Daily Current Affairs - 06-10-2026

National News

States Divided Over the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, passed by Parliament, expands the Centre’s regulatory powers over mining to include mines, mineral development and mineral-bearing lands, restricts State governments from imposing new taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands except under conditions prescribed by the Union government, and cancels certain uncollected mineral taxes imposed before the Act came into force. Under the Constitution of India, mining and minerals fall under both the Centre and States, with Entry 23 of the State List empowering States to regulate mines and minerals subject to Entry 54 of the Union List, while Entries 50 and 49 of the State List provide States with powers to tax mineral rights and land. The Supreme Court in 2024 held that States can tax mineral rights subject to Parliament’s power to limit such taxation in the public interest, while taxation of mineral-bearing land cannot be curtailed through Parliament’s powers under Entry 54. Mineral-related receipts constitute 85% of non-tax revenue in Jharkhand, 80% in Odisha, 48% in Karnataka, 41% in Madhya Pradesh, 39% in Rajasthan, 11% in Telangana, and 6% in Chhattisgarh. Karnataka, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala are planning to challenge the amended law before the Supreme Court, while Jharkhand has also raised objections.

Reintroduction of Tigers in Buxa Tiger Reserve

On October 2, 2026, a three-year-old tigress, T138, was released in Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, marking the beginning of a phased programme to establish a viable and self-sustaining tiger population. The tigress was translocated from Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar, and will undergo post-release monitoring through telemetry, camera trapping and field-based monitoring. Buxa Tiger Reserve, declared in 1983, is the 15th tiger reserve in India and is located in the Alipurduar Sub-division of Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal, covering 760.87 sq. km. It has ecological connectivity with the forests of Bhutan, Kochugaon forests, Manas Tiger Reserve and Jaldapara National Park. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) initiated a tiger reintroduction programme in 2018 after identifying the absence of tigers in Buxa, Dampa and Palamu Tiger Reserves; Valmiki Tiger Reserve was selected because of its similarity in terrain to Buxa and its location in the easternmost part of the Terai Arc Landscape. Tiger reintroduction in India began in 2008 with successful reintroduction in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, and Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, and has subsequently been undertaken in 12 tiger reserves. The programme is implemented through collaboration among the NTCA, State Governments and Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The NTCA has also prepared a protocol covering feasibility studies, site selection, suitability of release stock, socio-economic requirements, release preparation and post-release activities. Key challenges at Buxa include habitat degradation and fragmentation, reduced prey availability, human settlements, linear infrastructure and heavy commercial traffic.

Accessibility and Artificial Intelligence for Persons with Disabilities

The Supreme Court’s Rajive Raturi judgment (November 2024) recognised accessibility as an aspect of the fundamental right to life and dignity and directed the Centre to frame mandatory accessibility standards. Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, accessible digital services have been required since 2019; the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has penalised 155 establishments, including government ministries, for inaccessible websites and applications. A study using AccessEval, a benchmark covering nine types of disabilities, assessed 21 language models and found increased errors, negative tone and stereotyping when disability-related queries were introduced. A study of the CLIP image model found 15 percentage points lower accuracy on photographs taken by blind and low-vision users compared with web images, while disability-related objects such as white canes and Braille displays appeared significantly less frequently in training datasets. A survey of 2,462 NClude platform users found that 1,313 users completed tasks that had previously been inaccessible to them, while 543 users were able to complete them using AI alone. India’s data-centre capacity is projected to exceed 6.5 gigawatts by 2030, with Maharashtra reducing the renewable-energy requirement for data centres from 100% to 51%. Key measures proposed include disability-bias testing of government AI systems, genuine representation of persons with disabilities in training datasets, and conditions relating to renewable energy, grid impact and heat impact for State incentives to data centres.

Great Indian Bustard Conservation and Landscape-Based Protection

Two male Great Indian Bustards were released into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, as part of a conservation programme that now includes 97 birds, with nine more awaiting release. Of these, 57 are captive-bred birds, which produced 29 chicks in 2026 and 24 chicks in 2025. The Great Indian Bustard, locally known as Godawan, has experienced a severe population decline from about 1,260 birds in 1969 to around 600 in 2000 and 140–175 in Rajasthan during the 2010s. Ornithologist Salim Ali had proposed the species as India’s national bird, but the Indian Board for Wildlife selected the peacock. Major threats include hunting, conversion of grasslands into irrigated agricultural fields, roads and high-tension power lines. In 2021, the Supreme Court directed that low-voltage power lines in priority Great Indian Bustard habitats be placed underground, and later modified the order to cover only a subset of lines within the species’ critical habitat. The conservation programme highlights the importance of protecting habitats and landscapes, as several threatened bird species are facing population declines; around 1,256 bird species, approximately 11.5% of the world’s bird species, are classified as threatened.

Advisory Meeting to Standardize Technical Terms in Four Languages

The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) conducted a national expert committee advisory meeting at the CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), Chennai, from October 5 to October 8, 2026, to review and refine basic technical terminology related to Information Technology in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The CSTT, headquartered in New Delhi, functions under the Union Ministry of Education. The meeting was inaugurated by Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC, in the presence of Deepak Kumar, Assistant Director, CSTT. The committee included experts from Dravidian University, Kuppam, VIT, Vellore, University of Madras, International Institute of Tamil Studies, CSIR-SERC, Chennai, and Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Tirupati. The meeting focused on the accurate and systematic standardization of technical terms for use by students, teachers, researchers and working professionals across India.

AI Safety Institute Proposed to Address Cyber Fraud Risks

Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, called for an AI Safety Institute in India to address emerging risks from cyber fraud, including misuse of UPI. The book “Cashless Nation”, co-authored by Sandhya Balu and Sampoorthy, covering developments in Unified Payments Interface (UPI), was released by Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister, at an event in Bengaluru. Participants included Raghuram Rajan, former RBI Governor, Soumya Swaminathan, Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, Balasubramanian, former NPCI Chairman, and Sundar Raman Ramamurthy, Managing Director of the Bombay Stock Exchange. According to the figures cited at the event, in 2025–26, India’s GDP was ₹346 lakh crore, while the value of UPI transactions was ₹314 lakh crore. UPI was identified as an important component of India’s digital payments system, while AI safety was highlighted in the context of preventing cyber fraud and misuse of digital payment systems.

International News

India-Switzerland Bilateral Cooperation and Trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swiss President Guy Parmelin held talks in New Delhi on October 5, 2026, during Parmelin’s three-day visit to India, and agreed to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The two countries signed five agreements covering migration, public mobility, infrastructure, professional talent exchange and related areas, creating opportunities for Indian students, researchers and technical professionals in Switzerland. The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), signed in 2024, provides a framework for investment, innovation, employment and economic growth, with a target of attracting US$100 billion in investment in India and creating more than 10 lakh direct jobs over 15 years. Cooperation was also discussed in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering goods, high technology, biotechnology, life sciences, banking, corporate services and food processing. Both countries agreed to expand cooperation in defence, defence equipment manufacturing and energy, while infrastructure cooperation includes the Varanasi Ropeway Project and Noida International Airport.

States’ News

CSTT Expert Meeting on Information Technology Terminology

The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) under the Union Ministry of Education, headquartered in New Delhi, began a national expert committee meeting at the CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), Chennai, on October 5, 2026, to review and refine information technology terminology in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The meeting, scheduled until October 8, 2026, focuses on the accurate and uniform standardisation of technical terms and their accessibility to students, teachers, researchers and industry professionals. The meeting was inaugurated by Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC, in the presence of Deepak Kumar, Assistant Director, CSTT. Participants included Prof. Seshavamurthy, Principal, Dravidian University, Kuppam; Prof. T. Vishnukumaran, Dravidian University; Prof. K. Ganesan, VIT, Vellore; Prof. I. Manikandan and Assistant Prof. V. Nirmala Selvi of the University of Madras; Prof. P. Selvakumar, International Institute of Tamil Studies; Satish Kumar, Principal, CSIR-SERC; and Prof. V. Chikitha, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Tirupati.

Tamil Nadu News

Vallalar as the “Light of Asia” After Buddha

A Vallalar function was held on October 5, 2026 at the University of Madras, Chennai, jointly organized by the Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam, Department of Saiva Siddhanta, Department of Philosophy, University of Madras, and Chennai Saiva Siddhanta Perumandram. Arutprakasa Vallalar (Ramalinga Swamigal), born in 1823, was recognized for his contributions to Tamil literature, social reform, compassion and Suddha Sanmargam. He was a pioneer of Tamil prose literature and contributed numerous songs to Tamil literature. His letters began with Pillaiyar Suzhi, ended with “Sivamayam”, and used Tamil numerals. The letters collected by Ooran Adigal are preserved in a separate hall at Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore. The 19th-century reformers mentioned in the event were Vallalar (1823), Swami Dayananda (1824), Sri Narayana Guru (1856) and Swami Vivekananda (1863). The book “Vallal Ramalingarin Sanmarga Paadam”, written by Dr. Ma. [author’s name not specified in the source], was released by Ma. Rajendran, President of Tamil Valarchi Kazhagam, on behalf of the Saiva Siddhanta Perumandram.

RIGHTS Project for Persons with Disabilities in Tamil Nadu

The RIGHTS (Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Project, with an outlay of ₹1,773 crore, was launched in Tamil Nadu in 2022 to improve services for persons with disabilities, including certificates and welfare assistance. Under the project, Community Rehabilitation Workers were assigned to conduct door-to-door surveys, create comprehensive data on persons with disabilities and connect them with welfare services. On October 8, 2024, the Highways Department issued a Government Order (GO) permitting the diversion of ₹350 crore saved under the RIGHTS Project to the department. According to an RTI response dated September 3, ₹299 crore had been spent on contractual staff working under the project at the State Commissionerate and district levels. As of June 17, a Social Registry Survey had covered 1.41 crore families out of 2.28 crore families. As of August 20, out of 10,76,926 Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards issued to persons with disabilities, 61,312 cards had been issued to persons belonging to 14 categories. Nethrodaya founder C. Govindakrishnan raised concerns regarding the implementation of the project.

Vetri Payanam Scheme: Ticketing Guidelines Issued by Tamil Nadu Transport Department

Under the Vetri Payanam Scheme, launched on October 2, 2026, women, girls and transgender passengers are eligible for free travel in specified bus services in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Transport Department has directed that every eligible journey must be issued a Zero-Fare Ticket (ZERO Ticket) through the electronic ticketing system. Details of all eligible routes must be updated and integrated into the Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM) software, with pre-testing to ensure proper generation of zero-fare tickets. In Express, LSS, Deluxe, hill-area and suburban ordinary buses, the passenger’s boarding and alighting locations must be mandatorily recorded on the ticket. Digital route display boards must show “Vetri Payanam”, while buses without such boards must display only approved scheme stickers. No fare should be collected from eligible women and transgender passengers, and action may be taken for failure to issue or misuse tickets. If an electronic ticketing machine fails, printed tickets must be issued and details such as fare, passenger count, stage number and date must be recorded in the ticket register. Checking Inspectors and Inspection Officers must verify ticket issuance, and eligible passengers without tickets should not be fined. In interstate ordinary bus services, zero-fare tickets are applicable only when the journey is within Tamil Nadu; regular ticketing applies if the boarding or alighting point is in a neighbouring State or Union Territory, while the concession continues when the route merely passes through a neighbouring State or Union Territory. Field monitoring is to be conducted at major bus stands, educational institutions, industrial areas, hospitals and market areas to address overcrowding, long waiting times, delays and service deficiencies.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Awarded for Optogenetics

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Karl Deisseroth of the United States, and Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel of Germany for their contributions to the development of optogenetics technology. In 2005, the scientists developed optogenetics, a technique that uses light-sensitive proteins to control nerve-cell activity. Karl Deisseroth isolated the light-sensitive protein channelrhodopsin from single-celled algae and, using genetic engineering, introduced it into mouse brains to demonstrate control of neural activity. Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel were also pioneers in the development of optogenetics. The technology is being researched for applications in restoring vision and treating neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. The Nobel Prize award ceremony is held in December in Stockholm, Sweden, while the Nobel Peace Prize is presented in Oslo, Norway; the prize consists of a 24-karat gold medal, diploma and prize money.