UPSC current affairs, 9 October 2026

• The Act covers five Central Armed Police Forces: the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), listed in its First Schedule.
• In Sanjay Prakash v. Union of India (23 May 2025), the Supreme Court said IPS deputation in CAPF posts up to the Senior Administrative Grade should be progressively reduced within two years.
• Section 3 of the Act opens with a non obstante (notwithstanding) clause that critics say overrides judicial precedents and orders.

GS2 separation of powers and GS3 security forces: the Act raises whether Parliament can override a judgment by law, and how career prospects of CAPF cadre officers weigh against the Centre's case for IPS leadership.

• The India Mobile Congress is organised jointly by the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
• The theme of IMC 2026, held at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, from 7 to 10 October, was "Scale Without Boundaries".

GS3 cyber security: cross-border scam networks need coordination among governments, carriers, banks and tech firms before fraud occurs, not only enforcement after it.

• Anne Carson, born in Toronto in 1950, is the winner of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature.
• The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded by the Swedish Academy.

Limited Mains use; relevant mainly for Prelims questions on awards and persons in the news.

• The Court listed the matter for 16 November 2026 and asked the Delhi High Court Registrar General for an affidavit on Fast Track and POCSO courts by 6 November.
• The Court sought a status report on protecting complainants under Operation "Nirbheek" and the "Nazuk" scheme.

GS1 women's safety and GS2 judicial oversight: the Court is pushing preventive policing, such as patrolling, transport checks and a clear SOS response protocol, rather than action after a crime.

• The 2023 law is the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
• Section 5 of the 2023 Act requires knowledge of and experience in the management and conduct of elections.
• A writ of quo warranto asks the holder of a public office to show by what authority the office is held.

GS2 constitutional bodies: the plea puts the transparency of the selection process for the Election Commission, and with it public trust in the body, before the Court.

• The FAO Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points in September 2026, 5.8% higher than a year earlier.
• The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index rose in September 2026 mainly because of higher world palm oil prices, which more than offset lower sunflower oil prices.

GS3 inflation: edible oil prices show how imported, supply-side shocks feed food inflation, and why trade tools such as customs duty cuts are used alongside monetary policy.

2024 · GS3 · 10 marks What are the causes of persistent high food inflation in India? Comment on the effectiveness of the monetary policy of the RBI to control this type of inflation.

How to use it: Edible oils show an imported, supply-side cause of food inflation: world palm oil prices lifted the FAO index 18.3%, and the response was a customs duty cut rather than monetary policy.

• The Ayush Service Sector Report is a study by RIS, released on Ayurveda Day 2026.
• Ayurveda is the largest Ayush system, at US$17.73 billion or about 48% of Ayush services revenue.
• Ayush medical value travel earned an estimated US$1.77 billion in FY2024-25.

GS2 health and GS3 employment: traditional medicine services are a growing source of jobs for women and of medical value travel.

• The theme of SAREX-2026 was "Leveraging Technology to Strengthen SAR Preparedness and Maritime Safety".
• The National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise is conducted by the Indian Coast Guard under the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSARB).

GS3 maritime security: coordinated mass rescue drills with foreign observers build search and rescue capacity at sea, which the ministry links to the SAGAR and MAHASAGAR visions.

• PRASHAST is a school-based digital tool to identify children with probable disability conditions covered under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
• PRASHAST uses a two-part checklist: teachers screen students, and special educators validate flagged cases and arrange referrals.

GS2 education and vulnerable sections: early identification and a whole-school approach are needed to make inclusion under the RPwD Act, 2016 and NEP 2020 work in practice.

• Under the Public Procurement Policy, central ministries, departments and CPSEs must buy 25% of annual purchases from MSEs, with 4% earmarked for SC/ST-owned MSEs.
• The National SC-ST Hub is implemented through the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC).
• The Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme gives a 25% capital subsidy on institutionally financed plant, machinery and equipment, capped at ₹25 lakh.

GS2 welfare of SCs and STs: public procurement quotas and credit support are tools to widen entrepreneurship among marginalised groups.

2023 · GS3 · 10 marks Faster economic growth requires increased share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, particularly of MSMEs. Comment on the present policies of the Government in this regard.

How to use it: The Hub shows MSE policy using public procurement: 4% of central purchases are earmarked for SC/ST-owned MSEs, and such procurement rose to ₹4,013.42 crore in 2025-26.