Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (3rd October, 2026) |

National News

Mann Ki Baat Completes 12 Years Since Its First Broadcast

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ completed 12 years on October 3, 2026.
The programme began on October 3, 2014, coinciding with Vijayadashami.
Its 138th episode was broadcast on September 27, 2026.
The programme is generally aired on the last Sunday of every month at 11 am in a 30-minute format.
It is broadcast through Akashvani, Doordarshan and digital platforms and is available in multiple Indian and foreign languages.
Key Fact: The 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ was broadcast on April 30, 2023.

Births and Deaths Amendment Act Introduces Stricter Registration Rules

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 came into force on October 1, 2026.
The amendment introduces stricter procedures for delayed registration under Section 13 of the 1969 Act.
Delays of more than one year and up to two years require approval from the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or authorised Executive Magistrate.
Delays exceeding two years require an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class.
The provisions require verification and payment of the prescribed fee to strengthen the registration process.
Key Fact: The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 31 and Rajya Sabha on August 4, 2026.

State News

Ten Captive-Bred Great Indian Bustards Set for Release

Ten captive-bred Great Indian Bustards are scheduled for release in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, on October 3–4, 2026.
The birds will be released at Ramdevra and Sudasari in the Desert National Park landscape.
The conservation effort is part of India’s captive-breeding and rewilding programme for the critically endangered species.
Wildlife Institute of India scientists will monitor their movement, behaviour, habitat use, adaptation and survival after release.
The programme involves the WII, Rajasthan Forest Department and MoEFCC.
Key Fact: The Great Indian Bustard is scientifically known as Ardeotis nigriceps and is locally called Godawan.

Gujarat UCC Bill Receives Presidential Assent, Covers Civil Matters

President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 on September 17, 2026.
The Gujarat government published the Bill in its extraordinary Gazette on October 1, 2026.
The legislation provides common provisions covering marriage, divorce, succession, adoption and live-in relationships.
Its implementation will begin after a notification is issued by the Gujarat government.
The Bill was passed by the Gujarat Assembly on March 24, 2026, following nearly eight hours of debate.
Key Fact: The draft was prepared by a five-member expert committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai.

Kedarnath Sanctuary Plans Restrictions to Protect Himalayan Tahr

The Kedarnath Wildlife Division in Uttarakhand is preparing measures to reduce human activity and waste in high-altitude meadows.
The sanctuary covers about 975 sq km across Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts.
Officials found that food offered by people and accumulated waste are attracting Himalayan tahrs towards roads and settlements.
Sightings have increased around Chopta, Sari, Kanchulakharak, Saukhark and Mandal.
The proposed measures include regulating meadow activities, removing waste, discouraging wildlife feeding and conducting awareness programmes.
Key Fact: The Himalayan tahr is scientifically known as Hemitragus jemlahicus and is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

Andhra Pradesh Launches ₹1 Lakh Crore Global Horticulture Hub

Andhra Pradesh laid the foundation stone for the ₹1 lakh crore Global Horticulture Hub at Madanapalle on October 2, 2026.
Also known as Rayalaseema Rising, the three-phase programme will cover 10 districts.
The project will operate through 201 clusters, 303 mandals and 5,869 villages.
The state plans to invest ₹40,352 crore, while around ₹60,000 crore is expected from private-sector mobilisation.
Horticulture cultivation is targeted to expand from 8.41 lakh hectares to 14.41 lakh hectares.
Key Fact: The initiative is expected to benefit around 9.6 lakh farmers.

Mumbai Port Declares Jawahar Dweep Plastic-Free Oil Terminal

Mumbai Port Authority declared the Jawahar Dweep Marine Oil Terminal plastic-free on October 2, 2026.
The declaration was made during Swachhata Abhiyan 2026 in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Jawahar Dweep handles crude oil and petroleum products through five jetties.
The Mumbai Port Authority has prohibited several categories of single-use plastic across its operations since September 2021.
The port is also implementing sustainability measures, including shore-power facilities at Jawahar Dweep.
Key Fact: The terminal operates through five jetties, JD1 to JD5.

International News

COP31 2026 to Focus on Climate Action and Paris Agreement

COP31 will be held from November 9 to 20, 2026, at the Antalya EXPO Center in Antalya, Türkiye.
Türkiye will host the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC.
Murat Kurum will serve as COP31 President, while Australia’s Chris Bowen will lead formal negotiations.
The conference will discuss emissions reduction, climate adaptation, climate finance, loss and damage, technology and national climate commitments.
The World Leaders’ Summit is scheduled for November 11–12.
Key Fact: COP31 will include CMA8 under the Paris Agreement and CMP21 under the Kyoto Protocol.

WHO Global Health Estimates Show Life Expectancy Recovery

WHO’s Global Health Estimates 2023 recorded global life expectancy at 73.3 years in 2023.
Global life expectancy had fallen to 71.5 years in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healthy life expectancy reached 62.8 years in 2023, remaining 0.4 years below the 2019 level.
WHO estimated around 61 million deaths worldwide in 2023.
Noncommunicable diseases accounted for 47% of global deaths, with ischaemic heart disease remaining the leading cause.
Key Fact: COVID-19 dropped to the 14th leading cause of death globally in 2023.

Banking News

NABKISAN Lists India’s First WASH-Focused Social Bond

NABKISAN Finance Limited, a subsidiary of NABARD, listed India’s first WASH-focused social bond on the NSE on October 2, 2026.
The bond issue raised ₹180 crore and was oversubscribed 1.8 times.
It carries an annual coupon rate of 8.10% and has a five-year tenor.
The bond is scheduled to mature in September 2031.
Its proceeds will finance projects related to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Key Fact: The bond received CRISIL AAA (Stable) and CARE AAA (Stable) ratings.

Sudhakar Malli Appointed RBI Executive Director for Supervision

Sudhakar Malli was appointed Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India with effect from October 1, 2026.
Before the appointment, he served as Chief General Manager-in-Charge of the RBI’s Department of Supervision.
He will oversee the Department of Supervision (Supervisory Assessment).
Malli has around three decades of experience with the RBI.
His supervisory experience covers banks, NBFCs and cooperative banks.
Key Fact: His experience in banking supervision spans more than two and a half decades.

Appointments News

Sanjay Kumar Appointed Petronet LNG Managing Director and CEO

Sanjay Kumar, Director (Marketing) at GAIL, has been appointed the next Managing Director and CEO of Petronet LNG Limited.
Petronet LNG’s Board approved the appointment on October 2, 2026.
Kumar will assume office on May 13, 2027, succeeding Akshay Kumar Singh.
Singh’s tenure will end with his retirement on May 12, 2027.
Kumar has more than 35 years of experience in gas and LNG marketing, trading, transmission and operations.
Key Fact: Kumar served as Managing Director of Indraprastha Gas Limited from April 2022 to June 2023.

Defense News

Naval Commanders’ Conference Reviews India’s Maritime Preparedness

The second biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 was held in New Delhi from September 29 to October 1.
Senior commanders reviewed operational and materiel preparedness, combat readiness, logistics, maintenance and training.
Discussions also covered artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, human-resource reforms and inter-agency coordination.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted maritime trade, energy security and India’s interests in the Indian Ocean Region.
The conference also discussed semiconductors, quantum technology, tri-service integration and maritime operations.
Key Fact: 18 warships are planned for induction into the Indian Navy in 2026.

Sports News

Aman Sehrawat Wins Asian Games Wrestling Gold Medal

Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat won the men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling gold at the 2026 Asian Games on October 3.
He defeated DPR Korea’s Han Chong Song 11-7 in the final.
Sehrawat initially led 6-1 before Han moved ahead 7-6 during the contest.
A decisive takedown and turn in the final stages helped Sehrawat regain the lead and secure victory.
The gold upgraded his Hangzhou 2022 bronze in the same category.
Key Fact: Sehrawat won a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Neeraj Chauhan Wins Historic Asian Games Recurve Bronze

Indian archer Neeraj Chauhan won the men’s individual recurve bronze at the 2026 Asian Games.
He defeated compatriot Dhiraj Bommadevara 6-4 on October 3.
Bommadevara led 4-2 before Chauhan scored a perfect 30 in the fourth set.
Chauhan then scored 29 in the deciding set to secure the bronze.
He had earlier defeated South Korea’s Kim Je Deok and Bhutan’s Lam Dorji before losing to Japan’s Junya Nakanishi in the semifinal.
Key Fact: Chauhan became only the second Indian man after Tarundeep Rai to win an individual recurve Asian Games medal.

India Ends 44-Year Wait for Asian Games Hockey Gold

India defeated China 1-0 in the women’s hockey final on October 2, 2026.
Lalremsiami scored the decisive goal in the 10th minute with a reverse-stick shot.
Goalkeeper Savita Punia made a crucial save from a Chinese penalty stroke in the 24th minute.
The victory gave India its second women’s Asian Games hockey gold after the 1982 title.
Lalremsiami scored in her 200th international appearance.
Key Fact: The victory secured India’s direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

India Defeat Pakistan to Win Asian Games Cricket Gold

India defeated Pakistan in the men’s cricket final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nisshin, Japan.
India scored 211/6 in 20 overs, with Abhishek Sharma scoring 61 off 28 balls.
Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls, while Shivam Dube scored 27 off 15.
Pakistan’s chase was led by Hasan Nawaz, who made 96 off 51 balls.
Washington Sundar took 2/29, while Dube dismissed Nawaz to claim the final wicket.
Key Fact: Hasan Nawaz’s innings included five fours and seven sixes.

Odisha Rewards Indian Women’s Hockey Team After Asian Games Gold

The Odisha government announced ₹11 lakh each for members of India’s women’s hockey team.
Each member of the support staff will receive ₹5.5 lakh.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the reward on October 3, 2026.
India defeated China 1-0 in the Asian Games final to end a 44-year wait for the women’s hockey gold.
The victory also secured direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Key Fact: The Odisha reward is additional to the prize money announced by Hockey India.

Yuzvendra Chahal Retires From First-Class Cricket After 49 Matches

Yuzvendra Chahal announced his retirement from first-class cricket on October 2, 2026.
He finished his red-ball career with 49 matches and 148 wickets.
His final first-class appearance came for Northamptonshire against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Chahal recorded six five-wicket hauls and best innings figures of 6/44.
He never played a Test for India but took 121 ODI wickets and 96 T20I wickets.
Key Fact: Chahal will remain available for white-ball cricket.

Pranavi Urs Creates History with Asian Games Golf Gold

Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman to win an individual golf gold medal at the Asian Games.
The 23-year-old finished the competition at 15-under 265.
She finished one stroke ahead of Singapore’s Shannon Tan and China’s Yin Ruoning.
Urs entered the final round with a three-stroke lead and recovered from a triple bogey on the third hole.
She completed the final round at even-par 70 after recording birdies on the sixth, 10th and 13th holes.
Key Fact: Urs also won women’s team silver with Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar.

India Secures Historic Archery and Golf Gold Medals

India won two historic gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games in archery and golf.
Kumkum Mohod defeated South Korea’s Oh Yejin in a shoot-off to win the women’s individual recurve gold.
Pranavi Sharath Urs won the women’s individual golf gold after finishing ahead of Shannon Tan and Yin Ruoning.
Mohod became the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve medal at the Asian Games.
India also secured a women’s golf team silver through Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar.
Key Fact: The two historic gold medals came from archery and golf.

Kumkum Mohod Wins Historic Asian Games Recurve Gold

Seventeen-year-old Indian archer Kumkum Mohod won the women’s individual recurve gold at the 2026 Asian Games.
She defeated South Korea’s Oh Yejin after the final ended level at 5-5.
Mohod scored a perfect 10 in the deciding shoot-off, while Oh scored 8.
She had earlier defeated Olympic and world champion Kang Chaeyoung 6-4 in the quarterfinal.
Mohod then beat China’s Zhu Jingyi 6-2 in the semifinal.
Key Fact: Her semifinal appearance secured a women’s recurve Olympic quota place for India at LA 2028.