02 October 2026 | English | FREE Current Affairs PDF

Today’s Highlight: The Cabinet has approved the MSP for Rabi crops for Marketing Season 2027-28, raising wheat to ₹2,610 per quintal and giving safflower the biggest hike of ₹675. MSP figures are among the most frequently asked agriculture questions in Banking and SSC exams, so note the crop-wise numbers.

News in One Liner – 02 October 2026

PIB News

First PRAMAAN Certificates Issued Under Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme

The Union Environment Ministry handed over India’s first PRAMAAN certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS). The Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation was certified for sustainable forest management, and an Odisha bamboo farmer became the first individual beneficiary under farm forestry. PRAMAAN is the national brand mark for voluntary third-party certification of timber, forest produce and trees outside forests.

Special Campaign 6.0 to Run Across Ministries from October 2 to 31

The Government of India announced Special Campaign 6.0 across central ministries and departments from October 2 to October 31, 2026. The campaign focuses on Swachhata, record management and the scientific disposal of e-waste in government offices. It runs in three phases: Preparatory (Sept 15-30), Implementation (Oct 2-31) and Evaluation (Nov 16-30).

PRAGATI-50 Launched to Build 50 Model Swachhata Cities

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal launched the PRAGATI-50 initiative in New Delhi to turn 50 urban local bodies into model garbage-free cities. It promotes scientific waste management and circular economy models. The CSIR-CMERI Swachh Bharat Test Bed was introduced and the 3rd Cohort of Swachhata Startups was onboarded with IIT Kanpur.

4th Eco Warrior Awards 2026 Honour Forest Officers and Conservationists

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav presented the 4th Eco Warrior Awards 2026 to forest officers and field staff for outstanding conservation work. Hosur Wildlife Warden N. Jayaraj won the Best Use of Technology award for an AI-based early-warning system that prevents elephant collisions on railway tracks. Officers from Similipal and Pilibhit Tiger Reserves won in Protected Area Management.

DGCA Introduces National Training Framework for Gyroplane Pilots

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) notified a dedicated training and licensing framework for gyroplane pilots. It sets standard flight instruction, ground training and medical criteria, and allows dedicated Gyroplane Flying Training Organisations (FTOs). The framework aims to support recreational flying, aerial surveys, agricultural work and short-range transport.

CAQM Approves Revised GRAP With 48 Actions for NCR Pollution

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) approved a revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with 48 actions across four stages for Delhi-NCR. Diesel generator set rules and curbs on BS-IV and below regional buses move up from Stage-II to Stage-I. Stage-III curbs on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers now also cover Sonipat.

UIDAI Unveils Five New Initiatives at Aadhaar Samvaad Kolkata

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched five new initiatives at the Aadhaar Samvaad conference in Kolkata. The UIDAI website will expand from 13 to 23 languages to improve access. A dedicated UIDAI Career Portal was also launched for online deputation applications.

India and South Korea Hold 10th Defence Industries Joint Committee Meeting

India and the Republic of Korea held the 10th Joint Committee Meeting on Defence Industries and Logistics Cooperation in New Delhi. The meeting reviewed co-production and co-development projects in land systems, naval shipbuilding and aerospace. Both sides agreed to strengthen supply chain resilience and technology transfer under India’s Make in India drive.

Industry News

CCEA Approves MSP for Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2027-28

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved higher Minimum Support Prices for all mandated Rabi crops for Marketing Season 2027-28. Safflower got the highest hike of ₹675 per quintal, reaching ₹7,215. Wheat MSP was raised by ₹25 to ₹2,610 per quintal, with the highest margin of 106% over cost of production.

Cabinet Approves ₹1.86 Lakh Crore PM-DHARA Scheme for Renewable Grid

The Union Cabinet approved the PM-DHARA scheme with an outlay of ₹1.86 lakh crore to strengthen intra-state transmission for renewable energy. It will help evacuate up to 135 GW of renewable power and includes 50 GWh of battery energy storage. Central financial assistance of ₹54,082 crore will go to states.

Fiscal Deficit Reaches ₹7.1 Lakh Crore, 41.9% of FY27 Target

Controller General of Accounts data showed India’s fiscal deficit at ₹7.1 lakh crore at the end of August 2026. This is 41.9% of the FY27 Budget Estimate, compared with 38.1% a year ago. The full-year target is ₹16.96 lakh crore, or 4.3% of GDP.

Draft National Steel Policy 2047 Targets 604 Million Tonnes Capacity

The Ministry of Steel prepared the draft National Steel Policy 2047 as a long-term roadmap for Viksit Bharat. It targets 604 million tonnes of crude steel capacity and over 500 million tonnes of domestic consumption by 2047. A Steel Industry Safety Council chaired by the Steel Secretary will also be set up.

Financial News

RBI Releases Advisory Committee Report on Ways and Means Advances to States

The Reserve Bank of India published the Report of the Advisory Committee on Ways and Means Advances (WMA) to State Governments on its website. The committee reviewed state-wise WMA limits along with the Special Drawing Facility and Overdraft rules. WMA helps states manage temporary mismatches between their receipts and payments.

National & State News

PM Internship Scheme Records 20% Offer-to-Joining Conversion Rate

Data showed that only 20% of internship offers under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) turned into actual joinings across its first three rounds. Round 3 had the best conversion at 56.7%, with 14,620 joinings from 25,794 offers. Low stipends, reluctance to migrate and role mismatches were the main reasons for dropouts.

Five New Sites Added to India’s UNESCO Tentative List, Total Now 78

India added five new cultural sites and proposals to its UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, taking the total to 78. The additions include the Bagh Cave Paintings, the Group of Temples of the Chambal Valley and the Udaigiri Caves in Madhya Pradesh. A joint ‘Sites of Satyagraha’ proposal with South Africa was also included.

Jharkhand’s Traditional Drum Mandar Gets GI Tag

Jharkhand’s traditional double-sided hand drum, the Mandar, received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The instrument is central to the folk music of tribal communities such as the Santhal, Oraon and Munda. The GI tag protects the authentic craft and its artisans from counterfeit products.

National Highway Network Grows 61% to Over 1.46 Lakh km Since 2014

India’s National Highway network has grown by about 61%, from 91,000 km in 2014 to over 1.46 lakh km. This keeps India’s road network the second largest in the world. The government also highlighted the Green Highways Policy for plantation and beautification along highways.

Rajasthan First North Indian State to Complete Farmer Digital ID

Rajasthan became the first state in northern India, and the sixth in the country, to complete digital identification of farmers. The registry links each farmer to geo-referenced land records under the central AgriStack framework. It will speed up delivery of benefits such as PMFBY enrolment, seed and micro-irrigation subsidies.

World News

Sitharaman Discusses BIT, FTA and UPI Expansion with Qatar in Doha

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held talks with Qatari officials in Doha. The talks covered finalising a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), progress on a Free Trade Agreement and wider UPI use in Qatar. Expanding UPI will make cross-border payments and remittances easier for the Indian diaspora.

Awards & Honors

V. Padhumanar and A.R. Venkatachalapathy Receive Literary Awards in Chennai

Tamil scholar V. Padhumanar received the Mahavidwan Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai Award, and historian A.R. Venkatachalapathy received the Dr. U.Ve. Swaminatha Iyer Award. The awards were given by the Dr. U.Ve. Swaminatha Iyer Library in Chennai. Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar presented the honours at VIT Chennai.

Defence News

Indian Navy Joins 2nd ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise in Philippines

The Indian Navy took part in the 2nd ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) hosted by the Philippines. INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish represented India alongside the Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal. The sea phase off Zambales province included boarding drills, cross-deck helicopter landings and medical evacuation practice.

Science & Technology

SatLeo Labs to Launch India’s First Commercial Thermal Imaging Satellite

Ahmedabad-based space startup SatLeo Labs is preparing to launch India’s first commercial thermal imaging satellite into Low Earth Orbit. It uses Mid-Wave and Long-Wave Infrared bands along with a 10 cm visible camera. Onboard edge computing and AI will process temperature data in orbit for uses like wildfire detection and crop stress analysis.

Ranking and Reports

Moody’s: India Will Turn Super-Aged Faster Than US and Indonesia

A Moody’s Ratings report said India will move from an ‘aged’ to a ‘super-aged’ society in just 16 years, faster than the US (19 years) and Indonesia (29 years). A society is ‘super-aged’ when 21% of its people are 65 or older. India is projected to become ‘aged’ by 2049 and ‘super-aged’ by about 2065.

Sports News

Rohit Sharma Becomes Second-Fastest to 12,000 ODI Runs

Rohit Sharma crossed 12,000 ODI runs during his century against West Indies in Guwahati. He reached the mark in his 282nd innings, second-fastest after Virat Kohli (242 innings). He is the seventh batter overall and the third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to reach 12,000 ODI runs.

Indian Women’s Compound Archery Team Wins Asian Games Gold, Equals World Record

The Indian women’s compound archery team won gold at the Asian Games by beating China 238-234 in the final. The score of 238 equalled the 24-arrow women’s compound world record. The win was part of India’s sweep of the compound team events.

Sree Charani Sets All-Time Record in ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings

Indian spinner Sree Charani reached 817 rating points, the highest ever in ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings history. Fellow Indian spinner Deepti Sharma moved to second place with 754 points. England’s Sophie Ecclestone slipped behind both Indian bowlers.

TNCA to Name Chepauk Stands After Venkataraghavan, Srikkanth and Ashwin

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association decided to name three stands at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai after S. Venkataraghavan, K. Srikkanth and Ravichandran Ashwin. The decision was passed at the TNCA Annual General Meeting. Ashwin is Tamil Nadu’s only 100-Test player and India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker with 537 wickets.

Important Days

World Heart Day Observed on September 29

World Heart Day is observed every year on September 29 to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases. It is led by the World Heart Federation. The day focuses on risk factors like high blood pressure, tobacco use, inactivity and poor diet, and promotes routine screening.

International Translation Day Celebrated on September 30

International Translation Day is celebrated every year on September 30 to honour language professionals. The date marks the feast of St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators. The UN General Assembly recognised the day through Resolution 71/288 in May 2017.

Person in the News

Birth Centenary of Poet Laureate Kannadasan Celebrated Across Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu celebrated the birth centenary of poet laureate and lyricist Kannadasan with literary and cultural events. Born Muthiah in Sirukoodalpatti in 1927, he wrote over 5,000 film songs, 6,000 poems and more than 230 books. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1980 for ‘Cheraman Kadhali’ and was known as ‘Kaviyarasu’ (King of Poets).