9 October 2026
The 15th meeting of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee was held from 6 to 9 October 2026 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, in hybrid format.
It was co-chaired by Shri Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, India, and Ms. Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary-General (Trade) in Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
The Joint Committee works through eight sub-committees. Three of them met during this session, including the Sub-Committee on Legal and Institutional Issues (SC-LII) and the Sub-Committee on Rules of Origin (SC-ROO).
The Joint Committee directed all sub-committees to coordinate closely, close pending chapters of the AITIGA review quickly and set concrete time-bound targets.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a balanced, constructive and forward-looking agreement and to modernising it within a mutually beneficial framework.
The next Joint Committee meeting is scheduled for January 2027 in India, in hybrid mode.
Meeting dates:
6 to 9 October 2026
Venue:
ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia
Sub-committees:
Eight
Next meeting:
January 2027, in India
Why it matters for exams: AITIGA and its review process are standard material for questions on India's regional trade agreements.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
AITIGA ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement — The goods trade agreement between India and the ASEAN member states, now under review.
SC-ROO Sub-Committee on Rules of Origin — Rules of origin decide which country a traded good counts as coming from, and so what tariff applies.
9 October 2026
The National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, released draft guidelines for compiling expenditure-side estimates of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) with base year 2022-23.
The guidelines cover concepts, coverage, data sources, estimation procedures and methodology for the expenditure components of GSDP.
The components covered are private final consumption expenditure (PFCE), government final consumption expenditure (GFCE), gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), changes in inventories, valuables and net exports.
Some States and Union Territories currently estimate GFCF and GFCE, but none estimates PFCE at present. The draft provides a framework and methodological guidance for these estimates at State and Union Territory level.
Where direct State-level data are not available, the draft recommends allocation methods and relevant indicators so that State-wise estimates remain comparable.
Comments and suggestions may be sent by 28 October 2026. The draft is available on the MoSPI website.
Base year:
2022-23
Last date for comments:
28 October 2026
Issuing body:
National Statistical Office, MoSPI
Why it matters for exams: GSDP, its base year and the expenditure method of national accounting are standard economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
GSDP Gross State Domestic Product — The total value of goods and services produced within a State in a year.
PFCE Private Final Consumption Expenditure — Spending by households and non-profit institutions on final goods and services.
9 October 2026
Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, delivered the keynote at the ITU Round Table on 'Implementing ITU Standards to Combat Fraudulent Communications', held during India Mobile Congress 2026.
India welcomed an ITU proposal for a joint trial involving governments, regulators, operators and technology companies to digitally verify caller identity on international networks in line with ITU standards.
The Minister said Indians lost over ₹22,800 crore to such fraud in 2024, and that fraud is a network problem that needs network-based and global solutions.
He said ASTR has helped disconnect over 82 lakh fraudulent connections and the Sanchar Saathi app has recorded around 25 million downloads.
The Digital Intelligence Platform connects over 1,600 organisations, and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator has helped prevent suspected financial losses exceeding ₹5,000 crore in 15 months.
He suggested beginning trials on selected international routes between willing countries and feeding the experience back into ITU standards, and said trust must be built into 6G networks from the start.
Loss to such fraud in 2024:
over ₹22,800 crore
Fraudulent connections disconnected using ASTR:
over 82 lakh
Sanchar Saathi downloads:
around 25 million
Organisations on the Digital Intelligence Platform:
over 1,600
Suspected losses prevented by the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator:
exceeding ₹5,000 crore in 15 months
Why it matters for exams: ITU standards, ASTR, Sanchar Saathi and the Digital Intelligence Platform are frequently asked telecom governance topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ITU International Telecommunication Union — The United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies, which sets global telecom standards.
ASTR Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification — A tool used to detect mobile connections taken on forged or duplicate identity documents.
9 October 2026
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, chaired by Shri Mukul Wasnik, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, presented its 382nd Report on 'Reforms and Strengthening of the National Testing Agency (NTA)'.
The report relates to the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. It was adopted on 25 August 2026 and presented to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, on 9 October 2026.
The Committee noted that NTA conducts examinations such as JEE Main, NEET-UG, UGC-NET and CUET, with about 1.2 crore students appearing each year, and that over 22 lakh candidates take NEET-UG.
It recommended moving NEET-UG to computer-based testing, with adequate government-owned infrastructure first and a hybrid model where connectivity is weak.
It endorsed the High-Level Committee of Experts' recommendation of 1,000 secure government CBT centres and at least one test centre in every district, and recommended permanent recruitment of NTA officers with specialists in psychometrics and examination security, and an annual Equity Audit of participation rates, pass rates and cutoff achievement rates.
The Committee also recorded that NTA had a cumulative revenue surplus of Rs. 590 crore from FY 2018-19 to FY 2024-25, and recommended limiting NTA to entrance examinations for higher education institutions.
Report number:
382nd Report
Chairperson:
Shri Mukul Wasnik
Adopted on:
25 August 2026
Candidates appearing for NTA exams each year:
about 1.2 crore
NTA cumulative revenue surplus:
Rs. 590 crore from FY 2018-19 to FY 2024-25
Secure government CBT centres recommended:
1,000
Why it matters for exams: Parliamentary Standing Committee reports and the NTA's mandate are both standard polity and education questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NTA National Testing Agency — The agency that conducts national entrance examinations such as JEE Main, NEET-UG, UGC-NET and CUET.
CBT Computer Based Test — An examination taken on a computer at a designated centre rather than on paper.
9 October 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the members of Team India from the 48th WorldSkills Competition at his residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.
The competition, WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, was held from 22 to 27 September 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.
India won 6 silver medals and 20 Medals for Excellence and finished 10th.
India fielded its largest-ever contingent, with 70 competitors taking part in 63 skills.
The Prime Minister said practical skills matter as much as academic degrees, that skill training institutes are no less important than the IITs and IIMs, and urged the team to become ambassadors of skill development.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship with Independent Charge and Minister of State for Education, and senior officials were present.
Competition:
48th WorldSkills Competition, WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
Dates:
22 to 27 September 2026
India's medals:
6 silver medals and 20 Medals for Excellence
India's position:
10th
Indian contingent:
70 competitors in 63 skills
Why it matters for exams: India's medal tally and rank at the 48th WorldSkills Competition is a direct factual question on skills and competitive events.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Medal for Excellence WorldSkills award below a medal — Given to competitors who reach a high standard of performance without winning gold, silver or bronze.
8 October 2026
General NS Raja Subramani, Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, inaugurated residential accommodation and critical trunk utility and amenity infrastructure at the Naval Base, Karwar, on 08 October 2026.
The facilities were built under Project Seabird Phase IIA. Vice Admiral Vivek Dahiya, Director General Seabird, and other senior officers were present.
The inauguration covered one tower of Senior Sailors married accommodation with 60 dwelling units at East of Manzil Creek, one tower of 60 dwelling units for Naval Defence Civilians at Amadalli, in-living accommodation for 156 DSC personnel, and a KG School.
On completion, the base is expected to house approximately 10,000 uniformed and civilian personnel along with their families.
Over 90% of materials and equipment used were sourced domestically, in line with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The project is designed to current Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Indian Green Building Council standards, and is expected to be IGBC Gold rated on completion.
Dwelling units for Senior Sailors:
60 dwelling units
Dwelling units for Naval Defence Civilians:
60 dwelling units
In-living accommodation:
156 DSC personnel
Base capacity on completion:
approximately 10,000 uniformed and civilian personnel
Indigenous content:
Over 90%
Why it matters for exams: Project Seabird at Karwar is India's large naval base development programme and a recurring defence question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Project Seabird Indian Navy base development project at Karwar, Karnataka — The Navy's large base development programme on the Karnataka coast, being built in phases.
DSC Defence Security Corps — The force that guards defence installations in India.
9 October 2026
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will observe its 33rd Foundation Day on 12 October 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, followed by a national conference on 'Water as the Elixir of Life: Advancing Human Dignity through the Right to Water'.
Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, will be the chief guest. NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian and the Members will take part.
The Commission was set up on 12 October 1993.
In 33 years it has acted upon over 24 lakh matters, 24,33,716 in all, including 3,100 suo motu cases, and recommended over Rs 274 crore in relief to victims in 9,085 cases.
Between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026 it registered 54,673 complaints and 119 suo motu cases and disposed of 53,733 matters, holding spot enquiries in 80 cases and recommending relief of over Rs 9.7 crore in 157 cases.
The Commission has 18 special rapporteurs and 15 special monitors, has issued 35 advisory papers, and has recommended amending 97 laws to prevent discrimination against persons with Hansen's disease.
Foundation Day:
12 October 2026, the 33rd
NHRC established:
12 October 1993
Matters acted upon in 33 years:
24,33,716, including 3,100 suo motu cases
Relief recommended:
over Rs 274 crore in 9,085 cases
Complaints registered, 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026:
54,673
Why it matters for exams: The NHRC's founding date, composition and workload figures are standard questions on statutory human rights bodies.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NHRC National Human Rights Commission — The statutory human rights body established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
Suo motu On its own motion — When a body takes up a matter on its own, without a complaint being filed.
9 October 2026
Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh launched the redesigned, citizen-centric and multilingual websites of the Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The launch was announced by the Press Information Bureau on 9 October 2026.
The redesign is aimed at making scientific information and departmental material easier for citizens to reach in more Indian languages.
The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal department for coordinating and promoting science and technology activities in the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh holds charge as Minister of State for Science and Technology, among other portfolios.
Launched by:
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State
Websites launched:
Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Science and Technology
Date announced:
9 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Which ministry a senior Minister of State holds, and what the Department of Science and Technology does, are both commonly asked.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DST Department of Science and Technology — The nodal department for coordinating and promoting science and technology activities in India.
9 October 2026
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released a draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Digital Rights Management based Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual, 2026, and invited written comments from stakeholders.
Schedule X of the Interconnection Regulations specifies the requirements for DRM-based systems, which are used mainly by internet protocol television distribution platforms.
TRAI had issued a separate audit manual for conditional access systems, subscriber management systems and set top box based systems on 10th March 2026.
The draft sets out a section-by-section compliance check for Schedule X, the scope and procedure for pre-signal and annual subscriber audits, audit timelines, the roles of distribution platform operators, broadcasters and auditors, and standard formats for declarations and audit reports.
Comments are to be submitted by 30.10.2026 to advbcs-2@trai.gov.in and jtadvbcs-3@trai.gov.in.
The contact named for clarifications is Dr. Deepali Sharma, Advisor (B&CS), TRAI.
Issuing authority:
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Schedule covered:
Schedule X of the Interconnection Regulations
Earlier manual issued:
10th March 2026
Last date for comments:
30.10.2026
Why it matters for exams: TRAI's regulatory instruments and the distinction between a draft manual open to comments and a notified regulation are regularly tested in polity and science and technology sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DRM Digital Rights Management — Technology that controls how a subscriber can access and copy protected television content.
DAS Digital Addressable System — A system in which television signals are sent in encrypted form to identified subscribers.
9 October 2026
The National Land Monetisation Corporation has invited bids for the monetisation of a prime freehold land parcel of 5.119 acres, or 20,722.93 sq. metres, belonging to HIL (India) Limited.
The plot is at Najafgarh Industrial Area, Rohtak Road, Shivaji Marg, New Delhi.
The reserve price is ₹829.69 crore and the earnest money deposit is ₹16.60 crore.
The minimum bid increment is ₹1 crore per acre, and the auction processing fee is ₹24 lakh plus GST and other applicable taxes, payable only by the H1 Bidder.
The e-auction notification was issued on October 8, 2026, the pre-bid meeting is set for November 3, 2026 and the last date for registration, technical bid and EMD or Bank Guarantee submission is November 19, 2026.
The release states that this is the third e-auction publicly advertised by NLMC in the last two months.
Land parcel:
5.119 acres (20,722.93 sq. metres)
Owner:
HIL (India) Limited
Reserve price:
₹829.69 crore
Earnest money deposit:
₹16.60 crore
Minimum bid increment:
₹1 crore per acre
Why it matters for exams: Asset monetisation by the National Land Monetisation Corporation, a special purpose vehicle under the Department of Public Enterprises, is a standing economy topic, and reserve price and EMD figures are directly askable.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NLMC National Land Monetisation Corporation — A government company set up to monetise surplus land and building assets of central public sector enterprises and government agencies.
EMD Earnest Money Deposit — A deposit a bidder places as proof of a serious bid, refundable to unsuccessful bidders.
9 October 2026
The National Highways Authority of India is to install Retrofit Emission Control Devices on 25 Diesel Generator sets at Package-IV of the Dwarka Expressway.
Package-IV is 8.7 km long and connects Basai to the Kherki Dhaula and Delhi-Gurugram Expressway cloverleaf intersection.
The step follows directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management on diesel generator sets in the Delhi National Capital Region.
The measure is aimed at reducing air pollution, particularly in winter, when the Graded Response Action Plan is in force.
The work covers installation, testing and commissioning along with comprehensive maintenance support.
NHAI has required GPS-tagged photographs of RECD installations at each DG-set location for verification and compliance.
DG sets covered:
25
Stretch:
Package-IV of the Dwarka Expressway
Length:
8.7 km
Directing body:
Commission for Air Quality Management
Why it matters for exams: The Commission for Air Quality Management and the Graded Response Action Plan are recurring environment questions, and this links them to a named highway project.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
RECD Retrofit Emission Control Device — A device fitted to an existing diesel generator set to cut the pollutants in its exhaust.
GRAP Graded Response Action Plan — A set of anti-pollution measures for the Delhi National Capital Region that tighten as air quality worsens.