Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 06 October, 2026

Context
The Union Environment Minister released two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards into the wild at Sam, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer.

What It Is

• One of India’s largest national parks, in the Thar Desert
• A sanctuary for desert wildlife, winter migrants and critically endangered avian fauna

Location

• Extreme western Thar Desert, Rajasthan, along the India-Pakistan border
• Gazetted in 1980 to arrest desertification
• A hyper-arid zone receiving under 100 mm annual rainfall
• Bordered by the Aravalli Range (east), Indus plains (west) and Great Rann of Kutch (south)

Important Facts for Exams

• DNP — 3,162 sq km; Jaisalmer and Barmer, Rajasthan; gazetted 1980; on India’s UNESCO Tentative List
• Rainfall under 100 mm; breeding centres at Sam and Ramdevra
• Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) — IUCN Critically Endangered, CITES Appendix I, Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act; state bird of Rajasthan; locally Godawan

• MoSPI released the ASI 2024–25, covering India’s registered manufacturing sector.
• Manufacturing GVA increased by 9.59%, while employment rose 7.19% to 2.10 crore.
• Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka accounted for 53.30% of total establishments.
• Total emoluments increased by 12.08% during 2024–25.

• PM-SETU aims to modernise Government ITIs and make skill training more industry-oriented.
• It has an outlay of ₹60,000 crore for five years: ₹30,000 crore Centre, ₹20,000 crore States and ₹10,000 crore industry.
• It targets 1,000 Government ITIs — 200 Hub ITIs and 800 Spoke ITIs.
• In the first year, 850 ITIs were identified, including 172 Hub and 678 Spoke ITIs.

• The first instalment for 3 lakh PMAY-G houses worth ₹3,600 crore was released in Andhra Pradesh.
• A pilot project for 177 houses using 3D concrete printing was also launched.
• 3D printing can reduce construction time, labour requirements and costs.
• PMAY-G provides ₹1.20 lakh assistance in plain areas and ₹1.30 lakh in North-Eastern and hilly areas.

• NABKISAN Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of NABARD, listed India’s first WASH-focused Social Bond on the NSE.
• It raised ₹180 crore through a 5-year bond carrying an 8.10% coupon.
• The bond was 1.8 times oversubscribed and received CRISIL AAA (Stable) and CARE AAA (Stable) ratings.
• Funds will support Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects for rural and underserved communities.

• RBI granted Certificate of Registration (CoR) to Indiabulls Limited as a Core Investment Company (CIC).
• A CIC is an NBFC mainly engaged in holding investments in and providing loans to group companies.
• Generally, at least 90% of net assets of a CIC must be in group-company investments/loans, with at least 60% in equity investments.
• The registration brings Indiabulls under the RBI regulatory framework for CICs.

Context

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries that led to optogenetics — a technique that uses light to control specific nerve cells.

Key Highlights

• What is Optogenetics?
  • It is a technique that uses light-sensitive proteins to control the activity of specific neurons.
  • Scientists can switch selected brain cells ON or OFF using light.
• Role of Channelrhodopsin
  • Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel discovered channelrhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein in the single-celled alga Chlamydomonas.
  • When exposed to blue light, this protein opens a channel and allows ions to flow into the cell, producing an electrical signal.
• Contribution of Karl Deisseroth
  • Deisseroth introduced the gene for channelrhodopsin into nerve cells.
  • In 2005, he demonstrated that light could trigger nerve signals.
  • In 2007, the technique was successfully used to control nerve cells in the living brain of mice.
• Why is it important?
  • Earlier, scientists could mainly observe brain activity.
  • Optogenetics allows them to actively control specific neurons and establish a cause-and-effect relationship between brain circuits and behaviour.
  • It has helped researchers study memory, pain, emotions, thirst, hunger, reward, attention and social behaviour.
• Medical Applications
  • It is being studied for neurological and psychiatric conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, depression and schizophrenia.
  • Researchers are also exploring it to restore vision in people with certain forms of blindness.

Example

• Think of the brain as a huge electrical circuit. Earlier, scientists could watch the circuit working, but could not easily control one particular wire.
• Optogenetics = putting a light-controlled switch on selected neurons.
• So, scientists can shine light on a particular group of neurons and observe what happens to memory, movement, emotion or behaviour.

Key Terms

• Optogenetics: Use of light to control genetically modified cells, especially neurons.
• Channelrhodopsin: A light-sensitive protein that acts as a switch for controlling cell activity.
• Light-gated ion channel: A protein channel that opens or closes when exposed to specific light.
• Neuron: A nerve cell that transmits electrical and chemical signals.
• Neural circuit: A network of interconnected neurons responsible for a particular function or behaviour.
• Causal relationship: Showing that one event directly produces a particular effect.

Context
A high-level Indian Parliamentary Delegation led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh departed for Arusha, Tanzania, to participate in the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

What It Is

• The global multilateral organisation of national parliaments
• A non-governmental international platform for parliamentary diplomacy, democratic institution-building and international cooperation among legislatures

Key Details

• Established 1889 in Paris
• Co-founded by William Randal Cremer (United Kingdom) and Frédéric Passy (France)
• One of the oldest international political organisations in the world
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• 183 Member Parliaments and 15 Associate Members
• Slogan: “For democracy. For everyone”

Aim

• Promote democratic governance, accountability, rule of law and legislative transparency
• Strengthen parliaments while advancing human rights, gender equality, youth participation and international peace

What It Is

• A 13th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva as Ramalingeswara or Rudreshwara
• Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2021 — India’s 39th — as “Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana”
• At Palampet village, Venkatapur Mandal, Mulugu district

History

• Built in 1213 CE under Ganapati Deva, by his general Recharla Rudra
• Construction took roughly 40 years
• Named after its chief sculptor Ramappa — perhaps the only historic temple in India named after its builder rather than the deity

Important Facts for Exams

• Built 1213 CE; UNESCO listed July 2021; India’s 39th World Heritage Site
• Ganapati Deva (Kakatiya ruler); general Recharla Rudra; sculptor Ramappa
• Sandbox technique gives earthquake resistance; floating bricks reduce structural load
• Madanika — a sculpted female figure; Yali — a mythical composite beast in South Indian temple art
• Kakatiyas ruled from Warangal, 12th–14th centuries; Rani Rudrama Devi was among India’s few women rulers

Context
Andhra Pradesh will launch India’s first national-level pilot to construct rural houses using 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) under PMAY-Gramin.

What 3DCP Is

• An automated, construction-scale additive manufacturing technology
• Replacing traditional brick-and-mortar masonry by depositing high-performance cementitious mixtures layer by layer, using robotic gantry or arm printers

How It Works

• Digital modelling — a 3D plan created using Building Information Modelling (BIM), sliced into precise numerical computer paths
• Material extrusion — a computer-guided robotic nozzle extrudes specially engineered fluid concrete along the toolpath
• Rapid in-situ setting — the mix maintains high buildability and fast setting, forming load-bearing walls without conventional formwork

• The National Statistics Office (NSO) released findings from India’s first National Household Travel Survey.
• Only around 15% of workers use public transport such as buses, trains, trams and auto-rickshaws.
• Around 46% depend on cars or two-wheelers, while 28% travel on foot.
• The data helps understand urban mobility and transport patterns in India.

• Five cheetah cubs were born in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
• India’s cheetah population increased to 60, including 41 cubs born in India.
• The cubs were born to KJP21, the third India-born female cheetah to give birth in India.
• The development strengthens Project Cheetah and efforts to establish a sustainable cheetah population.

• The Ministry of Education approved five Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit.
• Assamese: Tezpur University; Bengali: Visva-Bharati.
• Marathi: Deccan College, Pune; Pali: Central University of Odisha; Prakrit: Central University of Gujarat.
• The centres will focus on research, preservation, digitisation and wider dissemination of classical-language heritage.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs, with the Ladakh administration, identified 28 geographical features using standard names on Survey of India maps.
• These include peaks, mountains, glaciers, passes, land areas, a river, lake and valley.
• The initiative provides standard references for geographical features and improves awareness of their locations.
• Examples include Yangpa River, Guru Rinpoche Lake, Shkorga Valley and Hot Spring.

• Nālandā University and the CSIR-Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) Unit signed an MoU on traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.
• The collaboration covers Traditional Knowledge, IPR, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Indian Knowledge Systems.
• It includes research, documentation, training, internships and academic exchanges.
• Special focus will be given to Bihar’s cultural heritage.

• Pondicherry University and NIT Nagaland signed an MoU under the ANRF-PAIR programme.
• IISc Bengaluru will act as the hub, while Pondicherry University and NIT Nagaland will function as spoke institutions.
• NIT Nagaland became the first North-Eastern institution participating in this PAIR project.
• Research will focus on functional materials for healthcare, energy, catalysis and computational materials.

• HAL signed an agreement to acquire the remaining 50% stake in HATSOFF Helicopter Training from CAE Canada.
• The shares are being acquired at nil consideration.
• After completion, HATSOFF will become a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of HAL.
• HATSOFF provides simulator-based training for military and civil helicopter pilots.

• DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) successfully completed high-altitude and flight trials of the Kaveri Dry Engine in Russia.
• The engine is being developed for the Ghatak Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).
• It recorded a maximum dry thrust of 48.5 kN, exceeding the target of 46 kN.
• The engine is a non-afterburning version of the Kaveri engine.

• QNu Labs, BISAG-N and IIT Gandhinagar demonstrated India’s first free-space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link.
• The secure communication link covered 5.56 km.
• It achieved a Quantum Bit Error Rate below 5% and generated secure keys at 230–260 bps.
• QKD uses quantum principles to enable highly secure encryption-key distribution.

• Scientists discovered a new cryptic lizard species named Liolaemus arequipensis in southern Peru.
• It was found at an altitude of about 4,818 metres in the Arequipa region.
• It belongs to the Liolaemus genus, a group of South American lizards mainly found in the Andes.
• The species was described in the scientific journal Diversity.

• The Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games 2026 concluded on 4 October 2026.
• India finished 4th with 85 medals: 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze.
• China topped the table with 341 medals, followed by Japan and South Korea.
• The Games featured 469 medal events across 43 sports.

• Veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao passed away at the age of 94.
• He directed around 60 films across several Indian languages.
• Notable works include Pushpaka Vimanam, Aditya 369, Mayuri and Bhairava Dweepam.
• He received 2 National Film Awards and several state and Filmfare awards.

• Observed on 2 October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The UN established the day through UNGA Resolution 61/271 in 2007.
• India observes 2 October as Gandhi Jayanti and Swachh Bharat Diwas.
• 2026 marked Gandhi’s 157th birth anniversary.

• Observed annually on 4 October to promote animal welfare and protection.
• 2026 Theme: “See the World Through Their Eyes.”
• October 4 is also associated with St. Francis of Assisi, regarded as the patron saint of animals.
• Since 2003, the Naturewatch Foundation has coordinated the global observance.

• Observed in India from 2–8 October to promote wildlife conservation.
• 2026 Theme: “Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife.”
• The focus is on habitat connectivity, which enables wildlife to move and survive across landscapes.
• National Wildlife Week developed from the National Wildlife Day first observed in 1955.