7 October 2026Current Affairs & GK Compendium — August 2026

Daily Current Affairs & GK Compendium — 7 October 2026

Monetary Policy: Reserve Bank hikes repo rate by twenty-five basis points to five point five percent.

Curated For:

Executive Briefing

High-level takeaways from today's compendium (PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express)

Monetary Policy: Reserve Bank hikes repo rate by twenty-five basis points to five point five percent.
Global Science Honors: Royal Swedish Academy awards Chemistry Nobel Prize to Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai.
Maritime Security: Indian Coast Guard conducts twelfth national search and rescue exercise off Paradip coast.
Social Justice: Social Justice Ministry administers oath to newly appointed welfare board members for nomadic communities.
Sports Leadership: Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as captain of Indian women's cricket team across all formats.

Objective One-Liners

Rapid-fire factual bullets tailored for SSC, Banking, Railways & State PSC Prelims

Policy Repo Rate Hiked by the RBI Monetary Policy Committee in October 2026: 5.50 Percent.

Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) Rate Following RBI's October 2026 Revision: 5.25 Percent.

Projected Real GDP Growth Rate for India in FY 2026–27 by the Reserve Bank of India: 7.1 Percent.

Laureates Jointly Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 for Asymmetric Autocatalysis: Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai.

Landmark Chemical Reaction Demonstrating Asymmetric Autocatalysis and Spontaneous Homochirality: The Soai Reaction.

Location of the 12th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026): Paradip Coast, Odisha.

Apex Central Sector Scheme Implemented by DWBDNC for De-Notified and Nomadic Communities: SEED Scheme.

Colonial Act Repealed on 31 August 1952 Leading to the De-Notification of Marginalized Tribes: Criminal Tribes Act, 1871.

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Economy, Banking, Monetary Policy and Financial Stability

Topic AEconomy, Banking, Monetary Policy and Financial Stability

RBI Monetary Policy Committee Hikes Policy Repo Rate to 5.50 Percent

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) concluded its three-day bi-monthly review meeting on 7 October 2026, deciding unanimously to increase the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50 percent.

Key Facts & Dimensions

Corridor Adjustments: Following the repo rate increase to 5.50%, the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate stands adjusted to 5.25%, and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate stand adjusted to 5.75%.
Growth and Inflation Projections: The RBI revised India's real GDP growth projection for FY 2026–27 upward to 7.1%, while affirming its focus on bringing CPI inflation durably to the 4% target amid volatile global food and crude commodity pressures.
Policy Stance: The MPC maintained its monetary policy stance focused on withdrawal of accommodation to anchor medium-term inflation expectations without dampening domestic capital expenditure momentum.
Financial Sector Resilience: Governor Sanjay Malhotra highlighted robust scheduled commercial bank balance sheets, stable capital-to-risk weighted assets ratios (CRAR), and multi-year low gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratios.

Exam Takeaway & GS Relevance

UPSC GS-III (Indian Economy, Monetary Policy Framework, RBI and Inflation Targeting) and Banking Exams (IBPS/SBI PO/RBI Grade B).

Science, Global Honors and Asymmetric Organic Chemistry

Topic AScience, Global Honors and Asymmetric Organic Chemistry

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 Awarded to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai for Asymmetric Autocatalysis

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, awarding it jointly to Henri B. Kagan (Université Paris-Saclay, France) and Kenso Soai (Tokyo University of Science, Japan) 'for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis'.

Key Facts & Dimensions

Solving the Homochirality Mystery: Their fundamental discoveries provided the solution to a century-old chemical mystery: how life's homochirality—where biomolecules like amino acids and nucleic sugars exist almost exclusively in a single mirror-image handedness—emerged spontaneously on Earth.
The Soai Reaction: In 1995, Kenso Soai discovered asymmetric autocatalysis, in which the reaction product of pyrimidine-5-carbaldehyde and diisopropylzinc serves as a chiral catalyst for its own formation, massively amplifying trace initial chiral imbalances (including circular polarized light) toward complete enantiomeric purity.
Kagan's Non-Linear Effects: Henri Kagan formulated and proved mathematical and experimental non-linear effects in asymmetric synthesis, demonstrating that enantiomerically impure catalysts can produce highly enantiopure products through chiral catalyst aggregation.
Industrial and Pharmaceutical Impact: Provides revolutionary synthetic methodologies to manufacture pure single-enantiomer pharmaceutical drugs, agrochemicals, and functional chiral materials without wasteful racemic separation.

Exam Takeaway & GS Relevance

UPSC GS-III (Science and Technology - Bio-chemistry, Origins of Life, Pharmaceutical Innovation) and State PSCs.

Maritime Security, Coastal Defence and Disaster Management

Topic AMaritime Security, Coastal Defence and Disaster Management

Indian Coast Guard Conducts 12th National Maritime Search & Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026)

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the 12th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026) off the Paradip coast, Odisha, on 7 October 2026, synchronized with the 24th National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board Meeting in Bhubaneswar.

Key Facts & Dimensions

Exercise Architecture: Inaugurated and reviewed by Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth, validating operational coordination between maritime stakeholders during large-scale maritime emergencies in the Bay of Bengal.
Mass Rescue Operations (MRO): Simulated multi-scenario distress events involving a burning offshore passenger vessel and a ditching commercial aircraft, testing rapid sea-air evacuation protocols and medical triaging.
Technological Interoperability: Integrated satellite-aided search and rescue tracking via COSPAS-SARSAT, NavIC-enabled emergency beacons, automated AIS tracking, remote medical consultations, and unmanned aerial surveillance systems.
Joint Agency Synergy: Mobilized operational assets from the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), Paradip Port Authority, and coastal marine police.

Exam Takeaway & GS Relevance

UPSC GS-III (Disaster Management, Coastal Security, Indian Coast Guard Mandate) and Defence Exams (CDS/NDA/CAPF/AFCAT).

Sports, Athletic Milestones and Cricket Governance

Topic ASports, Athletic Milestones and Cricket Governance

Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as Captain of India Women's Cricket Team

Senior cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur officially stepped down from the captaincy of the Indian women's national cricket team across all three international formats (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is) on 7 October 2026, concluding an illustrious decade of national leadership.

Key Facts & Dimensions

Leadership Milestones: Became the first Indian cricketer to play in and captain over 100 Women's T20 Internationals, steering India to the finals of the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup and the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medal in Birmingham.
Historic T20I and Test Records: Led India to historic back-to-back home Test victories against England and Australia in 2023–24, and captained the Mumbai Indians to consecutive Women's Premier League (WPL) titles.
Transition in Leadership: Marks a strategic generational handover for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ahead of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup cycle.
Legacy of Women's Sport: Played an instrumental role in elevating the commercial, institutional, and grassroots footprint of women's sports across India, accelerating equal match-fee parity implemented by BCCI.

Exam Takeaway & GS Relevance

SSC CGL/CHSL, Railways RRB, Banking General Awareness (Sports, Personalities and Major Records).

Static GK Foundations

Essential background concepts and core static knowledge tied to today's news

Focus #1

The Statutory Architecture of the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

•Statutory Foundation: Instituted under Section 45ZB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (amended by the Finance Act, 2016) to determine the policy repo rate required to achieve the inflation target.
•Composition & Quorum: Consists of six members—three from the RBI (Governor as ex-officio Chairperson, Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy, and one officer nominated by the Central Board) and three external members appointed by the Central Government for a non-renewable four-year term; quorum requires minimum four members.
•Inflation Targeting Framework: Under Section 45ZA, the Central Government in consultation with the RBI sets a consumer price index (CPI) inflation target of 4% with an upper tolerance band of 6% and a lower tolerance band of 2% for every five-year cycle.

Focus #2

Chemical Asymmetry, Chirality and Biological Homochirality

•Chirality in Nature: A molecule is chiral if it cannot be superimposed onto its mirror image (enantiomers). While chemical synthesis of chiral compounds typically yields a 50:50 racemic mixture, biological life exhibits absolute homochirality (proteins are built exclusively from L-amino acids, and DNA/RNA backbone from D-sugars).
•The Soai Reaction: Discovered in 1995 by Kenso Soai, it is the only known chemical reaction that exhibits asymmetric autocatalysis with amplification of enantiomeric excess, where a product catalyzes its own synthesis with ever-increasing optical purity from minute initial chiral triggers.
•Non-Linear Effects: Formulated mathematically by Henri Kagan, non-linear effects occur when the enantiomeric excess of a reaction product deviates from a linear relationship with the enantiomeric excess of the chiral catalyst, caused by catalyst aggregation into homochiral or heterochiral complexes.

Focus #3

Constitutional and Policy Framework for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

•Colonial Stigmatization: The British colonial government passed the draconian Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, notifying over 200 communities as 'hereditary criminals'. Independent India repealed the Act on 31 August 1952, now commemorated annually as 'Vimukta Jati Diwas'.
•Idate Commission: The National Commission for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (headed by Bhiku Ramji Idate) submitted its report in 2017, recommending a permanent welfare commission and dedicated financial allocations.
•DWBDNC and SEED Scheme: Set up in 2019 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, the Board executes the SEED scheme across four pillars: competitive exam coaching, health insurance via PM-JAY, livelihood skilling, and PMAY housing assistance.

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Daily Current Affairs MCQs & PYQs

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Progress

0 of 5 Answered

Q1PYQ • UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2017

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the 'Monetary Policy Committee' (MPC)? 1. It decides the RBI's benchmark interest rates. 2. It is a 12-member body including the Governor of RBI and is reconstituted every year. 3. It functions under the chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Q2PYQ • UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2018

With reference to the 'Idate Commission' often seen in the news in India, consider the following statements: 1. It was constituted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 2. It submitted recommendations on the socio-economic welfare, identification, and development of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DNTs). 3. It recommended the immediate repeal of the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Q3Daily MCQ • STANDARD

With reference to the monetary policy decisions announced by the Reserve Bank of India on 7 October 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The Monetary Policy Committee increased the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50 percent. 2. Under the adjusted monetary policy corridor, the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate is set 25 basis points below the repo rate. 3. The statutory quorum for meetings of the Monetary Policy Committee is four members. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Q4Daily MCQ • STANDARD

Consider the following statements regarding the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 and asymmetric synthesis: 1. The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai for discoveries concerning asymmetric autocatalysis and non-linear effects. 2. Biological homochirality refers to the exclusive presence of one optical enantiomer in fundamental biological molecules such as amino acids and nucleic sugars. 3. In the Soai reaction, the chemical reaction product acts as an inhibitor, completely halting further asymmetric synthesis. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Q5Daily MCQ • STANDARD

Regarding the Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC) and the SEED scheme, consider the following statements: 1. The DWBDNC is a statutory constitutional body established under Article 338B of the Constitution of India. 2. The SEED scheme includes financial support for competitive examination coaching, health insurance under PM-JAY, and housing assistance under PMAY. 3. Communities classified as De-notified Tribes were formerly notified under the colonial Criminal Tribes Act, 1871. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Executive Briefing

Objective One-Liners

🎯 Test Your Recall

Economy, Banking, Monetary Policy and Financial Stability

RBI Monetary Policy Committee Hikes Policy Repo Rate to 5.50 Percent

Key Facts & Dimensions

Science, Global Honors and Asymmetric Organic Chemistry

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 Awarded to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai for Asymmetric Autocatalysis

Key Facts & Dimensions

Maritime Security, Coastal Defence and Disaster Management

Indian Coast Guard Conducts 12th National Maritime Search & Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2026)

Key Facts & Dimensions

Social Justice, Vulnerable Groups and Welfare Governance

Social Justice Ministry Reconstitutes Governing Body of DWBDNC Under SEED Scheme

Key Facts & Dimensions

Sports, Athletic Milestones and Cricket Governance

Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as Captain of India Women's Cricket Team

Key Facts & Dimensions

Static GK Foundations

The Statutory Architecture of the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

Chemical Asymmetry, Chirality and Biological Homochirality

Constitutional and Policy Framework for De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs)

🎯 Test Your Recall

Daily Current Affairs MCQs & PYQs