18 October 2026
A stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbajanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata killed at least 19 people and injured 25. Kolkata Police arrested seven people, including the secretary and vice president of the puja committee, two security in-charges and a person in charge of construction work; 14 people had been detained. A suo motu case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was registered at the Girish Park Police Station. Police said the stampede happened in the evening because of heavy crowds of pandal hoppers amid rainfall. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who visited Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, said a special investigation team headed by a judge of the state High Court would look into the disaster, and that a seven-year-old girl was among the dead. The Prime Minister's Office announced 2 lakh rupees for the next of kin of each person who died and 50,000 rupees for each injured person. About 3,500 Durga Puja pavilions had been set up across Kolkata, and several of the most heavily attended were asked to close temporarily.
Deaths:
At least 19
Arrested:
7
Relief for next of kin:
Rs 2 lakh
Why it matters for exams: Crowd management failures at mass religious events are a standing disaster-management topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
18 October 2026
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will visit Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to represent India at the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, scheduled for October 19-20, 2026. The meeting will focus on strengthening multilateral cooperation among SCO Member States, particularly in trade, economy, investment, connectivity, innovation and cultural and humanitarian exchanges. It is also expected to review the progress of ongoing cooperation initiatives and to consider decisions relating to the Organisation's financial and institutional functioning. India contributes to regional cooperation through initiatives in start-ups and innovation, digital public infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges. The previous Council of Heads of Government meeting was held in Moscow, Russia, on November 18, 2025, where India was represented by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
Meeting:
25th SCO Council of Heads of Government
Venue and dates:
Dushanbe, Tajikistan, October 19-20, 2026
Previous meeting:
Moscow, November 18, 2025
Why it matters for exams: SCO organs and India's representation at them are frequently asked in international relations sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SCO Shanghai Cooperation Organisation — A Eurasian grouping whose Council of Heads of Government handles trade and economic cooperation.
18 October 2026
KONKAN-26, the India-UK bilateral maritime exercise, concluded off Plymouth in the United Kingdom on 15 Oct 2026. The exercise was conducted from 08-15 Oct 2026 and enabled the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy to engage across professional and operational domains. The Indian Navy was represented by the stealth frigate INS Trishul, while the Royal Navy deployed HMS Sutherland, a Duke-class anti-submarine warfare frigate. The exercise was conducted by Fleet Operational Standards and Training of the Royal Navy. The four-day Sea Phase, held from 12-15 Oct 2026, covered advanced seamanship manoeuvres, joint tactical exercises, communication procedures, anti-surface asymmetric warfare, anti-submarine warfare and weapon firings in a multi-threat maritime environment.
Dates:
08-15 Oct 2026
Indian ship:
INS Trishul
Royal Navy ship:
HMS Sutherland
Why it matters for exams: Named bilateral exercises and the ships taking part are standard objective-question material.
Kerala PSCUPSC
18 October 2026
The National Biodiversity Authority has disbursed Rs 1.19 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one Union Territory Biodiversity Council. The amount represents contributions received from companies for research and commercial utilisation of agricultural biological resources, covering maize, rice, pearl millet and cotton. Allocations were determined in proportion to the estimated cultivation areas of the respective biological resources, using agricultural statistics from the Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics. Maharashtra received the largest share at Rs 19,46,149, followed by Rajasthan at Rs 13,97,525 and Madhya Pradesh at Rs 13,32,250, with a total of Rs 1,18,61,655. The funds are to be used only for activities specified under Section 32(2) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The Authority has so far disbursed Rs 86 crore realised from the agriculture sector and more than Rs 203 crore in all. The release comes ahead of the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026.
Amount disbursed:
Rs 1,18,61,655
Highest-receiving State:
Maharashtra, Rs 19,46,149
Total disbursed so far:
More than Rs 203 crore
Why it matters for exams: Connects the Biological Diversity Act, the ABS mechanism and the upcoming biodiversity COP.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ABS Access and Benefit Sharing — The mechanism by which users of biological resources share benefits with conservers.
18 October 2026
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas reviewed enforcement actions and compliance across the National Capital Region at the 141st meeting of its Enforcement Task Force, held on 16.10.2026. During the 15-day reporting period from 25.09.2026 to 09.10.2026, 124 inspections were reported, comprising six at Construction and Demolition sites, 54 in the industrial sector and 64 relating to Diesel Generator sets. These resulted in 55 reported violations. Proposed actions include closure of two Construction and Demolition projects and three industrial units and sealing of 12 units across the industrial and Diesel Generator sectors. As on 16.10.2026 the Commission's Flying Squads had inspected 28,868 units, projects and entities across the region, leading to 1,837 Closure Directions, of which 1,491 Resumption Orders had been issued after verification of compliance. The Commission directed that inspections should preferably focus on Red and Orange category industries, particularly those having furnaces and boilers.
Inspections in the period:
124
Violations reported:
55
Flying Squad inspections to date:
28,868
Why it matters for exams: Shows how a statutory commission enforces air quality rules and the categories it prioritises.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CAQM Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas — The statutory body that directs air pollution control in and around Delhi.
18 October 2026
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through MY Bharat and the National Service Scheme, launched Month 2 of the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat 100 Week Sankalp Abhiyan with a nationwide observance of Yoga evam Aatm-Suraksha Diwas on October 16, 2026. The campaign has entered its second month under the theme Fit Youth, Addiction-Free Youth. The Week 5 intervention saw 91,179 participants across 183 educational institutions, National Service Scheme units and adopted villages nationwide. There were 332 yoga sessions engaging 34,290 participants, including 19,882 women, and 311 self-defence demonstrations reaching 31,507 participants, including 18,364 women. A further 180 community awareness activities engaged 25,391 participants. The yoga sessions used the Common Yoga Protocol and relaxation techniques, while the self-defence demonstrations covered practical safety techniques, situational awareness and personal security.
Participants in Week 5:
91,179
Yoga sessions:
332
Self-defence demonstrations:
311
Why it matters for exams: A named national youth campaign with participation figures, useful for scheme questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
18 October 2026
The All India Institute of Ayurveda signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth of the Ministry of Ayush during KAUMARACON 2026 at New Delhi. The agreement recognises the Department of Kaumarbhritya at the Institute's Delhi and Goa campuses as a Centre of Excellence for Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth. It covers standard operating procedures and training in Kaumarbhritya, which is Ayurveda paediatrics, along with intellectual property rights and capacity building in policy research. A central objective is to develop a standard operating procedure for Swarnaprashan Samskar through joint expert consultations, addressing formulation standardisation, preparation, administration and dosage appropriate to the age and strength of the child. The Institute's Goa campus has established PRAYAS, an integrated paediatric neurorehabilitation centre for children with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A separate international Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Goa campus and Maharishi International University, Fairfield, Iowa, for an Academic Chair in Ayurveda in the university's Department of Physiology and Health.
Conference:
KAUMARACON 2026
Partner institution:
Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth
International chair:
Maharishi International University, Fairfield, Iowa
Why it matters for exams: Ayush institutions, Kaumarbhritya and international Ayurveda chairs recur in health and culture sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Kaumarbhritya Ayurveda paediatrics — The branch of Ayurveda dealing with child health and development.
18 October 2026
The Department of Commerce organised a Leveraging FTAs outreach programme in Jaipur, Rajasthan, to create awareness about the benefits available under India's Free Trade Agreements and to help exporters use them. The programme was addressed by Joint Secretary Shri Mohit Yadav and drew exporters, the Government of Rajasthan, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, the Jaipur Special Economic Zone and the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council. Cumulative exports of merchandise and services during April-September 2026-27 are estimated at US$ 476.20 billion, against US$ 418.31 billion in the corresponding period of 2025-26, an estimated growth of 13.84 per cent. Major drivers of merchandise export growth in September 2026 included electronic goods, petroleum products, organic and inorganic chemicals, engineering goods, and cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom products. A presentation noted that India ranks eighth among global gems and jewellery exporters with a 2.9 per cent share in the US$ 1 trillion global market. Discussions covered rules of origin, tariff preferences, certification and buyer linkages.
Exports April-September 2026-27:
US$ 476.20 billion
Growth:
13.84%
India's rank in gems and jewellery exports:
Eighth, with a 2.9% share
Why it matters for exams: Gives the current half-year export figure and India's rank in gems and jewellery exports.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
FTA Free Trade Agreement — A treaty giving partner countries preferential or zero-duty access to each other's markets.
18 October 2026
The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team of the Indian Air Force will present a nine-aircraft aerobatic display at Namo Ghat in Varanasi as part of the Indian Air Force Display 2026, held to mark the 94th anniversary of the Service. The team will fly nine Hawk Mk 132 aircraft manufactured under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, performing loops, barrel rolls, inverted flying and the DNA manoeuvre, with saffron, white and green smoke trails. The Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932 and completes 94 years of service in 2026. The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team was established in 1996 and has more than 850 displays to its credit, earning it recognition as the Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force. Five officers of the team are from Uttar Pradesh, performing in their home state.
Aircraft:
Nine Hawk Mk 132
Air Force established:
8 October 1932
Team established:
1996
Why it matters for exams: Air Force foundation date, the Hawk trainer and the aerobatic team's year of establishment are standard facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
18 October 2026
The five-day Agniveer Recruitment Rally 2026 concluded at the Dasarath Deb State Sports Complex, Badharghat, Agartala. The drive ran from 13 to 17 October 2026 and was led by the Army Recruiting Office Silchar under Headquarters Recruiting Zone (North East States) Shillong, in coordination with the Spear Corps and the civil administration of Tripura. The rally saw a total strength of 1,203 shortlisted aspirants who had cleared the Common Entrance Examination, described as record participation from the state. Candidates went through a multi-stage evaluation of physical fitness, operational capability and medical readiness. The civil administration, state police and the sports complex management provided holding zones, drinking water facilities, emergency medical stations and crowd management support. The Indian Army said the selection process under the Agnipath Scheme remains transparent, fair and merit-based.
Shortlisted aspirants:
1,203
Dates:
13 to 17 October 2026
Recruiting office:
Army Recruiting Office Silchar
Why it matters for exams: Agnipath recruitment machinery, including recruiting zones and the Common Entrance Examination.
Kerala PSCUPSC
18 October 2026
The Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 is being held at the Mysuru Dasara Exhibition Grounds in Karnataka from October 11 and will conclude on October 19. It is organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through three national corporations: the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation. The nine-day Mela features 83 stalls, of which 80 are allotted to artisans, among them 37 women artisans. Artisans from 12 States and Union Territories are taking part, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Products on display include handicrafts, handloom sarees, spices, block-printed items, leather goods, wooden toys, terracotta products and rosewood wall hangings. Union Secretary Shri Sudhansh Pant is visiting the Mela and reviewing the Ministry's schemes in Mysuru.
Stalls:
83, of which 80 for artisans
Women artisans:
37
States and Union Territories:
12
Why it matters for exams: Names the three national finance and development corporations under the social justice ministry.
Kerala PSCUPSC