International Day of the Snow Leopard | 23 October

International Day of the Snow Leopard is observed every year on 23 October to raise global awareness about snow leopard conservation and protect fragile mountain ecosystems. In 2024, the General Assembly proclaimed 23 October as International Day of the Snow Leopard in order to enhance international and regional cooperation in support of efforts to conserve the snow leopard, given its role in the overall ecosystem. The snow leopard has been listed in appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1975, and in appendix I to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals since 1986. Also, the snow leopard’s population was classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species in 2017 and is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.

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Nabard working on raising $2 billion via external commercial borrowings

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is working on raising $2 billion via external commercial borrowings (ECBs) under the Reserve Bank of India’s special US Dollar-Rupee Forex Swap Facility, which was announced in early June 2026, according to Chairman Shaji Krishnan V.

The swap facility came into effect on June 08, 2026, and is open up to January 15, 2027, for eligible ECB drawdowns made up to December 31, 2026. Entities such as public sector undertakings (PSUs), whose majority ownership rests with the Central government and/or State government (excluding banks), or which are incorporated, established or registered under a Central or State Act and controlled by the Central or State government, can raise ECBs with an average maturity of three years or more under the aforementioned facility.

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Aurionpro, Mastercard team up to modernise transit payments across North America

Aurionpro Transit and Mastercard have announced a partnership to help public transport agencies across North America adopt contactless payment systems. The collaboration is aimed at simplifying how transit authorities evaluate, procure, and deploy open-loop payment technology. Both companies say they intend to offer repeatable implementation methods and streamlined procurement pathways to reduce the complexity agencies typically face when upgrading legacy ticketing infrastructure. The partnership will leverage Mastercard’s Merchant Cloud gateway capabilities alongside Aurionpro’s transit technology platforms. The companies say the combined offering is designed to scale across multiple modes of transport, accommodating varying operational and policy requirements at the local level.

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SWITCH Mobility and PURPLE BUS launch electric bus service in Nagpur–Chandrapur route

SWITCH Mobility Ltd, an electric bus and light commercial vehicle manufacturer and part of the Hinduja Group, and PURPLE BUS, a leading intercity mobility operator, has launched the electric bus service in Nagpur–Chandrapur route, extending the operator’s intercity network further into Vidarbha. The special occasion was marked by a flag-off of the first batch of six units of the 50 EiV12m intercity electric bus order for the Vidarbha region deployments by Purple Bus, in the presence of Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. This marks SWITCH Mobility’s third intercity deployment with Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions this year, following the flag-off of electric coaches on the Mumbai–Pune & Dombivli-Pune routes in April 2026 and October 2026 respectively, one of India’s busiest travel corridors.

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Speedy project approvals, assured buyers key to India's 100 MT coal gasification target by 2030

The country's target to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030 will require streamlined approvals, assured buyers and effective project execution, according to a report.

The report, ‘Coal Gasification for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat': Shaping the Next Industrial Revolution’, by global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) was launched at the Gasification Summit . The report noted that the coal ministry projects investments of Rs 2.5-3 lakh crore across 25 projects to achieve the target of 100 MT of coal gasification by 2030. The report highlighted that coal gasification could reduce India's dependence on imports of methanol, natural gas, and fertilisers, supporting the country's Atmanirbhar Bharat ambitions.

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Speedy project approvals, assured buyers key to India's 100 MT coal gasification target by 2030

India holds the world's fifth-largest coal reserves, yet imports met about 94 per cent of its methanol consumption and about 50 per cent of its natural gas consumption in FY25. In FY26, natural gas imports were worth about Rs 1.18 lakh crore and urea imports about Rs 46,000 crore.

The report also points to long-term offtake models, such as India's ethanol programme and the Great Plains plant in the US, and notes that Coal India will take the ammonium nitrate output of Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited's Lakhanpur project for use in mine blasting. It called for R&D and pilot funding to adapt gasifiers to high-ash Indian coal, integrated industrial hubs with shared infrastructure, and environmental safeguards built into project design.

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SBI Securities appoints Ayaskant Mohapatra as CTO to drive digital overhaul

SBICAP Securities Limited, a full-service brokerage firm under the State Bank of India group, on Thursday named Ayaskant Mohapatra as its Chief Technology Officer, signalling a push to accelerate its digital transformation and technology infrastructure.

Mohapatra brings 25 years of enterprise technology experience to the role. He previously held senior positions at BOBCARD, YES Securities, Axis Securities, and HSBC InvestDirect, giving him a broad grounding in financial services technology across banking and broking. In his new role, Mohapatra is expected to lead efforts around building scalable systems, strengthening cybersecurity, and improving customer-facing digital platforms. SBICAP Securities is a subsidiary of SBI Capital Markets, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of State Bank of India, one of the country’s largest public sector lenders.

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Sunil Kumar to be next ONGC Chairman

The government has appointed Sunil Kumar, Executive Director at Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), as the next Chairman of the country’s largest exploration & production (E&P) company.

Kumar, who is currently the Executive Director and Asset Manager of ONGC’s Mehsana Asset, will take over the charge from Arun Kumar Singh, whose extension ends on December 6.

He was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) following a proposal from the Oil Ministry, which was based on the recommendation of the Search-cum-Selection Committee.

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SEBI waives margins on subsequent trades against early pay-in

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed clients to use the value of shares delivered through early pay-in (EPI) towards margin requirements on subsequent buy and sell positions in the cash market, easing margin requirements for trades undertaken on the same day.

Under the framework, clearing corporations will not collect margins from trading or clearing members on a client's subsequent buy or sell positions, up to the value of securities for which the early pay-in request has been accepted. The facility will apply where a client has a net sell obligation in a settlement.

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SEBI waives margins on subsequent trades against early pay-in

The decision was taken after considering proposals from the Broker Industry Standards Forum (ISF), recommendations of SEBI's Risk Management Review Committee (RMRC) and internal deliberations.

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NCDEX launches NDEX, FINNDEX equity indices

NCDEX, formerly known as National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange, launched two rule-based equity indices, NDEX and FINNDEX, marking its entry into the equity and equity derivatives markets.

The indices use a multi-factor approach to stock selection and weighting, combining free-float market capitalisation (30 per cent), average daily traded value (30 per cent), beta (20 per cent) and volatility (20 per cent). NDEX comprises 20 large, liquid Indian equities selected from the top 60 NSE-listed companies, while FINNDEX tracks 15 financial-sector stocks, excluding insurance companies, selected from the top 40 eligible companies.

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NCDEX launches NDEX, FINNDEX equity indices

These indices, owned by NCDEX Ltd, will be calculated and maintained by NSE Indices Ltd. They will be reviewed and rebalanced twice a year, in March and September, with each stock capped at a 15 per cent weight, it added.

Their base month is January 2010, with a base value of 10,000. Index values will be disseminated in real time during market hours.

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MD and CEO at NCDEX - Vikas Goel

Govt proposes mandatory automatic emergency braking in new car models from October 2030

The Road Ministry has proposed mandating Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) for all new car models starting October 2030 to curb road accidents. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), in a draft notification dated October 19, 2026, said that for pre-2030 still-in-production models, AEBS would be mandatory from October 2032. AEBS provides automatic braking in the event of failure of the driver to respond to emergency situations to either avoid a crash or reduce the impact of a collision.

Provided that, M1 category of vehicles manufactured on and after 1st October 2030 in the case of new models and 1st October 2032 in the case of all models shall be fitted with Advanced Emergency Braking System, conforming to AIS-185, as amended from time to time.

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Govt proposes mandatory automatic emergency braking in new car models from October 2030

The government has mandated multiple measures, especially focused on braking systems, to enhance the safety of medium and heavy-duty vehicles. To enhance brake performance, a revised braking standard has been mandated for trucks effective October 1, 2027.

Braking systems have been advanced with the mandatory implementation of electronic stability control systems (AIS 162) for trucks from October 1, 2027, which provide stability, especially in the event of braking at curves.

The draft rules will be taken into consideration after the expiry of thirty days from the date on which the copies of this notification, as published in the Gazette of India, are made available to the public.

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Isro set to end seven-month launch freeze with GISAT-1A in September

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is set to return to the launch pad in September, ending a nearly seven-month operational pause with the GISAT-1A Earth-observation satellite. GISAT-1A, also designated EOS-05, is scheduled to launch in the first week of September aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The mission will be Isro’s first launch since the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission failed on January 12. The agency had set a target of 15 missions for 2025-26 and an even more ambitious programme for 2026-27, including multiple PSLV, GSLV and LVM3 flights as well as missions linked to the Gaganyaan programme.

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Isro set to end seven-month launch freeze with GISAT-1A in September

GISAT-1A is designed for high-frequency imaging of large areas of the Indian landmass. Its applications include monitoring natural disasters, agriculture, forestry and other changes on the ground. The satellite has a planned 10-year mission life. It is also a replacement for GISAT-1, or EOS-03, which was lost during the GSLV-F10 mission in August 2021 after the rocket’s final propulsive stage failed to ignite.

The September flight will therefore revive an Earth-observation capability that Isro has been trying to restore since that failure. The next major mission will be NVS-03, the third satellite in India’s second-generation NavIC series.

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33rd Edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) Commences at Visakhapatnam

The 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) is being held at Visakhapatnam from 21 to 26 Oct 2026. Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) ship RSS Supreme arrived at Visakhapatnam on 21 Oct 2026 to participate in the exercise.

The opening ceremony of SIMBEX-2026 was held on 21 Oct 2026 onboard INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta. Since its inception in 1994 as Exercise Lion King, SIMBEX has evolved into a significant bilateral maritime engagement between the Indian Navy and the RSN.

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33rd Edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) Commences at Visakhapatnam

The exercise will be conducted in two phases. The Harbour Phase, from 21 to 23 Oct 2026, will include professional interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck visits, sporting engagements, and planning conferences. The Sea Phase, scheduled from 24 to 26 Oct 2026 in the Bay of Bengal, will feature maritime operations and tactical exercises, including Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), anti-surface and anti-air warfare drills, seamanship evolutions, and tactical manoeuvres.

SIMBEX-2026 reaffirms the longstanding maritime partnership between India and Singapore and their shared commitment to enhancing interoperability, addressing common maritime security challenges, and promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

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CBDT introduces Form 173A for tax exemption claims on government securities

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has introduced a new reporting requirement for taxpayers seeking specified income-tax exemptions on interest and capital gains earned from government securities, through Form 173A under the Income-tax Rules, 2026.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance on October 19, the Income-tax (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2026, require taxpayers claiming exemptions under Schedule IV, Table entries 13D and 13E, of the Income-tax Act, 2025, to furnish the prescribed information in Form 173A. The amended rules came into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. The newly introduced form seeks details of the investor, including name, country of residence, address, Permanent Account Number (PAN), relevant tax year, email address and contact number.

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CBDT introduces Form 173A for tax exemption claims on government securities

It also provides for disclosure of the investor's tax identification number in the country of residence and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) registration number, where applicable. The form also requires detailed information on the government securities for which the exemption is being claimed.

Investors must disclose the International Securities Identification Number (ISIN), type and tenor of the securities, their total value as of April 1, purchases made during the tax year, proceeds from securities sold and their total value as of March 31. Additionally, the form requires details of the gross interest received or accrued during the tax year and capital gains earned from the investments.

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CBDT introduces Form 173A for tax exemption claims on government securities

The categories of government securities covered in the form include Treasury bills, fixed-rate bonds, floating-rate bonds and State Development Loans (SDLs), along with other specified securities. The notification also requires the taxpayer to certify that the information furnished is true to the best of their knowledge and belief and is in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Income-tax Act, 2025.

The prescribed form provides a standardised mechanism for collecting information relating to exemption claims on income from government securities. The notification specifies that the requirements apply to claims under the identified provisions of Schedule IV and do not establish a blanket exemption for all investors or all income earned from government securities.

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Folk artist Devadas Chimakode selected for Janapada award

Veteran folk artist Devadas Chimakode of Chimakod village in Bidar taluk has been selected for the Karnataka Janapada Academy’s annual honorary award for 2026.

Mr. Chimakode has been active in the folk arts for the past 35 years. The 56-year-old folk artist was selected for the award from Bidar district in recognition of his contributions to folk singing, instrumental music, Suggi Kunitha and Halage, among other traditional art forms.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs.25,000 and a citation.

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World Iodine Deficiency Day | 21 October

World Iodine Deficiency Day, also known as Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day, is observed on October 21 every year to raise awareness about the importance of iodine and the consequences of its deficiency. In India, the government has introduced several initiatives to promote iodised salt consumption and reduce iodine deficiency disorders.

India launched the National Goitre Control Programme in 1962 to address iodine deficiency. In 1992, it was expanded and renamed the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP).

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Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches upgraded agri welfare portal

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday (October 19, 2026) launched an upgraded agri welfare portal that will provide farmers with all information about the government schemes and also enable them to submit applications to avail the benefits.

The platform will serve as a single-window gateway to major government initiatives, including PM-KISAN, AgriStack and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Farmers will get authentic information on weather conditions, scientific farming practices, the availability of seeds and fertilisers, and prevailing market prices for agricultural produce. A special training campaign will be conducted through Krishi Vigyan Kendras to help farmers make effective use of the portal and other digital tools.

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Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches upgraded agri welfare portal

The portal will also bring together Farmer Producer Organisations, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, agricultural scientists, researchers and startups, creating a common digital platform for the wider agricultural ecosystem.

Information on the ministry’s schemes, subsidies, rules and digital services will be available on a single portal, reducing the time and effort farmers spend navigating multiple platforms.

Online eligibility checks, direct application facilities and the transfer of financial assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) will make processes more transparent and reduce the role of intermediaries.

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PFRDA launches new NPS Central

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has launched NPS Central, a unified digital platform that allows National Pension System (NPS) subscribers to manage their pension accounts without having to navigate separate recordkeeping agency portals. Subscribers can log in using their registered mobile number and date of birth, verified through a one-time password (OTP), instead of remembering their Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN).

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PFRDA launches new NPS Central

The platform brings together services offered through the three Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs)—Protean, KFintech and CAMS. It was launched on October 1, 2026, on the occasion of NPS Diwas.

The platform is intended to simplify access to pension services, from checking investments and making contributions to exploring schemes and updating personal details. Prospective subscribers can also use it to register for NPS, compare investment options and select a pension fund. The platform offers AI-assisted onboarding, an AI-enabled assistant for queries, and options to complete know-your-customer (KYC) verification through Central KYC (CKYC) and DigiLocker.

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Tripartite MoU signed to strengthen livelihood opportunities for Scheduled Tribe youth

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), is supporting livelihood promotion and entrepreneurship development for Scheduled Tribe (ST) youth through the Livelihood Business Incubation Centre at Rourkela, Odisha. A Tripartite MoU was signed on 22.10.2026 between National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation under Ministry of Tribal Affairs, National Skill Development Corporation (NSIC) under Ministry of Medium and Small-Scale Industries (MSME), and Steel Authority of India Ltd. – Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP, Rourkela) under Ministry of Steel.

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Tripartite MoU signed to strengthen livelihood opportunities for Scheduled Tribe youth

Livelihood Business Incubation Centre at Rourkela:

Livelihood Incubation Centre at Rourkela, Odisha was established in 2018 which has been recognized as Center of Excellence by Ministry of Tribal Affairs is one such major step. This is a unique collaborative effort of three Ministries of Government of India and three Central level Apex PSUs under them namely, National Skill Development Corporation (NSIC) under Ministry of Medium and Small scale Industries (MSME), Steel Authority of India Ltd. - Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP, Rourkela) under Ministry of Steel and National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation under Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

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Tripartite MoU signed to strengthen livelihood opportunities for Scheduled Tribe youth

Training and entrepreneurship development:

The basic objective of the center is to provide training, skill development and entrepreneurship development programmes to local ST youths to promote sustainable enterprises. Courses covered for the students from ST community in the current year are Assistant Beautician, Self Employed Tailor, Assistant Computer Operator (Tally & Accounting), Assistant Electrician, Bread & Bakery Manufacturing, Mushroom Farming. Accordingly, the site is to be provided by Rourkela Steel Plant, Plant and Machinery are installed under ASPIRE scheme of MSME and recurring expenses of the center is being borne by NSTFDC through grant from Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

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India Post Creates History, Crosses Rs.4,000 Crore Revenue Mark for Two Consecutive Quarters

The Department of Posts has achieved a historic milestone by crossing the Rs.4,000 crore quarterly revenue mark for two consecutive quarters for the first time. The Department recorded revenue of Rs.8,212.7 crore during the first half of FY 2026-27 (April-September 2026), registering a year-on-year growth of 24% over Rs.6,636 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region chaired the Second Quarter (Q2) Review at New Delhi.

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India Post Creates History, Crosses Rs.4,000 Crore Revenue Mark for Two Consecutive Quarters

The Department earned Rs.4,201.5 crore in Q2 (Jul-September 2026), registering year-on-year growth of 25% and an increase of 5% over Q1.

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IICA signs MoU with Association of ARCs in India to strengthen industry linkages with its flagship programme

The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of ARCs in India. The Association is the representative body of Asset Reconstruction Companies registered with the Reserve Bank of India. The MoU aims to deepen industry linkages of the Post Graduate Insolvency Programme (PGIP), run by IICA’s Centre for Insolvency and Bankruptcy. The PGIP develops a skilled cadre of Insolvency Professionals and Turnaround Specialists. The MoU captures the strategic alignment as decided in the meeting convened by Ministry of Corporate Affairs on 2nd September 2026.

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IICA signs MoU with Association of ARCs in India to strengthen industry linkages with its flagship programme

The significant development in the evolution of ARCs came on 11 October 2022, when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), following the recommendations of the Sudarshan Sen Committee, issued its regulatory framework titled Review of Regulatory Framework for Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) (RBI/2022-23/128). The framework permitted eligible ARCs to act as resolution applicants under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC), subject to the prescribed regulatory conditions. The MoU, signed for a period of five years, provides a structured framework for sustained engagement between IICA and the Association of ARCs.

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