15 October 2026
The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth about Rs 4,106 crore in New Delhi on 15 October 2026.
The GSAT-7C contract, valued at Rs 2,563 crore, was signed with New Space India Limited, Bengaluru, for a dedicated communication satellite for the Indian Air Force.
The second contract, worth Rs 1,543 crore, was signed with Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad, for Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy.
Varunastra is an indigenous ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory.
The contracts were signed in the presence of Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition) A Anbarasu.
Both deals are placed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India framework.
Total contract value:
Rs 4,106 crore
GSAT-7C contract:
Rs 2,563 crore
Varunastra contract:
Rs 1,543 crore
Why it matters for exams: Defence acquisition values, the executing public sector units and indigenous weapon names are recurring objective questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
NSIL New Space India Limited — The commercial arm of the Department of Space.
NSTL Naval Science and Technological Laboratory — A DRDO laboratory at Visakhapatnam that develops underwater weapons.
15 October 2026
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry released trade data for September 2026 on 15 October 2026.
India's total exports during April-September 2026-27 are estimated at US$ 476.20 billion, a growth of 13.84 per cent over US$ 418.31 billion a year earlier.
Total imports in the same period are estimated at US$ 551.13 billion, a growth of 15.68 per cent.
Merchandise exports in September 2026 were US$ 44.40 billion against US$ 36.08 billion in September 2025.
The services trade surplus for April-September 2026-27 is estimated at US$ 102.71 billion.
Exports of electronic goods grew 70.44 per cent, the fastest among major categories.
Total exports April-September 2026-27:
US$ 476.20 billion
Total imports April-September 2026-27:
US$ 551.13 billion
Trade balance:
-US$ 74.93 billion
Electronic goods export growth:
70.44 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Half-yearly trade figures and the trade deficit are standard economy questions in Kerala PSC and UPSC prelims.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
Merchandise trade Trade in physical goods — Trade in physical goods, as distinct from services trade.
15 October 2026
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the Periodic Labour Force Survey monthly bulletin for September 2026 on 15 October 2026.
The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above remained steady at 5.0 per cent, down 0.2 percentage points from September 2025.
The Labour Force Participation Rate was 55.5 per cent, against 55.6 per cent in August 2026.
Urban female labour force participation rose from 25.4 per cent to 25.9 per cent, its highest level since October 2025.
The Worker Population Ratio stood at 52.7 per cent, with urban WPR at 47.2 per cent.
The estimates are based on information collected from 3,70,513 persons.
Unemployment rate (15+):
5.0 per cent
Labour Force Participation Rate:
55.5 per cent
Worker Population Ratio:
52.7 per cent
Persons surveyed:
3,70,513
Why it matters for exams: PLFS indicators such as LFPR, WPR and the unemployment rate are directly asked in economy and statistics sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
LFPR Labour Force Participation Rate — The share of the population that is either working or seeking work.
CWS Current Weekly Status — A reference period of the seven days preceding the survey date.
15 October 2026
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal launched the National Strategic Trade Command Centre at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on 15 October 2026.
It was developed by the Department of Commerce as an integrated analytics and visualisation platform for trade data.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Director General of Foreign Trade Lav Agarwal were present.
The platform carries dashboards on Importer Exporter Code, Advance Authorisation, Export Promotion Capital Goods, Certificate of Origin and SCOMET.
It is built around three dimensions: integrated monitoring, performance assessment and evidence-based policy inputs.
It leverages existing DGFT systems and the Trade Connect ePlatform.
Launched by:
Piyush Goyal
Venue:
Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi
Developed by:
Department of Commerce
Why it matters for exams: New government digital platforms and the ministry that runs them are frequently asked in governance and economy sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SCOMET Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies — India's export control list for dual-use and sensitive items.
DGFT Directorate General of Foreign Trade — The body under the Department of Commerce that administers India's foreign trade policy.
15 October 2026
The National Highways Authority of India introduced a uniform system for independent checking of designs of major bridges and critical structures on 15 October 2026.
Designs will be independently checked by empanelled Indian Institutes of Technology, reputed government technical institutions and experienced bridge engineering firms.
The policy covers major river bridges with a design discharge of 3,000 cubic metres per second or more and structures with an individual effective span of 40 metres or more.
Three institutions or firms will be proposed from NHAI's empanelled list for each project, and one or more will be selected.
The policy comes into effect from 1 December 2026.
It applies to new Engineering Procurement and Construction, Hybrid Annuity Model and Build-Operate-Transfer projects.
Effective from:
1 December 2026
Design discharge threshold:
3,000 cubic metres per second
Span threshold:
40 metres
Why it matters for exams: Infrastructure safety policies, their thresholds and effective dates are examinable governance facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IRC Indian Roads Congress — The body that frames technical standards for roads and bridges in India.
HAM Hybrid Annuity Model — A highway contracting model where the government funds part of the cost upfront and pays the rest as annuities.
15 October 2026
The Technology Development Board under the Department of Science and Technology signed an agreement with Panacea Medical Technologies Private Limited on 15 October 2026.
The agreement supports the development and commercialisation of an indigenous 32-slice Computed Tomography scanner.
Panacea Medical Technologies is based at Malur in Karnataka and specialises in radiotherapy and radiology equipment.
The project covers the design, development and deployment of the scanner for diagnostic imaging across clinical disciplines.
Technology Development Board Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak said the project aligns with the Make in India initiative for high-end medical devices.
The Government of India has identified medical devices as a priority sector under Make in India.
Device:
32-slice CT scanner
Company:
Panacea Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Malur, Karnataka
Supporting body:
Technology Development Board, DST
Why it matters for exams: Technology Development Board support and indigenous medical device projects link science policy with the Make in India theme.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
TDB Technology Development Board — A statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology that finances commercialisation of indigenous technology.
15 October 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated five development projects worth Rs 3,350 crore in Ladakh through video conferencing on 15 October 2026.
He dedicated the Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road, built at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore, which cuts travel time from 12 hours to 3 hours.
The Prime Minister also dedicated the Hanu hydroelectric project and its associated transmission network.
Forty newly constructed reservoirs under Project Amrit Him Sarovar were dedicated to the community.
He inaugurated the Rs 650 crore Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport terminal at Leh, which he said is India's first terminal to feature geothermal heating alongside solar energy use.
Since Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019, its road network has grown from 1,800 kilometres to over 4,000 kilometres and tap water coverage from 3.5 per cent to nearly 99 per cent of households.
Total outlay:
Rs 3,350 crore
Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road cost:
Rs 2,500 crore
Travel time reduction:
12 hours to 3 hours
Reservoirs dedicated:
40
Why it matters for exams: Project names, outlays and connectivity figures for border Union Territories are standard prelims material.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Project Amrit Him Sarovar Amrit Him Sarovar — A programme to build high-altitude reservoirs for irrigation and water security.
15 October 2026
The Frontier Tech Hub of NITI Aayog released a Data Centre Evaluation Framework on 14 October 2026 to help states plan for sustainable growth.
The Framework is structured around five pillars: Power and Energy; Water and Cooling; Siting and Environmental Sustainability; Economic and Strategic Value; and Policy, Governance and Implementation.
NITI Aayog CEO Anurag Jain said states need to assess infrastructure availability and resource requirements before committing support to data-centre projects.
NITI Aayog Member Abhay Karandikar stressed strengthening domestic research and development and industry-academia collaboration.
Distinguished Fellow Debjani Ghosh said data centres are becoming critical strategic infrastructure as artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy.
The release notes a tax holiday until 2047 for eligible foreign cloud service providers using India-based data-centre infrastructure.
Number of pillars:
Five
NITI Aayog CEO:
Anurag Jain
Tax holiday for eligible foreign cloud providers:
Until 2047
Why it matters for exams: NITI Aayog frameworks, their pillars and the officials who head the body are commonly asked in governance papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Frontier Tech Hub NITI Aayog Frontier Tech Hub — A NITI Aayog unit that works on emerging technologies and their policy implications.
15 October 2026
The Department of School Education and Literacy organised a regional orientation-cum-review workshop on the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on 14 October 2026.
The scheme provides eligible students a scholarship of Rs 12,000 per annum.
It is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at reducing dropouts after Class VIII and encouraging students to continue up to Class XII.
The last date for registration of applications for the academic year 2026-27 is 31 October 2026.
Verification deadlines are 15 November 2026 at the institute level and 30 November 2026 at the district level.
The selection examination is conducted by the respective States and Union Territories, while disbursement is through the National Scholarship Portal.
Scholarship amount:
Rs 12,000 per annum
Registration last date (2026-27):
31 October 2026
Scheme type:
Central Sector Scheme
Why it matters for exams: Scholarship amounts, eligibility classes and administering portals are frequently asked in education and schemes sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
NMMSS National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme — A Central Sector Scheme giving scholarships to meritorious students from economically weaker sections.
NSP National Scholarship Portal — The common portal for registration, verification and disbursal of central scholarships.
15 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India released preliminary balance of payments data for August 2026 on 15 October 2026.
The current account recorded a net deficit of US$ 5.2 billion in August 2026, against US$ 6.1 billion in August 2025.
For April-August 2026, the cumulative current account deficit widened to US$ 18.3 billion from US$ 12.8 billion a year earlier.
Net merchandise trade showed a deficit of US$ 26.6 billion in August 2026.
Net services recorded a surplus of US$ 16.5 billion in the month.
The capital account recorded a net inflow of US$ 50.6 billion in August 2026, against US$ 0.5 billion in August 2025.
Current account deficit, August 2026:
US$ 5.2 billion
Cumulative deficit, April-August 2026:
US$ 18.3 billion
Net services surplus, August 2026:
US$ 16.5 billion
Why it matters for exams: Current account deficit figures and the distinction between current and capital accounts are core economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
BoP Balance of Payments — A statement of all economic transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world.
15 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions on the Foreign Exchange Risk Reserve on 15 October 2026.
The FAQs clarify requirements introduced through A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 26 dated 10 October 2026 and A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 27 dated 12 October 2026.
The clarifications are available on the Reserve Bank of India website.
The press release was issued by Chief General Manager Brij Raj.
It carries the reference number Press Release: 2026-2027/1334.
A.P. (DIR Series) circulars are the instrument through which the RBI issues instructions to authorised dealers in foreign exchange.
Subject:
Foreign Exchange Risk Reserve
Circulars clarified:
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 26 and No. 27
Press release number:
2026-2027/1334
Why it matters for exams: RBI circular types and new reserve requirements are asked in banking and economy papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
A.P. (DIR Series) Authorised Person (Directions) Series — The circular series through which the RBI instructs authorised dealers in foreign exchange.
15 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India announced an auction of State Government Securities on 15 October 2026.
State Governments offered to sell stock for an aggregate face value of Rs 24,400 crore.
Andhra Pradesh offered Rs 1,000 crore through a re-issue of 7.68 per cent Andhra Pradesh State Government Securities 2051.
Gujarat offered Rs 1,000 crore as a re-issue of 7.96 per cent Gujarat State Government Securities 2035 and another Rs 1,000 crore of 12-year paper on a yield basis.
Goa offered Rs 200 crore and Jammu and Kashmir Rs 800 crore.
Madhya Pradesh offered Rs 1,000 crore of four-year paper on a yield basis along with re-issues of its 2038 and 2048 securities.
Aggregate face value:
Rs 24,400 crore
Andhra Pradesh offer:
Rs 1,000 crore
Jammu and Kashmir offer:
Rs 800 crore
Why it matters for exams: State Development Loans and how states raise market borrowings are regular banking and economy topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
SGS State Government Securities — Dated securities issued by state governments to raise market borrowings, also called State Development Loans.