APEDA facilitates Bihar makhana export from Purnea to Greece.

Dated: 06 October 2026

APEDA facilitated the flag-off of 1 metric tonne of popped makhana from Purnea, Bihar to Greece on October 2, 2026, expanding the product’s access to European markets.

Key Highlights:
1.  S.S. Foods Exports Private Limited shipped the consignment from Mundra Port to Piraeus Port.
2.  Bihar produces about 80-85% of India’s makhana across nearly 35,000 hectares.
3.  ICAR-National Research Centre for Makhana at Darbhanga provides research and technical support.
4.  The shipment is part of a strategy to expand Bihar’s agricultural exports to Europe.
5.  The exported product was popped makhana, also called phool makhana.

Additional Information:
1.  APEDA was created under the APEDA Act, 1985 and functions under the Commerce Ministry.
2.  Mithila Makhana received a GI tag in August 2022 and is scientifically known as Euryale ferox.

Government extends RoDTEP scheme until December 31, 2026.

Dated: 06 October 2026

The Government extended the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products scheme until December 31, 2026 through a notification issued on September 30, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  Eligible units include Domestic Tariff Area, Special Economic Zone and Export Oriented Units.
2.  Advance Authorisation holders are also covered by the extension.
3.  The scheme refunds embedded Central, State and local levies on exports that are not rebated elsewhere.
4.  Existing rates and value caps in Appendix 4R and Appendix 4RE remain unchanged.
5.  The objective is to neutralise internal taxes and improve export competitiveness.

Additional Information:
1.  RoDTEP replaced the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme and complies with WTO norms.
2.  The Commerce Ministry administers the scheme through a budget-led framework.

Commerce Ministry extends RELIEF intervention timelines for exporters.

Dated: 06 October 2026

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry extended the operational timeline for Component I of the RELIEF intervention on September 30, 2026 to reduce the impact of maritime-logistics disruptions in West Asia.

Key Highlights:
1.  RELIEF means Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation.
2.  Component II provides 95% ECGC risk cover for eligible upcoming shipments.
3.  The cover applies to standalone or whole-turnover policies obtained on or after March 16, 2026.
4.  Full Container Load, Less than Container Load and reefer containers are covered, while energy shipments are excluded.
5.  The intervention keeps exporters’ insurance premiums at pre-disruption levels during the eligible period.

Additional Information:
1.  RELIEF was launched on March 19, 2026 under the Export Promotion Mission.
2.  ECGC was established in 1957, is headquartered in Mumbai and works under the Commerce Ministry.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi named in TIME100 Next 2026 list.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named in the TIME100 Next 2026 list on September 30, 2026, becoming its youngest person and the only Indian athlete in the edition.

Key Highlights:
1.  The 15-year-old was selected among 100 emerging global talents in sport, entertainment, politics and business.
2.  He became the youngest player signed at an IPL auction at age 13.
3.  Rajasthan Royals acquired him for Rs.1.1 crore.
4.  He debuted for India against England in Manchester in July 2026 and became the youngest Indian male international cricketer.
5.  He also became the youngest player to score a century in men’s T20 cricket.

Additional Information:
1.  TIME100 Next is an annual TIME Magazine list of rising global figures.
2.  Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural IPL season in 2008 under Shane Warne.

First tigress released in Buxa Tiger Reserve reintroduction programme.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Tigress T138 was released into West Bengal’s Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2, 2026 as the first animal under a phased tiger reintroduction programme marking Wildlife Week.

Key Highlights:
1.  T138 was moved from Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar.
2.  The release forms part of the Tiger Augmentation and Recovery Project initiated in 2018.
3.  West Bengal is implementing it with NTCA and the Wildlife Institute of India.
4.  More than 800 chital were added to strengthen the prey base and 380 hectares of grassland were restored over eight years.
5.  Buxa connects habitats across North Bengal, Assam and Bhutan.

Additional Information:
1.  Buxa became a tiger reserve in 1983 and lies in Alipurduar district.
2.  Wildlife Week is observed from October 2-8 and was first organised in 1957.

Kyiv calls India’s Russia-Ukraine ceasefire proposal broadest among four.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on October 4, 2026 that India’s ceasefire proposal was the most comprehensive among four offers under discussion for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Key Highlights:
1.  India’s proposal includes a complete halt to attacks on energy facilities.
2.  It covers port infrastructure, a Black Sea truce and a stop to all combat operations.
3.  The four proposals were submitted by India, the United States, Egypt and Turkiye.
4.  Turkish and Egyptian plans include revival of the Black Sea Grain Deal.
5.  India and Russia aim to raise bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030.

Additional Information:
1.  The Black Sea Grain Deal was mediated by Turkiye and the United Nations; Russia withdrew in July 2023.
2.  The SCO was established in 2001 and India became a permanent member in 2017.

Odisha announces Rs.11 lakh each for Indian women’s hockey players.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced cash rewards on October 3, 2026 for the Indian women’s hockey team after its Asian Games gold-medal victory.

Key Highlights:
1.  Each player will receive Rs.11 lakh.
2.  Each support-staff member will receive Rs.5.5 lakh.
3.  India defeated defending champion China 1-0 in the final.
4.  The victory directly qualified India for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
5.  The gold ended a 44-year wait since India’s previous women’s hockey gold in 1982.

Additional Information:
1.  Odisha became the first Indian state to sponsor national hockey teams in 2018.
2.  The state extended sponsorship of senior and junior national hockey teams until 2036.

Uranium Corporation of India celebrates Diamond Jubilee year.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Uranium Corporation of India Limited celebrated its Diamond Jubilee at Jaduguda, Jharkhand on October 4, 2026, marking six decades of indigenous uranium mining.

Key Highlights:
1.  The programme was attended by Atomic Energy Commission Member-Finance Seema Jain and UCIL CMD Kacham Anand Rao.
2.  Officials inspected the Technology Demonstration Pilot Plant at Jaduguda.
3.  They reviewed the proposed Dark Matter Laboratory site at the 815-metre level of the underground mine.
4.  A first-of-its-kind journalists’ workshop and a DAE technology exhibition were organised.
5.  The event honoured the scientific legacy of Homi Jehangir Bhabha.

Additional Information:
1.  UCIL was established as a public-sector enterprise on October 4, 1967.
2.  UCIL works under the Department of Atomic Energy and is India’s sole uranium-ore mining and processing entity.

Jawahar Dweep becomes India’s first plastic-free oil terminal.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Jawahar Dweep Marine Oil Terminal in Mumbai was declared India’s first plastic-free oil terminal on October 2, 2026 during Swachhata Abhiyan 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The terminal is managed under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
2.  Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led the declaration programme.
3.  The initiative eliminates single-use plastic from oil-terminal operations and extends to docks, colonies and coastal areas.
4.  Oil Spill Response facilities were dedicated to reduce environmental risk during maritime oil handling.
5.  The cleanliness events were held at Grey Gate, Indira Dock and BPX North Area.

Additional Information:
1.  Jawahar Dweep was formerly called Butcher Island and handles crude oil and petroleum products through submarine pipelines.
2.  Mumbai Port Authority is an autonomous body under the Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry.

5th Kautilya Economic Conclave held in New Delhi.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan delivered the inaugural address at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave in New Delhi on October 3, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The conclave theme was Resilience in an Age of Flux.
2.  Jan Dhan accounts reached 590 million by August 2026.
3.  GST registrations rose from 6.65 million in 2017 to 16.5 million in May 2026.
4.  About 250 million Indians moved out of extreme poverty.
5.  India had 9.2 million self-help groups covering over 100 million women, while Lakhpati Didis reached 34.6 million.

Additional Information:
1.  The Institute of Economic Growth was established in 1952 by V. K. R. V. Rao.
2.  The conclave highlighted research ties among Delhi University, Delhi School of Economics, LSE and IEG.

Ten captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released in Jaisalmer.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Ten captive-bred Great Indian Bustards were scheduled for release into their natural habitat at Ramdevra and Sudasari in Jaisalmer on October 3-4, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The Wildlife Institute of India supervises the release inside Desert National Park.
2.  The Integrated Great Indian Bustard Conservation Project began in 2016.
3.  Large-scale conservation breeding in Rajasthan started in 2019.
4.  The first captive-bred chick was born in March 2023.
5.  Birds received rewilding training in 2025 and will be monitored with tracking devices.

Additional Information:
1.  The Great Indian Bustard is Rajasthan’s State Bird and is Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
2.  WII was established in 1982, is headquartered in Dehradun and works under the Environment Ministry.

NITI Aayog organises national workshop on SDG budgeting in Kolkata.

Dated: 06 October 2026

NITI Aayog, the West Bengal Government and UNDP organised a National Workshop on SDG Budgeting in Kolkata on September 29, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The workshop was held under the State Support Mission to align state plans and budgets with SDGs.
2.  Representatives from 32 States and Union Territories attended.
3.  West Bengal mapped its budget to SDG goals for the first time and integrated it with its financial-management system.
4.  Participants discussed a guide jointly developed by NITI Aayog, CAG and UNDP.
5.  Focus areas included SDG budget tagging, Scheme-SDG mapping, performance audit and private-sector financing.

Additional Information:
1.  The United Nations adopted 17 SDGs and 169 targets in 2015 for achievement by 2030.
2.  The CAG is a constitutional authority under Article 148.

Adani Group commits Rs.6 trillion investment in Maharashtra.

Dated: 06 October 2026

The Adani Group announced on October 2, 2026 that it would invest Rs.6 trillion in Maharashtra to support the State’s goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

Key Highlights:
1.  Investment areas include energy, coal gasification, aviation, aero-districts, data centres and urban renewal.
2.  Navi Mumbai International Airport is projected to handle 90 million passengers annually.
3.  Plans include a business and hospitality district around Mumbai airport and a township near the new airport.
4.  The group is implementing Dharavi redevelopment with modern housing and formalisation of micro-enterprises.
5.  Energy plans include pumped-storage projects and a 1,000 MW HVDC transmission link for Mumbai.

Additional Information:
1.  Projects worth Rs.2.6 trillion are already under construction in Maharashtra.
2.  Adani Group is headquartered in Ahmedabad and operates across ports, aerospace and energy.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius sets world record for highest individual men’s T20 score.

Dated: 06 October 2026

South African batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored an unbeaten 188 from 79 balls for Titans against Knights in Bloemfontein on October 5, 2026, setting a men’s T20 world record.

Key Highlights:
1.  He surpassed Chris Gayle’s 175 not out from the 2013 IPL.
2.  He also passed Dewald Brevis’ 162, the previous CSA T20 Challenge record.
3.  Pretorius reached 50 in 24 balls and 100 in 40 balls.
4.  His innings contained 15 fours and 13 sixes at a strike rate of 237.97.
5.  Titans made 267 for 3, the tournament’s second-highest team score.

Additional Information:
1.  Pretorius is a 20-year-old South African left-handed opening batter.
2.  The CSA T20 Challenge is South Africa’s premier professional T20 competition.

Harivansh leads Indian delegation to 153rd IPU Assembly in Tanzania.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh led the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, held from October 5-9, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The theme was enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusion, trust and opportunity.
2.  The delegation included members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
3.  Members participated in the Governing Council, general debate and a hearing with IPU presidential candidates.
4.  Discussions covered AI and future work, counter-terrorism, maritime security, climate, critical minerals and mental health.
5.  Harivansh serves as Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

Additional Information:
1.  The IPU was established in 1889 and is headquartered in Geneva.
2.  Article 89 provides for the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, elected by members from among themselves.

Education Ministry approves five Centres of Excellence for classical languages.

Dated: 06 October 2026

The Ministry of Education approved five Centres of Excellence on October 3, 2026 for the study and preservation of Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit as classical languages.

Key Highlights:
1.  The Assamese centre will be at Tezpur University.
2.  The Bengali centre will be at Visva-Bharati University.
3.  The Marathi centre will be at Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute in Pune.
4.  The Pali centre will be at Central University of Odisha and the Prakrit centre at Central University of Gujarat.
5.  The centres will promote research, digitisation of literature and wider dissemination of heritage.

Additional Information:
1.  Visva-Bharati was founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921 at Santiniketan.
2.  Deccan College began as Hindoo College in 1821 and is located in Pune.

Kumkum Mohod wins India’s first individual recurve Asian Games gold.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Seventeen-year-old archer Kumkum Mohod became the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan on October 3, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  She defeated South Korea’s Oh Yejin 10-8 in a shoot-off after the final ended 5-5.
2.  She also won women’s recurve team gold with Ankita Bhakat and Kirti Sharma.
3.  She earned mixed-team recurve silver with Dhiraj Bommadevara.
4.  It was India’s first individual recurve gold; Tarundeep Rai had won individual silver in 2010.
5.  Mohod is from Amravati and began training in 2018 under coach Prafull Dange.

Additional Information:
1.  The Archery Association of India was established in 1973 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
2.  Recurve is the only archery discipline currently included in the Olympic Games.

Foundation laid for Rs.1 lakh crore Rayalaseema horticulture hub.

Dated: 06 October 2026

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid the foundation for a Rs.1 lakh crore global horticulture hub and Indian School of Agriculture at Madanapalle on October 2, 2026.

Key Highlights:
1.  The Rayalaseema Rising initiative aims to benefit 1 million farmers.
2.  Central support is Rs.40,352 crore, while State and private investment totals Rs.60,000 crore.
3.  Allocations include Rs.20,884 crore for irrigation, Rs.15,000 crore for horticulture and Rs.4,562 crore for roads.
4.  Cultivation is targeted to rise by 6 lakh hectares to 14.41 lakh hectares.
5.  Regional output is targeted to double to 435 lakh metric tonnes.

Additional Information:
1.  The Indian School of Agriculture will occupy 100 acres and is modelled on the Indian School of Business.
2.  Reliance Industries will partner on precision farming and smart irrigation.

Indian women’s hockey team wins Asian Games gold.

Dated: 06 October 2026

The Indian women’s hockey team won the gold medal at the Asian Games on October 5, 2026, finishing the women’s field-hockey competition as the top-ranked team.

Key Highlights:
1.  India secured the continental title through a gold-medal-winning campaign.
2.  The team represented India in the women’s field-hockey competition.
3.  The title confirmed India as the tournament’s leading women’s hockey team.
4.  The Asian Games are held every four years for athletes from across Asia.
5.  The Olympic Council of Asia regulates the Games.

Additional Information:
1.  The first Asian Games were held in New Delhi in 1951.
2.  Hockey India was established in 2009, is headquartered in New Delhi and is affiliated with FIH and the Asian Hockey Federation.