Current affairs 15 Oct 2026

Thursday

Tamil Test

Global Innovation Index 2026: India Ranked 38th; Switzerland Tops for 16th Straight Year

WIPO's Global Innovation Index (GII) 2026 ranks 139 economies on innovation. Switzerland stayed first for the 16th straight year, followed by Sweden and the United States. India was 38th overall and first among both 36…

Sikkim Releases Chocolate Mahseer into Rangeet River to Conserve Native Fish

The Chief Minister of Sikkim released Chocolate Mahseer fish into the Rangeet River as part of efforts to conserve native fish species. The Chocolate Mahseer (Neolissochilus hexagonolepis), also known as copper mahseer, is a freshwater…

Antarctic Sea Ice Records Third-lowest Winter Maximum in Satellite Era

Antarctic sea ice hit its third-lowest winter peak since satellite monitoring began, extending over about 17.59 million square kilometres on 14 September 2026. That was roughly 1 million square kilometres short of the long-term average…

EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Enters Definitive Phase; Compliance Challenges for Indian Exporters

Since 1 January 2026, the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has been in its definitive phase, tightening rules for Indian exporters. It covers specified imports (iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity, hydrogen), pricing…

UNCTAD Report 2026: India Takes 5.7% of Global Greenfield Investment in 2020–2025, Ahead of China

The Trade and Development Report 2026 of United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) shows that India attracted 5.7% of the world's greenfield investment between 2020 and 2025, ahead of China's 2.8%. Greenfield investment refers to…

PM Modi Inaugurates Five Redeveloped Amrit Bharat Stations in Tamil Nadu; 26 of 77 Stations Now Complete

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened five railway stations in Tamil Nadu on 11 October 2026 after their redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS). They are Ambasamudram (Tirunelveli), Palani (Dindigul), Namakkal (Namakkal), Paramakkudi (Ramanathapuram)…

Madras High Court Upholds Speaker's Acceptance of Six AIADMK MLAs' Resignations; Orders Disqualification Pleas Decided in Two Months

On 13 October 2026, the Madras High Court ruled that the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker had rightly accepted the resignations of six AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) MLAs. They had resigned between 26…

Tamil Nadu Raises Monthly Assistance for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS from November 2026

The Tamil Nadu government has increased the monthly financial support given to children affected by HIV/AIDS, with the revised rates applicable from November 2026. An HIV-positive child who is a double orphan will get ₹3,000…

World Day Against the Death Penalty Observed on 10 October; 2026 Theme 'Stories for Life'

The World Day Against the Death Penalty is observed on 10 October every year. The day aims to build public awareness in favour of abolishing capital punishment and to strengthen the protection of human rights…

WHO Prequalifies CERVAVAC, First Indian-made Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted prequalification to CERVAVAC, the first quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine made in India to earn this status. A quadrivalent vaccine protects against four types of the virus. HPV…