4 October 2026
World Space Week 2026 is being celebrated globally from October 4 to 10.
The theme for 2026 is "Rocket Revolution", which focuses on the rapid transformation of space launch, expanding access beyond government programmes to commercial providers, reusable rockets, universities and startups.
By resolution 54/68 of 6 December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed World Space Week, to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.
The two dates are not arbitrary. October 4, 1957 was the launch into outer space of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1.
October 10, 1967 was the date on which the Treaty on Principles Governing Activities in Outer Space entered into force.
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space, and in the utilisation of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development.
Dates:
October 4 to 10
Theme 2026:
Rocket Revolution
Declared by:
General Assembly resolution 54/68 of 6 December 1999
Why 4 October:
Launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957
Why 10 October:
Outer Space Treaty entered into force in 1967
Why it matters for exams: A United Nations observance with a fixed date range, a named resolution and two treaty-and-launch anniversaries behind it is exactly the kind of fact examiners turn into one-mark questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNOOSA United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs — The UN office that promotes international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space.
4 October 2026
The Nobel Foundation has published the schedule for the 2026 Nobel Prize announcements, which begin on Monday, 5 October.
Physiology or Medicine comes first, on Monday, 5 October, 11:30 CEST at the earliest, from The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet.
Physics follows on Tuesday, 6 October, 11:45 CEST at the earliest, and Chemistry on Wednesday, 7 October, 11:45 CEST at the earliest, both from The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Literature is announced on Thursday, 8 October, 13:00 CEST at the earliest, by The Swedish Academy.
The Peace Prize is announced on Friday, 9 October, 11:00 CEST, by The Norwegian Nobel Committee at The Norwegian Nobel Institute.
The Prize in Economic Sciences comes last, on Monday, 12 October, 11:45 CEST at the earliest, again from The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Physiology or Medicine:
Monday, 5 October, Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet
Physics:
Tuesday, 6 October, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Chemistry:
Wednesday, 7 October, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Literature:
Thursday, 8 October, The Swedish Academy
Peace:
Friday, 9 October, Norwegian Nobel Committee
Economic Sciences:
Monday, 12 October, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Why it matters for exams: The pairing of each Nobel category with its awarding institution is a standing favourite, and the examiner can ask it from the announcement calendar alone.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CEST Central European Summer Time — The summer time zone used in Sweden and Norway, two and a half hours behind Indian Standard Time.
4 October 2026
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Employment Situation report for September 2026 on Friday, 2 October 2026 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 29,000 in September 2026.
The unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, up by 0.1 percentage point from 4.1 percent the month before.
The bureau's own summary says that "Both nonfarm payroll employment (+29,000) and the unemployment rate (4.2 percent) changed little in September."
The Employment Situation is the monthly release that combines a survey of employers, which yields the payroll number, with a survey of households, which yields the unemployment rate.
Nonfarm payroll change:
+29,000
Unemployment rate:
4.2 percent (up from 4.1 percent)
Reference month:
September 2026
Released by:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why it matters for exams: The monthly United States payroll and unemployment figures are the single most watched data point for global markets, and the two-survey method behind them is itself examinable.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics — The statistical agency of the United States Department of Labor, which publishes the monthly Employment Situation report.
Nonfarm payroll Nonfarm payroll employment — A count of paid jobs outside farms, private households and the armed forces, taken from a survey of employers.
4 October 2026
Yemen's Houthis said on Saturday, 3 October 2026 that they had hit an Aramco facility in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, with ballistic missiles and drones.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree described the strikes as "precise and direct" and said they "led to fires breaking out" at the site.
Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki called the Houthi account "misleading".
The coalition said it carried out 97 precise targeting operations on Sunday against Houthi positions on the Tor al-Baha front and the Taiz axis. Yemen's government forces spokesman, Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, said those operations targeted at least 260 Houthi fighters and destroyed or disabled 44 military vehicles.
Fighting in Yemen intensified after the 2022 truce collapsed in July 2026. The Houthis have since taken the port city of Mocha and islands in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
The South China Morning Post reported that combined casualties in the fighting around the Red Sea gateway passed 300, with 84 government troops and 57 Houthi fighters killed between Saturday midday and early Sunday.
Target named by Houthis:
Aramco facility in Riyadh
Coalition operations:
97 targeting operations on Sunday
Figures given by Yemen's government forces spokesman:
At least 260 Houthi fighters, 44 military vehicles
Truce collapsed:
July 2026
Places taken by Houthis:
Mocha and islands in the Bab al-Mandeb strait
Why it matters for exams: The Yemen war sits astride the Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea shipping route, so questions link the fighting to chokepoint geography and to energy security.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Bab al-Mandeb Bab al-Mandeb strait — The strait between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Aramco Saudi Arabian Oil Company — Saudi Arabia's state oil company, the largest crude oil producer in the world by output.
Background
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Geneva. It is the only tripartite UN agency: since 1919 it has brought together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States. It sets labour standards, develops policies and devises programmes promoting decent work. The ILO was created in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, on the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it is based on social justice.
Structure:
Tripartite
Member States:
187
Created as part of:
Treaty of Versailles
Why it matters for exams: ILO structure, its Versailles origin and Geneva base are frequent one-liner questions on UN specialized agencies.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Tripartite Three-party structure — Governments, employers and workers have an equal voice.
Background
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is located in Geneva, Switzerland, and was established on 1 January 1995. It was created by the Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-94). It has 166 members representing 98 per cent of world trade. Its top decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference, which usually meets every two years; below it is the General Council, which meets several times a year in Geneva. Decisions are normally taken by consensus.
Headquarters:
Geneva, Switzerland
Members:
166
Share of world trade:
98 per cent
Why it matters for exams: WTO headquarters, membership and decision-making structure are standard economy and international-organisation questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Uruguay Round Trade negotiations (1986-94) — The negotiations that created the WTO.
Background
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Its goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO has 194 members, made up of 193 countries and the European Union, and works in over 130 countries worldwide.
Members:
194
Countries among them:
193
Countries of operation:
over 130
Why it matters for exams: Specialized-agency membership details, including the EU as a member organisation, are asked in PSC and UPSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization — UN specialized agency leading efforts against hunger.
Background
The General Assembly is the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. It comprises all 193 Members of the United Nations, and each Member State has one vote. Decisions on important questions, such as recommendations on peace and security, the election of Security Council and Economic and Social Council members, and budgetary questions, need a two-thirds majority of Member States; other questions need a simple majority. The Assembly elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council, and the majority of resolutions are adopted without a vote, by consensus.
Members:
193
Votes per Member State:
One
Majority for important questions:
Two-thirds
Why it matters for exams: Voting rules and powers of the General Assembly are core UN-structure questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Two-thirds majority Two-thirds of Member States — Needed for important questions in the Assembly.
Background
Representatives of 50 countries gathered at the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, California, from 25 April to 26 June 1945. They drafted and signed the UN Charter, which created the United Nations. The UN officially began on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of the other signatories.
Conference venue:
San Francisco, California
Countries at the conference:
50
UN officially began:
24 October 1945
Why it matters for exams: The UN's founding conference and the ratification rule are recurring history-of-organisations questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UN Charter Charter of the United Nations — The founding treaty of the United Nations.
Background
NATO was created by 12 countries from Europe and North America on 4 April 1949. Since then, 20 more countries have joined through 10 rounds of enlargement, and NATO has 32 member countries, called Allies, that take decisions by consensus. Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty sets out how countries can join: membership is open to any European State in a position to further the principles of the Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. Any decision to invite a country is taken by the North Atlantic Council, NATO's principal political decision-making body.
Founding countries:
12
Member countries:
32
Accession rule:
Article 10
Why it matters for exams: NATO's founding strength, accession rule and decision body are standard defence-alliance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
North Atlantic Council NATO's principal political decision-making body — Decides on inviting new members by consensus.
Background
The Corfu Channel case (United Kingdom v. Albania) arose out of explosions of mines that damaged some British warships passing through the Corfu Channel in 1946, in a part of Albanian waters that had been swept earlier. The ships were severely damaged and members of the crew were killed. The United Kingdom brought the dispute to the International Court of Justice by an Application filed on 22 May 1947, arguing that Albania had laid, or allowed a third State to lay, the mines. The dispute gave rise to three Judgments by the Court.
Parties:
United Kingdom and Albania
Judgments:
Three
Cause:
Mine explosions in the Corfu Channel
Why it matters for exams: Landmark ICJ cases and the states involved are a recurring international-law topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ICJ International Court of Justice — The principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
Background
Background to the United States employment report just published, which is read first of all as a signal for the Federal Reserve.
The Federal Reserve Act requires the Fed to conduct monetary policy "so as to promote effectively the goals of maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates".
Although the Act lists three goals, the directive is commonly known as the dual mandate, because stable employment and prices naturally support moderate long-term interest rates.
Monetary policy decisions are taken by the Federal Open Market Committee, made up of the Board of Governors together with the president of the New York Fed and four Reserve Bank presidents who serve in rotation. All twelve Reserve Bank presidents take part in the discussions, but only the voting members decide.
The committee judges that low and stable inflation at the rate of 2 per cent per year, measured by the annual change in the price index for personal consumption expenditures, is most consistent with achieving both parts of the dual mandate.
Because employment is half the mandate, every monthly jobs number is read as evidence on the direction of American interest rates.
Statutory goals:
Maximum employment, stable prices, moderate long-term interest rates
Common name:
The dual mandate
Decision-making body:
Federal Open Market Committee
Inflation objective:
2 percent per year, measured by the PCE price index
Why it matters for exams: Candidates are often asked to contrast the Federal Reserve's dual mandate with central banks that pursue inflation targeting alone, and the 2 per cent PCE target is a frequently tested figure.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
FOMC Federal Open Market Committee — The Federal Reserve body that takes United States monetary policy decisions.
PCE price index Price index for personal consumption expenditures — The price measure the Federal Reserve uses to judge whether inflation is at its 2 per cent objective.