Daily Current Affairs - 2026-10-15

From a landmark BIMSTEC security meet in New Delhi to a surprise jump in wholesale inflation, 15 October 2026 brings a mixed bag of governance, economy, science and sports updates that every UPSC, SSC, Banking and Railway aspirant should note.

India hosts first-ever BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the first-ever BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on 13 October 2026, with delegations from all seven member states — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand — in attendance. The meeting adopted the 'Delhi Declaration' to boost regional cooperation against terrorism, transnational organised crime, narco-trafficking, radicalisation and cyber threats. For exams, note this as the first dedicated home/interior ministers' track under BIMSTEC, reflecting India's push for a secure Bay of Bengal region.

16th India-UK JETCO meeting reviews CETA implementation

The 16th India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting was held in New Delhi on 12 October 2026 — the first since the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) came into force. Both sides set up an annual mechanism to track CETA implementation, and British firms announced deals worth over £1 billion linked to the engagement. This is important for international relations/economy sections covering bilateral trade pacts.

NSAP continued for 5 years, renamed Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana

• Union Cabinet approved continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an outlay of Rs 53,428 crore on 14 October 2026.
• Renamed as the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana; old-age pension becomes Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana and widow pension becomes Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana.
• Disability pension eligibility eased — benchmark disability criterion reduced from 80% to 40%.
• Expected to benefit about 3.2 crore beneficiaries across all states and UTs — a key welfare-scheme update for Prelims and State PCS exams.

WPI inflation surges to six-month high of 11.39% in September

India's Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation jumped to 11.39% in September 2026 from 9.92% in August, a six-month high, as per Ministry of Commerce and Industry data released on 14 October 2026. Fuel and power inflation at 25.85%, along with rising food and manufactured product prices, drove the spike. Remember this alongside CPI figures for economy-focused Prelims questions on inflation trends.

DRDO tests Quantum Key Distribution platform for defence communications

DRDO successfully configured and tested a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) platform on a live network at the Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur, Odisha, on 14 October 2026. The test secured real-time telemetry and observation data from artillery and armoured weapon trials. Developed under DRDO's MCC cluster with Taqbit Labs, the platform offers theoretically unbreakable encryption with eavesdropping detection — a key marker of India's progress in quantum communication for strategic sectors.

Oman overtakes US as India's top LNG supplier

Oman became India's largest LNG supplier in September 2026, overtaking the United States, with its share rising to about 27% while the US share fell to around 16% amid Strait of Hormuz-related disruptions. India's overall LNG imports fell 14% month-on-month to 2.17 million tonnes. This highlights India's energy diversification strategy amid West Asian geopolitical tensions — relevant for economy and IR sections.

Supreme Court hints it may not quash FIR against journalist Abhishek Upadhyay

On 14 October 2026, the Supreme Court indicated it may not seriously entertain a plea to quash a UP police FIR against journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, who had reported on the Ram Mandir donation theft controversy, over an unrelated alleged road-rage incident. The case, challenged as retaliatory, is being watched for its implications on press freedom and use of local FIRs against journalists — useful for polity and governance current-affairs questions.

Hockey India announces squad for Asian Champions Trophy

Hockey India named its squad for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy on 14 October 2026, retaining the core group that won gold at the recent Asian Games, with goalkeeper Krishan Pathak recalled to the side. This reflects continuity in India's hockey leadership ahead of a key continental tournament — a handy sports current-affairs point for exams.

Government launches JOSH Campaign for TB elimination

The Government of India launched the 'Joint Squad for Health' (JOSH) Campaign on 13 October 2026, a pilot covering 11 states and 55 districts to accelerate TB elimination. It mobilises MY Bharat volunteers, NCC cadets and designated Class-I officers for awareness, early diagnosis, screening and treatment adherence, supporting India's goal of eliminating TB ahead of the global 2030 target — important for health-policy questions.

IMF and World Bank launch 'Bangkok Blueprint' against cyber financial fraud

The IMF and World Bank launched the 'Bangkok Blueprint' on 14 October 2026, a new international framework to prevent and counter cyber-enabled financial fraud threatening global financial systems. The initiative seeks coordinated action among member countries, including India, to strengthen digital financial security and consumer protection — relevant for questions on global financial governance and India's multilateral engagement.

That's a wrap on today's current affairs — revise these points regularly to stay exam-ready!