Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (15th October, 2026) |

National News

Railway PLB 2026 Approved for Over 11.4 Lakh Employees

The Union Cabinet approved a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for 11,40,770 eligible railway employees on October 14, 2026.
The total expenditure will be ₹2,009.61 crore, with a maximum bonus of ₹17,951 per eligible employee.
Eligible employees include track maintainers, loco pilots, station masters, technicians and other non-gazetted Group C staff.
The bonus recognises railway employees’ contributions to operational performance, freight transportation and passenger services.
Indian Railways reported freight loading of 1,670 million tonnes and passenger traffic of nearly 7.41 billion during 2025–26.
Key Fact: The approved PLB is equivalent to 78 days’ wages, with a maximum payment of ₹17,951 per eligible employee.

Cabinet Extends NSAP with ₹53,428 Crore Outlay Through 2031

The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) from 2026–27 to 2030–31.
The programme has an approved outlay of ₹53,428 crore and is expected to benefit approximately 3.20 crore people across all 36 States and Union Territories.
The government plans to reduce the disability pension eligibility threshold from 80% to 40% and extend eligibility from birth.
Proposed assistance for eligible persons with disabilities will be ₹375 for beneficiaries aged 0–79 and ₹625 for those aged 80 and above.
Old-age pensions, widow pensions and family benefit assistance will continue under the existing arrangements.
Key Fact: NSAP is a social assistance programme that supports vulnerable households through centrally sponsored pension and family-benefit schemes.

Vice-President Inaugurates KAUMARACON-2026 on Ayurvedic Child Health

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated KAUMARACON-2026 in New Delhi on October 15, 2026.
Organised by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the three-day international conference focuses on Ayurvedic paediatrics, clinical developments, research and innovation.
The event coincided with AIIA’s 10th Foundation Day and emphasised scientific validation and evidence-based research.
Digital initiatives launched included the AYUSH Start-up Portal, Ayurveda Digital Innovation and Venture Acceleration Facility (AyuDIVA), Vamana App and Panchakarma Assessment App.
AIIA also highlighted an international collaboration involving Maharishi International University, USA.
Key Fact: Kaumarabhritya is the branch of Ayurveda concerned with paediatrics, including child nutrition, growth, development and healthcare.

Supreme Court Orders Railway Insurance for Counter Tickets

The Supreme Court directed Indian Railways to extend travel insurance to eligible tickets purchased at railway station counters from October 27, 2026.
The order, issued on October 6 by Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan, aims to improve insurance access for offline passengers.
Under the existing insurance scheme, coverage can reach ₹10 lakh for death or permanent total disability, subject to policy conditions.
Other benefits may include compensation for permanent partial disability and specified hospitalisation expenses.
The Railway Board will oversee implementation, while the premium collection mechanism and claims procedure for counter tickets require official clarification.
Key Fact: The proposed extension seeks to provide offline ticket holders with protection comparable to that available to eligible online passengers.

Government Forms Ramesh Chand Committee on Sugarcane Farmers’ Demands

The Government of India constituted a high-powered committee headed by former NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand to examine sugarcane farmers’ demands.
The committee will review farmers’ returns, the ex-mill minimum selling price of sugar, sugar recovery testing and deductions for mechanically harvested sugarcane.
The decision followed discussions involving sugarcane farmers from Karnataka and Maharashtra and Union ministers.
Members include the Agriculture Commissioner and senior officials from the Departments of Food and Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs.
The panel will consult farmers, sugar mill associations, state governments and experts before submitting recommendations.
Key Fact: The committee will examine both farmers’ earnings and sugar mills’ financial viability, including transparency in weighing and sugar recovery measurement.

India Proposes BS-VII Vehicle Emission Standards from April 2029

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways proposed Bharat Stage VII (BS-VII) vehicle emission standards through a draft notification dated October 12, 2026.
The proposed implementation schedule has three phases beginning on April 1, 2029, April 1, 2031 and April 1, 2035.
The standards aim to tighten limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC) and particulate matter (PM).
Bharat Stage standards regulate vehicle emissions to reduce air pollution and associated health risks.
India implemented BS-VI standards nationwide in April 2020, skipping BS-V.
Key Fact: BS-VII remains a draft proposal as of October 2026; its final requirements depend on subsequent government decisions.

State News

Karnataka Generates 2.04 Crore Rural Employment Person-Days

Karnataka generated 2.04 crore person-days of rural employment under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, between July 1 and October 13, 2026.
This exceeded the 1.71 crore person-days recorded during the corresponding period in 2025 under MGNREGA.
The programme provides eligible rural households with up to 125 days of employment annually, with a reported daily wage of ₹382 in Karnataka.
Raichur recorded the highest district-level employment generation at 24 lakh person-days, followed by Bidar with 21 lakh and Koppal with 18 lakh.
The initiative combines wage employment with the creation of rural assets.
Key Fact: The reported annual employment guarantee under VB-G RAM G is up to 125 days per eligible rural household.

Himachal Pradesh Inaugurates First Solar Project with Battery Storage

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the state’s first solar power project equipped with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Rongtong in Spiti Valley.
Located at approximately 3,600 metres above sea level, the plant has a solar generation capacity of 2 MW and battery storage capacity of 1 MWh.
The project is expected to generate around 36 lakh units of electricity annually and was built at a cost of ₹4.42 crore.
Construction began on May 30, 2023, and the project was commissioned in December 2024.
During his Lahaul-Spiti visit, the Chief Minister also inaugurated or laid foundation stones for development projects worth ₹116.28 crore, including substations at Sumdo and Kaza.
Key Fact: A Battery Energy Storage System stores electricity for later use, helping improve the reliability of renewable power supply.

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary Emerges as Second Home for Asiatic Lions

Gujarat’s Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is emerging as an additional habitat for Asiatic lions beyond the Gir landscape.
The 2025 population estimate recorded 17 lions in Barda, including six adults and 11 cubs, following their return after approximately 144 years.
Located across Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts in the Saurashtra region, the sanctuary covers approximately 192.31 square kilometres and was declared a protected area in 1979.
A study published in PLOS One in September 2026 assessed its suitability using GPS tracking and dietary analysis.
Gujarat’s Asiatic lion population rose from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, an increase of approximately 32.2%.
Key Fact: The Asiatic lion’s scientific name is Panthera leo persica, and Gujarat contains its only natural wild population.

Haldia Inaugurates ₹6,000 Crore Integrated Phenol and Acetone Plant

West Bengal inaugurated an integrated phenol and acetone manufacturing plant in Haldia on October 14, 2026.
Developed by Adperma Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Haldia Petrochemicals Limited, the facility involved an investment of ₹6,000 crore.
The plant has an annual production capacity of 3.45 lakh tonnes of phenol and 2.15 lakh tonnes of acetone.
It also incorporates an on-purpose propylene production unit using olefin conversion technology.
The project aims to reduce import dependence, strengthen domestic chemical manufacturing and support employment and downstream industries.
Key Fact: Phenol is used in resins, plastics and pharmaceutical intermediates, while acetone is widely used as an industrial solvent and chemical feedstock.

International News

India and Brunei Review Trade Cooperation at Third JTC Meeting

India and Brunei Darussalam held the third meeting of their Joint Trade Committee (JTC) to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
The meeting was co-chaired by Amit Verma, Joint Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce, and Dr. May Fa’ezah Ahmad Ariffin, Brunei’s Permanent Secretary for Economy and Trade.
Discussions covered agricultural and animal product exports, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, energy, tourism and investment.
Both countries emphasised improved market access, business-to-business exchanges and regular coordination between relevant agencies.
The JTC provides an institutional platform for resolving trade-related issues and identifying commercial opportunities.
Key Fact: The next meeting of the India–Brunei Joint Trade Committee is scheduled to be held in Brunei Darussalam.

Banking News

World Bank Group Mobilises $36 Billion in Private Capital for India

The World Bank Group mobilised a cumulative $36 billion in private capital for India over four years, including $9.6 billion for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
According to figures reported on October 14, 2026, mobilisation rose from approximately $3 billion in fiscal year 2022 to $14.5 billion in fiscal year 2026.
The $436 million Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) programme supports reforms designed to improve MSME financing.
Its initiatives include strengthening the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS), which enables businesses to obtain finance against unpaid invoices.
More than 2.5 lakh MSMEs have accessed capital faster through TReDS, while 30 non-banking financial companies have joined the platform.
Key Fact: TReDS facilitates the financing and discounting of MSME trade receivables through a digital platform.

Economy News

PLFS September 2026 Reports Improved Labour Force Participation

The National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin for September 2026.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for people aged 15 and above stood at 55.5%, while the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) reached 52.7%.
Female LFPR increased to 34.6%, rising 0.5 percentage points year-on-year, while urban LFPR reached 50.7%.
Urban female LFPR rose to 25.9%, its highest level since October 2025, while the overall Unemployment Rate (UR) remained stable at 5.0%.
Rural female unemployment declined to 3.9%, its lowest level during 2026; the estimates covered 3,70,513 surveyed persons.
Key Fact: PLFS measures labour-market indicators such as LFPR, WPR and unemployment using the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach for the reported estimates.

Defense News

MoD Signs ₹4,106 Crore Defence Contracts for Satellite and Torpedoes

The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth approximately ₹4,106 crore on October 15, 2026, to strengthen the capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy.
A ₹2,563-crore contract for the GSAT-7C communication satellite was signed with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Bengaluru.
The satellite is designed to provide secure, resilient and seamless communications for Indian Air Force assets.
A separate ₹1,543-crore contract for Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes was signed with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad.
Developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Varunastra is a ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo intended to engage enemy submarines.
Key Fact: The two contracts support Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and indigenous defence manufacturing.

Sports News

Vishvajit More Wins India’s First U23 Greco-Roman Silver

Indian wrestler Vishvajit More won silver in the men’s 55 kg Greco-Roman category at the 2026 U23 World Wrestling Championships on October 15.
He narrowly lost the final 12–13 to Georgia’s Koba Karumidze.
More reached the final after defeating Mexico’s Isaac Marin Mata 10–8, Iran’s Armin Shamsipour 8–1 and Russia’s Malik Gigiev 7–4.
His performance made him the first Indian wrestler to reach a Greco-Roman final at these championships.
A late point and an unsuccessful Indian challenge proved decisive in the gold-medal bout.
Key Fact: The reported silver medal marked India’s first silver in Greco-Roman wrestling at the U23 World Wrestling Championships.

India Becomes Second Team to Hit 2,000 T20I Sixes

India became the second team to hit 2,000 sixes in men’s T20 International cricket during the fourth T20I against the West Indies.
Sanju Samson reached the milestone by hitting a six off West Indies spinner Roston Chase.
The West Indies was the first team to cross 2,000 sixes, achieving the feat in 259 matches, while India reached it in 297 matches.
Samson also crossed 100 T20I sixes, becoming the sixth Indian batter to achieve the milestone.
He scored 56 runs off 22 balls, including six fours and four sixes, at a strike rate of 243.48.
Key Fact: According to the supplied report, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson are the six Indian batters to reach 100 T20I sixes.

Abhishek Sharma Breaks Calendar-Year T20I Sixes Record in 2026

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma set a new calendar-year record for sixes in men’s T20 International cricket by a player from an ICC Full Member nation.
He reached 69 sixes during India’s fourth T20I against the West Indies in Hyderabad on October 14, 2026.
Abhishek surpassed Suryakumar Yadav’s previous record of 68 sixes, set in 2022.
The supplied report credited Abhishek with 69 sixes in 33 matches during 2026.
Ishan Kishan was listed next among the mentioned Indian players, with 52 sixes in the calendar year.
Key Fact: Abhishek Sharma’s 69 sixes surpassed the previous Full Member-nation record of 68 in a calendar year.

FIFA Proposes $6.35 Billion Football Development Fund for 2026–2030

FIFA proposed a $6.35 billion development fund for 2026–2030 to expand financial assistance to its 211 member associations and regional confederations.
According to an AFP report dated October 14, 2026, the proposal was scheduled for consideration at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on October 15.
Each member association could potentially receive up to $25 million, compared with $10 million under the existing funding cycle.
The proposed funding would draw partly on FIFA’s financial reserves and revenue generated by the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Key Fact: FIFA is the international governing body for association football and has 211 member associations, according to the supplied report.

Important Days News

World Students’ Day 2026 Marks APJ Abdul Kalam’s 95th Birth Anniversary

World Students’ Day is observed on October 15 in association with the birth anniversary of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, India’s 11th President and a renowned aerospace scientist.
Born on October 15, 1931, Kalam contributed to India’s space programme, indigenous missile development and national technology initiatives.
He received the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1997.
His autobiographical work Wings of Fire and his book Ignited Minds continue to inspire readers interested in science, education and national development.
World Students’ Day highlights education, scientific curiosity and youth empowerment, although it is not an officially designated United Nations international day.
Key Fact: October 15 is also the UN-observed International Day of Rural Women, established in 2007.

Mahila Kisan Diwas 2026 Highlights Women’s Role in Agriculture

Mahila Kisan Diwas will be observed on October 15, 2026, to recognise women’s contributions to agriculture and rural development.
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is scheduled to organise the national celebration at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
The reported theme is “Role of Women Farmers in Building Developed Agriculture and a Developed India.”
The observance highlights women’s roles in crop production, livestock management, natural resource conservation and agricultural entrepreneurship.
It also draws attention to women’s participation in agricultural decision-making and rural livelihoods.
Key Fact: Mahila Kisan Diwas coincides with the International Day of Rural Women, observed annually on October 15.

Obituaries News

Cheruvayal Raman, Kerala’s Renowned Rice Conservator, Dies at 74

Cheruvayal Raman, a tribal farmer from Kammana in Kerala’s Wayanad district, reportedly died on October 14, 2026, at the age of 74.
Known as “Nellachan,” meaning “father of paddy,” he conserved more than 45 indigenous rice varieties on his three-acre farm.
He shared traditional seeds with other farmers and promoted chemical-free cultivation.
His work helped preserve agricultural biodiversity and traditional farming knowledge, earning him the popular title “living paddy gene bank.”
Raman received the Padma Shri in 2023 for his contribution to agriculture and indigenous rice conservation.
Key Fact: Traditional rice varieties can help conserve crop genetic diversity and support research into agricultural resilience.