Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 14 October, 2026

Context of the News

The Assam Forest and Climate Change Department launched the Nameri Wild Classroom at Nameri Tiger Reserve — a programme that takes students into the forest itself for hands-on learning.

What Is It?

• A residential environmental education programme
• Students attend two- and three-day field camps inside the tiger reserve
• The point is to move learning out of textbooks and into a living habitat

What Does It Aim to Do?

• Build curiosity and scientific temper among young people
• Give direct exposure to forest and river ecosystems
• Create future conservationists and researchers

Important Facts for Exams

• Nameri National Park lies in Sonitpur district, Assam, on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border
• It became a Tiger Reserve in 1999-2000
• The Jia Bhoroli river (called the Kameng in Arunachal) flows along its boundary
• It adjoins Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, forming a continuous habitat
• Famous for the White-winged Wood Duck — Assam’s state bird, listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List
• Assam’s other tiger reserves: Kaziranga, Manas and Orang
• Kaziranga and Manas are UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reduced its forecast for India’s oil demand growth in 2026 to 40,000 barrels per day (bpd), down from 60,000 bpd in its September report.
• India’s total oil demand is projected to reach 5.7 million barrels per day in 2026.
• Petrol and diesel are expected to drive demand, supported by vehicle sales, road transport, manufacturing and agricultural activities.
• Demand for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and naphtha is expected to decline.

Context of the News

India hosted the first-ever meeting of BIMSTEC Home Ministers in New Delhi. The bloc adopted the Delhi Declaration, aimed at countering radicalisation, terror financing and the misuse of new technologies by terrorist groups.

What Is the Meeting?

• The first ministerial-level gathering of Home Ministers from the seven BIMSTEC member states
• Held in New Delhi, hosted by India
• Its purpose is to give strategic direction to regional security cooperation

Background

What Is BIMSTEC?

• Full form: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
• Seven members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand
• Founded in June 1997 as BIST-EC — Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand
• Myanmar joined later that year, making it BIMST-EC
• Nepal and Bhutan joined in 2004, after which it took its present name
• Established by the Bangkok Declaration, 1997
• Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh, set up in 2014
• The BIMSTEC Charter came into force in 2024, giving the grouping a formal legal identity

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) reportedly extended a temporary relaxation concerning changes to the fresh-issue size in initial public offerings (IPOs).
• The extension runs until March 2027.
• An IPO is the process through which a company offers its shares to the public for the first time.

Context of the News

The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan completed five years on 13 October 2026. Around the same time, the Union Cabinet approved the Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA), which will appraise infrastructure projects worth ₹500 crore or more.

What Is PM GatiShakti?

• India’s digital planning framework for infrastructure
• It combines GIS mapping, satellite imagery and databases from different ministries on one platform
• The idea is to move away from each department planning on its own, toward a whole-of-government approach

Key Highlights

• Launched on: 13 October 2021
• Launched by: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Full name: PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• Main objective: Integrated infrastructure planning and better coordination among ministries and states.
• Technology: Geographic Information System (GIS), satellite imagery and digital mapping.
• Developed by: BISAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics).

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised India’s growth forecast for FY2026–27 to 7%, from 6.4% estimated in July.
• Strong domestic demand and services activity supported the upward revision.
• The IMF also raised its FY2027–28 growth forecast to 7%, from 6.7%.
• India’s GDP growth stood at 7.8% in FY2025–26.
• The World Bank and Reserve Bank of India had also projected India’s FY2026–27 growth at 7.1%, according to the article.

• Oman became India’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September 2026, replacing the United States.
• India imported 2.17 million tonnes of LNG during the month, 14% less than in the previous comparison period.
• LNG is natural gas cooled into liquid form to make storage and transportation easier.

• World Mental Health Day is observed every year on 10 October to raise awareness about mental health and encourage access to mental healthcare.
• The 2026 theme was “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
• The observance highlights the need to listen to people experiencing mental health challenges and improve community-based care.

• Tele-MANAS stands for Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States.
• It was launched on 10 October 2022 under the National Tele Mental Health Programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The free, 24-hour helpline operates through 14416, providing mental health counselling, psychological support and referrals.
• The helpline received nearly 48 lakh calls in four years, highlighting the need for accessible mental healthcare.

• Indian Navy guided-missile stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived at Plymouth, United Kingdom, to participate in the bilateral naval exercise KONKAN-2026.
• The exercise involves the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.
• It aims to improve operational coordination, tactical cooperation and interoperability between the two navies.

• On 9 October 2026, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched redeveloped websites for the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• The websites support 22 Indian languages through BHASHINI integration.
• They provide information about research grants, fellowships, government schemes, awards and research opportunities.
• Accessibility features include adjustable font sizes, high-contrast displays and screen-reader compatibility.

• The Indian Embassy in Jakarta launched an artificial intelligence avatar named Dewi in October 2026.
• The initiative aims to support public outreach through artificial intelligence.

• Europe’s Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite was launched on 15 September 2026 aboard a Vega-C rocket from French Guiana.
• The satellite subsequently returned its first images of Earth.
• The Sentinel-3 mission supports Earth observation and environmental monitoring.

• L. Murugan resigned as Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs and relinquished his Rajya Sabha membership on 13 October 2026.
• He represented Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha.

• Google reportedly launched Gemini 4 Argon globally on 13 October 2026.
• The model is designed for complex tasks.

• IBM and MeitY Startup Hub, an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, signed an MoU on 13 October 2026.
• The partnership aims to support India’s deep-technology startups.
• Deep technology refers to innovations based on advanced scientific research and engineering, such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and robotics.

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the National Culture Fund (NCF) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) signed a heritage conservation agreement on 13 October 2026.
• The agreement concerns cooperation in the conservation and protection of India’s cultural heritage.

• Prof. Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT and KISS, was elected the first president of the Indian UniSport Federation (IUSF) in October 2026.
• The federation was established in 2026 with the approval of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• It aims to provide a common platform for universities across India.

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) launched INS Shreyas, the third of four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels, in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• The vessel is approximately 113 metres long, with a displacement of 3,000 tonnes and a maximum speed of 23 knots.
• Its roles include maritime surveillance, coastal security and protection of offshore assets.

• Dutch-Belgian racing driver Max Verstappen won the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix on 11 October 2026.
• Charles Leclerc finished second, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured third place.
• The race took place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore.

• Prasar Bharati and In-Dot Sports Private Limited launched the Kisan Cricket League (KCL) to identify cricketing and singing talent in rural and semi-urban India.
• Its inaugural season is scheduled for February 2027, featuring seven teams and 140 cricketers.
• Matches and related programmes are planned for broadcast through Waves OTT, Doordarshan and Akashvani.

• Renowned Carnatic percussionist Guruvayur Dorai passed away in Chennai at the age of 91.
• He received the Padma Shri in 2025 for his contribution to Indian classical music.
• He also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996 and the Kalaimamani award in 1990.

• Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar released Sanjay Jagdale: Rag-Rag Mein Cricket in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• The book was authored by Kiran Waikar and Sunil Dudhale.
• It documents Jagdale’s cricketing career and contributions as a player, selector and administrator.

• World Egg Day was observed on 9 October 2026, the second Friday of October.
• The 2026 theme was “Protein that Powers and Protects.”
• The observance highlights the nutritional value of eggs as a source of protein and essential nutrients.

• The day is observed annually on 10 October to raise awareness about capital punishment and promote its abolition.
• The 2026 theme was “Stories for Life.”
• The first observance took place on 10 October 2003.

• World Migratory Bird Day is observed twice annually, on the second Saturday of May and October.
• In 2026, the observance dates were 9 May and 10 October.
• The campaign raises awareness about threats to migratory birds and the need to protect their habitats.

• The Government of India reportedly approved the ₹65 crore DRISHTI project to speed up property rights for residents of unauthorised colonies in Delhi under the PM-UDAY scheme.
• DRISHTI stands for Delhi Revenue and Imaging Survey, Spatial Technology Initiative.
• The project will use Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to improve property surveys and ownership verification across all 13 Delhi districts.
• ₹52 crore will come through the Urban Development Fund and ₹13 crore from the Delhi government’s Revenue Department.

• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways reportedly launched two credit-risk insurance products for India’s shipbuilding industry on 13 October 2026.
• The products aim to address credit risks faced by shipbuilders.