13 October 2026
The Ministry of Mines issued a Notice Inviting Tender dated 1 October 2026 for two offshore blocks in the Andaman Sea, Sewell Rise-01 and West Sewell Ridge-01.
Sewell Rise-01 covers 632 square kilometres and West Sewell Ridge-01 covers 1,000 square kilometres, a total of 1,632 square kilometres.
Both blocks contain polymetallic nodules and crusts, which hold minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese.
The blocks are offered for a Composite Licence under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, as amended in 2023.
The pre-bid conference is on 4 November 2026 and the last date for submission of bids is 28 December 2026.
The Ministry briefed prospective bidders at an outreach programme in New Delhi on 13 October 2026.
Total area offered:
1,632 square kilometres
Sewell Rise-01:
632 square kilometres
West Sewell Ridge-01:
1,000 square kilometres
Pre-bid conference:
4 November 2026
Last date for bids:
28 December 2026
Why it matters for exams: Offshore and critical minerals link resources, the blue economy and the energy transition, a recurring exam theme.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Polymetallic nodules Lumps of metal-rich rock lying on the seabed — Nodules formed from several metals such as nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese, found on the seabed.
Composite Licence Single licence covering exploration and production — A licence under which a bidder can explore a block and then mine it if minerals are found.
NIT Notice Inviting Tender — The official notice that opens a tender and sets its conditions.
14 October 2026
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the maiden ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi on 14 October 2026.
He said India seeks an Indo-Pacific where all countries, large and small, make their own choices, protect their interests and pursue development in peace.
He listed patrol vessels, radars, air-defence systems, helicopters, drones and other technologies as areas for cooperation, along with co-development, co-production, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and training.
He said 2026 has been designated as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation and called for sharing maritime information and closer cooperation among navies and coast guards.
He placed the Act East policy, SAGAR and MAHASAGAR at the centre of India's approach to the region.
Forum:
First ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum
Venue:
MP-IDSA, New Delhi
Theme year:
2026 is the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation
Why it matters for exams: India's Act East policy and its maritime doctrines SAGAR and MAHASAGAR are staple topics in international relations and defence questions.
UPSCSSC
In plain words
SAGAR Security and Growth for All in the Region — India's earlier vision for maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
MAHASAGAR Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — India's wider maritime vision that builds on SAGAR.
MRO Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul — Servicing work that keeps defence equipment in use over its life.
14 October 2026
All-India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation for September 2026 is 11.39 per cent year on year (provisional), compared with 9.92 per cent in August 2026 (provisional).
The All Commodities index stands at 112.5, up from 110.8 in August 2026.
Year-on-year inflation is 8.67 per cent for Primary Articles, 25.85 per cent for Fuel and Power and 9.76 per cent for Manufactured Products.
The WPI Food Index shows inflation of 8.66 per cent, compared with 7.05 per cent in August 2026.
The series uses the base year 2022-23, and the figures for October 2026 will be released on 16 November 2026.
WPI inflation, September 2026:
11.39 per cent
WPI inflation, August 2026:
9.92 per cent
Fuel and Power:
25.85 per cent
Primary Articles:
8.67 per cent
Manufactured Products:
9.76 per cent
Why it matters for exams: WPI figures and their groups are asked in economy and banking papers, often alongside retail inflation.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
WPI Wholesale Price Index — A measure of price changes of goods at the wholesale stage.
Base year 2022-23 for the current WPI series — The year against which later prices are compared.
13 October 2026
On 2 October 2026 the Union Home Ministry announced that 28 places and features in the Union Territory of Ladakh were identified with standard names on the official map of the Survey of India.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China has never recognised the Union Territory of Ladakh and called the move illegal and invalid.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Union Territory of Ladakh is an integral and inalienable part of India and that no amount of denial by China can change this.
He said the places were identified in consultation with the Union Territory of Ladakh and local stakeholders, to help the public recognise them accurately.
The list covers 10 peaks, two passes, three mountains, seven land areas, two glaciers, two water bodies, a valley and a river.
Places and features named:
28
Home Ministry announcement:
2 October 2026
Peaks in the list:
10
Why it matters for exams: India-China boundary questions, the 2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir and the role of the Survey of India are common exam links.
UPSCSSC
In plain words
Survey of India National mapping agency — The country's oldest scientific department, which prepares the official maps.
LAC Line of Actual Control — The de facto boundary between Indian-held and Chinese-held territory.
14 October 2026
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed airlines to ensure the MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 power bank is not carried on any flight to, from or within India.
The circular, dated 29 September 2026 and signed by DG Vir Vikram Yadav, covers passenger baggage, both checked-in and cabin, and cargo.
The circular cites a recent fire incident involving the model. The most recent power bank fire was on 11 October 2026, when a power bank in the overhead bin of an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai caught fire and the flight was diverted to Hyderabad as a precaution.
The restriction names one model and is not a blanket ban on power banks.
Nepal Airlines also asked passengers travelling between Nepal and India not to carry the model.
The move has renewed calls for strict enforcement of the Bureau of Indian Standards' Compulsory Registration Scheme for portable batteries.
Banned model:
MOBIKINS MK-PB-04
Circular dated:
29 September 2026
Fire on IndiGo flight:
11 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Aviation regulation, the DGCA's role and BIS standards are regular topics in governance and general-awareness papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
DGCA Directorate General of Civil Aviation — India's civil aviation safety regulator.
BIS CRS Bureau of Indian Standards Compulsory Registration Scheme — A scheme under which listed products, including portable batteries, must carry a BIS registration number.
13 October 2026
The US State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to India and Uzbekistan from 17 to 22 October 2026.
In Uzbekistan he will join the C5+1 Ministerial in Samarkand, which brings the United States together with five Central Asian countries.
He will then visit Mumbai and Jamnagar, meet senior government officials and discuss enhanced energy cooperation.
Jamnagar is home to Reliance Industries' refinery, the world's largest single-site refining complex, which can process 1.4 million barrels of crude oil a day.
Mr Rubio will also meet business leaders to promote commercial investment and economic cooperation.
Visit dates (India and Uzbekistan):
17 to 22 October 2026
Indian cities:
Mumbai and Jamnagar
Jamnagar refinery capacity:
1.4 million barrels a day
Why it matters for exams: Visits by senior US officials and India's energy partnerships feed directly into international-relations and economy questions.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
C5+1 US plus five Central Asian states — A diplomatic platform that brings the United States together with the five Central Asian countries.
13 October 2026
The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K), under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, held a roundtable on "Pulse Protein Innovation, Value Addition and Strategic Partnerships" on 13 October 2026.
Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of Advanced Education in the Government of Saskatchewan, Canada, attended along with a University of Saskatchewan delegation.
Pulse Canada, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and Alberta Pulse Growers took part, with Indian participants including ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, ICRISAT and IIT Delhi.
NIFTEM-K Director Dr Harinder Singh Oberoi said the Memorandum of Understanding between NIFTEM-K and the University of Saskatchewan should be turned into a clear, time-bound plan of action that benefits both countries.
Event date:
13 October 2026
Host institute:
NIFTEM-K, Kundli
Canadian minister:
Ken Cheveldayoff
Why it matters for exams: India-Canada links in pulses and food processing connect agriculture, trade and institutions in one exam-friendly fact.
UPSCSSC
In plain words
NIFTEM-K National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli — An Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics — A research body that works on crops grown in dry regions.
13 October 2026
Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, announced plans for an International Arbitration and Mediation Institute on its campus at an estimated cost of ₹30 crore.
The proposed HNLU International Arbitration and Mediation Institute (HIAMI) is expected to be launched in early 2028, the university's silver jubilee year.
Vice-Chancellor Professor V. C. Vivekanandan announced it on 11 October 2026 at the end of a two-day international conference on arbitration held on 10 and 11 October.
HNLU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC), Hyderabad, at the inaugural ceremony.
The UNCITRAL National Coordination Committee, India, was the institutional and knowledge partner of the conference.
Estimated cost:
₹30 crore
Expected launch:
Early 2028
MoU partner:
IAMC, Hyderabad
Why it matters for exams: Arbitration and mediation institutions are tied to India's push for faster dispute resolution and appear in law and governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law — The UN body that develops rules on international trade law, including arbitration.
Arbitration Settling a dispute through a neutral arbitrator — A way of resolving disputes outside regular courts.
14 October 2026
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, held bilateral talks in New Delhi with Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle, the UK's Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The talks covered animal health, sustainable livestock production, scientific research, genomics and advanced reproductive technologies.
Both sides discussed capacity building through the exchange of technical expertise and best practices.
They also explored opportunities under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
Market access and regulatory issues for livestock, dairy, marine and other animal-origin products were taken up.
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation and promoting sustainable growth in animal husbandry and allied sectors.
Indian minister:
Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh
UK minister:
Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle
Venue:
New Delhi
Trade framework:
India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
Why it matters for exams: The India-UK CETA and the ministries that implement it are live international-relations and economy material for both exams.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CETA Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement — The trade agreement framework between India and the UK covering goods, services and regulatory issues.
Background
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on 18 October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
It was set up for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
The Tribunal is mandated to endeavour to dispose of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing.
New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting; Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the other four places of sitting.
The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 or the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and is guided by principles of natural justice; Section 19 of the Act lets it regulate its own procedure.
It is vested with the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, and it entertains letter petitions that bring to light substantial environmental damage.
Established on:
18 October 2010
Established under:
National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
Target for final disposal:
6 months from filing
Principal Place of Sitting:
New Delhi
Other places of sitting:
Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai
Why it matters for exams: The NGT's statutory basis, benches and procedure are staple environment-law questions in UPSC and Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Principal Place of Sitting Main seat of the Tribunal — New Delhi is the Tribunal's main seat; the four other places of sitting are Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.
Principles of natural justice Fair-hearing standards — The standards that guide the Tribunal in place of strict civil procedure.
Letter petition Complaint made by letter — A letter that brings substantial environmental damage to the Tribunal's notice and is entertained as a petition.