Current Affairs, 7 October 2026

Entry into force

TEPA took effect on 1 October 2025; the 7 October 2026 summit marked its first anniversary.

Investment commitment

Under Article 7.1, EFTA states aim to raise FDI into India by USD 100 billion over 15 years, and to facilitate one million jobs.

EFTA market access

EFTA covers 92.2% of its tariff lines, which account for 99.6% of India's exports, with full coverage of non-agricultural products.

India's market access

India's commitments cover 82.7% of tariff lines, accounting for 95.3% of EFTA exports.

EFTA membership

EFTA has four members: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It is not part of the European Union.

Investment phasing

USD 50 billion within ten years of entry into force and a further USD 50 billion over the next five years.

Migration MoU aim

The MoU builds migration and mobility cooperation on equal treatment and aims to fight irregular migration, exploitation and trafficking.

Visa and student permits

Multiple-entry visas up to 5 years, with stays up to 6 months per visit, and renewable 1-year student permits.

Young Professionals exchange

300 persons a year per country, which can rise to 500, with 30/90-day timelines for verifying nationality or residency.

Transport MoU

The MoU between Switzerland's EAER and India's Ministry of Road Transport & Highways covers electric vehicles, ropeways, circular economy and tunnels.

AIT India programme

DST and Zurich University of Applied Sciences will run the Indo-Swiss Academia-Industry Training (AIT India) programme for early-stage startups.

EFTA members

EFTA has four members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It is not part of the EU.

Don’t confuse with EFTA vs EU: EFTA is a separate free trade bloc of four non-EU states. The EU is a political and economic union with a customs union.

Don’t confuse with TEPA vs a standard FTA: TEPA is an FTA that also carries an investment aim and jobs target, which most Indian FTAs lack.

Don’t confuse with MoU vs treaty: An MoU is a non-binding understanding; it is not a treaty with legal force.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

1. 2014Mains GS3 · Q18How illegal transborder migration threatens India's security, and strategies to curb it
2. 2015Mains GS1 · Q11Discuss changes in labour migration trends within and outside India over four decades
3. 2025Mains GS3 · Q2Challenges to Indian economy as world shifts from multilateralism to bilateralism, and remedies
4. 2013Mains GS2 · Q20Policy constraints inhibiting India-Japan economic ties growth below their potential
5. 2017Prelims Q82Which bloc did India negotiate the Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) with?
6. 2026Prelims Q69Which statements on migration cooperation platforms (Colombo Process, Abu Dhabi Dialogue, GFMD) are correct
7. 2026Prelims Q75Which listed countries, including Switzerland, are members of the European Union
8. 2023Prelims Q90Whether the UN Global Compact on Migration is binding and covers internal migration

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Parent law

The regulations are made under the NCAHP Act, 2021, which governs the Commission.

Autonomous Boards

Boards sit under State Councils and have 10 to 20 members including a President.

Central Assessment Committee

Where no functional State Council exists, a CAC of 10 to 30 members acts as the Autonomous Boards, under NCAHP supervision.

Registration validity

Registration is valid for five years and renewed on meeting CPD requirements.

UID and registers

Each registered professional gets a UID number; State and Central Registers are synchronised in real time and public.

Legal basis

NCAHP works under the NCAHP Act, 2021, which provides for regulation and standards of education and professional services.

What is standardised

The notification specifies degree names, abbreviations, duration and entry qualifications.

Curricula released

NCAHP has released 18 competency-based curricula covering 28 professions.

Implementation

States and UTs must implement the released curricula from the 2026-27 academic year.

Don’t confuse with NCAHP vs National Medical Commission: NCAHP regulates allied and healthcare professions under the 2021 Act; the NMC regulates medical doctors under the NMC Act, 2019.

Don’t confuse with UGC vs NCAHP role: UGC specifies degree names under the UGC Act. NCAHP sets curricula and professional standards under its own Act.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

1. 2022Mains GS2 · Q5Role of NCBC after transformation from statutory to constitutional body
2. 2015Mains GS2 · Q16Whether regulatory institutions remain independent and autonomous, discussed using recent experiences.
3. 2026Mains GS2 · Q5Whether NCSC and NCST have adequate enforcement powers; suggest measures to improve effectiveness.

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Venue and dates

COP31 is to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026.

Negotiating groups

India will work with G-77 and China, LMDC and BASIC.

Paris Agreement temperature goal

The Paris Agreement aims to hold warming well below 2°C and pursue 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Pre-COP31 venue and hosts

The Pre-COP31 meeting was held in Fiji and co-hosted by Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu.

Temperature goal

The Paris Agreement's long-term goal is to hold the global temperature rise well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Legal basis

The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in 2015 and entered into force in 2016. It is legally binding as a treaty, but national targets (NDCs) are nationally determined.

UNFCCC

The UNFCCC was adopted in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit and has its secretariat in Bonn, Germany.

Don’t confuse with LMDC vs BASIC: LMDC is the Like-Minded Developing Countries group. BASIC is Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

Don’t confuse with Pre-COP vs COP: The Pre-COP is a preparatory ministerial meeting a few weeks before the COP. It does not take binding decisions; the COP is the decision-making body of the Parties.

Don’t confuse with UNFCCC vs Paris Agreement: The UNFCCC (1992) is the parent framework treaty. The Paris Agreement (2015) is a later agreement under it, with the 1.5°C/2°C temperature goal.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

1. 2025Mains GS3 · Q18Review India's Paris Agreement commitments, COP26 strengthening, and the 2022 NDC update
2. 2021Mains GS3 · Q17Describe COP26 outcomes and India's commitments made there
3. 2014Mains GS3 · Q13Should UNFCCC carbon credits and Clean Development Mechanism be maintained despite falling credit value?
4. 2022Mains GS3 · Q17Discuss global warming and control measures under the Kyoto Protocol
5. 2025Prelims Q34Which statements about Article 6 of the Paris Agreement are correct
6. 2016Prelims Q97Which statements on the 2015 Paris Agreement's goals and signing are correct
7. 2018Prelims Q88Which body launched the 'Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now' initiative

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Team composition

Each JOSH team has MY Bharat volunteers, NCC cadets and a Class-I officer.

Pilot scope

The pilot social media campaign covered 11 states and 55 districts and was held on 13 October 2026.

Parent campaign

The PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan was launched on 9 September 2022 as an additional component of the NTEP, to build a Jan Andolan.

Nikshay Poshan Yojana

Launched in 2018, it gives Rs 1,000 per month to each notified TB patient through direct benefit transfer.

BPaLM regimen

BPaLM (Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, Moxifloxacin) is a 6-month regimen for drug-resistant TB.

Full form and partners

JOSH stands for Joint Squad for Health. The Health Ministry is working with the Ministries of Youth Affairs & Sports and Defence.

First phase coverage

The first phase covers 55 districts in 11 States.

Team members

Each team combines Class-I Officers, MY Bharat Volunteers and NCC Cadets.

Division of roles

Health Ministry gives the public health and TB elimination framework. Youth Affairs facilitates MY Bharat Volunteers and Defence facilitates NCC Cadets.

TB Mukt Panchayats

In 2025, 67,933 Panchayats across 697 districts were recognised as TB Mukt.

Khushi Avatar

An AI-powered chatbot, Khushi Avatar, will be launched at the event for TB awareness and engagement.

Don’t confuse with Ni-kshay Mitra vs Nikshay Poshan Yojana: Ni-kshay Mitra is a community supporter who gives food baskets and support. Nikshay Poshan Yojana is a government cash transfer of Rs 1,000 a month to notified patients.

Don’t confuse with NSP 2020-25 vs NTEP: The National Strategic Plan is the 2020-25 roadmap with four pillars. NTEP is the programme that carries it out.

Don’t confuse with JOSH Teams vs Ni-kshay Mitra: JOSH Teams are organised youth and officer squads for community outreach. Ni-kshay Mitra is a separate initiative where donors support TB patients with nutrition and other help.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2018Mains GS2 · Q7Explain why local community-level healthcare intervention is needed for Health for All.
2. 2019Mains GS2 · Q17Role of cross-sector partnership and collaboration in India's development.
3. 2013Mains GS2 · Q15Identify health-related MDGs and discuss government success in achieving them.
4. 2023Prelims Q52Which statements about Anaemia Mukt Bharat strategy interventions are correct?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Nodal ministry and date

MeitY released NSAM in February 2022. It is aligned with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Market and GDP target

NSAM aims for 5% of the global AM market and about US$1 billion added to India's GDP.

Development and Deployment Centres

Seven specialised Development and Deployment Centres support R&D, skilling and hands-on technology access.

STL file

An STL (Standard Tessellation Language) file represents a 3D model as a collection of triangular surfaces. It is a commonly used file format for AM.

Don’t confuse with Additive vs subtractive manufacturing: Additive builds an object up layer by layer. Subtractive methods such as machining cut material away from a block.

Don’t confuse with NSAM vs NAMS: NSAM is the national strategy. NAMS is the National Additive Manufacturing Symposium, a MeitY platform whose 2nd edition was held on 13 March 2026.

Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

1. 2013Mains GS3 · Q16How 3D printing works, and its advantages and disadvantages
2. 2018Prelims Q84Which applications 3D printing has across confectionery, bionic ears, automotive, surgery, data processing

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Who issues it

The NSO under MoSPI released the strategy documents for environmental accounts in India.

Framework endorsed

SEEA has been endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission.

Start of work

MoSPI began work on environment accounts in 2018.

Basis for 2026–30 areas

Areas were chosen mainly from the report 'Green National Account in India: A Framework' and the SEEA-CF framework.

Scope of new strategy

It covers new subjects or wider scope for forest, minerals, soil, land, water, carbon stock, biodiversity and environment statistics.

Link to SNA 2025

System of National Accounts 2025 recognises natural resource accounting within national accounts.

Don’t confuse with SEEA vs SNA: SNA is the core framework for national economic accounts such as GDP; SEEA is a satellite framework that adds environmental assets and flows.

Don’t confuse with Strategy 2022–26 vs 2026–30: The 2022–26 document set areas like material flow, ocean, energy, biodiversity and urban accounts; the 2026–30 one extends it with new subjects and wider scope.

Reports and indices: 14 Prelims questions since 2013; they test who publishes a report and what it measures.

1. 2014Mains GS4 · Q9Balancing economic development against environmental degradation and survival concerns
2. 2016Prelims Q33Aim of Green India Mission, including green accounting in budgets as an option
3. 2022Prelims Q80Meaning of greenwashing, including non-inclusion of environmental costs in accounts

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Developers

Researchers from SNBNCBS Kolkata, INST Mohali (both DST institutes) and SRM University, Amaravati made it.

Performance

The catalyst reached about 96% of the performance of commercial platinum catalysts.

Composition

It uses only abundant elements: carbon, sulfur, nitrogen and hydrogen.

Zn–air battery principle

Oxygen from the air reacts at the electrode through the ORR, so no active cathode material needs to be stored.

Journal

The work was published in Science Advances.

Don’t confuse with Zn–air battery vs hydrogen fuel cell: Both depend on oxygen electrochemistry. A Zn–air battery stores energy in zinc and needs no high-pressure hydrogen storage; a fuel cell needs hydrogen supply.

Don’t confuse with Catalyst vs electrode material: The catalyst speeds up the ORR at the air electrode. It is not the zinc anode, which is consumed.

Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

1. 2010Prelims Q36Which substance is the exhaust of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles? Water (H2O)
2. 2024Prelims Q37Which exhaust emission comes from hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles? Water vapour

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Charges waived

Proof and testing charges are waived for iDEX, TDF, Make and other developmental projects of the MoD.

Dispute resolution

Arbitration in the old SOP is replaced by a Conciliation Agreement Clause for faster settlement of issues.

Reserved slot

Proof Ranges reserve a three-day slot each quarter for developmental projects, including those the industry takes up on its own.

Facilities covered

The SOP lists the ranges and labs of DRDO, Government quality assurance agencies and the three Services open to industry.

iDEX

iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) is the MoD scheme that engages start-ups, MSMEs and innovators in defence innovation.

Don’t confuse with iDEX vs TDF: iDEX works with start-ups and innovators through challenges. The Technology Development Fund (TDF) funds industry, especially MSMEs, to build prototypes for defence technology.

Don’t confuse with Arbitration vs Conciliation: Arbitration gives a binding award by an arbitrator. Conciliation is a negotiated settlement helped by a conciliator, and is usually quicker.

Defence: Prelims tests exercises (with whom), equipment (who makes it) and firsts.

1. 2026Mains GS4 · Q12Ethics case on selling domestically produced weapons abroad amid production constraints
2. 2020Mains GS4 · Q8Ethics case on a missile company's indigenous ATGM development and self-reliance
3. 2014Mains GS3 · Q9Influence of liberalised FDI in defence on Indian defence and economy

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Evolution of India's system

India's satellite-aided search and rescue moved from LEOSAR to GEOSAR and is now moving towards MEOSAR.

MEOLUT

The Indian MEOLUT has achieved full operations capability, a step ISRO is credited with.

Indian Search and Rescue Region

The NMSAR Board reviewed preparedness across the 4.6 million sq km Indian Search and Rescue Region.

NMSAR Board

The Director General of the Indian Coast Guard chairs the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board.

SAREX-2026 scope

A multi-agency exercise with 32 delegates from 30 foreign nations observing, aimed at preparedness and interoperability.

Cospas-Sarsat

Cospas-Sarsat is an international humanitarian programme that detects distress beacons through satellites and passes locations to rescue authorities.

Don’t confuse with LEOSAR vs GEOSAR vs MEOSAR: LEOSAR uses low polar-orbit satellites, GEOSAR uses geostationary satellites with fixed view, and MEOSAR uses medium-orbit navigation satellites for wider coverage and faster detection.

Don’t confuse with LUT vs MEOLUT: A Local User Terminal is a ground station for processing beacon signals; MEOLUT is the type that works with MEOSAR satellites.

Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

1. 2022Mains GS3 · Q10Maritime security challenges in India and organisational, technical, procedural initiatives
2. 2023Mains GS2 · Q20IMO's role in maritime safety, security and environment protection
3. 2015Mains GS4 · Q12Managing disaster response for over 100000 trapped pilgrims and tourists
4. 2022Prelims Q77Describe the Polar Code: international safety code for polar shipping.
5. 2023Prelims Q57Which country among the options has its own satellite navigation system?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

PMGSY-IV outlay

PMGSY-IV has an outlay of ₹70,125 crore.

PMGSY-IV target

About 62,500 km of all-weather roads to connect 25,000 eligible unconnected habitations.

Progress so far

Around 8 lakh km of rural roads have been built over 25 years in different phases.

Maintenance period

Contractors are responsible for maintenance during a stipulated five-year period.

Monitoring tools

OMMAS, GPS-VTS, AI, geo-tagged evidence and data analytics are to be used for monitoring and maintenance.

Launch

PMGSY was launched in December 2000 as a centrally sponsored scheme.

Don’t confuse with PMGSY vs PMGSY-IV: PMGSY is the overall programme begun in 2000. PMGSY-IV is its latest phase, with ₹70,125 crore for 25,000 habitations.

Don’t confuse with MoRD vs NRIDA: MoRD is the ministry that runs the scheme. NRIDA is the agency under it that gives technical and management support.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2013Mains GS2 · Q14Comment on PURA being rooted in establishing rural connectivity.
2. 2022Mains GS2 · Q6Discuss government-private coordination needed under Gati-Shakti to achieve connectivity goals.
3. 2020Prelims Q78Which techniques ensure environmental sustainability or lower carbon footprint in rural road construction?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.