Current affairs — 30 September 2026

General Rajesh Kumar Singh Assumes Charge as DRDO Chairman

General Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS (1989-batch, Kerala cadre), assumed charge as Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on June 1, 2026. He previously served as Defence Secretary from November 1, 2024. The DRDO is India's premier defence research agency responsible for developing cutting-edge military technology.

Why it matters: Key defence appointments and organizational heads are important for current affairs in prelims and mains; DRDO's role in self-reliance is a recurring theme.

Sanjay Malhotra Continues as RBI Governor; Key Monetary Policy Decisions Ongoing

Sanjay Malhotra, IAS, continues to serve as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Under his leadership, the RBI has maintained a neutral monetary policy stance while managing inflation and growth dynamics. The RBI's forex reserves stood at $785.7 billion as of September 11, 2026, reflecting strong external sector stability.

Why it matters: RBI Governor's role in monetary policy and banking regulation is crucial for Banking, Economy, and Polity questions across all exams.

General N.S. Raja Subramani Serves as Chief of Defence Staff Since June 2026

General N.S. Raja Subramani has been serving as India's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) since June 1, 2026. General Dhiraj Seth assumed charge as Chief of the Army Staff on June 30, 2026, while Admiral Krishna Swaminathan took over as Chief of Naval Staff on June 1, 2026. The tri-service commands represent India's integrated defence structure.

Why it matters: Defence appointments, especially service chiefs and CDS, are standard current affairs questions in Defence exams, SSC, and UPSC.

India's Q2 FY26 GDP Growth Reaches 8.2%, Among Highest Quarterly Expansions

India's GDP growth in the second quarter of FY2026 (July-September) reached 8.2%, marking one of the biggest quarterly expansions in recent memory. The robust growth performance, coupled with declining inflation (1.33% in December 2025, below RBI's 2%-6% tolerance band), has strengthened confidence in India's economic outlook and influenced monetary policy decisions.

Why it matters: GDP growth rates, quarterly performance, and economic indicators are staple questions in Economy sections of UPSC, SSC, and Banking exams.

RBI Maintains Repo Rate at 5.25% in February 2026 Policy Review

The Reserve Bank of India maintained its key repo rate at 5.25% during its February 2026 monetary policy meeting, after a 25 bps cut in December 2025. The RBI revised India's GDP growth forecast for FY2025-26 upward to 7.4% from 7.3%, while inflation for FY26 is projected at 2.1%. The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate remains at 5.0% and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate at 5.50%.

Why it matters: RBI monetary policy decisions, repo rate, SDF, MSF rates, and growth projections are core topics for Banking, SSC, and UPSC Economy sections.

PM Modi to Hold Bilateral Talks with Brazil President Lula da Silva

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in New Delhi today. This diplomatic engagement comes as part of strengthening India-Brazil strategic partnership and cooperation on trade, defence, and multilateral issues.

Why it matters: Bilateral relations and summits with BRICS nations are important for IR topics in UPSC Mains and SSC exams.

Home Minister Amit Shah to Attend 87th CRPF Raising Day Parade in Guwahati

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be the Chief Guest at the 87th Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Raising Day Parade in Guwahati today. The CRPF, India's largest Central Armed Police Force, celebrates its Raising Day on September 30 each year, commemorating its formation.

Why it matters: Important dates, paramilitary forces, and their mandates are frequently asked in SSC GD, CAPF, and State Police exams.

Modi Cabinet Chintan Shivir Second Phase Begins Today

The second phase of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet Chintan Shivir (brainstorming retreat) begins today. These strategic meetings bring together Union Ministers to review government schemes, policy initiatives, and set future priorities for governance and development agenda.

Why it matters: Cabinet meetings and policy reviews are relevant for polity and governance questions in prelims and mains.

8th Pay Commission Conducts Nationwide Consultations; Report Expected 2027

The 8th Central Pay Commission, chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and constituted via gazette notification on November 3, 2025, is conducting stakeholder consultations across India. The Commission has held meetings in Delhi, Hyderabad, Srinagar, Ladakh, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata, with Puducherry scheduled for September 2026. The fitment factor (projected between 2.28 to 2.86) and revised pay structure are yet to be finalized. With an 18-month mandate, recommendations are expected by mid-2027, with arrears backdated to January 1, 2026.

Why it matters: The 8th CPC will impact salaries of ~50 lakh employees and 69 lakh pensioners; understanding Pay Commission structure is vital for polity and welfare questions.

Dearness Allowance Increased to 60% from January 2026

The Union Cabinet approved a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) with effect from January 1, 2026, raising the rate from 58% to 60% of Basic Pay/Pension for central government employees and pensioners. The next DA revision for July 2026 is expected to be announced in September 2026, with speculation of a hike to 63%.

Why it matters: DA hikes directly impact 50 lakh central employees and 69 lakh pensioners; critical for aspirants to understand government compensation structure.

IBPS RRB Recruitment 2026: 13,757 Vacancies for Clerk, PO, Officer Posts

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released notification for IBPS RRB Recruitment 2026, announcing 13,757 vacancies for Office Assistant (Clerk), Officer Scale-I (PO), Scale-II, and Scale-III posts across Regional Rural Banks. The notification includes eligibility criteria, online application dates, and examination schedule for banking aspirants.

Why it matters: Major banking recruitment with over 13,750 vacancies; crucial for Banking exam aspirants to track large-scale recruitment drives and salary structures.

ISRO Plans 50 Annual Launches by 2030; Only 3 Completed in 2026 So Far

India has completed only three orbital launch attempts in 2026: ISRO's PSLV-C62 (failed in January), GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 (succeeded in September), and Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-I (first private Indian rocket to reach orbit). ISRO Chairman V Narayanan at Bangalore Space Expo 2026 emphasized India's target of 50 launches annually by 2030, requiring a shift from mission-centric to industrial-scale launch ecosystem. India currently has 56 operational space assets but needs 200-300 satellites over the next 6-7 years.

Why it matters: ISRO missions, space policy reforms, and public-private partnership in space sector are high-yield topics for Science & Technology questions.