Administrative Reforms Commission
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Current affairsFrontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Act 2026: Presidential Assent and Autonomy for Six Eastern Nagaland DistrictsPresident Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill 2026, which was unanimously passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on September 3, 2026. The Act creates a 62-member autonomous authority with powers over 46 subjects for six underserved eastern Nagaland districts, addressing a longstanding demand of the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO). Current affairs12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026: India Hosts in New DelhiIndia is hosting the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26–27 October 2026 at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi, under India's current BRICS Chairship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the visiting parliamentary delegations. The forum brings together presiding officers and parliamentarians from BRICS member and partner countries to deliberate on institutional resilience, ethical AI, digital transformation, and global governance reforms. Current affairsPM-AJAY Scheme: 18,093 Villages Declared Adarsh Grams, Rs 1,730 Crore Released for SC DevelopmentThe Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has declared 18,093 villages as Adarsh Grams under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) — a 100% centrally sponsored scheme launched in FY 2021-22 to uplift Scheduled Caste-dominated villages. Separately, Rs 1,730 crore has been released to states under the scheme's Grants-in-Aid component to skill over 2.5 lakh SC beneficiaries. The scheme merges three earlier SC welfare schemes into a unified framework. Current affairsGlobal Hunger Index 2026: India Ranks 100th, Remains in 'Serious' CategoryThe Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2026, released on October 14, 2026, by Welthungerhilfe, the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), and Helvetas, ranked India 100th among 122 countries with a GHI score of 24.1 — still in the 'serious' category despite significant improvement from a score of 37 in 2006. The 2026 report's theme is "No Security Without Food Security." Current affairsNSAP Renamed Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana: Cabinet Approves ₹53,428 Crore Social Assistance Extension for 2026–31The Union Cabinet on 14 October 2026 approved the continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) under the new name Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana (PMSSY) with a ₹53,428 crore outlay for five years (FY2026–27 to FY2030–31). All four Indira Gandhi-branded sub-schemes were renamed with Pradhan Mantri prefix, and the disability pension eligibility threshold was reduced from 80% to 40%, extending coverage to approximately 3.20 crore beneficiaries across all states and UTs. Current affairsLakshadweep Becomes India's First 100% Literate Union Territory Under ULLAS SchemeLakshadweep was declared India's first 100% literate Union Territory on October 11, 2026, under the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) — Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. All 1,113 identified adult non-literates in the island territory passed the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT), completing a landmark in India's adult education mission aligned with the National Education Policy 2020. Current affairsGujarat Uniform Civil Code 2026: Presidential Assent and India's Journey Towards a Common Civil LawPresident Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 on September 17, 2026, making Gujarat the second Indian state after Uttarakhand to enact a UCC. The Act governs marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships for all residents irrespective of religion, and will come into force on a date to be notified separately by the state government. Current affairsNational Tribunals Commission Rules 2026: Independent Oversight Body for India's 16 Quasi-Judicial TribunalsThe Ministry of Law and Justice notified the National Tribunals Commission and Qualification, Selection and Conditions of Service of Chairperson and Members of Tribunals Rules, 2026 on September 30, 2026, published in the Official Gazette on October 3. These rules operationalise the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2026, which established an independent National Tribunals Commission (NTC) to replace the Central Government's role in tribunal appointments and oversight — a direct response to Supreme Court rulings that struck down executive dominance in the 2021 tribunal reform framework. Current affairsGreat Indian Bustard Rewilding 2026: Two Captive-Bred Birds Released into Desert National Park — A Conservation Milestone After 10 YearsOn October 3–4, 2026, India achieved a landmark conservation milestone as two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) were soft-released into a predator-free enclosure at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, marking the culmination of a decade-long captive breeding programme by the Wildlife Institute of India and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Current affairsGandhi Jayanti 2026: 157th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and International Day of Non-ViolenceOctober 2, 2026 marks the 157th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi — Mahatma Gandhi — the father of the Indian nation. It is also the birth anniversary of India's second Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri. The United Nations observes October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence, established by UNGA Resolution A/RES/61/271 in 2007, to disseminate the message of non-violence and promote peace, tolerance, and understanding. Current affairsPRAHAAR: India's First National Counter-Terrorism Policy — 7-Pillar Framework and New Extradition PortalIndia's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held a national conference on PRAHAAR — India's first National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy — in New Delhi on September 28, 2026. Launched on February 23, 2026 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, PRAHAAR is built on 7 pillars and is designed as a 10-year institutional framework. A new Extradition Portal was also launched on September 28 to expedite the return of fugitives to India. Current affairsSpecial Campaign 6.0: Government's Month-Long Swachhata and Pendency-Reduction Drive Launched on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2–31, 2026)Special Campaign 6.0 was launched on October 2, 2026 — Gandhi Jayanti — by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The month-long campaign (October 2–31) focuses on Swachhata (cleanliness) in government offices, scientific disposal of e-waste, and time-bound disposal of pending references including MP correspondence, Parliamentary Assurances, and Public Grievances.