28 October 2026 | English | FREE Current Affairs PDF

Today’s Highlight: Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the Reserve Bank of India’s new Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, and the Financial Stability and Development Council held its 30th meeting. Banking, cyber security and financial stability news like this is regularly asked in Banking, SSC and TNPSC exams.

News in One Liner – 28 October 2026

PIB News

PM Modi Opens RBI Data Centre And Cyber Institute In Bhubaneswar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Reserve Bank of India’s new Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 25 October 2026. He said a rising economic power has to protect its banking system from cyber attacks, which is why the new institute matters. He also pointed to nearly 60 crore Jan Dhan accounts and 13 crore first-time entrepreneurs under the Mudra Yojana as signs of how far banking has reached.

FSDC Holds Its 30th Meeting Under Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 30th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council in New Delhi. The Council discussed fintech innovation, tokenisation of financial assets and the Financial Sector Cyber Security Strategy, and it asked regulators to stay alert to geopolitical risks and rising global bond yields. Ms Sitharaman also urged regulators to speed up the return of unclaimed deposits, shares and insurance money to their owners.

11 Crore Farmer IDs Created Five Months Early

The Government of India has created 11 crore Farmer IDs under the Digital Agriculture Mission, five months before the 31 March 2027 deadline. A Farmer ID gives each farmer a unique digital identity, which makes it easier to get credit, crop insurance and scheme benefits. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called the achievement an example of cooperative federalism.

Indigenous Submarine AIP Module Clears Setting To Work Phase 2

The Setting to Work Phase 2 of the indigenous Air Independent Propulsion Energy Module was inaugurated at Larsen and Toubro’s Hazira complex in Gujarat on 24 October 2026. The module was developed by the Naval Materials Research Laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, and it lets diesel-electric submarines stay underwater for longer. After testing, it will be handed over to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for fitting on a Kalvari-class submarine in early 2027.

Home Ministry And Army Train Civil Defence Master Trainers

The Home Ministry and the Indian Army have started a first-of-its-kind pilot to train 600 Civil Defence Master Trainers in 12 States and Union Territories by the second week of November 2026. Each Master Trainer will then train 100 Civil Defence Volunteers, which can reach 60,000 volunteers. The pilot follows the Prime Minister’s announcement from the Red Fort on 15 August 2026 about a modern Civil Defence network.

C-DAC And Bank Of India Sign Quantum Technology MoU

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing and Bank of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 22 October 2026 to develop quantum and other emerging technologies for banking. The two will work on quantum-inspired and quantum-safe tools, test them in secure sandboxes and train staff in Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain. The aim is a banking system that stays secure even as quantum computers advance.

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 Set For 3 To 5 November

The Indian Navy will hold its annual Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi from 3 to 5 November. The theme is Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and the National Maritime Foundation is the knowledge partner. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will deliver the Commemorative Address, and experts from 18 countries will take part.

National Urban Conclave 2026 Ends In Bhubaneswar

The two-day National Urban Conclave 2026 ended in Bhubaneswar on 25 October 2026 with recommendations to improve urban governance and services. It launched the Used Water Marketplace under AMRUT 2.0, the Urban Challenge Fund portal and a Municipal Finance Data Hub. The release of the first funds also began work on 18 Street Food Hubs under PM SVANidhi.

National News

President Approves Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Bill

President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Bill 2026, which the Nagaland Legislative Assembly passed unanimously on 3 September 2026. The Bill creates a self-governing territorial body for the six districts of Eastern Nagaland, namely Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio called it a key step towards the aspirations of the people of the region.

Mann Ki Baat Marks 12 Years, PM Backs Vocal For Local

In the latest Mann Ki Baat, which completed 12 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Vocal for Local movement is helping Indian products reach global markets. He asked people to buy goods made by local artisans in the festive season. He also spoke about deep-tech start-ups supported by the incubation ecosystem at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

Industry News

Centre Allows Flex-Fuel Vehicles Running On E100

The Road Transport Ministry has changed the Central Motor Vehicles Rules so that certified flex-fuel vehicles can run on fuel blends up to E100, which is nearly pure ethanol. Vehicles built for E20 or normal fuel cannot use E85 or E100. The weight limit for the light petrol and diesel vehicles covered by the changes was also raised from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg.

Net FDI Stays Positive For Third Month At 3.3 Billion Dollars

The Reserve Bank of India’s Bulletin shows that net foreign direct investment was 3.3 billion dollars in August 2026, the third positive month in a row. Gross inflows were 11.1 billion dollars, nearly 68 per cent higher than a year earlier. The United States, Singapore and Mauritius were the main source countries.

Sitharaman Reaffirms Debt Target Of 50 Per Cent Of GDP By 2030

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Tiruchirappalli on 26 October 2026 that the Centre remains committed to bringing national debt down to 50 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030. She said international organisations have acknowledged India’s disciplined handling of debt. She also said a group of ministers has worked since 2014 to keep prices stable through supply-chain management.

Financial News

RBI Notifies Leverage Ratio Rules For Banks From April 2027

The Reserve Bank of India has issued its final directions on the Basel Committee’s Leverage Ratio 2017 Standard for commercial banks. A draft was released on 7 August 2026, and feedback was taken until 28 August. The final rules will come into effect from 1 April 2027.

Sebi Reviews Short Selling And Securities Lending Rules

Securities and Exchange Board of India Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on 24 October 2026 that the regulator is reviewing short selling and securities lending and borrowing to improve liquidity and price discovery. Sebi is also exploring an artificial intelligence sandbox and building a market-making framework for corporate bonds. He added that cyber security should be treated as a business priority and not as an IT expense.

National & State News

Ladakh Declared India’s First 100 Per Cent Organic Union Territory

Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena declared Ladakh the country’s first 100 per cent organic Union Territory on 25 October 2026. The step follows a July order banning the sale and use of chemical and synthetic fertilisers across the territory. Local produce such as apricots, sea buckthorn, buckwheat and barley can gain from organic certification and branding.

Cyclone Arnab Likely To Hit Andhra Pradesh Coast On 28 October

The India Meteorological Department said Cyclone Arnab will probably cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm around 28 October 2026. Winds of 115 to 125 kmph are expected at landfall, gusting to 140 kmph. Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have reviewed their preparations, and the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asked districts to open control rooms.

Tamil Nadu Cuts VAT On Aviation Fuel At Chennai Airport

Tamil Nadu has reduced the Value Added Tax on aviation turbine fuel for scheduled airlines at Chennai airport from 29 per cent to 16 per cent. At other airports in the State the rate falls from 29 per cent to 1 per cent. The new rates will apply from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027.

World News

Lula Wins Record Fourth Term As Brazil’s President

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s presidential run-off on 25 October 2026 against Flávio Bolsonaro and secured a record fourth term. He received 64 million votes, the highest total ever in a Brazilian presidential election. Mr Bolsonaro refused to accept the result and said he would seek its annulment.

Awards & Honours

Ashoke Sen Is First Indian To Win Oskar Klein Medal

Theoretical physicist Professor Ashoke Sen has been awarded the Oskar Klein Medal for 2026, the first Indian to receive it. The honour recognises his work on string theory, black hole entropy and string field theory. Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics award the medal, which was established in 1988.

Usha Mangeshkar To Receive First Bhupen Hazarika National Award

The Assam Government will give the first Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award to singer Usha Mangeshkar. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced it in Guwahati on 23 October 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present it at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 29 November at the closing of the birth centenary celebrations.

Appointments and Resignation

Sajjan Singh Yadav Named Chief Secretary Of Jammu And Kashmir

The Centre has appointed Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav, a 1995-batch officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. The order from the Ministry of Home Affairs takes effect on 1 November or the date he takes charge, whichever is later. He moves to the Union Territory from Delhi.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh Gets One-Year Extension

The Centre has extended the tenure of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh by one year, up to 31 October 2027. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved it, as his term was due to end on 31 October 2026. Mr Singh is a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre.

Defence News

India Is Third-Largest Arms Exporter To Europe

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said India has become the third-largest arms exporter to Europe, helped by demand for ammunition and artillery shells. India’s defence exports are at a record Rs 38,424 crore, and the country now supplies equipment to more than 80 countries. The Government wants 75 per cent of annual defence capital spending to go to domestic products.

Defence Acquisition Council Clears Proposals Worth Rs 2.12 Trillion

The Defence Acquisition Council has cleared Acceptance of Necessity approvals worth Rs 2.12 trillion for the Army, Navy and Air Force, with around 82 per cent to be sourced from Indian industry. These are in-principle approvals, so no contracts have been awarded yet. The list includes light multi-role helicopters, drones, air defence systems and an active offboard decoy system for the Navy.

Science & Technology

ISRO Plans Four Launch Pads By 2029

Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman V Narayanan said India will have four functional launch pads by 2029, including a 2,000-acre Small Satellite Launch Vehicle complex at Kulasekarapattinam. He said the organisation will not be privatised but will work with private firms to meet the demand for satellites. He also said the first uncrewed Gaganyaan test is planned within two months.

Sports News

India Wins First Mixed Doubles Table Tennis Medal In 72 Years

Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade won a bronze medal in mixed doubles at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Tashkent, India’s first in this event in 72 years. They beat South Korea’s pair 3 to 2 in the quarterfinal and then lost 0 to 3 to Japan in the semifinal. India’s previous medal in the event came in 1954.

India Become First Team With 200 Men’s T20I Wins

India beat New Zealand in the second Twenty20 International at Christchurch to become the first men’s team to win 200 matches in the format. The match was also India’s 300th T20I. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy chased 68 runs in the last five overs, India’s best such chase.

Important Days

World Polio Day: Nadda Highlights India’s Polio-Free Status

On World Polio Day, observed on 24 October, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said India’s polio-free status, certified by the World Health Organization in 2014, shows its commitment to immunisation. He asked everyone to stay alert to the risk of the virus returning from abroad. Children under five continue to get extra doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine through supplementary campaigns.

Vigilance Awareness Week 2026 Begins With Probity For Prosperity Theme

Vigilance Awareness Week is being observed from 26 October to 1 November 2026 under the theme Probity for Prosperity. It starts with a pledge by public servants and is held every year in the week of the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The week is meant to build awareness about the harm caused by corruption and the value of integrity.

World Development Information Day Observed On 24 October

World Development Information Day is observed every year on 24 October, the same date as United Nations Day. The United Nations General Assembly set it up in 1972 to draw attention to development problems and the need for international cooperation. The date marks the 1970 adoption of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade.