Current Affairs - October 12, 2026 Current Affairs

Prakash Rajpurohit, a 2010-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed as the Deputy Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India (ECI). He succeeds Sanjay Kumar in this position and will serve until April 8, 2030, according to an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel. Before this appointment, Rajpurohit was serving as Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence. His appointment was part of a broader administrative reshuffle in which the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved 27 appointments to joint secretary-level positions and equivalent posts.

INS Sahyadri is an indigenously constructed, stealth multi-role frigate of the Indian Navy belonging to the Shivalik class of guided-missile frigates. It arrived in Vladivostok, Russia, on October 10, 2026, to participate in the bilateral naval exercise INDRA-2026, scheduled from October 13 to 18, 2026. The exercise involves the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy and aims to strengthen maritime cooperation, improve interoperability, and promote professional exchanges between the two navies. Its activities include shore-based interactions, maritime operations at sea, and cultural exchanges. The deployment also supports India's broader vision of regional maritime security and cooperation.

Jorhat, located in Assam, is the site of the newly inaugurated Grainage Building and Cold Storage facility at the Central Silk Board’s Silkworm Seed Production Centre in Rowriah. The facility was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita on October 8, 2026, under the North-East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS). The new infrastructure can produce 30 lakh Disease-Free Layings (DFLs) of mulberry hybrid silkworm seed annually and preserve up to one crore DFLs in cold storage. The project aims to strengthen silkworm seed production, support Assam’s sericulture industry, improve silk quality, and create employment opportunities in the region.

October 12 is observed annually as World Arthritis Day to raise awareness about arthritis and other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). The observance was established in 1996 by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI) to highlight the impact of these conditions on mobility, physical function, and quality of life. World Arthritis Day promotes early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, rehabilitation, and social inclusion for affected individuals. In 2026, the theme is ‘Achieve Your Dreams’, championed by the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR). The campaign emphasises supporting people with RMDs in pursuing their personal, educational, and professional aspirations.

Pulses are the main focus of the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, launched on October 11, 2025, with a financial outlay of ₹11,440 crore for the period from 2025–26 to 2030–31. The mission aims to achieve domestic self-sufficiency, reduce import dependence, and improve farmers’ incomes. It targets annual production of 350 lakh tonnes, productivity of 1,130 kg per hectare, and cultivation across 310 lakh hectares by 2030–31. Tur, Urad, and Masur are the priority crops. Key measures include distributing improved seeds, assuring procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), expanding cultivation, and establishing processing units to strengthen the agricultural value chain.

Kerala launched the WOMN (Women on the Move and Menstrual Needs) scheme on October 11, 2026, to improve menstrual hygiene and provide affordable sanitary napkins at public transport hubs. The scheme was inaugurated at the Thampanoor KSRTC bus terminal by the state’s Minister for Women and Child Development. Implemented by the Women and Child Development Department in association with HLL Lifecare, the initiative has an allocation of ₹16 lakh. Its initial phase covers 14 KSRTC terminals and depots, with plans for expansion to 93 additional depots and major tourist destinations. Each packet containing three sanitary napkins is priced at ₹10, and the scheme also provides eco-friendly disposal facilities.

New Delhi hosted the 3rd International Bharat 6G Symposium 2026, inaugurated by the Union Minister for Communications. The symposium was organised by the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) to bring together government representatives, industry leaders, academic institutions, and global technology alliances to advance the development of 6G technology. During the event, B6GA signed five Memoranda of Understanding with GSMA, One6G Association, GTI Alliance, 6G Industry Forum, and VoICE. A joint report was also released to mark one year of progress since the New Delhi Declaration was adopted in 2025. India's Bharat 6G Vision, launched in 2023, aims to make the country a leading contributor to 6G design, development, and deployment by 2030.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has been selected to receive the Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest civilian honour. French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to confer the distinction on him on October 28, 2026, at the French Embassy in New Delhi. The honour recognises Mittal’s contributions to strengthening economic relations between India and France, particularly in telecommunications and satellite communications. His association with France dates back to 1992, when he collaborated with the French company Compagnie Générale des Eaux to introduce mobile telephony in India. He is also the co-chairman of Paris-based satellite communications company Eutelsat.

Tukaram Mundhe, Maharashtra’s Food and Drugs Administration Commissioner, was appointed as the secretary of the committee constituted by the Maharashtra government to recommend reforms to the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). The committee was formed on October 11, 2026, following a 10-day protest by MPSC aspirants in Pune. Retired judge Dilip Bhosale was appointed as the committee’s chairman. The five-member committee was tasked with examining recruitment-related concerns, examination irregularities, and allegations of question paper leaks. It was given a two-month period to investigate these issues and recommend measures to improve transparency and efficiency in the state’s recruitment process.

France is collaborating with India on the TRISHNA (Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment) mission. The project is jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and France’s National Centre for Space Studies (CNES). The satellite is designed to provide high-resolution data on Earth’s surface temperature, water resources, vegetation, and ecosystem conditions. France’s CNES is responsible for developing the Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) payload, while ISRO is developing the Visible-Near Infra-Red and Short-Wave Infra-Red (VNIR-SWIR) payload and the satellite bus. TRISHNA will support agricultural water management, drought monitoring, climate research, and sustainable use of natural resources.