Current Affairs - October 29, 2026 Current Affairs

Goa introduced the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy 2026 during the Goa AI Tech Conclave held in Panaji on October 26, 2026. The policy establishes a three-year framework covering the period from 2026 to 2029, with five strategic pillars, including skill development, startups, investment, governance and responsible AI. It also promotes research and innovation through an AI Centre of Excellence in collaboration with BITS Pilani’s Goa campus. Other initiatives include AI laboratories in educational institutions, a Konkani large language model and the digitisation of historical records through the Granthika initiative.

Cuba has been the subject of a long-standing economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States since 1960, following the Cuban Revolution and the nationalisation of American-owned properties. On October 28, 2026, India supported a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an end to this embargo. The resolution received 130 votes in favour, 17 against and 25 abstentions during the Assembly's 81st session. India emphasised national sovereignty, international law and multilateral cooperation. Although the resolution reflects the international community's position, it is non-binding and does not legally compel the United States to lift its sanctions.

October 24 to 30 is observed as Disarmament Week by the United Nations to promote awareness of the importance of disarmament in maintaining international peace and security. The observance begins on October 24, which marks the anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. Disarmament Week was established in 1978 following a special session of the UN General Assembly on disarmament. The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) organises the annual observance. It encourages governments, non-governmental organisations and the public to understand disarmament challenges and support efforts to reduce global security threats.

4th place was secured by India in the overall medal standings at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games held in Nagoya, Japan. India achieved a record-breaking total of 114 medals, comprising 30 Gold, 35 Silver and 49 Bronze medals. This surpassed the country's previous best of 108 medals at the 2022 Hangzhou Games. China topped the standings, followed by Japan in second place and Uzbekistan in third. Para athletics contributed the highest number of medals for India, with 65 medals, while para badminton added another 16 medals. India achieved this historic result with a contingent of 168 athletes.

October 29 is observed as the International Day of Care and Support by the United Nations. The day recognises the importance of care and support systems in society and highlights the contributions of paid and unpaid caregivers. It also promotes awareness of the need for accessible, affordable and quality care services. The observance encourages governments, organisations and communities to strengthen care policies, address inequalities and support people who provide care, including family members and professional caregivers.

Tata Communications announced an investment of $450 million to develop an AI Super Highway connecting major data centres across India over the next three to five years. The project involves building a 10,000-km AI-ready fibre network designed to support bandwidth-intensive artificial intelligence workloads and hyperscale infrastructure. Its phased rollout will connect important cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai and Visakhapatnam, with further expansion towards Bhubaneswar and Gujarat. The network is designed to provide 7.2 petabytes of capacity, with a targeted Mumbai–Chennai round-trip latency of 15–16 milliseconds.

4% is the upper limit of the US Federal Reserve's benchmark federal funds rate, which remained unchanged at 3.75%–4% following the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting held on October 27–28, 2026. The decision was approved by a 10–2 vote, with Lisa D. Cook and Beth M. Hammack favouring a 0.25 percentage point increase. The Federal Reserve maintained the existing rate amid concerns about elevated inflation and the need for additional economic data. The central bank aims to achieve maximum employment and price stability, with an inflation target of 2%.

Maharashtra is the state associated with Shabari Naturals, a state government social enterprise that won the prestigious G-Mark Global Design Award for its packaging inspired by traditional tribal art. The award was conferred by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion in recognition of cultural value, sustainability and innovative presentation. Its packaging incorporates traditional art forms such as Warli, Gond and Chitrakathi, highlighting the lifestyle, nature and cultural heritage of tribal communities. Managed by the Shabari Tribal Finance and Development Corporation, the initiative promotes tribal empowerment by marketing organic products such as wild honey, millets and unpolished rice.

Bihar is home to the Bihar Museum, located on Nehru Path in Patna, which secured ninth place globally and first place in Asia in the World’s 100 Best Museums 2026 list published by Germany-based Worth a Journey. It was the only Indian museum featured among the world's top 100. Designed by renowned architect Fumihiko Maki in collaboration with Opolis Architects, the museum showcases Bihar’s rich cultural heritage. Its collections include archaeological artefacts, sculptures, coins, manuscripts and folk art, covering the region’s history from the Stone Age to the modern period.

IIT Madras provided technical support to the Ministry of Rural Development in developing the upgraded National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app for the VB-G RAM G scheme. The enhanced application aims to improve transparency and prevent fraudulent worker attendance through AI-based face verification and liveness detection. It also incorporates Google Play Integrity and device-level security to prevent app cloning and tampering. Additionally, the app supports offline attendance recording, making it useful in rural areas with limited network connectivity. IIT Madras, established in 1959 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, was the third Indian Institute of Technology established by the Government of India.