# UPSC current affairs, 20 October 2026

URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-20/
Publisher: upsc.help (Pratidin), free and open-source UPSC Civil Services current affairs. Not affiliated with UPSC. Every fact was checked against the source reports by a separate review before publishing.

## Stories

### Supreme Court: voters can file private complaints over false election affidavits

URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-20/sc-125a-private-complaint-affidavit/ (Markdown: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-20/sc-125a-private-complaint-affidavit.md)
Source: The Hindu, National. UPSC papers: GS2

**In one line:** The Supreme Court has held that any voter or private person can ask a magistrate to prosecute a candidate for false or concealed information in election papers under Section 125A of the RPA.

Prelims facts:
- Section 125A of the RPA punishes false information or concealment in a nomination paper or Section 33A affidavit with up to six months' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
- In Rajkumar Madki v. Dr. Shailendra Beldale (16 October 2026), Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu held that a private person can file a Section 125A complaint before a magistrate.
- Section 195(1)(a) CrPC, which requires a public servant's complaint for certain offences, does not list Section 125A; the Court read the omission as deliberate.
- An ECI press note of 16 June 2020 cannot limit who may complain, since interpreting statutes is the courts' task.
- The Court still upheld the quashing of this particular complaint because the address allegation was prima facie rebutted.

### COP17 opens in Yerevan for the first global review of the 2030 biodiversity targets

URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-20/cop17-yerevan-biodiversity-review/ (Markdown: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-20/cop17-yerevan-biodiversity-review.md)
Source: The Hindu, International. UPSC papers: GS3, GS2

**In one line:** The UN biodiversity summit COP17 opened in Yerevan on 19 October 2026 to review, for the first time, how far countries have got with the 2030 targets agreed in 2022.

Prelims facts:
- COP17 of the CBD is being held in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026, with Hambardzum Matevosyan as President.
- It is the first global review of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (December 2022), which has 23 targets for 2030.
- The State of Biodiversity Action report (15 October 2026) found fewer than half of assessed national targets on track, though nearly 90% of 196 Parties have set targets.
- Target 19 seeks $200 billion a year by 2030 from all sources; Target 18 seeks to cut harmful incentives by $500 billion a year by 2030.
- India released an updated NBSAP with 23 national targets at COP16 in Cali in 2024.

### Navy gets first nod for ₹2.41 lakh crore of new platforms, readies Swavlamban 2026

URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-20/navy-swavlamban-2026-aon-ships/ (Markdown: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-20/navy-swavlamban-2026-aon-ships.md)
Source: The Hindu, National. UPSC papers: GS3

**In one line:** The Navy says 42 vessels are on order and another 78 ships and submarines and 120 fast interceptor craft, worth about ₹2.41 lakh crore, have cleared the first procurement step, as it prepares its fifth Swavlamban innovation seminar.

Prelims facts:
- The Navy has AoN for 78 ships and submarines and 120 fast interceptor craft worth about ₹2.41 lakh crore; 42 vessels are already on order.
- RFPs have been issued for four landing platform docks and the next-generation frigate; integrated full electric propulsion for the LPDs will be developed with the UK.
- Swavlamban 2026, the fifth edition of the Navy's innovation and indigenisation seminar, is on 26 and 27 October 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
- Through iDEX the Navy has received over 4,000 proposals; AoN exceeds ₹3,500 crore and contracts exceed ₹1,900 crore.
- The Navy seeks quantum positioning, high-power microwave weapons, an extra-large AUV and indigenous ramjets.

### India-New Zealand FTA enters into force, giving all Indian exports duty-free entry

URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-20/india-nz-fta-enters-into-force/ (Markdown: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-20/india-nz-fta-enters-into-force.md)
Source: The Hindu, Business. UPSC papers: GS2, GS3

**In one line:** From 20 October 2026, all Indian goods enter New Zealand duty-free, while India opens about 70% of its tariff lines and keeps dairy and other sensitive goods out.

Prelims facts:
- The India-New Zealand FTA, signed on 27 April 2026, entered into force on 20 October 2026.
- New Zealand removes duties on 100% of tariff lines for Indian exports; India liberalises 70.03% of its lines, covering 95% of bilateral trade value.
- India excludes 29.97% of tariff lines, mainly dairy, sugar, edible oils, onions, arms, gems and jewellery, copper and aluminium.
- Apples (32,500 to 45,000 tonnes at 25%) and kiwifruit (6,250 to 15,000 tonnes at 0%) enter India under tariff-rate quotas with minimum import prices.
- New Zealand will facilitate USD 20 billion of investment, with a rebalancing clause, and offers 5,000 Temporary Employment Entry visas at any time.