Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 30 October, 2026

Context of the News

New genetic technologies — CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and apomixis — are opening ways to improve India’s staple crops, especially rice and wheat. They could produce higher-yielding, climate-resilient varieties and cut the cost farmers pay for hybrid seed every year.

Why Rice and Wheat?

• They occupy more than half of India’s cultivated land
• They are the main source of food and calories
• So improving their productivity matters directly for food security

What Gene-Edited Rice Has India Released?

In 2025, India released two varieties developed using CRISPR-Cas9:

What Is Apomixis?

• A form of asexual reproduction in plants
• Seeds form without fertilisation
• The offspring are genetically almost identical to the mother plant

What Is Happening Elsewhere?

Why Does the GM vs Gene Editing Distinction Matter in India?

Because the two are regulated completely differently:

This is why DRR Dhan 100 and Pusa DST Rice 1 could be released in 2025, while GM mustard remains stuck in litigation. The difference is not the benefit — it is whether foreign DNA was inserted. HB4 wheat, using a sunflower gene, falls in the regulated category.

Key Terms

• Apomixis: Seed formation without fertilisation, producing offspring genetically similar to the mother plant
• Synthetic apomixis: Using genetic tools to introduce apomixis-like reproduction into crops that normally reproduce sexually
• CRISPR-Cas9: A gene-editing tool that makes precise changes in an organism’s own DNA
• Hybrid vigour (heterosis): Better growth or yield in offspring produced by crossing genetically different parents
• Gene editing: Changing an organism’s existing DNA
• Genetic modification (GM): Changing genetic material, often by inserting a gene from another organism
• SDN: Site-Directed Nuclease. SDN-1 makes a cut and lets the plant repair it; SDN-2 guides a small edit using a template; SDN-3 inserts a whole new gene
• Salinity: Excess soluble salts in soil, which harm crop growth
• Parthenogenesis: Development of an embryo without fertilisation
• Bt cotton remains India’s only commercially approved transgenic crop, since 2002
• GM mustard (DMH-11) was cleared by GEAC in 2022; the Supreme Court gave a split verdict in July 2024 and asked for a national policy

• The Union Cabinet approved the scheme with an outlay of ₹1,856.67 crore for 2026–27 to 2033–34 to strengthen India’s sports goods manufacturing industry.
• Implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, it aims to promote domestic manufacturing, investment, research and development, innovation and exports while reducing import dependence.
• The scheme has two broad components: manufacturing incentives and ecosystem development interventions. It also proposes four integrated Sports Goods Manufacturing Zones, each spread over 300 acres or more.
• Two major support components have a combined outlay of ₹1,130 crore: 20% capital expenditure support for eligible anchor investors investing at least ₹100 crore, and turnover-linked incentives of up to 15% for eligible manufacturers investing at least ₹10 crore.

• Researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Madras Christian College discovered two new flowering plant species in the Vijoynagar region of Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• The species are Ophiorrhiza shidiensis and Ophiorrhiza pemae, belonging to the Rubiaceae family, commonly known as the coffee family.
• Ophiorrhiza shidiensis was named after Shidi, the traditional name for Gandhigram used by the Lisu (Yobin) community.
• Ophiorrhiza pemae was named in honour of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. The findings were published in the journal Taiwania.

• On 28 October 2026, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bank of England (BoE).
• The agreement aims to strengthen regulatory cooperation and information sharing concerning SEBI-recognised Clearing Corporations (CCs).
• It provides a framework for cooperation relating to Central Counterparties (CCPs), allowing the Bank of England to rely on SEBI’s regulatory and supervisory activities, subject to applicable laws.
• Clearing corporations help complete trade settlements and reduce the risk of default between buyers and sellers.

• Air India, SBI Card and Visa partnered to develop a co-branded credit card for members of Air India’s Maharaja Club loyalty programme.
• The card is expected to offer travel and lifestyle benefits, including Maharaja Points on everyday purchases and travel transactions.
• It is Air India’s first co-branded credit card initiative since its privatisation and acquisition by the Tata Group in January 2022.
• The Maharaja Club was redesigned in 2024 and has added more than 5 million members, according to the supplied information.

• SEBI placed its cybersecurity team on red alert following repeated attempts to breach its systems, including a code execution attack on the SMARTs portal on 26 October 2026.
• SMARTs stands for Securities Market Trainers. It is a platform used by eligible trainers to register with SEBI and conduct investor awareness programmes.
• A code execution attack allows an attacker to run unauthorised commands or malicious code on a computer system by exploiting a vulnerability.
• Such attacks can threaten data security and disrupt the functioning of digital platforms.

Context of the News

The World Bank’s October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief says India has made “remarkable progress” in reducing poverty, across both income and non-income measures. It calls this one of the fastest reductions in the world.

What Do the Income Measures Show?

Between 2011 and 2023:

An estimated 496 million people moved out of poverty.

The Bank projects poverty will keep falling, “albeit more gradually”.

What Do the Non-Income Measures Show?

What Drove the Decline?

The World Bank names three causes:

• Strong consumption growth
• Rising employment, especially among women
• Expanded social transfers, including food subsidies

Important Facts for Exams

• World Bank Poverty and Equity Brief, October 2026
• $4.20 a day line: 57.7 per cent (2011) → 16.1 per cent (2023); 496 million lifted out
• $3.00 a day line: 27.1 per cent → 2.6 per cent
• OPHI MPI: 53.8 per cent (2005-06) → 16.4 per cent (2019-21); World Bank MPI 15.5 per cent (2022-23)
• Top 10 per cent of workers earn 13 times the bottom 10 per cent
• UP to West Bengal belt: 57 per cent of India’s poor
• 134 million jobs added (2017-2023) — nearly twice the working-age population growth
• Youth unemployment: 14.6 per cent → 15.9 per cent between Q1 FY2026 and Q1 FY2027
• The same report found about 80 per cent of Indians still below the upper-middle-income line of $8.30 a day
• Rural poverty 19.3 per cent, urban 8.6 per cent
• The World Bank revised its poverty lines in 2025 to $3.00, $4.20 and $8.30 in 2021 PPP terms
• India’s own poverty committees: Lakdawala (1993), Tendulkar (2009), Rangarajan (2014). No official poverty line has been published since
• NITI Aayog publishes India’s own National MPI, with 12 indicators across health, education and standard of living

• India’s fiscal deficit reached 42% of the FY27 Budget Estimate during April–September 2026, compared with nearly 37% in the corresponding period of the previous financial year.
• The fiscal deficit increased nearly 25% year-on-year to ₹7.14 lakh crore during the first half of FY2026–27.
• Government expenditure rose nearly 11% to ₹25.50 lakh crore, mainly due to higher revenue expenditure.
• Revenue expenditure increased 10% to ₹18.95 lakh crore, supported by higher subsidy spending. Slower tax collection and increased expenditure contributed to the higher fiscal deficit.

• The Union Government increased Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) by three percentage points, from 60% to 63%, with effect from 1 July 2026.
• DA is paid to government employees, while DR is paid to pensioners.
• It is a cost-of-living adjustment intended to protect the purchasing power of employees and pensioners against inflation.
• The increase helps offset the impact of rising prices on household expenses.

• Union Minister of State Prataprao Jadhav launched the fourth edition of the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign (TFYC 4.0) on 28 October 2026 in New Delhi.
• The campaign is organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and will run for 60 days.
• Its main objectives are to prevent tobacco use, encourage people to quit tobacco and strengthen awareness about nicotine addiction.
• The campaign places special emphasis on Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) and creating tobacco-free campuses. The associated “Say No to Tobacco” pledge encourages young people to reject tobacco and nicotine products.

• The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum was held in New Delhi from 26 to 27 October 2026 under the theme “Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development.”
• The forum was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and concluded with the adoption of a Joint Declaration.
• Discussions focused on parliamentary cooperation, global governance reforms, counter-terrorism and sustainable development.
• Other BRICS engagements included the BRICS Theatre Festival, BRICS Business Forum and the second BRICS Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ meeting.

• Indian Naval Ship INS Sahyadri, an indigenously designed and built guided-missile stealth frigate, arrived at Busan Naval Harbour, South Korea, to participate in a bilateral maritime exercise.
• The exercise involves the Indian Navy and the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN).
• It includes harbour interactions and tactical operations at sea to improve coordination and interoperability between the two navies.
• The exercise aims to strengthen defence cooperation and support a free, open and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Indian commercial pilot Captain Smit Machchhar received the UAE’s prestigious First-Class Order of Zayed II.
• The honour recognised his bravery in protecting 174 passengers during an in-flight cockpit assault aboard a Flydubai flight.
• The Order of Zayed II is a UAE national civilian decoration awarded to foreign dignitaries and distinguished individuals for exceptional public service, diplomatic achievements or acts of bravery.

• India hosted the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi under its 2026 BRICS presidency theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
• The second BRICS Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ (FMCBG) Meeting was co-chaired by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra and DEA Secretary Anuradha Thakur.
• RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra and Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank, inaugurated the BNKP, a centralised digital platform.
• The platform aims to consolidate and share knowledge and best practices from BRICS working groups.

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) launched the sixth edition of the National Startup Awards (NSA 6.0) under the Startup India initiative.
• The awards aim to recognise innovation and entrepreneurship and encourage startup participation from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• Startups will be recognised across 20 sectoral categories and three special categories. Winners in eligible startup categories will receive a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.
• The special categories include Women-Led Startup of the Year, North-East Startup Excellence and Student Innovator/Aspiring Entrepreneur Award.

• The award is a national civilian decoration of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• It recognises exceptional public service, diplomatic achievements and acts of gallantry.
• Captain Smit Machchhar received the honour for protecting passengers during an in-flight cockpit assault.

• The Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee announced “Stars Align” as the official slogan for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• The Olympic Games are scheduled for 14–30 July 2028, while the Paralympic Games will take place from 15–27 August 2028.
• Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics for the third time, after 1932 and 1984. It will host the Paralympic Games for the first time.
• The Olympic motto is “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”, while the Paralympic motto is “Change Starts with Sport.”

• Indian para-athlete Neeraj Yadav, a three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist, passed away at the age of 42.
• He competed in the F55 category and won gold in men’s javelin throw at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games with an Asian record of 29.84 metres.
• At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games, he won gold medals in men’s discus throw and javelin throw.
• He had earlier competed in wheelchair tennis before moving to seated para-athletics events.

• World Stroke Day is observed every year on 29 October to raise awareness about stroke prevention, early recognition of symptoms and timely treatment.
• The supplied theme for 2026 is “Every M1nute Counts.”
• The day was first observed on 29 October 2006 under the initiative of the World Stroke Organization (WSO).
• The 18th World Stroke Congress 2026 was held in Seoul, South Korea, from 21 to 23 October.