3 October 2026
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh addressed a press conference on 3 October 2026, ahead of the 94th Air Force Day on 8 October.
He said the Indian Air Force must induct 36 to 40 aircraft a year so that its fighter squadrons do not fall below 30, against a sanctioned strength of 42.
He said the delay in Tejas Mk-1A deliveries from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited "is going to hurt us"; the 83-jet deal worth ₹48,000 crore was signed in February 2021 and no jet has been delivered yet.
India cleared a proposal in February 2026 to buy 114 Rafale jets from France under a government-to-government framework, and he hoped the MRFA deal could be signed in this financial year.
Sanctioned fighter squadrons:
42
Annual induction needed:
36 to 40
Tejas Mk-1A order (2021):
83 jets, ₹48,000 crore
Rafale proposal:
114 jets
Why it matters for exams: Fighter squadron strength, the Tejas programme and the Rafale deal with France are recurring defence topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MRFA Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft — The IAF programme under which 114 Rafale jets are proposed to be bought from France.
HAL Hindustan Aeronautics Limited — The public sector company that builds the Tejas for the IAF.
3 October 2026
On 2 October 2026 the Border Security Force shot dead two men along the International Border in Punjab; the BSF said three people kept moving towards the border fence despite repeated warnings.
On 3 October Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned India's Chargé d'Affaires in Islamabad and described the dead men as unarmed civilians.
Late that evening India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan's Chargé d'Affaires, lodged a strong protest over what it called continued facilitation of illegal cross-border infiltration, and rejected Pakistan's statement.
Chargés d'Affaires are the highest-ranking diplomats in each capital, since both sides downgraded missions and recalled High Commissioners in 2019.
The BSF handed the bodies to the Pakistan Rangers on Saturday.
Incident date:
2 October 2026
Envoys summoned:
Chargé d'Affaires of both countries
Missions downgraded since:
2019
Why it matters for exams: India-Pakistan diplomatic ties, the BSF's role on the International Border and the 2019 downgrade of missions are standard international relations questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Chargé d'Affaires Chargé d'Affaires — A diplomat who heads a mission in the absence of an ambassador or High Commissioner.
BSF Border Security Force — The central force that guards India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
3 October 2026
Chairpersons of six of the 24 department-related Parliamentary standing committees were changed on 3 October 2026.
BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi takes over the Commerce committee from Dola Sen, and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar heads the Chemicals and Fertilisers committee in place of Kirti Azad; the Trinamool Congress thereby holds no chair.
The Railway committee now has Sudheer Gupta, Labour, Textiles and Skill Development has Shashank Mani, Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice has Sujeet Kumar, and Education, Women, Children and Youth has Mukul Wasnik.
Shashi Tharoor (External Affairs), Saptagiri Ulaka (Rural Development and Panchayati Raj) and Charanjit Singh Channi (Agriculture) retained their chairs.
The Lok Sabha Speaker appoints chairpersons of the 16 committees under the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha Chairman those of the eight under the Rajya Sabha.
Department-related standing committees:
24 (16 Lok Sabha, 8 Rajya Sabha)
Chairs changed:
6
Why it matters for exams: How Parliament's committee system is staffed and who appoints committee chairs is a standard polity question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DRSC Department-related Standing Committee — A permanent parliamentary committee that examines the work and budgets of ministries.
1 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India released the indicative calendar of market borrowings by State Governments and Union Territories for the quarter October–December 2026.
Total borrowing for the quarter is expected to be ₹3,60,820 crore.
The Benchmark Issuance Strategy began as a pilot in Q1 of FY 2026-27 with nine States, including Keralam, and widened to nine more States and one Union Territory from Q2.
From Q3 it extends to Assam, Goa, Haryana, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Actual amounts depend on State requirements, approval of the Government of India under Article 293(3) of the Constitution and market conditions.
Expected State/UT borrowing, Oct–Dec 2026:
₹3,60,820 crore
Pilot start:
Q1 FY 2026-27, nine States
New entrants from Q3:
Six States and one UT
Why it matters for exams: State borrowing rules and the RBI's role as debt manager for States are staple economy and Kerala fiscal topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BIS Benchmark Issuance Strategy — An RBI framework in which participating States borrow on a pre-announced calendar in benchmark securities.
2 October 2026
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said talks with India are in the "short strokes" but a deal is not imminent, after a "constructive" meeting with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal at the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting.
He said both sides have identified a "universe of items" that are sticking points.
He said President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a constructive call on 30 September 2026 and may speak again soon.
The US has already levied an additional 10% tariff on India over imports of goods made with forced labour, and a Section 301 investigation on excess capacity is pending.
The Ministry of External Affairs has said India remains committed to energy security through diversified sourcing.
Additional US tariff on India (forced-labour imports):
10%
Trump–Modi call:
30 September 2026
Why it matters for exams: India-US trade relations, tariffs and the G20 are recurring topics in economy and international relations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
USTR United States Trade Representative — The US cabinet-level official who leads American trade negotiations.
3 October 2026
Rajiv Gauba, Member of NITI Aayog, spoke at the plenary session "Regulatory Oversight in an Age of Disruption" at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave, according to a Press Information Bureau release of 3 October 2026.
He said the choice is not between regulation and growth; rules should manage risk while supporting innovation, competition and investment.
He said regulatory requirements should be calibrated to the nature and consequences of the risks involved, and regulators' independence must come with accountability.
He wanted a State that is "firm where risks are high, and light-touch where risks are low", and called for better coordination among regulators with overlapping mandates.
He linked this to Viksit Bharat by 2047 and the Prime Minister's philosophy of Trust Based Governance, or Jan Vishwas.
Event:
5th Kautilya Economic Conclave
Session:
Regulatory Oversight in an Age of Disruption
Speaker:
Rajiv Gauba, Member, NITI Aayog
Why it matters for exams: Regulatory reform, NITI Aayog's role and the Jan Vishwas approach are useful for governance and economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NITI Aayog National Institution for Transforming India — The Government of India's policy think-tank that replaced the Planning Commission.
3 October 2026
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah addressed the Gaupalak Sammelan at Dussehra Maidan, Bhopal, on 3 October 2026 and inaugurated a State-level exhibition on the New Criminal Laws.
He said India is the world's largest milk-producing country and per capita milk availability has risen from about 307 grams to 485 grams a day, a rise of about 58%.
Under White Revolution 2.0, 75,000 new cooperative dairies will be established and 46,000 existing dairies strengthened.
The Madhya Pradesh Government has set a target to raise daily milk procurement from 12 lakh kg to 52 lakh kg, and gave in-principle approval for 50 acres of land for breed improvement of cattle and buffaloes.
He said cooperatives help livestock rearers get remunerative prices by cutting out intermediaries and sharing the gains of processing and value addition.
New cooperative dairies (White Revolution 2.0):
75,000
Existing dairies to be strengthened:
46,000
Per capita milk availability:
307 g to 485 g a day
Madhya Pradesh daily procurement target:
12 lakh kg to 52 lakh kg
Why it matters for exams: Dairy cooperatives, the Ministry of Cooperation and the new criminal laws are all regular exam areas.
Kerala PSCUPSC
3 October 2026
The Prime Minister congratulated the Indian men's hockey team on 3 October 2026 for retaining the Asian Games gold with a commanding victory in the final.
It is India's first back-to-back Asian Games gold in men's hockey and the fifth gold overall.
The Prime Minister said it is more special because both the men's and the women's teams won gold at the same Asian Games for the first time.
He said the 2026 Asian Games have been truly special for Indian hockey.
Men's hockey Asian Games golds:
5 (first back-to-back)
Why it matters for exams: Sporting records at multi-nation events such as the Asian Games are regular sports-section questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
3 October 2026
The Prime Minister congratulated Aman Sehrawat on 3 October 2026 for winning India's first-ever Asian Games gold in the men's 57 kg freestyle wrestling event.
Aman won bronze at the last Asian Games and reached the top of the podium this time.
The Prime Minister said Aman showed great tenacity.
The Prime Minister also congratulated Deepak Punia on bronze in the men's 97 kg freestyle event, India's first podium finish in that weight at the Asian Games in six decades.
Event:
Men's 57 kg freestyle wrestling
Previous Asian Games medal (Aman):
Bronze
Why it matters for exams: Sportspersons and firsts at the Asian Games are regular sports-section questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
3 October 2026
The Prime Minister congratulated Pranavi Sharath Urs on 3 October 2026 for winning India's first-ever Asian Games gold in women's individual golf.
He said her superb finish gave the country a sporting moment to remember.
He hoped the win would draw more young Indians to the game and inspire them to aim for the top.
Event:
Women's individual golf
Why it matters for exams: First-ever medals in a sport at the Asian Games are typical sports-section questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Reserve Bank of India, Act,1934 was amended in 2016 to provide a statutory basis for the implementation of the flexible inflation targeting framework.
Section 45ZB of the amended Act provides for an empowered six-member Monetary Policy Committee to be constituted by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette.
Three of the six come from the Reserve Bank: the Governor as ex officio Chairperson, the Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy, and one officer of the Reserve Bank nominated by the Central Board.
The remaining three are appointed members, who hold office for a period of four years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The Committee determines the policy repo rate required to achieve the inflation target.
It is required to meet at least four times in a year, and the quorum for a meeting is four members.
Each member has one vote, and in the event of an equality of votes the Governor has a second or casting vote.
Each member writes a statement specifying the reasons for voting in favour of, or against, the proposed resolution.
Enabling provision:
Section 45ZB
Composition:
six-member Monetary Policy Committee
Quorum for a meeting:
four members
Minimum meetings:
at least four times in a year
Term of appointed members:
four years
Tie-breaker:
casting vote
Why it matters for exams: The size, quorum, term and casting vote of the Monetary Policy Committee are fixed statutory facts that banking and economy papers ask repeatedly.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MPC Monetary Policy Committee — The statutory committee that fixes the policy repo rate to meet India's inflation target.
Quorum Quorum — The minimum number of members who must be present for a meeting to transact business.
Background
LVM3 is configured as a three stage vehicle with two solid strap-on motors (S200), one liquid core stage (L110) and a high thrust cryogenic upper stage (C25).
Each S200 strap-on booster is a 3.2 m diameter motor loaded with 205 tonnes of HTPB based propellant, and the S200 was developed at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
The liquid L110 stage uses a twin liquid engine configuration with 115 tonnes of liquid propellant and is powered by two Vikas engines, developed at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
The C25 cryogenic upper stage carries 28 tonnes of LOX + LH2 and is powered by CE-20, India's largest cryogenic engine.
The overall length of the vehicle is 43.5 m with a gross lift-off weight of 640 tonnes and a 5m-diameter payload fairing.
Its stated capability is 4,000 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit and 8,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit.
The vehicle takes off with the simultaneous ignition of the two S200 boosters; the core L110 stage is ignited at about 113s through the flight and the C25 at 313s.
The payload fairing is separated at an altitude of 115 km.
Stage configuration:
2S200 + L110 + C25
Overall length:
43.5 m
Lift-off weight:
640 tonnes
Payload to GTO:
4,000 kg
Payload to Low Earth Orbit:
8,000 kg
Cryogenic engine:
CE-20
Why it matters for exams: Stage names, propellant loads and payload capacity of LVM3 are the standard comparison asked against India's other launch vehicles.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
GTO Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit — The elliptical orbit from which a satellite raises itself to a geosynchronous orbit using its own motor.
HTPB Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene — The solid propellant binder used in the S200 boosters.