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One Liners 17-10-2026
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Polity & Governance
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Census (Amendment) Rules, 2026
- Notified by – Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under Section 18(1) of the Census Act, 1948.
- India conducts a population Census once every 10 years under the Census Act, 1948.
- The last such exercise was conducted in 2011, while the 2021 census was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Amendment’s Objective – It aims to enhance the representation of enumerators and ensure a broader pool of qualified individuals for Census operations.
- Enumerators – They play a crucial role in conducting the Census of India, as they are responsible for visiting households, collecting accurate demographic, social, and economic information, and ensuring that every individual is counted.
- They serve as the primary link between citizens and the census administration, helping to gather reliable data that supports government planning and policy-making.
- Any person whom the administration of a State or Union Territory considers suitable may perform the duties of an enumerator.
Features of the amendment
- Expanding the eligibility for enumerators – To include teachers, government officials, local authority staff, and any other person considered suitable by the administration of the respective state governments or Union Territories.
- Inclusion of teachers – Under the revised rules, teachers from any government educational institution, local authority, aided or unaided private educational institutions, societies, or trusts can be appointed as enumerators.
- Inclusion of Government & Institutional Personnel – Clerks or any official of the Central or State government, local authority or establishment, including public sector undertakings, statutory bodies, banks, companies, institutions, societies, and trusts may also be included.
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Social Issues
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PM-AJAY – Adarsh Gram
18,093 Adarsh Grams - 18,093 Villages Declared Adarsh Grams, Rs. 1,730 Crore Released Under PM-AJAY Grants-in-Aid.
- Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) – It is a 100% Centrally Funded Scheme for the socio-economic and educational empowerment of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities.
- Aim – To advance the socio-economic and educational empowerment of Scheduled Caste communities through infrastructure development, livelihood promotion, education and improved access to essential services.
- Implemented by – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- 3 components –
- Development of Scheduled Caste-dominated villages into Adarsh Grams,
- Grants-in-Aid for socio-economic projects at the State and District levels, and
- Construction and repair of hostels.
- Adarsh Gram Development – The SC-dominated villages are developed as model villages (Adarsh Grams) by addressing critical gaps in infrastructure and essential services.
- An Adarsh Gram is envisioned as a village where people have access to basic services, the minimum needs of all sections of society are met, and disparities are reduced to a minimum.
- More than 47,200 villages have been covered, benefiting over 47.79 lakh citizens across the country.
- Grants-in-Aid Component – Supports State and District-level socio-economic development projects; around Rs. 1,730 crore was released during FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26, benefiting over 2.5 lakh individuals and groups.
- Hostel Component – Provides accommodation for SC students, especially from rural and remote areas. 785 student hostels completed as of September 2026 and Rs. 61.46 crore allocated in 2026-27 for two new hostel projects.
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Government Policy & Interventions
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CCRAS SPARK 5.0
National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) launched CCRAS SPARK 5.0 of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).
- Aim – To strengthen the research ecosystem in Ayurveda by encouraging research among undergraduate students and recognising scholarly excellence, research communication and innovation.
- SPARK – Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken.
- SPARK 5.0 (2026-27) – It is the fifth edition of the programme and seeks to introduce undergraduate Ayurveda students
- To research methodology and techniques through short-term independent research projects, and
- To foster research aptitude, analytical thinking and early interest in research as a career among undergraduate students.
- Financial assistance – A total of 300 studentships are being offered, with a studentship amount of Rs. 50,000.
- Target – Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) students in their third/fourth/professional years studying in NCISM/Government of India-recognised colleges or universities are eligible.
- Significance – This initiative is intended to nurture emerging research talent, promote effective research communication, encourage quality scholarly publications and foster innovative approaches to advancing Ayurveda research.
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CCRAS Ayurshodh
National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) launched CCRAS Ayurshodh 2026 of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).
- CCRAS Ayurshodh – It provides a platform for PG and PhD scholars to recognise and encourage research contributions in Ayurveda across three categories -
- CCRAS-Prabodh 3MT – Communication of research through three-minute thesis presentations.
- CCRAS-Prakash – Recognition of scholarly achievements through publications based on original research.
- CCRAS-Navonmesha – Recognition of innovative prototypes, novel solutions, process innovations and transformative research methodologies.
- Awards & Sponsorship – Features prize money and awards sponsored by Shree Dhootapapeshwar Limited
- Significance – This initiative is intended to nurture emerging research talent, promote effective research communication, encourage quality scholarly publications and foster innovative approaches to advancing Ayurveda research.
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First-Ever Kanda Express to Agartala – for Onion Availability
The Department of Consumer Affairs is expanding the distribution of buffer onions under the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF), with the first-ever Kanda Express movement to Agartala, Tripura.
- It is a special rail-based initiative by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
- The consignment carrying approximately 440 metric tonnes (MT) of onions is expected to reach Agartala by the 18th of this month.
- Aim – To strengthen onion availability, curb price volatility, boost local supplies and ensure affordable prices ahead of the festive season.
- The initiative marks a further expansion of the Government’s onion distribution network in the North-East, following the successful movement of buffer onions to Assam through Kanda Express.
- So far, two Kanda Express rail rakes, carrying 840 MT and 452 MT of onions, respectively, and 44 truck consignments carrying over 1500 MT have supplied buffer onions across the North-East.
- The Government continues to closely monitor onion prices, market arrivals and supply conditions across the country.
- Further releases will be undertaken, as required, in accordance with approved operational decisions to ensure adequate market availability and help moderate undue price volatility.
- Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) – It is a central government mechanism established to mitigate extreme price volatility in essential agri-horticultural commodities like onions, potatoes, and pulses.
- It was set up in 2014–15, managed by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA).
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International Relations and Issues
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National state of emergency in Panama
Panama's government declared a national state of emergency on Saturday, October 11, 2026, following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country.
- Earthquake Details – The country was primarily hit by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake, centred near Pitaloza Arriba in the central Herrera province (and was felt as far as neighbouring Colombia).
- A second 6.6-magnitude quake and more than 200 aftershocks (including magnitudes up to 5.8) followed.
- Human Impact – At least 27 people were injured; no deaths were reported immediately after the disaster.
- Geographical Significance – Panama lies in a seismically active region influenced by the interaction of the Cocos Plate, Nazca Plate, and Caribbean Plate.
- The country is part of the broader Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most active earthquake zones.
Panama
- It is a transcontinental country located on the Isthmus of Panama in Central America.
- Border – It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the east, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the south.
- Capital & Largest City – Panama City
- Official Language – Spanish (with several indigenous and regional languages recognised).
- The Panama Canal – Bisecting the country, the Panama Canal is a historic and global maritime engineering marvel completed in 1914 that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, driving a major share of the nation's service-driven, high-income economy.
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Economy
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National Strategic Trade Command Centre (NSTCC)
Recently, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched the National Strategic Trade Command Centre (NSTCC) in New Delhi.
- NSTCC – A strategic initiative, a centralised, data-driven analytics hub to monitor India’s international trade.
- Aim – To improve the monitoring, analysis and governance of India’s international trade ecosystem through integrated data analytics and evidence-based decision-making.
- Developed by – Department of Commerce in close coordination with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Features
- Dashboard – It will bring together dashboards covering key DGFT functions and trade-related domains, including
- Importer Exporter Code,
- Advance Authorisation,
- Export Promotion Capital Goods,
- Certificate of Origin,
- SCOMET,
- restricted imports and exports, and
- other regulatory and trade facilitation processes.
- It enables users to analyse information across multiple levels, including national trade performance, Regional Authorities, schemes, products, destination markets and individual applications, subject to role-based access permissions.
- It provides senior policymakers and government officials with a consolidated view of India’s trade performance, export promotion schemes, regulatory approvals, application processing and operational indicators.
- By integrating data from multiple trade-related systems, the platform will help identify emerging trends, operational bottlenecks and areas requiring timely policy or administrative intervention.
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Agriculture
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Mari ZT Lalrithangi
Mizoram strawberry grower Pi ZT Lalrithangi named among FAO’s 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems & Rural Development.
- Mari Z T Lalrithangi – A 35-year-old teacher-turned-farmer from a remote village, popularly known as Pi Mari-i, from Sangau in south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district.
- She has been selected for the award by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN as part of the International Year of Women Farmers 2026.
- She is the first Mizo to receive the recognition.
- Purpose – For her contribution to agriculture and rural development, after turning strawberry cultivation into a profitable livelihood.
- She was selected from more than 600 candidates across 131 countries, with only two women chosen from India.
- Other Indian Women to be honoured – Priyanka Mahesh Shelke, a rural development professional and founder of Farmer Producer Companies in Maharashtra, mobilising support for thousands of farmers and women entrepreneurs.
- Award Presentation – The award was presented during the World Food Forum, held at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) headquarters in Rome.
- The recognition honours her dedication, hard work and success in strawberry cultivation, as well as her efforts to set an example for future generations.
FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development
- It is a global recognition initiative launched by the FAO to mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.
- The initiative honours 100 women from around the world whose grassroots leadership, innovation, and daily work are transforming agrifood systems, protecting biodiversity, and strengthening rural communities.
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Science
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Clean Hydrogen – Contracted Volumes & Ranking
India ranks third globally in cumulative contracted clean hydrogen volumes, says Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
- India ranks 3rd globally in cumulative contracted clean hydrogen volumes, according to Bloomberg New Economy Forum’s India Transition Factbook 2026
Key details
Contracted Volumes and Rankings
- Clean Hydrogen – Indian companies have successfully secured binding commercial contracts for 0.3 million metric tons (3 lakh tonnes) per annum of clean hydrogen.
- A surge of these agreements was signed during the first four months of 2026, positioning India as a leading supplier.
- Green Ammonia Exports – In tandem with the hydrogen contracts, domestic firms have signed three major binding offtake agreements to export over 1 million metric tons (10 lakh tonnes) per annum of green ammonia.
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Sports
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First Recipients of New IOA Awards 2026
Kumkum Mohod and Sujeet Kalkal were named first recipients of the Jaspal Rana Award and the Raja Randhir Singh Award, respectively, in recognition of their performances at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
- Jaspal Rana Award & Raja Randhir Singh Award – These are memorial trophies instituted in 2026 by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
- Purpose – To honour top-performing athletes at the Asian Games and commemorate two Indian sporting legends who passed away in 2026.
- India's Overall Performance – India wrapped up the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games campaign in 4th place on the medal table with a total of 85 medals (21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze).
- Jaspal Rana (1976–2026) – A celebrated Indian pistol shooter, multi-time Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medalist, and prominent coach (who famously mentored double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker), passed away in June 2026.
- Raja Randhir Singh (1947–2026) – A veteran trap/skeet shooter, Asian Games gold medalist, long-serving IOA Secretary-General (1987–2012), and former President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), passed away in May 202.
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Miscellaneous
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International Sloth Day 2026
- It is held every year on the third Saturday in October; for 2026, it is on October 17.
- Purpose – To raise awareness about the biology, life cycle, and natural habitats of sloths, while promoting conservation efforts against deforestation, the illegal pet trade, power line hazards, and road accidents.
- Origins – Founded in 2010 by the Colombian wildlife conservation organisation AIUNAU.
- AIUNAU is a non-profit conservation and wildlife organisation based in Colombia.
- 2026 Event – Held from October 15–17, 2026, in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica (hosted by The Sloth Conservation Foundation and partners), featuring community talks, children's workshops, and a beach cleanup.
- Theme for 2026 – “Sloths Wild and Free” (promoted by The Sloth Conservation Foundation).
- Campaign – Run parallel campaigns under the banner “Born to Be Protected. Wild by nature. Protected by you.”
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