APPOINTMENTS
Dhal Singh Bisen Sworn in as Governor of Uttarakhand
• Dhal Singh Bisen was sworn in as the Governor of Uttarakhand on 19 October 2026 at Lok Bhavan in Dehradun. President Droupadi Murmu announced his appointment on 12 October 2026.
• Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari of the Uttarakhand High Court administered the oath of office and secrecy. Bisen succeeded Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.), who served as Governor for more than five years.
• Article 153 of the Constitution provides for a Governor for each state and permits the same person to be appointed Governor of two or more states.
• Article 155 provides that the President appoints a state Governor by warrant under the President’s hand and seal. A Governor is not directly elected by the people or by the state legislature.
• Article 159 prescribes the Governor’s oath or affirmation, administered by the Chief Justice of the state High Court or, in the Chief Justice’s absence, the senior-most available judge of that court.
• Article 154 vests the state’s executive power in the Governor, to be exercised in accordance with the Constitution. Under Article 163, the Governor generally acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, subject to constitutional provisions.
• Article 156 provides that a Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President. The normal term is five years, but the Governor continues in office until a successor assumes charge.
• Bisen is a four-time MLA and former Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister, with portfolios including school education, transport and mines. He stated that his priorities included upholding constitutional values and advancing healthcare, education and tourism.
NATIONAL NEWS
CBDT Introduces Form 173A for Tax Exemption Claims
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) introduced Form 173A on 19 October 2026 to claim tax exemptions on interest and capital gains from government securities.
• It was prescribed under the Income-tax (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2026, effective from 19 October 2026.
• The form applies to eligible Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
• It covers exemptions under entries 13D and 13E of Schedule IV of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
• Covered securities include Treasury bills, fixed-rate bonds, floating-rate bonds and State Development Loans (SDLs).
• Investors must provide their name, country of residence, PAN and Tax Identification Number (TIN).
• The form requires details of each security’s ISIN, type, tenor, opening and closing values, purchases, sales, interest receipts and capital gains.
• The CBDT, a statutory authority under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963, introduced the form to standardise reporting for eligible tax-exemption claims.
CCPA Acts Against Seven Online Platforms for Sale of Hazardous Explosives
• On 19 October 2026, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) initiated action against seven online platforms for unauthorised listings of hazardous explosives.
• The substances included ammonium nitrate, gunpowder, picric acid and PETN. A total of 3,940 sellers and listings had been delisted.
• The platforms were IndiaMART, TradeIndia, Dial4Trade, Justdial, Sigma-Aldrich India, ExportersIndia and Ibuychemikals.
• The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, established the CCPA under the Department of Consumer Affairs to address consumer-rights violations, unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements.
• The Explosives Act, 1884, and Explosives Rules, 2008, regulate explosives. Ammonium nitrate is additionally governed by the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012.
• The CCPA expects platforms dealing with regulated substances to verify seller licences and buyer identities and prevent unauthorised sales.
• Penalties totalling ₹10 lakh were issued against Dial4Trade, while ExportersIndia received two separate penalties of ₹10 lakh each. Dial4Trade’s appeal was dismissed, while ExportersIndia’s appeals remained pending.
• Investigations involving IndiaMART and Justdial were ongoing. IndiaMART provided details of 3,092 sellers, including 2,700 associated with ammonium nitrate. Suspected online sales can be reported to the National Consumer Helpline at 1915.
Agri Welfare Portal Upgraded for Farmers
• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the upgraded Agri Welfare Portal in New Delhi on 19 October 2026.
• The mobile-accessible portal provides information on government schemes, financial assistance and agriculture, with online eligibility checks and application facilities.
• It acts as a single-window digital platform, reducing the need for farmers to visit multiple government offices or websites.
• The portal provides updates on weather, farming practices, seeds, fertilisers and market prices, catering to small and marginal farmers as well.
• Major schemes accessible through the portal include PM-KISAN, AgriStack and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
• PM-KISAN, launched in February 2019, provides eligible farmer families ₹6,000 annually in three instalments through direct benefit transfer.
• AgriStack is digital public infrastructure for agriculture, while PMFBY, launched in 2016, provides crop insurance to farmers.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will train farmers to use the portal and other digital tools. The platform also connects Farmer Producer Organisations, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, scientists, researchers and startups.
DEFENCE
Exercise Akhand Prahar-II
• The Indian Army conducted Akhand Prahar-II in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, around 18 October 2026.
• The exercise involved the Army’s Black Mace Brigade and Battle Axe Division.
• It followed the earlier exercise, Akhand Prahar-I, and tested combat procedures using modern military equipment.
• The main focus was combat readiness, technology-enabled operations and coordination among military resources.
• The exercise simulated a changing, multi-dimensional battlefield, emphasising swift and precise action.
• Combined-arms operations coordinate infantry, armoured units, artillery, engineers and air-defence elements to achieve military objectives.
• Lieutenant General AVS Rathi, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Konark Corps, commended the participating formations.
• The Konark Corps is XII Corps, headquartered in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, under the Army’s South Western Command, headquartered in Jaipur.
AUSTRAHIND 2026 Joint Military Exercise Begins in Kerala
• The fifth edition of AUSTRAHIND 2026, the India–Australia joint military exercise, began on 19 October 2026 at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It is scheduled to conclude on 1 November 2026.
• Around 240 military personnel are participating, with approximately 120 personnel from each country’s army.
• The Indian contingent includes troops from the Garhwal Rifles, while the Australian contingent includes troops from 13 Brigade.
• New Zealand is participating as an observer for the first time in this edition of AUSTRAHIND.
• The theme is “Joint Sub-Conventional Operations in Island and Coastal Environment under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate.” The exercise aims to improve interoperability, coordination and a shared understanding of operational tactics.
• Training activities include coordinated operations in island and coastal environments, surveillance, reconnaissance, protection of vital installations and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
• Chapter VII of the UN Charter deals with action against threats to peace, breaches of peace and acts of aggression. Articles 41 and 42 provide for non-military measures and military action, respectively.
• The previous edition, AUSTRAHIND 2025, was held at Irwin Barracks in Perth, Australia, from 13 to 26 October 2025. HADR training focuses on coordination, emergency response planning and assistance to affected populations during disasters.
SPORTS
Mona Agarwal Sets Asian Para Games Record in Shooting
• Mona Agarwal won gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games on 19 October 2026.
• She scored 250.0 points in the final at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
• Her score set a new Asian Para Games record, surpassing the previous record of 249.6 points.
• Indian shooter Avani Lekhara won silver with 249.6 points, giving India both gold and silver.
• Agarwal also topped the qualification round with 629.1 points, setting a new continental qualification record.
• SH1 is the para-shooting classification for athletes who can support and hold their firearm without an external rifle stand; SH2 athletes require a support stand.
• The gold medal was reported as India’s first medal at the 2026 Asian Para Games and secured a second quota place for India for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
• Mona Agarwal won bronze at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and trains in Jaipur under coach Yogesh Kumar. Avani Lekhara won Paralympic gold in the same event at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
Nishad Kumar Wins Gold in T47 Long Jump at Asian Para Games 2026
• Nishad Kumar won gold in the men’s T47 long jump at the Asian Para Games on 19 October 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
• His winning jump measured 7.11 metres, earning India its second gold medal at the Games.
• Omadbek Khasanov of Uzbekistan won silver with 6.99 metres, while Mohammadu Safran of Sri Lanka secured bronze with 6.55 metres.
• The 2026 Asian Para Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya from 18 to 24 October 2026.
• T47 is a para-athletics sport class for athletes with eligible impairments affecting one or both arms.
• In para-athletics, T denotes track and jumping events, while F denotes field events such as throws.
• Kumar is primarily known for the men’s high jump T47 event and has won Paralympic silver medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
• The 2026 long jump gold marked his debut in a major long jump competition, demonstrating his participation in a discipline distinct from his usual high jump event.
An Se Young Sets Women’s Singles Badminton Record
• An Se Young of South Korea won her 47th career international singles title at the Denmark Open on 18 October 2026.
• She surpassed the previous women’s singles record of 46 titles, held by Indonesian badminton player Susi Susanti.
• The Denmark Open is a BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament held in Odense, Denmark.
• An Se Young defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the final by 21–23, 21–14, 21–18, recovering after losing the opening game.
• The victory marked her second consecutive Denmark Open title and her fifth consecutive women’s singles final win over Yamaguchi.
• In the 2026 season, she had won nine BWF World Tour titles and ten titles overall, including women’s singles gold at the Asian Games.
• Her reported 2026 record after the final stood at 61 wins and one defeat, with a 44-match winning streak; her only loss was against China’s Wang Zhiyi in the All England Open final.
• The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is badminton’s international governing body. The World Tour includes Super 100, Super 300, Super 500, Super 750 and Super 1000 tournament categories.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES
61st Meeting of the International Committee of Legal Metrology (CIML)
• India will host the 61st CIML Meeting in New Delhi from 26 to 28 October 2026, for the first time.
• The meeting is being organised by the Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML).
• More than 100 delegates and legal metrology experts from OIML Member States, Corresponding Member States and international organisations are expected to participate.
• The OIML was established in 1955 as an intergovernmental organisation to harmonise legal metrology procedures worldwide.
• The CIML meeting will discuss international recommendations, technical activities and the OIML Certification System (OIML-CS).
• The OIML-CS facilitates the international acceptance and use of test results and certificates for measuring instruments.
• The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 provides India’s legal framework for standards of weights and measures used in trade and commerce.
• The international seminar “Evolutions in Legal Metrology” is scheduled for 26 October, followed by an OIML Strategy Workshop on 27 October 2026.
25th SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting 2026
• India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• The meeting is scheduled for 19–20 October 2026 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
• The agenda includes cooperation in trade, economy, investment, connectivity, innovation and cultural-humanitarian exchanges.
• The SCO was established in Shanghai in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
• India and Pakistan became full members in 2017, Iran joined in 2023, and Belarus joined in 2024, bringing the SCO’s membership to ten states.
• The SCO’s official languages are Chinese and Russian.
• The SCO Secretariat is headquartered in Beijing, China, while the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• The Council of Heads of Government discusses economic cooperation and approves the SCO budget. The previous CHG meeting was held in Moscow on 18 November 2025, with India represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
