Current Affairs, 9 October 2026

No small notices

No show cause notice will be issued where the tax amount involved is below ₹10,000.

Refund acknowledgement

The refund acknowledgement period would be cut from 15 to 10 days, with deemed acknowledgement if there is no response.

Constitutional basis

The Council is established under Article 279A of the Constitution, inserted by the 101st Amendment Act, 2016.

Late fee relief

Late fees for delayed returns would be waived for taxpayers with previous-year turnover up to ₹5 crore, if filed by the end of the due month.

Chair and meeting

The 57th meeting was chaired by the Union Finance Minister in New Delhi. Ministers from States and UTs with legislatures attended.

Arrest powers

The Council recommended removing arrest powers under GST by omitting section 69 of the CGST Act.

Prosecution threshold

The monetary threshold for prosecution would rise from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore.

General penalty

The maximum general penalty under section 125 of the CGST Act would fall from Rs 25,000 to Rs 10,000.

Legal force

The release is only a summary. The recommendations gain legal force through circulars, notifications and law amendments.

Don’t confuse with Zero-rated vs exempt supply: Zero-rated supplies (exports, supplies to SEZs) allow ITC refund; exempt supplies do not.

Don’t confuse with Recommendation vs law: Council recommendations need amendments, circulars or notifications to take effect; they are not themselves law.

Don’t confuse with 56th vs 57th meeting: The 56th meeting (last year) focused on rate rationalisation and reduction. The 57th focused on process reforms: registration, returns, refunds and adjudication.

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. 2017Mains GS2 · Q11Salient features of 101st Amendment Act; whether it removes cascading taxes
2. 2023Mains GS2 · Q15Significance of 101st Amendment and its reflection of federal accommodation
3. 2020Mains GS3 · Q12Rationale of GST compensation law and COVID impact on federal tensions

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

Proposing instrument

The amendment is proposed through G.S.R. No. 953(E) dated 28 October 2026, issued by the Health Ministry.

Grade A areas

These are critical zones in sterile manufacturing where exposed products, containers and sterilised components are handled.

Investigation trigger

Any microbial growth detected in Grade A areas would be treated as a trigger for investigation, following WHO guidance.

Consultation

Stakeholders and the public can send objections and suggestions to the Under Secretary (Drugs Regulation) of the Health Ministry.

Parent law

The Drugs Rules, 1945 are made under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Gap addressed

Existing curbs cover manufacturers only; sellers were not explicitly covered.

Advisory body

The proposal follows the 93rd meeting of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, held on 16 February 2026.

Consultation period

Objections and suggestions are invited within 30 days of the Gazette copies being made available to the public.

New power

The Licensing Authority can debar further applications by entities that submit fake or fabricated data.

Scope

It applies to all applications filed under the various provisions of the Drugs Rules, 1945.

Earlier position

Earlier, the penalties were rejection of the application and/or cancellation of existing licences.

Safeguards

A show-cause notice must be issued before any such action, and an appeal is provided.

Parent Act

The Rules are made under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Don’t confuse with Schedule M vs Schedules H, H1, X: Schedule M deals with manufacturing practices (GMP) and premises. Schedules H, H1 and X list prescription-only drugs and control their sale.

Don’t confuse with Schedule H vs H1 vs X: All are prescription-only lists. H1 (e.g. certain antibiotics) and X (e.g. narcotic and psychotropic substances) carry stricter record-keeping and storage rules.

Don’t confuse with Drugs Rules, 1945 vs Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: The Act is the parent law passed by Parliament; the Rules are subordinate legislation made by the executive under it.

Don’t confuse with Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 vs Drugs Rules, 1945: The Act is the parent law passed by Parliament. The Rules are subordinate legislation made under it by the Government, and amended by G.S.R. notifications.

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. 2013Mains GS3 · Q14Define Fixed Dose Drug Combinations and discuss their merits and demerits.
2. 2020Mains GS4 · Q4Distinguish between laws and rules, and discuss the role of ethics in framing them
3. 2014Mains GS3 · Q11Whether free antibiotic sales cause drug resistance, and what monitoring and control mechanisms exist.

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

Venue and dates

The 15th Joint Committee met at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, on 6-9 October 2026, in hybrid format.

Co-chairs

The meeting was co-chaired by India's Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, and Malaysia's Deputy Secretary General (Trade).

Sub-committees

Three of the eight sub-committees met: Legal and Institutional Issues, National Treatment on Market Access, and Rules of Origin.

Next meeting

The next Joint Committee meeting is due in January 2027 in India, in hybrid mode.

Entry into force

AITIGA was signed in 2009 and came into force on 1 January 2010.

Participants

All ten ASEAN members took part: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

In force

AITIGA came into force on 1 January 2010 and covers goods only, not services or investment.

Don’t confuse with AITIGA vs ASEAN-India FTA: AITIGA is the goods agreement of 2009. The wider ASEAN-India FTA also includes the services and investment agreements, which came later.

Don’t confuse with AITIGA vs RCEP: RCEP is a separate 15-member pact that India chose not to join in 2019. AITIGA is India's bilateral-with-ASEAN goods pact.

Don’t confuse with AITIGA vs ASEAN-India FTA in services and investment: AITIGA covers goods only. Services and investment are covered by separate agreements signed later.

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 GS2 · Q17Impact on India's interests of zero tariffs on IT products under ITAs.
2. 2025Mains GS3 · Q2Challenges to India's economy as trade shifts from multilateralism to protectionism.
3. 2026Mains GS1 · Q16Examine the shift of global trade centre to Indo-Pacific region.
4. 2016Mains GS2 · Q18Evaluate economic and strategic dimensions of India's Look East Policy post Cold War.
5. 2010Prelims Q15Which body's affairs involve the phrase 'Special Safeguard Mechanisms' (ASEAN-India FTA option)?

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

Who issued it

The National Statistics Office under MoSPI prepared the draft guideline.

Expenditure components

Covers PFCE, GFCE, GFCF, changes in inventories, valuables and net exports.

Current State practice

Some States/UTs compile GFCF and GFCE, but none compiles PFCE.

Missing data

Where direct State-level data are lacking, allocation methods and indicators are recommended.

Expenditure identity

GDP by expenditure = C + I + G + (X - M).

Release and update dates

MoSPI released the series on 27 February 2026 and updated it on 31 August 2026 to reflect new PPI and IIP series.

Advisory Committee (ACNAS)

MoSPI set up ACNAS under Prof. B.N. Goldar on 27 June 2024. It formed four sub-committees, one of them on Regional Accounts chaired by Prof. R.H. Dholakia.

Consumption classification

Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) now uses the UN's COICOP 2018 classification.

Quarterly GDP method

Quarterly accounts replace the old benchmarking method with the Proportional Denton approach and use more GST and administrative data.

Household sector data

Household sector estimates now come directly from two MoSPI surveys, ASUSE and PLFS.

Don’t confuse with GDP vs GVA: GVA is output minus intermediate consumption; GDP equals GVA plus taxes minus subsidies on products.

Don’t confuse with PFCE vs GFCE: PFCE is household (and NPISH) spending; GFCE is government spending on collective and individual services.

Don’t confuse with Production vs expenditure approach: The production approach sums value added by sectors (GVA). The expenditure approach sums final spending: consumption, investment and net exports.

Don’t confuse with GVA vs GDP: GVA is output minus intermediate consumption. GDP is GVA plus taxes on products minus subsidies on products.

Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

1. 2021Mains GS3 · Q1Explains how India's GDP computation methodology changed after 2015
2. 2013Mains ESSAY · Q3Whether GDP alongside GDH is a right index of national well-being
3. 2001Prelims Q89Matches publishers with publications, including which body publishes National Accounts Statistics

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

Launch

Tele-MANAS was launched on 10 October 2022, which is also World Mental Health Day.

Reach

47,75,644 calls received and 53 cells operational across all 36 States and UTs as of October 2026.

DMHP

The District Mental Health Programme is sanctioned in 767 districts with support under the National Health Mission; it is part of the National Mental Health Programme.

Primary care link

Mental health services are integrated into the Comprehensive Primary Health Care package at over 1.83 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

Cells and coverage

As of 2 February 2026, 36 States/UTs have set up 53 Tele-MANAS Cells.

Mobile app

The app was launched on World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2024. It covers issues from well-being to mental disorders and has an interface for visually challenged users.

Armed Forces cell

A dedicated cell at AFMC Pune serves Armed Forces personnel and their dependents.

WHO assessment

WHO India published a Rapid Assessment Report on Tele-MANAS in 2024, covering reach, utilisation and user experience.

Don’t confuse with Tele-MANAS vs DMHP: Tele-MANAS is a national tele-counselling helpline (14416). DMHP is a district-based programme for outpatient, inpatient and outreach care under the National Mental Health Programme.

Don’t confuse with Tele-MANAS vs MANN Jaagriti: Tele-MANAS delivers counselling; MANN Jaagriti is a community awareness initiative for literacy and stigma reduction.

Don’t confuse with Tele-MANAS vs Tele-MANAS app: The helpline (audio, now also video) began in 2022. The mobile app came later, on 10 October 2024.

Don’t confuse with Tele-MANAS vs National Mental Health Programme: The National Mental Health Programme (1982) is the older, broader programme. Tele-MANAS is a 2022 tele-counselling service.

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. 2022Mains GS4 · Q4Discuss ethical issues of online methods, especially telemedicine, for vulnerable sections of society.
2. 2024Mains GS2 · Q17Measures for State to enhance grassroots public healthcare reach
3. 2024Mains ESSAY · Q5Social media fuelling FOMO, depression and loneliness among youth

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

Legal basis

KVIC is a statutory body created by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956.

Mandate

The Act directs KVIC to plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist village industries, covering training, raw materials, marketing, research and quality.

PMEGP

Since March 2008, PMEGP has given employment to about 97.95 lakh people through KVIC.

Interest subsidy

Under the Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certificate Scheme, eligible Khadi institutions get credit at 4% a year.

Ministry

KVIC functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Khadi vs handloom

Hand spinning is what separates Khadi from handloom.

Employment schemes

Khadi Vikas Yojana, Gramodyog Vikas Yojana and PMEGP support jobs in the sector.

Women artisans

About 80 per cent of the roughly half a million Khadi artisans are women.

GI tag

Ponduru Khadi has received a GI tag to improve value realisation.

Income impact

An EDII, Ahmedabad study found over 75 per cent of artisans saw income rise.

Don’t confuse with KVIC vs Khadi institutions: KVIC is the statutory apex body. Khadi institutions are the registered producer bodies it assists through schemes, such as the 1,097 funded under Khadi Vikas Yojana in 2024-25.

Don’t confuse with Khadi Vikas Yojana vs Gramodyog Vikas Yojana: Khadi Vikas Yojana helps Khadi institutions with products and market assistance. Gramodyog Vikas Yojana gives artisans machines, toolkits and equipment.

Don’t confuse with Khadi vs handloom: Khadi is hand-spun and hand-woven. Handloom fabric is hand-woven but may use mill-spun yarn.

Don’t confuse with KVIC vs PMEGP: KVIC is the statutory body. PMEGP is a credit-linked subsidy scheme that KVIC implements as the nodal agency.

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. 2021Mains GS1 · Q12Gandhi's constructive programmes during Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements
2. 2023Mains GS3 · Q1Government policies to raise MSME share in manufacturing and GDP
3. 2024Mains GS1 · Q13How far Industrial Revolution caused decline of Indian handicrafts and cottage industries.
4. 2019Mains GS1 · Q6Whether regional resource-based manufacturing can promote employment in India
5. 2012Prelims Q6Which DPSP provisions include promoting cottage industries in rural areas
6. 2023Prelims Q83Statements on National Handloom Day and the 1905 Swadeshi Movement launch.

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

Parent body

NLMC is a Government of India company under the Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance.

Mandate

It facilitates monetisation of surplus land and building assets of CPSEs and other government agencies.

Platform and consultant

Bidding ran on RailTel's E-Nivida platform, with Quikr India Private Limited as Transaction Consultant.

Parent department

NLMC works under the Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance.

Role in this sale

NLMC facilitates the sale on behalf of the owner, HIL (India) Limited. It does not own the land.

Mode of sale

Two-stage process: e-tender, then e-auction, as an outright sale of freehold land.

Platform

The auction runs on the e-Nivida platform, with RailTel assisting on registration and the e-auction.

Ownership and control

NLMC is a 100% Government of India company under the administrative control of the Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance.

RINL land on offer

459 parcels totalling 93,572.21 square yards at HB Colony, Maddilapalem and Auto Nagar, Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam.

RINL status

RINL, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, is a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Steel.

Don’t confuse with NLMC vs NAMCL: NLMC deals with surplus land and buildings of CPSEs and government agencies. NARCL/NAMCL deal with stressed bank assets, not land.

Don’t confuse with NLMC vs National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP): NLMC sells surplus land and non-core assets of CPSEs and government bodies. The NMP is a wider NITI Aayog-led plan to lease operating infrastructure assets, such as roads and railways, to private players.

Don’t confuse with Monetisation vs disinvestment: Monetisation sells or leases assets, here land. Disinvestment sells government equity in a company.

Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

1. 2022Mains GS3 · Q1Why PPP needed in infrastructure; its role in railway redevelopment.
2. 2014Mains GS3 · Q5Issues addressed by 2013 land acquisition Act; implications for industry.
3. 2015Mains GS3 · Q7Merits of Gold Monetization Scheme to curb gold imports.
4. 2014Mains GS3 · Q7How PPP in long-gestation projects can shift unsustainable liabilities to future generations
5. 2025Prelims Q10Which statements on capital receipts (including disinvestment) are correct.
6. 2025Prelims Q5Is rural agricultural land a capital asset under Income-tax Act?

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

Launch year

The campaign was launched in 2015.

Three focus areas

The campaign covers the built environment, transport systems, and information and communication technology (ICT).

Nodal body

DEPwD, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, leads the initiative.

Legal backdrop

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 is the legal framework for accessibility standards and implementation.

Measurement focus

Roundtables discussed accessibility data and a credible framework to measure accessibility across sectors.

Don’t confuse with Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan vs RPwD Act, 2016: The Abhiyan is a campaign (scheme) launched in 2015; the RPwD Act, 2016 is the statute that gives rights and accessibility mandates.

Don’t confuse with DEPwD vs Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities: DEPwD is the ministry department that runs policy and schemes; the Chief Commissioner's office is a separate statutory body under the RPwD Act that monitors rights and handles grievances.

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. 2022Mains GS2 · Q7Comment on RPwD Act 2016 being merely legal without sensitisation of officials and citizens.
2. 2017Mains GS2 · Q7Does the RPwD Act 2016 ensure effective empowerment and inclusion of beneficiaries? Discuss.
3. 2026Mains GS1 · Q9Define disability and substantiate the need for an inclusive policy framework in India.
4. 2026Prelims Q56Which statements on PwD rights and Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan's three accessibility domains are correct?

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