26 October 2026 | English | FREE Current Affairs PDF

Today’s Highlight: The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 770 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited for Improved Low Level Light Weight Radars that can track mini and micro drones. The UNEP Emissions Gap Report also says breaching the 1.5 degree Celsius Paris Agreement target is now unavoidable. Defence contracts and climate reports are regular exam topics for Banking, SSC and TNPSC aspirants.

News in One Liner – 24, 25 & 26 October 2026

PIB News

SIMBEX 2026 Begins At Visakhapatnam

The 33rd Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy is being held at Visakhapatnam from 21 to 26 October 2026. The Harbour Phase runs from 21 to 23 October, and the Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal runs from 24 to 26 October. The exercise began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King.

Army To Get Improved Low Level Light Weight Radars

The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 770 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited in New Delhi on 21 October 2026 for the Improved Low Level Light Weight Radar (LLLR-I). The radar can detect and track fighter size targets as well as mini and micro drones. It will help the Army counter the threat from unmanned aerial systems and supports indigenisation of air defence.

IBSAMAR IX Concludes At Simon’s Town

The ninth India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime (IBSAMAR) Exercise concluded at Simon’s Town, South Africa, on 20 October 2026. The closing ceremony marked the end of 10 days of harbour and sea phase activities by the three navies. The Commanding Officer of INS Tarkash said such exercises turn long standing diplomatic relationships into meaningful naval cooperation.

Khet Bachao Abhiyan Rabi 2026 To Run Till 30 November

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will run the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan Rabi 2026 from 22 October to 30 November 2026 to promote sustainable farming and soil health. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is to launch it from Karnal, Haryana. The campaign targets about 1 crore participants through ATMA and ICAR.

Piyush Goyal To Visit Germany And The Netherlands

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Germany from 22 to 24 October 2026 and the Netherlands from 24 to 27 October 2026. In Berlin he will take part in the Berlin Global Dialogue, and in The Hague he will address the India-Netherlands Business Forum on 26 October. Around 100 businesses and startups will accompany him.

Army Commanders Conference Begins In New Delhi

The apex biannual Army Commanders Conference is being held in New Delhi from 21 to 23 October 2026 under the Chief of the Army Staff. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will release the Land Warfare Doctrine, a framework to prepare the Army for the changing character of warfare. He will also unveil the annual United Nations Journal and felicitate Army personnel who served as UN peacekeepers.

CAQM Invokes Stage I Of GRAP In Delhi-NCR

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked all 25 action points of Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan across the National Capital Region with immediate effect. Delhi recorded a daily average Air Quality Index of 244 in the Poor category at 2 PM on 21 October 2026. The measures include dust control at construction sites, a ban on open burning and curbs on older vehicles.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026 Celebrations At Ekta Nagar

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan briefed the media on the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026 and Bharat Parv 2026 celebrations at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. On 31 October 2026 the Prime Minister will pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity, and the Ekta Parade will be held in the evening. The parade will celebrate the end of armed Naxalism, and the cultural theme is Vande Mataram.

Law Commission Hosts National Conference On Co-operative Federalism

The 23rd Law Commission of India is hosting the National Conference on Co-operative Federalism and Law Reforms at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 22 October 2026. Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan will inaugurate it. The Commission is led by Chairperson Justice (Retd.) Dinesh Maheshwari.

India Chem 2026 Opens In Mumbai With Japan As Partner

The 14th India Chem 2026 is being held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, from 22 to 24 October 2026 under the theme Advantage Bharat: An Emerging Global Chemicals Hub. It is organised by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals with FICCI, and Japan is the partner country. Union Minister J. P. Nadda will inaugurate the event.

Industry News

Simplified GST Registration For Small E-commerce Sellers From 1 November

The simplified Goods and Services Tax registration facility for small e-commerce sellers, recommended by the 57th GST Council meeting, will be enabled from 1 November 2026. Under the new Rule 14B of the CGST Rules, 2017, small sellers supplying only through e-commerce operators can register in other States using the platform’s warehouse as their principal place of business. The facility is open to sellers who pass on input tax credit of not more than Rs 2.5 lakh a month.

India And SACU Likely To Begin PTA Talks By December

India is likely to begin negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement with the Southern African Customs Union by December 2026. Both sides signed the terms of reference on 12 August 2026 in New Delhi and aim to conclude the pact within a year. The Southern African Customs Union has five members, namely Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.

Department Of Posts Revenue Crosses Rs 4,000 Crore Again

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the Department of Posts breached Rs 4,000 crore in revenue in two successive quarters for the first time. Revenue rose 25 per cent to Rs 4,202 crore in the quarter ended 30 September 2026. Parcel business grew 71 per cent and Postal Life Insurance grew 44 per cent.

Indian Railways Sets All-Time Coal Loading Record In October

Indian Railways registered an all-time record in coal loading in October 2026, with growth of over 22 per cent compared with the same period last year. Loading rose by 87 rakes per day. In the first half of 2026-27 the Railways dispatched an average of 430 coal rakes per day to thermal power plants.

Revamped GST Return Forms Open For Public Comments From 1 November

The Finance Ministry will put the revamped GST return forms, including GSTR-1, on the myGov portal on 1 November 2026 for public comments until 30 November. The draft forms were approved at the 57th GST Council meeting on 8 October 2026 and will apply from 1 April 2027. The changes aim to reduce mismatches, which cause almost 80 per cent of notices.

Financial News

IMF Urges Currency Flexibility As RBI Defends Rupee

Krishna Srinivasan, director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, said in Mumbai on 21 October 2026 that foreign-exchange intervention offers limited benefits beyond the near term. He said exchange rates should be the first line of defence against global shocks. The RBI is mounting its most forceful defence of the rupee since the 2013 taper tantrum.

National & State News

IPC Sets Clearer Criteria For National Formulary Of India 2026

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission has laid out clearer criteria for selecting medicines in the National Formulary of India 2026. The move aims to curb overprescribing and irrational use of medicines without restricting doctors’ clinical judgement. Monographs are drawn from five categories, including the National List of Essential Medicines.

Registration Opens For Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0

Education Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the registration portal for the fifth Kashi Tamil Sangamam, to be held in Varanasi from 28 November to 12 December 2026. The theme is Thirukkural Payilvom, meaning Let Us Learn the Thirukkural. The event will bring over 1,400 delegates across seven categories, and registration is open until 13 November.

Amit Shah Launches Yamuna Rejuvenation Projects Worth Over Rs 8,941 Crore

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 8,941 crore for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna in Delhi. The projects expand sewer networks and improve drainage and wastewater treatment. Shah said the government is committed to cleaning the river by May 2029.

World News

India And Poland Agree To Double Trade By 2030

India and Poland agreed to double bilateral trade by 2030 and to establish a Defence Industry Dialogue after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Poland has joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. The two countries also agreed on a dialogue on counter-terrorism.

Defence News

First Training Squadron Reaches Maldives

Ships of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron, namely INS Tir, INS Sujata and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi, reached off Malé in the Maldives. The visit is part of the squadron’s Long Range Training Deployment. Cross-deck visits, sports fixtures and outreach activities are planned with the Maldives National Defence Force.

Science & Technology

Telecommunications Regulatory Sandbox Rules 2026 Notified

The Union Government notified the Telecommunications (Regulatory Sandbox) Rules, 2026, which came into force on 21 October 2026. Eligible entities can test new telecom technologies, services, products and business models under specified conditions. A sandbox can run for up to 24 months and a non-refundable processing fee of Rs 10,000 applies.

ISRO To Launch NVS-03 On 30 October

The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch the navigation satellite NVS-03 on the GSLV Mk II from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 30 October 2026. ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said the launch has been cleared after an earlier tentative slot in mid October. NavIC needs at least four functional indigenous satellites, and ISRO began work on it in 1999 after the Kargil war.

Sports News

Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 Begins In Ahmedabad

The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 will be held at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, from 23 to 31 October 2026. Thirteen teams will compete in the men’s tournament and 10 in the women’s competition. Semi-finals are on 30 October and gold medal matches on 31 October.

Reports & Indices

UNEP Emissions Gap Report Says 1.5 Degree Breach Unavoidable

The Emissions Gap Report of the United Nations Environment Programme, released on 21 October 2026, says breaching the 1.5 degree Celsius Paris Agreement target is now unavoidable. The best the world can hope for is to limit warming to 1.8 degree Celsius and then pull it back. Global greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 stayed around 58.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.