21 October 2026
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India raised the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50 per cent at its 63rd meeting, held from 5 to 7 October 2026 and chaired by Governor Shri Sanjay Malhotra. The Standing Deposit Facility rate stands at 5.25 per cent and the Marginal Standing Facility rate and the Bank Rate at 5.75 per cent each. The Committee changed its stance to calibrated tightening. Dr. Nagesh Kumar and Prof. Ram Singh voted to retain the stance at neutral. The Committee projected real GDP growth of 7.1 per cent and CPI inflation of 5.2 per cent for 2026-27, with core inflation at 4.4 per cent. The minutes of the meeting were released on 21 October 2026 and the next meeting is set for 2 to 4 December 2026.
Policy repo rate:
5.50 per cent
Rate change:
25 basis points
Stance:
Calibrated tightening
CPI inflation projection 2026-27:
5.2 per cent
Real GDP growth projection 2026-27:
7.1 per cent
Why it matters for exams: The repo rate and the policy stance are standard one-mark questions in every banking and economy section.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MPC Monetary Policy Committee — The six-member committee that fixes the policy repo rate under the Reserve Bank of India Act.
SDF Standing Deposit Facility — The window through which banks park surplus funds with the Reserve Bank without collateral.
21 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India placed Puducherry Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd under directions from the close of business on 21 October 2026. The directions were issued under sub-section (1) of Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and will stay in force for six months, subject to review. Depositors may withdraw up to Rs 5,000 from savings, current or other accounts. Without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank the bank cannot grant or renew loans and advances, make investments, incur liabilities including borrowing, accept fresh deposits or dispose of its properties. Eligible depositors can claim deposit insurance of up to Rs 5,00,000 from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation. The Reserve Bank said the directions are not a cancellation of the bank's licence.
Withdrawal limit:
Rs 5,000
Deposit insurance cover:
Rs 5,00,000
Duration of directions:
Six months
Legal provision:
Section 35A, Banking Regulation Act, 1949
Why it matters for exams: Section 35A directions and the DICGC insurance ceiling of Rs 5,00,000 are repeat questions in banking awareness.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DICGC Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation — A wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank that insures bank deposits up to Rs 5,00,000 per depositor per bank.
21 October 2026
The Index of Core Industries grew 7.9 per cent year on year in September 2026 on provisional figures, against a final 5.9 per cent in August 2026. The base year of the index is 2022-23. Iron ore recorded the fastest growth at 18.4 per cent, followed by electricity at 11.4 per cent, coal at 10.7 per cent, refinery products at 10.3 per cent and cement at 9.8 per cent. Steel grew 4.9 per cent. Fertilizers contracted 11.7 per cent, natural gas 4.6 per cent and crude oil 1.4 per cent. The overall index stood at 118.3 for September 2026. Cumulative growth for April to September 2026 was 5.1 per cent, against 2.5 per cent in the same period of the previous year, with the cumulative index at 119.3.
Growth in September 2026:
7.9 per cent
Fastest growing sector:
Iron ore, 18.4 per cent
Sharpest contraction:
Fertilizers, -11.7 per cent
Base year:
2022-23
Cumulative growth April-September 2026:
5.1 per cent
Why it matters for exams: The core industries index and its component sectors are a standard data question in the economy section.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ICI Index of Core Industries — A monthly index of output in key infrastructure sectors, compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser.
21 October 2026
The 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise, SIMBEX-2026, began at Visakhapatnam on 21 October 2026 and runs to 26 October. The Republic of Singapore Navy ship RSS Supreme arrived at Visakhapatnam on 21 October and the opening ceremony was held aboard INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta. The Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Eastern Naval Command and the Republic of Singapore Navy Fleet Commander attended. The harbour phase from 21 to 23 October covers professional interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, cross-deck visits and planning conferences. The sea phase from 24 to 26 October in the Bay of Bengal covers anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface and anti-air warfare drills, seamanship evolutions and tactical manoeuvres. The exercise began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King.
Edition:
33rd
Dates:
21 to 26 October 2026
Host port:
Visakhapatnam
Original name:
Exercise Lion King, 1994
Singapore ship:
RSS Supreme
Why it matters for exams: Names, editions and host locations of bilateral military exercises are asked every year.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SIMBEX Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise — The annual naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy, held since 1994.
ASW Anti-Submarine Warfare — Naval operations to detect and attack enemy submarines.
21 October 2026
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth about Rs 770 crore on 21 October 2026 in New Delhi for the procurement of Improved Low Level Light Weight Radar, or LLLR-I, for the Indian Army. The contract was signed with Bharat Electronic Limited in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh. The radar can detect and track fighter-sized targets as well as small drones, and can prioritise aerial targets to help counter unmanned aerial system threats. The Ministry placed the order as part of its effort to indigenise air defence platforms and to support domestic defence manufacturing, including micro, small and medium enterprises.
Contract value:
₹770 Cr
Equipment:
Improved Low Level Light Weight Radar (LLLR-I)
Vendor:
Bharat Electronic Limited
User service:
Indian Army
Why it matters for exams: Defence contract values, the vendor and the equipment name are direct one-mark questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
BEL Bharat Electronics Limited — A defence public sector undertaking that makes radars, communication and electronic warfare systems.
21 October 2026
The ninth edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Exercise, IBSAMAR IX 2026, concluded on 20 October 2026 at Simon's Town in South Africa. The exercise brought together the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa for ten days of joint activities across a harbour phase and a sea phase. INS Tarkash represented the Indian Navy, and its Commanding Officer spoke at the closing ceremony. The programme covered professional exchanges, operational interactions, joint training and maritime evolutions. The stated aims were to improve interoperability, strengthen operational cooperation and build mutual understanding among the three navies.
Edition:
Ninth (IBSAMAR IX 2026)
Participating navies:
India, Brazil, South Africa
Venue:
Simon's Town, South Africa
Indian ship:
INS Tarkash
Duration:
Ten days
Why it matters for exams: IBSAMAR is the naval exercise of the IBSA grouping and its participants and venue are asked directly.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IBSA India, Brazil, South Africa Dialogue Forum — A trilateral grouping of three democracies from three continents of the Global South.
21 October 2026
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs of India and the New Zealand Customs Service signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on 19 October 2026 for the electronic exchange of origin data on trade in goods. Shri Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, and Christine Stevenson, Comptroller and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service, signed the document. The arrangement provides for origin data to be exchanged in advance between the two customs administrations. The Memorandum was signed under the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on 20 October 2026. The stated purpose is to deepen customs cooperation, support trade facilitation, reduce information gaps and help eligible businesses in both countries receive agreement benefits with greater certainty.
Date of signing:
19 October 2026
Indian signatory:
Shri Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman, CBIC
New Zealand signatory:
Christine Stevenson, Comptroller and Chief Executive, NZCS
Free trade agreement in force from:
20 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Rules of origin and the institutions that administer a free trade agreement are examined in the economy and international relations sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CBIC Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs — The apex body under the Department of Revenue that administers customs, central excise and GST.
MoC Memorandum of Cooperation — A written arrangement between two administrations setting out how they will work together.
21 October 2026
The Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan of the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region invoked all 25 action points of Stage-I with immediate effect across the entire National Capital Region on 21 October 2026. Delhi's daily average Air Quality Index stood at 244 at 2 PM and 245 at 4 PM in the Central Pollution Control Board bulletin, both in the Poor category, which covers the range 201 to 300. The measures include dust control and proper handling of construction and demolition waste, regular waste lifting, a ban on open burning of biomass and municipal waste, traffic synchronisation, enforcement of pollution under control norms, restrictions on diesel generator sets and on inter-city buses from certain states unless they are electric, compressed natural gas or BS-VI diesel, and a ban on coal and firewood in tandoors at eateries. The Sub-Committee said it will continue to review air quality and the forecasts of the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
Stage invoked:
Stage-I, all 25 action points
Delhi AQI at 4 PM:
245
AQI category:
Poor, 201 to 300
Body:
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR
Why it matters for exams: The graded response plan stages, the Air Quality Index bands and the commission that runs them are examined every winter.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
GRAP Graded Response Action Plan — A set of emergency measures for the National Capital Region that tighten in stages as air quality worsens.
CAQM Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas — A statutory body that issues binding directions on air quality in the capital region.
21 October 2026
Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 21 October 2026, a three-day event. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi also addressed the session. Citing a study by The Energy and Resources Institute, Shri Joshi said 47.5 million hectares, about 30 per cent of India's 116 million hectares of agricultural land, are technically suitable for agrivoltaics, and that Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh hold 50 per cent of that suitable land. India's average landholding is 0.96 hectares and over 85 per cent of farmers are small and marginal. The technology has been found to raise crop yields by 10 to 20 per cent. Shri Joshi said using 10 per cent of the suitable area could meet India's projected electricity demand up to 2050 and announced that the next phase of PM-KUSUM will carry a large agrivoltaics programme. Non-fossil energy capacity exceeds 308 GW and 30 lakh agricultural pumps have been solarised under PM-KUSUM.
Edition and venue:
7th, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Land technically suitable:
47.5 million hectares
Share of agricultural land:
about 30 per cent of 116 million hectares
Yield gain reported:
10 to 20 per cent
Pumps solarised under PM-KUSUM:
30 lakh
Why it matters for exams: Agrivoltaics, the PM-KUSUM scheme and India's non-fossil capacity figures are high-frequency questions in agriculture and energy.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Agrivoltaics Agrivoltaics — Growing crops and generating solar power on the same piece of land.
PM-KUSUM Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan — A central scheme to solarise agricultural pumps and set up small solar plants on farm land.
22 October 2026
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare announced on 21 October 2026 that it will launch Khet Bachao Abhiyan - Rabi 2026, which will run from 22 October to 30 November 2026. Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch it from Karnal in Haryana. The campaign promotes sustainable agriculture and soil health and the judicious use of agricultural resources. Its focus areas include soil-test-based balanced fertilizer use with green ammonia and biological products, crop diversification through the oilseed, pulse and horticulture missions, use of rice fallows after the paddy harvest, crop residue management, water conservation and groundwater recharge, natural and regenerative farming, integrated pest management, farmer ID creation and awareness of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Kisan Credit Card coverage. The Ministry aims to reach about one crore participants through ATMA and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, using 4,150 teams of Krishi Vigyan Kendras and ATMA and more than 12,000 scientists and ATMA functionaries.
Campaign period:
22 October to 30 November 2026
Launch venue:
Karnal, Haryana
Participation target:
About 1 crore
Teams deployed:
4,150
Scientists and functionaries:
More than 12,000
Why it matters for exams: Campaign names, their period and the agencies that deliver them are standard scheme questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ATMA Agricultural Technology Management Agency — A district-level body that coordinates agricultural extension work.
KVK Krishi Vigyan Kendra — A farm science centre that transfers technology to farmers at the district level.
21 October 2026
Union Home Secretary Shri Govind Mohan said at a press conference on 21 October 2026 that the main Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations will be held on 31 October 2026 at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat. The Prime Minister will pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity in the morning, and the Ekta Parade and all performances will be held in the evening, a timing chosen to avoid daytime heat. The parade will highlight the work of state police forces, Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organisations and will mark India's end of armed Naxalism in 2026, with a short film on LED screens as each contingent passes the Prime Minister. The National School of Drama will stage a play titled Naxal Mukt Bharat with about 2,000 artists from 126 districts once affected by armed Naxalism, and about 5,000 people from those districts are invited as spectators. The play is based on Anandamath, the novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya, and the cultural theme is Vande Mataram, marking its 150th year. Fifteen tableaux will be built from designs submitted through national competitions on MyGov and district-level competitions in Gujarat, and about 5,000 artists will present a performance combining about 50 cultural elements.
Date of celebration:
31 October 2026
Venue:
Ekta Nagar, Gujarat
Districts represented:
126
Tableaux:
15
Cultural theme:
Vande Mataram, 150th year
Why it matters for exams: The date and venue of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and the anniversary of Vande Mataram are frequent one-mark questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CAPF Central Armed Police Forces — The seven central forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the CRPF and the BSF.
NSD National School of Drama — India's premier theatre training institution, under the Ministry of Culture.
21 October 2026
Simran won the gold medal in the women's 100m T12 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, clocking a time that set a new Games Record. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated her and said her speed, determination and dedication to sporting excellence are truly commendable, and wished her continued success. The T12 classification is for athletes with visual impairment. The Press Information Bureau release of 21 October 2026 carried the Prime Minister's message along with a post from the Prime Minister's Office account on X.
Athlete:
Simran
Event:
Women's 100m T12
Medal:
Gold, with a new Games Record
Games:
Asian Para Games 2026
Why it matters for exams: Medal winners and their events at the Asian Para Games are asked directly in the sports section.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
T12 Track classification 12 — A para athletics class for runners with visual impairment, where T stands for track.