Daily Current Affairs — 7 October 2026
· 14 min read · TS Police Hub (Anvil Edtech)
RBI raises the repo rate to 5.50%; three new Supreme Court judges including Telangana HC Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh; Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit named 29th Air Chief; FSS-1 Surya launched at Visakhapatnam; India's first National Household Travel Survey; Nobel Chemistry 2026; Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as captain. Followed by 10 practice questions.
1. Telangana Focus
D. Ravindra Sharma Appointed Chairman of Telangana State Endowments Tribunal
Why in news: The Telangana government appointed retired judge D. Ravindra Sharma as Chairman of the Telangana State Endowments Tribunal. The order was issued on 6 October 2026 by the in-charge Principal Secretary of the Endowments Department.
Key facts
- Post: Chairman, Telangana State Endowments Tribunal.
- Order: 6 October 2026, by the in-charge Principal Secretary, Endowments Department.
- Career: Retired district judge; served in Asifabad, Jangaon and Mahabubabad, and as additional judge of the Warangal city civil court.
- Last post: Retired as Registrar of the Telangana High Court in January 2026.
Dr Lokeswara Rao Sajja Elected Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology
Why in news: Hyderabad cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Lokeswara Rao Sajja was elected a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC) in 2026. He is believed to be the first Indian cardiac surgeon to get this fellowship.
Key facts
- Honour: Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), 2026.
- Institution: STAR Hospitals and the Sajja Heart Foundation, Hyderabad.
- First: Believed to be the first Indian cardiac surgeon to be made FESC.
Telangana Heritage Department Signs MoU with JNAFAU
Why in news: The Telangana Heritage Department and the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU), Hyderabad, signed an MoU on 5 October 2026 to document, conserve and restore heritage structures.
Key facts
- Parties: Telangana Heritage Department and JNAFAU, Hyderabad.
- Date: 5 October 2026, in the presence of Special Chief Secretary Vani Prasad.
- Work: 3D documentation, digital mapping, conservation and restoration of heritage structures.
- Students: JNAFAU students will get hands-on training in heritage conservation.
Telangana High Court Chief Justice Elevated to Supreme Court
Why in news: Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, until now Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, is one of the three new Supreme Court judges sworn in on 6 October 2026. Details are in the Polity section.
Key facts
- Earlier post: Chief Justice, Telangana High Court.
- New post: Judge, Supreme Court of India (sworn in 6 October 2026).
2. Polity & Judiciary
Three New Judges Sworn In to the Supreme Court
Why in news: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant administered the oath to three new Supreme Court judges on 6 October 2026: Justice Sunita Agarwal, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh. All three were Chief Justices of High Courts.
Key facts
- Justice Sunita Agarwal: Was Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.
- Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya: Was Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.
- Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh: Was Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.
- Process: Collegium recommended the names on 28 September 2026; the Law Ministry notified the appointments on 5 October 2026; the President appoints under Article 124(2).
- Sanctioned strength: 38 judges including the CJI (37 + CJI), raised from 34.
- How it was raised: Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 (16 May 2026, under Article 123), later replaced by the Amendment Act, 2026 (Lok Sabha 3 August, Rajya Sabha 5 August 2026). It amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
- Working strength: 37 judges now; one vacancy.
- Women judges: Now 3: Justice B.V. Nagarathna, Justice V. Mohana and Justice Sunita Agarwal.
3. Economy & Banking
RBI Raises Repo Rate to 5.50%
Why in news: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India, headed by Governor Sanjay Malhotra, raised the repo rate by 25 basis points from 5.25% to 5.50% on 7 October 2026. This is the first rate hike since February 2023.
Key facts
- Repo rate: Raised 25 bps: 5.25% to 5.50%.
- Vote: Unanimous, 6–0.
- Stance: Changed from "neutral" to "calibrated tightening".
- Other rates: Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) 5.25%; Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) and Bank Rate 5.75%.
- FY27 projections: GDP growth 7.1%; CPI inflation 5.2% (raised from 5.0%).
- Reason: Rising inflation: CPI inflation was 4.8% in August 2026, up from 4.5% in July.
World Bank Raises India's FY27 Growth Forecast to 7.1%
Why in news: In its India Development Update (October 2026) and South Asia Economic Update titled "Adopting AI for Growth", released on 6 October 2026, the World Bank raised India's FY27 growth forecast to 7.1% from 6.6% (April 2026).
Key facts
- India forecasts: FY27: 7.1% (from 6.6%); FY28: 7.2%; FY26 estimated at 7.8%.
- South Asia: Growth of 6.9% in 2026; the fastest-growing region of the world.
- Reasons: Resilient domestic demand and reforms such as the labour codes and GST reforms.
- Risks: High oil prices; El Niño and a weak monsoon.
- Q1 FY27 GDP: India grew 7.8% in April–June 2026 (MoSPI data released 31 August 2026).
- GDP base year: New base year 2022-23 (released 27 February 2026), replacing 2011-12.
Cabinet Approves ₹10,000 Crore SME Growth Fund
Why in news: The Union Cabinet on 6 October 2026 approved a ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund to make direct equity investments in growth-stage small and medium enterprises, mainly in manufacturing.
Key facts
- Size: ₹10,000 crore.
- Type: An Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) making direct equity investments.
- Target: Growth-stage SMEs, mainly in manufacturing, including clusters in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
- Origin: Announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 under "Creating Champion MSMEs".
- MSME share (Economic Survey 2025-26): About 31.1% of GDP, 35.4% of manufacturing output and 48.58% of exports; 7.47 crore+ enterprises and 32.82 crore+ jobs.
MSME classification (from 1 April 2025)| Category | Investment up to | Turnover up to |
|---|
| Micro | ₹2.5 crore | ₹10 crore |
| Small | ₹25 crore | ₹100 crore |
| Medium | ₹125 crore | ₹500 crore |
4. Reports & Surveys
India's First National Household Travel Survey (NHTS)
Why in news: The National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI released India's first National Household Travel Survey on 5 October 2026. It shows how Indians travel to work and school and how much they spend on it.
Key facts
- Survey period: July 2025 to June 2026.
- Sample: 14,274 villages, 10,377 urban blocks, 4,92,023 households and 20,34,371 persons.
- Trip: Any travel of more than 1 km.
- Workers: Two-wheeler is the main mode for 42.6% (rural 37.1%, urban 52.3%); average commute 25 minutes; 83.4% reach work within 30 minutes.
- Workers' cost: ₹785 a month per worker (rural ₹612, urban ₹1,044; men ₹835, women ₹533).
- Students: Walking 37.0%, bus 29.5%, bicycle 15.8%; average 23 minutes; monthly cost ₹443.
- Overnight trips: Bus 55.8%, rail 17.7%; 70.2% for social or religious reasons.
NHTS — headline numbers| Group | Main mode | Average time | Monthly cost |
|---|
| Workers | Two-wheeler 42.6% | 25 min | ₹785 |
| Students | Walking 37.0% | 23 min | ₹443 |
| Overnight trips | Bus 55.8% | — | — |
5. Defence & Security
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Named 29th Chief of the Air Staff
Why in news: The government on 6 October 2026 named Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff. He will take over on 31 October 2026 as Air Chief Marshal, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
Key facts
- Takes over: 31 October 2026; tenure up to 31 December 2028.
- Present post: Vice Chief of the Air Staff since 1 July 2026.
- Earlier post: Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), May 2025 to June 2026; this period included Operation Sindoor (May 2025).
- Commissioned: Fighter stream, 6 December 1986.
- Flying: 3,500+ flying hours on Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Tejas, Hawk and IL-78.
India's top military leadership| Post | Officer | Since |
|---|
| Chief of Defence Staff (3rd CDS) | Gen N.S. Raja Subramani | 31 May 2026 |
| Chief of the Army Staff (31st COAS) | Gen Dhiraj Seth | 30 June 2026 |
| Chief of the Naval Staff (27th CNS) | Adm Krishna Swaminathan | 31 May 2026 |
| Chief of the Air Staff (29th, designate) | Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit | From 31 October 2026 |
First Fleet Support Ship "Surya" Launched at Visakhapatnam
Why in news: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched FSS-1 "Surya", the first of five indigenous Fleet Support Ships for the Indian Navy, on 6 October 2026 at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL), Visakhapatnam. The ship was launched (put into water), not commissioned. On the same day, the keel of FSS-5 was laid.
Key facts
- Size: About 44,000 tonnes.
- Role: Replenishment at sea (fuel, water, ammunition, stores); helicopter deck; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
- Contract: Signed 25 August 2023; about ₹19,000 crore; about 82% indigenous content.
- Builders: HSL builds FSS-1, 4 and 5; L&T Kattupalli builds FSS-2 and 3.
- Deliveries: From mid-2027.
- Will replace: INS Shakti, INS Jyoti, INS Deepak and INS Aditya.
₹661.50 Crore BrahMos Launcher Contract for Navy Ships
Why in news: The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹661.50 crore contract with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd on 6 October 2026 for Fire Control Systems and launchers for Indian Navy ships.
Key facts
- Value: ₹661.50 crore.
- Items: Fire Control Systems, Universal Vertical Launcher Modules (UVLM) and Quadruple Canisterised Inclined Launchers (QCIL).
- Category: Buy (Indian-IDDM) — Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured.
DRDO Stratospheric Airship Reaches 21 km
Why in news: DRDO announced on 6 October 2026 that its indigenous stratospheric airship, a High-Altitude Platform System developed by ADRDE Agra, reached 21 km, stayed at 20 km for more than 30 minutes and was recovered.
Key facts
- Developer: Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, a DRDO lab.
- Payload: Cameras and GPS; sent real-time video.
- Use: Persistent surveillance from high altitude.
- Maiden flight: 3 May 2025 at Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh (about 17 km).
- AHAP: ADRDE's Advanced High-Altitude Parachute (static-line) made its maiden live jump from 16,000 ft at the Mudh drop zone, Nyoma, Ladakh (13,700 ft).
6. Science & Technology
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026: Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai
Why in news: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on 7 October 2026 awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Henri B. Kagan (France) and Kenso Soai (Japan) "for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis".
Key facts
- Laureates: Henri B. Kagan (France) and Kenso Soai (Japan).
- Topic: Chirality — molecules that are mirror images of each other, like left and right hands.
- Soai reaction: An example of asymmetric autocatalysis: the product speeds up its own formation.
- Prize money: 12 million Swedish kronor (SEK), raised for the 125th anniversary.
- Earlier this week: Medicine 2026 — Deisseroth, Hegemann, Nagel (optogenetics); Physics 2026 — Francis Halzen (IceCube neutrinos).
IIT Ropar Launches "AVNI – Grow with Nature" App for Children
Why in news: IIT Ropar (Punjab), through its Centre of Excellence ANNAM.AI, launched "AVNI – Grow with Nature" in early October 2026, a free AI-powered app that teaches children about crops, fruits, vegetables and millets.
Key facts
- Developer: IIT Ropar's Centre of Excellence ANNAM.AI.
- Languages: Hindi and English, with audio.
- Features: Daily challenges and a digital "Nature Book".
- Cost: Free.
India Wins 4 Gold and 1 Silver at IOAA 2026
Why in news: India won 4 gold medals and 1 silver at the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2026, held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 25 September to 5 October 2026, and finished joint 3rd.
Key facts
- Venue: Hanoi, Vietnam (25 September – 5 October 2026).
- Gold: Pranjal Dixit, Sumant Gupta, Akshat Srivastava and Arnav Sehrawat.
- Silver: Harshil Amitkumar Patel.
- Participation: 307 students from 64 countries; all five Indian members won medals.
7. Schemes & Skilling
PM-SETU Completes One Year
Why in news: PM-SETU, the scheme to upgrade 1,000 government ITIs, completed one year. It was launched on 4 October 2025 under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Key facts
- Aim: Upgrade 1,000 government ITIs in a hub-and-spoke model: 200 hubs + 800 spokes.
- Outlay: ₹60,000 crore: Centre ₹30,000 crore, States ₹20,000 crore, industry ₹10,000 crore.
- Progress in one year: 850 ITIs identified (172 hubs + 678 spokes); 14 ITI clusters approved.
- Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
8. Sports
Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as India Women's Captain; Smriti Mandhana Named Captain
Why in news: Harmanpreet Kaur (37, Punjab) stepped down as India women's captain in all formats on 6 October 2026. She will continue as a player. The BCCI named Smriti Mandhana as the new captain.
Key facts
- First as captain: 2012 Women's T20 Asia Cup final against Pakistan at Guangzhou.
- Captaincy path: T20I captain 2016; ODI captain 2022; all-format captain from 2023.
- Matches led: 211 internationals: 5 Tests, 51 ODIs, 155 T20Is; 30 ODI wins and 4 Test wins.
- Titles: India's first Women's ODI World Cup (2025, beat South Africa in the final); Asian Games gold in 2023 (Hangzhou) and 2026 (Aichi-Nagoya); Asia Cup titles.
India Among Seven Countries in Dialogue for 2036 Olympics
Why in news: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on 6 October 2026 that seven countries are in continuous dialogue to host the 2036 Olympic Games: India, Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary and Türkiye.
Key facts
- Deadline: Other countries can declare interest until 31 October 2026.
- Decision: The host will be elected at the 2029 IOC Session.
- India's bid: Proposed city Ahmedabad; theme "Rising Together"; the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) sent a letter of intent in 2024.
9. Persons in News
Novelist Jeffrey Archer Dies at 86
Why in news: Jeffrey Archer, the British best-selling novelist and former Conservative MP, died on 5 October 2026 in London at the age of 86.
Key facts
- Politics: Former Conservative MP for Louth; made a life peer as Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare in 1992.
- Famous work: "Kane and Abel" (1979).
- Last novel: "Adam & Eve", published on 6 October 2026.
10. Important Days
World Cotton Day — 7 October
Why in news: World Cotton Day was observed on 7 October 2026. The global event was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Key facts
- Theme 2026: "Cotton for Good: Building Prosperity Through Trade, Transformation and Partnership".
- Proposed by: The Cotton-4 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali.
- History: First observed in 2019; recognised by the UN in 2021.
Indian Air Force Day — 8 October
Why in news: The Indian Air Force marks its 94th anniversary on 8 October 2026, with the parade at Air Force Station Hindan, Ghaziabad.
Key facts
- Anniversary: 94th (IAF founded on 8 October 1932).
- Venue: Air Force Station Hindan, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh).
Practice questions with answers
With reference to the three new Supreme Court judges sworn in on 6 October 2026, consider the following statements:
- Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh was the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court before his elevation.
- Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President under Article 124(2).
- The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court is now 34 judges including the CJI.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the sanctioned strength was raised from 34 to 38 (37 + CJI) by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, later the Amendment Act, 2026. The working strength is now 37.
With reference to the RBI Monetary Policy Committee decision of 7 October 2026, consider the following statements:
- The repo rate was raised by 25 basis points to 5.50%.
- The decision was taken by a 4–2 majority.
- The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate now stands at 5.25%.
- 1 only
- 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the vote was unanimous (6–0). The repo rate rose from 5.25% to 5.50%, the first hike since February 2023; SDF is 5.25% and MSF/Bank Rate 5.75%. The stance changed from neutral to "calibrated tightening".
With reference to India's first National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), consider the following statements:
- It was conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI.
- For students, the bus is the most common mode of travel to school.
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (A) 1 only
Explanation: Only statement 1 is correct. For students, walking is the most common mode (37.0%), followed by bus (29.5%) and bicycle (15.8%). For workers, the two-wheeler leads (42.6%). The survey covered July 2025 to June 2026.
With reference to FSS-1 "Surya", consider the following statements:
- It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 6 October 2026.
- It is being built at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam.
- Two of the five Fleet Support Ships are being built by L&T at Kattupalli.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (C) 2 and 3 only
Explanation: Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is wrong: Surya was launched (put into water) on 6 October 2026, not commissioned; deliveries begin from mid-2027. HSL builds FSS-1, 4 and 5; L&T Kattupalli builds FSS-2 and 3.
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): A stratospheric airship can be used for persistent surveillance from high altitude.
Reason (R): The stratosphere is a stable layer that lies above the troposphere, where weather happens.
- Both A and R are true, and R explains A
- Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
- A is true, R is false
- A is false, R is true
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R explains A
Explanation: Both are true and R explains A: because the stratosphere is stable and above the weather, an airship can stay there for long periods to watch an area. DRDO's airship by ADRDE Agra reached 21 km and held at 20 km for 30+ minutes.
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Harmanpreet Kaur retired from international cricket on 6 October 2026.
Reason (R): The BCCI has named Smriti Mandhana as the captain of the India women's team.
- Both A and R are true, and R explains A
- Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
- A is true, R is false
- A is false, R is true
Answer: (D) A is false, R is true
Explanation: A is false and R is true. Harmanpreet stepped down only as captain in all formats; she continues as a player. Smriti Mandhana is the new captain. Harmanpreet led India to its first Women's ODI World Cup title in 2025.
Match the post with the officer (as of October 2026):
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. Chief of Defence Staff | 1. Gen Dhiraj Seth |
| B. Chief of the Army Staff | 2. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit |
| C. Chief of the Naval Staff | 3. Gen N.S. Raja Subramani |
| D. Chief of the Air Staff (designate, from 31 October 2026) | 4. Adm Krishna Swaminathan |
- A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
- A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
- A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
- A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
Answer: (D) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
Explanation: CDS — Gen N.S. Raja Subramani (3); COAS — Gen Dhiraj Seth (1); CNS — Adm Krishna Swaminathan (4); CAS-designate — Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit (2). Hence A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2. Dixit becomes the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026, succeeding ACM Amar Preet Singh.
Match the person with the post or honour:
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. Retd. judge D. Ravindra Sharma | 1. President, World Bank |
| B. Dr Lokeswara Rao Sajja | 2. Chairman, Telangana State Endowments Tribunal |
| C. Kirsty Coventry | 3. President, International Olympic Committee |
| D. Ajay Banga | 4. Fellow, European Society of Cardiology |
- A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
- A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
- A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
- A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
Answer: (B) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
Explanation: Ravindra Sharma — Chairman, Telangana State Endowments Tribunal (2); Dr Sajja — FESC (4); Kirsty Coventry — IOC President, the first woman in the post (3); Ajay Banga — World Bank President (1). Hence A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 was awarded to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai for their work on:
- Non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis
- Optogenetics
- Discovery of high-energy neutrinos
- Development of lithium-ion batteries
Answer: (A) Non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis
Explanation: Kagan (France) and Soai (Japan) won "for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis" — the chemistry of mirror-image (chiral) molecules. Optogenetics won Medicine 2026 and IceCube neutrinos won Physics 2026. Prize money: 12 million SEK.
Under the PM-SETU scheme launched on 4 October 2025, how many government ITIs are to be upgraded?
- 500
- 850
- 1,000
- 1,200
Answer: (C) 1,000
Explanation: PM-SETU will upgrade 1,000 government ITIs in a hub-and-spoke model (200 hubs + 800 spokes) with an outlay of ₹60,000 crore (Centre ₹30,000 cr, States ₹20,000 cr, industry ₹10,000 cr). In its first year, 850 ITIs (172 hubs + 678 spokes) were identified.