Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 28 October, 2026

Context of the News

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India discovered a new species of deep-sea electric ray in the southeastern Arabian Sea. It has been named the Arabian Black Electric Ray (Tetronarce ramanamurthyi).

What Is It?

• A newly described deep-sea cartilaginous fish
• From the electric ray family Torpedinidae, order Torpediniformes
• Named after M. V. Ramana Murthy, Mission Director of the Deep Ocean Mission, for his work in marine science and ocean engineering

Where Does It Live?

• On the deep-water continental shelf and upper bathyal slopes
• In the southeastern Arabian Sea, off southwestern India
• It lives on the sea floor of the northern Indian Ocean

Context of the News

Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, declared Ladakh India’s first 100 per cent Organic Union Territory.

How Did It Happen?

Why Was It Done?

• Promote chemical-free agriculture
• Protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem
• Improve farmers’ livelihoods

What Will Help Farmers Earn More?

• Organic certification
• Better post-harvest management
• Value addition
• Strong market linkages

Important Facts for Exams

• Ladakh declared India’s first 100 per cent Organic Union Territory, by LG Vinai Kumar Saxena
• Chemical and synthetic fertilisers banned in July 2026; organic fertilisers distributed in March 2026
• Sikkim became India’s first fully organic state in 2016, and won the FAO Future Policy Gold Award in 2018
• India has the largest number of organic farmers in the world; Madhya Pradesh has the largest organic area

Context of the News

The conservation programme for the Great Indian Bustard will keep releasing captive-bred birds into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer — despite one released bird dying, apparently killed by a desert fox. Officials have ruled out destroying fox dens, saying predation is a natural part of reintroduction.

About the Bird

• Scientific name: Ardeotis nigriceps
• A large, ground-dwelling bird
• Found mainly in India’s dry grasslands and open landscapes
• State Bird of Rajasthan
• IUCN: Critically Endangered

• Amendment: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to provide a regulatory framework for flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on ethanol blends up to E100.
• E100 Fuel: E100 refers to fuel consisting almost entirely of ethanol, an alcohol produced through the fermentation of feedstocks such as sugarcane, molasses and maize.
• Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs): These vehicles are designed to operate on petrol, ethanol or different blends of the two fuels.
• Importance: Wider use of ethanol can create additional markets for agricultural produce, reduce crude oil import dependence and support the decarbonisation of road transport.

• Objective: The Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalata Sampanna Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana provides skill training to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), De-notified Tribes (DNTs) and Safai Karamcharis, including waste pickers.
• Reported Progress: In October 2026, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment reported that 1.87 lakh candidates had received training and 96,162 had secured placements.
• Launch: The Central Sector Scheme was launched in 2020–21. Indian citizens aged 18–45 years are eligible under the scheme.
• Implementation: The scheme is implemented through the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).

• Meaning: AI Neolabs are independent, research-focused artificial intelligence laboratories established by leading AI researchers to develop advanced AI systems.
• Why in News: Increasing numbers of AI researchers are leaving major technology companies to establish independent research laboratories.
• Main Aim: These laboratories focus on developing safe, reliable and human-aligned artificial intelligence, including research into safe superintelligence.
• Importance: They emphasise long-term scientific research and AI safety rather than focusing only on immediate commercial returns.

• Meaning: An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is the process through which an unlisted company offers its shares to the public for the first time and becomes eligible for listing on a stock exchange.
• Types: A Fresh Issue involves issuing new shares to raise funds for the company, while an Offer for Sale (OFS) allows existing shareholders to sell their shares.
• Stock Exchanges: In India, companies can list their shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), subject to applicable requirements.
• Importance: IPOs help companies raise capital for expansion, while investors get an opportunity to purchase shares and participate in the company’s growth.

Context of the News

The Cabinet approved the ₹10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS). It was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the February Budget. The scheme will run till 2039-40.

What Is the Aim?

• Build a globally competitive container manufacturing industry in India
• Raise annual domestic capacity about ten-fold, to 750,000 TEUs
• Position India as a global export hub for quality shipping containers

Why Is This Needed?

• Indian traders have faced high freight costs since 2023
• Container leasing and buying rates turned volatile after global crises
• Global shipping lines bought containers mostly from China, because of a big cost advantage

• Development: The supplied material reports that Jio Platforms debuted on the BSE and NSE following an IPO worth ₹30,213 crore.
• Investor Response: The reported bids reached approximately ₹7.3 lakh crore, indicating strong demand for the offering.
• Capital Market: An IPO enables a company to raise money from public investors or allows existing shareholders to sell their holdings.
• Importance: Large IPOs can increase investor participation, expand the stock market and provide companies with access to public capital. The reported listing details should be independently verified.

• Reported Progress: The scheme had trained 1.87 lakh candidates, with 96,162 candidates securing placements, according to the October 2026 update in the supplied material.
• Target Groups: It supports disadvantaged communities, including SCs, OBCs, EWS, DNTs and Safai Karamcharis.
• Training Focus: The scheme aims to improve employability through skill development and vocational training.
• Social Importance: Skill development can improve access to employment, increase earning opportunities and support the economic inclusion of disadvantaged groups.

• Event: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, organised the 19th Urban Mobility India Conference and the second National Urban Conclave in Bhubaneswar from 23 to 25 October 2026.
• Urban Mobility Theme: “Urban Accessibility and Liveability in Digital Age,” focusing on accessible transport, integrated infrastructure and digital technologies.
• National Urban Conclave Theme: “Urban Rising – Rethinking Urban Systems, Solutions and Delivery,” emphasising stronger urban institutions and improved public services.
• Importance: The events focused on sustainable transport, urban planning, better city governance and improved service delivery towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

• Agreement: Indian AI company Sarvam signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), Ministry of Defence.
• Objective: The agreement establishes an umbrella framework for artificial intelligence projects across the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
• Applications: AI can support military data analysis, decision-making, operational planning and other defence-related tasks.
• Significance: The collaboration aims to expand the use of indigenous AI technologies in India’s defence sector.

• Development: The supplied material reports that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Red Alert for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as Cyclone Arnab intensified into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal.
• Origin: The storm reportedly developed from a low-pressure system over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal.
• Classification: A Very Severe Cyclonic Storm is a category in the IMD’s classification of tropical cyclones, associated with sustained winds of approximately 118–166 km/h.
• Impact: Such cyclones can bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall, coastal flooding and storm surges. The storm’s name and reported status should be independently verified.

• Achievement: Indian theoretical physicist Ashoke Sen became the first Indian physicist to receive the Oskar Klein Medal, according to the supplied material.
• Contribution: He was recognised for his pioneering work in string theory and theoretical physics.
• History: The medal was instituted in 1988 in honour of Swedish physicist Oskar Klein.
• Awarding Institutions: The award is associated with Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

• Development: The Ministry of Defence reportedly granted Acceptance of Necessity for procuring more than 300 additional K9 Vajra-T artillery systems, at an estimated cost exceeding ₹20,000 crore.
• Features: The K9 Vajra-T is a 155 mm, 52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer designed to provide mobile artillery fire support.
• Manufacturing: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) manufactures the system in India at its Armoured Systems Complex in Hazira, Gujarat, in technical collaboration with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace.
• Importance: Its mobility and firepower support mechanised formations and help strengthen India’s artillery capabilities.

• Participants: The 11th edition of the India–Indonesia joint special forces exercise, GARUDA SHAKTI, commenced in Banyuwangi, Indonesia, according to the supplied material.
• Nature: It is a bilateral military exercise involving the Indian Army and the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
• Objectives: The exercise aims to improve tactical coordination, military interoperability and mutual understanding.
• Training Focus: Joint training includes counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and other special forces operations.

• Men’s Award: The supplied material reports that England striker Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman to win it since Michael Owen in 2001.
• Women’s Award: Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas reportedly won her third Women’s Ballon d’Or after previous victories in 2021 and 2022.
• Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal reportedly won the men’s Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year, while Vicky Lopez won the women’s award.
• Other Awards: Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award, while Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona were named men’s and women’s Clubs of the Year, respectively. These reported 2026 results require independent verification.

• Event: The Yonex French Open badminton tournament was held from 20 to 25 October 2026 at Arena Grand Paris in Tremblay-en-France, France.
• Men’s Singles: France’s Christo Popov defeated Indonesia’s Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah in the final.
• Women’s Singles: South Korea’s An Se-young defeated India’s P. V. Sindhu, who finished as the runner-up.
• Prize Money: The supplied material reports a total prize pool of US$950,000.

• Indian Achievements: Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy won individual gold medals at the European Chess Club Cup and European Women’s Chess Club Cup, respectively.
• Dates and Venue: The tournaments were held in Budva, Montenegro, from 17 to 23 October 2026.
• Team Winners: Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club of Turkey won the Open section, while Cercle d’Échecs de Monte-Carlo of Monaco won the Women’s section.
• Participation: A reported record of 130 teams competed across both sections, comprising 108 Open teams and 22 Women’s teams.

• Release: Former Bihar and Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan unveiled the English translation of the book in New Delhi in October 2026.
• Original Author: The book was originally written in Malayalam by veteran Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Ranga Hari.
• Translator: Dr. Mercy Jill translated the book into English.
• Theme: It discusses the historical and cultural significance of Vande Mataram, its role in India’s freedom struggle and its association with the Swadeshi Movement.

• Date: Observed annually on 27 October to promote the preservation of audiovisual records, including films, recordings and other sound and visual materials.
• 2026 Theme: “Your Window to the World.”
• Origin: UNESCO proclaimed the observance in 2005 through Resolution 33 C/Resolution 53.
• Significance: The date commemorates the recommendation adopted on 27 October 1980 for safeguarding and preserving moving images. UNESCO and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations jointly support the observance.

• Dates: Observed from 1 to 31 October to raise awareness about dyslexia and the learning support needed by affected individuals.
• Dyslexia: It is a learning difference that can affect reading, spelling and the processing of written language. It is not a measure of a person’s intelligence.
• World Dyslexia Day: The supplied material identifies 8 October as World Dyslexia Day.
• Objective: Awareness initiatives promote early identification, inclusive education and appropriate learning support.

• Dates: Observed from 26 October to 1 November 2026 under the leadership of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
• Theme: “Probity for Prosperity.”
• Purpose: The observance promotes integrity, transparency, accountability and awareness against corruption in public life.
• Significance: The week coincides with the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 31 October, whose commitment to integrity is associated with the observance.