Daily current affairs for government exams

The day's most exam-relevant current affairs for UPSC, SSC, banking, railways and state exams — free, factual, updated every morning. Come back daily; it's how the GK section is won.

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• Lending rates on fresh loans fall to 8.51% in September; 1-year median MCLR at 8.55%

  Economy

  RBI data released on 30 October 2026 shows the weighted average lending rate (WALR) on fresh rupee loans of scheduled commercial banks fell 10 bps to 8.51% in September 2026 from 8.61% in August. The 1-year median MCLR declined to 8.55% in October from 8.61% in September. Lending rates on existing loans were unchanged. This follows the RBI's 7 October decision to raise the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50%.

• RBI Central Board holds 625th meeting in Mumbai under Governor Sanjay Malhotra

  Economy

  The RBI Central Board of Directors reviewed prevailing economic conditions and potential risks to India's economic outlook at its 625th meeting in Mumbai on 30 October 2026. The meeting was chaired by Governor Sanjay Malhotra. The Board also reviewed the activities of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) and the work of select Central Office departments.

• Cyclone 'Arnab' triggers flash floods in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district

  Environment

  Flash floods caused by Cyclone 'Arnab' left vehicles stranded on the inundated National Highway 16 (NH-16) near Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, as reported on 31 October 2026.

• 8th Pay Commission concludes Mumbai consultations; no fitment factor announced yet

  Pay & Jobs

  The 8th Central Pay Commission held stakeholder consultations in Mumbai on 22-23 October 2026. The government has not announced a fitment factor, revised minimum salary, pension changes or implementation date. The commission was formally created on 3 November 2025 with an 18-month deadline, so its report is expected around May 2027. Effect is normally expected from 1 January 2026.

• Cabinet approves 3% DA/DR hike, taking rate to 63% from 1 July 2026

  Pay & Jobs

  The Union Cabinet on 28 October 2026 approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance for central government employees and Dearness Relief for pensioners, effective 1 July 2026. The rate now stands at 63% of basic pay. The combined impact on the exchequer is ₹10,016.10 crore per annum, benefiting about 48.54 lakh employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners. Arrears for July to October are expected with the October salary, ahead of Diwali on 8 November.

• Major recruitment drives open: RRB NTPC 5,236 posts, RRB Station Master 1,250, UP TGT 17,735

  Pay & Jobs

  RRB NTPC 2026 is out for 5,236 vacancies, with the graduate-level window closing 6 November and the undergraduate window closing 13 November. The RRB Station Master notification covers 1,250 posts, with applications open until 25 November. The UP TGT notification is out for 17,735 vacancies (last date 23 November). TNPSC Group 4 has 6,574 vacancies, with applications closing 5 November.

• Railways: 78-day Productivity Linked Bonus of ₹2,009.61 crore for 11.4 lakh staff

  Pay & Jobs

  The Union Cabinet approved a Productivity Linked Bonus equivalent to 78 days' wages for 11,40,770 eligible non-gazetted railway employees for 2025-26. The total outlay is ₹2,009.61 crore, with a maximum payment of ₹17,951 per eligible employee.

• Cabinet approves PM Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana and Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme

  Schemes

  The Union Cabinet on 28 October 2026 approved Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM VGSY) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31, to strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions. It also approved the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme with a total outlay of ₹1,856.67 crore for 2026-27 to 2033-34, which was announced in Budget 2026-27.

• Cabinet approves ₹10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme

  Schemes

  On 28 October 2026 the Union Cabinet approved the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS) with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore. It has four components: interest subvention, testing and certification assistance, land leasing support and operational expenditure assistance. It aims to raise annual container manufacturing capacity from about 70,000 TEU to about 7.5 lakh TEU, reducing import dependence on China. The scheme was announced in Union Budget 2026-27.

• Cabinet extends National Social Assistance Programme to 2030-31 with ₹53,428 crore outlay

  Schemes

  The Union Cabinet approved continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for five years, 2026-27 to 2030-31. The total outlay is ₹53,428 crore, covering about 3.20 crore beneficiaries across all 28 States and 8 Union Territories.