24 October 2026
The 8th All India Conference of Government Railway Police (GRP) Chiefs, convened by the Railway Protection Force, concluded in New Delhi on 23 October 2026.
It was presided over by Director General, RPF, Ms. Sonali Mishra, and attended by Chairman and CEO, Railway Board, Shri Satish Kumar, and GRP chiefs from various States and Union Territories.
A key outcome was the onboarding of GRP personnel onto the RailMadad platform by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) for passenger grievance redressal and complaint monitoring.
South Central Railway presented “Pink Patrol: Eyes in the Sky, SHAKTI on the Ground”, a women-led model combining drone surveillance with rapid-response teams.
The conference also deliberated on crowd management during Diwali and Chhath and on curbing stone-pelting on trains.
Edition:
8th All India Conference of GRP Chiefs
Convened by:
Railway Protection Force
Why it matters for exams: Railway security bodies and the RailMadad platform are standard questions on central armed police forces and e-governance.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
GRP Government Railway Police — The State police wing posted on railway premises to handle law and order on the railways.
24 October 2026
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 24 October 2026 extended greetings to all personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on their Raising Day.
He praised the ITBP Himveers for distinguishing themselves through their exceptional valour.
The Prime Minister said they have always risen to every challenge with remarkable determination.
He added that their selfless service and sacrifices are a source of immense inspiration to the nation.
The message was shared on X and tagged the ITBP's official handle.
Force:
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
Occasion:
Raising Day
Why it matters for exams: ITBP is one of the central armed police forces and its Raising Day and nickname Himveers are frequently asked.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
ITBP Indo-Tibetan Border Police — A central armed police force deployed along the India-China border.
24 October 2026
Indian athletes swept the podium in the Men's Javelin Throw at the Asian Para Games, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said on 23 October 2026.
Sumit won the gold medal in the event.
Mahendra Gurjar took silver with a Games Record.
Sandip Sanjay Sargar claimed bronze, also with a Games Record.
The Prime Minister called it a proud moment for Indian para-athletics.
Gold:
Sumit
Silver:
Mahendra Gurjar (Games Record)
Bronze:
Sandip Sanjay Sargar (Games Record)
Why it matters for exams: Medal winners and record-setters at the Asian Para Games are standard current affairs sports questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
24 October 2026
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal on 23 October 2026 inaugurated the corporate office of Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) at the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development in New Delhi.
SMFCL is described as India's first dedicated Non Banking Financial Company in the maritime sector.
As on 30 September 2026, SMFCL had sanctioned Rs 11,563 crore of financing and disbursed Rs 5,107 crore.
It aims to reach cumulative disbursements of Rs 60,205 crore by the end of FY2031, in line with RBI norms on its debt-to-equity ratio.
The Maritime Development Fund is moving towards a first close of Rs 5,000 crore.
Disbursed:
Rs 5,107 crore
Sanctioned:
Rs 11,563 crore
Target by FY2031:
Rs 60,205 crore
Why it matters for exams: SMFCL, the Maritime Development Fund and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 are frequently asked in banking and economy papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
NBFC Non Banking Financial Company — A company that lends and invests but does not hold a banking licence.
24 October 2026
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs convened the Third Regional Review Conference on implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 in Srinagar on 23 October 2026.
Senior officials from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir took part.
They reviewed pending claims, recognition of forest rights, Community Forest Resource Rights and livelihood convergence.
The conference concluded the regional review series, which began in Bengaluru on 10 September 2026 and continued in Kolkata on 9 October 2026.
Time-bound action plans were emphasised for the seven States and Union Territory.
Venue:
Srinagar
States/UT taking part:
Seven
Why it matters for exams: The Forest Rights Act 2006 and Community Forest Resource Rights are core polity and environment topics.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
FRA Forest Rights Act — The 2006 law that recognises the forest rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
24 October 2026
Union Minister for Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav are to inaugurate the Satna-Devendra Nagar (53 km) and Rewa-Churhat (65 km) rail sections on 24 October 2026, as announced by the Ministry of Railways on 23 October 2026.
The two sections cover a total of 118 kilometres of railway line in the Vindhya region.
The new Devendra Nagar-Churhat train service is to be flagged off on the occasion.
Sidhi district will be connected to the rail network for the first time since Independence.
A budget allocation of ₹15,188 crore has been made for railway development in Madhya Pradesh in the financial year 2026-27, with projects worth approximately ₹1,18,379 crore in progress in the state.
Satna-Devendra Nagar:
53 km
Rewa-Churhat:
65 km
MP railway budget FY 2026-27:
₹15,188 crore
Why it matters for exams: New rail sections, their lengths and the districts they connect are standard infrastructure questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
24 October 2026
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, under Operation Deep Manifest, intercepted a consignment of around 25,000 kg of Pakistan-origin watermelon seeds, the Ministry of Finance said on 23 October 2026.
The operation was conducted between 11 September and 22 October 2026.
The consignment was routed through Dubai and falsely declared as of UAE origin to evade India's prohibition on goods originating in or exported from Pakistan.
The seeds were shipped from Karachi Port to Jebel Ali Port and then imported through Nhava Sheva Port, declared as UAE-origin muskmelon seeds.
Two persons were arrested on 22 October 2026, and total detection under the operation stands at 46,920 kg of Pakistani-origin watermelon and muskmelon seeds.
Seized in this case:
around 25,000 kg
Total detection:
46,920 kg
Port of import:
Nhava Sheva Port
Why it matters for exams: DRI operations and import prohibitions are asked in economy, customs and internal security sections.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
DRI Directorate of Revenue Intelligence — India's apex anti-smuggling intelligence and investigation agency under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
24 October 2026
The Department of Commerce and EEPC India held a Chintan Shivir for the engineering sector, the government said on 23 October 2026.
The sessions were held to chart a strategy for total engineering goods exports of US$250 billion by 2030.
India's engineering exports crossed US$70 billion in the first half of FY 2026-27, registering nearly 20 per cent growth.
Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Rajesh Agrawal highlighted the resilience of India's exports and called for greater global competitiveness.
Discussions covered availability of quality raw materials at competitive prices and better use of free trade pacts for market access.
Target by 2030:
US $250 billion
H1 FY 2026-27 exports:
over US$70 billion
Why it matters for exams: Export targets, apex export promotion councils and half-year trade figures are common economy questions.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
EEPC Engineering Export Promotion Council — India's apex body for promoting engineering goods exports.
24 October 2026
Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, launched the development phase of India's National Plan of Action for small-scale inland fisheries, the government said on 23 October 2026.
The plan is being developed under the framework of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
It is led by the Department of Fisheries in collaboration with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation.
A two-day national workshop in Bhopal identified priorities including consultations with fishing communities and other stakeholders.
The Union Fisheries Secretary said India has set a target of 30 million tonnes in fish production in the next five years.
Fish production target:
30 million tonnes in next 5 years
Workshop venue:
Bhopal
Why it matters for exams: Fisheries production targets and the FAO small-scale fisheries framework are asked in agriculture and economy sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
BOBP-IGO Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation — An inter-governmental body for small-scale fisheries development in the Bay of Bengal region.
24 October 2026
The Ministry of Steel released half-year data for the steel sector on 23 October 2026.
Crude steel production in April-September 2026 was 85.1 Mt against 82.7 Mt in the same period of the previous year, a rise of 2.9 per cent.
Finished steel production rose to 82.0 Mt from 78.8 Mt, a growth of 4.1 per cent.
Hot metal production was 48.4 Mt against 47.2 Mt.
India's annual crude steel capacity stood at 223.0 Mt, with the top seven producers accounting for 117.4 Mt of it.
Crude steel, Apr-Sep 2026:
85.1 Mt
Finished steel, Apr-Sep 2026:
82.0 Mt
Annual crude steel capacity:
223.0 Mt
Why it matters for exams: Half-year steel output and capacity figures are directly asked in economy and current affairs papers.
UPSCSSCBank
24 October 2026
The Centre for Development of Telematics, the telecom research and development centre of the Department of Telecommunications, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, announced on 23 October 2026.
The MoU establishes C-DOT's sixth Centre of Excellence.
The centre will focus on 5G Advanced and 6G, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and advanced wireless systems.
It is intended as a platform for collaborative research, technology development and capacity building in emerging communication technologies.
The collaboration aims to bridge academic research with real-world technology requirements.
Host institution:
IIT (BHU), Varanasi
Which Centre of Excellence:
Sixth
Why it matters for exams: C-DOT is the Department of Telecommunications' R&D arm and its Centres of Excellence are asked in science and technology sections.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
C-DOT Centre for Development of Telematics — The telecom research and development centre of India's Department of Telecommunications.
24 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India on 23 October 2026 released the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Eleventh Amendment Directions, 2026.
The directions implement the latest leverage ratio framework, the Leverage Ratio 2017 Standard issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
A draft of the amendment directions had been issued on August 7, 2026, inviting feedback from stakeholders until August 28, 2026.
Feedback received on the draft was examined and consequent modifications were incorporated in the final amendment directions.
The instructions will come into effect from April 1, 2027.
Directions:
Eleventh Amendment Directions, 2026
Effective from:
April 1, 2027
Draft issued:
August 7, 2026
Why it matters for exams: The leverage ratio is a core Basel III concept and the effective date is a likely one-mark question.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
BCBS Basel Committee on Banking Supervision — The global standard setter for the prudential regulation of banks, based at Basel.