23 October 2026
The National Statistics Office, under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, issued a press note on changes to the schedule and estimation procedure of the Periodic Labour Force Survey from January 2027. Fresh samples for the two-year period 2027-2028, forming the new Panel 6, will be drawn from an updated sampling frame. A new Second Stage Stratum for digital platform work is added, taking the count to four Second Stage Strata in rural areas and five in urban areas, with 14 households canvassed in each selected First Stage Unit. Block 5 of Schedule 0.0PL will carry a binary question on whether any household member has ever engaged in digital platform work during the reference period. Schedule 10.4 adds questions on own-use production of goods, unpaid household and caregiving activities, volunteer work and unpaid trainee work, asked of persons aged 15 and above at the first visit. For the first three months of 2027 the sample will draw First Stage Units from both the Panel 5 and Panel 6 frames, monthly bulletins will show pooled estimates, and Relative Standard Error estimates will not be published for those months. Comments have been invited within 15 days of the press note.
Changes effective from:
January 2027
Households per First Stage Unit:
14
Second Stage Strata, rural and urban:
Four rural, five urban
New panel:
Panel 6, for 2027-2028
Why it matters for exams: PLFS is the standard source for India's unemployment and labour force participation rates, and a new stratum for gig and platform work is a definitional change examiners like to test.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
PLFS Periodic Labour Force Survey — The survey that produces India's official unemployment and labour force participation estimates, begun in 2017.
NSO National Statistics Office — The office under MoSPI that conducts India's large-scale sample surveys.
FSU First Stage Unit — The village or urban block selected first in a two-stage sample design, from which households are then chosen.
23 October 2026
Sandeep Kumar, competing at his first Asian Para Games, won the gold medal in the Men's 400m T64 event and set a new world record in the process. The medal was India's 100th at the Games. The Prime Minister's Office posted a message of congratulation on X, calling it a golden moment for Indian para athletics and an outstanding performance by a debutant, made more special as India's 100th medal at the Asian Para Games. The Press Information Bureau carried the message on the evening of 23 October 2026. The T64 classification is for athletes competing with a lower limb prosthesis.
Athlete:
Sandeep Kumar
Event:
Men's 400m T64
Milestone:
India's 100th medal at the Games
Record:
New world record
Why it matters for exams: Medal milestones and the athlete who delivered them are standard one-mark sports questions, and para-sport classifications are asked separately.
Kerala PSCSSCBank
In plain words
T64 Track classification 64 — A para athletics class for runners competing with a prosthesis below the knee on one leg.
23 October 2026
The Indian Navy announced that it will conduct the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 from 3 to 5 November 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The National Maritime Foundation is the Navy's knowledge partner and the principal organiser of the conference. The theme of the 2026 edition is Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Practitioners, scientists, academics, policymakers and experts from 18 countries across the Indo-Pacific will take part. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will deliver the Commemorative Address on the second day, and Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh will give a special address in a second ministerial session the same day.
Dates:
3 to 5 November 2026
Venue:
Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi
Knowledge partner:
National Maritime Foundation
Countries taking part:
18
Theme:
Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
Why it matters for exams: The Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue is the Indian Navy's flagship strategic conference, and its host institution and theme are regularly asked.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NMF National Maritime Foundation — A New Delhi think tank on maritime affairs that serves as the Indian Navy's knowledge partner.
23 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India issued the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Forthcoming Instructions) Second Amendment Directions, 2026, on minimum capital requirements for operational risk. The amendment fixes the implementation date for the Basel III Standardised Approach for operational risk capital, provides an indicative mapping of Business Indicator components to financial statement schedules and line items, and incorporates clarifications issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision after the original directions. It amends the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Forthcoming Instructions) Directions, 2025, issued on 28 November 2025, whose Chapter IV had left the operational risk implementation date and the Business Indicator mapping to be announced later. The press release was signed by Brij Raj, Chief General Manager, and carries Press Release number 2026-2027/1380.
Directions issued:
RBI (Commercial Banks - Forthcoming Instructions) Second Amendment Directions, 2026
Directions amended:
RBI (Commercial Banks - Forthcoming Instructions) Directions, 2025, of 28 November 2025
Subject:
Minimum capital requirements for operational risk
Press Release number:
2026-2027/1380
Why it matters for exams: Basel III capital norms and the bodies that frame them are a standing topic in banking examinations, and the Standardised Approach for operational risk is the newest piece.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
Basel III Third Basel Accord — An international set of bank capital and liquidity standards framed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
Operational risk Operational risk — The risk of loss from failed internal processes, people, systems or external events, as distinct from credit or market risk.
BCBS Basel Committee on Banking Supervision — The global standard setter for the prudential regulation of banks, based at the Bank for International Settlements.
23 October 2026
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh marked International Snow Leopard Day by citing the findings of India's first Snow Leopard Population Assessment Survey. The survey counted 718 snow leopards across the Indian Himalayas, with Ladakh accounting for the largest share at 477. The Minister said the government will continue working to secure the future of the species through habitat protection and community engagement, and that India continues to lead in high-altitude wildlife conservation.
Snow leopards in the Indian Himalayas:
718
Snow leopards in Ladakh:
477
Survey:
Snow Leopard Population Assessment Survey, India's first
Minister of State:
Kirti Vardhan Singh
Why it matters for exams: The snow leopard census total and the state holding the largest share are precise figures that examiners use for one-mark environment questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Snow leopard Panthera uncia — A high-altitude big cat of the Himalayas and Central Asian mountains, listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
23 October 2026
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation identified 330 drug samples as not of standard quality in September 2026. Of these, 42 were identified by Central Drugs Laboratories and 288 by State Drugs Testing Laboratories. A sample is flagged as not of standard quality when it fails one or more of the specified quality parameters. The organisation noted that the monthly list covers only products tested by government laboratories and is not a statement about all products in the market, and that action is also taken against spurious medicines.
Samples not of standard quality:
330
Identified by Central Drugs Laboratories:
42
Identified by State Drugs Testing Laboratories:
288
Month covered:
September 2026
Why it matters for exams: CDSCO is India's national drug regulator and its monthly not-of-standard-quality list is a recurring source of figures in health governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
CDSCO Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation — India's national regulator for drugs, cosmetics and medical devices, headed by the Drugs Controller General of India.
NSQ Not of Standard Quality — The label given to a drug sample that fails one or more of its specified quality parameters on testing.
23 October 2026
Ameena Nazreen A S, one of seven high school students taking part through NAAS-YUVA, won the Global Youth Institute Award, which carries a cash prize of 500 US dollars, at the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue organised by the World Food Prize Foundation. The dialogue was held at Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States from 20 to 22 October 2026 under the theme Before Hunger Wins. The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences ran an exhibition booth featuring its own publications and those of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and seven students presented research papers on food security challenges at the Global Youth Institute. NAAS President Dr M L Jat spoke virtually at a roundtable on agricultural higher education about reimagining agricultural education and moving towards integrated agri-food systems. NAAS also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology of the United States for cooperation in research, capacity development and knowledge exchange.
Award winner:
Ameena Nazreen A S
Award:
Global Youth Institute Award, US$500
Event:
2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue
Venue and dates:
Des Moines, Iowa, 20 to 22 October 2026
Theme:
Before Hunger Wins
Why it matters for exams: The World Food Prize Foundation and the Borlaug dialogue are standard agriculture-and-awards material, and an Indian student winner is the kind of name examiners ask for.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
NAAS National Academy of Agricultural Sciences — An Indian academy of agricultural scientists that advises on agricultural research and policy.
World Food Prize World Food Prize — An international award for people who have advanced human development by improving the quality or availability of food.
23 October 2026
Polling for five seats of the 78-member Maharashtra Legislative Council was set for 23 October 2026, from 8 am to 4 pm, in biennial elections announced by the Election Commission of India. Three of the seats are Graduates constituencies, covering the Aurangabad, Pune and Nagpur divisions, and two are Teachers constituencies, covering the Amravati and Pune divisions. The notification was issued on 29 September, the last date for nominations was 6 October, scrutiny was on 7 October and the last date for withdrawal was 9 October. Counting is set for 27 October and the whole process is to be completed by 31 October. The seats fall vacant because the sitting members retire on 6 December.
Seats at stake:
Five
Strength of the Council:
78 members
Graduates constituencies:
Aurangabad, Pune and Nagpur divisions
Teachers constituencies:
Amravati and Pune divisions
Counting:
27 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: Graduates and Teachers constituencies are a distinctive feature of State Legislative Councils under Article 171 and are regularly tested.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Legislative Council Vidhan Parishad — The upper house of a State legislature, which exists in only some States and is partly elected by graduates and teachers.
Biennial election Biennial election — An election held every two years to fill the seats of members who retire by rotation.
Background
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) was founded by Sir Robert McCarrison in the year 1918 as a Beri-Beri Enquiry Unit in a single room laboratory at the Pasteur Institute, Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. Within a short span of seven years, this unit blossomed into a "Deficiency Disease Enquiry" and later in 1928, emerged as full-fledged "Nutrition Research Laboratories" (NRL) with Dr. McCarrison as its first Director. It was shifted to Hyderabad in 1958. At the time of its golden jubilee in 1969, it was renamed as National Institute of Nutrition (NIN). The Institute is located on the salubrious campus of Osmania University. Its stated vision is to eliminate all forms of malnutrition in India through healthy, sustainable and environment friendly diets and lifestyles. Among its mandates are to generate high quality evidence for tackling important public health nutrition problems among the population groups, and to conduct operational research for planning and implementation of national nutrition programs in the country.
Founded:
1918
Founder:
Sir Robert McCarrison
Shifted to Hyderabad:
1958
Campus:
Osmania University
Why it matters for exams: The founder, the Coonoor origin and the shift to Hyderabad are the three facts set on the National Institute of Nutrition in health sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Bureau records that the establishment of ICAR- National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources/National Institute of Animal Genetics in 1984 was culmination of sustained efforts made by the leading geneticists in the country over the years. The establishment was approved in principal during IV Five-Year-Plan, and effective follow-up steps were taken in this V and VI Five-Year-Plan. Finally, the Institute was set up on 21st September, 1984 at the campus at National Dairy Research Institute (Southern Regional Station), Bangalore. The Institute was shifted to Karnal on 19th July, 1985 and temporarily located in the campus of National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. The foundation stone of ICAR-NBAGR/NIAG was laid by Union Minister Sh. Buta Singh on 19th July, 1985. The ICAR- National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources and National Institute of Animal Genetics were merged in 1995 to function as a single unit in the form of ICAR- National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. The new office cum lab building of ICAR-NBAGR was inaugurated on 28th November 1998. The Bureau works from the ICAR-NBAGR Makrampur Campus, G.T. Road By-Pass, Near Basant Vihar, P.O. Box No. 129, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India.
Set up on:
21st September, 1984
First campus:
National Dairy Research Institute (Southern Regional Station), Bangalore
Shifted to Karnal:
19th July, 1985
Merged in:
1995
Why it matters for exams: Animal genetic resources and indigenous breed registration are a growing agriculture topic, and the Bureau that does it is placed at Karnal, not at Izatnagar.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Supreme Court of India states that the High Court stands at the head of the judicial administration of a State. There are 25 High Courts in the country, three having jurisdiction over more than one State. Among the Union Territories, Delhi, and Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have a High Court of their own. Other five Union Territories come under the jurisdiction of different High Courts. Each High Court comprises a Chief Justice and such other Judges as the President may, from time to time, appoint. The Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the State; the procedure for appointing puisne Judges is the same except that the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned is also consulted. Judges in the High Court hold office until the age of 62 years and are removable in the same manner as a Judge of the Supreme Court. To be eligible for appointment as a Judge one must be a citizen of India and have held a judicial office in India for ten years or must have practised as an Advocate of a High Court or two or more such Courts in succession for a similar period. There is also an Advocate General for each State appointed by the Governor, who holds office during the pleasure of the Governor.
High Courts:
25
Retirement age of a Judge:
62 years
Judicial office needed:
ten years
Union Territories with their own High Court:
Delhi, and Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Why it matters for exams: The number of High Courts, the retirement age of 62 and the ten-year eligibility rule are among the most frequently set polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Puisne Judge Puisne Judge of a High Court — A Judge of a High Court other than its Chief Justice.
Background
The Supreme Court came into existence on 26 January 1950 with the coming into force of the Constitution. On 28 January 1950, two days after India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic, the Supreme Court was inaugurated. The inauguration took place in the Chamber of Princes in the old Parliament building where the Federal Court of India sat for 12 years from 1937 to 1950, and it was attended by the first Chief Justice of India, Harilal J. Kania. The Supreme Court initially functioned from the old Parliament House till it moved to the present building located on Tilak Marg, New Delhi in 1958. The first President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the present building of the Supreme Court of India on 4 August 1958. It has a 27.6 metre high dome and a spacious colonnaded verandah. Three extensions were made to the original building- for the first time in 1979, then in 1994, and again in 2015. There are 19 courtrooms in the various wings of the building. The proceedings of the Supreme Court are conducted in English. The practice and procedure of working of the Registry on the judicial side is regulated by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 and Handbook on Practice and Procedure and Office Procedure.
Court came into existence:
26 January 1950
Inaugurated:
28 January 1950
Present building inaugurated:
4 August 1958
Courtrooms:
19
Dome height:
27.6 metre
Why it matters for exams: The Chamber of Princes, the 1958 move to Tilak Marg and the two documents that govern the Registry are the Supreme Court facts that sit outside the usual Articles.
Kerala PSCUPSC