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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING, FINANCE & BUSINESS

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Chairs 30th Financial Stability and Development Council Meeting in New Delhi

• The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, chaired the 30th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) in New Delhi.
• The FSDC deliberated on macroeconomic and financial stability and India’s preparedness to address emerging domestic and global financial risks.
• The Council discussed measures to promote innovation in the fintech sector, encourage digital modernisation, and explore the potential of tokenisation of financial assets and other real-world assets.

Key Highlights :

• The FSDC reviewed the cyber resilience of the Indian financial sector and took note of the Financial Sector Cyber Security Strategy (FSCSS) formulated by an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) comprising financial sector regulators and cybersecurity agencies, in coordination with the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Department of Financial Services (DFS) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The implementation of the FSCSS is expected to strengthen the overall cybersecurity and resilience of India’s financial sector.
• The Council discussed India’s preparedness to protect Critical Information Infrastructure (CII), strengthen the resilience of protection systems, and improve the cybersecurity preparedness of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
• The FSDC discussed strengthening the domestic investment ecosystem and improving the flow of resources for investment, including investment through GIFT-IFSC (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City – International Financial Services Centre).
• The Council considered the simplification and digitalisation of Know Your Customer (KYC) processes and digital onboarding for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs).
• The FSDC discussed reforms to scale up Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in India, particularly the Account Aggregator framework and Unified Lending Interface (ULI), with a specific focus on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• The Council discussed measures to reduce the cost of financial intermediation, improve regulatory responsiveness, and rationalise Credit Guarantee Schemes in India.
• The FSDC reviewed emerging domestic and global macro-financial trends and highlighted risks arising from geopolitical uncertainties, the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, and the sharp rise in global bond yields.
• The Council stressed the need for proactive risk mitigation, adequate safeguards to strengthen financial system resilience, and enhanced coordination among financial regulators.
• The FSDC acknowledged the progress made under the “Your Money, Your Right” campaign, which aims to return unclaimed financial assets to their rightful owners through district-level efforts.
• The Council directed the relevant ministries and regulators to intensify their efforts to ensure the timely refund of unclaimed assets.
• In view of rising geopolitical risks and global uncertainty, the Finance Minister urged the Council to hold FSDC meetings more frequently according to a predefined schedule.
• The FSDC also reviewed the activities of its Sub-Committee, chaired by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and the progress made in implementing pending decisions from previous FSDC meetings.

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing and Bank of India Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Quantum Innovation and Emerging Banking Technologies

• The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and Bank of India (BOI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 22 October 2026 to collaborate on quantum financial innovation and the adoption of emerging technologies in banking.
• C-DAC is an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
• The MoU establishes a framework for joint research, development, pilot implementations, technology demonstrations and capacity-building initiatives for the banking and financial services sector.
• The collaboration combines C-DAC’s expertise in High Performance Computing (HPC), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Technologies, Blockchain, Cybersecurity and indigenous technology development with Bank of India’s banking expertise, nationwide presence and high-volume technology environment.
• A key focus of the partnership is developing a Quantum Ecosystem for Financial Innovation to prepare banking systems for opportunities and security challenges associated with quantum technologies.
• C-DAC and BOI will jointly explore quantum-inspired and quantum-safe technologies to strengthen security, trust, resilience and decision-making in banking.
• The partnership will identify priority banking use cases, develop Proofs of Concept (PoCs) in secure sandbox environments, assess technical feasibility and banking value, and compare emerging technologies with existing systems.
• Beyond quantum technologies, the MoU covers Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and other emerging digital technologies relevant to financial services.
• Potential applications include intelligent document processing, customer and employee assistance, fraud analysis, credit analytics, financial analytics, secure AI platforms, responsible AI, smart contracts, digital identity and secure data sharing.
• The partnership will promote a future-ready talent ecosystem through training and capacity-building programmes in Quantum Computing, Quantum Security, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain.
• The MoU was formally exchanged by Aditya Kumar Sinha, Executive Director, C-DAC Mumbai, and Satyendra Singh, CGM (IT) and CIO, Bank of India.

India’s Core Industrial Growth Reaches a Record 7.9% in September 2026

• India’s core industrial growth accelerated to 9% in September 2026, marking the highest growth in the new data series since April 2024, driven by improved performance in the coal, refinery products and iron ore sectors.
• According to the latest Index of Core Industries (ICI) data, September 2026 recorded the highest core industrial growth in nearly three years when compared with the older data series.
• The coal sector recorded growth of 7% in September 2026, reaching a 13-month high, compared with a contraction of 1.1% in September 2025.
• The refinery products sector recorded growth of 3% in September 2026, up from 5.6% in August 2026; however, its average growth during the first half of FY 2026–27 remained at only 1%.
• The iron ore sector grew by 4% in September 2026, marking a two-month high and continuing its trend of strong double-digit growth for nearly a year.
• The electricity sector recorded growth of 4% in September 2026, compared with 13.1% in August 2026, indicating a slight moderation in growth.
• The steel sector recorded growth of 9% in September 2026, reflecting improved activity in the construction-related industrial sector.
• The cement sector grew by 8% in September 2026, although its growth was slower than in August 2026.
• The domestic crude oil sector contracted by 4% in September 2026, improving from a contraction of 3.6% in August 2026.
• The natural gas sector contracted by 6% in September 2026, compared with a contraction of 4.9% in August 2026.
• The fertiliser sector contracted by 7% in September 2026, marking its seventh consecutive month of contraction.

BSE and MMTC-PAMP Join Hands to Expand India’s Electronic Gold Receipts Market

• BSE Limited, formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange, signed an agreement with MMTC-PAMP India Private Limited to jointly develop and expand India’s Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR)
• The partnership aims to increase market participation, improve price transparency, enhance liquidity, and enable seamless conversion between physical gold and Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs), subject to regulatory requirements.

Key Highlights :

• Under the agreement, BSE will launch EGR contracts in multiple denominations, while MMTC-PAMP will contribute its expertise in bullion refining, assaying, and EGR creation and redemption processes.
• The partnership will focus on stakeholder engagement, knowledge-sharing, and market development programmes to broaden investor participation and strengthen the regulated gold-trading ecosystem.
• Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) are SEBI-regulated, exchange-traded securities that allow investors to hold gold electronically in dematerialised (demat) accounts.
• BSE was the first stock exchange in India to introduce EGR trading and currently offers trading units of 100 milligrams, 1 gram, and 10 grams, with gold fineness levels of 999 and 995.
• MMTC-PAMP is India’s only London Bullion Market Association (LBMA)-accredited gold and silver refiner.
• BSE was established in 1875 and is recognised as Asia’s oldest stock exchange, with its headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The initiative aims to shift gold transactions from informal markets to regulated markets, improving transparency and strengthening investor confidence.
• The collaboration supports broader policy objectives of mobilising domestically held gold, reducing India’s dependence on gold imports, and improving price discovery in the domestic bullion market.
• The partnership also aims to position India as a global bullion trading hub and strengthen its role in international gold price formation.

Food, Fuel and Precious Metals Push India’s September Retail Inflation to a 23-Month High of 5.5%

• Retail inflation in India rose to a nearly two-year high of 5.5% in September 2026, compared with 8% in August 2026, according to official data released on 12 October 2026.
• Retail inflation is measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and the September 2026 rate was the highest since October 2024.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has an upper comfort limit of 6% for retail inflation.
• The increase in retail inflation was mainly driven by the continued acceleration of food and fuel inflation.
• Food and beverages inflation rose to 4% in September 2026, compared with 5.7% in August 2026, reaching its highest level in the available data period.
• The new CPI series does not provide category-wise historical data for periods before January 2026.
• Transport inflation reached 5% in September 2026, marking its fifth consecutive month of increase.
• Inflation in restaurant and accommodation services rose to 4% in September 2026, continuing a seven-month streak of consecutive acceleration, partly due to rising food and transport prices.
• Inflation in personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services stood at 75% in September 2026, although this was the lowest rate in the available data period.

 CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL AND STATE NEWS

Uttar Pradesh Ranks First in Mission Karmayogi Implementation and Government Employee Capacity Building

• Uttar Pradesh secured first place in India for implementing Mission Karmayogi and strengthening the capacity of government officials and employees.
• Rajasthan ranked second, followed by Jammu and Kashmir in third place.
• The recognition was announced at a Northern Regional Workshop jointly organised by the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Uttar Pradesh Academy of Administration and Management (RUPAM) and the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), Government of India.

Key Highlights

• Under Mission Karmayogi, Uttar Pradesh has prioritised continuous capacity building of its government workforce. According to the iGOT Karmayogi platform:
• The state has approximately 19.23 lakh registered users.
• The active participation rate exceeds 99%.
• More than 350 training institutions are registered under the Unnati initiative.
• In January 2026, Uttar Pradesh organised a seven-day capacity-building programme for government officials and employees.
• The state also performed notably during Sadhana Saptah, a dedicated week for capacity building and skill enhancement.
• Other initiatives supporting workforce development include Nirbhay Netri, Nirbhay Chetna, Kaushal Setu and Kaushal Sarathi, which aim to strengthen the skills and capabilities of government employees.
• Various Uttar Pradesh government departments were also recognised for their performance under Mission Karmayogi:
• Category A
• Home Department – First place, after completing more than 1 crore training courses. Rajiv Agrawal, Director General (Training), and Dev Ranjan Verma, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), received the award.
• Basic and Secondary Education Department – Second place, also completing more than 1 crore training courses. Parth Sarthi Sen Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, and Monika Rani, Director General (School Education), received the award.
• Category B
• Higher Education Department – First place; Amit Ghosh, Additional Chief Secretary, received the award.
• Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department – Second place; Alok Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, accepted the award.
• Category C
• Handloom and Textiles Department – First place; Anil Kumar Sagar, Principal Secretary, received the award.
• Administrative Reforms Department – Second place; Bhupendra Chaudhary, Secretary, accepted the award.
• The Capacity Building Commission launched two important initiatives at the workshop: the Unnati Capability Index and the National Curriculum Design Framework.
• The Unnati Capability Index is designed to systematically assess the capacity, quality and progress of training institutions across India.
• The index will introduce a star-rating system based on three indicators and seven domains.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) will support data analysis and help identify areas requiring improvement, while responsibility for institutional decisions will remain with the training institutions themselves.
• The National Curriculum Design Framework, launched by the Capacity Building Commission, is intended to support the development of structured and relevant training curricula for capacity-building initiatives.

About Uttar Pradesh:

• Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
• Capital: Lucknow
• National Parks: Dudhwa National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary, Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Okhla Bird Sanctuary

Rajasthan to Formulate Its First Dedicated State Veterinary Policy

• Rajasthan is set to formulate its first dedicated State Veterinary Policy to strengthen veterinary services, improve livestock health and support the rural economy.
• Chief Secretary V. Srinivas has directed officials of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Rajasthan, to take the necessary steps to prepare the policy.

Key Highlights

• The proposed policy will focus on developing a comprehensive action plan to address future requirements in the animal husbandry sector, including:
• Adoption of advanced technologies in animal husbandry.
• Expansion of veterinary facilities and institutions.
• Development of improved livestock breeds.
• Availability of quality fodder.
• Improvement in the incomes of livestock owners.
• Rajasthan ranks first in India in the number of livestock insurance policies issued, according to the report.
• Under the Mangla Pashu Bima Yojana, more than 43 lakh animals have been registered, over 26 lakh insurance policies have been issued, and approximately ₹95 crore has been paid to livestock owners.
• Regular monitoring has been directed to ensure effective implementation and delivery of benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
• The proposed policy will also promote advanced breeding techniques to improve livestock health and productivity.
• The proposed policy aims to improve animal healthcare infrastructure, strengthen livestock productivity and support the livelihoods of livestock owners across Rajasthan.

About Rajasthan:

• Chief Minister: Bhajan Lal Sharma
• Governor: Haribhau Bagade
• Capital: Jaipur
• National Parks: Ranthambore National Park, Sariska National Park, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Desert National Park, Mukundra Hills National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kesarbagh Wildlife Sanctuary, Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhensrodgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Phulwari Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

United Nations Environment Programme Publishes 2026 Emissions Gap Report, ‘The Point of Return,’ Urging 45% Emission Reductions by 2035

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the 17th edition of the Emissions Gap Report (EGR) 2026, titled “The Point of Return.”
• The report warns that temporarily exceeding the 1.5°C global warming limit is now unavoidable without urgent reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Global greenhouse gas emissions reached 4 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Gt CO₂e) in 2025, representing a decline of only 0.1 Gt CO₂e compared with 2024.
• Under the lowest 5°C overshoot scenario, stringent climate mitigation measures starting in 2025 could provide approximately a 50% chance of returning to the 1.5°C limit by 2100.
• Under this lowest-overshoot pathway, global warming is projected to peak at approximately 7°C–1.8°C before returning to 1.5°C by 2100.
• To achieve the 5°C pathway, global GHG emissions must decline compared with 2025 levels by 18% by 2030, 45% by 2035, and 69% by 2040.
• Full implementation of the new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by around two-thirds of countries is projected to reduce global emissions by only 5–8% by 2030 and 11–15% by 2035, compared with 2025 levels.

About United Nations Environment Programme :

• Formation : 5 June 1972
• Headquarters : Nairobi, Kenya
• Executive Director : Inger Andersen

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Sunil Kumar Appointed as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited Chairman for a Three-Year Tenure by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of Sunil Kumar as the next Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) for a combined tenure of three years.
• Sunil Kumar’s appointment will take effect from the date he assumes charge on or after 7 December 2026, until his superannuation in December 2028, followed by a contractual tenure, subject to the combined three-year term.
• He will succeed Arun Kumar Singh, the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ONGC, whose extended tenure is scheduled to end on 6 December 2026.
• Sunil Kumar, aged 58, has more than three decades of experience at ONGC and joined the company in 1991 as an Assistant Executive Engineer (Production) in Assam.
• He has served as the Executive Director (ED) and Asset Manager of ONGC’s Mehsana Asset in Gujarat since January 2025.
• Sunil Kumar contributed to ONGC’s Vasistha and S1 deep-water project on India’s East Coast and led a subsea project involving the drilling, completion and production start-up of 11 wells.
• He is a petroleum engineering graduate of the Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, and holds a postgraduate qualification in Business Management, specialising in Marketing and Finance.
• His name was recommended for the top post after two rounds of interviews conducted by a Search-cum-Selection Committee of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• Sunil Kumar will become the first ONGC Chairman to be elevated from the Executive Director rank to the company’s top position.
• ONGC accounts for approximately 75% of India’s domestic crude oil and natural gas production, making it a key player in the country’s energy sector.

Anca-Maria Verma Named UN IIMSAM Ambassador-at-Large for India for a Five-Year Tenure

• Anca-Maria Verma has been appointed Ambassador-at-Large of the Inter-Governmental Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM) for India for a five-year term, from 20 October 2026 to 19 October 2031.
• The appointment was announced by the Office of the Verma Family and IIMSAM and was issued by Remigio Maradona, Secretary-General of IIMSAM.
• In her new role, Anca-Maria Verma will support humanitarian initiatives, nutrition programmes, institutional partnerships, international cooperation, and stakeholder engagement across India.
• IIMSAM is an intergovernmental institution focused on using micro-algae Spirulina to combat malnutrition and support improved nutrition.
• IIMSAM holds Permanent Observer status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• IIMSAM’s humanitarian mandate includes combating malnutrition, strengthening food security, improving public health, and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Anca-Maria Verma is a Romanian-born entrepreneur, former model, and philanthropist based in India, born on 8 August 1987.
• She serves as Chairperson of Olialia World, a global multinational brand, and has previously held leadership positions at GANTON India Private Limited and SIG SAUER India.
• She serves as Managing Trustee of the Shrikant Verma Trust, which supports social welfare, cultural initiatives, and literacy programmes across India.
• Anca-Maria Verma is the wife of industrialist and Shiv Sena leader Abhishek Verma, who also serves as a trustee of the Shrikant Verma Trust.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Ashoke Sen Becomes the First Indian Physicist to Receive the Oskar Klein Medal 2026

• Ashoke Sen, a renowned Indian theoretical physicist and International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS)–Infosys Madhava Chair Professor based in Bengaluru, has become the first Indian physicist to receive the Oskar Klein Medal.
• Sen delivered the 2026 Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture, titled “Gravity from Strings and Strings from Gravity”, at Stockholm University’s AlbaNova Centre, Sweden, on 22 October 2026.
• He is internationally recognised for his pioneering contributions to S-duality, the precise counting of black-hole entropy and string field theory, which have helped shape modern string theory.

Key Highlights

• The medal is named after Oskar Klein, a Swedish theoretical physicist, and is awarded annually by Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
• Established in 1988, the Oskar Klein Medal recognises distinguished contributions to physics. Previous recipients include Nobel laureates Chen-Ning Yang, Steven Weinberg and Hans Bethe, who received the medal in its first three years, respectively.
• Sen has received several other prestigious honours for his contributions to theoretical physics:
• Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2012) for his contributions to establishing a unifying framework for string theory.
• Dirac Medal (2014).
• Infosys Prize in Mathematical Sciences (2009).
• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (1994).
• International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Prize (1989).
• Padma Shri (2001).
• Padma Bhushan (2013).
• He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1998.
• Congratulating Sen, ICTS Director Rajesh Gopakumar praised his presence at the institute and his role in establishing a culture of scientific excellence.

Usha Mangeshkar to Receive the First Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award in 2026

• The Assam Government will present the first Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award to Indian playback singer Usha Mangeshkar in New Delhi.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the award.
• The announcement was made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma following a state cabinet meeting.

Key Highlights

• The award has been instituted by the Assam Government in memory of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika, the legendary singer, composer and cultural icon from Assam.
• The award carries ₹10 lakh in cash and a citation and will be presented once every three years.
• Usha Mangeshkar is a renowned Indian playback singer known particularly for her work in Hindi and Marathi music.
•  She belongs to the celebrated Mangeshkar family and is the sister of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. Her career spans several decades in Indian film and regional music.
• The selection of Usha Mangeshkar as the award’s first recipient was approved by the Assam Cabinet.
• The award ceremony will also mark the conclusion of the year-long celebrations commemorating Bhupen Hazarika’s birth centenary, observed across Assam.
• The Assam Government also approved changes to other awards and initiatives:
• The prize money for the Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev International Award will increase from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh.
• Dr Harsha Bhattacharjee, founder trustee of Sri Sankardeva Nethralaya, will receive the Asom Vaibhab, Assam’s highest civilian honour, for 2025.
• Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma, Nuruddin Ahmed, Pulak Banerjee and Purnima Devi Barman will receive the Asom Saurabh awards.
• A ₹300 crore investment by the Welspun Group in Rangia, Kamrup district, Assam, was approved.
• The Cabinet cleared election rules for the Mising Autonomous Council and the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council, with elections expected to be held in November 2026.

About Assam:

• Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sharma
• Governor: Lakshman Prasad Acharya
• Capital: Dispur
• National Parks: Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang, Dibru-Saikhowa, Dihing Patkai, Raimona National Parks
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Pobitora, Hollongapar Gibbon, Chakrasila, Sonai Rupai, Amchang Wildlife Sanctuaries

Lionel Messi Receives the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports

• Lionel Messi, the Argentine footballer, received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award at a ceremony held in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias, Spain.
• He attended the event in person and received the honour from Princess Leonor.
• The award was announced, recognising Messi’s outstanding contribution to sport and the values he represents, including friendship, teamwork and fair play.

Key Highlights

• The Princess of Asturias Awards recognise outstanding achievements and contributions across various fields of society.
• Messi joined the list of football personalities honoured with the award.
• In 2012, Spanish footballers Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernández received the distinction in recognition of their sporting achievements and the values demonstrated throughout their careers.
• Football had previously been recognised in 2002, when the Brazilian national football team received the award following its victory in the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time.
• Messi’s recognition also highlights his lasting contribution to Football Club Barcelona (FC Barcelona) and his wider impact on the history of international football.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar and Indonesia Sign Badr Memorandum of Understanding for Defence Cooperation

• Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar and Indonesia signed the Badr Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Doha, Qatar, to strengthen defence industrial cooperation, joint military production, research and development, technology sharing and technical training.
• The agreement aims to combine the participating countries’ technical expertise, industrial resources and financial capabilities to strengthen domestic defence industries, improve military manufacturing capacity and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
• Other friendly countries may join in the future under mutually agreed conditions.

Key Highlights

• The word “Badr” means “full moon” and symbolises the combination of the participating countries’ strengths.
• The major objectives of the Badr MoU include:
• Joint defence production to manufacture military equipment collaboratively.
• Research and development to develop modern defence technologies.
• Technology cooperation through the sharing of technical knowledge and industrial expertise.
• Technical training to improve the skills of defence personnel and engineers.
• Defence exports by creating opportunities to sell jointly manufactured equipment.
• Supply chain cooperation to improve access to components, spare parts and maintenance facilities.
• Cost sharing to distribute research and production expenses among participating countries.
• The four participating countries may contribute different capabilities:
• Turkey can contribute defence technology, engineering expertise and experience in manufacturing drones, naval platforms and armoured vehicles.
• Pakistan can contribute existing defence manufacturing facilities, technical personnel and military production experience.
• Qatar can support projects through financial resources, investment and defence procurement.
• Indonesia can explore joint manufacturing, technology cooperation and opportunities to strengthen its domestic defence industry.
• Potential implications for regional security:
• Joint production and technical cooperation could improve Pakistan’s ability to manufacture and maintain military equipment.
• Research and development partnerships could enhance Pakistan’s technical capabilities, depending on the technologies transferred.
• The agreement could expand existing defence industrial cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey.
• Indonesia’s participation could increase competition among defence suppliers, but it does not necessarily indicate a reduction in defence cooperation between India and Indonesia.
• Closer defence industry ties among the four countries could influence regional military partnerships and defence procurement decisions.
• The Badr MoU is not, by itself, a military alliance against India. Its stated focus is defence manufacturing, research and development, technical training and industrial cooperation.
• It does not establish a publicly stated collective defence obligation requiring all four countries to defend one another in the event of a military attack.
• The Badr MoU differs from the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia in August 2026, which provides for mutual defence against an armed attack.
• The Badr MoU primarily focuses on defence industrial cooperation, whereas the Makkah agreement includes collective defence commitments.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Navy to Organise Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 to Strengthen Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

• The Indian Navy will conduct the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD-2026) from 3 to 5 November 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
• IPRD is the Indian Navy’s annual apex-level international outreach conference held at the strategic level.

Key Highlights :

• The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) is the Indian Navy’s knowledge partner and principal organiser of IPRD-2026.
• The theme of IPRD-2026 is “Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.”
• The dialogue focuses on translating India’s broad maritime cooperation framework into specific and actionable proposals for cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region.
• The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 14th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok, Thailand, in November 2019.
• The IPOI provides a framework of seven interconnected maritime lines of effort and gives practical direction to India’s maritime vision of MAHASAGAR, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
• IPRD-2026 will feature five professional thematic sessions covering the following areas:
• Academic Networks, Research, and Human Capital Development.
• Maritime Situational Awareness and Protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure.
• Oceanographic Science and Climate Resilience.
• Collaborative Approaches to Ocean Governance and Maritime Resilience.
• Transformative Maritime Technologies and Dual-Use Implications.
• The professional sessions will explore joint research, collaborative technology development, responsible governance, scientific data access, and stronger institutional partnerships.
• The conference will feature two special sessions, namely “Perspectives from the Flag Bridge” and “Sahyog Ka Samvaad.”
• “Perspectives from the Flag Bridge” will bring together former naval chiefs from India and Sri Lanka to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in science, technology and academic engagement through the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
• “Sahyog Ka Samvaad” is a special ambassadorial interaction; Sahyog means cooperation, and Samvaad means dialogue in Hindi.
• On the second day of the conference, Rajnath Singh, India’s Defence Minister, will deliver the Commemorative Address.
• Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Science and Technology, will deliver a special address during the second ministerial session.
• IPRD-2026 will bring together maritime practitioners, scientists, academicians, policymakers and experts from 18 countries across the Indo-Pacific.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Ethereal Exploration Guild Unveils 150-Acre Rocket Development and Testing Facility in Karnataka

• Ethereal Exploration Guild (The Guild), a Bengaluru-based private space technology company, unveiled The Anchorage, a 150-acre rocket development and testing facility.
• The Anchorage is located in Space City, about 40 km from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) at Sriharikota, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh.
• The facility will provide ground infrastructure for the development and testing of Razor Crest Mk 1 (RCM1), the company’s fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle.
• Razor Crest Mk 1 (RCM1) is being designed to enable the recovery and reuse of both its booster and upper stage.
• The RCM1 propulsion architecture comprises two semi-cryogenic rocket engines: Pegasus, an 80 kN upper-stage engine, and Stallion, a 2 MN gas-generator booster engine.
• Pegasus is designed to power the reusable upper stage and incorporates the company’s Full-Flow Segregated Cooling Cycle (FSCC) and a dual-thrust-chamber architecture.
• Stallion is designed to provide thrust during lift-off and atmospheric ascent.
• According to The Guild, the FSCC technology was developed entirely in-house and is a new rocket engine feed cycle specifically designed for upper-stage reusability.
• The Guild described the FSCC as a first in the history of rocketry.
• The Anchorage facility will support successive stages of testing and qualification, ranging from individual engine components to integrated propulsion systems and complete rocket stages.

CSIR-Central Road Research Institute  Hosts Indian Airport Pavement Symposium (IAPS 2026) in New Delhi

• CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), in association with Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India Private Limited (BTS), organised the Indian Airport Pavement Symposium (IAPS 2026) in New Delhi.
• The symposium was held at the CSIR-CRRI Auditorium, New Delhi, under the theme “Advancing Performance-Based Airport Pavements for a Resilient and Sustainable Aviation Future.”
• The symposium was inaugurated by (Mrs.) N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India.
• IAPS 2026 brought together stakeholders, including regulators, airport operators, armed forces, academic leaders and global pavement experts, to develop a technical roadmap for India’s expanding airport and airside infrastructure.
• The symposium highlighted the importance of indigenous research and development (R&D), technological innovation and institutional collaboration in strengthening India’s critical transportation infrastructure.
• The technical sessions addressed key issues related to airport pavement planning, quality control, sustainable airfields and modified bituminous materials.
• A key highlight of the symposium was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CSIR-CRRI and Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India Private Limited.
• The MoU aims to promote collaborative research, technology development and deployment in advanced modified bituminous binders and specialised airport pavement solutions.

Google DeepMind Partners with International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics to Create a Global Plant Genome Atlas

• Google DeepMind and org partnered with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to develop an open-access global genetic atlas, with a particular focus on sorghum.
• The AI-supported genetic atlas will help researchers and plant breeders identify promising plant combinations and develop more productive and climate-resilient sorghum varieties more quickly.
• Google DeepMind will support a three-year postdoctoral fellowship at ICRISAT to develop genome-mapping tools for other crops and pulses, including chickpea, groundnut and pigeon pea.
• Google is expanding access to its Agricultural Understanding Models, enabling developers, startups and researchers to build customised AI solutions for hyperlocal agricultural challenges and improve agricultural resilience.
• The initiative aims to increase access to AI-powered agricultural tools that can support local farming decisions and address challenges arising from different agricultural conditions.
• Google’s AI Educator Series, initially launched in May 2026 in partnership with five states, is being expanded to Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
• The AI Educator Series will also be available as a free online resource across India, making AI education more accessible to users nationwide.
• org, Google’s philanthropic arm, will provide US$15 million to The/Nudge to support the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India.

About ICRISAT :

• It is a non-profit, non-political international organisation that conducts agricultural research for development in the dryland regions of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Founded : 1972
• Headquarters : Patancheru, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Meghana Retires from All Formats of Cricket at 30

• Sabbhineni Meghana, popularly known as S. Meghana, an Indian top-order batter from Andhra Pradesh, announced her retirement from all formats of cricket at the age of 30.
• Meghana played 20 international matches for India, with her last international appearance coming in October 2022.
• Her most recent competitive appearance was during the 2025 season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

Key Highlights

• She made her Twenty20 International (T20I) debut against the West Indies in Vijayawada in November 2016, scoring 17 runs off 16 balls in a match India lost by 31 runs.
• Her One Day International (ODI) debut came against New Zealand in Queenstown in February 2022, where she scored 4 runs off 14 balls. She followed this with scores of 49 off 50 balls and 61 off 41 balls in the next two matches of the series.
• Meghana played only three ODIs, scoring a total of 114 runs in the format.
• In 17 T20 Internationals, she scored 258 runs at a strike rate of 102.78, including one half-century.
• Meghana competed in three seasons of the Women’s Premier League. She initially represented Gujarat Giants before playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru for two seasons. She was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad that won the WPL title in 2024.

Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes the Youngest Woman to Earn the International Master Title in Chess

• Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old English chess player of Indian origin, became the youngest woman in chess history to earn the International Master (IM) title at the European Women’s Chess Club Cup 2026.
• Bodhana hails from Harrow, North London, United Kingdom. The International Master title is one of the highest honours in chess, below the Grandmaster (GM) title.

Key Highlights

• Bodhana broke the 38-year-old record held by Judit Polgar, who had previously been the youngest female International Master.
• Bodhana gained the rating points required for the open International Master title, which is not restricted to women, through her performance in the tournament.
• With this achievement, Bodhana joined the list of the 10 youngest International Masters in chess history. Other players featured on the list include:
• R. Praggnanandhaa – India
• D. Gukesh – India
• Nodirbek Abdusattorov – Uzbekistan
• Faustino Oro – Argentina
• Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus – Turkey
• Roman Shogdzhiev – Russia
• The European Women’s Chess Club Cup is a team competition in which women’s chess clubs from across Europe compete against one another. Players represent their clubs on different boards, with Board 1 generally facing the strongest opposition.
• At the 2026 edition, Bodhana represented She Plays to Win Lionesses on Board 1 and scored 5.5 points out of 7 games.
• Her key performances in the tournament included:
• Round 1: She came close to drawing against Russian Grandmaster Aleksandra Goryachkina.
• Round 3: She defeated Belarusian International Master Olga Badelka, raising her rating to 2399.4.
• Round 4: She drew against Georgian Grandmaster Nino Batsiashvili.
• Final victory: She defeated Sweden’s Woman International Master Viktoria Johansson in 32 moves, securing the result that earned her the International Master title.

Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy Win Individual Gold at European Chess Club Cup 2026

• Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy won Individual Gold medals, while Pentala Harikrishna secured an Individual Silver medal at the European Chess Club Cup 2026, held in Montenegro.
• In the Open section, Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club won the team title, while Novy Bor Chess Club, representing which Nihal Sarin and Pentala Harikrishna competed, finished runners-up.
• In the women’s section, Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo successfully defended its title, with Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy contributing to the team’s championship-winning performance.

Key Highlights

• Nihal Sarin – Individual Gold
• Represented Novy Bor Chess Club on Board 2 in the Open section.
• Scored 5 points from 6 games, remaining unbeaten with 4 wins and 2 draws.
• Recorded notable victories against Jorden van Foreest, Karthikeyan Murali and Maxim Rodshtein.
• His performance earned him the Individual Gold medal, while his club finished second in the Open team standings.
• Koneru Humpy – Individual Gold
• Represented Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo on Board 2 in the women’s section.
• Scored 4.5 points from 6 games.
• Defeated Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Nia Donghvani in the final round, helping her team secure the women’s championship.
• Her performance contributed to the club’s successful defence of its title.
• Pentala Harikrishna – Individual Silver
• Represented Novy Bor Chess Club on Board 3 in the Open section.
• Scored 5 points from 6 games to win the Individual Silver medal.
• Recorded a notable victory against Yu Yangyi.
• His team, Novy Bor Chess Club, finished runners-up in the Open section.
• The performances of Nihal Sarin, Koneru Humpy and Pentala Harikrishna highlighted India’s presence at the tournament, with all three Indian Grandmasters earning individual medals while contributing to their respective clubs’ campaigns.

About Montenegro

• Capital: Podgorica
• Currency: Euro

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Veteran American Actor Tom Skerritt Passed away at the Age of 93

• Tom Skerritt (Thomas Roy Skerritt), a veteran American Hollywood actor, passed away at the age of 93 in Seattle, Washington, United States.

About Tom Skerritt :

• Tom Skerritt was born on 25 August 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
• Before pursuing his acting career, he served in the United States Air Force (USAF).
• He made his film debut in the 1962 film War Hunt, which also marked the film debut of Robert Redford, Sydney Pollack, and Francis Ford Coppola.
• He portrayed Duke Forrest in MAS*H (1970), Captain Dallas in Alien (1979), and Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf in Top Gun (1986).
• Tom Skerritt had a career spanning approximately six decades in film and television.
• He won the 1993 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for portraying Sheriff Jimmy Brock in the television series Picket Fences (1992–1996).
• He received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performance in Picket Fences and won one of them in 1993.
• He co-founded TheFilmSchool in Seattle to support aspiring filmmakers and storytellers.
• He also helped establish the Red Badge Project, which supports military veterans through storytelling.

Former Sportstar Senior Deputy Editor P. Krishnan Passed Away at 69

• Krishnan, former Senior Deputy Editor of Sportstar, passed away in Chennai on 20 October 2026 at the age of 69.
• He was affectionately known as ‘P.K. sir’ among generations of reporters and sub-editors.
• He joined The Hindu in August 1980 before moving to Sportstar.
• He served as the backbone of the Sportstar editorial desk for more than 30 years.
• He retired from Sportstar in 2020, and several of the magazine’s most iconic cover lines and headlines were created by him.
• He was renowned for his editing skills, including improving sentence structure, refining phrasing, enhancing the rhythm of stories and identifying valuable details.
• He was a master of headline writing, known for his creativity and devilish sense of humour.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

International Stuttering Awareness Day 2026 – 22 October

• International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) is observed annually on 22 October to raise awareness about stuttering, promote understanding of the condition and support people who experience speech disfluency.
• The official theme for International Stuttering Awareness Day 2026 is “SHADES OF STUTTERING – What's yours?”
• The observance was established in 1998 to draw attention to the experiences of millions of people worldwide who live with stuttering, a communication disorder that can affect the flow of speech.
• Stuttering may involve repetitions of sounds, syllables or words, as well as the prolongation of sounds or pauses that interrupt the natural flow of speech. Its frequency and severity vary from person to person.
• Historically, some surgeons in 19th-century Europe attempted to treat stuttering through invasive procedures, including removing portions of tissue inside the mouth or removing tonsils.
• These practices were later abandoned because they were ineffective and could cause serious complications, including severe bleeding.
• Stuttering is understood as a complex speech disorder associated with neurological and developmental factors.
• It often begins during childhood, although acquired forms can also occur in certain circumstances, including following neurological injury or trauma.

World Polio Day 2026 – 24 October

• World Polio Day is observed annually on 24 October to raise awareness about poliomyelitis (polio), a highly contagious viral disease that can affect the  central nervous system and cause permanent paralysis.
• The official theme for World Polio Day 2026 is “One day, one focus: ending polio for good”.
• The observance was initiated by Rotary International in honour of Jonas Salk, the medical researcher who led the team that developed the first successful polio vaccine.
• Jonas Salk developed the Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) in 1955. Later, Albert Sabin developed the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), which came into use in the early 1960s.
• In 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Rotary International established the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in collaboration with other partners. At that time, an estimated 350,000 polio cases occurred worldwide each year.
• Global eradication efforts have reduced polio cases by more than 99%. However, the disease has not been eradicated worldwide, and continued vaccination is essential to prevent its spread.
• Afghanistan and Pakistan remain countries where wild poliovirus transmission persists. India was certified polio-free in 2014 as part of the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia Region.

Daily CA One- Liner: October 25 & 26

• Uttar Pradesh secured first place in India for implementing Mission Karmayogi and strengthening the capacity of government officials and employees
• Rajasthan is set to formulate its first dedicated State Veterinary Policy to strengthen veterinary services, improve livestock health and support the rural economy
• Ashoke Sen, a renowned Indian theoretical physicist and International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS)–Infosys Madhava Chair Professor based in Bengaluru, has become the first Indian physicist to receive the Oskar Klein Medal
• The Assam Government will present the first Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award to Indian playback singer Usha Mangeshkar in New Delhi
• Lionel Messi, the Argentine footballer, received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award at a ceremony held in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias, Spain
• Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar and Indonesia signed the Badr Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Doha, Qatar, to strengthen defence industrial cooperation, joint military production, research and development, technology sharing and technical training
• Sabbhineni Meghana, popularly known as Meghana, an Indian top-order batter from Andhra Pradesh, announced her retirement from all formats of cricket at the age of 30
• Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old English chess player of Indian origin, became the youngest woman in chess history to earn the International Master (IM) title at the European Women’s Chess Club Cup 2026
• Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy won Individual Gold medals, while Pentala Harikrishna secured an Individual Silver medal at the European Chess Club Cup 2026, held in Montenegro
• International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) is observed annually on 22 October to raise awareness about stuttering, promote understanding of the condition and support people who experience speech disfluency
• World Polio Day is observed annually on 24 October to raise awareness about poliomyelitis (polio), a highly contagious viral disease that can affect the central nervous system and cause permanent paralysis.
• The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, chaired the 30th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) in New Delhi.
• The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and Bank of India (BOI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 22 October 2026 to collaborate on quantum financial innovation and the adoption of emerging technologies in banking.
• India’s core industrial growth accelerated to 9% in September 2026, marking the highest growth in the new data series since April 2024, driven by improved performance in the coal, refinery products and iron ore sectors.
• BSE Limited, formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange, signed an agreement with MMTC-PAMP India Private Limited to jointly develop and expand India’s Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR)
• Retail inflation in India rose to a nearly two-year high of 5.5% in September 2026, compared with 8% in August 2026, according to official data released on 12 October 2026.
• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the 17th edition of the Emissions Gap Report (EGR) 2026, titled “The Point of Return.”
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of Sunil Kumar as the next Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) for a combined tenure of three years.
• Anca-Maria Verma has been appointed Ambassador-at-Large of the Inter-Governmental Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM) for India for a five-year term, from 20 October 2026 to 19 October 2031.
• The Indian Navy will conduct the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD-2026) from 3 to 5 November 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
• Ethereal Exploration Guild (The Guild), a Bengaluru-based private space technology company, unveiled The Anchorage, a 150-acre rocket development and testing facility.
• CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), in association with Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India Private Limited (BTS), organised the Indian Airport Pavement Symposium (IAPS 2026) in New Delhi.
• Google DeepMind and org partnered with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to develop an open-access global genetic atlas, with a particular focus on sorghum.
• Tom Skerritt (Thomas Roy Skerritt), a veteran American Hollywood actor, passed away at the age of 93 in Seattle, Washington, United States.
• Krishnan, former Senior Deputy Editor of Sportstar, passed away in Chennai on 20 October 2026 at the age of 69.