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Daily edition · Tuesday

UPSC Current Affairs, 13 October 2026

24 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.

World & IRPrelimsGS3

India wants terrorist acts in UN crimes against humanity convention

India told the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee on 12 October 2026 that terrorist acts meeting the requisite threshold should be reflected in a proposed convention on crimes against humanity. Its Permanent Mission said the treaty must give primacy to national jurisdictions and complement, not duplicate, existing mechanisms. A UN conference of plenipotentiaries meets in 2028 and 2029.
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EconomyPrelimsGS3

NHAI makes independent proof-checking of complex highway designs mandatory

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has made independent proof-checking of the designs of critical bridges, viaducts, tunnels and other complex highway structures mandatory from 1 December 2026, according to its circular as reported. Empanelled IITs, government technical institutions or reputed firms will vet the designs before approval, at the contractor's cost, across EPC, HAM and BOT projects.
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World & IRPrelimsGS2

UNGA adopts pandemic declaration; WHO Pandemic Agreement awaits PABS annex

The UN General Assembly on 12 October 2026 adopted a non-binding political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response by 153 votes to 3, with 2 abstentions, after consensus failed at the 25 September high-level meeting. It welcomes the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which cannot open for signature until its Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex is agreed.
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World & IRPrelimsGS2

IPC Alert flags rising Famine risk in Sudan's Darfur and Kordofan

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued an Alert on 12 October 2026 warning that conflict, displacement and El Niño-induced drought are raising the risk of Famine in parts of Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, Sudan. Its Famine Review Committee backed the Alert but found survey data too thin for a full analysis, so no Famine is classified.
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EconomyGS3Prelims

IMF's World Economic Outlook lifts India's 2026-27 growth forecast to 7%

The International Monetary Fund's October 2026 World Economic Outlook, released on October 13 in Bangkok, raised India's 2026-27 GDP growth forecast to 7% from 6.4% in July, citing resilient domestic demand and robust services. It also lifted the 2027-28 projection to 7% from 6.7%. The IMF now projects world growth of 3.1% in 2026.
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NationalGS3Prelims

Tribal Affairs Ministry launches financial literacy drive for PVTG villages

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) have launched PVTG Vitta Samriddha Gram, a financial-literacy drive for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. Officials said its first phase aims to cover about 200 villages in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh by March 2027, through camps explaining concessional loans.
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PolityPrelimsGS2

ECI publishes Punjab's final electoral roll after Special Intensive Revision

The Election Commission of India (ECI) published Punjab's final electoral roll for all 117 Assembly constituencies on 12 October 2026, completing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Per the ECI's figures, the roll lists 2,01,00,727 electors, 13,60,316 fewer than the 2,14,61,043 registered when the revision began, but 3.64% more than the draft roll.
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EconomyGS3Prelims

RSETIs get uniform training standards under MoRD pact with RUDSETI academy

The Ministry of Rural Development exchanged an MoU with the National Academy of RUDSETI on 12 October 2026 to set uniform training standards across Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs). Trainees will register through Kaushal Panjee with Aadhaar face authentication, and new courses will be NSQF-aligned. The ministry has set RSETIs a target of 6.35 lakh rural youth this year.
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NationalPrelimsGS2

Lakshadweep declared fully literate under ULLAS literacy scheme

Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Patel on October 11, 2026 declared the Union Territory fully literate under ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, at a function in Kavaratti. Its Department of Education had identified 1,113 adult non-literates in a survey. The department says all eligible learners then passed the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT).
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Sci-TechPrelimsGS1

IMD dedicates WebGIS cyclone and marine warning system to the nation

The India Meteorological Department on 12 October 2026 dedicated its Cyclone Warning and Marine Weather Services Decision Support System, a WebGIS platform, to the nation. It maps cyclone tracks and intensity with a cone of uncertainty, winds, storm surge and district-wise rainfall warnings. It was launched at the pre-cyclone exercise meeting for the October-December season.
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NationalPrelimsGS3

Army signs five-year MoU with Food Corporation of India, launches Bharat Rice

The Indian Army on 12 October 2026 launched 'Bharat Rice' for defence personnel and signed a five-year MoU letting it use the Food Corporation of India's warehouses, manpower and material-handling equipment in operational contingencies. NAFED will supply the rice, milled to defence specifications, during 2026-27, delivering it straight to Army supply depots in Ladakh, the North-east and elsewhere.
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EconomyGS3GS2

PM-SETU: AM/NS India pacts to upgrade nine ITIs in Surat, Visakhapatnam

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh governments and AM/NS India signed shareholders' agreements on October 12, 2026 to upgrade nine government ITIs under the PM-SETU scheme. Five ITIs in Surat get ₹240 crore and four in Visakhapatnam ₹200 crore. Special purpose vehicles will run each cluster, with AM/NS India holding 51%.
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Sci-TechGS2GS3

RDI Fund clears first 19 fund managers, commits ₹7,131 crore

The Empowered Group of Secretaries on 8 October 2026 approved the first 19 Second Level Fund Managers of the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund: 14 Alternative Investment Funds and five Focused Research Organisations, with ₹7,131 crore committed. They will finance firms at Technology Readiness Level 4 and above, and are expected to raise equal private capital.
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World & IRGS3GS2

India, UK hold 8th Science Council, open genomics centre

India and the UK held the 8th India–UK Science and Innovation Council meeting in New Delhi on October 12, 2026, co-chaired by India's Science and Technology Minister and the UK Business Secretary. They opened the BRIC-CDFD–ONT India Genomics Centre of Excellence. Separate talks explored cooperation on small modular reactors, space and Artificial Intelligence.
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Sci-TechPrelimsGS3

Indian study ties the Sun's bright radio poles to magnetic fields

Researchers from ARIES Nainital, the Udaipur Solar Observatory of the Physical Research Laboratory, IIT Delhi and IIT Roorkee have explained why the Sun's poles glow brighter at microwave frequencies. Using nearly three decades of 17 GHz radio data, they found the glow tracks polar magnetic-field strength and coronal hole size, while coronal bright points and jets light up local patches.
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PolityPrelimsGS4

RTI report card: 3.85 lakh cases pending in 28 information commissions

Over 3.85 lakh appeals and complaints were pending in 28 information commissions on 30 June 2026, says Satark Nagrik Sangathan's annual report card for 2025-26. Fourteen commissions would take a year or more to settle a case. The report estimates a wait of two years and three months at the Central Information Commission.
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EconomyGS3GS2

GST Council recommends curbs on stopping goods vehicles in transit

The GST Council, at its 57th meeting on 8 October 2026, recommended amending Sections 68, 129 and 130 of the CGST Act, 2017 so that goods vehicles are stopped only on specific intelligence, with prior authorisation by an officer not below Joint Commissioner. Only origin and destination States could inspect them, not transit States. The changes await amendment and notification.
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DefencePrelimsGS3

IAF's Tarang Shakti 2026 ends at Jodhpur with seven partner air forces

The second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti, the Indian Air Force's multinational air exercise at Air Force Station Jodhpur, closed on 12 October 2026 after running from 26 September. Air forces of seven countries, including the United States, France and Bangladesh, flew alongside the IAF, and 32 nations sent observers. India fielded the indigenous LCA Tejas and LCH Prachand.
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PolityGS2Prelims

Karnataka High Court strikes down SC/ST quota hike breaching 50% ceiling

The Karnataka High Court on 12 October 2026 struck down a 2022 State law raising SC reservation from 15% to 17% and ST reservation from 3% to 7%. The rise had taken total reservation to 56%. The Court held the 50% ceiling binding under Articles 14, 15 and 16 and ruled that the EWS quota does not lift it.
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EconomyGS3Prelims

Global MPI 2026: multidimensional poverty rises to 1.2 billion

The 2026 global Multidimensional Poverty Index, released on 12 October by the UNDP and Oxford University, counts 1.2 billion people in acute poverty across 108 countries, 51.5 million more than in 2025 and the first rise in 15 years, per UNDP. Children make up 617 million. India's incidence fell from 55.1% in 2005/06 to 16.4% in 2019/21.
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EconomyGS3Prelims

World Bank sees India's poverty at 12.1% by 2028, slower decline

The World Bank's India Poverty and Equity Brief of October 2026 projects poverty at the $4.20-a-day line falling from an estimated 14.2% in 2026 to 12.1% by 2028, a slower decline than before. The rate fell from 57.7% in 2011 to 16.1% in 2023, lifting about 496 million people out of poverty, per the Bank.
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PolityGS2Prelims

Right to protest: Delhi Police de-notifies Jantar Mantar, names three venues

Delhi Police de-notified Jantar Mantar as the capital's designated protest site through a standing order dated October 11, made public on October 12. Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi replace it, on the recommendation of a committee set up by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Revised procedures for the three venues will follow.
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World & IRPrelimsGS3

India, Bangladesh trade talks resume; Dhaka seeks post-LDC tariff preferences

India and Bangladesh held the 16th meeting of their Joint Working Group on Trade in New Delhi on 8-9 October 2026, the first since September 2023. Bangladesh sought withdrawal of Indian anti-dumping duties on jute products and PET film, and continued SAFTA benefits after its LDC graduation. India pressed Dhaka to lift land-port curbs on cotton yarn.
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EconomyGS3Prelims

India–UK JETCO sets up CETA committees and yearly tariff-use data swap

India and the United Kingdom agreed on 12 October 2026 to exchange yearly data on how businesses claim the lower tariffs of their Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Meeting in New Delhi for the 16th Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), they also set up CETA's committees and working groups. The 17th JETCO meets in the UK in 2027.
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Explainers added this day