Current affairs relevant to GS2.
The 16th India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) met in New Delhi on 12 October 2026. It was the first JETCO since CETA talks began in January 2022. Both sides reviewed early trade under CETA, agreed to share data every year on its use, and fixed the 17th JETCO for the UK in 2027.
12 Oct 2026
The External Affairs Minister visited Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Ethiopia from 6 to 10 October 2026. Ghana handed over its acceptance of the International Big Cat Alliance and signed two MoUs; trade with Côte d'Ivoire is above US$1.5 billion; and India will hold a Jaipur Foot camp in Ethiopia.
11 Oct 2026
On 11 October 2026 India rejected remarks by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on events in New Delhi the day before. MEA said peaceful assembly is a constitutional right exercised subject to public order, courts are open to all, and the remarks were interference in internal affairs.
11 Oct 2026
On 9 October 2026 the Tribal Affairs Ministry held the second regional review of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in Kolkata with eight States. Nationally, over 54 lakh claims have been filed, about 25 lakh titles given, about 11 lakh are pending and over 18 lakh rejected. The focus is quick disposal, record updating, CFR rights and PVTG habitat rights.
10 Oct 2026
The 15th Joint Committee reviewing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement met in Jakarta from 6 to 9 October 2026, co-chaired by India and Malaysia. It told all sub-committees to speed up pending chapters with firm, time-bound deliverables. Three of eight sub-committees met, including rules of origin. The next meeting is in India in January 2027.
9 Oct 2026
The Health Ministry has proposed amending the Drugs Rules, 1945 so that drug retailers, wholesalers and distributors also need prior Central Government sanction to advertise Schedule H, H1 and X medicines. Manufacturers already face this rule. The draft, G.S.R. 861(E) of 28 September 2026, follows DTAB advice and is open for comments for 30 days.
9 Oct 2026
On 8 October 2026 India condemned attacks over the previous days on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which killed and injured civilians. MEA said targeting civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable and expressed solidarity with the people and government of Saudi Arabia.
8 Oct 2026
The government has approved a cap on trade margins for non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines at 30% of MRP. It expects prices to fall by up to 70% and patients to save about ₹2,500 crore a year. NPPA found average mark-ups of about 170% on such drugs. A 2019 cap on 42 cancer drugs saved ₹984 crore a year.
8 Oct 2026
Between July and October 2026 MEA issued a series of statements on attacks on merchant ships carrying Indian crew in the Strait of Hormuz, off Oman, in the Red Sea and in the Black Sea. Several Indian seafarers were killed or injured. On 7 October India again asked for an immediate end to attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers.
7 Oct 2026
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research signed a five-year MoU with Ghana's CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Accra, on 7 October 2026 in the presence of both Foreign Ministers. The first phase focuses on tomato research; the MoU also covers cassava and yam processing, post-harvest cold chain, and exchange of scientists and germplasm.
7 Oct 2026