Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO scientists and engineers on the successful launch of GSLV-F18 carrying NVS-03.

The mission aims to strengthen NavIC, India's indigenous satellite navigation system.

Key Highlights

• Launch Vehicle: GSLV-F18 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle).

• Satellite: NVS-03.

• Objective: Strengthen NavIC and improve navigation services.

• NVS-03 has enhanced capabilities to support India's self-reliance in critical technologies.

• The mission will strengthen navigation services for citizens.

About NavIC

• Full Form: Navigation with Indian Constellation.

• India's indigenous regional satellite navigation system.

• Developed by ISRO.

• Provides positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.

• Designed to provide coverage over India and approximately 1,500 km beyond its boundaries.

Why in News?

The first BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise is being conducted from 30 October to 3 November 2026.

It aims to strengthen maritime cooperation, regional security, and interoperability among BIMSTEC member countries.

BIMSTEC Member Countries

Seven members are participating: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka,

Thailand

Key Objectives

• Enhance maritime interoperability among member states.

• Strengthen Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).

• Improve coordination mechanisms.

• Exchange operational experiences and best practices.

• Promote regional security and stability in the Bay of Bengal.

Strategic Importance of the Bay of Bengal

• Connects South Asia and Southeast Asia.

• Important for international trade and connectivity.

• Supports regional energy security and economic growth.

• Requires cooperation to maintain a secure and stable maritime environment.

Role of Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC)

• India's first integrated tri-service command.

• Strategically located near important sea lanes of communication.

• Important capabilities include:

• Maritime surveillance.

• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

• Search and Rescue (SAR).

• Regional maritime engagement.

Important Themes

Exercise theme: Translating Vision to Action.

Central message: Shared Seas, Shared Security, and Shared Prosperity.

Builds upon the outcomes of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, held under the theme “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open."

Why in News?

India's Defense Minister, addressing the 13th ADMM-Plus in Cebu, Philippines, offered to share India's counter-terrorism expertise with ASEAN and its dialogue partners.

• Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: India proposed joint exercises, capacity building, and intelligence sharing, drawing from its operational experience. Operation Sindoor was cited as an example of India's approach to cross-border and state-sponsored terrorism.

• Indo-Pacific Vision: India called for a secure, stable, and resilient Indo-Pacific based on cooperation and respect for international law.

• Maritime Security: 2026 has been declared as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, with the 2nd ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise planned. India stressed freedom of navigation, security of trade routes, and adherence to UNCLOS. The Indian Navy's continuous presence in Gulf of Aden since 2008 shows its commitment to protecting shipping.

• Defense Youth Bridge: India proposed a 'Youth Bridge' to boost people-to-people ties, digital innovation, and capacity building among youth.

About ADMM-Plus:

• It is a platform of ASEAN members plus 8 dialogue partners, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the USA, to strengthen security and defense cooperation.

• First held in Hanoi in 2010, it has met annually since 2017. It focuses on 7 areas, such as maritime security, counterterrorism, HADR, peacekeeping, military medicine, humanitarian mine action, and cybersecurity, through experts' working groups. India and Malaysia are co-chairing the Counterterrorism Working Group for 2024-27.

Why in the news?

India's automobile industry, valued at around Rs 22 lakh crore, has now become the world's 3rd largest auto market by new vehicle sales, overtaking Japan and standing just behind China and the USA.

• Industry Growth: The industry has grown from about Rs 14 lakh crore to Rs 22 lakh crore in recent years, driven by strong domestic manufacturing and rising demand. As per OICA, India sold around 55.18 lakh new vehicles in 2025, higher than Japan's 45.66 lakh.'

• Economic Contribution: The sector is a major pillar of the economy. It contributes about Rs 4.5 lakh crore in taxes and revenue to the center and states and provides livelihood to nearly 4.5 crore people directly and indirectly, boosting ancillary industries like steel, tires, and components.

• Automobile Exports: India is also becoming an export hub. Vehicle exports grew by nearly 24% to over 67 lakh units in FY 2025-26, led by passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, and commercial vehicles.

• Infrastructure Development: Better highways and expressways have cut logistics costs by about 6% and reduced travel time, which further supports auto demand and economic activity along corridors.

• Green Hydrogen & Energy Linkage: The next phase is linked to clean energy. Farmers are being seen as potential producers of green hydrogen, which can reduce India's dependence on imported fuel. If scaled up, domestic hydrogen production could even make India an energy exporter.

• Significance: Overall, the auto sector's growth strengthens manufacturing, creates massive jobs, boosts exports, supports MSMEs and ancillaries, and improves India's global competitiveness.

Why in News?

• Sacred relics of Lord Buddha, preserved at the National Museum, New Delhi, is being displayed in Arunachal Pradesh from 31 October to 21 November 2026.

• Exposition locations: Tawang, Bomdila and Namsai.

• Organised by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Government, International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and National Museum.

• The exposition coincides with Lhabab Düchen, an important Tibetan Buddhist festival commemorating Buddha's descent from the heavenly realm.

Origin and Discovery of Relics

• Origin: Piprahwa, Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh.

• Associated with ancient Kapilavastu and the Shakya tradition.

• 1898: British engineer William Claxton Peppé excavated a stupa and discovered reliquaries containing bone fragments and precious objects.

Why in News?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026 at Ekta Nagar, Narmada district, Gujarat.

• The festival marks the beginning of celebrations for the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

• Bharat Parv will continue until 15 November 2026.

Key Attractions

• Bharat Parv: Celebrates the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

• Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Celebrations

• Observed on 31 October, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

• Ekta Parade by security forces.

• Theatrical presentation on Naxal Mukt Bharat by the National School of Drama.

India’s Poverty Reduction: World Bank Report

• 496 million people lifted out of poverty between 2011 and 2023.

• Poverty rate (below $4.20/day) declined from 57.7% to 16.1%.

• Extreme poverty (below $2.15/day) fell from 27.1% to 2.6%.

• Rural-urban extreme poverty gap narrowed from 7.7 to 1.7 percentage points.

• Gini coefficient declined from 28.8 to 25.1, indicating reduced income inequality.

Five states—Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh—accounted for nearly two-thirds of extreme poverty reduction.

• Poverty is projected to decline further by 2028.

Significance: Rising disposable incomes can boost domestic demand, consumption, manufacturing and services.

Major concerns

• Housing affordability.

• Energy prices and inflation.

• Youth unemployment and underemployment.

• Stagnant real incomes and pressure on public services.

• Key contributing factors: COVID-19 disruptions, Russia–Ukraine war and US-driven trade tensions.

Suggested measures

Investment in education, healthcare, job quality and affordable housing.

Why in News?

Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh of Prasar Bharati won the ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026 for contributions to broadcast technology and innovation.

The award was received by Mihir Kumar Jha, Under Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on his behalf.

Key Innovations

DDPlayout: Indigenous automated playout software adopted by multiple Doordarshan Kendras.

DDSlowMo: Cost-effective slow-motion replay system used in national-level sporting events.

About Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)

Regional organisation of broadcasting and media organisations.

Represents around 224 organisations across 66 countries.

Presents the Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award.

63rd ABU General Assembly 2026

Venue: Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Dates: 30 October–3 November 2026.

Participants: Broadcasters, media leaders, engineers and industry experts.

Theme: “Media for Peace and Humanity: Truth, Trust, and Transformation.”

Includes technical, programme and sports group meetings, Broadcasting for All Forum, Media Leaders’ Forum and Super Panel.

Why in News?

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) enabled UPI payments for online bookings at:

• At the Top, Burj Khalifa (UAE)

• Resorts World Sentosa (Singapore)

Key Highlights

Attractions covered:

• Burj Khalifa observation experience.

• Universal Studios Singapore.

• Singapore Oceanarium.

• Adventure Cove Waterpark.

• Enables Indian tourists to book online using familiar UPI apps, reducing currency-related difficulties.

• Burj Khalifa is the first UAE attraction to accept UPI for e-commerce.

UPI International Expansion

UPI is accepted in 10 countries, according to the supplied report:

Singapore, UAE, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Greece.

Uzbekistan is expected to become the 11th country following a commercial agreement announced on 30 August 2026.

Earlier Initiative

UPI ticketing facility for the Eiffel Tower, France, was launched on 26 January 2024.

Why in News?

INS Tarkash arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius, on 30 October during its operational deployment to the Southern Indian Ocean Region.

Key Highlights

Strengthening India–Mauritius maritime cooperation through:

• Joint training with Mauritius Coast Guard.

• Sharing operational experiences and best practices.

• Cultural exchanges and community outreach.

INS Tarkash will participate in 192nd Aapravasi Diwas on 2 November 2026.

Aapravasi Diwas

• It commemorates the arrival of the first batch of Indian indentured labourers at Aapravasi Ghat, Port Louis, on 2 November 1834.

• Honours their contributions to Mauritius's cultural and economic development.

• Their descendants constitute a significant part of Mauritian society.

Why in News?

India will host CGIAR Science and Partnership Week 2027 in New Delhi from 12–17 April 2027.

Key Highlights

Organisers: ICAR and CGIAR(CGIAR: Global agricultural research partnership)

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

First edition: Nairobi, Kenya (April 2025)

Major Focus Areas

• Climate-resilient and digital agriculture.

• Water management and soil health.

• Agricultural mechanisation and millets.

• Natural farming and sustainable agriculture.

• AgriStack and agricultural innovation.

• Startups, public-private partnerships, women and youth participation.

• South-South cooperation, particularly with African countries.

चर्चा में क्यों?

• केंद्रीय श्रम मंत्रालय ने दो सामाजिक सुरक्षा बोर्डों के गठन की अधिसूचना जारी की है।

• इनका उद्देश्य असंगठित श्रमिकों, गिग वर्कर्स और प्लेटफॉर्म वर्कर्स के लिए कल्याणकारी योजनाओं को बढ़ावा देना है।

• ये बोर्ड सामाजिक सुरक्षा संहिता (Code on Social Security) के तहत बनाए गए हैं।

दोनों बोर्डों के बारे में

क. राष्ट्रीय असंगठित श्रमिक सामाजिक सुरक्षा बोर्ड (National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers): 40 सदस्यों वाला यह बोर्ड असंगठित श्रमिकों के कल्याण और सामाजिक सुरक्षा के लिए योजनाओं की सिफारिश करेगा।

ख. राष्ट्रीय गिग एवं प्लेटफॉर्म श्रमिक सामाजिक सुरक्षा बोर्ड (National Social Security Board for Gig & Platform Workers): 22 सदस्यों वाला यह बोर्ड गिग और प्लेटफॉर्म श्रमिकों के लिए लक्षित कल्याणकारी योजनाओं की सिफारिश करेगा।

• अध्यक्ष: केंद्रीय श्रम एवं रोजगार मंत्री मनसुख मांडविया।

• उपाध्यक्ष: केंद्रीय श्रम सचिव।

• बोर्डों की बैठक कम-से-कम वर्ष में तीन बार होगी।

गिग वर्कर्स और प्लेटफॉर्म वर्कर्स कौन हैं?

गिग वर्कर्स: ऐसे लोग जो स्थायी नौकरी के बजाय छोटे कार्यों, अस्थायी काम या अनुबंध के आधार पर काम करते हैं। उदाहरण: स्वतंत्र रूप से काम करने वाले फ्रीलांसर और अस्थायी सेवा प्रदाता।

प्लेटफॉर्म वर्कर्स: ऐसे श्रमिक जो डिजिटल प्लेटफॉर्म या ऐप के माध्यम से काम प्राप्त करते हैं।

उदाहरण: Zomato और Swiggy के डिलीवरी पार्टनर तथा Rapido के ड्राइवर।

बोर्डों के प्रमुख कार्य

1. श्रमिकों के विभिन्न वर्गों के लिए उपयुक्त कल्याणकारी योजनाओं की सिफारिश करना।

2. सामाजिक सुरक्षा योजनाओं की निगरानी करना।

3. केंद्र सरकार को योजनाओं के प्रशासन और क्रियान्वयन पर सुझाव देना।

4. श्रमिकों के रिकॉर्ड रखने की व्यवस्था की समीक्षा करना।

5. योजनाओं पर होने वाले खर्च और खातों की समीक्षा करना।

6. केंद्र सरकार द्वारा सौंपे गए अन्य कार्य करना।

इन बोर्डों का महत्त्व

• सामाजिक सुरक्षा: श्रमिकों को सामाजिक सुरक्षा योजनाओं के दायरे में लाने में मदद।

• कल्याणकारी योजनाएँ: विभिन्न श्रमिक समूहों की जरूरतों के अनुसार योजनाएँ बनाने में सहायता।

• डिजिटल अर्थव्यवस्था: तेजी से बढ़ते ऐप-आधारित रोजगार को औपचारिक कल्याण व्यवस्था से जोड़ना।

• श्रमिकों का प्रतिनिधित्व: सरकार, नियोक्ताओं और श्रमिक संगठनों के बीच संवाद को बढ़ावा देना।

• समावेशी विकास: कमजोर और असंगठित श्रमिक वर्गों की सुरक्षा को मजबूत करना।

Why in News?

Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala created history by winning the gold medal in the 59 kg category at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana(Kazakhstan). She became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships.

• She defeated the USA's Pan-American champion, Abigail Elizabeth Nette, 8–6, in the final at the World Wrestling Championships.

Key Highlights

• Historic achievement: Manisha became only the second Indian wrestler after Sushil Kumar to win a World Championships title. Sushil Kumar had won the 66 kg freestyle title in 2010.

• Remarkable comeback: She fought back from a 0–6 deficit to secure an 8–6 victory in the final.

• Weight-category change: After winning the Asian title in 62 kg, Manisha shifted to the competitive 57 kg category. At the Astana championships, she competed in the non-Olympic 59 kg category.

• Strong Indian performance: Neelam Sirohi (50 kg) and Kajal Dhochak (76 kg) won silver medals, while Tanu Sharma (72 kg) secured bronze.

• Team performance: Indian women recorded their best-ever performance at the World Championships, finishing fourth in the women's section.

Other Indian Performances

In men's freestyle, Vicky (97 kg) lost to Iran's Hassan Yazdani in the repechage round. Nikhil (61 kg), Pushpender Dalal (86 kg), and Jaspooran Singh (125 kg) also entered the repechage rounds.

About World Wrestling Championships 2026

The 2026 World Wrestling Championships are underway in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 24 October to 1 November 2026. The tournament is being held at the Barys Arena. This is the second time Kazakhstan is hosting the World Wrestling Championships, after the 2019 edition in Nur-Sultan.

Significance

Manisha’s victory marks an important milestone for Indian women’s wrestling. Her performance also strengthens her ambition to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Why in News?

Renowned Carnatic percussionist T.K. Murthy, a Padma Shri awardee and Sangeetha Kalanidhi, has been selected for the 2026 Sree Guruvayurappan Chembai Award. The award recognizes his extraordinary contribution to Carnatic music over nearly nine decades.

Key Highlights

• About T.K. Murthy: At 103, he is among India’s senior-most performing artistes and an eminent mridangam player and guru.

• Musical contribution: He has accompanied legendary Carnatic musicians, including Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M. Balamuralikrishna, K.J. Yesudas, and Lalgudi Jayaraman. He has also trained several renowned mridangam artists.

• Other honors: His recognitions include the Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, and the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi title awarded by the Music Academy, Madras.

• Award presentation: The award will be presented on November 6, 2026, during the inaugural ceremony of the annual Chembai Sangeetholsavam at Guruvayur, held as part of the Guruvayur Ekadasi celebrations.

About the Sree Guruvayurappan Chembai Award

• Instituted in 2005 by the Guruvayur Devaswom, the award honors outstanding contributions to Carnatic music.

• It comprises a 10-gram gold medal featuring Lord Guruvayurappan, a cash prize of ₹50,001, a citation, a plaque, and a traditional shawl.

• Vocalist T.V. Gopalakrishnan was its first recipient.

• T.K. Murthy is the 22nd recipient of the award.

The recognition celebrates T.K. Murthy’s lifelong dedication to Carnatic music and his contribution to preserving and passing on India’s rich classical music tradition.