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Article 21A

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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 affairsInternational Day of the Girl Child 2026 (October 11): Theme, Child Marriage, and India's Legal FrameworkThe United Nations observes International Day of the Girl Child every year on 11 October. The 2026 theme is "End child marriage and invest in girls' rights," reflecting the global urgency to eliminate child marriage affecting approximately 12 million girls annually. India, home to the largest number of child brides globally in absolute terms, has robust legal provisions against child marriage while continuing to address enforcement and social norm gaps. Current affairsWorldSkills Shanghai 2026: India Ranks 10th with Six Silver Medals — Historic Best PerformanceIndia secured its best-ever 10th-place finish at the 48th WorldSkills Competition held in Shanghai, China (22–27 September 2026), winning 6 Silver Medals and 20 Medals for Excellence from a delegation of 70 competitors across 63 skill areas — a major leap from 13th place at Lyon 2024. Prime Minister met Team India representatives on 9 October 2026 to felicitate their achievement. Current affairsWorld Teachers' Day 2026 (October 5): Theme "Standing with Teachers — 60 Years of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation"World Teachers' Day is observed on October 5 every year under the auspices of UNESCO. The 2026 theme is "Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures" — marking the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. The day is co-organised by UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF, and Education International, with the global celebration held at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. Current affairsJames Dyson Award 2026: India's Himaja Lingampalli Wins for 'Rudhra' — Assistive Tech for Visually Impaired StudentsIndian engineer-innovator Himaja Lingampalli won the James Dyson Award 2026 for 'Rudhra' — a tactile and audio-based learning device designed to assist visually impaired students with STEM education. The award, given by the James Dyson Foundation, recognises engineering innovation that solves real-world problems. Current affairsBirkbeck, University of London Gets UGC Approval for Bengaluru Campus: India's Foreign University Experiment and NEP 2020Birkbeck, University of London received a UGC Letter of Approval on September 3, 2026, to establish its Indian campus at Sattva Tech Park, Bengaluru — under the UGC FHEI Regulations 2023 enabled by NEP 2020. The UK university, world-renowned for part-time and evening education for working adults, will offer undergraduate and postgraduate business programmes at up to 60% lower cost than its UK campus. Current affairsNational Teachers' Day 2026: President Murmu Honours 48 Teachers; SRCC Centenary and the Legacy of Dr. Sarvepalli RadhakrishnanSeptember 5, 2026 marks the 138th birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, celebrated as National Teachers' Day across India. President Droupadi Murmu conferred National Teachers' Awards on 48 outstanding school teachers at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Prime Minister Modi also addressed students at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), which is celebrating its centenary year (est. 1926). Current affairsAISHE 2023-24 Report: India's Higher Education Enrolment Hits Record 4.50 Crore, GPI Favours Women for 7th Year in a RowThe Ministry of Education released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24 report, showing total enrolment reaching a record 4.50 crore students — a 31.5% rise from 3.42 crore in 2014-15. The Gender Parity Index (GPI) stands at 1.08, indicating more women than men in higher education for the 7th consecutive year. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) reached 30. Current affairsMahatma Ayyankali's 163rd Birth Anniversary: The Social Revolutionary Who Gave Kerala's Dalits the Right to Walk on Public RoadsAugust 28, 2026 marks the 163rd birth anniversary of Mahatma Ayyankali (1863–1941), the pioneering social reformer and Dalit rights leader from Travancore (present-day Kerala) who led mass campaigns for freedom of movement on public roads, access to education for Dalit children, and labour rights for agricultural workers — transforming Kerala's caste-ridden social landscape. Current affairsNTA Overhaul 2026: Four-Tier Paper Checking, 600 Expert Replacement, CISF Security — Restoring Exam Integrity After NEET and UGC-NET ScandalsThe Ministry of Education announced a sweeping overhaul of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in August 2026 — replacing 600 subject-matter experts, introducing a four-tier question-paper checking system, deploying CISF security at NTA offices, and filling ten new leadership roles (CTO, CFO, CISO, GM Test Security, GM R&D). The reforms follow prolonged controversy over paper leaks in NEET-UG and UGC-NET and the enactment of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

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