02nd-05th October, 2026

1. MoF Announced the SSS Interest Rates for Q3FY27, Keeping it Unchanged for 14th Consecutive Quarter
2. Zuppa Signs MoU with TNUAVC to Develop Drone Pilot Training Programme for Army Personnel
3. MoTA & IGNCA Sign MoU to Preserve and Promote India’s Tribal Cultural Heritage
4. HSBC Report 2026: 74% Indian Entrepreneurs Eye Overseas Residency; AI Adoption Surges
5. ICICI Lombard General Insurance Launches ‘VIBE’ Health Insurance Plan for GenZ
6. Pramerica Life Insurance Launches ‘Poorna Rakshak’ Offers Guaranteed Benefits Through its 5 Different Variants
7. Jio Financial Services and Allianz Europe Invest Rs. 640.10 Crore in Jio Allianz General Insurance JV
8. Tata Projects & MDS Aero Signs MoU to Develop Advanced Aero-Engine Testing Infrastructure in India
9. RBI Approves the Appointment of Anup Kumar Saha as MD & CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank
10. CCI Approved BNP Paribas’s Proposal to Acquire Stake in IndiaFirst Life Insurance
11. World Rabies Day 2026 – September 28
12. World Rivers Day 2026 – September 27
13. International Day of Older Persons 2026 – October 1
14. World Vegetarian Day 2026 – October 1
15. International Coffee Day 2026 – October 1
16. World Animal Day 2026 – October 4
17. International Day of Non-Violence 2026 (157th Gandhi Jayanti) – October 2
18. Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti 2026 – October 2
19. MoP Notified New CAFE Norms; Targets Around 17% Improvement in Car Fuel Efficiency by 2032
20. Union Minister Rajnath Singh Launches Digital & Financial Initiatives at DAD’s 279th Annual Day
21. DIBD, CAG Launches ‘CAG-BHASHINI Anuvaad’ for AI-Based Translation of Audit Documents
22. ICAR, FCI Sign MoU for Safer, Sustainable Fumigation Alternatives in Foodgrain Storage
23. DBN Signs Agreement with Maharashtra, MDIL, BSNL and MahaIT for Amended BharatNet Program
24. India Reaffirms Commitment to Whale Conservation at 70th IWC-70 Meeting in Australia
25. MoF Projects India’s GDP Growth at 7.3% in Q2 FY27
26. THE 2027 World Rankings: IISc Bengaluru Highest Ranked Indian Institution; University of Oxford Retained Top Spot
27. HDFC Bank Appoints Anup Bagchi as MD & CEO; First External Candidate to Lead Bank
28. FWDA Partners with Portugal’s Keydef to Manufacture AI-Based UAVs
29. SpaceX Launches 130 Payloads, including Google AI chips into LEO
30. UNFCCC COP31 2026: Venue, Dates, President, Key Officials and Major Facts
31. 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Joins TIME100 Next 2026: Indian Names in TIME100
32. Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 Gets President’s Assent
33. Andhra Pradesh Plans Global Horticulture Hub at Madanapalle
34. Mumbai’s Jawahar Dweep Becomes India’s First Plastic-free Oil Terminal
35. Ladakh: Government Identifies 28 Places and Features on Survey of India Map
36. Smit Machchhar to Receive Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award for Courage During Flydubai Flight Incident
37. Anup Kumar Saha to Become Kotak Mahindra Bank MD & CEO from January 2027
38. California Bans Child Marriage: Minimum Marriage Age Set at 18
39. India Manufacturing PMI Rises to 7-Month High at 55.1 in September 2026
40. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to flag off 1st international cargo voyage from Dibrugarh in Assam today
41. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hands over 3 lakh houses worth Rs 3,600 cr to Andhra Pradesh
42. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says Global Horticulture Hub will help create better opportunities for farmers in Andhra Pradesh
43. Sekhon IAF Marathon held in various cities across the country
44. Education Ministry approves five new Centres of Excellence for studies in classical languages
45. Israeli PM Netanyahu invites PM Modi and Captain Smit Machchhar to Israel’s Independence Day ceremony
46. NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba calls for evolving regulatory frameworks
47. Vice President addresses 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave in New Delhi
48. EAM Jaishankar chairs Consultative Committee meeting on India-Russia relations in New Delhi
49. Indian Parliamentary Delegation led by Harivansh departs for Tanzania for 153rd IPU Assembly
50. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says India’s free trade agreements to cover 75 % of world economies
51. PM Modi to visit Baramati on November 3 to inaugurate newly developed ‘Prerna Sthal’
52. Union Minister Piyush Goyal meets Chair of Board & CEO of ADM Juan Ricardo Luciano in Chicago
53. INS Trishul reaches Valencia as part of deployment to Mediterranean, Atlantic Regions
54. Katra-Banihal section gets 100 kmph speed limit, Vande Bharat sets new record: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
55. West Bengal govt sign MoUs with Centre for 4 airports to boost Air Connectivity
56. ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027
57. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays tribute to Rani Durgavati, on her birth anniversary today
58. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pays tribute to Guru Nanak Dev on his Jyoti Jyot Day today
59. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan pays tribute to Thiyagi Tiruppur Kumaran on birth anniversary
60. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan pays tribute to Subramania Siva on his birth anniversary
61. Vice President, PM Modi pay tribute to freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma on birth anniversary

National News

Ministry of Power Notifies New CAFE Norms For Passenger Vehicles From 2027

• What: Ministry of Power notified new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Norms for passenger vehicles effective from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032, applying to new passenger vehicles manufactured or imported for sale in India.
• Tell me more:
  • Manufacturers must reduce their vehicles’ average fuel consumption to meet stricter CAFE targets. Electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, low-carbon fuels and fuel-saving technologies help manufacturers meet these targets through additional credits.
  • Manufacturers exceeding their targets earn credits that can be carried forward, traded, or bought by other manufacturers. Manufacturers selling fewer than 1,000 units annually are exempt from these requirements.
  • The fuel-consumption limit will become stricter, falling from 3.996 litres/100 km in 2027-28 to 3.3273 litres/100 km in 2031-32, improving fuel efficiency by around 16.7%. The reference vehicle weight will also rise from 1,082 kg to 1,229 kg.
  • The new Carbon Neutrality Factor (CNF) gives manufacturers an additional way to improve CAFE performance by recognising vehicles using ethanol-blended petrol, biofuels and compressed biogas (CBG).
  • List of recognised fuel-conservation technologies expanded from four to twelve.

CAG and BHASHINI Launch AI-Enabled Document Translation Solution

• What: Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with Office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), launched “CAG-BHASHINI Anuvaad”, an AI-enabled document translation solution for official CAG documents and audit-related reports.
• Tell me more:
  • Solution launched during closing ceremony of 74th Hindi Diwas (September 14) and Hindi Pakhwada 2026 (14 to 29 September) at CAG Office, New Delhi, attended by Comptroller and Auditor General Shri K. Sanjay Murthy and senior CAG officials.
  • CAG-BHASHINI Anuvaad developed as customised Language AI solution focusing on consistent terminology, contextual translation and quality of output, while addressing institutional requirements for security, controlled access and data sovereignty.
  • BHASHINI currently supports 36 Indian text languages, 23 Indian voice languages and 35 international languages, powering over 800 government websites with more than 9 billion cumulative AI inferences and processing over 24 million AI inferences daily.

Ministry of Education Approves Five Centres of Excellence For Classical Languages

• What: Ministry of Education approved Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for studies in five Classical languages (Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit) to provide dedicated institutional support for advanced academic research, preservation and digitisation of linguistic and literary heritage.
• Tell me more:
  • Centre of Excellence for Classical Assamese will be established at Tezpur University, Assam; for Classical Bengali at Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal; for Classical Marathi at Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra.
  • Centre of Excellence for Classical Pali will be established at Central University of Odisha, Odisha; for Classical Prakrit at Central University of Gujarat, Gujarat.
  • Centres will focus on four broad areas including providing dedicated institutional platforms for advanced research, scholarly work and academic engagement, preservation and digitisation, wider dissemination of Classical Language heritage, and strengthening regional academic ecosystems.

5th Kautilya Economic Conclave in New Delhi

• What: The 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave conclave, organised by the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) on the theme “Resilience in an Age of Flux”, in New Delhi, brought together policymakers, economists, academics, business leaders and other participants.
• Tell me more:
  • IEG President N. K. Singh, IEG Board of Governors Chairman Michael Debabrata Patra and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
  • Shri Rajiv Gauba, Member, NITI Aayog, highlighted need for regulatory frameworks to evolve alongside rapidly changing geopolitical, technological and economic environment at 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave plenary session on “Regulatory Oversight in an Age of Disruption”.
  • Gauba emphasised that India needs strict regulation for high-risk activities and simpler regulation for low-risk activities to promote innovation, investment and economic growth towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

Jaishankar Chairs Consultative Committee Meeting on India-Russia Relations

• What: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired consultative committee meeting focusing on India-Russia relations, highlighting diverse facets of bilateral cooperation including trade, investments, energy, connectivity, culture and people-to-people domains, along with active support to dialogue and diplomacy to end Ukraine conflict.
• Tell me more:
  • Both sides discussed shared ambition to expand bilateral trade in balanced manner through greater Indian exports to Russia in seven areas including auto, pharma, food, marine products, engineering goods, chemicals and textiles, along with India-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement.
  • Discussions took place on Chennai-Vladivostok corridor, International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Northern Sea Route; Russia agreed to take around 70,000 Indian skilled workers this year especially in construction and logistics fields.

State News

Digital Bharat Nidhi Signs Agreement for Maharashtra BharatNet

• What: Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) and Maharashtra government signed an agreement with MahaNet Digital Infrastructure Limited (MDIL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Maharashtra Information Technology Corporation Limited (MahaIT) to implement the Amended BharatNet Program in Maharashtra.
• Tell me more:
  • The programme will cover 28,237 Gram Panchayats, including 15,171 Phase I, 12,740 Phase II and 326 newly created Gram Panchayats, while connecting 15,799 villages on demand and upgrading Phase I networks to ring topology.
  • The Government of India approved ₹10,520 crore for Maharashtra, supporting over nine lakh rural home fibre connections and improving access to e-Governance, online education, telemedicine, digital payments and citizen services.

Gujarat Uniform Civil Code 2026 Gets Presidential Assent

• President Droupadi Murmu approved Gujarat’s UCC Bill 2026 on September 17. The law covers marriage, divorce, succession, adoption and live-in relationships, excluding Scheduled Tribes and Constitutionally protected customary groups.

Andhra Pradesh Gets ₹1 Lakh-Crore Horticulture Hub

• What: The ₹1 lakh-crore Global Horticulture Hub – Rayalaseema Rising (GHH) was launched at Madanapalle to strengthen collection, storage, processing and marketing of horticultural produce across ten districts.
• Tell me more:
  • GHH will establish collection centres, pack-houses, cold stores and processing units to help farmers store produce and reduce losses during bumper harvests.
  • The project covers major horticulture belts, including tomato and papaya in Annamayya, mango in Chittoor, acid lime and melon in Tirupati, and onion in Kurnool.
  • Andhra Pradesh produces over 365 lakh tonnes of horticultural produce across 18.23 lakh hectares, contributing more than ₹60,000 crore to the State’s Gross Value Added.

Central Govt Hands Over ₹3,600 Crore for Rural Housing to Andhra Pradesh

• What: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan handed over the first instalment for three lakh houses worth ₹3,600 crore to Andhra Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin 2.0, in Guntur district.
• Tell me more:
  • Chouhan also laid the foundation stone for India’s first pilot housing project using 3D concrete printing technology, costing ₹14 crore for 177 houses.
  • The Centre will also support rural infrastructure works in Andhra Pradesh under the Vikasit Bharat-G RAM G scheme, including roads and drinking water facilities.

Mumbai Port Declares Jawahar Dweep Plastic-Free

• What: Mumbai Port Authority declared Jawahar Dweep Marine Oil Terminal plastic-free during Swachhata Abhiyan 2026, strengthening efforts to reduce single-use plastic and promote sustainable operations across the port.
• Tell me more:
  • Jawahar Dweep is a restricted offshore island terminal in Mumbai Harbour, historically known as Butcher Island, owned and operated by the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) primarily for offloading, storing, and handling crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and petroleum products from ocean-going oil tankers.

Centre Standardises 28 Ladakh Geographical Features

• What: The Centre has identified and standardised 28 places and geographical features in Ladakh with official names for inclusion on the Survey of India (SoI) map, in consultation with Ladakh’s Union Territory administration.
• Tell me more:
  • The 28 identified locations cover peaks, mountains, passes, glaciers, valleys, rivers, lakes, water bodies and land areas, including strategically significant Gogra and Hot Spring.
  • The exercise aims to ensure that official government maps use consistent place names. The Survey of India, as the national mapping agency, is responsible for preparing these official maps.

Gujarat to Honour Pilot Smit Machchhar for Bravery

• Gujarat govt. will honour Captain Smit Machchhar with the ‘Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award’ (carrying ₹25 lakh) for saving 174 passengers after his co-pilot attacked him during a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight ‘Flydubai**’**.

Dibrugarh Begins First International Cargo Voyage

• What: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will flag off the first international cargo voyage from Dibrugarh, carrying methanol to Bangladesh through National Waterway-2 and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.
• Tell me more:
  • The voyage will mark the first cargo consignment from Dibrugarh to a foreign port since Independence.
  • Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited will transport methanol from Bogibeel Terminal to Pangaon Port in Dhaka through the Brahmaputra and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.

PM Modi to Inaugurate Prerna Sthal in Baramati in Maharashtra

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Baramati on November 3 to inaugurate Prerna Sthal, featuring a four-tonne statue of Lord Buddha at Vidya Pratishthan.

Katra-Banihal Rail Speed Raised to 100 Kmph

• What: Indian Railways has raised the maximum permitted speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section from 75 kmph to 100 kmph, improving connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of India.
• Tell me more:
  • Vande Bharat Express successfully tested the 100 kmph speed while crossing the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, and the Anji Bridge.
  • The 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges and was built at a cost of ₹43,780 crore.
  • The USBRL also includes the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, which stands 331 metres above the riverbed.

West Bengal to Get Four New Airports

• What: The Centre and West Bengal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop four airports within two years, expanding air connectivity and supporting tourism, agriculture, industry, investment, employment and regional development.
• Tell me more:
  • The plan includes civil enclaves at Hasimara and Kalaikunda, expansion of Balurghat airport and a new airport at Charra in Purulia.
  • The Centre plans to spend ₹29,000 crore on improving air connectivity in West Bengal over the next decade, with four airports receiving priority under the revised UDAN scheme.
  • A second international airport is proposed at Kalyani on around 2,000 acres, while plans also include a new Bagdogra terminal and direct Kolkata flights to the UK and Europe.
  • The four new airports will increase operational airports in West Bengal from three to seven, while Cooch Behar airport is planned for revival.

International News

COP31 Climate Conference to Take Place in Antalya, Türkiye in November 2026

• What: COP31, the 31st meeting of Conference of the Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will take place in Antalya, Türkiye from 9 to 20 November 2026, with Mr. Murat Kurum nominated as President of COP31 and Mr. Chris Bowen of Australia as President of Negotiations.
• Tell me more:
  • UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs) take place every year as world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change, bringing together almost every country on Earth to agree on actions addressing climate crisis.
  • COP aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, help vulnerable communities adapt to effects of climate change, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
  • UNFCCC is landmark international treaty agreed in 1992 and serves as parent treaty to 2015 Paris Agreement, with COP being official meeting of Conference of the Parties to this convention.

70th International Whaling Commission Meeting Held in Australia

• What: India underlined need for conservation of whales and other cetaceans at 70th meeting of International Whaling Commission (IWC-70) held in Hobart, Australia, emphasizing collaboration among range countries, scientific institutions and international organisations for effective cetacean conservation.
• Tell me more:
  • India highlighted importance of improved scientific information on population status, distribution, movements, breeding ecology and threats for strengthening conservation measures and supporting informed decision-making at IWC-70.
  • India has been member of International Whaling Commission since 1981; cetacean species occurring in Indian waters receive highest level of legal protection under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • Government of India initiated Project Dolphin on 15th August 2020 adopting holistic approach towards conservation of dolphins, whales, porpoises and associated aquatic ecosystems, with particular importance to Arabian Sea humpback whale among 25 species for focused conservation efforts.

SpaceX Launches 130 Payloads with Google AI Satellite

• What: SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying 130 payloads into low-Earth orbit under the Transporter-18 smallsat rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
• Tell me more:
  • Google’s Project Suncatcher was among the payloads and will test how Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) perform in space for artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads.
  • Google is studying whether satellites in low-Earth orbit can support scalable AI computing infrastructure using near-constant sunlight and higher solar power generation.
  • The mission also carried cubesats, microsats, hosted payloads and orbital transfer vehicles, including four vehicles that will deploy 41 payloads later.

California Sets 18 as Minimum Marriage Age

• California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Bill AB 1267, setting 18 as the minimum marriage age without exceptions and making California the 18th U.S. state to completely prohibit child marriage.

Israel Invites Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar for Israel’s Independence Day Celebrations

• What: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light the ceremonial flame at Israel’s upcoming Independence Day celebrations.
• Tell me more:
  • Israel’s Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut) is celebrated on the 5th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, which changes every year on the Gregorian (standard) calendar. It comes in May.
  • Israel celebrates its Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut) to commemorate the historical proclamation and signing of the Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948 (the 5th of Iyar on the Hebrew calendar).

153rd Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tanzania

• What: Indian Parliamentary Delegation led by Hon’ble Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh departed for Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, to participate in 153rd Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and related meetings being held from 5 to 9 October 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • IPU Assembly will bring together parliamentarians from across world for discussions on theme “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all”; Governing Council will be invited to elect new IPU President at session in Arusha.

Banking and Economy

Government Retains Interest Rates on Small Savings Schemes for Tenth Straight Quarter

• What: Government left interest rates unchanged for various small savings schemes including Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC) for tenth straight quarter beginning October 1, 2026, for third quarter of FY 2026-27 ending December 30, 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • Interest rates on small savings schemes, mainly operated by post offices and banks, have rema\ined unchanged for tenth consecutive quarter, with government last changing rates in fourth quarter of 2023-24.

Over 70% Indian Entrepreneurs Consider Relocation or Additional Residency

• What: HSBC Global Entrepreneurial Wealth Report 2026 states 74% of Indian entrepreneurs surveyed intend to either relocate overseas or obtain additional residency, broadly comparable with global average of 70%, reflecting increasingly international approach of country’s wealthy business owners.
• Tell me more:
  • Singapore preferred destination among Indian respondents with 14% naming city-state, followed by France, UK and US each selected by 11% of respondents.
  • 99% of Indian entrepreneurs surveyed have already changed or plan to change their business operations because of artificial intelligence (AI), compared with 95% globally. 54% expect to spend 11%–30% of turnover on AI over the next 12 months.
  • 45% of Indian entrepreneurs expect AI to increase employee numbers over the next two years, while 25% expect workforce reductions. 44% consider data privacy and security the biggest AI adoption concern.
  • 97% of Indian entrepreneurs expect their personal wealth to increase in the coming years, compared with 90% globally. Gold is the most common investment at 63%, followed by cash at 54% and real estate funds at 51%.

ICICI Lombard Launches VIBE Health Protection Plan

• What: ICICI Lombard General Insurance launched VIBE, a mobile-first health protection plan for young consumers combining hospitalisation, outpatient care, mental health support, teleconsultations, health screenings and lifestyle rewards.
• Tell me more:
  • VIBE offers six variants, with sum insured options from ₹7 lakh to ₹1 crore, while all plans provide unlimited teleconsultations and annual gym membership for eligible members.

Pramerica Life Launches Five-Option Guaranteed Savings Plan

• What: Pramerica Life Insurance launched Pramerica Life Poorna Rakshak, a non-linked, non-participating individual savings life insurance plan offering life protection, guaranteed benefits and five payout options based on financial needs.
• Tell me more:
  • Smart Scholars supports children’s milestones, Early Income starts payouts from year 2–4, Income Booster offers 25%–35% cashback, Smart Money Back pays every five years, and Smart Saver provides income and maturity benefits.

Jio Financial and Allianz Infuse ₹640.1 Crore

• Jio Financial Services and Allianz Europe B.V. each invested ₹320.05 crore in Jio Allianz General Insurance through a rights issue, raising ₹640.1 crore for the 50:50 joint venture’s business operations.

Tata Projects Partners with MDS for Aero-Engine Testing

• What: Tata Projects partnered with Canada-based MDS Aero Support Corporation to develop advanced aero-engine testing infrastructure in India, combining Tata Projects’ infrastructure capabilities with MDS’ expertise in gas turbine engine testing.
• Tell me more:
  • Tata Projects will manage core infrastructure systems, while MDS will provide end-to-end engine-testing support, building on projects completed across 27+ countries in aviation, defence and industrial sectors.

CCI Approves BNP Paribas Cardif Stake in IndiaFirst

• What: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved BNP Paribas Cardif’s acquisition of a 26% stake in IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company from Warburg Pincus.
• Tell me more:
  • After the transaction, Bank of Baroda will hold 65%, BNP Paribas Cardif 26%, and Union Bank of India 9% in IndiaFirst Life.
  • BNP Paribas Cardif is the insurance arm of France-based BNP Paribas Group, while IndiaFirst Life is promoted by Bank of Baroda.

India Manufacturing PMI Jumps To 55.1 In September, Ending Three-Month Slowdown

• What: India’s manufacturing sector expanded sharply in September with HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, jumping to 55.1 from five-year low of 52.8 in August, ending three-month slowdown and recording highest reading since February.
• Tell me more:
  • Rising Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) signals stronger job creation, business confidence, exports, production, and inventory building, supported by higher demand and improved expectations for future sales.

India Expands Free Trade Network Across Global Economies

• What: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India is building free trade relationships that could eventually cover nearly 75% to 80% of the world’s economies.
• Tell me more:
  • Before 2014, India had free trade agreements with economies representing around $10 trillion in GDP.
  • India has since pursued agreements with 31 developed and developing countries, covering economies worth around $60 trillion in GDP.
  • Another 6 to 8 negotiations are underway with economies representing around $15 trillion in GDP.

Reports and Indices

THE World University Rankings 2027

• What: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) achieved the top position in India and 254th rank globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, which ranked 2,297 universities across 118 countries.
• Tell me more:
  • India is the most represented country in Asia for the second consecutive year, with 143 universities ranked, 15 more than last year.
  • IISc recorded an overall score of 57.0, with its strongest score of 98.0 in research environment.

• The University of Oxford retained the top global position for the 11th consecutive year, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at second.
• China’s Tsinghua University rose to 11th place, becoming Asia’s top-ranked institution, while the National University of Singapore (NUS) entered the global top 15.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Named in TIME 100 Next

• What: Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named in TIME 100 Next, a list of global rising stars shaping the future, becoming the only Indian athlete and youngest person on the 2026 list.
• Tell me more:
  • Sooryavanshi entered the list under the ‘Phenom’ category and became one of seven athletes selected by TIME magazine.
  • Sooryavanshi made his senior Ranji Trophy debut at 12 and joined Rajasthan Royals for ₹1 crore before IPL 2025, scoring 252 runs in seven innings.
  • Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs in IPL 2026 and hit 72 sixes in 16 matches, becoming the highest run-getter of the season.
  • Sooryavanshi became India’s youngest male international player in July 2026 and has scored 193 runs in six T20Is.

GDP Forecasts

India’s Q2 FY27 Growth Estimated at 7.3%

• What: The Finance Ministry estimated India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 7.3% for the September quarter of FY27, slower than 7.8% recorded in the April-June quarter.
• Tell me more:
  • Economic activity remained strong, supported by services, electricity and fuel consumption, bank credit, capital goods production, automobile sales and manufacturing activity.
  • Favourable monsoon conditions kept kharif sowing near last year’s levels, supporting the outlook for agricultural output and rural demand, while rabi prospects require monitoring.
  • Global risks remain due to West Asia tensions, volatile energy prices, disrupted trade routes and supply-chain risks, requiring stronger economic resilience and macroeconomic stability.

Defence News

Zuppa and TNUAVC Sign MoU for Drone Training Labs at Army Centres

• What: Indian defence drone technology company Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies signed MoU with Tamil Nadu Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Corporation (TNUAVC) to establish indigenous drone training labs at Army Regimental Centres and develop structured UAV pilot training programme for Agniveers and defence personnel.
• Tell me more:
  • The programme aims to train and certify Agniveers and defence personnel as skilled drone operators through practical training, simulators, technical courses and DGCA-approved certification for defence applications.

Rajnath Singh Launches Digital and Financial Management Initiatives at DAD Day

• What: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched several digital and financial management initiatives at the 279th Annual Day of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) in New Delhi.
• Why: The initiatives aim to integrate financial systems, improve defence expenditure monitoring and increase transparency.
• Tell me more:

• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • The Defence Accounts Department traces its origin back to 1747 when the British Articles of War empowered the appointment of a Military Pay Master, and it officially observes its foundation day on October 1.

FWDA and Keydef Partner for Drone Manufacturing

• What: India’s Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) and Portugal-based Keydef signed a partnership to manufacture Kaal Bhairava autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and YAMA swarm interceptor drones in Portugal for international markets.
• Tell me more:
  • Keydef will invest €6 million in FWDA’s made-in-India technologies, while Keydef and Sketchpixel will develop some electronic components and artificial intelligence (AI) for the devices.
  • Production in Portugal will cover FWDA’s surveillance systems, air defence systems and civilian applications such as precision agriculture.
  • FWDA, Keydef and University of Minho are also developing a long-duration uncrewed aircraft with 100 hours of autonomy.

Indian Air Force Organises Second Edition of Sekhon Marathon Across Seven Cities

• What: Indian Air Force organised second edition of Sekhon Indian Air Force Marathon in seven cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Gwalior, Bengaluru, Guwahati and Jodhpur, with Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flagging off run at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • Marathon organised in memory of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, only recipient of Param Vir Chakra from Indian Air Force, who displayed exceptional courage during 1971 India-Pakistan War.

INS Trishul Arrives at Valencia Spain During Mediterranean Atlantic Deployment

• What: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trishul, a frontline guided-missile stealth frigate of Indian Navy, arrived at Valencia, Spain as part of ongoing deployment to Mediterranean, Atlantic and adjoining maritime regions to undertake professional interactions with Spanish Navy.
• Tell me more:
  • INS Trishul’s Spanish Navy deployment will strengthen operational understanding through joint engagements, following Exercise Varuna with the French Navy, which included anti-submarine, anti-surface, live-firing and helicopter landing drills.

Important Days

World Rabies Day 2026 – September 28

• This year’s World Rabies Day theme is: “Stronger Together”.
• At the One Health Summit in Lyon, France, rabies was highlighted as a One Health example, showing how human, animal and community collaboration can strengthen disease surveillance and prevention.

World Rivers Day 2026 – September 27

• It is observed on 4th Sunday of every September.

International Day of Older Persons 2026 – October 1

• 2026 Theme: The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives
• Adopted in 2002, the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) remains a key global framework for ageing, alongside efforts to strengthen human rights protections for older persons.
• The commemoration event in Vienna, themed “Connecting Generations: Rediscovering the Value of Our Elders in an Aging Society,” will focus on intergenerational dialogue to reduce the social and emotional isolation of older persons.

World Vegetarian Day 2026 – October 1

International Coffee Day 2026 – October 1

• Theme: “Celebrating Coffee, Honouring the People Behind Every Cup”
• The FAO Liaison Office in Geneva, together with the Permanent Missions of the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Türkiye to the United Nations in Geneva, is hosting the global celebration in 2026.

International Day of Non-Violence 2026 (157th Gandhi Jayanti) – October 2

• Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti is also observed on October 2. In 2026, it was the 122nd birth anniversary of Shastri (2 October 1904 – 11 January 1966). He was India’s second Prime Minister.

World Animal Day 2026 – October 4

Sports

ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2027

• The ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2027 will run from October 2 to November 21 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with 14 teams competing in 57 matches across 12 venues.

Memorandum of Understanding

MoTA and IGNCA Sign MoU to Preserve Tribal Heritage

• What: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to preserve, document, digitise, research and promote India’s diverse tribal cultural heritage.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership will combine MoTA’s tribal research network and Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) with IGNCA’s academic, archival and curatorial expertise.
  • The collaboration will preserve tribal arts, languages and traditions through digital archives, museums, exhibitions, publications, cultural festivals and youth camps, highlighting tribal contributions to India’s freedom struggle.

ICAR and FCI Sign MoU for Sustainable Grain Fumigation

• What: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Food Corporation of India (FCI) signed an MoU to research safer and sustainable fumigation methods for storage pests in wheat and rice.
• Tell me more:
  • The two-year Phase-I project will be implemented by ICAR–Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana, with support from the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD).
  • Repeated chemical fumigation has caused 72%-100% pest resistance, higher costs and health risks. Trials will test nitrogen, carbon dioxide and phosphine alternatives before multi-location trials develop sustainable fumigation procedures.

Appointments

RBI Approves Anup Kumar Saha as Kotak MD

• The Reserve Bank of India approved Anup Kumar Saha’s appointment as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kotak Mahindra Bank for three years from January 1, 2027, replacing Ashok Vaswani after his term ends.

Anup Bagchi Appointed HDFC Bank MD and CEO

• What: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Anup Bagchi’s appointment as MD & CEO of HDFC Bank for three years, beginning October 27, 2026, after Sashidhar Jagdishan’s term ends.
• Tell me more:
  • Bagchi, currently MD & CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, joined HDFC Bank as an additional director on October 2 and will take charge on October 27.
  • Bagchi will become the first outsider to lead HDFC Bank, which is classified as a domestic systemically important bank alongside State Bank of India and ICICI Bank.

Miscellaneous

People in News

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to Rani Durgavati (5 October 1524 – 24 June 1564) on her birth anniversary. She ruled Gondwana land as regent ruler (1550–1564) and is remembered for courage and sacrifice against Mughal invasion of Gondwana.
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid tribute to Guru Nanak Dev (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539) on his Jyoti Jyot Day. He was a spiritual teacher, mystic and poet, who is regarded as the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh gurus.
• Vice President C P Radhakrishnan paid tribute to freedom fighter Thiyagi Tiruppur Kumaran (4 October 1904 – 11 January 1932) on his birth anniversary. He led protests against British rule while carrying the national flag, becoming a martyr during the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Vice President C P Radhakrishnan paid tribute to martyr Subramania Siva (4 October 1884 – 23 July 1925) on his birth anniversary. He was an Indian independence activist, and writer. He was a supporter of Tanittamil Iyakkam, a linguistic purism movement, that advocated to get rid of loan words from the Tamil language.
• Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma (1 October 1857 – 30 March 1930) on his birth anniversary. He was an Indian revolutionary, lawyer and journalist who founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India House and The Indian Sociologist in London.

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