5 October 2026
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana heard pleas against decisions of the Election Commission of India.
The CJI said: "Any modified Form 6 has not been approved by us."
The Election Commission had claimed that the modified Form 6 declaration was covered by the Court's May 2026 Bihar SIR judgment.
The Court issued notice to the Election Commission and the Centre.
It declined to suspend Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, noting that this would disrupt the functioning of elections.
The Court said it would examine the Election Commission's decisions and annul those that violate legal requirements.
Bench:
CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Justice V Mohana
Case:
Shailendra Mani Tripathi v. Union of India, W.P.(Crl.) No. 401/2026
Notice issued to:
Election Commission of India and the Centre
Why it matters for exams: Links the statutory form for enrolling as an elector to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and the limits on the Election Commission's rule-making power.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Form 6 Application form for inclusion in the electoral roll — The statutory form a citizen fills to be enrolled as a voter.
SIR Special Intensive Revision — An intensive update of the electoral rolls carried out by the Election Commission.
2 October 2026
The Government has extended the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme up to 31st December 2026.
The extension is through Notification No. 41/2026-27 dated 30th September 2026.
The scheme refunds embedded, un-rebated Central, State and local duties, taxes and levies borne on exported products.
DTA units, Advance Authorisation holders, SEZ units and EOUs are covered.
RoDTEP rates and value caps in Appendix 4R and Appendix 4RE as on 30th September 2026 remain unchanged.
Extended up to:
31st December 2026
Notification:
No. 41/2026-27 dated 30th September 2026
Why it matters for exams: Links export-incentive design to WTO-compatible tax refunds, a recurring economy topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
RoDTEP Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products — A scheme that refunds embedded duties and taxes on exported goods.
SEZ Special Economic Zone — A designated duty-free enclave for export-oriented production.
5 October 2026
India and Switzerland exchanged five agreements during the state visit of Swiss President Guy Parmelin, in talks with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
The Migration and Mobility Partnership provides multiple-entry visas valid for up to 5 years, with stays of up to 6 months per visit, and renewable 1-year student permits.
The Young Professionals Scheme covers 300 people per country each year, expandable to 500, with 30/90-day timelines for verifying nationality and residence.
A transport MoU covers electric vehicles, ropeways, the circular economy and tunnels.
The Department of Science and Technology signed a Letter of Intent with the Swiss National Science Foundation and an implementation agreement with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences.
The talks also looked back at the India-EFTA TEPA, which the leaders say targets $100 billion of investment and one million direct jobs in India over 15 years.
Visa validity:
Up to 5 years (multiple-entry)
Stay per visit:
Up to 6 months
Young Professionals Scheme:
300 per country a year, expandable to 500
Investment target (TEPA):
$100 billion in 15 years
Why it matters for exams: Bilateral agreements, visa and mobility frameworks and the EFTA trade pact are staple topics in International Relations.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
TEPA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement — India's trade pact with the four EFTA states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
DST Department of Science and Technology — The Union department that signed the research and startup-training pacts with Swiss partners.
5 October 2026
An India-born female cheetah, KJP21, has given birth to 5 healthy cubs at Kuno National Park.
KJP21 is 32 months old and is the third Indian-born female to give birth, after Mukhi and KGP12.
The cubs' father is a Botswanan male cheetah, so they begin the Botswanan lineage in India.
India's cheetah population has reached 60, of which 41 are Indian-born.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Bhupender Yadav is the Union Minister.
Cubs born:
5
Cheetah population in India:
60
Indian-born cheetahs:
41
Mother's age:
32 months (KJP21)
Why it matters for exams: Project Cheetah and Kuno National Park recur in environment and wildlife-conservation questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Project Cheetah Cheetah reintroduction project — India's programme to reintroduce the cheetah, with Kuno National Park as its site in this release.
5 October 2026
The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science & Technology, signed an agreement with BigEndian Semiconductors of Bengaluru.
It will provide ₹130 crore in financial assistance against a total project cost of ₹260 crore.
The VeerAI project aims to take an indigenous AI Vision System-on-Chip from TRL-5 to TRL-9.
The funding is through Optional Convertible Debt (OCD), under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund.
The camera-focused chip targets surveillance, especially CCTV systems, first, and later defence, automotive, industrial and medical uses.
TDB assistance:
₹130 crore
Total project cost:
₹260 crore
Project:
VeerAI
Readiness target:
TRL-5 to TRL-9
Why it matters for exams: Semiconductor self-reliance and the role of the Technology Development Board are common Science & Technology and economy topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SoC System-on-Chip — A single chip that carries the main functions of a system.
TRL Technology Readiness Level — A scale that rates how mature a technology is, from TRL-1 to TRL-9.
5 October 2026
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will launch the first Fleet Support Ship, FSS-1, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, on 6 October.
He will also lay the keel for FSS-5.
FSS-1 is a 43,500-tonne ship and will be launched 18 months after steel cutting.
Five fleet support ships are planned for the Indian Navy.
The minister will also inaugurate Upgraded Slipway-4, for ships of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes, and a 300-tonne Goliath crane.
FSS-1 size:
43,500 tonnes
Fleet support ships planned:
Five
Upgraded Slipway-4:
Up to 45,000 DWT
Goliath crane:
300 tonnes
Why it matters for exams: Indigenous shipbuilding and Navy capability additions appear regularly in defence current affairs.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DWT Deadweight tonnage — The weight a ship can carry, including cargo, fuel and stores.
Keel Keel laying — The ceremonial start of a ship's construction by laying its main structural beam.
5 October 2026
A study at the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar, looked at about 38 children aged 6 to 14 years over 8 weeks.
The group on medicine alone showed about 38 per cent improvement.
The group that combined medicine with yoga showed about 70 per cent improvement.
Memory improved by about 61 per cent in the combined group, with irritability down about 66 per cent and hyperactivity down about 71 per cent.
The findings were published in the AYU journal; the Ministry of Ayush released them on 5 October. This is a small study, not clinical advice.
Children studied:
About 38, aged 6-14 years
Duration:
8 weeks
Medicine only:
About 38 per cent improvement
Medicine plus yoga:
About 70 per cent improvement
Why it matters for exams: AYUSH research institutes and evidence for traditional medicine appear in Health and Science & Technology current affairs.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ITRA Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda — The Ministry of Ayush institute at Jamnagar that conducted the study.
Background
Article 124 of the Constitution states that there shall be a Supreme Court of India, and the Court came into existence on 26 January 1950 with the coming into force of the Constitution. The original Constitution of 1950 envisaged a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and 7 puisne Judges, leaving it to Parliament to increase this number. Considering the increase in workload, Parliament increased the number of Judges from 8 in 1950 to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978, 26 in 1986, 31 in 2009 and 34 in 2019. The Supreme Court accordingly comprises the Chief Justice of India and not more than 33 other Judges appointed by the President of India. In the early years all the Judges sat together to hear cases. Today the Judges sit in Benches of two and three and come together in larger Benches of 5 and more — a Constitution Bench — to decide any conflicting decisions between benches of the Supreme Court or any substantial questions concerning the interpretation of the Constitution. The proceedings of the Supreme Court are conducted in English, and its practice and procedure are regulated by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013.
Judges other than the Chief Justice of India:
not more than 33
Strength envisaged by the original Constitution:
Chief Justice and 7 puisne Judges
Minimum size of a Constitution Bench:
5
Article that establishes the Court:
Article 124
Why it matters for exams: The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court and the minimum size of a Constitution Bench are among the most frequently asked factual questions on the higher judiciary.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Puisne Judge — A Judge of the Court other than the Chief Justice.
Constitution Bench — A bench of five or more Judges of the Supreme Court that decides substantial questions of constitutional interpretation or conflicts between benches.
Sanctioned strength — The maximum number of Judges the Court may have, fixed by Parliament.
Background
The Ministry of Defence describes the Andaman and Nicobar Command as the only operational joint services command of the country — a single command in which the Army, the Navy and the Air Force serve under one operational head. Its head is designated Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command, abbreviated CINCAN. Since its inception in 2001 the Command has significantly enhanced its operational capabilities. Its Joint Operations Centre is the nerve centre for integrated planning for surveillance, conduct of operations and logistic support. The Command guards the islands and the Exclusive Economic Zone around them, and carries out humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Because of the geo-strategic position of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Command carries forward the Government's Act East Policy and the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region, abbreviated SAGAR, by building ties with the country's maritime neighbours. Among the air assets inducted into the Command is the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter MK III, a maritime-role variant built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which was formally inducted at INS Utkrosh.
Inception:
2001
Designation of its head:
Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN)
Status:
Only operational joint services command of the country
Nerve centre for integrated planning:
Joint Operations Centre
Why it matters for exams: Jointness between the three Services is a standing theme in defence questions, and the Andaman and Nicobar Command is the one existing example an examiner can point to.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
CINCAN Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command — The designation of the officer who heads the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
SAGAR Security and Growth for All in the Region — India's stated maritime vision for cooperation with countries of the Indian Ocean region.
Exclusive Economic Zone — The sea belt beyond the territorial sea in which a coastal state has rights over resources.
Joint services command — A command in which units of the Army, Navy and Air Force operate under one commander.
Background
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is the defence research and development agency of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). It began as a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories. Today DRDO is a network of around 41 laboratories together with 05 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs), working across disciplines that include aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing and simulation, special materials, naval systems, life sciences, training, information systems and agriculture. Among the systems it has developed indigenously are the Agni and Prithvi series of missiles, the light combat aircraft Tejas, the multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka and the air defence system Akash. Its motto is Balasya Mulam Vigyanam, which the organisation renders as the source of strength is science.
Formed:
1958
Establishments or laboratories at formation:
10
Laboratories now:
around 41
DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories:
05
Why it matters for exams: The year DRDO was formed, the bodies it was formed from and the size of its laboratory network are recurring one-mark questions in both state and central examinations.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
DRDO Defence Research and Development Organisation — The defence research and development agency of the Ministry of Defence.
DTDP Directorate of Technical Development and Production — One of the bodies merged in 1958 to create DRDO.
DSO Defence Science Organisation — The defence science body merged with the Army's technical establishments to form DRDO.
DYSL DRDO Young Scientist Laboratory — A DRDO laboratory headed by a young scientist and devoted to an emerging technology area.