Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 18&19 October, 2026

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for acetamiprid and imidacloprid in tea.
• The proposed limits are 20 mg/kg for acetamiprid and 50 mg/kg for imidacloprid.
• The acetamiprid limit is stricter than the limits mentioned for Japan (30 parts per million) and the United States (50 parts per million).
• The proposal aims to improve food safety, pesticide monitoring and regulatory clarity for tea growers and processors. Pasted text.txt

• Telangana reported drought conditions in 315 out of 621 mandals, affecting agricultural activities and crop production.
• The State Agriculture Minister requested the Centre to remove the 25% procurement cap on major crops and ensure 100% procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
• The State planned the Khet Bachao Abhiyan from 22 to 30 October 2026.
• The State also sought additional funds for micro-irrigation equipment, intercropping seeds, water conservation and employment for agricultural workers. Pasted text.txt

• The Chairperson of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) launched CCRAS SPARK 5.0 and CCRAS Ayurshodh 2026.
• SPARK 5.0 provides short-term research opportunities to undergraduate Ayurveda students.
• Ayurshodh 2026 promotes scientific communication, original publications and innovative research.
• Both initiatives aim to strengthen research skills and scientific work in the field of Ayurveda. Pasted text.txt

• Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma launched four initiatives: Mizoram Integrated Works Accounts System (MIWAS), e-Sanction, e-Budget and 100% Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• MIWAS aims to improve the management and reconciliation of works-related expenditure across six State departments.
• The e-Sanction module enables online approval of expenditure, while e-Budget supports digital preparation and submission of budget proposals.
• The 100% DBT initiative aims to transfer payments under State schemes directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. Pasted text.txt

• The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025 shows that female labour force participation has increased since 2019–20, but the improvement differs across States and Union Territories.
• Rural female labour force participation increased from 33% to 45.9%, while the urban rate rose from 23.3% to 27.7%.
• Arunachal Pradesh recorded the highest average annual percentage-point change in both rural (+8.28) and urban (+5.24) participation.
• Lakshadweep recorded negative changes in both rural (−2.34) and urban (−1.30) participation, highlighting regional differences in women’s economic participation. Pasted text.txt

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) raised its forecast for global merchandise trade growth in calendar year 2026 to 3.9%, up from its earlier estimate of 1.9%.
• Artificial intelligence-related investments increased by 67% year-on-year in the first half of 2026 and accounted for 47% of total merchandise trade growth, according to the report.
• Global merchandise trade growth is projected at 4.1% in 2027, while services trade growth is forecast at 3.3% in 2026.
• The WTO projected global gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 2.6% in 2026 and 2.9% in 2027. Pasted text.txt

• The Government of India approved accession to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) through the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
• India had participated as a Cooperating Non-Contracting Party since 2022; full membership will provide greater participation in fisheries-related decision-making.
• Indian fishing vessels will be able to undertake authorised fishing for species such as squid, toothfish and alfonsino within the agreement’s jurisdiction.
• The move aims to strengthen international fisheries cooperation, scientific research, sustainable fishing and livelihood opportunities for fishers.

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) launched the Silver Refinery Scheme during the World Standards Day 2026 celebrations on 14 October 2026.
• The scheme introduces a certification framework to establish the purity and authenticity of silver bullion and coins.
• The proposed hallmarking details include the BIS mark, the word SILVER, purity grades of 999.9, 999.5 or 999.0, the manufacturer’s identification mark and a unique batch serial number.
• Other initiatives included the BIS Digital Standard Reader, seven new Indian Standards and standardisation roadmaps for sustainable agriculture and manufacturing. Pasted text.txt

Context of the News

The FRRO reportedly issued a ‘Leave India’ notice to actor and OCI cardholder Imran Khan, after he took part in a protest in Mumbai. The case has brought attention to what an OCI card does and does not allow.

What Is OCI?

• A special immigration status, introduced in 2005 under the Citizenship Act, 1955
• Available to foreign nationals of Indian origin
• Not available to those with roots in Pakistan or Bangladesh

Is an OCI Holder an Indian Citizen?

No. This is the core point.

• Article 9 of the Constitution bars dual citizenship
• An OCI cardholder stays a foreign national, holding a foreign passport
• Despite the word “citizenship” in the name, it is essentially a lifelong visa

What Does an OCI Card Give You?

• A lifelong, multiple-entry, multi-purpose visa to visit India
• Exemption from registering with the FRRO, no matter how long the stay
• Parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational matters
• But not for buying agricultural or plantation property

What Can an OCI Holder Not Do?

• No political rights — under Section 7B of the Citizenship Act, 1955:
• No Article 19 protections
• Activities needing prior permission — under the March 2021 OCI notification:

Important Facts for Exams

• OCI introduced in 2005, under the Citizenship Act, 1955
• An OCI cardholder is a foreign national, not an Indian citizen
• Article 9 bars dual citizenship
• Section 7B denies voting rights, election candidacy and constitutional offices
• Article 19 rights apply only to citizens; Articles 14 and 21 apply to all persons, including foreigners
• Cannot buy agricultural or plantation land
• The March 2021 notification requires prior permission for journalism, research, missionary work, mountaineering and protected area visits
• Not available to people of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin
• The PIO card scheme was merged into OCI in 2015
• Articles only for citizens: 15, 16, 19, 29 and 30

Context of the News

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal launched the National Strategic Trade Command Centre (NSTCC) at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. It brings India’s scattered trade data onto one dashboard.

What Is It?

• A central trade intelligence and analytics hub
• It pulls together different streams of trade data into a single dashboard
• Built for senior policymakers and regulators

Who Runs It?

• The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Working with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)

What Is the Aim?

• Move trade governance from periodic, scattered reports to real-time monitoring
• Base policy on evidence rather than lagging data
• Improve transparency and speed up trade clearances

Context of the News

The Vice-President of India inaugurated KAUMARACON-2026 at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, and launched several AYUSH digital initiatives.

What Is KAUMARACON?

• The third edition of an international conference on Kaumarabhritya
• Kaumarabhritya is the branch of Ayurveda dealing with child health — paediatric care, nutrition, growth, development and disease prevention
• Organised by AIIA, New Delhi, under the Ministry of AYUSH

What Is the Theme?

“Shaping the Future of Child Health: Global Perspectives, Research Innovations, and Clinical Frontiers in Kaumarabhritya”

What Is the Aim?

• Promote evidence-based Ayurvedic paediatrics
• Through scientific research, international collaboration, and integration with modern healthcare

• The Central Government notified amendments to the India–Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) on 13 October 2026.
• The amendments introduce the Principal Purpose Test (PPT) to prevent misuse of tax treaty benefits.
• Under the test, treaty benefits may be denied when obtaining those benefits is one of the principal purposes of a transaction, unless granting them is consistent with the treaty’s objectives.
• Investments made before 1 April 2017 are exempt from the PPT, according to the supplied report; the change aims to strengthen tax compliance while protecting legitimate treaty benefits. Pasted text.txt

• NTPC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, signed a cooperation agreement with Africa50.
• The partnership aims to identify and develop commercially viable power projects across African countries.
• NTPC will contribute technical expertise in project assessment, engineering, construction and operations, while Africa50 will support project identification, government coordination and investment structuring.
• The agreement will also explore cross-border electricity trading to improve regional power connectivity and electricity availability. Pasted text.txt

• The Supreme Court stated that the right to access and use the Internet is a fundamental right under Article 21 read with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
• The ruling referred to the 2020 Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India judgment, which recognised constitutional protection for freedom of speech and expression through the Internet.
• The Court emphasised that children should not be treated as the problem merely because they may encounter objectionable online material.
• The report highlights the responsibility of individuals who create or share objectionable content and intermediaries that fail to remove it. Pasted text.txt

• The Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Census (Amendment) Rules, 2026, expanding the categories of people eligible for appointment as Census enumerators.
• The amendment changes Rule 3 of the Census Rules, 1990, under the framework of the Census Act, 1948.
• Eligible personnel now include private-sector employees and teachers, according to the supplied report.
• The objective is to increase field staff availability, reduce the workload on government schoolteachers and support India’s upcoming digital Census. Pasted text.txt

• India’s Ramsar site count reached 103 following the addition of Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh.
• Sukhna Wetland supports different habitats and resident and migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.
• Sauj Jheel lies in the floodplain of the Ganga River and is an Important Bird Area, supporting vulnerable bird species.
• Uttar Pradesh’s Ramsar site count increased to 14, placing it second among Indian States after Tamil Nadu, according to the supplied report. Pasted text.txt

• India and the United Kingdom held the 8th India–UK Science and Innovation Council Meeting in New Delhi in October 2026.
• The countries inaugurated the BRIC-CDFD–Oxford Nanopore Technologies India Genomics Centre of Excellence to advance genomics research and biotechnology cooperation.
• New initiatives included the UK–India Technology Translation Partnership and the InnoXchange Programme to support technology commercialisation and connections among start-ups and incubators.
• The two countries have jointly invested over GBP 450 million since 2008 through UK Research and Innovation and Indian partnerships, supporting more than 290 projects and 1,665 scientific publications. Pasted text.txt

• Dr. T. M. Balakrishnan Nair, Director of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), was elected Chair of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Sub-Commission for the Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO).
• The election took place during the body’s second Intergovernmental Session in Bali, Indonesia, from 12 to 14 October 2026.
• He has over 30 years of experience in operational oceanography, marine science and real-time ocean observation systems.
• IOCINDIO promotes regional cooperation in ocean science, marine observations, capacity building and ocean information services. Pasted text.txt

• Indian women’s cricket batter Punam Raut announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket in October 2026.
• Her international career spanned 2009–2021 and included four Test matches, 73 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 35 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
• She scored 2,299 runs in ODIs, including three centuries and 15 half-centuries.
• She scored 86 runs in the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup final against England and was part of India’s campaign in three ODI World Cups. Pasted text.txt

• World Students’ Day is observed annually on 15 October to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
• The year 2026 marks his 95th birth anniversary.
• Dr. Kalam contributed to India’s space and defence programmes through the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• His contributions included the Satellite Launch Vehicle-III, the Agni and Prithvi missile programmes, and the Technology Vision 2020 initiative. Pasted text.txt

• The Election Commission announced the schedule for the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls across 17 States and Union Territories, with 1 January 2027 as the qualifying date.
• The exercise updates voter lists by enrolling new voters, recording address changes and removing entries of deceased or duplicate voters.
• Article 324 of the Constitution gives the Election Commission supervisory powers over electoral rolls and elections.
• Section 21(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, provide the relevant legal framework. Pasted text.txt

• The Indian Navy commissioned INS Samarthak, the first indigenously designed Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) of its class.
• The vessel is 107 metres long and serves as an auxiliary platform rather than a frontline warship.
• It is the lead ship of the Samarthak-class Multi-Purpose Vessels.
• The vessel was built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard at its Warship Design Centre and shipbuilding facility in Kattupalli. Pasted text.txt

• Scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and international collaborators studied coronal mass ejections (CMEs) using data from India’s Aditya-L1 and Europe’s Proba-3 missions.
• They combined observations from the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) aboard Aditya-L1 and the ASPIICS instrument aboard Proba-3.
• The joint observations examined the mass, density and energy of solar eruptions in the region close to the Sun.
• The study demonstrates the value of combining observations from different space missions to understand solar activity.