Current Affairs - October 28, 2026 Current Affairs

Air Marshal Vikram Gaur has reportedly been appointed as the Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence. He previously served as Joint Secretary (Air & Staff Duties) in the DMA from October 2024. He was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal with effect from July 1, 2026. If confirmed, he will become the first Indian Air Force officer to hold the Additional Secretary position in the department. The DMA was established on January 1, 2020, to strengthen coordination, jointness and integration among the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for Central Government employees and pensioners in 2026. The revision came into effect from July 1, 2026, increasing the rates from 60% to 63% of Basic Pay and Basic Pension, respectively. Approximately 48.54 lakh Central Government employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners are expected to benefit from this decision. The government estimated an additional annual financial burden of ₹10,016.10 crore. The increase aims to provide financial support to beneficiaries against rising inflation and living costs.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) honoured Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar with the First Class Order of Zayed II on October 27, 2026, in recognition of his extraordinary courage during a cockpit emergency aboard flydubai flight FZ1073. Despite being seriously injured in an attack by his co-pilot on September 30, 2026, Captain Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door and helped prevent a major disaster with the assistance of the crew and passengers. The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The honour was presented on behalf of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Mumbai will host the Earthshot Prize 2026 for the first time in India on November 16–17, 2026. Established in 2020 by Prince William, the Earthshot Prize is an international environmental initiative aimed at identifying and supporting innovative solutions to protect the planet by 2030. The sixth annual Awards Night will take place on November 17, bringing together environmental experts, investors, businesses and philanthropists. The prize focuses on five categories: nature restoration, clean air, ocean conservation, waste reduction and climate solutions. Each of the five category winners receives £1 million to expand their environmental innovations.

Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) launched INS Srishti (Yard 1283), a Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) for the Indian Navy, on October 27, 2026. The vessel was floated off at GSL's Vaddem Yard in Goa, marking an important milestone in India's indigenous naval shipbuilding programme. Offshore Patrol Vessels play a crucial role in maritime security through surveillance, protection of offshore infrastructure, anti-piracy operations, search and rescue missions, and humanitarian assistance. The construction of such vessels in Indian shipyards supports the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives by strengthening domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.

Indonesia hosted the 11th edition of Exercise Garuda Shakti, a bilateral Special Forces military exercise between India and Indonesia. The exercise began on October 27, 2026, in Banyuwangi, Indonesia, and was scheduled to continue until November 6, 2026. The Indian contingent comprises personnel from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) of the Indian Army, while Indonesia is represented by its Special Forces. The exercise focuses on improving military interoperability, exchanging operational experiences, and strengthening defence cooperation. Training activities include jungle warfare, obstacle clearance, combat marksmanship, mountaineering, and air assault operations.

Bangalore will host the award ceremony of the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2026 on December 12, 2026, as part of the Bangalore Literature Festival. The New India Foundation (NIF) established this annual literary award in 2018 to recognise outstanding non-fiction books focusing on modern and contemporary India. Five books, all published in 2025, have been shortlisted for the 2026 edition. Their subjects include the Indian Constitution, economic development, the history of partition, diplomat K. M. Panikkar and classical singer Arun Kashalkar. The winning author will receive a cash prize of ₹15 lakh.

Turkiye will host the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026. The summit will bring together delegates from countries worldwide to discuss climate change mitigation, adaptation, climate finance, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Türkiye will also lead the Action Agenda, while Australia will play a key role in the official climate negotiations under the leadership of Chris Bowen. Murat Kurum, Türkiye's Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, will serve as the President of COP31.

Chhattisgarh has selected the Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus) as its proposed official state butterfly through an online public vote conducted from July 31 to August 31, 2026. The butterfly received 3,000 out of 5,813 votes, securing approximately 51.6% of the total votes. Its selection was finalized during the 15th State Wildlife Board meeting and is awaiting government clearance. The Orange Oakleaf is famous for its remarkable camouflage ability. When it folds its wings, it closely resembles a dry, withered leaf, helping it escape predators. When its wings are open, it displays striking orange, black and deep blue colours.

India’s soybean imports reached a record 1.1 million tonnes during the 2025–26 marketing season, compared with approximately 2,000 tonnes in the previous season. The sharp increase was mainly driven by rising domestic soybean prices, which encouraged processing industries to purchase soybeans from international markets. Niger emerged as India's largest supplier, with shipments estimated at more than 430,000 tonnes. India permits the import of only non-genetically modified (non-GM) soybeans under the applicable regulations. Meanwhile, India's soymeal exports declined by approximately half to around 1 million tonnes during the same marketing season, according to the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA).