4 October 2026
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar briefed a parliamentary consultative committee on India-Russia relations on Saturday (October 3, 2026).
He said Russia has agreed to take around 70,000 Indian skilled workers this year, especially in construction and logistics.
He spoke of expanding bilateral trade in a balanced manner, with greater Indian exports to Russia in seven areas: auto, pharma, food, marine products, engineering goods, chemicals and textiles.
On energy, he said India's priority is to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers, and its approach is to maintain multiple sources of supply.
He told the panel that around 140 Indian nationals serving in the Russian military have been discharged so far.
Skilled workers Russia will take this year:
around 70,000
Export areas named:
7
Indians discharged from Russian military:
around 140
Why it matters for exams: Bilateral agreements, labour mobility and energy diversification are standard India-and-another-country topics in current affairs papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Consultative committee Parliamentary Consultative Committee — A forum of MPs from both Houses attached to a ministry to discuss policy informally with the minister.
Bilateral trade Bilateral trade — Trade between two countries.
4 October 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin made the remarks on Thursday (October 1, 2026) at the annual foreign policy speech at the Valdai Discussion Club plenary session.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'constantly raises the question' of putting an end to the conflict in Ukraine and has 'very good ideas' aimed at mutually acceptable solutions.
Putin said the Prime Minister takes a neutral position but with an interest in the end of the conflict, and thanked him for his ideas.
On August 31, 2026, in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders' summit, Modi had urged Putin to move from 'endless war' to 'end of war'.
The remark also came up when External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar briefed a parliamentary consultative committee on October 3, 2026.
Venue of Putin's remarks:
Valdai Discussion Club
Modi-Putin meeting, 2026:
August 31, Bishkek
Why it matters for exams: India's stated position on the Russia-Ukraine war and its summit diplomacy (SCO, Valdai) are recurring international-relations questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SCO Shanghai Cooperation Organisation — A Eurasian political, economic and security grouping whose leaders meet at an annual summit.
Valdai Discussion Club Valdai Discussion Club — A Russian forum where the President addresses an annual plenary on foreign policy.
4 October 2026
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P. K. Mishra spoke at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave, whose theme is 'Resilience in an Age of Flux', on Saturday (October 3, 2026).
In a session titled 'A World Priced for Risk', he said export restrictions, sanctions and tariffs become instruments of economic policy and are sometimes even weaponised.
He called the disruption around the Strait of Hormuz a clear reminder of how geography can translate into economic risk.
He said India has maintained substantial stocks, increased domestic production where possible and diversified procurement.
The number of countries from which India imports crude oil has increased from 27 to 43, he said.
Crude supplier countries (before):
27
Crude supplier countries (now):
43
Conclave edition:
5th
Why it matters for exams: Energy security, supply-chain resilience and trade weaponisation are central economy and international-relations themes.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Strait of Hormuz Strait of Hormuz — A narrow sea passage at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which much of the world's oil moves.
Weaponisation of trade Weaponisation of trade — Using tariffs, sanctions or export curbs as tools of strategic pressure.
4 October 2026
India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi spoke at the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026 in Dhaka on Saturday (October 3, 2026).
On the extradition of Bangladesh's deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said a legal process is in place and 'nobody can give you a time frame'.
He said India had 'hardly any choice' in accepting Hasina in August 2024, when she was still Prime Minister, and that she was not brought to India by the Indian Air Force or Army.
The Bay of Bengal Conversation is an annual conclave organised by the Dhaka-based Centre for Governance Studies; Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman gave the opening remarks.
India and Bangladesh signed an extradition treaty in 2013, which lists grounds on which extradition may be halted, including 'offence of a political character'.
India-Bangladesh extradition treaty:
2013
Venue of the conclave:
Dhaka
Why it matters for exams: Extradition treaties and India's neighbourhood diplomacy are common topics; the 2013 India-Bangladesh treaty is a ready fact.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Extradition Extradition — The formal handing over of a person to another country to face trial or punishment.
High Commissioner High Commissioner — The head of a diplomatic mission between Commonwealth countries, equivalent to an ambassador.
4 October 2026
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of concerns over the fate and relocation of the 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library (CSL) in New Delhi.
The library is housed in Shastri Bhawan, which is slated for demolition under the Central Vista redevelopment project.
The matter is listed for hearing on October 5, 2026 before a bench of Justices P. V. Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva.
CSL functions under the Union Ministry of Culture, was set up in 1891 as the Imperial Secretariat Library in Calcutta, and has been at Shastri Bhawan since 1969; it holds more than 8.5 lakh volumes.
The Directorate of Estates proposed about 300 square metres at Kartavya Bhawan-2, while the Culture Ministry had sought about 5,466 square metres.
Library age:
135 years
Collection:
more than 8.5 lakh volumes
Hearing date:
October 5, 2026
Why it matters for exams: Suo motu jurisdiction, the Central Vista project and heritage institutions combine polity and culture in one fact set.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Suo motu Suo motu — Latin for 'on its own motion'; a court acting without a petition being filed.
Central Vista Central Vista redevelopment — The project redeveloping the central government's administrative area in New Delhi.
4 October 2026
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will hold Chintan Shivir 2026 on 5-6 October 2026 at Ekta Nagar, Narmada District, Gujarat.
It brings together senior representatives of the Centre, States and implementing agencies to discuss highway infrastructure delivery.
The inaugural session on 5 October will feature addresses by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Ministers of State Ajay Tamta and Harsh Malhotra.
There will be five thematic sessions: PM GatiShakti and integrated infrastructure planning; Land Acquisition and Bhoomi Rashi; Model Concession Agreements and Ratings; Designing Safe Highways; and Quality Assurance and Project Monitoring.
State Road Transport and Public Works Ministers and senior officials of State PWDs have been invited.
Dates:
5-6 October 2026
Venue:
Ekta Nagar, Narmada District, Gujarat
Thematic sessions:
5
Why it matters for exams: PM GatiShakti and Centre-State coordination on highways are regular infrastructure and governance topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Chintan Shivir Chintan Shivir — A brainstorming conclave where officials and ministers deliberate on a policy area.
PM GatiShakti PM GatiShakti National Master Plan — A platform for coordinated and integrated planning of infrastructure projects.
PWD Public Works Department — The State department that builds and maintains roads and public buildings.
4 October 2026
Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra spoke at the Kautilya Economic Conclave, organised by the Finance Ministry.
He said the AI investment cycle has been a major support for global markets, but any slowdown in investment or earnings could trigger a sharp repricing of financial assets.
He named five major risks: stretched AI valuations, elevated global debt, leverage in non-bank finance, private credit and cyber threats.
A correction in AI-related valuations in advanced economies could have a positive spillover for emerging markets such as India through higher capital inflows, he said.
He also flagged that bond yields are hardening globally, which has implications for real interest rates in India.
Major global risks named:
5
Why it matters for exams: RBI's financial-stability assessments and global risk factors are regular banking and economy topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
Repricing Repricing of assets — A sharp change in the market value of assets.
Bond yield Bond yield — The return an investor earns on a bond; it rises as bond prices fall.
Capital inflows Capital inflows — Foreign money entering a country's markets or economy.
4 October 2026
The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) Rajasthan Unit, under the Ministry of Finance, held awareness programmes in opium cultivation areas.
The programmes marked National Anti-Drug Addiction Day and the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
At the University of Kota, a session was held under Operation Yuva Raksha, with Deputy Narcotics Commissioner Naresh Bundel as Chief Guest.
Programmes for opium cultivators were also held by the district offices at Kota, Jhalawar, Bhilwara and Chittorgarh.
Participants took the 'Oath for an Addiction-Free India' and pledged to spread awareness in their communities.
Campaign under which Kota University session held:
Operation Yuva Raksha
Why it matters for exams: Agencies under the Finance Ministry and anti-drug campaigns are routine governance and general-awareness questions.
Kerala PSCSSC
In plain words
CBN Central Bureau of Narcotics — A Finance Ministry agency that works in the field of narcotics control, including opium cultivation areas.
Background
The Union Cabinet approved the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in the rank of a four-star General on 24 December 2019.
The CDS heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), created within the Ministry of Defence, and functions as its Secretary.
The CDS is also the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Principal Military Adviser to the Raksha Mantri on all tri-Services matters.
The CDS does not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so that impartial advice can be given to the political leadership.
The DMA's mandate includes promoting jointness and facilitating the restructuring of Military Commands, including through the establishment of joint or theatre commands.
Rank of the post:
Four-star General
Department headed:
Department of Military Affairs
Role on the Chiefs of Staff Committee:
Permanent Chairman
Why it matters for exams: The CDS's role, the Department of Military Affairs and the theatre command idea recur in defence and polity papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DMA Department of Military Affairs — The department within the Ministry of Defence headed by the CDS, dealing with the three Services.
Theatre command Joint or integrated command — A single command that brings Army, Navy and Air Force assets in a region under one commander.
Background
The Indian Antarctic programme began in 1981 and has built three permanent research base stations: Dakshin Gangotri (1983), Maitri (1988) and Bharati (2012).
Dakshin Gangotri was set up over the ice shelf in the Central Dronning Maud Land region and was abandoned in 1990 as it got buried under snow.
Maitri stands in the Schirmacher Oasis of East Antarctica and has operated since 1988.
Bharati, operational since March 2012, is located in the Larsemann Hills.
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, manages the entire Indian Antarctic programme.
Dakshin Gangotri:
1983, abandoned in 1990
Maitri:
1988, Schirmacher Oasis
Bharati:
2012, Larsemann Hills
Managing body:
NCPOR, Goa
Why it matters for exams: The names, order and locations of India's Antarctic stations are a standard science and geography question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NCPOR National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research — The Goa-based institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences that runs India's polar programme.