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10 October 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

We bring you the most relevant and important news updates from around the world and India, specially curated for competitive exams and different entrance exams. Today's Current Affairs covers all significant national and international headlines, legal updates, economic news, and environmental highlights to boost your preparation. With our crisp, to-the-point coverage, you can confidently tackle current affairs questions in your exam.

Mercy Petition

Why in News?

The Union Government opposed a plea by Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, seeking commutation of his death sentence. The case has brought attention to the prolonged pendency of his mercy petition, which has remained unresolved since 2012.

Meaning of a Mercy Petition

A mercy petition is a request for executive clemency submitted to the President or Governor by a convicted person, or on their behalf, seeking relief from a sentence. It provides an executive remedy distinct from the ordinary judicial appeal process.

Forms of Clemency

Pardon: Removes the punishment and, in its full legal effect, absolves the person of the consequences of the conviction.
Commutation: Substitutes a harsher punishment with a lighter form of punishment.
Remission: Reduces the duration of a sentence without changing its nature.
Respite: Awards a lesser sentence due to special circumstances, such as a physical disability or pregnancy.
Reprieve: Temporarily postpones the execution of a sentence, particularly a death sentence.

Constitutional Framework

1. Article 72 — President of India

The President may grant pardon, reprieve, respite, remission, suspension or commutation in following cases:

Punishments imposed by court-martial.
Offences falling within the Union's executive sphere.
All cases involving a death sentence.

2. Article 161 — Governor

The Governor may grant pardon, reprieve, respite, remission, suspension or commutation for offences within the State's executive sphere.

The Governor can suspend, remit or commute a death sentence.
The Governor cannot pardon a death sentence under Article 161.
The President's power under Article 72 extends to all death sentences.

Important Judicial Interpretations

Maru Ram v. Union of India (1980): The constitutional clemency power is exercised in accordance with the aid and advice of the appropriate Council of Ministers.
Epuru Sudhakar v. Government of Andhra Pradesh (2006): Clemency decisions are subject to limited judicial review, including where there is mala fide intent, arbitrariness or non-application of mind.
Shatrughan Chauhan v. Union of India (2014): Inordinate delay in deciding a mercy petition can violate Article 21 and may constitute grounds for commuting a death sentence.

Procedural Framework under the BNSS, 2023

Section 472 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 provides a statutory procedure for mercy petitions in death-sentence cases. It prescribes timelines for specified steps in the process, but does not establish a general deadline by which the President must decide every mercy petition.

Key Constitutional Principles

Article 21: Protects life and personal liberty; prolonged and unexplained delay in deciding a mercy petition may be relevant to a death-row prisoner's constitutional rights.
Oral hearing: There is no general fundamental right to an oral hearing before the President when a mercy petition is considered.
Judicial review: Executive clemency is not wholly immune from judicial scrutiny, although courts do not ordinarily substitute their own decision for the executive's assessment on the merits.

Illegal GM Cotton Hybrids in India

Why in News?

A recent field-based study reported that more than one-fourth of India's cotton-growing area may be cultivating unauthorised genetically modified (GM) cotton hybrids. These hybrids reportedly contain herbicide-tolerance genes or insect-resistance genes that have not been approved for commercial cultivation in India.

The findings raise concerns about biosafety, regulatory enforcement, resistance management and the potential economic consequences for cotton farmers.

Key Findings of the Study

Unauthorised cultivation: The study estimates that illegal GM cotton hybrids may occupy over 25% of India's cotton-growing area.
Genes identified: The hybrids reportedly contain genes such as cp4-epsps and Vip3A, which are not approved for commercial cultivation in cotton in India.
Regulatory concern: The cultivation of unapproved GM varieties can bypass established biosafety assessments and regulatory oversight.

Genes Associated with Unauthorised GM Cotton

1. cp4-epsps gene

Source: Derived from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4, a soil bacterium.
Function: Confers tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.
Significance: Glyphosate can kill conventional cotton plants along with weeds. Herbicide-tolerant cotton allows the herbicide to be used for weed control without causing the same damage to the crop.
Concern: Unauthorised cultivation may encourage excessive herbicide use, contribute to herbicide-resistant weeds and undermine regulatory safeguards.

2. Vip3A gene

Source: Derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
Function: Produces an insecticidal protein that targets certain insect larvae, including several lepidopteran pests.
Difference from Cry proteins: Vip3A acts through a mode of action distinct from that of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab proteins used in existing Bt cotton technologies.
Potential significance: It may broaden insect-pest control, but unauthorised use can complicate insect-resistance management and regulatory monitoring.

GM Cotton in India

Meaning: Genetically modified cotton is cotton whose genetic material has been altered using biotechnology to introduce specific traits, such as resistance to insect pests or tolerance to herbicides.
Bt cotton: India's commercially approved GM cotton technology uses genes from Bacillus thuringiensis to produce proteins that target certain insect pests, particularly bollworms.
Bollgard I: Introduced with the Cry1Ac protein, which provides protection against susceptible bollworm species.
Bollgard II: Uses Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab proteins to provide protection against a broader range of bollworm pests.
Approval timeline: Bt cotton was approved for commercial cultivation in India in 2002; Bollgard II received approval in 2006.
Regulatory status: Bt cotton remains the only GM crop technology approved for commercial cultivation in India. Approval of a GM trait is specific to the crop, event and intended use; approval for research or field trials does not automatically permit commercial cultivation.

Regulatory Framework for GM Crops in India

The principal legal framework is the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, together with the Rules, 1989, governing the manufacture, use, import, export and storage of hazardous microorganisms and genetically engineered organisms or cells.

Institution	Ministry / Department	Key Function
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)	Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change	Appraises proposals involving the environmental release of genetically engineered organisms, including relevant approvals for large-scale use and commercial release
Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM)	Department of Biotechnology	Monitors safety aspects of research and development involving genetically engineered organisms
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC)	Relevant research institution	Oversees institutional-level biosafety compliance and genetic engineering research

Why Is Unauthorised GM Cotton a Concern?

Biosafety: Unapproved varieties may be cultivated without completing the required regulatory assessment.
Herbicide resistance: Wider use of glyphosate-tolerant crops may increase selection pressure for herbicide-resistant weeds.
Insect resistance: Unregulated use of insecticidal traits can accelerate resistance among target pests.
Farmer welfare: Farmers may face uncertain seed quality, crop performance and access to legal remedies if unapproved seeds fail.
Regulatory enforcement: Detection of unauthorised seeds requires effective monitoring of seed production, distribution and cultivation.

World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day 2026

Why in News?

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) commemorated World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day on 8 October 2026, highlighting the role of hydrogen technologies in clean energy production and the transition towards low-carbon energy systems.

Significance of the Day

Date: 8 October every year.
Scientific significance: The date refers to hydrogen's atomic weight of approximately 1.008.
Objective: To raise awareness about hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies and their potential applications in clean energy, transport and industrial decarbonisation.

Hydrogen: Key Facts

Atomic number: 1 - the lowest among all elements.
Lightest element: Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element in the universe.
Occurrence: It is present in water, hydrocarbons and living organisms. However, free molecular hydrogen ((H_2)) is relatively scarce in Earth's atmosphere because it readily escapes into space and reacts with other substances.
Energy carrier: Hydrogen can store and deliver energy, but it must generally be produced using another energy source.

Methods of Hydrogen Production

Natural gas reforming: Hydrogen is produced from natural gas through high-temperature chemical reactions. Conventional methods generate carbon dioxide.
Electrolysis: Electricity splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. When renewable electricity powers the process, the resulting hydrogen is generally classified as green hydrogen.
Solar-driven processes: Solar energy can be used in photoelectrochemical or solar-thermochemical processes to produce hydrogen.
Biological processes: Certain microorganisms can generate hydrogen through biological pathways.

How Does a Fuel Cell Work?

A fuel cell converts the chemical energy of a fuel directly into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions.

Anode: The negative electrode in a typical hydrogen fuel-cell configuration, where hydrogen is supplied and oxidised.
Cathode: The positive electrode, where oxygen is reduced.
Electrolyte: Allows the movement of appropriate ions between the electrodes while restricting direct mixing of the reactants.
By-product: In a hydrogen fuel cell, the principal reaction product is water, along with heat.

Fuel cells can be used in vehicles, stationary power generation and backup power systems.

India's National Green Hydrogen Mission

Launch / approval: Union Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission in January 2023.
Nodal ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Production target: At least 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030.
Major objectives: Promote domestic green hydrogen production and use.
- Reduce dependence on fossil-fuel imports.
- Decarbonise sectors such as fertilisers, refining, steel and heavy transport.
- Encourage domestic manufacturing, research and development.
- Develop infrastructure for hydrogen storage, transport and distribution.

Calibrated Tightening of Monetary Policy

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) reportedly increased the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5% and shifted its monetary policy stance from neutral to calibrated tightening. The move signals a greater emphasis on containing inflationary pressures.

What Is Calibrated Tightening?

Calibrated tightening is a restrictive monetary policy stance under which the central bank signals that it is not inclined to reduce policy interest rates in the near term, while retaining the option to raise rates or keep them unchanged as economic conditions evolve.

Neutral stance: Allows policy rates to move upwards or downwards, depending on the inflation and growth outlook.
Accommodative stance: Indicates a preference for supporting economic activity, potentially through lower interest rates.
Calibrated tightening: Signals a preference for monetary restraint to contain inflation, with rate hikes or a pause generally more consistent with the stance than rate cuts.

Reasons for the Shift

Broadening retail inflation: Rising price pressures across a wider range of goods and services may require tighter monetary conditions.
Strong GDP growth outlook: A projected growth rate of 7.1% may provide the MPC with room to prioritise price stability.
Monsoon-related supply risks: Irregular rainfall or weather-related disruptions can affect agricultural output and food prices.
Geopolitical tensions: Global conflicts can raise energy, commodity and transportation costs.
Global monetary tightening: Tighter policies by major central banks may influence capital flows, exchange-rate movements and domestic financial conditions.

Implications of Calibrated Tightening

Borrowing costs: Banks may raise lending rates, increasing the cost of loans for households and businesses.
Consumption and investment: Higher interest rates can discourage credit-financed spending and investment.
Inflation control: Tighter monetary conditions may moderate aggregate demand and help anchor inflation expectations.
Bond yields: Market yields may rise if investors expect interest rates to remain elevated or increase further.
Economic growth: While tightening can help contain inflation, excessive restraint may weaken demand and slow economic activity.

Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

The MPC is a six-member statutory body established under Section 45ZB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, through the 2016 amendment. It determines the policy repo rate to achieve the notified inflation target.

1. Composition

Three RBI representatives:
- RBI Governor - Chairperson.
- Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy.
- One officer of the RBI nominated by the Central Board.
Three external members: Appointed by the Central Government.

2. Voting and decision-making

Decisions are taken by a majority of members present and voting.
The quorum is four members.
If votes are equally divided, the Governor exercises a casting vote.
External members ordinarily hold office for four years and are not eligible for reappointment.

3. Inflation-Targeting Framework

Target: Consumer Price Index (CPI) headline inflation of 4%.
Tolerance band: 2% to 6%, equivalent to ±2 percentage points around the target.
Objective: Maintain price stability while keeping the objective of growth in mind.

57th GST Council Meeting

Why in News?

At its 57th meeting, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council recommended a series of procedural reforms relating to GST registration, return filing, refunds and adjudication. The measures aim to simplify compliance, reduce administrative delays and improve the ease of doing business.

About the GST Council

Constitutional status: The GST Council is a constitutional body established under Article 279A of the Constitution.
Constitutional amendment: It was introduced by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016, which enabled the implementation of GST.
Chairperson: Union Finance Minister.
Composition: Union Minister of State in charge of Revenue or Finance, along with the State Finance/Taxation Ministers or other nominated ministers from the States.
Function: Recommends measures on GST rates, exemptions, model laws, special provisions and other major indirect-tax issues to promote a harmonised GST framework.

Key Recommendations of the 57th Meeting

1. Changes to Arrest Powers

The Council recommended omitting Section 69 of the Central GST (CGST) Act, 2017, which deals with the power to arrest in specified GST offences.
The proposal concerns the statutory framework for arrest by GST authorities and should be distinguished from other enforcement and prosecution provisions.

2. Higher Prosecution Threshold

The monetary threshold for launching prosecution was proposed to be raised from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.
The objective is to focus criminal prosecution on more serious cases and reduce the burden arising from lower-value disputes.

3. Reduction in General Penalty

The maximum general penalty under Section 125 of the CGST Act was proposed to be reduced from ₹25,000 to ₹10,000.
This is intended to make penalties for residual procedural and compliance violations less burdensome.

4. Simplified Registration Amendments

The Council recommended automated approval of specified amendments to GST registration through the GST portal.
An exception applies to amendments concerning the principal place of business (PPoB), subject to the prescribed conditions and the applicable Rule 14A route.

5. Relief for Low-Value Tax Disputes

The Council proposed exempting tax disputes involving amounts below ₹10,000 from show-cause notices, along with corresponding relief for eligible pending low-value cases.
The intended benefit is reduced litigation and administrative workload for taxpayers and tax authorities.

6. Refunds under the Inverted Duty Structure

The Council recommended extending refunds of accumulated Input Tax Credit (ITC) to eligible credit arising from input services under the inverted duty structure.
Inverted duty structure: A situation in which the GST rate on inputs is higher than the rate applicable to the final output supply.
Expected benefit: Reduce the accumulation of unused tax credits and ease working-capital pressures on businesses.

7. Faster Automated Refunds

The Council recommended provisional sanction of 90% of eligible refund claims for zero-rated supplies and inverted duty structure cases, subject to risk evaluation.
Zero-rated supplies include exports and qualifying supplies to Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
Risk-based automation is intended to reduce delays while retaining safeguards against fraudulent claims.

8. GST Exemption for Certain Helicopter Services

Passenger transport by helicopter on a seat-sharing basis to and from the North-Eastern States, Sikkim and Bagdogra in West Bengal was proposed for GST exemption.
The measure aims to improve regional connectivity, particularly in geographically difficult and remote areas.

National Postal Week

Why in News?

The Department of Posts (DoP), under the Ministry of Communications, is observing National Postal Week from 9 to 15 October 2026. The celebrations begin with World Post Day and highlight the postal network's role in communication, financial inclusion, logistics and technological innovation.

Key Events during National Postal Week

9 October – World Post Day: Commemorates the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and highlights the role of postal services in global communication.
12 October – Fun with Philately Day: Promotes stamp collecting and highlights the historical, cultural and educational significance of postage stamps.
13 October – Financial Inclusion & CCS Day: Focuses on the contribution of postal services to financial inclusion and the delivery of citizen-centric services (CCS).
14 October – Mails & Parcels Day: Highlights efforts to provide reliable, efficient and accessible mail and parcel delivery services.
15 October – Technology & Innovation Day: Showcases the adoption of technology and innovative solutions to improve postal operations and customer services.

World Post Day

Date: 9 October every year.
Significance: Marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874.
Origin: The UPU was established in Bern, Switzerland.
Declaration: World Post Day was declared at the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969.
2026 Theme: “World Post Day: One Postal Network, Infinite Possibilities.”

About the Universal Postal Union (UPU)

Established: 1874, under the Treaty of Bern.
Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland.
Status: A specialised agency of the United Nations since 1948.
Objective: To promote international cooperation and improve postal services by coordinating rules and facilitating the exchange of international mail.

India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. The 2026 edition focuses on expanding India's capabilities in digital technologies, next-generation connectivity and technology-driven growth.

About India Mobile Congress

Nature: An international digital technology forum comprising a conference and technology exhibition.
Organisers: Jointly organised by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
First edition: 2017.
Frequency: Annual.
Objective: To bring together telecom companies, technology firms, start-ups, investors, regulators and policymakers to discuss emerging technologies and challenges facing the telecommunications sector.
Theme of IMC 2026: “Scale Without Boundaries”

HAL Delivers Its 2,000th Aero-Engine

Why in News?

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), through its Koraput Division, delivered its 2,000th aero-engine and announced plans to establish a second production line for Shakti helicopter engines. HAL also plans to expand production of AL-31FP engines for the Su-30MKI fleet, targeting 63% indigenous content.

Key Developments

2,000th aero-engine: Marks a significant milestone in HAL's aero-engine manufacturing capabilities.
Shakti engine production: The proposed second production line is expected to increase annual output by 100 engines by 2028–29.
AL-31FP engine: HAL aims to expand production of these engines used in India's Su-30MKI fighter aircraft.
Indigenisation: The target of 63% indigenous content reflects efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported components.

About the Shakti Engine

Development: Developed through collaboration between HAL and Safran of France.
Type: Turboshaft engine designed for helicopters.
Applications: Used in the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).
Significance: Supports India's helicopter fleet and strengthens domestic capabilities in aero-engine production and maintenance.

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