Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 25&26 October, 2026

Context of the News

The Union government has extended the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) beyond 30 September 2026, up to 31 March 2027. The Department of Expenditure gave the approval.

What Is the AIF?

• A scheme that gives financing support for post-harvest infrastructure
• It covers cold storages, warehouses and grading units
• Support comes through interest subvention and credit guarantee benefits

What Is the Aim?

• Build storage closer to the farm
• Reduce crop wastage
• Let farmers hold their produce until prices improve, instead of selling immediately after harvest

Important Facts for Exams

• AIF extended to 31 March 2027, from the earlier deadline of 30 September 2026
• Approved by the Department of Expenditure
• Launched in 2020-21; ₹1.03 trillion sanctioned for 2,28,428 projects; over ₹1.75 trillion mobilised
• Top states: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat

Context of the News

On International Snow Leopard Day (23 October), the Environment Ministry highlighted India’s first Snow Leopard Population Assessment (SPAI). It recorded 718 snow leopards, of which 477 are in Ladakh.

What Is the Snow Leopard?

• Scientific name Panthera uncia
• A solitary apex carnivore — it hunts alone and sits at the top of its food chain
• Known as the “Ghost of the Mountains”, because it is so rarely seen
• Adapted to the cold, rugged mountains of Central and South Asia

Where Does It Live?

What Is Its Conservation Status?

• IUCN: Vulnerable

Context of the News

The Union Agriculture Ministry has created 11 crore Farmer IDs — five months ahead of the deadline of 31 March 2027. The milestone was completed on the night of 23 October.

What Is a Farmer ID?

• A unique digital identity card for a farmer
• Created under the Digital Agriculture Mission
• Run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare

What Will It Give Access To?

• Government schemes
• Bank credit
• Crop insurance
• Disaster relief

Key Terms

• Farmer ID: A unique digital identity linking a farmer to their land records and crop details
• Digital Agriculture Mission: The government programme building digital infrastructure for farming
• AgriStack: The underlying system, built on three registries — farmer identity, land, and crops sown
• Verification: Confirming a person’s identity and eligibility before a benefit is released
• Service delivery: How a government scheme actually reaches the intended person

Important Facts for Exams

• 11 crore Farmer IDs created, as on 23 October 2026 — five months ahead of the 31 March 2027 deadline
• Created under the Digital Agriculture Mission, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
• Union Agriculture Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Digital Agriculture Mission was approved by the Cabinet in 2024, with an outlay of about ₹2,817 crore
• AgriStack’s three registries: Farmer Registry, Geo-referenced Village Maps and Crop Sown Registry
• The Farmer ID is the identity layer of AgriStack, the equivalent of what Aadhaar is in India Stack
• Agriculture is a State subject, so AgriStack implementation varies across states

• Launch: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the upgraded National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) 2.0 app in October 2026.
• Purpose: Records attendance of workers under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar & Ajeevika Mission (Gramin).
• Technical Partner: Developed with technical support from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).
• Key Features: Device-level security, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based verification and offline attendance recording to reduce fraudulent attendance.

• Announcement: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Commercial Banks – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy (Eleventh Amendment Directions), 2026.
• Effective Date: 1 April 2027. The changes align the framework with the 2017 Basel Committee on Banking Supervision standard under Basel III.
• Leverage Ratio: Measures a bank’s Tier 1 capital against its total exposure, including on-balance-sheet and off-balance-sheet items.
• Minimum Ratios:
  • Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs): 4%
  • Indian branches of Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs): 3.5% plus the applicable buffer
  • Other banks: 3.5%

Context of the News

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched the World Bank Group’s World Development Report 2026. The event was organised under the IndiaAI Mission with the World Bank. The report was first released globally in August 2026.

Key Highlights

• Three-step approach to AI: The report recommends adoption, adaptation and advancement. Developing countries should first use existing AI tools, modify them according to local needs and gradually build their own AI capabilities.
• AI in agriculture: In Baramati, Maharashtra, AI-based farming support reportedly increased sugarcane yields by 40% while reducing water and fertiliser use by 30%. Farmers received guidance through voice-based services on mobile phones, making technology accessible even to farmers who had never used computers.
• AI in healthcare: According to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, AI-based initiatives increased tuberculosis (TB) detection by 35%.
• IndiaAI Mission: The Government of India is developing AI infrastructure, datasets, skills, startups and safety systems to expand AI use across the country.
• Basic infrastructure is essential: Reliable electricity, internet connectivity, computing facilities, quality data, skilled workers and strong institutions are necessary to make AI useful.
• From pilot projects to large-scale use: The report stresses that successful AI experiments should be properly evaluated and expanded across regions and sectors based on evidence of their impact.
• AI and employment: Developing countries should prepare workers for changes caused by AI. The report notes that immediate job disruption may be less pronounced in developing countries, but the effects will depend on how AI is adopted.

IndiaAI Mission: Seven Pillars

The IndiaAI Mission aims to build an inclusive, responsible and self-reliant AI ecosystem in India.

AI Applications Presented at the State AI Showcase

• Navachetana — Andhra Pradesh: An AI-enabled early screening initiative for children aged 0–6 years to identify possible developmental delays.
• MahaVISTAAR AI — Maharashtra: Provides personalised agricultural advice, digital services and farmer engagement.
• EdskGrid — Meghalaya: Uses Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) to support education planning and governance.
• Vyuhaa-Cerviai: Supports cervical cancer screening at the point of care.

• Fund: The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) was created in 2022 to help vulnerable developing countries deal with climate-related losses.
• Latest Development: In October 2026, the fund’s board provisionally set aside $20 million for Nepal following devastating flash floods in August.
• Purpose: Supports recovery from climate disasters such as floods, cyclones and droughts, as well as slow-onset impacts such as sea-level rise and desertification.
• Importance: It is a major step towards meeting developing countries’ demand for financial support for climate-related damage. The supplied articles report different figures: $20 million and $21.6 million.

• India’s defence exports reportedly reached a record ₹38,424 crore, reflecting the growth of domestic defence manufacturing.
• Rising European demand for ammunition, linked to the ReArm Europe initiative, has created export opportunities for Indian manufacturers.
• Significance: Defence exports can support domestic industry, employment and India’s goal of self-reliance in defence production.

• Award: Ashoke Sen received the 2026 Oskar Klein Medal, becoming the first Indian to win the honour.
• Awarding Institutions: Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
• Field of Work: His research focuses on string theory, which attempts to explain fundamental particles and forces, including gravity, within one framework.
• Importance: String theory seeks to connect quantum physics with Einstein’s theory of relativity, although it has not yet produced predictions that can be experimentally confirmed using current technology.

• The fifth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam will be held from 28 November to 12 December 2026.
• It aims to strengthen the historical, cultural and civilisational links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi (Varanasi).
• The programme promotes the exchange of knowledge, traditions and cultural practices between the two regions.

• Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book.
• It highlights India’s civilisational heritage, democratic traditions, technological progress and growing global influence.
• The book focuses on India’s role in shaping a more equitable world.

• The conclave concluded in Bhubaneswar on 25 October 2026 after a two-day programme.
• It was organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in partnership with the Government of Odisha.
• It focused on urban reforms and improving the planning and management of Indian cities.

• The Kerala government approved a proposal to launch an airline through the Kerala Civil Aviation Development Cooperative Society.
• The proposed airline aims to operate under a cooperative model.
• The initiative could expand regional air connectivity, subject to the required approvals and operational arrangements.

• Shabari Naturals, a Maharashtra government initiative, received the G-Mark Global Design Award on 25 October 2026.
• Its packaging design draws inspiration from traditional tribal art.
• The award highlights the potential of traditional art and local identity in modern product design.

• Indian photographer and fine artist Sitaram Raul won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category at the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
• His winning photograph was titled “Shifting Sand.”
• The award recognises his wildlife photography, particularly his depiction of invertebrate behaviour.

• K. Damodharan, popularly known as Chef Damu, died in Chennai on 25 October 2026, at the age of 72.
• He received the Padma Shri in 2025 for his contribution to culinary arts.
• He was widely known for his work in cooking, food education and television.

• Indian tennis player Yuki Bhambri and American partner Ryan Seggerman won the men’s doubles title at the ATP 250 Almaty Open.
• The final was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 25 October 2026.
• The victory added another international doubles title to Bhambri’s career.

• The ninth edition of the India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Exercise (IBSAMAR) concluded at Simon’s Town, South Africa.
• The exercise involved the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa.
• It aimed to strengthen maritime cooperation, operational coordination and professional exchanges among the participating navies.

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched and laid foundation stones for Yamuna rejuvenation projects worth over ₹8,941 crore.
• Major works include expanding sewer networks and improving drainage systems.
• The projects aim to reduce pollution entering the Yamuna River and improve wastewater management in Delhi.

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 30th Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) meeting in New Delhi.
• The council discusses domestic and global financial developments and emerging risks.
• Its role includes supporting financial stability and coordination among financial-sector regulators.

• The Indian Air Force showcased its capabilities during the Wings Over Ganga air show in Varanasi.
• Spectators watched aerial displays along the Ganga, from Namo Ghat to Assi Ghat.
• According to the supplied report, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to attend the event and inaugurate a garment facility in Varanasi.

• Proposal: The Ministry of Road Transport proposed making Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) mandatory for new passenger car models from 1 October 2030. Existing production models would need to comply by 1 October 2032.
• How It Works: The system monitors the road ahead, warns the driver of a possible collision and can automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not respond in time.
• Purpose: To reduce rear-end collisions, protect pedestrians and cyclists, and lower road fatalities.
• Key Term: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) refers to vehicle technologies that help drivers avoid crashes and improve road safety.

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is scheduled to launch NVS-03 on 30 October 2026, using a GSLV Mk II rocket from Sriharikota.
• NVS-03 is part of the second-generation Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) satellite series.
• Purpose: To replace ageing first-generation navigation satellites and improve India’s independent satellite-navigation services.
• Organisations Involved: ISRO operates NavIC; the Space Applications Centre (SAC) develops navigation payloads, while the U. R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) builds satellite platforms.

• Scientists discovered a new cave-dwelling freshwater snail named Erhaia dijiang in Yunnan Province, China, at an altitude of 2,062 metres.
• Only three living adult specimens were found, raising concerns about the species’ conservation.
• Adaptations: It has no eyes, lacks body pigmentation and has a nearly transparent, cone-shaped shell.
• Habitat: The snail lives in shallow cave water among gravel and broken rocks, showing adaptations to life underground.

• Astronomers detected fine, thread-like magnetic structures in the Sun’s chromosphere, the layer of its atmosphere above the visible surface.
• The observations were made using the Sunrise-III solar observatory.
• Importance: The discovery can help scientists better understand the Sun’s magnetic field and the physical processes occurring in its atmosphere.

• Observed annually on 24 October to mark the date the United Nations Charter came into force in 1945.
• In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly designated 24 October as United Nations Day.
• 2026 marked the 81st anniversary of the United Nations.
• The day highlights the UN’s role in international peace, cooperation, human rights and development.

• Observed annually on 24 October to raise awareness about global development challenges.
• It promotes the sharing of information and international cooperation to support development.
• The United Nations General Assembly established the observance in 1972.
• The date is linked to the adoption of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade in 1970.

• Observed from 24 to 31 October to promote media literacy, critical thinking and responsible digital engagement.
• 2026 Theme: “We All Play a Part – Media and Information Literacy for the People.”
• The initiative was launched in 2012 under the leadership of UNESCO and partner organisations.
• It encourages people to assess information carefully and identify misleading or false content.

• Observed annually on 24 October to raise awareness about polio and support global eradication efforts.
• 2026 Theme: “One day, one focus, Ending polio for good.”
• India’s last reported case of wild poliovirus was recorded in Howrah, West Bengal, on 13 January 2011.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) certified its South-East Asia Region, including India, as polio-free on 27 March 2014. India continues vaccination and disease surveillance to prevent the return of polio.