Ujjwala Yojana
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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 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 affairsGender Snapshot 2026 (UN Women & UN DESA): 1 in 3 Gender Equality Institutions Weakened, SDG 5 Off Track by 171 YearsUN Women and UN DESA jointly released the Gender Snapshot 2026 on September 17, 2026, revealing that 1 in 3 national gender equality institutions lost institutional power in just two years, while bilateral aid for gender equality fell 13% between 2023 and 2024. Not a single SDG 5 (Gender Equality) indicator is on track by 2030, and gender equality globally is 171 years away at the current pace of progress. Current affairsUS Lindsey Graham Russia Sanctions Act 2026: India's Energy Security and the 100% Tariff Threat on Russian Oil ImportsThe US President signed the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026" on September 18, 2026, authorising tariffs of up to 100% on countries among the five largest purchasers of Russian crude oil and gas. India, which imports approximately 2.08 million barrels per day from Russia (≈45% of its total crude imports), faces potential designation — raising fundamental questions about India's energy security architecture and strategic autonomy doctrine. Current affairsPM Jan Dhan Yojana Turns 12: 59.09 Crore Accounts, ₹3.17 Lakh Crore Deposits — India's Financial Inclusion TransformationThe Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched on 28 August 2014, completed 12 years on 28 August 2026 with 59.09 crore active accounts, ₹3.17 lakh crore in deposits, and 78% accounts in rural/semi-urban areas — marking India's most transformative financial inclusion programme that has brought banking access to 55 crore previously unbanked citizens. Current affairsUPI Hits Record 23.66 Billion Transactions in July 2026 — ₹29.88 Lakh Crore in ValueIndia's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed a record 23.66 billion transactions worth ₹29.88 lakh crore in July 2026, according to data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This surpassed the previous monthly volume record of 23.20 billion set in May 2026. Transaction volume grew 22% year-on-year and 4.1% month-on-month, without any major festival or quarter-end activity to drive the surge.