Daily Current Affairs - 2026-10-13

Big developments in diplomacy, governance, judiciary and science mark today's news cycle — perfect fodder for your daily current affairs revision. Here's a quick, exam-focused rundown.

India Hosts First-Ever BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting

India hosted the inaugural BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on October 13, 2026, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The two-day meet brought together home/interior ministers from the seven BIMSTEC members — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand — to strengthen regional coordination on cross-border terrorism, organised crime, drug and human trafficking, radicalisation, illicit financial flows and cyber threats. Bangladesh skipped ministerial-level participation, sending a secretary-led delegation instead. For exams, remember BIMSTEC's full form (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), its member countries, and that this was the first-ever meeting of its kind.

16th India-UK JETCO Meeting Concludes with Joint Statement

A Joint Statement was issued after the 16th India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting, notable as the first JETCO session since talks began in January 2022 on the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The meeting reviewed bilateral trade and economic cooperation progress. Aspirants should note JETCO's role as a key bilateral trade mechanism and keep track of CETA negotiation timelines for questions on India's trade agreements and economic diplomacy.

ACC Approves 27 Joint Secretary-Level Appointments

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) cleared 27 appointments at the Joint Secretary and equivalent level across central ministries, departments, regulatory bodies and institutions, with several IAS officers elevated. Such ACC approvals are frequently asked in prelims/mains for questions on administrative appointments and the structure of India's bureaucracy.

President Murmu Appoints New Governors for Six States

President Droupadi Murmu approved a reshuffle of Governors across six states on October 12, 2026:

• Sudha Yadav — Karnataka
• Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar — Tamil Nadu (full charge)
• Om Prakash Mathur — moved from Sikkim to Kerala
• Braj Mohan Ram — Odisha
• Dhal Singh Bisen — Uttarakhand
• Dushyant Gautam — Sikkim

Gubernatorial appointments are a staple topic under polity for questions on constitutional appointments and state governance.

Gaurav Yadav Appointed Regular DGP of Punjab

1992-batch IPS officer Gaurav Yadav has been appointed regular Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab, after serving as officiating DGP since July 2022 — one of the longest officiating tenures in the country. He was among three officers empanelled by the UPSC for the post, and his regular tenure will run for a minimum of two years. Remember the UPSC's role in empanelling candidates for DGP posts, a frequently tested polity/governance fact.

2026 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences Awarded

Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for developing macroeconomic models that improve policymakers' ability to implement effective stabilisation policy. This completes the 2026 Nobel cycle, which also covered Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Literature and Peace. Nobel laureates and their contributions are regular current affairs and awards-related exam questions.

Supreme Court Rules E-Payment Receipt Valid for Tender Bid Security

In Hardev Construction Pvt. Ltd. vs Union of India, the Supreme Court held that rejecting a technical tender bid merely for not submitting a physical original of an e-payment receipt for Bid Security was "perverse and legally unsustainable." The Court allowed the appeal and directed authorities to process the bid, since payment was made via e-payment gateway with the digital receipt duly uploaded. This judgment is important for aspirants tracking Supreme Court rulings on government tender and procurement law.

Indo-French TRISHNA Satellite to Launch Within 12-16 Months

ISRO and France's CNES announced that the Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment (TRISHNA) will launch within 12-16 months. It will be the third India-France joint satellite after Megha-Tropiques and SARAL, focusing on water-resource monitoring via high-resolution thermal infrared imaging. This is key science & technology content on India's space cooperation with France.

Andhra Pradesh Announces 40% BC Reservation in Local Body Elections

Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu announced 40% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in the state's upcoming local body elections, aimed at boosting grassroots political representation for backward communities. This is relevant for questions on state policy and reservation provisions in local self-government institutions.

Mizoram to Count Refugees Separately During Census

Mizoram will count refugees, including those from Myanmar and Bangladesh, separately during the upcoming Census exercise, distinguishing them from the regular citizen population for administrative and welfare planning. This ties into exam topics on Census methodology and India's management of refugee populations in border states.

That wraps up today's current affairs digest — revise these points daily to stay exam-ready!