5 October 2026
Former Supreme Court judge Rohinton Nariman said on 4 October 2026 that the right to vote, which he called the heart of the Constitution and of democracy, is at great peril.
He was speaking on 'The Constitution and the Common Man' at Rajkumar College, Rajkot.
He said 90 lakh voters were removed from the electoral rolls in West Bengal during the Special Intensive Revision, that some 22 lakh voters filed appeals, and that of the roughly 1 lakh appeals decided so far, 93 per cent were decided in the voters' favour.
He described the government-controlled appointment of Election Commissioners as a red flag, and noted that two Election Commissioners who objected to decisions of the Chief Election Commissioner took no action under Section 18 of the 2023 Act.
He criticised the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, which replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Cabinet Minister on the selection committee, and recalled Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023).
He urged the Supreme Court's Constitution Bench to decide the validity of the appointment process promptly.
Voters removed in West Bengal:
90 lakh
Appeals filed:
about 22 lakh
Appeals decided so far:
about 1 lakh
Share of decided appeals allowed in the voter's favour:
93 per cent
Venue:
Rajkumar College, Rajkot
Why it matters for exams: Links the 2023 appointments law, the Anoop Baranwal judgment and the Special Intensive Revision in one question-ready chain.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
SIR Special Intensive Revision — An intensive door-to-door revision of electoral rolls ordered by the Election Commission.
Constitution Bench — A Supreme Court bench of at least five judges that hears substantial questions of constitutional law.
Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India — The 2023 Supreme Court judgment that laid down how Election Commissioners should be appointed.
5 October 2026
Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a public sector enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy, celebrated its Diamond Jubilee Year on 4 October 2026, six decades after its incorporation on 4 October 1967.
The celebrations at Jaduguda were attended as Chief Guest by Ms. Seema Jain, Member-Finance of the Atomic Energy Commission.
She visited the Technology Demonstration Pilot Plant and the proposed new site of the Dark Matter Laboratory at the 815-metre level of the Jaduguda underground mine. The laboratory belongs to the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, an aided institution of the Department of Atomic Energy.
A first-of-its-kind Journalists' Workshop was held at the Information Centre, Narwapahar, along with a DAE Technology Exhibition for school students.
Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, sent greetings; the gathering paid homage to Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha and the pioneers of India's uranium mining capability.
Incorporated on:
4 October 1967
Depth of the proposed Dark Matter Laboratory:
815-metre level
Chief Guest:
Ms. Seema Jain, Member-Finance, Atomic Energy Commission
Venue:
Jaduguda
Why it matters for exams: UCIL, Jaduguda and the Dark Matter Laboratory are standard atomic-energy questions, and the 815-metre depth is a ready one-liner.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
UCIL Uranium Corporation of India Limited — The public sector company that mines and processes uranium ore for India's nuclear power programme.
DAE Department of Atomic Energy — The central department, under the Prime Minister, that runs India's atomic energy programme.
Dark Matter Laboratory — An underground laboratory sited deep in a mine so that rock shields the detectors from cosmic rays.
5 October 2026
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has seized a cumulative 15.59 kg of amphetamine, cocaine and heroin in three intelligence-led operations conducted on 29 and 30 September 2026. Five persons were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
On 30 September, DRI and the Central Bureau of Narcotics signalled a Mahindra Thar to stop at the Ujjain-Dewas Toll Plaza in Madhya Pradesh. The driver broke through the barricade and was intercepted after a chase of about 1.5 hours near Bicholi Mardana, Indore. Twenty-one packets holding 7.116 kg gross of amphetamine were recovered from the spare tyre mounted on the rear door, and all three occupants were arrested.
On 29 September, a passenger arriving from Doha at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, was found carrying seven chocolate tubes that were heavier than their marked weight; they held 207 capsules with 4.9 kg gross of cocaine.
In the third operation on 29 September, officers watching vehicles near Phillaur on the outskirts of Jalandhar, Punjab, recovered 3.574 kg of heroin from a passenger travelling in a rental car-pooling taxi.
The Directorate said the three cases show diverse trafficking routes and new concealment methods.
Total seized:
15.59 kg
Amphetamine from the spare tyre:
7.116 kg (gross)
Cocaine in chocolate tubes:
4.9 kg (gross)
Heroin near Phillaur:
3.574 kg
Arrested:
5
Why it matters for exams: DRI, the Central Bureau of Narcotics and the NDPS Act, 1985 are the three names asked together in enforcement questions.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
DRI Directorate of Revenue Intelligence — The central agency under the Department of Revenue that investigates smuggling and customs offences.
CBN Central Bureau of Narcotics — The central agency that controls licensed opium cultivation and enforces narcotics law.
NDPS Act, 1985 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — The law that bans the production, sale and transport of listed narcotic drugs in India.
5 October 2026
MY Bharat and its partner organisations held the 'Walk for Nasha Mukt Yuva' on 4 October 2026 at more than 150 locations across the country, with over 1 lakh youth and citizens taking part.
The walk is part of the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat' Abhiyan of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Participants joined walks of 3 to 5 km along with Nukkad Nataks, slogan writing, heritage walks and other youth-led awareness activities.
Several programmes also administered the Nasha Mukt Yuva Pledge, by which participants committed to staying away from substance abuse.
Dignitaries who took part included 2 Lieutenant Governors, 1 Cabinet Minister, 8 Members of Parliament and 8 Members of Legislative Assemblies.
Participants:
over 1 lakh
Locations:
more than 150
Length of the walks:
3-5 km
Members of Parliament who joined:
8
Why it matters for exams: MY Bharat and the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Abhiyan are named in scheme questions, and the figures are clean.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
MY Bharat Mera Yuva Bharat — An autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports that is the government's platform for youth volunteering.
Nukkad Natak — A street play performed in a public place to carry a social message.
5 October 2026
Officers of the Air Intelligence Unit of Chennai Customs intercepted a male passenger who arrived at Chennai International Airport from Bangkok on 2 October 2026, acting on passenger profiling.
The passenger tried to leave through the Green Channel without making any declaration to Customs.
Examination of his checked-in baggage produced 26 transparent airtight packets of dried flowering and fruiting tops of a plant, concealed inside Thai food packets. The contraband is suspected to be high-grade hydroponically cultivated cannabis.
The net weight was 15.02 kilograms and the material tested positive for ganja using a Narcotic Drug Detection Kit. Its illicit market value is about Rs.5.26 Crores.
The seizure was made under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985; the passenger was arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
Chennai Customs warned young people against offers of sponsored foreign travel in return for carrying unknown baggage home.
Net weight seized:
15.02 kilograms
Packets recovered:
26
Illicit market value:
Rs.5.26 Crores
Flight origin:
Bangkok
Why it matters for exams: The Green Channel, the Air Intelligence Unit and the NDPS Act appear together in customs and enforcement questions.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
Green Channel — The airport exit lane meant for passengers who have nothing dutiable or prohibited to declare.
Air Intelligence Unit — The Customs team at an airport that works on intelligence and passenger profiling to spot smuggling.
Hydroponic cultivation — Growing plants in a nutrient solution instead of soil, often indoors under controlled light.
5 October 2026
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram announced on 5 October 2026 that the Government of India would spend about 10 crore on the expansion and facilities of the Eklavya Model Residential School at Khatima.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the three-day Uttarakhand Adi Rangotsav at Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district, alongside Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
The tender process for a hostel costing about 4 crore has been completed and construction will begin soon. The school will hold 480 students in all, 240 boys and 240 girls, which is also the standard capacity of an Eklavya Model Residential School.
The Minister noted that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs was created in 1999, and that the Khatima school has a 100 per cent examination pass rate; similar schools run at Bajpur, Chakrata and Kalsi in Uttarakhand.
Artists at the Adi Rangotsav presented the traditions of tribal communities including the Tharu, Boksa, Jaunsari and Raji.
Announced for school expansion:
about 10 crore
Cost of the planned hostel:
about 4 crore
Total student capacity:
480 (240 boys and 240 girls)
District:
Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand
Why it matters for exams: Fixes the standard EMRS capacity of 480 and the 1999 creation of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs with a live announcement.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
EMRS Eklavya Model Residential School — A residential school scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for Scheduled Tribe children in remote areas.
Adi Rangotsav — A tribal performing-arts festival organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
4 October 2026
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan addressed the Mahaparva Kshamapana Ceremony - 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 4 October 2026. It was organised by the Bhagwan Mahavir Memorial Committee and Jain Mahasabha Delhi.
He said forgiveness means choosing reform over revenge, dialogue over hatred and reconciliation over hostility, and that Ahimsa means the absence of violence in thought, word and deed.
He said Kshamapana is not merely a ritual but an opportunity for transformation of the human heart, and that the spirit of Pratikraman can help individuals and families acknowledge mistakes and resolve conflicts.
He linked the Jain teaching of friendship with all living beings and enmity towards none to the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, and recalled the contribution of Jain scholars and monks to classical Tamil literature.
On Viksit Bharat @ 2047 he said a truly developed India must have trust among citizens, values in families, character among youth and compassion in society, in keeping with 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi'.
He presented the Jain Samaj Ratna Award to K. C. Jain. Governor of Punjab Gulab Chand Kataria was among those present.
Venue:
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
Organisers:
Bhagwan Mahavir Memorial Committee and Jain Mahasabha Delhi
Jain Samaj Ratna Award presented to:
K. C. Jain
Why it matters for exams: Pairs the Jain concepts of Kshamapana, Pratikraman and Ahimsa with the Vice-President's current engagements.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Kshamapana — The Jain practice of asking for and granting forgiveness, observed as a festival of reconciliation.
Pratikraman — A Jain practice of reviewing one's conduct and repenting for faults.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — A Sanskrit maxim meaning the world is one family.
3 October 2026
The Army leg of the Defence Correspondents Course 2026 commenced at Tezpur with an address by the Corps Commander, which set the context for the participants' engagement with the Indian Army.
The inaugural address was followed by a welcome address by the Deputy General Officer Commanding of the 5 Mountain Division.
An orientation briefing by the Colonel General Staff took the defence correspondents through the programme, its training objectives and the broad framework of the Army leg.
A session on the 1962 operations gave participants historical context and an appreciation of the challenges of mountain warfare.
The discussion covered operational lessons and the importance of terrain, logistics and the circumstances surrounding military decisions when past campaigns are examined.
Venue of the Army leg:
Tezpur
Formation hosting it:
5 Mountain Division
Campaign studied in the session:
the 1962 operations
Why it matters for exams: Places the 5 Mountain Division and Tezpur on the map and ties them to the 1962 operations and mountain warfare.
UPSCSSC
In plain words
Defence Correspondents Course — A Ministry of Defence course that takes journalists through the working of the armed forces.
Corps Commander — The officer, usually a Lieutenant General, who commands an Army corps.
Mountain Division — An Army division trained and equipped to fight in high-altitude mountain terrain.
Background
UCIL, which marked its Diamond Jubilee Year at Jaduguda this week, is a public sector enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy, and this is the structure above it.
The Department of Atomic Energy was established on 3 August 1954 and works under the direct charge of the Prime Minister.
The Atomic Energy Commission was established on 1 March 1958 through a Government Resolution, which Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru later placed before Parliament.
Under that resolution the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Atomic Energy is ex-officio Chairman of the Commission. Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty holds that post.
Its ex-officio members include the National Security Advisor, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Secretary, the Foreign Secretary, the Secretary of the Department of Expenditure and the Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
Appointed members include Ms Seema Jain as Member-Finance, Prof. P. Rama Rao, Dr Anil Kakodkar and Dr Ravi B. Grover; Dr Deep Prakash is Scientific Secretary.
Department of Atomic Energy established:
3 August 1954
Atomic Energy Commission established:
1 March 1958
Ex-officio Chairman:
Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy
Scientific Secretary:
Dr Deep Prakash
Why it matters for exams: The ex-officio chairmanship and the 1954 and 1958 dates are the two facts examiners take from this structure.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Ex-officio — Holding a position automatically because of another office one already holds.
BARC Bhabha Atomic Research Centre — India's principal nuclear research centre, at Trombay in Mumbai.
Government Resolution — An executive order of the Union government that sets up a body without a separate Act of Parliament.
Background
The 10 crore announced for the Khatima school this week is spent by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and this is how that ministry and its school scheme are built.
A separate Ministry of Tribal Affairs was created after Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister in 1999, to work systematically on the overall development of tribal communities.
Its stated purpose covered communities such as the Tharu, Boksa and Jaunsari.
The standard capacity of an Eklavya Model Residential School is 480 students, and at Khatima that is split as 240 boys and 240 girls.
In Uttarakhand such schools run at Khatima, Bajpur, Chakrata and the Kalsi area of Dehradun.
Separate ministry created:
1999
Standard capacity of an Eklavya school:
480 students
Split at Khatima:
240 boys and 240 girls
Why it matters for exams: The 1999 creation of the ministry and the 480-student standard capacity are the two facts asked about this scheme.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
EMRS Eklavya Model Residential School — A residential school of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for Scheduled Tribe children.
Scheduled Tribe ST — A community listed in the Presidential order under Article 342 of the Constitution.
Nodal ministry — The one ministry made responsible for a subject across the government.