October 2026 Current Affairs
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Thursday, 1 October 2026
UIDAI Aadhaar Samvaad 2026: Five New Initiatives Launched on 17th Aadhaar Day in KolkataThe Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) held its annual 'Aadhaar Samvaad' stakeholder conference in Kolkata on September 29, 2026, marking the 17th Aadhaar Day. Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Jitin Prasada was the chief guest at the event, which saw over 600 stakeholders participate. Five new initiatives were unveiled: Face Authentication for the electronic Public Distribution System (ePDS), SWIK Portal 2.0, Sub-AUA/Sub-KUA LITE Framework, a New Token Management System, and a revamped UIDAI website.Southwest Monsoon 2026 Ends with 12.6% Rainfall Deficit — Worst Since 2015, East and Northeast India Hardest HitIndia's 2026 southwest monsoon season (June–September) ended with a cumulative rainfall deficit of approximately 12.6% below the Long Period Average (LPA), recording 87% of normal rainfall at about 759 mm against the seasonal normal of 869 mm. It is the worst monsoon since 2015 and the fourth-lowest since 2001. East and Northeast India suffered the most severe deficit at 25.6% below normal, with the region recording its lowest monsoon rainfall since 1901.AFSPA Extended for Six Months in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh from October 1, 2026The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) for six months across disturbed areas of Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh with effect from October 1, 2026, continuing through March 31, 2027. The extension maintains India's security posture in the Northeast amid ongoing insurgency challenges, though with partial exclusions in Manipur's Imphal Valley.Green Energy Corridor Phase-III: Cabinet Approves ₹1.86 Lakh Crore Plan for 135 GW Renewable Evacuation and 50 GWh Battery StorageThe Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-III on October 1, 2026, with a total investment of ₹1,86,405 crore. The project will build intra-state transmission systems to evacuate 135 GW of renewable energy and deploy 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) across India by FY 2032-33, supporting India's 900 GW non-fossil fuel target by 2035.UPSC at 100: Centenary Celebrations Mark a Century of Constitutional Civil Service Recruitment in IndiaThe Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) completed 100 years on October 1, 2026 — exactly a century after the first Public Service Commission convened on October 1, 1926 under the Government of India Act, 1919. Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the milestone at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, releasing a commemorative coin, postage stamp, and a volume of 100 landmark judgements that shaped UPSC jurisprudence.PRAMAAN: India Issues First Certificates Under Its National Forest and Agroforestry Certification SchemeEnvironment Minister Bhupender Yadav presented India's first PRAMAAN certificates on September 29, 2026. PRAMAAN (Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of sustainable Management practices for Agroforestry And Natural forestry resources) is India's first government-run national forest and agroforestry certification scheme, implemented by IIFM Bhopal. First recipients: AP Forest Development Corporation (33,000 ha) and an Odisha bamboo farmer.Cabinet Approves Rabi MSP 2027-28: Safflower Gets Highest Hike of ₹675/quintal, Wheat at ₹2,610The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all six mandated Rabi crops for the 2027-28 marketing season on September 30, 2026. Safflower received the highest absolute increase of ₹675/quintal, followed by mustard/rapeseed at ₹413/quintal. Wheat MSP was set at ₹2,610/quintal, up by ₹25. All MSPs are fixed at a minimum of 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production, as announced in Union Budget 2018-19.