30 September 2026
The Controller General of Accounts released the Centre's accounts for April-August of 2026-27 on Wednesday.
The fiscal deficit stood at Rs 7,10,249 crore, or 41.9 per cent of the full-year target.
The full-year target is 4.3 per cent of GDP, or Rs 16.96 lakh crore.
Net tax revenue was Rs 8.38 lakh crore, or 29.2 per cent of the Budget Estimate.
Total expenditure was Rs 20.78 lakh crore, or 38.9 per cent of the Budget Estimate.
In April-August of 2025-26 the deficit was 38.1 per cent of the Budget Estimate.
Fiscal deficit, April-August 2026-27:
Rs 7,10,249 crore
Share of full-year target:
41.9 per cent
Full-year target:
4.3 per cent of GDP (Rs 16.96 lakh crore)
Net tax revenue:
Rs 8.38 lakh crore
Why it matters for exams: Fiscal deficit, its target as a share of GDP and the role of the CGA are staple topics in Indian economy papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Fiscal deficit Total expenditure minus total receipts excluding borrowings — It is the amount the government must borrow in a year.
CGA Controller General of Accounts — The Finance Ministry's principal accounting adviser, which publishes monthly Union accounts.
BE Budget Estimate — The figure for a year projected in the Union Budget.
1 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Interest Rate on Deposits) Second Amendment Directions, 2026 come into effect on 1 October 2026.
The notification, numbered RBI/2026-27/214, is dated 30 July 2026.
Banks must disclose bulk deposit rates on their website at 10:00 am, with a grace time of 10 minutes, latest by 10:10 am, on each business day.
Rates on deposits, including bulk deposits, must be uniform across all branches and for all customers.
Banks may offer a differential rate on bulk deposits by considering the differential run-off rate under the LCR framework.
The amendment modifies the earlier Directions dated 28 November 2025 and covers domestic rupee deposits and rupee deposits of non-residents.
Effective from:
1 October 2026
Notification number:
RBI/2026-27/214
Rate disclosure time:
10:00 am, latest 10:10 am
Earlier Directions amended:
28 November 2025
Why it matters for exams: RBI directions on deposit rates and the LCR framework are regular banking-regulation questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Bulk deposit Large single-rupee term deposit — A term deposit above a size threshold set by RBI, usually from institutions or large depositors.
LCR Liquidity Coverage Ratio — It requires banks to hold enough high-quality liquid assets to survive a 30-day stress.
Run-off rate Assumed deposit outflow rate under LCR — The share of a deposit type assumed to leave the bank during a stress period.
1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026, consumers must complete Biometric Aadhaar Authentication (BAA) to book LPG refills at the regulated Retail Selling Price with applicable subsidy.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said 27.43 crore consumers, 89.9 per cent of active domestic LPG consumers, had completed authentication.
BAA can be done during delivery through the OMC mobile application, at distributor showrooms, or through IndianOil ONE, HelloBPCL and HP PAY.
Consumers who do not complete BAA can receive LPG at the applicable market price, without any subsidy, in 5 kg or 10 kg cylinders.
The implicit subsidy for September 2026 is Rs 210 per 14.2 kg cylinder.
Effective from:
1 October 2026
Consumers authenticated:
27.43 crore (89.9 per cent)
September 2026 implicit subsidy:
Rs 210 per 14.2 kg cylinder
Why it matters for exams: Aadhaar-linked subsidy delivery and the role of oil marketing companies are common governance and economy topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BAA Biometric Aadhaar Authentication — Verification of a consumer's identity using fingerprint or face data against Aadhaar.
OMC Oil Marketing Company — Firms such as IndianOil, BPCL and HPCL that sell LPG to households.
RSP Retail Selling Price — The price at which a refill is sold to the consumer.
1 October 2026
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 takes effect on 1 October 2026.
The Registrar General of India announced the date in a gazette notification on 17 September 2026.
Registration within one year follows the normal process.
For a delay of one to two years, approval is needed from a District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or authorised executive magistrate, along with a prescribed fee.
For a delay of more than two years, an order from a judicial magistrate (first class) is required.
The amendment modifies Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
Effective from:
1 October 2026
Delay of 1-2 years:
DM / SDM / executive magistrate approval
Delay beyond 2 years:
Judicial magistrate (first class) order
Section amended:
Section 13(3), 1969 Act
Why it matters for exams: New laws taking effect, and the officers named in them, are regular polity and governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Registrar General of India RGI — The official who oversees civil registration of births and deaths and the Census.
Gazette notification Official government notice — The formal publication through which a law's commencement date is announced.
30 September 2026
A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice MM Sundresh heard the long-pending 2015 firecracker petition on 30 September 2026. The Court said it would neither accept a total ban nor allow bursting through the whole day. It proposed fixed time windows for approved firecrackers during Diwali, balancing religious sentiments against the health of children, the elderly and the ill. The Court was open to permitting joint firecrackers (ladis) under conditions. At the request of the Additional Solicitor General, it allowed time until 15 October 2026 for the results of outdoor testing of barium in green firecrackers. Delhi-NCR rules were left to be heard with the overlapping MC Mehta case.
Bench:
Justice MM Sundresh
Time allowed for barium test results:
15 October 2026
Petition filed:
2015
Why it matters for exams: Links Article 21 and environmental jurisprudence with Article 25 religious sentiments, a recurring polity and environment theme.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Green firecrackers Low-emission firecrackers — Crackers formulated to emit less particulate matter than conventional ones.
Barium Barium compounds in crackers — A chemical used for green colour in fireworks and a focus of the emission testing.
30 September 2026
The second edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) began on 30 September 2026 at Subic Bay in the Philippines. India sent INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish. The theme is 'Anchored in Trust, United at Sea'. The exercise has a harbour phase of professional exchanges, sports and cultural activity and operational synchronisation, followed by a sea phase of coordinated maritime serials. India's Ambassador to the Philippines, Harsh Kumar Jain, attended the opening as Guest of Honour. The exercise is conducted in furtherance of the Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision.
Edition:
Second
Venue:
Subic Bay, Philippines
Indian ships:
INS Sahyadri, INS Kulish
Why it matters for exams: India-ASEAN defence ties, Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision are standard international-relations and security topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MAHASAGAR Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — India's maritime cooperation vision for the wider Indian Ocean region.
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations — A regional grouping of Southeast Asian states.
30 September 2026
The second edition of the Naval Commanders' Conference is being held at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, from 29 September to 1 October 2026. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan gave the inaugural address. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani and Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth addressed the commanders. Themes include combat readiness, maritime surveillance, technology absorption, self-reliance and tri-service integration. The Navy-led Operation Urja Suraksha, which protects India's energy interests amid West Asia tensions, was highlighted.
Dates:
29 September to 1 October 2026
Venue:
Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi
Chief of the Naval Staff:
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan
Why it matters for exams: Names of service chiefs, Navy operations and tri-service jointness are routine defence questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Operation Urja Suraksha Navy-led energy security operation — The Navy's operation to protect India's energy interests amid West Asia tensions.
Tri-service jointness Integration of Army, Navy and Air Force — Closer coordination and data sharing among the three armed services.
30 September 2026
India's women's compound archery team won gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on 30 September 2026, beating China 238-234. The team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep and Chikitha Taniparthi equalled the world record set by South Korea. In the semifinal India edged South Korea 234-233. It was India's seventh gold of the Games. Jyothi won her fourth Asian Games gold, while Prithika and Chikitha won their first.
Final score:
238-234 vs China
Semifinal:
234-233 vs South Korea
India's gold tally at this point:
7
Why it matters for exams: Asian Games results, host city and record details are staple sports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Compound archery Compound bow event — An archery discipline using a bow with pulleys and cams, shot over 8 arrows per archer in team rounds here.
30 September 2026
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) will mark its 23rd Foundation Day on 1 October 2026, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released a note on 30 September. Since 2008, over Rs. 278 crore has been realised through Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), and more than Rs. 200 crore has been disbursed for biodiversity conservation and community benefits. The NBA works through a three-tier structure: the NBA nationally, State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils, and Biodiversity Management Committees at the local level. The disbursements have supported over 10,500 Biodiversity Management Committees, 28 State Biodiversity Boards and 7 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils. Around Rs. 100 crore has been released for Red Sanders conservation through the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and State Biodiversity Board.
Realised through ABS since 2008:
over Rs. 278 crore
Biodiversity Management Committees supported:
over 10,500
State Biodiversity Boards supported:
28
Union Territory Biodiversity Councils supported:
7
Why it matters for exams: The NBA and the three-tier biodiversity governance structure are standard environment-law questions in UPSC and Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ABS Access and Benefit Sharing — Users of biological resources share the benefits with the providers and local communities.
BMC Biodiversity Management Committee — The local-level body in the NBA's three-tier structure.
30 September 2026
The Election Commission of India met at 4:30 PM at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. SS Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi attended. The Commission decided to extend the SIR dates in Andhra Pradesh and Meghalaya. In Andhra Pradesh the notice phase and disposal of claims and objections runs from 31.07.2026 to 10.10.2026, with final publication on 16.10.2026. In Meghalaya final publication is on 26.10.2026.
Andhra Pradesh final publication:
16.10.2026
Meghalaya final publication:
26.10.2026
Chief Election Commissioner:
Gyanesh Kumar
Why it matters for exams: The Election Commission's composition, its constitutional status and electoral-roll revision are regular polity questions in UPSC and Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SIR Special Intensive Revision — A house-to-house revision of the electoral rolls run by the Election Commission.