Ladakh becomes India’s first 100% Organic Union Territory.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Ladakh was officially declared India’s first 100% Organic Union Territory on October 25, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. The status recognises chemical-free farming across the region.
2. A July 2026 order prohibited procurement, distribution, sale and use of synthetic fertilisers.
3. The policy seeks better value addition, branding and market access for local farmers.
4. Traceable food production is intended to open global organic markets.
5. The transition will protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and soil health.
Additional Information:
1. Ladakh became a Union Territory on October 31, 2019.
2. It has two administrative districts, Leh and Kargil, and includes Hemis National Park.
NCDEX launches NDEX and FINNDEX equity benchmarks.
Dated: 27 October 2026
NCDEX expanded into equity benchmarks by launching NDEX and FINNDEX on October 22, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. NDEX contains 20 large and liquid equities chosen from the top 60 NSE-listed companies.
2. FINNDEX tracks 15 financial-sector companies, excluding insurance.
3. Free-float market value and average daily traded value each carry 30% weight in selection.
4. Beta and volatility each carry 20% weight.
5. Both indices have a base value of 10,000 and January 2010 as base month.
Additional Information:
1. NCDEX owns the indices while NSE Indices calculates and maintains them.
2. NCDEX was established in 2003, is headquartered in Mumbai and is regulated by SEBI.
Haney wins Asian Para Games javelin gold with world record.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Indian para-athlete Haney won Asian Para Games 2026 javelin gold with a world-record throw of 60.49 metres on October 25.
Key Highlights:
1. The record came in the men’s javelin F37/38 event.
2. Haney also earned discus F37 bronze with 57.04 metres.
3. Sandeep won 400m T64 gold with a world-record time of 52.28 seconds.
4. Ajay Kumar secured 400m T64 bronze.
5. India stood fourth with 26 gold, 33 silver and 43 bronze medals, totalling 102.
Additional Information:
1. Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar won para-badminton singles golds.
2. Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi won men’s recurve doubles archery gold.
Sunil Kumar appointed Chairman of ONGC.
Dated: 27 October 2026
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Sunil Kumar as the next Chairman of ONGC on October 21, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. He will assume charge on or after December 7, 2026.
2. The approved tenure is three years or until further orders.
3. He will serve through superannuation on December 31, 2028 and then continue contractually.
4. He succeeds Arun Kumar Singh, whose extended tenure ends on December 6.
5. Sunil Kumar is ONGC Executive Director and Asset Manager of the Mehsana Asset.
Additional Information:
1. ONGC was established in 1956 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
2. The Maharatna company contributes about 71% of India’s domestic crude oil and natural gas production.
Microsoft develops sequential AI tool for medical diagnosis.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Microsoft researchers developed an AI tool that diagnoses medical conditions sequentially like a doctor, according to a study published on October 23, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. An orchestrator coordinates a simulated panel of clinical experts.
2. The model chooses patient-history questions and relevant diagnostic tests step by step.
3. It updates its hypotheses and treatment plan as new results arrive.
4. The method replaces the traditional all-at-once assessment of symptoms.
5. It achieved more than twice the accuracy of general physicians across 300 complex cases.
Additional Information:
1. It also outperformed doctors on emergency-room admission datasets.
2. The diagnostic work-ups designed by the system cost less than those prepared by human doctors.
Nepal becomes first beneficiary of Global Loss and Damage Fund.
Dated: 27 October 2026
The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage provisionally allocated USD 20 million to Nepal on October 22, making it the mechanism’s first beneficiary.
Key Highlights:
1. The assistance responds to the August 26, 2026 flash floods.
2. The disaster was a glacial lake outburst flood in Rasuwa district.
3. Estimated economic loss was USD 2.69 billion.
4. Total reconstruction need was assessed at USD 4.71 billion.
5. USD 20 million is the current maximum grant for one climate event.
Additional Information:
1. The fund was established at COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh in 2022.
2. It became operational at COP28 in Dubai in 2023 and targets vulnerable developing countries.
Tamil Nadu launches Thuli rainwater-harvesting campaign.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the statewide Thuli rainwater-harvesting awareness campaign and logo in Chennai on October 21, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. Government Order 184 of October 16 guides the campaign.
2. It covers corporations, municipalities, town panchayats and village panchayats.
3. Government offices, schools, hospitals and commercial buildings face mandatory inspection.
4. Damaged structures, rooftops, drains and recharge pits will be repaired and cleaned.
5. New percolation pits and recharge wells will be installed where required.
Additional Information:
1. Tamil Nadu first launched its rainwater-harvesting programme in 2001.
2. Rainwater-harvesting structures became mandatory for all buildings in the state in 2003.
Solar begins delivery of indigenous Nagastra-2 loiter munitions.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Solar Defence and Aerospace began delivering indigenous Nagastra-2 anti-tank loiter munitions to the Indian Army on October 23, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. Nagastra-2 carries a 4 kg tandem shaped-charge warhead.
2. It can penetrate up to 650 mm of rolled homogeneous armour.
3. Range is 25 km in recover-and-reuse mode and 50 km in fire-and-forget mode.
4. It can remain airborne for up to 60 minutes.
5. Electronic counter-countermeasures resist GPS jamming and spoofing.
Additional Information:
1. The system has more than 80% indigenous content.
2. Nagastra-1R was its predecessor and the Army ordered 450 units in 2025.
Pankaj Advani wins record 29th world billiards title.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Pankaj Advani won his record 29th career world title at the World Billiards Championship on October 23, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. The achievement strengthened his status as India’s most successful cue sportsperson.
2. The championship field included the world’s top-ranked billiards players.
3. Advani continues to compete in billiards and snooker.
4. He also participates in Heyball and traditional pool.
5. He was the first Indian to win the 6-Red Snooker World Championship.
Additional Information:
1. He is the only player to complete a billiards Grand Slam in one season.
2. He received the Khel Ratna in 2006, Padma Shri in 2009 and Padma Bhushan in 2018.
Punjab launches SANGAT mental-health clubs in 40 colleges.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Punjab launched SANGAT mental-health clubs in 40 colleges on October 23, 2026 to combat substance abuse under Yudh Nashean Virudh.
Key Highlights:
1. The Higher Education Department partnered with Aditya Birla Education Trust.
2. Each college selects 25 students for specialised training.
3. Participants receive 14 hours of Youth Mental Health First Aid certification.
4. Mpower implements the programme under the COPE framework.
5. COPE means Counselling and Outreach for Peer Empowerment.
Additional Information:
1. The official launch took place at Plaksha University in Mohali.
2. The clubs use trained student peers to improve awareness and early support.
Indian Navy to host Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi.
Dated: 27 October 2026
The Indian Navy will host the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi from November 3 to 5, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. The National Maritime Foundation is the Navy’s knowledge partner.
2. The theme is Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
3. Experts, scientists and policymakers from 18 countries will join five thematic sessions.
4. A Flag Bridge session includes former Indian and Sri Lankan naval chiefs.
5. Sahyog Ka Samvaad provides an ambassador-level discussion on regional cooperation.
Additional Information:
1. The National Maritime Foundation was established in 2005 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
2. The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium began in 2008 to increase cooperation among Indian Ocean littoral states.
C-DOT establishes sixth Centre of Excellence at IIT BHU.
Dated: 27 October 2026
C-DOT signed an MoU with IIT BHU on October 23, 2026 to establish its sixth Centre of Excellence for next-generation telecom technology.
Key Highlights:
1. The centre will connect academic research with real-world industry needs.
2. It focuses on 5G Advanced, 6G and AI-native communication networks.
3. Research also covers quantum and post-quantum communication.
4. Other areas include cybersecurity, massive MIMO and integrated sensing and communication.
5. Existing C-DOT centres are at IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Roorkee, IIT Hyderabad and IISc Bengaluru.
Additional Information:
1. C-DOT was established in 1984 under the Department of Telecommunications.
2. IIT BHU began as Banaras Engineering College in 1919 and became an IIT in 2012.
EPS government contribution cap remains at Rs.15,000 wage ceiling.
Dated: 27 October 2026
The Labour Ministry confirmed on October 15, 2026 that the Central Government’s EPS contribution will remain capped at the Rs.15,000 wage ceiling.
Key Highlights:
1. The decision applies despite a new general wage ceiling of Rs.25,000.
2. Government contributes 1.16% of an EPS member’s basic wage.
3. The maximum monthly government contribution therefore remains Rs.174.
4. Applying the new ceiling would have raised it to Rs.290.
5. The amendment was made under Section 15 of the Code on Social Security, 2020.
Additional Information:
1. Government support continues to guarantee a minimum pension of Rs.1,000 per month.
2. EPS-95 is a defined-benefit scheme managed by EPFO for organised-sector employees.
Indian student wins Global Youth Institute Award at WFPF 2026.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Ameena Nazreen A S won the Global Youth Institute Award for food-security research at the World Food Prize Foundation symposium held from October 20 to 22, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. The event was the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue.
2. Its theme was Before Hunger Wins.
3. The symposium took place in Des Moines, Iowa, United States.
4. The award carried USD 500.
5. Seven Indian high-school students participated through the NAAS-YUVA selection drive.
Additional Information:
1. NAAS signed an MoU with the US Council for Agricultural Science and Technology.
2. The World Food Prize was founded by Norman Borlaug in 1986 and is called the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture.
Telangana to host India’s first state-organised defence expo.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Telangana will host Raksha Expo 2026, India’s first defence and aerospace exhibition organised by a state government, from December 7 to 9.
Key Highlights:
1. The main event will be held at Bharat Future City, Hyderabad.
2. It covers aerospace, space, defence and internal security.
3. An air show is scheduled for December 9 and a Delhi roadshow for October 29.
4. The expo accompanies the Invest Telangana Global Summit 2026.
5. Hyderabad accounts for about 30% of India’s defence and aerospace industry.
Additional Information:
1. The city is the single global source for C-130J empennages and has produced 400 Apache fuselages.
2. Telangana was formed on June 2, 2014 and Hyderabad hosts more than 12 DRDO laboratories.
10th India-Uzbekistan counter-terrorism joint working group held.
Dated: 27 October 2026
India and Uzbekistan held the 10th Joint Working Group meeting on Counter-Terrorism in New Delhi on October 22, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. The sides agreed on information-sharing and capacity-building exchanges.
2. Cooperation covers extremism, radicalisation and terror financing.
3. They will address terrorist misuse of technology and transnational organised crime.
4. Both reaffirmed cooperation through the UN and SCO-RATS.
5. They also work in the Eurasian Group on money laundering and terror financing.
Additional Information:
1. The 11th meeting will be held in Uzbekistan.
2. SCO-RATS is headquartered in Tashkent and combats terrorism, separatism and extremism.
Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy win European Chess Club Cup gold.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy won individual gold medals at the European Chess Club Cup 2026 in Montenegro on October 24.
Key Highlights:
1. Nihal won Board 2 gold in the Open competition with 5 points from six games.
2. Humpy won Board 2 gold in the women’s event with 4.5 points.
3. Humpy’s Cercle d’Echecs de Monte-Carlo won the women’s team title.
4. Nihal’s Novy Bor Chess Club finished second in the Open section.
5. Bayegan Pendik Sports Club won the Open team title.
Additional Information:
1. Pentala Harikrishna earned individual silver on Board 3.
2. Karthikeyan Murali won individual bronze on Board 2 for Team Elektroprivreda.
Maharashtra launches silage scheme for Marathwada and Vidarbha farmers.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Maharashtra launched Mission Murghas on October 25, 2026 to provide subsidised silage to dairy farmers in 19 Marathwada and Vidarbha districts.
Key Highlights:
1. Eligible milk producers receive a subsidy of Rs.3 per kg of silage.
2. Support is calculated at 5 kg per animal daily for 90 days.
3. Funds go directly to farmers’ bank accounts through DBT.
4. The government sanctioned Rs.276.41 crore for fodder cultivation and silage production.
5. Another Rs.51.20 crore supports fodder-seed distribution for the 2026-27 kharif season.
Additional Information:
1. The programme is part of the Vidarbha-Marathwada Dairy Development Project’s second phase.
2. NDDB was established in 1965 and is headquartered in Anand, Gujarat.
Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar win Asian Para Games gold.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Indian para-badminton players Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar won men’s singles gold medals at the Asian Para Games on October 23, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. Nitesh defeated fellow Indian Pramod Bhagat 21-18, 21-16 in the SL3 final.
2. Naveen defeated Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan 21-9, 21-17 in the SL4 final.
3. Pramod Bhagat received the SL3 silver medal.
4. Thulasimathi Murugesan earned women’s SU5 silver.
5. Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan won women’s SH6 silver.
Additional Information:
1. The 2026 Asian Para Games were hosted in Nagoya, Japan.
2. The Asian Paralympic Committee regulates the Games, first held in Guangzhou in 2010.
Ukraine joins NATO NSPA partnership for defence contracts.
Dated: 27 October 2026
Ukraine joined the NATO Support and Procurement Agency’s Security Cooperation Support Partnership on October 24, 2026.
Key Highlights:
1. The arrangement gives Ukrainian defence companies access to NATO procurement contracts.
2. Ukraine is the first non-NATO country with a separate single-entry partnership for NSPA services.
3. Ukraine Industry Day in Kyiv involved about 150 companies.
4. The CAP Trust Fund mobilised EUR 400 million in assistance.
5. The IT Capability Coalition contributed EUR 219 million for digital defence modernisation.
Additional Information:
1. NSPA is headquartered in Capellen, Luxembourg.
2. NATO was founded on April 4, 1949 and applies collective defence under Article 5.