30 October 2026
The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare, under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, will run Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Campaign 5 from 1 to 30 November 2026. It will reach about 2000 cities and districts on a saturation coverage model. The target is 2.30 crore digital life certificates, of which 1.50 crore are to be generated through face authentication. Guidelines were issued through an official memorandum dated 13 August 2026. Partners include 19 banks, 785 district post offices, 56 pensioner welfare associations, India Post Payments Bank, CGDA, Railways, EPFO and State governments. MeitY and UIDAI will give technical support for the face authentication technology, which works on Android and iOS. Camps will also offer health check-ups and Aadhaar updates, with grievance redressal officers for DLC complaints.
Campaign period:
1-30 November 2026
DLC target:
2.30 crore
Face-authenticated target:
1.50 crore
Coverage:
About 2000 cities and districts
Why it matters for exams: Fixes the ministry and department that run the Digital Life Certificate campaign and the face authentication route for pensioners' life certificates.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
DLC Digital Life Certificate — An electronic life certificate a pensioner submits to keep drawing pension, generated with Aadhaar-based authentication.
UIDAI Unique Identification Authority of India — The statutory authority that issues Aadhaar and runs its authentication services.
30 October 2026
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and CGIAR announced that the ICAR- CGIAR Science and Partnership Week will be held in New Delhi from 12 to 17 April 2027. More than 5,000 delegates are expected, including researchers, farmers, government representatives, startups and business bodies. The first edition was held at Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2025. ICAR works under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. M. L. Jat is Secretary, DARE, and Director General, ICAR; Ismahane Elouafi is Executive Managing Director of CGIAR; Himanshu Pathak is Director General of ICRISAT. CGIAR runs 15 research centres in more than 100 countries, ten of which work in India, and the partnership with India is more than five decades old. Sessions will cover climate-resilient agriculture, digital agriculture and AgriStack, farm mechanisation, millets, natural farming, water management and soil health.
Dates:
12 to 17 April 2027
Venue city:
New Delhi
Expected delegates:
More than 5,000
First edition:
Nairobi, Kenya, April 2025
Why it matters for exams: Names the host city and the two organisers of the Science and Partnership Week, and fixes ICAR's parent department and CGIAR's centre count.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
ICAR Indian Council of Agricultural Research — The apex body for agricultural research and education in India, under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education.
ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics — A CGIAR centre headquartered at Hyderabad that works on dryland crops.
29 October 2026
Hearing Ziyaul Haq and others v. Union of India, WP(c) No. 1385 of 2026, the Supreme Court said on 29 October 2026 that the entire power of appointing staff of the National Company Law Tribunal must rest with the Tribunal's President. The bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana said it was most unfortunate that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs appeared to be taking control of these appointments. Justice Bagchi said recruitment may be outsourced, but the employer-employee relationship must stay with the tribunal, and the Court suggested recruitment through the Union Public Service Commission or the Staff Selection Commission. The Court cautioned against regularising contractual staff without a proper recruitment process. It declined to hear the matter on behalf of employees with a personal stake but issued notice in the wider institutional interest. Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora appeared for the employees.
Case:
Ziyaul Haq and others v. Union of India, WP(c) No. 1385/2026
Bench:
CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana
Why it matters for exams: Links the NCLT to its parent Ministry of Corporate Affairs and states the principle that a tribunal's President, not the executive, should control its staff appointments.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NCLT National Company Law Tribunal — The tribunal constituted under the Companies Act, 2013 that decides company law and insolvency matters, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
29 October 2026
Hearing the suo motu case In Re: Victims of Digital Arrest Related to Forged Documents, SMW (Crl.) 3 of 2025, the Supreme Court recorded an order on 29 October 2026 saying the Reserve Bank of India's proposed regulations must mandate financial institutions to indemnify digital arrest or cyber fraud victims for at least the amount lost. The bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana took the view that a financial institution should face strict liability where it or its officials are found negligent in exercising due diligence. The Attorney General told the Court that the RBI's regulatory measures may be operational by December. The Court also noted work by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications, and the question of the liability of banking officials. Digital arrest is a fraud in which callers posing as law enforcement keep a victim on a video call and extract money.
Case:
In Re: Victims of Digital Arrest Related to Forged Documents, SMW (Crl.) 3/2025
Bench:
CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana
Regulator named:
Reserve Bank of India
Why it matters for exams: Fixes the Reserve Bank of India as the regulator being asked to make indemnity for cyber fraud victims mandatory, in a suo motu Supreme Court case on digital arrest.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Suo motu Suo motu — A court taking up a matter on its own, without a petition being filed before it.
MeitY Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology — The Union ministry for electronics, IT and cyber law, including rules under the Information Technology Act.
29 October 2026
The First Training Squadron (1TS) of the Indian Navy, made up of INS Tir, INS Sujata and ICGS Sarathi, left Colombo on 29 October 2026 after completing a port visit. The squadron's senior officer and the commanding officers called on the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy's Western Naval Area, and the two navies held military discussions. Indian trainees visited the Naval and Maritime Academy at Trincomalee and Sri Lanka Navy cadets from the Academy toured the squadron's ships. Indian Navy personnel joined a beach cleaning drive, and the ships were open to visitors including local residents and the Indian diaspora. On departure the squadron carried out a passage exercise, or PASSEX, with the Sri Lanka Navy ship SLNS Nandimitra. The Ministry of Defence said the visit supports the MAHASAGAR vision of regional security and growth across regions.
Ships:
INS Tir, INS Sujata, ICGS Sarathi
Exercise on departure:
PASSEX with SLNS Nandimitra
Academy visited:
Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee
Why it matters for exams: Names the ships of the First Training Squadron, the PASSEX with SLNS Nandimitra, and MAHASAGAR as India's maritime outreach vision.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PASSEX Passage Exercise — A short naval exercise two navies hold when their ships pass each other, to practise basic joint drills.
MAHASAGAR Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — India's stated maritime vision for security and growth cooperation with partner countries in the region.
30 October 2026
The Union government has formed a High Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat, first promised in the Budget speech for 2026-27.
It will examine the banking sector and suggest structural, regulatory and legal reforms to make banks globally competitive and inclusive by 2047.
Former Central Vigilance Commissioner Suresh N. Patel chairs it.
The members are RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu, former Indian Bank MD and CEO Padmaja Chunduru and former RBI Deputy Governor N S Vishwanathan.
The Joint Secretary (Banking) in the Department of Financial Services is member secretary, and the panel has six months.
Its remit covers rules for Regional Rural Banks and cooperative banks, capital needs of banks, DFIs and NBFCs, and an AI roadmap with cyber safeguards.
It will also review the Priority Sector Lending framework and the Lead Bank Scheme.
Chairman:
Suresh N. Patel, former Central Vigilance Commissioner
Tenure:
Six months
Announced in:
Budget 2026-27
Member Secretary:
Joint Secretary (Banking), DFS
Why it matters for exams: Committees on banking reform, who chairs them and what they review (Priority Sector Lending, Lead Bank Scheme) are staple Banking and Economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
DFS Department of Financial Services — The Finance Ministry department that oversees public sector banks and insurers.
PSL Priority Sector Lending — RBI rules requiring banks to lend a share of credit to sectors such as farming and small business.
Lead Bank Scheme Lead Bank Scheme — A scheme assigning one bank in each district to coordinate credit and banking services.
DFI Development Financial Institution — A lender that funds long-term projects such as infrastructure.
NBFC Non-Banking Financial Company — A company that lends or invests like a bank but holds no banking licence.
30 October 2026
Indian Naval Ship Tarkash reached Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, on 30 October during a deployment to the Southern Indian Ocean Region.
Its crew will train with the Mauritius Coast Guard and take part in cultural and community events.
The ship will also join Mauritius's 192nd Aapravasi Diwas on 2 November 2026.
The day marks the arrival of the first group of indentured labourers from India at Aapravasi Ghat, Port Louis, on 2 November 1834.
Their descendants now form a large part of the island's population.
The Navy framed the visit under MAHASAGAR, India's vision for security and growth across the Indian Ocean.
Ship:
INS Tarkash
Port:
Port Louis, Mauritius
Occasion:
192nd Aapravasi Diwas, 2 November 2026
First indentured arrival:
2 November 1834
Why it matters for exams: India-Mauritius ties, Aapravasi Ghat and the 1834 arrival of indentured labour, and the MAHASAGAR vision are frequent International Relations and History questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Aapravasi Diwas Aapravasi Diwas — Mauritius's annual day, 2 November, marking the arrival of Indian indentured labourers in 1834.
Indentured labour Indentured labour — Workers bound by contract to serve for a fixed term, taken from India to colonies in the 19th century.
MAHASAGAR Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — India's maritime outreach vision for the Indian Ocean Region.
29 October 2026
India and the Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) held the 19th round of their Joint Economic Commission (JEC) in Luxembourg on 29 October 2026.
India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal co-chaired it with Filip Vanden Bulcke of Belgium's foreign affairs service and Henri Schumacher, Secretary General of Luxembourg's foreign ministry.
The three sides reviewed trade and investment and talked about logistics, air links and ports, renewable energy, FinTech and digital technology.
Healthcare, Ayurveda and traditional medicine, and agro and food processing were also on the list.
They agreed to look for closer ties in aerospace, research, higher education and skills.
After the session Agrawal met chief executives of Luxembourg companies and invited them to invest in India.
Meeting:
19th India–BLEU Joint Economic Commission
Venue:
Luxembourg
Indian co-chair:
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal
Why it matters for exams: Economic groupings such as BLEU, India's joint commissions with them and the officials who lead them are common International Relations and Economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
BLEU Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union — An economic union of Belgium and Luxembourg that deals jointly with trade partners.
JEC Joint Economic Commission — A standing bilateral forum where officials review trade and investment.
30 October 2026
The Ministry of Coal held a day-long stakeholder consultation named 'Mining for Future' in Panjim, Goa, on 30 October.
Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt was chief guest; the ministry said only 25 of the 137 commercial mines allocated since 2020 are producing.
India's coal output in FY 2025-26 was 1,041 million tonnes, and more than 70% of the country's electricity still comes from coal.
Additional Secretary Rupinder Brar listed the 2020 reforms: no end-use limits, bids on a revenue share linked to the National Coal Index, and 100% FDI through the automatic route.
The target time to start a fully explored block has been cut from 51 to 40 months, and mining plan approvals now take about 4.5 months instead of 9.
The ministry asked companies to start mines early, reach peak capacity quickly and resettle displaced families fairly.
Commercial mines allocated since 2020:
137 (25 producing)
Coal output FY 2025-26:
1,041 million tonnes
Coal share of electricity:
More than 70%
Coal Secretary:
Vikram Dev Dutt
Why it matters for exams: Commercial coal mining reforms (revenue share on the National Coal Index, 100% FDI by the automatic route) and coal's share in India's power are standard Economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
National Coal Index National Coal Index — A price index for coal on which the revenue share in commercial coal auctions is based.
FDI (automatic route) Foreign Direct Investment through the automatic route — Foreign investment that needs no prior government approval.
CGWA Central Ground Water Authority — The national regulator for groundwater use and clearances.
DGH Directorate General of Hydrocarbons — The technical regulator for oil, gas and coal bed methane.
30 October 2026
The Ministry of Defence has named Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, AVSM VM, as Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) with effect from 1 November 2026.
He now heads Eastern Air Command as its Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
A National Defence Academy alumnus, he was commissioned in the IAF's fighter stream on 11 June 1988.
A fighter pilot by training, he has flown the Su-30 MKI and the Jaguar besides every version of the MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-27.
His earlier posts include commanding TACDE and serving as India's Defence Attache in Japan and South Korea.
He takes over from Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who is to take over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026.
New VCAS:
Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia
Takes charge:
1 November 2026
Present post:
AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command
Incoming Chief of the Air Staff:
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit (29th)
Why it matters for exams: Appointments to the top posts of the armed forces (Chief and Vice Chief of the Air Staff) and the meaning of gallantry and service medals are regular Defence questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
VCAS Vice Chief of the Air Staff — The second-highest post in the Indian Air Force, under the Chief of the Air Staff.
AOC-in-C Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief — The officer who heads one of the IAF's operational commands.
AVSM Ati Vishisht Seva Medal — A peacetime award for distinguished service of a high order.
VM Vayu Sena Medal — An Air Force award for individual acts of devotion to duty or courage.
TACDE Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment — The IAF's unit that develops fighter tactics and trains combat leaders.