Current affairs — 14 October 2026

ACC Approves 27 Joint Secretary-Level Appointments Across Ministries

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved 27 appointments at Joint Secretary and equivalent levels across various ministries, departments, and regulatory bodies on October 10, 2026. The notification was issued through Order No. 33/17/2026-EO(SM-I) dated October 10, 2026.

Why it matters: Administrative reshuffles at senior bureaucratic levels feature in current affairs and governance topics

Prakash Rajpurohit Appointed Deputy Election Commissioner Until April 2030

Prakash Rajpurohit was appointed as Deputy Election Commissioner of India on October 12, 2026, with tenure extending until April 2030. The appointment was notified by the Election Commission of India.

Why it matters: Election Commission appointments are important for polity and governance sections

Six States Get New Governors; Keralam Governor Arlekar Shifted to Tamil Nadu

The Centre announced gubernatorial changes across six states on October 13, 2026. Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been transferred to Tamil Nadu as the new Governor. Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur will take charge as the new Governor of Kerala.

Why it matters: Constitutional appointments and state administration changes are important for polity and current affairs sections

RBI Hikes Repo Rate to 5.50%, Shifts to Calibrated Tightening Stance

The Reserve Bank of India raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% on October 7, 2026, marking the first rate hike since February 2023. The MPC unanimously voted for the hike and shifted policy stance from neutral to calibrated tightening. Standing Deposit Facility rate adjusted to 5.25% while MSF and Bank Rate increased to 5.75%. RBI projected GDP growth at 7.1% for FY 2026-27 and CPI inflation at 5.2%.

Why it matters: Monetary policy decisions are critical for economy and banking awareness sections across all exams

8th Pay Commission: Implementation Expected from January 2026 with Fitment Factor 2.28

The 8th Central Pay Commission, constituted in November 2025 and headed by former Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, is expected to implement recommendations from January 2026. The proposed fitment factor of 2.28 would increase minimum wage from ₹18,000 to ₹41,000, a 34.1% hike. The commission will impact around 50 lakh central government employees, defence personnel, and 69 lakh pensioners. DA at 70% is projected to be merged into base salary.

Why it matters: Pay Commission updates are among the most asked topics for government job aspirants across all exams

DA for Central Government Employees at 60% from January 1, 2026

The Union Cabinet approved a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) effective from January 1, 2026, raising the rate from 58% to 60% of basic pay/pension. This revision under the 7th Central Pay Commission benefits approximately 50 lakh central government employees and 69 lakh pensioners. The DA hike announcement came in April 2026.

Why it matters: DA revisions directly impact lakhs of government employees and are a staple in banking and SSC exams

ISRO Plans Human Space Analog Habitat for Gaganyaan Programme in Bengaluru

ISRO's Human Space Flight Centre issued a tender on October 9, 2026, for designing a Human Space Analog System at its Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru. The facility will simulate isolated, confined conditions for missions up to 60 days to prepare astronauts for the Gaganyaan programme. It will include crew workstations, exercise equipment, sleeping bunks, and life-support systems.

Why it matters: ISRO developments and Gaganyaan mission are high-priority topics for science and technology sections