Article 39
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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 affairsPLFS September 2026: India's Labour Force Participation Rate Rises to 55.5%, Unemployment Steady at 5%The National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin for September 2026 on October 15, 2026. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose by 0.2 percentage points year-on-year to 55.5%, while the overall unemployment rate remained steady at 5.0% — indicating stable labour market conditions ahead of the festive season. Current affairsIndia's WPI Inflation Surges to 11.39% in September 2026: Fuel and Food Prices Drive Broad-Based Price PressureIndia's Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation rose sharply to 11.39% in September 2026 from 9.92% in August 2026, driven primarily by a 25.85% surge in fuel and power prices alongside elevated food and manufactured-goods inflation. The data, released by the Office of Economic Adviser under DPIIT on October 14, 2026, signals broad-based upstream price pressure with implications for monetary policy and cost-of-living trends. Current affairsCERVAVAC Receives WHO Prequalification: India's Indigenous Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine Cleared for Global DistributionCERVAVAC, India's first indigenously developed quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), received World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification effective September 25, 2026. The milestone makes CERVAVAC eligible for procurement by UN agencies for global distribution, represents the 32nd WHO prequalification for a biological product from SII, and reinforces India's Atmanirbhar Bharat objective in vaccine development while advancing global cervical cancer prevention efforts. 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 affairsRBI Special Dollar Window for PSU Oil Marketing Companies: Mechanism, Rupee Support, and Exam RelevanceThe Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced on 10 October 2026 a dedicated special dollar window for India's three public sector oil marketing companies — Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) — effective from 12 October 2026. The measure aims to reduce pressure on the Indian rupee by channelling crude oil-related foreign exchange demand through a dedicated RBI facility rather than the open interbank market. Current affairsIndia's Critical Minerals Stockpiling Policy: Government to Announce Strategic Reserve Framework by November 2026India's Mines Secretary announced on 9 October 2026 that the government will roll out a critical minerals stockpiling policy within a month, covering 30+ minerals vital to defence, energy, pharma, and telecom sectors. The policy will specify release protocols, quantities, and eligible recipients, and will be complemented by four dedicated critical minerals processing parks (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha) and a ₹1,500 crore recycling boost — part of India's strategy to reduce import dependence and secure supply chains. Current affairsNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026: Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel Awarded for OptogeneticsThe 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded on 5 October 2026 to Karl Deisseroth (Stanford/HHMI), Peter Hegemann (Humboldt University, Berlin) and Georg Nagel (University of Würzburg) for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics — a revolutionary neuroscience tool that enables precise control of individual nerve cells using light. 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 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 affairsCabinet 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. Current affairsGreen 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.
In previous-year questions
- India's handloom sector employs over 35.22 lakh weavers and allied workers, more than 72% of whom are women. Which Article of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) mandates the State to secure a living wage and decent working conditions for all workers, including cottage industry workers?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Article of the Indian Constitution provides the primary constitutional mandate for the State to bring about prohibition of the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health — the provision that underpins India's drug abuse control policy including the NMBA?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which article of the Indian Constitution provides the constitutional basis for making special provisions for women, such as the 33% reservation under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023?UPSC · Current Affairs
- India's PLFS September 2026 data shows the overall unemployment rate at 5.0% with male unemployment at 4.9% and female unemployment at 5.2%. Which Directive Principle of State Policy (DPSP) under the Indian Constitution specifically directs the State to secure the right to work and make provisions for unemployment assistance?UPSC · Current Affairs