Context:India & Switzerland agreed to deepen cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, transport, infrastructure, research and innovation.Swiss President Guy Parmelin visited India to mark 1 year of the India–EFTA TEPA, effective 1 October 2025.EFT...

Context: Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann & Georg Nagel won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work enabling optogenetics.Optogenetics: Uses light-sensitive proteins to control the activity of specific neurons, allowing causal stud...

Context: The 9th India International Water Week, held in New Delhi under the theme of climate-resilient water management, highlighted India's growing experience in water governance.India has moved from being primarily exposed to floods, droughts and...

Context: Recent revisions of NCERT history textbooks have generated debate not only over factual accuracy and interpretation but also over what historical themes and experiences are left out.The larger concern is whether school history adequately pre...

Context: The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 has triggered a fresh Centre–State dispute over the regulation and taxation of mineral resources.The amendment expands the Centre’s regulatory powers and places restrict...

Context: On October 2, three-year-old tigress T138 was released into Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR), West Bengal, beginning a phased programme to establish a viable, self-sustaining tiger population.Three more tigers are likely to be introduced subsequentl...

Context: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used by persons with disabilities to overcome barriers in everyday activities such as reading documents, interpreting images and accessing government forms.However, the benefits of AI will n...

Context: Two male Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) were recently released into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, highlighting India’s efforts to recover one of its most threatened bird species.The conservation programme now has 97 birds, with...

Context: India’s performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has renewed debate over whether the country’s sporting ecosystem is strong enough to support its aspiration to host the 2036 Olympics.India won 85 medals from around 500 athletes, compared...

Context: A World Bank forecast warns of a potential global employment crisis: around 1.2 billion young people in the Global South are expected to reach working age over the coming decade, while only about 400 million viable jobs may be generated.This...

Context: Next-Gen GST reforms seek to rationalise GST rates and simplify compliance, building on GST’s implementation since 2017.Rate changes came into effect on 22 September 2025; further process reforms are to be considered by the GST Council.GST:...

Context: The Supreme Court has repeatedly intervened in the implementation of the CBSE three-language policy, highlighting concerns regarding student burden, timing of implementation and language choices.The Court has most recently extended relief to...

Context: The Delhi High Court has held that possession of a valid Indian visa does not create an inherent or legally enforceable right to enter India.The ruling came in a case involving a Turkmenistan citizen who was denied entry at Indira Gandhi Int...

Context: Students across France have launched blocus (school blockades) at lycées/high schools, protesting poor school infrastructure, teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and inadequate funding.The movement began in mid-September 2026 around Pa...

Context: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in India, accounting for 10.9% of all cancer deaths in 2024 (98,687 deaths), up from 75,031 deaths in 2022.Despite its rising burden, India does not have a nationwide lung-cancer screening pr...

Context: A new study has identified the bare-throated bellbird and red-legged seriema, both from Brazil, among the loudest birds recorded.Their calls reached around 121–122 decibels (dB), making them louder than several familiar high-intensity sounds...

Context: Maharashtra is again facing concerns over drought and agricultural distress, prompting comparisons with the severe 1972 drought, one of the State’s defining drought crises.However, the nature of the challenge has changed: while the 1972 cris...

Context: India and the US have been negotiating an interim trade deal for nearly two years, with the terms repeatedly changing.The proposed agreement initially envisaged a substantial reduction in US tariffs on Indian goods, but subsequent US tariff...

Context: Activists oppose the proposed PVNR Opencast Coal Mine at Venkatapur, Mulugu district, Telangana, citing potential risks to Ramappa Temple and Ramappa Lake.Ramappa Temple / Rudreshwara Temple:Built by the Kakatiyas in the 13th century.Lo...

Context: The appointment process of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) has become important in the context of concerns over the institutional independence and credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI).T...

Context: The SoO pact between the Centre, Manipur government and Kuki-Zo insurgent groups expired on 4 September 2026 and has not yet been extended.Government sources indicate the pact is being kept in abeyance until Kuki-Zo groups surrender all weap...

Gujarat UCC Bill, 2026 received President’s assent on 17 September 2026; published in the State Gazette on 1 October 2026.It will come into force on a date notified by the Gujarat Government.Applies across Gujarat and also to Gujarat residents living...

Context: India has improved its ability to forecast atmospheric disturbances and extreme weather events, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing alerts for events such as heavy rainfall and heat waves.However, a strengthening El Niño a...

Context: Underwater archaeological exploration off Poompuhar (Kaveripoompattinam), Tamil Nadu, has uncovered pottery fragments and structural remains about 1.8–2.2 km offshore at depths of 10–12 metres.The findings provide new evidence about the anci...

Context: Delhi’s Central Ridge, a semi-wild forest landscape in the heart of the city, is undergoing an extensive “restoration” exercise involving removal of vegetation and large-scale plantation.The article argues that the current approach risk...

Context: Nearly a decade after adopting the 2015 Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), India is revising its model to make it more responsive to changing investment practices and more investor-friendly.The Union Budget 2025-26 announced the propos...

Context: The first tiger reintroduction in Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal marks an attempt to restore a tiger population that had disappeared from the reserve.The programme is being implemented by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), We...

Context: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has triggered protests by Opposition parties, student groups and civil society groups, who allege that the exercise is resulting in large-scale disenfranchisement.The controversy has in...

Context: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues two pre-monsoon forecasts, generally in April and May, covering the expected performance of the southwest monsoon.In the year discussed, both forecasts anticipated a dry monsoon, largely influ...

Context: The article examines how Mahatma Gandhi used the term “genius” in his writings to evaluate people, achievements and political situations.Gandhi used “genius” both as a term of admiration and, in the phrase “evil genius”, to describe destruct...

Context: Recent incidents of sexual assault against women and children in Delhi and surrounding areas have renewed concerns over the effectiveness of measures introduced after the 2012 Nirbhaya case.Despite new laws, schemes and dedicated funds, crim...

Context: The article contrasts two songs associated with Indian nationalism — Vande Mataram and Vaishnava Jana To — to examine different understandings of nationalism.The immediate context is the 2026 legal and administrative changes concerning Vande...

Context: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) marked its centenary in 2026, providing an occasion to reflect on its institutional legacy and future role.Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for shorter examination cycles, greater technological e...

Context: India’s foreign investment policy faces a contradiction: despite recognising the importance of foreign capital, delays in reforming the 2016 Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and the restrictive investment-protection framework may be a...

Context: India has crossed 300 GW of installed renewable-energy capacity and ranks among the world's leading renewable-energy deployers, but rapid capacity addition has not always translated into electricity availability during peak-demand periods, p...

Context: The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)—Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland—entered into force on 1 October 2025.Beyond tariff reduction, TEPA aims to deepen...

Context: The Union Government extended RoDTEP and RoSCTL export-support schemes till 31 December 2026, with no change in rates or structure.RoDTEP:Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products.Refunds embedded/unrefunded central, state and local...

Context: The Calcutta High Court has held that casteist slurs made on social media can attract provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.The Court held that the statutory requirement of “public view” is not restricted to physical s...

CAFE-III norms, notified on 29 September 2026, apply from 1 April 2027–31 March 2032.Focus shifts from individual models to manufacturer-wide fleet fuel efficiency, with greater incentives for cleaner technologies.CAFE: Corporate Average Fuel Economy...

Context: Union Cabinet approved GEC Phase III to integrate up to 135 GW of renewable energy into electricity grids by FY 2032–33.It also aims to reduce renewable-energy curtailment caused by grid constraints/stability requirements.Total outlay: >...

Context: On 24 September, the UN General Assembly adopted its first-ever declaration on rising sea levels, recognising the growing threat to populations and vulnerable island nations.The declaration calls for countries to incorporate sea-level rise p...

Context: On 14 September, the First Ministers/leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, along with Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Cardiff advocating greater self-determination and independence from...

Context: India’s agricultural transformation over the past six decades has delivered food security and high production of cereals, milk, fruits, vegetables and fisheries.The next phase of transformation needs to focus on rural prosperity, by enabling...

Context: The Supreme Court has raised concerns over large disparities between the Price to Retailer (PTR) and Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of certain medicines, particularly anti-cancer drugs.In some cases, the difference has reportedly reached 1,000%,...