How to use this material
Exam Tags & Source: Syllabus mapping for UPSC / TNPSC / SSC-RRB + clickable source link
Why in News: The news in 2–3 lines – read this first
▸ Sub-headings: Simple explanation + all facts, figures, names and years
GS Facts: Static GK linked to the news (blue box)
⚠ Exam Trap: Common confusions examiners use in options (orange box)
✍ Mains Angle: Probable Mains question with value points (purple box)
★ Important One-liners: Short news under each theme + Rapid Revision table. Highlighted = must-remember
✎ Top 5 Quiz: Day’s 5 most important MCQs at the end, with answer key
NATIONAL
Sawalkot & New Hydropower Projects in J&K
Why in News: With the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance after the 2025 Pahalgam attack, Union Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal (3 October 2026) said the Centre is considering new hydropower projects, including Sawalkot, in J&K.
Sawalkot Project
- Built by NHPC at a cost of ₹5,129 crore on the Chenab River across Udhampur, Reasi and Ramban districts; capacity 800 MW.
- Pakistan had objected to the Sawalkot dam (July last year and February this year) and sought consultation.
Other Developments
Major J&K projects – Ratle, Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar – are progressing under Chenab Valley Power Projects (Pvt) Ltd.
Ratle: 850 MW hydropower project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar.
Pakal Dul: 1,000 MW project on the Marusudar River in Kishtwar.
Kiru: 624 MW hydropower project on the Chenab River.
Kwar: 540 MW hydropower project on the Chenab River.
- About 14,500 MW of hydropower potential identified in J&K.
- PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: ~50 lakh people joined nationally; J&K crossed its first milestone of 100 MW (Seva Setu Abhiyan Camp held in Srinagar).
GS Facts: Indus Waters Treaty
- Signed in 1960 at Karachi; brokered by the World Bank
- Eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) – India; Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) – mainly Pakistan
- India placed the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam attack (April 2025)
- NHPC – India’s largest hydropower company, under the Ministry of Power
⚠ Exam Trap: Sawalkot (800 MW) is on the Chenab – a western river under the IWT. Pakal Dul is on the Marusudar (a Chenab tributary). Ratle is 850 MW; Pakal Dul is 1,000 MW.
✍ Mains Angle (UPSC)
Q. With the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, how should India make use of its rights over the western rivers? Discuss.
Value points: Run-of-river and storage projects, Chenab basin projects, legal and diplomatic risks, ecological concerns, development of J&K.
★ Important One-liners
- VANDE BHARAT CROSSES CHENAB BRIDGE AT 100 KMPH: a Vande Bharat Express crossed the world’s highest railway bridge – 359M (Chenab) and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji at 100 kmph
- max permissible speed on the 111-km Katra–Banihal section raised from 75 to 100 kmph (USBRL project), tested 1 October 2026.
- AMIT SHAH ADDRESSES GAUPALAK SAMMELAN, BHOPAL: Union Home & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah addressed the
Gaupalak Sammelan at Dussehra Maidan, Bhopal (MP)
- inaugurated a State-level exhibition on the New Criminal Laws
ART & CULTURE
Five Centres of Excellence for Classical Languages
Why in News: The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education has approved the establishment of five Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for studies in Classical Assamese, Classical Bengali, Classical Marathi, Classical Pali and Classical Prakrit.
Centres of Excellence – Locations
- Classical Assamese – Tezpur University, Assam
- Classical Bengali – Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal
- Classical Marathi – Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute (Deemed University), Pune, Maharashtra
- Classical Pali – Central University of Odisha, Odisha
- Classical Prakrit – Central University of Gujarat, Gujarat
Key Focus Areas
- Academic research & scholarship: dedicated platforms for advanced research in the respective Classical Languages.
- Preservation & digitisation: documentation, preservation and digitisation of linguistic and literary resources.
- Wider dissemination: facilitating access to the linguistic, literary and knowledge traditions of these languages.
GS Facts: Classical Languages
- India now has 11 classical languages
- Tamil was the first (2004); then Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia
- Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali were added in October 2024
- Classical Tamil is promoted by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai
⚠ Exam Trap: The Pali CoE is at the Central University of Odisha and the Prakrit CoE at the Central University of Gujarat. Marathi is at Deccan College, Pune; Bengali at Visva-Bharati.
POLITY
National Tribunals Commission Rules, 2026
Why in News: The government issued rules for the National Tribunals Commission (NTC) to standardise recruitment and eligibility for tribunal posts, set up an inquiry mechanism for misconduct, and prescribe service conditions and remuneration. Issued 30 September by the Union Law Ministry.
Key Provisions
- Enables the NTC to appoint chairpersons and members to 16 tribunals and appellate bodies.
- Remuneration: commission chairperson ₹2.5 lakh/month, members ₹2.25 lakh/month (similar for tribunal chairpersons/members).
- Vacancies to be initiated at least six months before they arise; search-cum-selection committees assess via expert evaluation, personal interaction and writing exercises.
Background & Composition
- Set up after the Tribunals Reforms Bill (Parliament, August), following a Supreme Court direction; the SC had struck down parts of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 as contrary to separation of powers and judicial independence.
- HQ in Delhi; a chairperson + four members (two judicial, two technical); headed by a retired SC judge or retired HC Chief Justice.
GS Facts: Tribunals and the Constitution
- Article 323A (administrative tribunals) and 323B (other tribunals) – added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976
- L. Chandra Kumar case (1997): tribunal decisions are subject to High Court review
- Several parts of tribunal laws were struck down in the Madras Bar Association cases
⚠ Exam Trap: The NTC has a chairperson + 4 members (2 judicial, 2 technical), headed by a retired SC judge or retired HC Chief Justice. It appoints members to 16 tribunals. Rules were issued by the Law Ministry.
✍ Mains Angle (UPSC)
Q. ‘Tribunalisation of justice must not dilute judicial independence.’ Examine with reference to the National Tribunals Commission.
Value points: Separation of powers, Supreme Court rulings, appointments and service conditions, uniform standards, filling vacancies on time.
ECONOMY
India’s First WASH Social Bond (NABKISAN)
Why in News: NABKISAN Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of NABARD, listed India’s first Social Bond dedicated exclusively to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector on the NSE, Mumbai on 1 October 2026.
What is Social Bond?
- A Social Bond is a debt instrument used to raise funds for projects with positive social outcomes, such as affordable housing, healthcare, education, employment and poverty reduction. SEBI regulates social bonds in India under the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) framework.
Bond Details
- Oversubscribed 1.8 times; raised ₹180 crore.
- Five-year bond; coupon rate 8.10%; matures September 2031.
- Ratings: CRISIL AAA (Stable) and CARE AAA (Stable).
- Use of proceeds: expand access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene across rural and underserved communities.
GS Facts: NABARD
- Set up on 12 July 1982 on the recommendation of the CRAFICARD (B. Sivaraman) Committee
- HQ: Mumbai
- NABKISAN Finance Ltd – NABARD subsidiary lending to FPOs and agri-enterprises
- Social Stock Exchange – a SEBI framework for social enterprises to raise funds
⚠ Exam Trap: The ₹180 crore bond is listed on the NSE; it is a 5-year bond with an 8.10% coupon. Social bonds fund social outcomes; green bonds fund environmental projects.
ICAR–FCI MoU on Green Grain Fumigation
Why in News: ICAR and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) signed an MoU (30 September) to develop safer, sustainable alternatives to chemical fumigation for managing storage pests in wheat and rice.
The Project
- Two-year Phase-I, supported by the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD); implemented by ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana.
- Trials on nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and a CO₂ + phosphine combination.
Why It Matters
- India’s grain reserves rely on aluminium phosphide (ALP) and malathion; repeated use has driven pest resistance of 72–100% in key states, higher costs and residue/exposure concerns.
- Three trials: nitrogen (>99% purity) for wheat in metal silos; CO₂ + phosphine for bagged wheat/rice at FCI & CWC warehouses; CO₂ for bagged grain in hermetic covers.
GS Facts: FCI and ICAR
- FCI – set up in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act, 1964; under the Department of Food and Public Distribution
- ICAR – set up in 1929; apex body for agricultural research under DARE
- CIPHET, Ludhiana – ICAR institute for post-harvest engineering and technology
⚠ Exam Trap: The project is run by ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana. Nitrogen trials are for wheat in metal silos; CO₂ + phosphine is for bagged grain. The aim is to cut dependence on aluminium phosphide.
★ Important One-liners
- 5TH KAUTILYA ECONOMIC CONCLAVE (KEC 2026): held in New Delhi, 3–5 October 2026
- organised by the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) with the Ministry of Finance
- theme “Resilience in an Age of Flux”
- inaugural address by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
India’s First Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Link
Why in News: QNu Labs, with BISAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics) and IIT Gandhinagar, demonstrated India’s first free-space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link over 5.56 km in a field trial on the night of September 27–28.
Trial Details
- Established a secure quantum channel between BISAG-N and IIT Gandhinagar using a Pointing, Acquisition and Tracking (PAT) system.
- Achieved a Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) below 5% and generated secure keys at 230–260 bps.
- Keys integrated with BISAG-N’s post-quantum-cryptography-enabled Vedic Kavach platform for end-to-end encryption/decryption.
- Two security layers: QNu Labs’ hardware QKD device Armos (free-space optical) + BISAG-N’s Vedic Kavach software PQC with quantum random number generation – resilient even if the physical channel is briefly unavailable.
Free-Space QKD – Significance
- Transmits keys through open air using lasers and optical tracking instead of fibre-optic cables.
- Useful where fibre is impossible/expensive, for line-of-sight military and ground-to-air links, and as the base for satellite-based quantum communication.
What is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)?
- Definition: A cyber-security method that uses the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to share cryptographic encryption keys.
- Mechanism: Sends data using individual particles of light called photons.
- Security Principle: Due to the laws of physics, any attempt by a hacker to intercept or eavesdrop on the key alters its quantum state, instantly alerting the senders and rendering the intercepted key useless.
What Makes Free-Space QKD Special?
- Conventional Method: Most secure digital data travels through underground fibre-optic cables.
- Free-Space Method: Transmits quantum keys directly through the open air using lasers and optical tracking systems.
- Applications in Difficult Terrain: Crucial for areas where laying physical fibre-optic cables is impossible or too expensive.
- Moving Platforms: Enables creating secure, line-of-sight communication links between moving military units or ground-to-air systems.
- Satellite Communications: Builds foundational technology needed for satellite-based quantum communications, allowing secure data transfer from space.
GS Facts: National Quantum Mission
- Approved in April 2023; outlay about ₹6,003 crore (2023-24 to 2030-31)
- Nodal: Department of Science and Technology (DST)
- Goals include satellite-based secure quantum communication over long distances
⚠ Exam Trap: This was free-space QKD (through open air, using lasers) over 5.56 km – not fibre-based. Partners: QNu Labs, BISAG-N and IIT Gandhinagar. QBER stayed below 5%.
Indian Payloads on SpaceX Transporter-18
Why in News: Multiple payloads built by Indian companies were deployed in orbit by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on 2 October from Vandenberg (California) as part of the Transporter-18 rideshare mission (130 payloads in total).
Indian Payloads
- Dhruva Space –Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Payloads (LEAP-2): hosts multiple In-Orbit Demonstration missions (incl. a star tracker by France’s Sodern ArianeGroup and TAPAS-1); Dhruva did end-to-end launch integration, supported by its ground station in Luleå, Sweden.
- Thermal Access Platform for Analytics & Solutions (TAPAS-1) (SatLeo Labs, Ahmedabad): India’s first dedicated commercial CubeSat-category thermal payload, using Thermal Infrared (TIR) sensing – a category-first for India in commercial thermal (LWIR) Earth observation.
- TakeMe2Space – MOI-1A: runs AI models on Earth-observation data in orbit; 14 kg, 117 TOPS compute, 2 TB storage, nine-band multispectral imager.
- All three authorised by IN-SPACe; Chairperson Pawan Kumar Goenka called it a big day for India’s private space sector.
GS Facts: IN-SPACe
- Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre – set up in 2020
- Single-window agency under the Department of Space to authorise private space activities
- HQ: Ahmedabad
⚠ Exam Trap: Transporter-18 was a SpaceX rideshare launched from Vandenberg, California – not from Sriharikota. TAPAS-1 is a thermal payload; MOI-1A runs AI models in orbit.
India-Specific Sickle Cell Severity Score (CSIR-CCMB)
Why in News: Scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) developed an India-specific disease severity score to predict how severely Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) affects Indian patients, as international scoring systems do not reflect their clinical profile.
- Sickle Cell Anaemia + Inherited blood disorder + Caused by mutation in beta globin gene + Red blood cells become sickle-shaped + Leads to anaemia, pain, organ damage + India: High burden of disease.
The Study
- Analysed records of 171 SCA children (≤18 yrs) at Government Medical College & Hospital, Nagpur; classified into mild/moderate/severe by two paediatricians.
- Existing Paediatric Severity Score (PSS) matched expert assessment in only ~67% of cases.
- Revised ISS1 improved concordance to ~83%; ISS2 (clinical indicators instead of lab tests) reached ~85%.
Significance
- Helps quicker, more informed treatment decisions (including hydroxyurea dosage); part of the CSIR-Sickle Cell Anaemia Mission; applicable to other low- and middle-income countries.
GS Facts: Sickle Cell Anaemia
- inherited blood disorder from a mutation in the beta-globin gene
- abnormal haemoglobin makes RBCs sickle-shaped
- causes anaemia, pain episodes and organ damage
- India has one of the highest burdens.
⚠ Exam Trap: The score was developed by CSIR-CCMB using records from GMC Nagpur. ISS2 (clinical indicators) reached ~85% concordance – higher than ISS1 (~83%).
DEFENCE
★ Important One-liners
- HQ INTEGRATED DEFENCE STAFF COMPLETES 25 YEARS: HQ IDS – India’s apex body for tri-service jointness, integration and synergy (key role in Operation Sindoor) – marked its silver jubilee (established 1 October 2001), observed as Tri-Service Day.
ENVIRONMENT
Two New Islands Emerge Near Anak Krakatau
Why in News: Two new islands emerged in the caldera around Mount Anak Krakatau (Indonesia) after a major eruption last month, spotted in Sentinel satellite images (ESA), Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency PVMBG said.
Details
- Located in the Sunda Strait (between Java and Sumatra) – one ~760 m north-west, the other ~495 m south-west of Anak Krakatau.
- Anak Krakatau (‘child’ in Bahasa) itself formed by an underwater eruption in the caldera left by the 1883 Krakatau blowout.
- Too early to call them ‘children’ – they may erode over time (earlier landmasses appeared in 1927 before an enduring island formed in 1930).
GS Facts: Krakatau
- Located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, Indonesia
- The 1883 eruption was one of the deadliest in recorded history
- Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire
⚠ Exam Trap: The new islands are near Anak Krakatau (‘child of Krakatau’), which itself emerged in 1927–1930. They were spotted in ESA Sentinel images.
★ Important One-liners
- HURRICANE NOLO INTENSIFIES IN THE PACIFIC: strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane (max sustained winds ~115 mph / 185 kph) far west of Hawaii’s main islands
- a tropical storm warning was issued for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Maro Reef to Lisianski Island).
INTERNATIONAL
★ Important One-liners
- CHRISTA PIKE EXECUTED IN TENNESSEE (USA): became the first woman executed by Tennessee in more than two centuries, by lethal injection
- her clemency petition citing childhood trauma and abuse was denied by Governor Bill Lee.
SUMMITS
★ Important One-liners
- INDIA AT 153RD IPU ASSEMBLY, TANZANIA: an Indian Parliamentary Delegation led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Shri Harivansh departed for Arusha, Tanzania for the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), 5–9 October 2026
- theme: enhancing good governance and empowering communities
- IPU established 1889.
- 9TH DNSA-LEVEL MEETING OF COLOMBO SECURITY CONCLAVE (CSC): India hosted the meeting virtually with
Bangladesh, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Seychelles
- reviewed decisions of the 7th NSA-level meeting (New Delhi, Nov 2025)
- CSC founded 2011 (India–Sri Lanka–Maldives), revived 2020; secretariat in Colombo.
TAMILNADU
Vettri Payanam Scheme – Free Bus Travel for Women
Why in News: Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay launched the ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme on 2 October 2026 (Gandhi Jayanti) at Koyambedu, Chennai, expanding no-fare bus travel for women and transgender persons.
Scheme Overview
- Name: Vettri Payanam Thittam .
- Launched: 2 October 2026 (Gandhi Jayanthi).
- Beneficiaries: 84.32 lakh beneficiaries every day.
- Expansion Of: Five-year-old Magalir Vidiyal Payanam scheme (renamed Magalir Payanam, then Vettri Payanam).
- Announced In: Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on 24 August 2026 under Rule 110.
Bus Services Covered
Women Can Travel No-Fare On:
- Ordinary, Express, Limited Stop Service (LSS), and Deluxe buses in cities and towns.
- Ordinary buses in mofussil areas.
- Ordinary buses in Ghat sections beyond 40 km.
Total Coverage:
- 12,695 buses (about 69% ) of the 18,413 buses operated by the seven State Transport Corporations.
- 1,68,500 trips (singles) will be operated per day.
Cost and Impact
- Annual Cost: Approximately ₹6,000 crore per year.
- Purpose: Improve access to public transport, help girl students, women and transgender persons commute to workplaces, and aid medical emergencies.
Bypoll Restrictions
- Not Implemented In: Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts due to bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies where Model Code of Conduct is in place.
Historical Evolution
- Original Scheme: Launched in May 2021 by then CM M.K. Stalin as ‘zero ticket’ bus travel scheme.
- Initial Coverage: Women could travel on ordinary buses in cities and municipal areas, and ordinary buses in hill areas up to 40 km.
- Extension: Benefit extended to transgender persons and persons with disabilities.
- Renaming: Later named Magalir Vidiyal Payanam.
- TVK Expansion: After assuming office, TVK government renamed it Magalir Payanam; expanded and rebranded as Vettri Payanam Thittam.
⚠ Exam Trap: Vettri Payanam expands the 2021 free-travel scheme – it is not brand new. It covers about 69% of buses (12,695 of 18,413). It was not rolled out in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur because of bypolls.
APPOINTMENTS
★ Important One-liners
- ANUP BAGCHI APPOINTED HDFC BANK MD & CEO: HDFC Bank’s board appointed Anup Bagchi (currently MD & CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance) as MD & CEO after RBI clearance
- takes charge 27 October
- succeeds Sashidhar Jagdishan, who chose not to seek reappointment.
AWARDS
Ig Nobel Prizes 2026
Why in News: The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes – a light-hearted parody of the Nobel Prizes, instituted in 1991 by Marc Abraham – were announced, honouring unusual research across changing categories.
Select 2026 Winners
- Chemistry (Indian link): Sanchari Banerjee, Nitish Satyanarayanan, Jandhyam Srikanth (InStem Bengaluru) & others – showed cockroach milk proteins have more energy than cow milk.
- Biomechanics: Matilda Brindle et al. (Florida State) – mouth-to-mouth food transfer in birds/apes evolving into human kissing.
- Economics: Paul Piff et al. (UC Irvine) – upper-class people more likely to behave arrogantly in traffic.
- Medicine (posthumous): Tokuji Unno (Japan) – aerodynamics of blowing the nose.
- Biology: J. M. Alves-Nunes et al. (São Paulo) – factors that cause snakes to bite.
- Peace: US social psychologists – why people become friends (studied the US and India).
GS Facts: Ig Nobel Prizes
- Started in 1991 by Marc Abrahams, editor of the Annals of Improbable Research
- Honour research that ‘first makes people laugh, then makes them think‘
- A parody – not connected with the Nobel Foundation
⚠ Exam Trap: The Ig Nobel is a parody prize, not given by the Nobel Foundation. The Indian-linked prize was in Chemistry (InStem Bengaluru – cockroach milk proteins).
SPORTS
★ Important One-liners
- INDIAN MEN’S HOCKEY DEFEND ASIAN GAMES GOLD: beat Malaysia 5–1 in the final at Kakamigahara, Japan
- back-to-back golds (first in men’s hockey history)
- 5th overall gold (1966, 1998, 2014, 2022, 2026)
- first time both Men’s & Women’s teams won gold at the same edition
- direct LA 2028 Olympics qualification
- Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace (first Indian captain with two Asian Games golds); Manpreet Singh first Indian with three.
- INDIAN MEN’S CRICKET RETAIN ASIAN GAMES GOLD: beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the final (3 October 2026) at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin
- completes a golden double with the women’s team (who beat Sri Lanka)
- echoes the Hangzhou 2023 success.
- LOVLINA BORGOHAIN WINS BOXING GOLD; WOMEN’S ARCHERY GOLD: Lovlina Borgohain won gold in women’s 75 kg boxing (5–0 over China’s Bao Ziyi) – India’s 2nd women’s boxing gold after Mary Kom (2014)
- India’s women’s recurve archery team (Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma, Kumkum Mohod) won maiden Asian Games gold, beating South Korea 5–3 (men’s recurve team won silver).
- AMAN SEHRAWAT WINS WRESTLING GOLD (57 KG): beat North Korea’s world champion Chong Song Han 11–7 in the final at Nagoya
- adds to India’s wrestling haul after Sujeet Kalkal’s 65 kg gold.
- PRANAVI URS – FIRST INDIAN WOMAN GOLFER TO WIN ASIAN GAMES GOLD: held a one-stroke lead in the final round (even-par 70; total 15-under 265)
- also won team silver with Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar
- India’s first golf gold since Shiv Kapur (2002).
- INDIA’S 17-GOLD DAY 14; KUMKUM MOHOD ARCHERY GOLD: India clinched 17 golds on Day 14 (Boxing, Wrestling, Archery)
- Kumkum Mohod won the women’s individual recurve gold, beating South Korea’s Oh Yejin in a shoot-off (10 vs 8) – first Indian woman to win Asian Games individual recurve.
- NEERAJ CHAUHAN WINS ARCHERY BRONZE: beat compatriot Dhiraj Bommadevara 6–4 for the men’s individual recurve bronze at Nagoya
- only the second Indian man after Tarundeep Rai to win an individual recurve medal at the Asian Games.
RAPID REVISION
| Topic | Key Fact to Remember |
|---|---|
| Sawalkot | 800 MW; Chenab; NHPC; ₹5,129 crore |
| J&K hydro potential | About 14,500 MW identified |
| Chenab bridge | World’s highest rail bridge; Vande Bharat at 100 kmph |
| Classical language CoEs | 5 – Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit |
| National Tribunals Commission | Chair + 4 members; appoints to 16 tribunals |
| WASH Social Bond | NABKISAN; ₹180 crore; 8.10%; listed on NSE |
| ICAR–FCI MoU | Green grain fumigation; ICAR-CIPHET Ludhiana |
| Kautilya Economic Conclave | 5th; 3–5 Oct; ‘Resilience in an Age of Flux’ |
| Free-space QKD | 5.56 km; QNu Labs + BISAG-N + IIT Gandhinagar |
| Transporter-18 | SpaceX; TAPAS-1, MOI-1A, LEAP-2 |
| Sickle cell severity score | CSIR-CCMB; ISS2 ~85% concordance |
| HQ IDS | 25 years (set up 1 Oct 2001) |
| Anak Krakatau | Two new islands; Sunda Strait |
| 153rd IPU Assembly | Arusha, Tanzania; delegation led by Harivansh |
| Colombo Security Conclave | 9th DNSA-level meeting; hosted by India (virtual) |
| Vettri Payanam | Free bus travel; 12,695 buses; launched 2 Oct |
| HDFC Bank MD & CEO | Anup Bagchi |
| Asian Games hockey | Men’s gold – beat Malaysia 5–1 |
| Lovlina Borgohain | Gold – women’s 75 kg boxing |
| Pranavi Urs | First Indian woman golfer with Asian Games gold |
TOP 5 QUIZ OF THE DAY
Q1. Consider the following pairs (Hydropower project – River):
1. Sawalkot – Chenab
2. Pakal Dul – Marusudar
3. Ratle – Jhelum
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All three
- (d) None
Q2. Consider the following pairs (Classical language – Centre of Excellence):
1. Assamese – Tezpur University
2. Pali – Central University of Odisha
3. Prakrit – Central University of Gujarat
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All three
- (d) None
Q3. With reference to the National Tribunals Commission, consider the following statements:
1. It is headed by a retired Supreme Court judge or a retired High Court Chief Justice.
2. It has two judicial and two technical members.
3. Its rules were issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Q4. With reference to India’s first free-space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link, consider the following statements:
1. The keys were sent through underground optical fibre cables.
2. Any attempt to eavesdrop changes the quantum state of the photons.
3. The link was demonstrated over about 5.56 km.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Q5. India’s first Social Bond dedicated to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector was listed by:
- (a) NABARD on BSE
- (b) NABKISAN Finance Ltd on NSE
- (c) SIDBI on NSE
- (d) NHB on BSE
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
Q1 – (b): Pairs 1 and 2 are correct. Ratle (850 MW) is on the Chenab in Kishtwar, not the Jhelum.
Q2 – (c): All three are correct. Bengali – Visva-Bharati; Marathi – Deccan College, Pune.
Q3 – (a): The NTC Rules, 2026 were issued by the Union Law Ministry, not the Home Ministry.
Q4 – (b): Free-space QKD sends keys through open air using lasers, not fibre. Eavesdropping alters the quantum state; the link was 5.56 km.
Q5 – (b): NABKISAN Finance Ltd, a NABARD subsidiary, listed the ₹180 crore WASH Social Bond on the NSE.
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