Current affairs for UPSC
Daily notes mapped to syllabus topics, with “Asked before” PYQs and original practice MCQs.
GS3 · Environment (wildlife conservation)On 2 October 2026 tigress T138, translocated from Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar, was released in Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal. It begins a phased Tiger Reintroduction Programme to rebuild a self-sustaining tiger population in Buxa, after years of prey build-up, grassland restoration and community work under a project supported by NTCA and WII.
UPSC angle: Prelims: tiger reserve–State matching. · Mains: Reintroduction vs natural recovery.
2 Oct 2026GS3 · Environment (plastic waste)On 2 October 2026 the Mumbai Port Authority declared its Jawahar Dweep Marine Oil Terminal plastic-free, making it India's first plastic-free oil terminal. The Union Ports Minister marked it at the port's Swachhata Abhiyan on Gandhi Jayanti, honoured sanitation workers and dedicated the port's Oil Spill Response facilities to the nation.
UPSC angle: Mains: Green port initiatives.
2 Oct 2026GS3 · Economy (mining)On 2 October 2026 the Ministry of Mines reported that two limestone blocks in Anantnag, Koot-Kapran and Wantrag, had been auctioned, a first for the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The J&K Government entrusted the auction to the Union Ministry of Mines, which used a transparent competitive process under the Central mineral auction system.
UPSC angle: Prelims: exploration stages; limestone uses.
2 Oct 2026GS2 · IR (G20, WTO)At the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee, USA, concluding on 2 October 2026, India said it has no structural excess capacity in the sectors named by the G20 Presidency. It argued that trade distortions should be handled through WTO-consistent anti-dumping and countervailing duties, backed MFN and consensus, and wanted the two-tier dispute settlement system restored.
UPSC angle: Prelims: MFN; anti-dumping vs countervailing duty. · Mains: Is the MFN principle under threat?
2 Oct 2026GS1 · Geography (mapping)On 2 October 2026 the Government, in consultation with the UT of Ladakh, identified 28 places and features in Ladakh by standard names on the official Survey of India map. They include peaks such as Atisha Giri, Kanishka Peak and Zorawar Peak, the Chapchingal and Shachmirk passes, Skamri Glacier, Guru Rinpoche Lake and Yangpa River.
UPSC angle: Prelims: feature-type matching (peak/pass/glacier).
2 Oct 2026GS3 · Economy (food prices, Essential Commodities)The Centre has capped sugar dealers' stocks at 1,000 quintals and a holding period of 15 days from 15 October to 30 November 2026, to stop hoarding in the festive season. Kolkata's metro area and Assam get a 2,000-quintal limit. Retail sugar prices are down 15 per cent from the August peak and ex-mill prices about 28 per cent.
UPSC angle: Mains: Stock limits vs market efficiency.
1 Oct 2026GS3 · Energy, environmentOn 1 October 2026 the Petroleum Minister launched GOBARdhan, a Central Sector Scheme for compressed biogas (CBG) approved by the Cabinet on 6 August 2026 with ₹23,731 crore. It runs from 2026-27 to 2035-36 and aims to raise domestic CBG output nearly 10-fold to about 5 MMSCMD through assured offtake, a fixed price, capital aid and pipeline support.
UPSC angle: Prelims: scheme type, outlay, target. · Mains: CBG as a circular-economy solution.
1 Oct 2026GS1 · ResourcesOn 1 October 2026 the Ministry of Mines launched the auction of two offshore mineral blocks in the Andaman Sea, Sewell Rise-01 and West Sewell Ridge-01 off Great Nicobar, for Composite Licence. Together they cover over 1,632 sq km and hold polymetallic nodules and crusts with cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper and rare earth elements.
UPSC angle: Prelims: minerals in polymetallic nodules; location. · Mains: Offshore mining and marine ecology.
1 Oct 2026GS2 · Social justiceThe Centre released ₹1,423.30 crore to States and UTs over 2022-23 to 2024-25 to implement the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. States report 217 Exclusive Special Courts in 15 States and UTs. Yet 65,646 cases were registered in 2024 and 3,92,006 were pending trial at year end.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PCR Act year; Art. 17. · Mains: Why do atrocity cases see low conviction?
1 Oct 2026GS3 · Agriculture (MSP)On 30 September 2026 the CCEA approved Minimum Support Prices for Rabi crops for marketing season 2027-28. Wheat MSP is ₹2,610 a quintal, up ₹25. Safflower got the largest increase, ₹675, followed by rapeseed and mustard at ₹413. Expected margins over cost range from 50 per cent for safflower to 106 per cent for wheat.
UPSC angle: Prelims: which crops are Rabi mandated crops; cost concept used. · Mains: Is MSP-led diversification towards pulses/oilseeds working?
30 Sep 2026 
