18 October 2026
IIT Kharagpur has inaugurated a pilot of Nagar Udyam, an initiative to take street vendors towards smart entrepreneurship, at the Technology Students' Gymkhana on its campus. The pilot was launched on Friday, October 16, 2026, in the presence of Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director of IIT Kharagpur, and Shri Siddharth Singh Dangi, Sub Divisional Police Officer, Kharagpur, as chief guest. The initiative is part of the institute's Platinum Jubilee commitment. The convertible three-wheeler-inspired smart cart is conceived for towing by the owner's motorcycle and is designed around movement over distances of approximately 30 km, subject to operational and road-safety validation. It is a home-storable unit intended to avoid permanent occupation of public road space. The cart carries renewable energy enabled low-power functions with compact battery storage, a SETU digital backbone with QR-enabled identification and cashless payments, protected food display, food-grade surfaces and three-way waste segregation.
Initiative:
Nagar Udyam
Design range:
Approximately 30 km
Digital backbone:
SETU, with QR-enabled identification
Why it matters for exams: An applied technology initiative aimed at street vendors, linking urban livelihoods and clean energy.
Kerala PSCUPSC
18 October 2026
Software Technology Parks of India, a science and technology organisation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, organised a Tech Conclave on 'AI for Health & Assistive Technologies'.
It was held jointly with the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship of IIT BHU at Varanasi.
The keynote address was delivered by S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Arvind Kumar, Director General of STPI, and Amit Patra, Director of IIT BHU, delivered special addresses.
The Secretary listed disease screening, medical diagnostics, remote ICU monitoring and AI-assisted surgical planning as areas where artificial intelligence can improve healthcare.
The programme brought together government representatives, academics, healthcare professionals and startups.
Venue:
IIT BHU, Varanasi
Parent ministry:
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Why it matters for exams: STPI's parent ministry and the stated health applications of artificial intelligence are both standard objective questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
STPI Software Technology Parks of India — A science and technology organisation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology that supports software exports and startups.
18 October 2026
Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, visited Munsyari in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand on 18 October 2026 to review coldwater aquaculture in the Himalayan region.
He met trout farmers at the Johar Matsya Swayatt Sehkarita and the Namjala Trout Farm.
Munsyari, with the glacial streams of the Gori Ganga and a suitable water temperature, has become a hub for rainbow trout culture.
The Government of India has notified 34 fisheries clusters across the country, and Pithoragarh is notified as a Cold Water Fisheries Cluster under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
More than Rs 2,299 crore has been invested in coldwater regions under the scheme.
Uttarakhand exports trout to Nepal and supplies trout to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police under a memorandum of understanding.
Fisheries clusters notified:
34
Investment in coldwater regions:
over Rs 2,299 crore
River:
Gori Ganga
Why it matters for exams: The number of notified fisheries clusters, the PMMSY outlay in coldwater regions and the river at Munsyari are all examinable facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PMMSY Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana — The Union scheme for developing fisheries and aquaculture, including notified fisheries clusters.
18 October 2026
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation observed Namo Bharat Diwas 2026 in New Delhi on 17 October 2026, marking three years of Namo Bharat operations.
Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu attended.
D. Thara, Secretary of the Department of Capital Development and Chairperson of NCRTC, and NCRTC Managing Director Shalabh Goel were present.
The 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was inaugurated on 20 October 2023 and has recorded over 4.5 crore passenger journeys.
NCRTC is developing a 110 MW captive solar power plant and runs a Solar on Track initiative for the corridor.
Corridor length:
82 km
Passenger journeys:
over 4.5 crore
Captive solar plant:
110 MW
Why it matters for exams: The corridor length, the inauguration date and the solar capacity are the kind of figures asked about Namo Bharat.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NCRTC National Capital Region Transport Corporation — The joint venture company that builds and runs the Namo Bharat regional rapid transit corridors.
18 October 2026
The Ministry of Ayush marked World Menopause Day 2026, observed on 18 October, with an emphasis on awareness, preventive care and research in women's health.
The work is being taken forward through the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences.
Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation following the loss of ovarian follicular activity, and usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age.
The transition may bring irregular menstruation, hot flushes, sleep disturbances, mood changes, joint pain and anxiety.
In Ayurveda these features are discussed under Rajonivritti.
Ayush Secretary Rajesh Kotecha said the Ministry remains committed to strengthening research and scientific validation in this area.
Observed on:
18 October
Usual age range:
45 to 55 years
Ayurvedic term:
Rajonivritti
Why it matters for exams: The date of World Menopause Day, the Ayush research council involved and the Ayurvedic term are all short objective questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CCRAS Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences — The Ministry of Ayush body that conducts and coordinates research in Ayurveda.
18 October 2026
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated the Army Mega Medical Speciality Camp at Basantgarh in Udhampur on 18 October 2026.
The camp was organised with the support of the Army under Northern Command and the civil administration, for residents of Basantgarh and adjoining remote areas.
Around 1,000 patients were examined on the first day, and another 1,000 to 1,500 were expected on the second, taking the projected total for the two-day camp to approximately 2,000 to 2,500 patients.
The Minister said nearly 50 per cent of the cases were related to ophthalmology, with cataract accounting for a substantial proportion of these cases, and that timely cataract treatment can prevent avoidable blindness.
He proposed preparing a feedback report to identify commonly occurring and preventable disorders, and exploring weekly rotational visits by doctors until regular appointments are made.
He asked the Deputy Commissioner and the Chief Medical Officer to examine the arrangement and establish a patient register to document cases, track medical requirements and facilitate referrals.
Patients on day one:
around 1,000
Two-day expectation:
2,000-2,500 patients
Ophthalmology share:
nearly 50%
Why it matters for exams: The share of ophthalmology cases and the Northern Command's role in civic healthcare outreach are the examinable details here.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Northern Command Northern Command, Indian Army — The Indian Army command responsible for the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh sectors.
18 October 2026
An Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft undertook a short-notice casualty evacuation late at night, airlifting a critically ill 30 years old civilian patient from Leh to Palam for further medical care. The Ministry of Defence stated that the mission was carried out in darkness and challenging weather conditions, requiring a high degree of operational preparedness, professional coordination and timely execution. The patient was subsequently transferred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for further treatment. The Ministry stated that the mission reflects the Air Force's operational readiness and its ability to respond promptly to critical humanitarian requirements, including medical evacuation under challenging conditions. The release was issued on 18 October 2026.
Aircraft:
C-130J
Patient:
30 years old civilian
Route:
Leh to Palam
Why it matters for exams: Casualty evacuation missions test knowledge of the Air Force's transport fleet and of Leh and Palam as military air bases.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
C-130J Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules — A tactical transport aircraft used by the Indian Air Force for airlift and special operations.
Palam Air Force Station Palam, Delhi — An Indian Air Force station in Delhi used for transport operations.
AIIMS All India Institute of Medical Sciences — A central government medical institution and referral hospital.
Background
This background note explains a variety the Press Information Bureau has just put out a backgrounder on.
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute has developed nutrient-rich coloured potato varieties, among them Kufri Neelkanth, Kufri Manik and Kufri Jamunia.
These varieties carry antioxidants and micronutrients such as anthocyanins, iron and zinc.
Kufri Jamunia stands out for higher levels of Vitamin C, anthocyanins and carotenoids, and for its purple flesh.
Biofortification raises the nutrient content of a crop through plant breeding, unlike conventional fortification which adds nutrients during processing.
The aim is to address hidden hunger, which occurs when people eat enough calories but lack essential vitamins and minerals.
Breeding institute:
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute
Coloured varieties named:
Kufri Neelkanth, Kufri Manik, Kufri Jamunia
Why it matters for exams: Variety names and the institute that bred them, and the difference between biofortification and fortification, are both frequently asked.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Biofortification Biofortification — Raising the vitamin and mineral content of a crop through plant breeding, so the food itself carries more nutrients.
Hidden hunger Hidden hunger — A shortfall of essential vitamins and minerals even when calorie intake is adequate.