5 October 2026
The President, exercising powers under the Constitution of India, appointed three High Court Chief Justices as Judges of the Supreme Court of India.
They are Justice Sunita Agarwal (Chief Justice, Gujarat High Court), Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya (Chief Justice, Delhi High Court) and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh (Chief Justice, Telangana High Court).
The Ministry of Law and Justice lists their parent High Courts as Allahabad, Allahabad and Jharkhand respectively.
The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended the three names at its meeting on 28 September 2026.
Appointed by:
President of India
Number appointed:
3
Collegium recommendation:
28 September 2026
Why it matters for exams: Appointments to the Supreme Court and the role of the Collegium are staple polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Collegium Supreme Court Collegium — The forum of the Chief Justice of India and senior-most judges that recommends judicial appointments.
PHC Parent High Court — The High Court in which a judge was originally appointed.
5 October 2026
On 30 September 2026 Japan's Ambassador to India, Keiichi Ono, and the then MoEFCC Secretary, Tanmay Kumar, jointly launched the Operational Manual for the India-Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) in New Delhi.
The mechanism aims to promote low-carbon technologies, mobilise climate finance and support emission reductions and removals in India.
It operationalises bilateral cooperation under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.
A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed on 7 August 2025 and the Rule of Implementation was adopted on 8 June 2026.
The manual covers the whole project cycle, from a Project Idea Note to the issuance and authorisation of JCM credits.
Launched on:
30 September 2026
Legal basis:
Article 6.2, Paris Agreement
MoC signed:
7 August 2025
Why it matters for exams: India-Japan agreements and Paris Agreement Article 6 carbon-market mechanisms are recurring environment and international-relations topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
JCM Joint Crediting Mechanism — A bilateral scheme under which emission reductions achieved by projects are credited between the two countries.
MoEFCC Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — The Union ministry responsible for environment and climate policy.
5 October 2026
The National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI released the key findings of the first-ever National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), conducted from July 2025 to June 2026.
The survey covered 14,274 villages and 10,377 urban blocks and collected data from 4,92,023 households and 20,34,371 persons.
Two-wheelers are the main mode for 42.6% of workers commuting to a fixed workplace; 87.6% of students reach school within 30 minutes.
The average monthly commuting cost is ₹785 per worker, with urban workers paying ₹1,044 against ₹612 for rural workers.
A trip is counted only if it covers more than 1 km.
Survey period:
July 2025 – June 2026
Households covered:
4,92,023
Workers by two-wheeler:
42.6%
Average monthly commute cost:
₹785
Why it matters for exams: New national surveys and their headline indicators are favourite statistics and reports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
NSO National Statistics Office — The agency under MoSPI that conducts national sample surveys and releases official statistics.
MoSPI Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation — The Union ministry responsible for official statistics.
5 October 2026
Citizens have visited the Sanchar Saathi portal more than 30 crore times since its launch in May 2023, the Department of Telecommunications said.
The portal has blocked 60.96 lakh lost or stolen handsets; 37.85 lakh were traced and over 14 lakh recovered.
The Chakshu facility received 12.80 lakh inputs on suspected fraud communication, leading to action in 59.82 lakh cases, including disconnection of more than 50 lakh mobile connections.
Suspected cyber-fraud losses of more than ₹5,000 crore have been prevented through the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI).
Portal visits:
30 crore+
Handsets blocked:
60.96 lakh
Connections disconnected:
50 lakh+
Losses prevented via FRI:
₹5,000 crore+
Why it matters for exams: Digital governance platforms and cyber-fraud safeguards are common current-affairs and science-tech questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Chakshu Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi — The facility for reporting suspected fraud calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages.
FRI Financial Fraud Risk Indicator — A risk signal used to flag mobile numbers linked to possible financial fraud.
5 October 2026
Coal India Limited's total coal offtake in the first six months of FY 2026-27 reached 384.2 million tonnes (MT), up 27.2 MT or 7.6% from 357.0 MT a year earlier, the Ministry of Coal said.
Second-quarter offtake rose 12.05% to 186.04 MT, and September supplies were 61.20 MT against 54.40 MT in September 2025.
Power-sector despatch in H1 was 302.8 MT against 285.4 MT, nearly 79% of the total.
CIL liquidated 63 MT of pithead coal stocks in the half-year.
H1 FY27 offtake:
384.2 MT
Growth:
7.6%
Power-sector despatch:
302.8 MT
Pithead stock liquidated:
63 MT
Why it matters for exams: Coal production and power-sector supply figures are standard economy and energy-security questions.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
MT Million tonne — A unit equal to ten lakh tonnes used for coal figures.
Offtake Coal offtake — The quantity of coal lifted and despatched from mines to consumers.
5 October 2026
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has deployed Flying Squads in 34 districts of Punjab and Haryana for 1 October to 30 November 2026.
The deployment covers 18 districts in Punjab and 16 in Haryana during the paddy harvesting season.
The squads will assess ground conditions and coordinate with farmers, the Parali Protection Force, district authorities and State Pollution Control Boards.
The situation will be reported daily to the CAQM Cell at SAS Nagar.
Districts covered:
34
Punjab / Haryana:
18 / 16
Period:
1 Oct – 30 Nov 2026
Why it matters for exams: Air-quality governance and stubble-burning control are recurring environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CAQM Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas — The statutory commission that coordinates air-pollution control in the NCR and nearby areas.
CPCB Central Pollution Control Board — The national body that monitors and sets standards for pollution.
6 October 2026
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the delivery of the 2,000th aero-engine by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Koraput Division, in Odisha on 6 October 2026.
The event marks nearly six decades of HAL Koraput's contribution to aerospace and defence manufacturing.
It will also highlight a second production line for Shakti engines with an investment of ₹218 crore.
The added capacity will support the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter and the Prachand Light Combat Helicopter.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar are among those due to attend.
Milestone:
2,000th aero-engine
Location:
HAL Koraput, Odisha
Second Shakti line investment:
₹218 crore
Why it matters for exams: Indigenous defence manufacturing and HAL products are regular defence and science-tech questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
HAL Hindustan Aeronautics Limited — The public-sector company that makes aircraft, helicopters and aero-engines for the armed forces.
5 October 2026
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi will inaugurate the 8th edition of Windergy India on 8 October 2026 at the Chennai Trade Centre; the three-day show runs from 7 to 9 October 2026.
India added a record 6.05 GW of wind capacity in FY 2025-26, taking cumulative capacity to 58.52 GW by August 2026.
Another 28 GW is under implementation, towards the goal of 100 GW by 2030.
The event will have about 400 exhibitors from over 20 countries and country pavilions from Denmark, Germany and Spain.
Cumulative wind capacity (Aug 2026):
58.52 GW
Capacity added in FY 2025-26:
6.05 GW
Under implementation:
28 GW
Target for 2030:
100 GW
Why it matters for exams: Renewable-energy capacity figures and the 2030 targets are frequent economy and environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
GW Gigawatt — A unit of power equal to one thousand megawatts.
MNRE Ministry of New and Renewable Energy — The Union ministry responsible for renewable energy such as wind and solar.
1 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India released the indicative calendar for State Government and Union Territory market borrowings for October-December 2026.
Total borrowing in the quarter is expected to be ₹3,60,820 crore.
The Benchmark Issuance Strategy (BIS) is extended from Q3 FY 2026-27 to Assam, Goa, Haryana, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Actual amounts depend on State requirements, Government of India approval under Article 293(3) of the Constitution and market conditions.
Expected State/UT borrowing, Oct-Dec 2026:
₹3,60,820 crore
New BIS entrants from Q3:
6 States + 1 UT
Approval required under:
Article 293(3)
Why it matters for exams: State borrowing, Article 293 and RBI's debt-management role are standard economy and polity topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
BIS Benchmark Issuance Strategy — An RBI framework in which participating States issue securities of benchmark sizes on an announced calendar.
1 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India issued Amendment Directions on a simplified approval process for subsequent acquisitions of major shareholding in a banking company by mutual funds, insurance companies and pension funds.
The draft was issued on 14 July 2026, with comments invited by 4 August 2026.
Four sets of directions were issued, for Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks and Local Area Banks, and they take immediate effect.
Draft issued:
14 July 2026
Comments due:
4 August 2026
Categories of banks covered:
4
Effect:
Immediate
Why it matters for exams: RBI regulatory changes affecting banks are routine banking-awareness questions.
UPSCBank
In plain words
Amendment Directions RBI Amendment Directions — Formal regulatory instruments by which RBI changes its existing directions to banks.
Background
The Union Cabinet approved AGNIPATH as a recruitment scheme for the three Armed Forces; those selected under it are known as Agniveers.
Agniveers are enrolled under respective Service Acts for a period of four years and form a distinct rank in the Armed Forces, different from any other existing ranks.
They get a customised monthly package along with Risk and Hardship allowances as applicable in the three services. Thirty per cent of the monthly package goes into the Corpus Fund and the Government makes a matching contribution.
On completion of the four-year engagement an Agniveer is paid a one-time 'Seva Nidhi' package of Rs 11.71 Lakh. It comprises the Agniveer's own contribution to the Agniveer Corpus Fund together with the interest accrued on it, and a matching Government contribution equal to that accumulated amount. The Seva Nidhi is exempt from Income Tax.
There is no entitlement to gratuity and pensionary benefits. Agniveers are given a non-contributory Life Insurance Cover of Rs 48 lakhs for the duration of the engagement period.
Up to 25% of each specific batch of Agniveers may be enrolled in the regular cadre, on centralised consideration against objective criteria. Those taken into the regular cadre serve a further engagement period of minimum 15 years on the existing terms for Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks and their equivalents.
Enrolment is on an 'All India All Class' basis through an online centralised system, and the eligible age range is 17.5 to 21 years.
Engagement period:
Four years
Seva Nidhi on exit:
Rs 11.71 Lakh
Contribution to Corpus Fund:
30% of the monthly package, matched by the Government
Life insurance cover:
Rs 48 lakhs, non-contributory
Gratuity and pension:
No entitlement
Permanent enrolment:
Up to 25% of each batch; a further minimum 15 years of service
Eligible age:
17.5 to 21 years
Why it matters for exams: The Seva Nidhi amount, the absence of pension, the insurance cover and the further 15-year engagement are the four figures most often set on this scheme.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Agniveer Agniveer — The rank held by a soldier, sailor or airman enrolled under AGNIPATH for a four-year engagement, distinct from every existing rank.
Seva Nidhi Seva Nidhi package — The one-time, income-tax-exempt payment made to an Agniveer on completing the four-year engagement, made up of the Agniveer's own contribution, the Government's matching contribution and interest.
Corpus Fund Corpus Fund — The fund into which 30 per cent of an Agniveer's monthly package is paid and to which the Government adds an equal amount.
Background
As per clause (1) of article 280 of the Constitution, the Finance Commission is to be constituted every fifth year or earlier.
A Finance Commission normally takes about two years to make its recommendations.
Its terms of reference require recommendations on three matters. The first is the distribution between the Union and the States of the net proceeds of taxes which are to be, or may be, divided between them under Chapter I, Part XII of the Constitution, and the allocation between the States of their respective shares.
The second is the principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India, and the sums to be paid to the States by way of grants-in-aid of their revenues under article 275 of the Constitution.
The third is the measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities in that State, on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State.
The five-year rhythm has slipped in practice: the Eleventh Finance Commission was constituted six years after the Tenth, and the Fourteenth Finance Commission was constituted five years and two months after the Thirteenth.
An Advance Cell was formed in the Ministry of Finance to oversee preliminary work, pending the formal constitution of the Sixteenth Finance Commission.
Constitutional provision:
Clause (1) of article 280
Periodicity:
Every fifth year or earlier
Time taken to report:
Normally about two years
Grants-in-aid to States:
Under article 275, out of the Consolidated Fund of India
Tax devolution provision:
Chapter I, Part XII of the Constitution
Precedent cited for a longer gap:
Eleventh Finance Commission, six years after the Tenth
Why it matters for exams: Article 280, the five-year cycle and the three terms of reference - tax devolution, grants-in-aid under Article 275 and funds for local bodies - are the standard questions on Centre-State fiscal relations.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Grants-in-aid Grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States — Sums paid to a State out of the Consolidated Fund of India under article 275, on principles the Finance Commission recommends.
Terms of Reference Terms of Reference — The list of matters a Finance Commission is required to make recommendations on, settled when it is constituted.