Daily Current Affairs - 2026-10-08

October 8, 2026 brings a packed current affairs update for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and Railway aspirants — spanning monetary policy, defence appointments, Nobel Prizes, judicial rulings, and sporting triumphs. Here's everything you need to know in one quick read.

RBI Raises Repo Rate to 5.50%, First Hike in Nearly Four Years

On October 7, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee, led by Governor Sanjay Malhotra, hiked the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50%. This is the first rate hike in nearly four years, following a cumulative 125 basis point cut through 2025. The MPC also shifted its stance to 'calibrated tightening' citing broadening inflationary pressures and global uncertainty. Exam relevance: Remember the new repo rate (5.50%), the RBI Governor's name, and the new policy stance — frequently tested in Banking and Economy sections.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Named Next Chief of the Air Staff

Announced on October 6, 2026, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, currently Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will become the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. Commissioned in December 1986, he is a fighter and experimental test pilot with over 3,500 flying hours on aircraft like the Mirage 2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, LCA Tejas, and Hawk. He is known for championing indigenous programmes like Tejas and is expected to boost the Aatmanirbharta push in defence. Exam relevance: Note his name, rank, and designation (29th CAS) for appointments-based questions.

Union Cabinet Approves Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA)

On October 6, 2026, the Union Cabinet approved the creation of ITLA as a Special Purpose Vehicle acting as the apex body for transport and logistics planning, research, and monitoring. It will cover eight domains: roads, railways, ports and shipping, civil aviation, inland waterways, coastal shipping, urban mobility, and logistics. Exam relevance: ITLA is a key governance/scheme-based topic — remember its full form and the eight domains it covers.

Defence Ministry Signs ₹661.50 Crore BrahMos Deal for Navy Ships

On October 6, 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹661.50 crore contract with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited for fire-control systems and launchers for Indian Navy ships, under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. The deal has a minimum 68% indigenous content and involves Indian MSMEs, signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Exam relevance: Key figures to remember — ₹661.50 crore, 68% indigenous content, and the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, important for defence indigenisation questions.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 Awarded for Asymmetric Synthesis Discoveries

Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai jointly won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 for discovering non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. Kagan's method helps produce an excess of one mirror-image molecule, vital for pharmaceutical manufacturing, while Soai discovered a self-replicating chiral substance, demonstrated in a landmark 1995 study. Exam relevance: A key Science & Technology / Awards topic — remember both laureates' names and their contribution area.

Nobel Prize in Physics 2026 Goes to Francis Halzen for Cosmic Particle Detection

Belgian astrophysicist Francis Halzen won the Nobel Prize in Physics 2026 for developing a massive neutrino observatory in Antarctica to detect 'ghostly' cosmic particles, laying the foundation for a new branch of astronomy based on neutrino detection. Exam relevance: Remember the laureate's name, nationality, and field (neutrino astronomy) for Science and Awards sections.

Supreme Court: Election Petitions Must Be Filed Personally by the Petitioner

On October 7, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, an election petition must be presented in person by the petitioner. Non-compliance with this mandatory requirement makes the petition liable to be dismissed. Exam relevance: Important for Polity and Law sections — note the Act's name (Representation of the People Act, 1951) and the procedural requirement clarified by the court.

DRDO Conducts Missile Trials from New Junput Test Range in West Bengal

A NOTAM was issued for missile test activity over the Bay of Bengal from October 6–9, 2026, centred on DRDO's newly established test range at Junput in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal. This expands India's missile-testing infrastructure beyond the existing Integrated Test Range at Chandipur. Exam relevance: Note the new facility's name (Junput) and location (Purba Medinipur, West Bengal) for Defence and Science sections.

World Bank Projects India's Economy to Grow 7.1% in FY27

In its India Development Update released on October 6, 2026, the World Bank projected India's economy will grow at 7.1% in FY27, supported by robust domestic demand and strong exports despite global headwinds. Exam relevance: A key Economy statistic — remember the 7.1% FY27 growth projection and the report's name.

India Concludes 2026 Asian Games Campaign with Strong Medal Haul

• Men's cricket team beat Pakistan to retain the Asian Games title, completing a double after the women's team also won gold.
• Men's hockey team defended its title, beating Malaysia 5-1.
• Kumkum Mohod became the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve archery gold at the Asian Games.
• Wrestler Aman Sehrawat won gold in his category.

Exam relevance: Sports current affairs are a staple in SSC/Railway exams — remember the key names and events listed above.

Eminent Metallurgist and Scientist Palle Rama Rao Passes Away

Renowned Indian scientist and metallurgist Palle Rama Rao, known for his contributions to materials science and defence metallurgy research, passed away on October 3, 2026, at the age of 89. He was associated with key national research institutions and made significant contributions to India's materials research programmes. Exam relevance: Obituaries of eminent personalities are commonly asked — remember his field (metallurgy/materials science) and contribution to defence research.

That wraps up today's current affairs roundup — revise these key points regularly to stay exam-ready. Stay tuned to SeatBeat for tomorrow's updates!