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Daily Current Affairs: 23 October 2026

Current affairs of 23 October 2026: FSDC 30th meeting: FM Sitharaman reviews financial stability risks; RBI Leverage Ratio Directions: Basel 2017 Standard from April 2027; RBI Basel III operational risk rules to apply from April 1, 2027, and 22 more topics. Key facts for every exam, with a quiz.

Take the quiz (15 questions)October 2026
22 TOPICSDaily CurrentAffairs23 October 2026In focus: FSDC 30th meeting: FM Sitharaman…safalsetu.com

In this issue: 22 topics

National Affairs

  1. Civil Defence Network: MHA-Army pilot in 12 states/UTs
  2. Pharma Marketing Review Committee under Dr M. Srinivas set up

Government Schemes

  1. NMMS app upgraded with AI face checks for VB-G RAM G attendance

Banking & Finance

  1. FSDC 30th meeting: FM Sitharaman reviews financial stability risks
  2. RBI Leverage Ratio Directions: Basel 2017 Standard from April 2027
  3. RBI Basel III operational risk rules to apply from April 1, 2027
  4. Sagarmala Finance Corporation disburses Rs 5,107 crore; office opened
  5. FEMA compounding: RBI delegates powers to its Regional Offices

Economy

  1. GST Rule 14B: Simplified registration for e-commerce sellers from Nov 1
  2. RBI Bulletin October 2026: WALR transmission, NBFCs, nowcasting
  3. Forex reserves fall $5 billion to $721 billion in week to Oct 16

International Affairs

  1. LAC: India, China agree to discuss better understanding of border

Agriculture & Rural

  1. Inland fisheries: India begins drafting small-scale fisheries NPOA

Science & Technology

  1. ARIES study links black hole spin to quasi-periodic oscillations
  2. Mosqivac: Bharat Biotech cuts malaria vaccine price by 40%

Environment & Ecology

  1. Loss and Damage Fund makes first allocation: $20 million for Nepal
  2. Delhi-NCR air pollution: CAQM in Punjab, MoEFCC reviews UP plan

Defence & Security

  1. INDRA 2026: India-Russia naval exercise concludes at Vladivostok
  2. Land Warfare Doctrine released by Rajnath Singh at Army meet

Reports & Indexes

  1. PLFS to add digital platform worker stratum from January 2027

Awards & Persons

  1. Ameena Nazreen wins Global Youth Institute Award at Borlaug Dialogue
  2. Asian Para Games 2026: India crosses 100 medals in Aichi-Nagoya

National Affairs

Polity & Governance

1. Civil Defence Network: MHA-Army pilot in 12 states/UTs

  • DG Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards (MHA) began a pilot with the Indian Army to build a civil defence network.
  • Phase 1 covers 12 states/UTs, with 50 master trainers from each, totalling 600.
  • Each master trainer will train 100 volunteers, potentially creating about 60,000 civil defence volunteers.
  • Three-day Army-run training to be completed by the second week of November 2026.
  • Initiative follows PM Modi's Independence Day address from the Red Fort on 15 August 2026.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Government Schemes

Government Schemes

3. NMMS app upgraded with AI face checks for VB-G RAM G attendance

  • Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched an upgraded National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app in New Delhi on 23 October 2026.
  • The app, built with technical support from IIT Madras, records worker attendance under VB-G RAM G.
  • New features include liveness detection, Google Play Integrity checks, anti-cloning safeguards and offline attendance.
  • Nearly 46 crore person-days generated since 1 July 2026, about 40 crore recorded through face authentication.
  • Centre's allocation for 2026-27 is Rs 95,692 crore; total provision with state share exceeds Rs 1.51 lakh crore.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Banking & Finance

Economy

4. FSDC 30th meeting: FM Sitharaman reviews financial stability risks

  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 30th FSDC meeting in New Delhi on 23 October 2026.
  • Council flagged geopolitical uncertainty, the AI boom and a steep rise in global bond yields as macro-financial risks.
  • FSDC took note of the Financial Sector Cyber Security Strategy (FSCSS) prepared by an Inter-Ministerial Group.
  • Faster refund of unclaimed deposits, dividends, shares, insurance and pension money was urged; the 'Your Money, Your Right' campaign works at district level.
  • The FSDC Sub-Committee is chaired by the RBI Governor, currently Sanjay Malhotra.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Banking & Finance

5. RBI Leverage Ratio Directions: Basel 2017 Standard from April 2027

  • RBI issued the final Leverage Ratio 2017 Standard directions on 23 October 2026, effective from 1 April 2027.
  • They were notified as the Commercial Banks – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy Eleventh Amendment Directions, 2026 (RBI/2026-27/297).
  • Minimum leverage ratio: 4% for D-SIBs and 3.5% for other banks, to be maintained at all times.
  • The draft came out on 7 August 2026, with public comments accepted until 28 August 2026.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Banking & Finance

6. RBI Basel III operational risk rules to apply from April 1, 2027

  • RBI issued the Commercial Banks (Forthcoming Instructions) Second Amendment Directions, 2026 on 23 October 2026.
  • The Directions cover minimum capital requirements for operational risk under the new Basel III Standardised Approach.
  • Chapter IV on operational risk capital takes effect from April 1, 2027.
  • An indicative mapping of Business Indicator (BI) components to financial statement items has been provided.
  • The Loss Component equals 15 times average annual operational risk losses, net of recoveries.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Economy

7. Sagarmala Finance Corporation disburses Rs 5,107 crore; office opened

  • Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the corporate office of Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) in New Delhi on 23 October 2026.
  • SMFCL is India's first dedicated NBFC for the maritime sector, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
  • By 30 September 2026, SMFCL had sanctioned Rs 11,563 crore and disbursed Rs 5,107 crore.
  • Target: cumulative disbursements of Rs 60,205 crore by the end of FY2031.
  • SBI Ventures Limited manages the Maritime Investment Fund; first close of Rs 5,000 crore targeted for January 2027.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Economy

8. FEMA compounding: RBI delegates powers to its Regional Offices

  • RBI issued A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 28/2026-27 on October 23, 2026 on compounding under FEMA, 1999.
  • Compounding of overseas investment, borrowing and lending, and guarantee contraventions moves from Central Office to select Regional Offices.
  • Overseas investment cases are routed to Regional Offices on the basis of the UIN prefix.
  • Cases without a UIN or spanning multiple categories go to CEFA, Foreign Exchange Department, Central Office, Mumbai.
  • The directions were issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of FEMA, 1999.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Economy

Economy

9. GST Rule 14B: Simplified registration for e-commerce sellers from Nov 1

  • Simplified GST registration for small sellers trading only via e-commerce operators goes live on the GST portal from 1 November 2026.
  • It is an optional route under the new Rule 14B of the CGST Rules, 2017.
  • Eligible sellers may pass on input tax credit of at most ₹2.5 lakh per month.
  • The e-commerce platform's warehouse can be named as the principal place of business in other states.
  • The facility was recommended by the 57th meeting of the GST Council.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Economy

10. RBI Bulletin October 2026: WALR transmission, NBFCs, nowcasting

  • RBI released its October 2026 Bulletin on 23 October 2026, with four articles alongside speeches and current statistics.
  • A cumulative 125 bps repo cut lowered WALR on fresh loans by 93 bps between February 2025 and March 2026.
  • Of that 93 bps fall, 80 bps came from the interest rate effect and 13 bps from the composition effect.
  • Headline CPI inflation rose in September, and merchandise exports grew at double-digit rates in H1 2026-27.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

International Affairs

International Relations

12. LAC: India, China agree to discuss better understanding of border

  • MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India and China agreed to discuss ways to improve understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas.
  • Both sides use existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the LAC.
  • Remarks came on 23 October 2026 in reply to queries on recent comments by the DG of ITBP.
  • Jaiswal said deviations by Chinese forces from established patrolling patterns disturb the situation from time to time.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Agriculture & Rural

Government Schemes

13. Inland fisheries: India begins drafting small-scale fisheries NPOA

  • The Department of Fisheries and BOBP-IGO began developing a National Plan of Action for small-scale inland fisheries under an FAO framework.
  • Fisheries Secretary Dr Abhilaksh Likhi launched the development phase at a two-day national workshop in Bhopal.
  • India produces 19.7 million tonnes of fish a year, and inland fisheries contribute about three-fourths.
  • India targets 30 million tonnes of fish production in the next five years.
  • Seafood exports have crossed Rs 70,000 crore and are expected to reach Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Science & Technology

Science & Technology

14. ARIES study links black hole spin to quasi-periodic oscillations

  • ARIES, an autonomous institute of DST, studied how black hole spin affects quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs).
  • QPOs were linked to an oscillating accretion shock that turns unstable when viscosity exceeds a critical value.
  • For very fast spin, predicted QPO frequencies can exceed 100 Hz for a black hole of about ten solar masses.
  • The study appeared in the Journal of High Energy Astrophysics (JHEAP).
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Science & Technology

15. Mosqivac: Bharat Biotech cuts malaria vaccine price by 40%

  • Mosqivac (RTS,S/AS01) price to fall from €9.30 to €5.50 per dose, about 40%, from early 2027.
  • Bharat Biotech makes the vaccine under technology transfer from GSK; UNICEF will execute the deal with Gavi's financial backing.
  • Expected savings of $50 million over 2027-2029, enough to protect one million more children.
  • WHO recommended RTS,S in 2021 as the first malaria vaccine; Gavi-funded programmes run in 25 African countries.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Environment & Ecology

Environment & Ecology

16. Loss and Damage Fund makes first allocation: $20 million for Nepal

  • The FRLD board agreed on 22 October 2026 to set aside $20 million for Nepal, plus $1.6 million in administrative costs.
  • The decision came at an extraordinary board meeting held online.
  • The money supports recovery from the August 2026 floods; recovery and reconstruction are estimated at $4.8 billion.
  • Co-chair Camila Minerva Rodriguez called it truly historic, the fund's first allocation since it was set up three years earlier.
  • The next board meeting is in the Philippines in December.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Polity & Governance

17. Delhi-NCR air pollution: CAQM in Punjab, MoEFCC reviews UP plan

  • A CAQM Chairman-led team reviewed paddy stubble management in Ropar, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar districts of Punjab.
  • Punjab officials were told to meet co-firing targets at thermal power plants and ensure timely supply of CRM machines.
  • MoEFCC Secretary Narendra Bhushan reviewed Uttar Pradesh's NCR action plan on 23 October 2026; the state reported 11 major steps.
  • He suggested ANPR cameras at fuel stations for 'No PUCC, No Fuel' and Namo Van under Nagar Van Yojana.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Defence & Security

International Relations

18. INDRA 2026: India-Russia naval exercise concludes at Vladivostok

  • INDRA 2026, a bilateral exercise of the Indian Navy and Russian Federation Navy, concluded; INS Sahyadri left Vladivostok on 20 October 2026.
  • Sea phase covered coordinated manoeuvres, integrated communications, helicopter operations and medical evacuation drills.
  • INDRA, named by combining India and Russia, began in 2003.
  • INS Trishul ended its port call at Lisbon, Portugal, on 21 October 2026.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›
Defence & Security

19. Land Warfare Doctrine released by Rajnath Singh at Army meet

  • Rajnath Singh released the Land Warfare Doctrine at the Army Commanders' Conference in New Delhi on 23 October 2026.
  • He also unveiled the annual United Nations Journal and honoured Army personnel who served as UN peacekeepers.
  • He urged a strategic vision covering the next 20 to 30 years and credited Operation Sindoor's success to synergy and advanced weaponry.
  • Indian Navy will host IPRD-2026 at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, on 3-5 November 2026.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Reports & Indexes

Economy

20. PLFS to add digital platform worker stratum from January 2027

  • NSO under MoSPI proposed changes to the PLFS schedule and estimation procedure from January 2027 and invited comments within 15 days.
  • Fresh samples for 2027-2028, called Panel 6, will be drawn from an updated sampling frame.
  • A new second-stage stratum for digital platform work gives rural areas four strata and urban areas five.
  • A new question will ask if any household member did digital platform work in the reference period.
  • Questions on unpaid activities will cover persons aged 15 and above.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Awards & Persons

Agriculture & Rural Development

21. Ameena Nazreen wins Global Youth Institute Award at Borlaug Dialogue

  • Ameena Nazreen A S won the Global Youth Institute (GYI) Award, carrying a US$500 cash prize.
  • The 2026 Norman E Borlaug International Dialogue ran from 20 to 22 October 2026 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
  • Theme of the 2026 Dialogue: 'Before Hunger Wins'; it is organised by the World Food Prize Foundation.
  • NAAS signed an MoU with the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), USA.
  • Seven Indian high school students chosen through NAAS-YUVA presented research papers at the GYI.
Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Test yourself

15 questions from the news of 23 October 2026, with answers and explanations.

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