India to host 61st International Committee of Legal Metrology meeting.
Dated: 22 October 2026
India will host the 61st meeting of the International Committee of Legal Metrology for the first time in New Delhi from October 26 to 28, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. The Consumer Affairs Department will organise the meeting with the International Organization of Legal Metrology.
2. An international seminar on Evolutions in Legal Metrology will be held on October 26.
3. An OIML strategy workshop on digitalisation and technology will follow on October 27.
4. More than 100 delegates from countries including the USA, UK, Japan, China and Germany will attend.
5. The meeting will revise international recommendations, technical work and the OIML Certification System.
Additional Information:
1. OIML was established in 1955 and is headquartered in Paris.
2. CIML is OIML’s principal decision-making body and manages its technical and administrative work.
ADB and Japan finance green ammonia plant in Kakinada.
Dated: 22 October 2026
The Asian Development Bank and Government of Japan signed financing agreements on October 16, 2026 for a renewable-powered green ammonia plant in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
Key Highlights:
1. AM Green Ammonia India, established by Greenko Group founders, will develop the project.
2. The $100 million loan comes from Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund 2.
3. JICA funds the facility and ADB administers it.
4. Annual green ammonia production is targeted at 1.1 million tonnes.
5. The project converts a former gas-based ammonia and urea unit to renewable energy.
Additional Information:
1. It is the first investment under the ACCEL initiative launched in May 2026.
2. ADB was established in 1966 and is headquartered in Mandaluyong, Philippines.
Sheetal Devi equals archery world record at Para Asian Games.
Dated: 22 October 2026
Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi equalled the world record and set a new Asian record in women’s compound qualification at the Para Asian Games on October 19, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. She scored 704 out of 720, six points above the previous Asian record.
2. The event was held at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park in Aichi, Japan.
3. Simran won women’s 200m T12 gold with a Games record.
4. Pranay Soorma won men’s F51/52/53 discus gold with an Asian record.
5. Ram Ratan Singh won discus silver and Tejalben Damor won women’s 200m T12 bronze.
Additional Information:
1. Sheetal won Asian Para Games gold in 2023 and Paris Paralympics bronze in 2024.
2. The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya edition is the fifth Para Asian Games.
DRDO develops 20% lighter armour for combat vehicles.
Dated: 22 October 2026
DRDO announced on October 18, 2026 that it had developed indigenous armour panels 20% lighter than existing systems while retaining protection against 30mm armour-piercing ammunition.
Key Highlights:
1. Pune-based Research and Development Establishment Engineers developed the panels.
2. The armour has certified protection against 30mm armour-piercing rounds.
3. It is intended for future main battle tanks, light tanks and future infantry combat vehicles.
4. Technology will be transferred to private companies for mass production.
5. Lower weight improves mobility and fuel efficiency.
Additional Information:
1. The design supports mountain and high-altitude deployment while reducing engine and suspension stress.
2. DRDO was established in 1958 under the Defence Ministry and is headquartered in New Delhi.
Pakistan ranks 106th in Global Hunger Index 2026.
Dated: 22 October 2026
The Global Hunger Index 2026 placed Pakistan 106th among 122 countries with a score of 25.5, classified as serious hunger.
Key Highlights:
1. Welthungerhilfe, IFHV and Helvetas jointly prepared the report.
2. The theme was No Security Without Food Security.
3. Pakistan recorded 16.1% undernourishment and 33.6% child stunting.
4. Child wasting was 9.8% and under-five mortality 5.6%.
5. South Asia scored 23.5, while Afghanistan ranked 108th with 28.6.
Additional Information:
1. The global score rose to 18.1 in 2026 from 17.6 in 2018.
2. GHI began in 2006 and uses a 100-point scale where zero is best.
India and Canada target CEPA conclusion by end-2026.
Dated: 22 October 2026
India and Canada signed commercial agreements in Bengaluru on October 16, 2026 and confirmed a target to conclude their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. Bilateral trade reached $7,956.43 million in FY26.
2. CEPA could add $4.4-6.5 billion to bilateral trade by 2035.
3. The fifth negotiation round took place in Ottawa from October 5 to 9.
4. The next round is scheduled in New Delhi in early November 2026.
5. Priority sectors include AI, quantum computing, aviation, digital innovation and smart mobility.
Additional Information:
1. The agreement could add $3.8-5.9 billion to Canada’s GDP by 2035.
2. CEPA covers goods, services, investment and wider economic cooperation beyond a standard FTA.
Arshi Gupta becomes youngest Rotax MAX Challenge Mini champion.
Dated: 22 October 2026
Ten-year-old Arshi Gupta became the world’s youngest driver to win a Rotax MAX Challenge Mini title on October 19, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. She won the Mini Max title at the FMSCI RMC Indian National Karting Championship 2026.
2. She broke the track record in Round 5 and recorded eight consecutive fastest laps in the final.
3. She won Micro Max in 2025, giving her titles in different categories in successive years.
4. She was selected as India’s sole Mini Max representative for the 2026 Grand Finals in Portugal.
5. India will compete in Mini Max, Junior Max and Senior Max categories.
Additional Information:
1. She is Asia’s only female national karting champion in a gender-neutral competition.
2. The Faridabad racer received the FIA President’s Medal and joined F1 Academy Discover Your Drive.
Government launches upgraded Agri Welfare Portal.
Dated: 22 October 2026
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the upgraded Agri Welfare Portal on October 19, 2026 as a unified digital gateway for farm schemes.
Key Highlights:
1. The portal provides direct access to assistance and subsidies without intermediaries.
2. It integrates PM-KISAN, AgriStack and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
3. It follows Digital Brand Identity Manual 3.0 and GIGW 3.0 standards.
4. Krishi Vigyan Kendras will train farmers nationwide.
5. Direct Benefit Transfer will provide transparent financial assistance.
Additional Information:
1. The portal supports low-bandwidth connections and screen readers.
2. The first Krishi Vigyan Kendra was established at Puducherry in 1974.
Delhi Government establishes DITI for development planning.
Dated: 22 October 2026
The Delhi Government notified the Delhi Institute for Transformation and Innovation on October 12, 2026 as its main advisory body for policy and institutional reform.
Key Highlights:
1. DITI will prepare Vision Delhi 2047 and a long-term development roadmap.
2. The Chief Minister chairs its board with ministers and heads of DDA, MCD and NDMC as members.
3. The Planning Department’s Administrative Secretary is Member Secretary.
4. Delhi allocated Rs.9 crore for DITI in 2026-27.
5. A Chief Secretary-led executive committee will coordinate operations.
Additional Information:
1. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University is the lead knowledge institution and NITI Aayog will assist.
2. DITI will use data and technology for evidence-based policy and programme impact assessment.
Dhal Singh Bisen sworn in as Governor of Uttarakhand.
Dated: 22 October 2026
Dhal Singh Bisen was sworn in as the Governor of Uttarakhand on October 19, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. He assumed office as the constitutional head of Uttarakhand.
2. The President appoints a Governor under Article 155.
3. A Governor holds office during the President’s pleasure under Article 156.
4. A Governor must be an Indian citizen aged at least 35 years.
5. The Governor administers the oath to the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers.
Additional Information:
1. Uttarakhand became India’s 27th State on November 9, 2000.
2. Dehradun is its winter capital, Gairsain its summer capital and the High Court is in Nainital.
Mona Agarwal wins gold and Avani Lekhara silver at Asian Para Games.
Dated: 22 October 2026
Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara earned India a one-two finish in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on October 19, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. Mona won gold with 250.0 points.
2. Avani took silver with 249.6, only 0.4 points behind.
3. South Korea’s Lee Yunri won bronze with 227.9.
4. Mona set an Asian Para Games qualification record of 629.1.
5. She broke the previous qualification record held by China’s Zhang Cuiping.
Additional Information:
1. Avani jointly holds the world qualification record of 629.4 and won gold at Hangzhou 2022.
2. Aichi-Nagoya, Japan hosts the 2026 Asian Para Games.
Indian Army conducts Exercise Akhand Prahar-II in Jaisalmer.
Dated: 22 October 2026
The Indian Army conducted tactical drill Akhand Prahar-II in the Jaisalmer desert sector on October 18, 2026 to strengthen integrated combat readiness.
Key Highlights:
1. The Black Mace Brigade and Battle Axe Division conducted the drill.
2. New Generation Equipment and force multipliers were integrated into combined-arms operations.
3. The exercise tested drills in a multi-domain environment.
4. It stressed real-time coordination, situational awareness and precision.
5. Konark Corps commander Lieutenant General A. V. S. Rathee reviewed it.
Additional Information:
1. Konark Corps is XII Corps, headquartered in Jodhpur under Southern Command.
2. Jaisalmer hosts the Pokhran firing range and the 1971 Battle of Longewala site.
Delhi inaugurates 200 TPD biogas plant at Goyla Dairy.
Dated: 22 October 2026
The Delhi Chief Minister inaugurated a 200-tonne-per-day biogas plant at Goyla Dairy on October 19, 2026 under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.
Key Highlights:
1. The plant processes 200 tonnes of cow dung daily into green energy and organic fertiliser.
2. Delhi plans six more plants, including one at Ghazipur.
3. Future capacity will process more than 1,500 tonnes of cow dung daily.
4. The Nangli plant commissioned in September 2025 processed 55,000 tonnes in its first year.
5. Delhi sanctioned Rs.50 crore to renovate drainage in dairy colonies.
Additional Information:
1. The project diverts dairy waste to reduce Yamuna pollution.
2. Biogas mainly contains methane and carbon dioxide produced through anaerobic digestion.
Charles Matata breaks Delhi Half Marathon course record.
Dated: 22 October 2026
Kenyan runner Charles Matata set a Delhi Half Marathon course record at the 21st edition held on October 18-19, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. Matata finished in 58 minutes 52 seconds.
2. He beat Amedework Walelegn’s 2020 record by one second.
3. Samwel Nyamai Mailu placed second and Stanley Mburu third.
4. Ethiopia’s Wudinesh Alemu won the women’s race in 1:06:35.
5. The event is a World Athletics Gold Label road race.
Additional Information:
1. Matata received $42,000 including winner, course-record and sub-60 bonuses.
2. The race finished at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
Pakistan named 2027 chair of IMF and World Bank Boards.
Dated: 22 October 2026
Pakistan was named incoming 2027 chair of the IMF and World Bank Boards of Governors during annual meetings in Bangkok on October 21, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. Federal Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema will serve as incoming chair.
2. Pakistan will hold the position for the first time since 1953.
3. It returns to the role after 74 years.
4. Pakistan succeeds Paraguay’s Carlos Carvallo Spalding.
5. The chair presides over the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions.
Additional Information:
1. The IMF was established in 1945 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
2. The World Bank Group was founded in 1944 and is led by President Ajay Banga.
International Day for Eradication of Poverty observed on October 17.
Dated: 22 October 2026
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was observed globally on October 17, 2026 to promote human dignity and poverty reduction.
Key Highlights:
1. The 2026 observance was the 34th UN-recognised edition.
2. The 2026-2028 theme is United for Peace and Human Rights.
3. The official event took place at UN Headquarters on October 16.
4. The observance originated at Trocadero Plaza in Paris on October 17, 1987.
5. More than 100,000 people gathered there to recognise poverty as a human-rights violation.
Additional Information:
1. The UN General Assembly declared the day through Resolution 47/196 in 1992.
2. The first UN-recognised observance was held on October 17, 1993.
India approves Rs.3,000 crore currency-swap rollover for Maldives.
Dated: 22 October 2026
India approved the first rollover of a Rs.3,000 crore currency-swap arrangement with Maldives for implementation on October 23, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. The arrangement operates under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework 2024-27.
2. RBI and the Maldives Monetary Authority are the signatories.
3. The original facility was agreed in October 2024 and its initial drawdown was extended in April 2026.
4. Cumulative swap support since 2012 exceeds $1.1 billion.
5. India also subscribed to Maldives Treasury bonds worth $250 million and $100 million.
Additional Information:
1. Three Treasury bills worth $150 million have previously been settled.
2. The Maldives Monetary Authority is the country’s central bank, established in 1981 in Male.
India and Myanmar sign five MoUs for Quick Impact Projects.
Dated: 22 October 2026
India and Myanmar signed five MoUs for Quick Impact Projects under Mekong-Ganga Cooperation in Naypyitaw on October 15, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. Projects cover water, sanitation, hygiene, boiler operation, roads, sports facilities and software support.
2. India can spend up to $500,000 annually under the QIP framework.
3. More than 25 Quick Impact Projects had been sanctioned across Myanmar by March 2026.
4. The projects seek short-duration and highly visible benefits for communities.
5. First Secretary Amit Shreeansh signed in the presence of Ambassador Abhay Thakur and Union Minister U Aung Kyaw Hoe.
Additional Information:
1. Mekong-Ganga Cooperation began in Vientiane in 2000.
2. Its six members are India, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.