Daily edition · Monday

UPSC Current Affairs, 12 October 2026

14 stories from the news of the day, each in short with why it matters for Prelims and Mains. Practise their UPSC-style questions and take the daily quiz in CAShorts.

EconomyGS3Prelims

Stabilisation policy's microfoundations win Hall, Woodford the 2026 economics Nobel

Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford won the 2026 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, announced on 12 October, for microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation. Their New Keynesian models, built from household and firm decisions, guide how central banks and governments use monetary policy and fiscal policy to smooth booms and recessions.
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World & IRPrelimsGS2

Seafarer safety and freedom of navigation: two Indians missing off Oman

A drone struck the tanker MT Petro Dolphin at Sohar Anchorage, Oman, on 11 October 2026; two of its 11 Indian seafarers are missing. A projectile set the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Valthera ablaze; its 11 Indian crew are safe. On 12 October the Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attacks, saying freedom of navigation must be upheld under international law.
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PolityGS2

Removing a CEC under Article 324(5): what Keralam's Assembly resolution can do

In a resolution passed on 12 October 2026, the Keralam Assembly sought the Chief Election Commissioner's removal, the restoration of eligible voters dropped in the Special Intensive Revision and the Chief Justice of India's return to the panel selecting Election Commissioners. It binds no one: a CEC can be removed only through both Houses of Parliament, under Article 324(5).
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PolityPrelimsGS2

State Public Service Commissions: Maharashtra sets up a paper-leak inquiry

On 11 October 2026 the Maharashtra government constituted a committee, chaired by a former judge of the Bombay High Court, to inquire into alleged question-paper leaks in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), review its functioning and recommend reforms within 60 days. The commission's chairman said he would stay on leave until the inquiry is complete.
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World & IRPrelimsGS2

Indians in the Gulf: India condemns Houthi-claimed attack on Riyadh airport

India's Ministry of External Affairs on 11 October 2026 condemned the repeated attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport as "completely unacceptable". An Indian injured in the 10 October attack died, and the Indian Embassy said at least 10 more Indians were among about 300 injured. Saudi Arabia blamed Yemen's Houthis, who claimed the attack.
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NationalPrelimsGS2

NDRF drought aid: central team ends Maharashtra survey; memorandum next

The Centre's 11-member inter-ministerial central team finished a three-day survey of drought-hit Maharashtra on 10 October 2026 and met the Chief Minister on 11 October. The State, which has declared drought in 265 of its 358 talukas, has sought Rs 17,500 crore in an interim request and will file a detailed memorandum for National Disaster Response Fund help.
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PolityGS2Prelims

Habeas corpus: High Court frees Goa protesters, noting no prohibitory order

The High Court of Bombay at Goa late on 11 October ordered police to release protesters detained at Panaji's Azad Maidan. On habeas corpus petitions, a Division Bench observed that with no prohibitory order under Section 163 of the BNSS in force, the detention "may not have been authorised". The interim order sought affidavits for the 12 October hearing.
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EconomyPrelimsGS1

Chennai Metro Phase-II, a 118.9 km project, opens its first stretch

Chennai Metro Rail Phase-II, approved by the Union Cabinet in October 2024 on the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' proposal, adds three corridors, 118.9 km and 128 stations at Rs 63,246 crore, due by 2027. The Prime Minister opened its first stretch, about 15 km and 11 stations from Poonamallee Bypass towards Vadapalani, on 11 October 2026.
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EnvironmentPrelimsGS1

Nino 3.4 sea temperature hits record as El Nino strengthens: Copernicus

The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service said on 12 October 2026 that sea-surface temperature in Nino 3.4, a key El Nino monitoring region of the Pacific, reached an all-time high of 29.70°C in September, above the 1982/1983, 1997/1998 and 2015/2016 peaks. Copernicus added that it cannot yet call this El Nino the strongest on record.
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DefencePrelimsGS3

Anti-submarine shallow water craft: Navy commissions third Cochin-built ship, INS Mangrol

Cochin Shipyard Limited is building eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft to hunt submarines in India's coastal waters. The third, INS Mangrol, was commissioned at Naval Dockyard Mumbai on 12 October 2026. It carries the Abhay hull-mounted sonar, lightweight torpedoes, an anti-submarine rocket launcher and the Mareech torpedo decoy. The Navy puts its indigenous content above 80%.
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World & IRPrelimsGS2

India-Canada CEPA talks: 300-delegate Canadian trade mission begins India visit

Canada's Minister of International Trade leads a Team Canada Trade Mission of nearly 300 delegates to Mumbai and Bengaluru from October 12 to 17, 2026, Global Affairs Canada announced on October 9. It follows the fifth round of India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement talks, in Ottawa on October 5-9. The Terms of Reference were signed on March 2, 2026.
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World & IRPrelimsGS2

OHCHR voices concern on Delhi detentions; India calls it interference

The Ministry of External Affairs on 11 October 2026 called remarks by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) "an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of India". The OHCHR had on 10 October voiced concern over reported mass detentions around a Delhi protest. India's Permanent Mission in Geneva called it "misplaced" the same day.
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PolityPrelimsGS1

Census counts residents, not citizens: Mizoram to include refugees

Refugees residing in Mizoram will be counted in Phase II of Census 2027, officials said at a review conference chaired by the Chief Secretary in Aizawl on 10 October 2026. Being counted confers no Indian citizenship. All 16 Scheduled Castes in Mizoram will be enumerated, sharing Aadhaar is not compulsory, and the Centre has allocated Rs 19.19 crore.
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PolityPrelimsGS2

Kerala HC gives Centre eight weeks to activate Data Protection Board

The Kerala High Court has directed the Union government to make the Data Protection Board of India functional within eight weeks. Disposing of a PIL on airport passenger data, the court found citizens' privacy was being compromised. It had earlier ruled that Digi Yatra cannot insist on Aadhaar; a driving licence is also accepted.
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