UPSC current affairs, 5–11 October 2026

On 7 October the MPC raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5% (its first hike since February 2023) and changed its stance from neutral to 'calibrated tightening'. It raised its 2026–27 CPI inflation projection to 5.2%, with Q3 at 6.0%. On 9 October the RBI also raised banks' minimum daily CRR balance from 90% to 99% of the requirement, from the fortnight beginning 16 October, to absorb surplus liquidity.

For Prelims (MPC · RBI Act S.45ZB):

The MPC is a six-member statutory body under Section 45ZB of the RBI Act, 1934, chaired by the RBI Governor, who has a casting vote. It works to a 4% CPI inflation target within a 2–6% band.

For Mains:

Use in GS3 (monetary policy, inflation) to explain the limits of rate hikes against supply shocks: fuel and food prices also need fiscal and supply-side action alongside the RBI's move.

Full story: Daily Brief, 8 Oct →

The Madhya Pradesh High Court struck down the 2019 law that raised OBC reservation from 14% to 27%, finding no extraordinary situation to breach the 50% ceiling. The Supreme Court dismissed Andhra Pradesh's appeal against a High Court order quashing 34% BC reservation in local bodies.

For Prelims (Indra Sawhney (1992)):

In Indra Sawhney (1992), a nine-judge Bench capped reservation at 50%, allowing more only in extraordinary situations. Laws placed in the Ninth Schedule after 24 April 1973 can still be tested against the Basic Structure (I.R. Coelho, 2007).

For Mains:

Use in GS2 (social justice, judiciary) to show the tension between demographic claims and the equality code, and to argue that sub-categorisation and better data may serve justice better than raising the cap.

Full story: Daily Brief, 10 Oct →

Speaking at NALSAR, Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said any process that disenfranchises millions is 'intrinsically arbitrary', citing Articles 326 and 14. EC data reported in late September put names removed from SIR draft rolls at about 13.3 crore. On 5 October the SC issued notice on a plea against EC decisions in the SIR, the CJI saying the Court had not approved the modified Form 6.

For Prelims (Art 326 · Art 324):

Article 326 provides for elections on the basis of adult suffrage; the 61st Amendment Act, 1988 lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Article 324 vests superintendence of electoral rolls in the Election Commission.

For Mains:

Use in GS2 answers on ECI independence, electoral reforms and Articles 324–329, and to argue that free and fair elections are part of the Basic Structure (Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain, 1975).

Full story: Daily Brief, 5 Oct →

The 57th GST Council meeting (8 October) recommended removing GST officers' arrest powers, raising the prosecution threshold to ₹5 crore and easing refunds and input tax credit, with the changes proposed from 1 April 2027. Provisional gross GST collections were ₹12.46 lakh crore in April–September 2026, up 11.6%.

For Prelims (Art 279A · GST Council):

The GST Council is a constitutional body under Article 279A (101st Amendment Act, 2016), chaired by the Union Finance Minister. Decisions need a three-fourths weighted majority: the Centre's vote counts for one-third, the States' for two-thirds.

For Mains:

Use in GS3 (indirect taxation, ease of doing business) to show the shift from enforcement-by-fear to trust-based compliance, while guarding against tax evasion.

Full story: Daily Brief, 9 Oct →

The Supreme Court refused the Centre's plea to stay Calcutta High Court proceedings on PILs, including tribal-rights claims, against the over-₹72,000-crore Great Nicobar project, and asked the HC to decide quickly. Justice Bagchi said preservation of culture is a constitutionally protected fundamental right.

For Prelims (Shompen · PVTG · FRA):

The Shompen of Great Nicobar are one of India's 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The Forest Rights Act, 2006 lets PVTGs claim habitat rights.

For Mains:

Use in GS3 (environment vs strategic infrastructure, EIA) and GS2 (tribal rights, role of courts) to argue for consent-based, ecologically careful development in fragile islands.

Full story: Daily Brief, 6 Oct →

The row over an alleged 'purification' ritual at Haldwani's Ramlila Ground (Uttarakhand), where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit, held a rally on 8 August, led to an FIR against unknown persons in September. It has revived debate on whether laws alone can end untouchability.

For Prelims (Art 17 · PCR Act 1955):

Article 17 abolishes untouchability and makes its practice an offence; Article 35 lets only Parliament prescribe the punishment. The Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 was renamed the Protection of Civil Rights Act in 1976.

For Mains:

Use in GS1 (caste, social change) and GS2 (rights of vulnerable sections) to argue that law can abolish the practice but not the prejudice: social reform must work alongside legal reform.

Full story: Daily Brief, 9 Oct →

With a strong El Niño that could become a 'super' event, scientists warn that Tamil Nadu's northeast monsoon could turn extreme, even though El Niño years usually bring drought to the rest of India. IMD expects normal October–December rain (88–112% of LPA) over the south peninsula, with neutral IOD conditions.

For Prelims (NE monsoon · ENSO · IOD):

Tamil Nadu gets about 48% of its annual rainfall in October–December from the northeast monsoon. The Indian Ocean Dipole can strengthen or offset El Niño's effect on the Indian monsoon.

For Mains:

Use in GS1 (Indian climate) to show that ENSO effects are not uniform across India, and in GS3 (disaster management) to argue for region-specific flood early-warning systems.

Full story: Daily Brief, 11 Oct →

Replying to Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court on 7 October, Karnataka said it reserves the right to seek reopening of the Cauvery allocation on grounds of 'inequitable allocation' and 'changed circumstances', citing India's stand on the Indus Waters Treaty.

For Prelims (Art 262 · CWMA):

Article 262 lets Parliament bar courts from hearing inter-State river water disputes. The SC's 2018 Cauvery verdict gave Karnataka 284.75 tmc ft and Tamil Nadu 404.25 tmc ft.

For Mains:

Use in GS2 (federalism, inter-State relations) to show why tribunal awards rarely end disputes, as rainfall variability and growing demand reopen 'final' allocations; argue for distress-sharing formulas and basin-level bodies.

Full story: Daily Brief, 8 Oct →

The Centre opposed death-row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana's plea to commute his sentence over the delay in deciding the mercy petition filed for him in 2012. The Supreme Court will hear it on merits on 28 October.

For Prelims (Art 72 · Art 161):

Article 72 gives the President the power to pardon, including in all death-sentence cases; Article 161 gives Governors a similar power for offences against State laws. In Shatrughan Chauhan (2014), the SC held that inordinate, unexplained delay can justify commutation.

For Mains:

Use in GS2 (executive powers, Article 21) to show how executive delay turns a legal sentence into prolonged mental torture, and why mercy petitions need time-bound disposal.

Full story: Daily Brief, 8 Oct →

India and Japan launched the Operational Manual for their Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), setting out the full project cycle for issuing carbon credits under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. The two sides signed the JCM Memorandum of Cooperation on 7 August 2025.

For Prelims (Paris Agreement Art 6.2):

Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement lets countries transfer emission reductions through cooperative deals as ITMOs; Article 6.4 sets up a UN-supervised crediting mechanism.

For Mains:

Use in GS3 (climate finance, carbon markets, India–Japan ties) to show how Article 6 can bring technology and money for India's 2070 net-zero path without double counting.

Full story: Daily Brief, 6 Oct →

Heritage groups, including the Kakatiya Heritage Trust, have urged Singareni Collieries to drop a proposed opencast coal mine at Venkatapur in Mulugu, Telangana, fearing harm to the UNESCO-inscribed Ramappa Temple and its lake. Reports put the mine about 5 km from the temple and about 300 m deep; SCCL says the temple is safe.

For Prelims (Kakatiya · UNESCO 2021):

The Kakatiya Rudreswara (Ramappa) Temple at Palampet was built in 1213 CE and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. It is named after its sculptor, Ramappa.

For Mains:

Use in GS1 (conservation of heritage) and GS3 (EIA, development vs conservation) to show that mining clearances need a heritage lens, since the AMASR Act's 100 m prohibited and 200 m regulated areas cover only the monument's immediate surroundings.

Full story: Daily Brief, 5 Oct →

A recent PIB release reports that 40 supercomputers with a combined 68 petaflops have been deployed under the National Supercomputing Mission, with about 6,000 indigenous Rudra servers in use. The target is 50 systems and over 123 petaflops.

For Prelims (NSM · PARAM Rudra):

The National Supercomputing Mission (2015) is steered jointly by MeitY and DST and implemented by C-DAC, Pune and IISc, Bengaluru.

For Mains:

Use in GS3 (indigenisation of technology, AI compute, Atmanirbhar Bharat) to show how sovereign compute capacity underpins weather forecasting, research and strategic autonomy.

Full story: Daily Brief, 5 Oct →