APPOINTMENTS

Jatin Kumar Nayak Appointed CMD of IREDA

• Jatin Kumar Nayak assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of IREDA on 31 October 2026.

• His appointment took effect on 30 October following approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

• He succeeded Dr Bijay Kumar Mohanty, who held the additional CMD charge.

• Before appointment, Nayak served as Executive Director (Finance) at REC Ltd and CFO of REC Transmission Projects Company Ltd.

• He has over 30 years of experience in the power, mining and metals sectors.

• He previously worked with NHPC, Hindustan Copper, NALCO and Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd.

• He holds a Master’s degree in Commerce from Utkal University and is a qualified Company Secretary and fellow member of ICMAI.

• IREDA received Navratna status on 26 April 2024. The ACC is chaired by the Prime Minister, with the Union Home Minister as its other member.

Bahram Vakil Appointed Trent Chairman

• Trent Ltd appointed Bahram Vakil as chairman, effective 12 November 2026, succeeding Noel N. Tata.

• Noel Tata will step down as chairman and director on 11 November after nearly 29 years with the Tata Group retailer and become Chairman Emeritus on 12 November.

• The board approved the succession at its meeting on 29 October, in line with Tata Group Governance Guidelines.

• Bahram Vakil is co-founder of AZB & Partners, specialising in restructuring, bankruptcy, infrastructure and project finance.

• Rajiv Dube was appointed additional non-executive, non-independent director from 30 October, subject to shareholder approval.

• Kalpana Merchant was appointed additional independent director for a three-year term from 30 October, subject to shareholder approval.

• In Q2 FY2027, Trent reported consolidated net profit of ₹468 crore, up 25% year-on-year, and revenue of ₹5,873 crore, up 22%.

• Trent was formed using proceeds from the 1998 sale of the Tatas’ 50% Lakmé stake to Hindustan Lever for ₹200 crore. Its first Westside store was acquired from Littlewoods in Bengaluru; it later entered Zara and Massimo Dutti joint ventures with Inditex.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti 2026

• India observed the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 31 October 2026.

• He is popularly known as the Iron Man of India.

• He played a major role in India’s freedom movement.

• He contributed to the integration of more than 560 princely states into the Indian Union.

• Patel served as India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.

• Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) was introduced in 2014 in his honour.

• It recognises his contribution to national unity and integration.

• He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1991.

NATIONAL NEWS

Census 2027 Schedule Announced

• India will conduct Census 2027 from 25 January to 28 February 2027.

• The schedule was announced by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner on 30 October 2026.

• The self-enumeration facility will be available from 10 to 24 January 2027.

• House-to-house enumeration will follow the self-enumeration phase.

• A revisional round will be conducted from 1 to 5 March 2027.

• Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and snow-bound regions will follow separate schedules.

• The reference date for Census 2027 is 1 March 2027.

• The census will be conducted under the Census Act, 1948.

AWARDS

Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak 2026

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak 2026 for 490 personnel on 31 October, National Unity Day.

• The award recognises excellence in operations, investigation and forensic science, promoting professional standards among police and security personnel.

• Of the 490 awardees, 358 were recognised for special operations, 123 for investigation and 9 for forensic science.

• IPS officer Sandeep Chaudhary, who led the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, received the investigation medal.

• The CRPF had the largest contingent with 114 awardees, followed by CBIC (56) and Punjab Police (37).

• The medal was instituted by the MHA through a notification dated 1 February 2024.

• Its categories include operations, investigation, exceptional performance, daring intelligence service and meritorious forensic science work.

• Forensic science includes DNA and fingerprint analysis, ballistics, toxicology and examination of crime-scene evidence.

IIFA Awards 2026

• The 26th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2026 recognised achievements in Indian cinema and digital entertainment.

• Dhurandhar emerged as the biggest winner, securing 12 awards.

• Dhurandhar also won the Best Film award.

• Aditya Dhar won Best Director for Dhurandhar.

• Ranveer Singh received Best Actor for Dhurandhar.

• Aneet Padda won Best Actress for Saiyaara.

• The Ba*ds of Bollywood won Best Series.

• Aryan Khan received Best Direction in the digital categories.

STATE NEWS

Seoni’s GI-Tagged Jumbo Custard Apple Export

• Seoni district, Madhya Pradesh, will export its GI-tagged Jumbo Custard Apple (Sitaphal) to Dubai for the first time.

• The initiative is being undertaken under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.

• The first consignment will leave Khermatakol on 31 October 2026 for Nagpur and then reach Dubai by air via Sharjah.

• Procurement was completed on 30 October 2026 by women’s Producer Groups linked to the Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (MPSRLM).

• Fruits were purchased directly from local farmers.

• Key organisations involved: Seoni District Administration, MPSRLM, APEDA and Cognify Impex Private Limited.

• Key officials: Vinay Nigam (MPSRLM CEO), Anju Arun Kumar (Seoni Collector) and Anjali Shah (District Panchayat CEO).

• The export is expected to improve farmers’ access to international markets and provide rural women with experience in procurement, grading, marketing and exports.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

First BIMSTEC Joint Maritime Security Exercise 2026

• India is hosting the first BIMSTEC Joint Maritime Security Exercise at Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, from 30 October to 3 November 2026.

• All seven BIMSTEC member states are participating through their navies and coast guards.

• The exercise includes three days of tabletop exercises followed by a two-day harbour phase.

• Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand have sent naval assets, while Bhutan and Nepal are represented.

• Participating ships include Sri Lanka’s SLNS Gajabahu and Myanmar’s UMS King Aung Zeya. The Andaman and Nicobar Command is facilitating the exercise.

• Its objectives include maritime cooperation, interoperability, operational coordination and improved maritime domain awareness.

• Activities cover humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, cross-border maritime crime and marine pollution.

• The exercise was announced by PM Narendra Modi at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand. BIMSTEC’s permanent secretariat is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh, established in 2014.

DEFENCE

Change of Chief of the Air Staff

• Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh retired on 31 October 2026 after serving as the 28th Chief of the Air Staff for 25 months.

• He assumed office on 30 September 2024.

• Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit succeeded him as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026.

• Dixit’s appointment was announced by the government on 6 October 2026.

• Singh’s last fighter sortie was in the indigenous Tejas LCA over Jodhpur on 12 October during Exercise Tarang Shakti.

• His final flight in uniform was in an HJT-16 Kiran Mk-1 trainer on 20 October at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, with his first instructor, retired Wing Commander V. S. Kochhar.

• Singh’s farewell events included a Defence Minister’s farewell on 26 October, dinner on 27 October and a party on 28 October. A Guard of Honour was scheduled for his last day.

• The Chief of the Air Staff retires after three years or on attaining 62 years, whichever is earlier. The post is the IAF’s highest operationally active position.