27 October 2026
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) reported total telephone subscribers of 1,367.93 million at the end of September 2026, made up of 1,319.19 million wireless and 48.74 million wireline connections. Overall teledensity was 95.52 per cent including machine-to-machine connections, with urban teledensity at 155.85 per cent and rural teledensity at 61.30 per cent. Broadband subscribers stood at 1,107.68 million, and about 16.77 million customers requested mobile number portability during the month.
Total telephone subscribers:
1,367.93 million
Wireless subscribers:
1,319.19 million
Overall teledensity:
95.52%
Broadband subscribers:
1,107.68 million
Why it matters for exams: TRAI is the statutory regulator that publishes India's monthly telecom subscription data, and teledensity is the standard measure it reports.
UPSCSSCBank
In plain words
TRAI Telecom Regulatory Authority of India — The statutory regulator for telecom tariffs and services in India.
MNP Mobile Number Portability — Lets a subscriber keep the same number while changing operator.
27 October 2026
At the high-level segment of the seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at Yerevan in Armenia, Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav said India's updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan converts the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into 23 national targets and 142 indicators. He listed 1,134 protected areas, 103 Ramsar sites, 57 biodiversity heritage sites and 18 biosphere reserves, 13 of them in UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Network, and said India supports benefit sharing from digital sequence information on genetic resources, including through the Cali Fund.
Meeting:
CBD COP-17, Yerevan, Armenia
National targets:
23
Indicators:
142
Ramsar sites:
103
Why it matters for exams: COP-17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity met at Yerevan, and India's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan carries 23 national targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan — A country's plan for meeting its commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
27 October 2026
Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the third formal meeting of the COP10 Bureau of the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport in New Delhi, along with the fourth formal meeting of the Fund Approval Committee for 2026-27. India is a vice-president representing Group IV on the Bureau. He said India strengthened its legal framework through the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 and its 2025 amendment, both of which came into force in July 2026, and that the National Anti-Doping Agency conducted over 7,000 tests and more than 350 education and awareness sessions in 2025-26 reaching 27,000 participants. The Bureau chair is Farid Gayibov of Azerbaijan and Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao is a vice-chair.
Meeting:
Third formal meeting of the COP10 Bureau
India's role:
Vice-president representing Group IV
NADA tests in 2025-26:
over 7,000
Why it matters for exams: The International Convention against Doping in Sport is a UNESCO treaty, India's anti-doping law is the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, and the National Anti-Doping Agency is the body that tests athletes.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
NADA National Anti-Doping Agency — India's national anti-doping organisation, which tests athletes and runs education.
27 October 2026
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, on the theme Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development, concluded in New Delhi after adopting a joint declaration by consensus. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who inaugurated and closed the Forum, handed the BRICS chairship for 2027 to China; India held the chairship in 2026. The declaration reaffirms the principles of the United Nations Charter including sovereign equality and non-interference, supports greater representation for the Global South and reform of the United Nations Security Council, and condemns cross-border terrorism and terror financing.
Edition:
12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum
Theme:
Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development
Chairship handed to:
China, for 2027
Why it matters for exams: The BRICS chairship for 2027 goes to China, and the Parliamentary Forum is hosted by the presiding officer of the host country's legislature.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
27 October 2026
The All India Institute of Ayurveda, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Ayush, presented results of its Public Health Initiative in Faridabad district of Haryana. Under it 5,594 people aged 60 to 80 were screened over three months and given Ayurvedic medicines, while a dementia-focused component screened 200 patients over four months. Baseline screening found vision problems in 67.73 per cent, physical inactivity in 43.05 per cent and cognitive decline in 6.85 per cent of those covered. Over 60 days the total score on the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument rose from 292.0 to 326.3. The institute said the findings need detailed scientific evaluation, continued safety monitoring and further studies before they can be confirmed.
People screened:
5,594 aged 60 to 80
Vision problems at baseline:
67.73%
Quality of life score:
292.0 to 326.3
Why it matters for exams: The All India Institute of Ayurveda is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Ayush, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument is the standard measure of quality of life.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
AIIA All India Institute of Ayurveda — An autonomous institute of the Ministry of Ayush at New Delhi.
27 October 2026
The 11th edition of the India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI has commenced at Banyuwangi, Indonesia, and is being conducted from 27 October to 06 November 2026. The Indian contingent comprises troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), while the Indonesian contingent comprises personnel from the Indonesian Special Forces. The training focuses on tactics, techniques and procedures for special operations in jungle environments, including obstacle crossing, combat marksmanship, mountaineering, air assault training and combat-hardening sessions, and will culminate with a validation exercise.
Edition:
11th
Venue:
Banyuwangi, Indonesia
Indian contingent:
Parachute Regiment (Special Forces)
Why it matters for exams: Garuda Shakti is the India-Indonesia joint special forces exercise, and the Indian contingent comes from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) - both are standard exercise-pairing questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
27 October 2026
Vigilance Awareness Week 2026 commenced with the administering of the integrity pledge to the officers and staff of the Central Vigilance Commission by Central Vigilance Commissioner A. S. Rajeev and Vigilance Commissioner Praveen Vashista at Satarkata Bhawan, New Delhi. It is being observed from 26 October to 1 November 2026 on the theme Probity for Prosperity. The Commission has advised all ministries, departments and organisations of the central government to undertake a three month preventive vigilance campaign from 17 August to 16 November 2026, with focus on disposal of pending complaints, disposal of pending cases, capacity building programmes, digital initiatives and contract management. As part of the week the Commission has organised a one-day workshop on Transformation Through Technology on 30 October 2026.
Theme:
Probity for Prosperity
Observed:
26 October to 1 November 2026
Venue of pledge:
Satarkata Bhawan, New Delhi
Preventive vigilance campaign:
17 August to 16 November 2026
Why it matters for exams: The Central Vigilance Commission was given statutory status by the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 and consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
CVC Central Vigilance Commission — The apex body advising the Union government on vigilance and anti-corruption.
27 October 2026
Speaking at a session on systems and synthetic biology at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said India's genetic and phenotypic diversity could make it an important global source of genetic resources for gene research. He said building domestic gene synthesis capacity matters because dependence on foreign suppliers causes delays and availability problems for researchers. Department of Biotechnology Secretary Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale took part in the session. The minister also referred to the recently enacted Shanti Act, which opens nuclear medicine research to private sector participation.
Event:
Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2026
Venue:
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Session:
Systems and synthetic biology
Why it matters for exams: The Department of Biotechnology sits in the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Shanti Act is the law that opens nuclear medicine research to private participation.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DBT Department of Biotechnology — The department under the Ministry of Science and Technology that funds biotechnology research.
27 October 2026
INS Tir, INS Sujata and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron arrived at Colombo in Sri Lanka. The visit includes mutual training visits between ships, a passage exercise with the Sri Lanka Navy, community outreach and ship visits open to the public, and lets trainees on board interact with their Sri Lankan counterparts. The Navy described the port call as part of India's MAHASAGAR vision for security and growth across regions.
Ships:
INS Tir, INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi
Port:
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Squadron:
First Training Squadron
Why it matters for exams: INS Tir and INS Sujata form the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron, and MAHASAGAR is India's maritime vision for the wider region.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
PASSEX Passage Exercise — A short exercise carried out when ships of two navies pass each other at sea.
27 October 2026
Viksit Bharat Buildathon, a national innovation competition for school students, has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest innovation solution competition. It is run by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog and the All India Council for Technical Education, and is built around four pillars - Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, Vocal for Local and Samriddh Bharat. The competition drew 2,87,967 project submissions across its idea and prototype tracks. Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi will felicitate ten national-level teams and innovators at the closing ceremony in New Delhi, with Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary present.
Project submissions:
2,87,967
Certification:
Guinness World Records
Partners:
Atal Innovation Mission, AICTE
Why it matters for exams: The Atal Innovation Mission sits under NITI Aayog and the All India Council for Technical Education is the national regulator for technical education - both are standard institutional questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
AICTE All India Council for Technical Education — The statutory body that regulates technical education in India.
Background
A Press Information Bureau release of the Ministry of Finance records that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech on Budget 2022-23, announced the launch of a National Tele-Mental health programme with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore being its nodal centre.
The same release states that the programme will include 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence, and that the International Institute of Information Technology- Bangalore (IIITB) will provide the necessary technological support.
At the commemoration of the golden jubilee celebrations of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) at Bengaluru on January 3, 2025, the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, said that the Bellary model of community-based mental healthcare has made history.
She said that the Tele MANAS platform uses technology to reach out to those in need.
Among the institute's initiatives named in that release are Tele MANAS, to facilitate counselling anywhere anytime, and the SAMVAAD platform to address child and adolescent mental health problems.
Nodal centre for:
The National Tele-Mental Health programme
Centres of excellence announced:
23 tele-mental health centres of excellence
Technological support:
International Institute of Information Technology- Bangalore
Model of community-based mental healthcare:
The Bellary model
Platform for child and adolescent mental health:
SAMVAAD
Why it matters for exams: The nodal institute of the National Tele-Mental Health programme, the number of centres of excellence announced and the Bellary model are asked in health and schemes questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
NIMHANS National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences — The Bengaluru institute named as the nodal centre of the National Tele-Mental Health programme.
Tele MANAS Tele MANAS — The platform the release describes as using technology to reach out to those in need, and as facilitating counselling anywhere anytime.
SAMVAAD SAMVAAD — The institute's platform to address child and adolescent mental health problems.
IIITB International Institute of Information Technology- Bangalore — The Bangalore institution named to provide the necessary technological support for the programme.
Background
Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage captures carbon dioxide from industrial sources before it reaches the atmosphere, then uses it or stores it underground, and is treated as a complement to renewable energy for hard-to-abate sectors on the way to India's net-zero target for 2070. The Union Budget 2026-27 announced a CCUS scheme with Rs 20,000 crore over five years for power, steel, cement, refinery and chemicals. National CCUS Centres were set up in 2022 at IIT Bombay and JNCASR Bengaluru with support from the Department of Science and Technology, and NITI Aayog's CCUS Policy Framework and Deployment Mechanism of November 2022 proposed a hub-and-cluster model. The Department of Science and Technology's CCUS Research and Development Roadmap identifies the Gujarat coast, the Odisha-Jharkhand belt and north-east India as potential cluster regions. Emissions from hard-to-abate sectors and thermal power are estimated to reach about 2,300 million tonnes a year by 2030.
Budget outlay:
Rs 20,000 crore over five years
National CCUS Centres:
IIT Bombay and JNCASR Bengaluru
Net-zero target:
2070
Why it matters for exams: India's two National CCUS Centres are at IIT Bombay and JNCASR Bengaluru, NITI Aayog wrote the CCUS policy framework, and India's net-zero target year is 2070.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
CCUS Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage — Capturing carbon dioxide from industry and either using it or storing it underground.
JNCASR Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research — A research institute at Bengaluru under the Department of Science and Technology.