established 20 gateway sites in India equipped with hundreds of antennas as part of preparations for satellite internet services. The company has also developed India-specific security and data-localisation controls. Gateways connect satellite networks with terrestrial telecom infrastructure, particularly supporting connectivity in remote and underserved areas. 

Awards:

• In September 2026, Indian mathematician Mahesh Kakde of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, was awarded the 2026 Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians from Developing Countries. The prize recognised his contributions to algebraic number theory, including noncommutative Iwasawa theory and work on the Gross-Stark and Brumer-Stark conjectures. The prize is administered jointly by ICTP and the International Mathematical Union. 

Defence:

• On 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹661.50-crore contract with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited for BrahMos Fire Control Systems and launchers for Indian Navy ships under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. The project has at least 68% indigenous content. BrahMos is the Navy’s principal surface-to-surface missile system for precision maritime strikes. 
• On 6 October 2026, DRDO successfully flight-tested its indigenous High-Altitude Platform System (HAPS). The lighter-than-air platform reached 21 km above mean sea level and remained near 20 km for more than 30 minutes. Developed by ADRDE, Agra, HAPS is being designed for long-endurance stratospheric surveillance, intelligence gathering, communications and earth observation. 
• On 6 October 2026, DRDO conducted the maiden live jump of the indigenous Advanced High-Altitude Parachute (AHAP) at Nyoma, Ladakh. The jump began at 16,000 feet, with parachute deployment at 15,500 feet and landing at 13,700 feet. Developed by ADRDE, AHAP is a static-line parachute designed for mass deployment of paratroopers in high-altitude terrain. 
• In September 2026, GE Aerospace shipped four more F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the LCA Tejas Mk-1A programme, taking cumulative deliveries to 14. The F404-IN20 is an afterburning turbofan engine powering the single-engine Tejas Mk-1A and is critical to HAL’s fighter-aircraft production schedule. 
• On 6 October 2026, Pakistan test-fired an extended-range version of its indigenous Fatah-4 Ground-Launched Cruise Missile. The missile incorporates advanced avionics and navigation systems and is designed for low-altitude, precision conventional strikes. The test was presented by Pakistan as part of efforts to enhance indigenous long-range strike capabilities. 
• On 6 October 2026, France conducted the first acceptance test of the upgraded M51.3 submarine-launched ballistic missile from the nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine Le Vigilant off Brittany. The missile carried no nuclear warhead during the test. The exercise validated the submarine’s strategic weapon system following maintenance and forms part of France’s modernisation of its sea-based nuclear deterrent.
• On 7 October 2026, Kochi-based EyeROV delivered two indigenous TROUT military-grade underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to the Indian Navy, the first batch of a five-system order. The ROVs can operate at depths of up to 300 metres and are designed for underwater inspection, surveillance, reconnaissance, search, recovery and robotic intervention. 
• In October 2026, Bharat Forge Limited secured a long-term contract from Pratt & Whitney Canada to manufacture and supply mission-critical aerospace engine components. Production will take place at Bharat Forge’s aerospace facility in India. The agreement strengthens India’s participation in global aerospace supply chains and supports expansion of domestic high-precision aerospace manufacturing capabilities. 

Military Exercise:

• On 7 October 2026, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth inaugurated the 12th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise, SAREX-2026, organised by the Indian Coast Guard. The major sea demonstration was scheduled off Paradip, Odisha, on 8 October, with observers from 30 countries. The exercise simulates large-scale maritime emergencies and tests inter-agency search-and-rescue coordination. 

MoUs:

• On 6 October 2026, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) signed an MoU during the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Signed by IOA President P. T. Usha and KSOC President Ryu Seung-min, it covers athlete and youth development, high-performance sport, coaching, sports science and good governance. 
• On 7 October 2026, India and Ghana exchanged two MoUs covering scientific research, education and agriculture. One links the Zoological Survey of India with the University of Ghana for academic and scientific cooperation; the other connects ICAR with Ghana’s CSIR-Crops Research Institute for agricultural research, capacity building and technology transfer. 

Sports:

• On 6 October 2026, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic won his seventh China Open title in Beijing after Alex de Minaur retired during the final. It was Djokovic’s 102nd tour-level singles title and his first title of the 2026 season. He also became the first player to win at least one ATP title in 21 consecutive seasons. 
• On 6 October 2026, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his Japan Open title by defeating Czech player Jiří Lehečka 7-6(4), 6-4 in Tokyo. It was his second consecutive Japan Open crown and his first title after returning from a wrist injury. He became the first man since Pete Sampras in 1993–94 to win back-to-back Tokyo titles. 
• In October 2026, the International Olympic Committee confirmed India among seven parties interested in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. The other contenders include Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary and Türkiye. The prospective hosts will undergo the IOC’s dialogue and feasibility process before a final host decision in a later IOC vote. 
• On 6 October 2026, the BCCI appointed Smriti Mandhana as the full-time captain of India’s women’s white-ball team, succeeding Harmanpreet Kaur. Mandhana had previously served as vice-captain and had already led India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs. She has also captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles. 

Appointments:

• On 6 October 2026, the Government appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, in the rank of Air Chief Marshal, with effect from 31 October 2026. He succeeds Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream in 1986 and was serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff at the time of appointment. 

Summits & Conferences:

• Sagarmanthan 2026: The Great Oceans Dialogue is being held in New Delhi from 7–9 October 2026, bringing together more than 1,200 participants from nearly 75 countries. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Observer Research Foundation, the third edition focuses on the theme Blue Geographies, New Aspirations: Trade, Technology, and Trust at Sea. 

Important Days:

• World Cotton Day was observed on 7 October 2026 to highlight cotton’s economic, social and environmental importance and its role in supporting millions of farmers and workers. The 2026 global celebration was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with the theme Cotton for Good: Building Prosperity Through Trade, Transformation and Partnership. 
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed throughout October every year to increase awareness about breast cancer, encourage early detection and screening, support patients and survivors and promote research. The campaign is internationally associated with the pink ribbon and emphasises that timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment can significantly improve survival outcomes.
• World Space Week 2026 was observed from 4 to 10 October. The annual UN-recognised celebration highlights the contribution of space science and technology to human development and encourages public interest in space education and innovation. The 2026 theme, Rocket Revolution, focuses on advances transforming access to and use of outer space.
• Indian Air Force Day 2026 was observed on 8 October, marking the 94th anniversary of the Indian Air Force, established on 8 October 1932. The 2026 theme is Indian Air Force – Infallible, Impervious and Precise, highlighting operational preparedness, resilience and precision in air operations. 

Obituaries:

• In October 2026, eminent Indian metallurgist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Palle Rama Rao passed away at the age of 89 in Hyderabad. He had served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, and Director of the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory.
• On 6 October 2026, Oscar-winning American actress Eva Marie Saint passed away at the age of 102 in Los Angeles. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her film debut in On the Waterfront (1954) and was also widely known for Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959). 
• On 8 October 2026, veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar passed away at the age of 75 in Goa. Known for his work in Hindi and Marathi cinema, he earned national recognition for performances in films including Krantiveer, Parinda and Prahaar. His career was particularly noted for intense character roles and distinctive dialogue delivery. 

Questions:

Q1. The Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority approved by the Union Cabinet will be established primarily for which purpose?
a) Regulation of airline fares
b) Management of railway recruitment
c) Integrated transport and logistics planning, appraisal and monitoring
d) Regulation of foreign shipping companies

Answer: c) ITLA will act as an apex institutional mechanism for integrated transport and logistics research, planning, project appraisal, monitoring, policy support and data analytics. 

Q2. Uttarakhand became which fully literate state of India in 2026?
a) Fourth
b) Fifth
c) Sixth
d) Seventh

Answer: c) Uttarakhand became India’s sixth fully literate state, after Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim.