13 October 2026
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved the proposal at its meeting in Lucknow on 9 October 2026.
Under the proposal, the airport at Jewar is to be called Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar.
Adityanath announced the decision at the post-Cabinet briefing and thanked the Prime Minister for the airport, which he called a major gift to Uttar Pradesh.
He said the airport is set to become the state's largest and a major aviation hub of the country.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the airport on 28 March 2026.
Decision by:
Uttar Pradesh Cabinet
New name:
Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar
Cabinet meeting:
9 October 2026
Inaugurated:
28 March 2026
Why it matters for exams: State-level Cabinet decisions and airport names are routine questions in UPSC and state PSC papers on infrastructure and governance.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Noida International Airport Noida International Airport, Jewar — Greenfield airport at Jewar that serves the Delhi-NCR region.
Cabinet State Council of Ministers — The body headed by the Chief Minister that takes major executive decisions.
13 October 2026
A Bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra dismissed Akshay Upadhyay's PIL against the electoral rolls for 5 Graduates' and 6 Teachers' constituencies of the UP Legislative Council.
The notice for the elections is dated 29 September 2026; polling is on 23 October 2026 and counting on 27 October.
The Court held the late-September amendment of the rolls valid under Section 23(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
It held that Article 329 bars the court from entertaining a challenge once the election process has begun.
The terms of the current members end on 6 December.
Constituencies:
5 Graduates' + 6 Teachers' = 11
Polling:
23 October 2026
Counting:
27 October 2026
Bench:
CJ Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra
Why it matters for exams: Article 329 (bar to interference by courts in electoral matters) and the Legislative Council are core polity topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Article 329 Constitution of India — Bars courts from interfering in electoral matters once the election process has started.
PIL Public Interest Litigation — A case filed in a court for the benefit of the public, not for a private grievance.
Legislative Council Vidhan Parishad — The upper house of a state legislature, in the few states that have one.
13 October 2026
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet cleared an integrated city bus terminal with commercial facilities at the P-4 parking area of Vrindavan Yojana, Lucknow, on 9 October 2026.
The total cost is Rs 265 crore: Rs 60 crore for the bus terminal and Rs 205 crore for commercial facilities, excluding land.
It will come up on about 7.06 acres under the DBFOT (design, build, finance, operate and transfer) model through the Directorate of Urban Transport.
The developer must maintain the terminal for 35 years and the commercial infrastructure for 90 years, and hands the terminal over to the Directorate free of cost after construction while continuing to operate it.
The terminal will add capacity for electric buses; 116 e-buses now run from the Dubagga depot and 300 more are being deployed.
Total cost:
Rs 265 crore
Bus terminal:
Rs 60 crore
Commercial facilities:
Rs 205 crore
Area:
about 7.06 acres
Maintenance terms:
35 years (terminal); 90 years (commercial)
Why it matters for exams: Public-private partnership models such as DBFOT and urban transport projects are asked in economy and governance papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DBFOT Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer — A PPP model in which a private developer builds, funds and runs an asset before handing it over.
PPP Public-Private Partnership — A project delivered jointly by the government and a private firm.
13 October 2026
In M/s Aftek Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd. v. State of U.P., a Bench of Justices Shekhar B. Saraf and Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary dismissed the restaurants' petitions (reported 29 September 2026).
The amended Rule 4(3) of the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008 bars "any service" in a smoking area, so hookah bars violate the rule and the COTPA scheme.
The Court held the non-smokers' right to breathe clean air under Article 21 prevails over the right to trade under Article 19(1)(g).
The Food Safety Department and the Municipal Corporation cannot license hookah bars; police powers under Sections 12, 13 and 15 of COTPA were upheld.
A copy goes to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police.
Law:
COTPA, 2003
Rule:
Rule 4(3), Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008 (as amended 2017)
Case:
M/s Aftek Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd. v. State of U.P. (2026 LiveLaw (AB) 763)
Rights weighed:
Article 21 versus Article 19(1)(g)
Why it matters for exams: COTPA, Article 21 (right to clean air) versus Article 19(1)(g) is a frequent public-health and constitutional-law linkage.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
COTPA Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 — The central law that regulates tobacco advertising, sale and smoking in public places.
Designated Smoking Area DSA under the 2008 Rules — A separate enclosure where smoking is allowed in some establishments.
13 October 2026
In Prateek Mishra v. State of U.P. (2026 LiveLaw (AB) 807, reported 7 October 2026), Justice Manju Rani Chauhan dismissed the challenge to the Special TET.
The Court said the test only lets in-service teachers acquire the qualification the Supreme Court has made mandatory and gives them no appointment preference over candidates who passed the regular TET.
The impugned orders were a Government Order of 2.9.2026 and a memorandum of 3.9.2026.
The regular TET was held on 2, 3 and 4 July 2026 with 19,94,661 applications, and its result was declared on 26 August 2026.
The deadline to qualify was extended from two to three years, to 31 August 2028.
Applications:
19,94,661
Result declared:
26 August 2026
Qualification deadline:
31 August 2028
Impugned Government Order:
2.9.2026
Why it matters for exams: Teacher eligibility under the RTE Act, NCTE norms and Articles 14 and 16 are staple education-policy and polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
TET Teacher Eligibility Test — A test that sets the minimum qualification to be appointed a teacher in classes I to VIII.
NCTE National Council for Teacher Education — The statutory body that lays down minimum qualifications for teachers under the RTE Act.
13 October 2026
On 5 October 2026 Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in a post on X that identifying ineligible names illegally included in the voter list and removing them as per rules is essential, and called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) an important effort to strengthen the country's democratic heritage.
His remarks came amid protests against SIR; the Election Commission says the revision follows established procedure.
The final SIR roll for Uttar Pradesh, released on 10 April 2026, listed 13,39,84,792 voters against 15.44 crore on the frozen roll of 27 October 2025.
The draft roll of 6 January 2026 had 12,55,56,025 voters, and 84,28,767 were added by the final list; about 2.04 crore names were deleted from the frozen roll.
Notices went to 2.22 crore entries flagged for logical discrepancies and 1.04 crore with family-name linkage gaps.
Final roll (10 April 2026):
13,39,84,792 voters
Frozen roll (27 October 2025):
15.44 crore
Draft roll (6 January 2026):
12,55,56,025
Added in final list:
84,28,767
Names deleted:
about 2.04 crore
Why it matters for exams: Electoral roll revision by the Election Commission under Article 324 is a recurring polity and current-affairs topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SIR Special Intensive Revision — An Election Commission exercise that re-verifies every elector and rebuilds the roll.
BLO Booth Level Officer — The local official who verifies electors house to house.
13 October 2026
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced at a programme in Bhadohi on 4 October 2026: "Now our Bhadohi district will be called Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi."
The visit included inaugurations and foundation stones for 112 projects worth over Rs 1,340 crore.
He had first announced the return to the Sant Ravidas Nagar name on 29 July.
Bhadohi was part of Varanasi district until it became the state's 65th district on 30 June 1994.
On 6 December 2014 the Samajwadi Party government led by Akhilesh Yadav had changed the name from Sant Ravidas Nagar-Bhadohi back to Bhadohi.
Announced on:
4 October 2026
Projects in the visit:
112 projects, over Rs 1,340 crore
District formed:
30 June 1994 (65th district)
Earlier rename:
6 December 2014
Why it matters for exams: District creation and renaming, and the districts of Uttar Pradesh, are standard state-GK questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Sant Ravidas Satguru Ravidas Maharaj — A medieval saint of the bhakti tradition after whom the district is named.
13 October 2026
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath transferred ₹493 crore in crop-loss assistance to the bank accounts of 9,18,091 farmers hit by floods, excessive rainfall, hailstorms and cyclones, at an event in Gorakhpur reported on 13 October 2026.
The money goes directly to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), with no middlemen in the disbursement.
Families whose houses were damaged get an additional ₹1.20 lakh under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana, separate from the ₹493 crore.
For loss of human life, instructions have been issued to give ₹4 lakh to the family within 24 hours.
Procurement centres for paddy and coarse grains such as jowar, bajra and maize will open from 15 October in districts hit by excessive rain and waterlogging.
The Chief Minister said nearly ₹1,000 crore has already been given to disaster-affected farmers and citizens this monsoon season.
Crop-loss assistance:
₹493 crore
Farmers covered:
9,18,091
Extra housing aid (Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana):
₹1.20 lakh
Aid on loss of life:
₹4 lakh within 24 hours
Paid out this monsoon:
nearly ₹1,000 crore
Why it matters for exams: State disaster-relief schemes, Direct Benefit Transfer and crop-loss compensation are standard questions in governance and agriculture papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
DBT Direct Benefit Transfer — Government benefits paid straight into the beneficiary's bank account, cutting out middlemen.
13 October 2026
The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (Noida Authority) has drawn up a plan to develop 'New Noida' over around 20,000 hectares, reported in October 2026.
CEO Krishna Karunesh said land availability in the existing urban area has become limited; about 90 per cent of the present area, nearly 20,000 hectares in 168 sectors, is already developed.
Land acquisition for New Noida is expected to begin soon in phases.
The authority has set a target of 500,000-600,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030.
Around 120 projects worth nearly ₹35,000 crore are expected to be grounded at the fifth ground-breaking ceremony (GBC), covering data centres, electronics, commercial real estate, logistics and institutional development.
Three Metro corridors are proposed, and the state government is working on policy options for an additional floor area ratio (FAR) in existing Noida, which was established in 1976 as an industrial township near Delhi.
Planned area:
around 20,000 hectares
Jobs target by 2030:
500,000-600,000
Projects at fifth GBC:
around 120 projects, nearly ₹35,000 crore
Existing Noida:
168 sectors, about 90 per cent developed
Noida established:
1976
Why it matters for exams: Urban planning, industrial townships and development authorities are recurring topics in economy and governance papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Noida Authority New Okhla Industrial Development Authority — The development authority that plans and allots land in Noida.
FAR Floor Area Ratio — The ratio of total built-up floor area to plot area; a higher FAR permits taller construction.
13 October 2026
The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UPFSDA) has directed pharmacies operating from hospitals across the state to display price lists showing the actual purchase and sale rates of medicines from 1 November 2026, reported in early October 2026.
The move follows inspections of more than 200 pharmacies in 22 medical colleges and 30 government and private hospitals.
The inspections found MRPs as high as 67 times the price at which hospitals procure the medicines.
UPFSDA Commissioner and Secretary Roshan Jacob has written to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), seeking a review of trade margins and MRP fixation.
Retail pharmacies must also create public websites showing their licence number, appointed pharmacist, licensed premises and stock details, updated weekly.
The department pointed to the cost-plus model followed in some government medical colleges, where patients are charged on actual procurement cost rather than the printed MRP.
Price display starts:
1 November 2026
Pharmacies inspected:
more than 200
Medical colleges / hospitals covered:
22 / 30
Highest gap found:
67 times the procurement price
Regulator written to:
NPPA
Why it matters for exams: Drug price regulation, MRP and the role of the NPPA are standard health-policy and governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MRP Maximum Retail Price — The highest price at which a packaged product may be sold to a consumer, printed on the pack.
NPPA National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority — The national regulator for drug pricing.
13 October 2026
Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal of the Allahabad High Court held that Additional Government Advocates are officers of the Court.
The order was passed in Sachin Yadav v. State of U.P. and carries the neutral citation 2026:AHC:213930.
The Court said that when an Additional Government Advocate informs an officer about compliance with a court order, misbehaving with him by any officer, even the top-most officer of the State, will amount to contempt.
The matter arose from the conduct of the Public Relations Officer to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Azamgarh, who misbehaved with an Additional Government Advocate during a mobile phone conversation.
The Court directed the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, to issue a circular carrying that warning, and asked the Registrar (Compliance) to send the order to him.
It also clarified that a police officer who receives a non-bailable warrant issued by the High Court must personally ensure the arrest and the production of the person before the High Court.
The bail application itself was rejected on merits.
Case:
Sachin Yadav v. State of U.P.
Neutral citation:
2026:AHC:213930
Judge:
Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal
District involved:
Azamgarh
Why it matters for exams: A High Court order defining the status of State law officers and the duty of police on High Court warrants is directly examinable polity material.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
AGA Additional Government Advocate — A lawyer engaged by a State government to appear for it in the High Court.
NBW Non-Bailable Warrant — A court warrant to arrest and produce a person, with no automatic right to release on bail by the police.
13 October 2026
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court, comprising Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajeev Bharti, disposed of three connected petitions in Mahendra Singh Pawar v. State of Uttar Pradesh with a set of guidelines on engaging State Law Officers.
The judgment carries the neutral citation 2026:AHC-LKO:72290-DB.
The State must first assess, realistically, how many State Law Officers it needs, and must prescribe objective, transparent, merit-based criteria covering experience, competence, integrity, behaviour and suitability.
No person with criminal antecedents or undesirable behaviour may be appointed, and the State must ensure adequate representation of women advocates, subject to availability.
A State Law Officer appearing for a private party against the State must obtain a no-objection certificate from the competent authority and annex it to the vakalatnama; the Court clarified that this restriction does not apply to Brief Holders.
The Bench noted that Paragraph 5.01 of the Legal Remembrancer's Manual contemplates one Chief Standing Counsel for Allahabad and one for Lucknow, and found no explanation for six such appointments.
The Court clarified that its observations do not disturb existing appointments.
Case:
Mahendra Singh Pawar v. State of Uttar Pradesh
Neutral citation:
2026:AHC-LKO:72290-DB
Bench:
Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajeev Bharti
Chief Standing Counsel appointments questioned:
six
Why it matters for exams: It shows how a High Court can structure executive discretion in public appointments without striking the appointments down.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Legal Remembrancer's Manual — The Uttar Pradesh government's manual of rules on legal work and the engagement of its lawyers.
Vakalatnama — The written authority a client gives a lawyer to appear in a case.