THE HEADLINES:-
- Centre achieves target of creating 11 crore Farmer IDs across the country, five months ahead of deadline.
- Union Home Ministry to build civil defence network of around 60,000 volunteers in 12 states and Union Territories as part of a pilot project.
- Centre increases 320 postgraduate medical seats across six medical colleges in Himachal Pradesh.
- Government to bear entire cost of expensive certification for micro and small enterprises under Export Promotion Mission.
- Ashoke Sen becomes first Indian physicist to win prestigious Oskar Klein Medal 2026.
- Curtains to come down on Asian Para Games 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya in Japan this afternoon; India finishes fourth with 114 medals including 30 gold.
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The government has achieved its target of creating 11 crore Farmer IDs across the country. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said this today while sharing a video message. The Minister said the target of creating 11 crore Farmer IDs by March 2027 was set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has been achieved five months ahead of schedule. Mr Chouhan informed that this target was achieved by yesterday night. He said that Farmer IDs will ensure transparent delivery of benefits under various government schemes.
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The Ministry of Home Affairs will collaborate with the Indian Army to establish a civil defence network of around 60 thousand volunteers across 12 states and Union Territories under a pilot project. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the first phase will involve specialised three-day training for civil defence master trainers from the participating states and Union Territories. A total of 600 master trainers, 50 from each participating state and Union Territory, will undergo training at designated Indian Army training establishments. The programme is scheduled to be completed by the second week of November 2026.
The initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address, in which he outlined a vision for a vibrant civil defence network equipped with modern systems, advanced technologies and contemporary preparedness capabilities.
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The Central Government has approved a proposal to increase 320 postgraduate medical seats across six medical colleges in Himachal Pradesh. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda shared this information in a video message. The Health Minister said the approval is part of the government’s initiative to expand medical education and strengthen healthcare services across the country. Mr Nadda said the government will provide a grant of approximately 415 crore rupees for this project.
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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said the government is willing to bear the entire cost of expensive certifications for micro and small enterprises under the Export Promotion Mission, to help Indian businesses access global markets. Addressing reporters in Berlin on his two-day visit to Germany, Mr Goyal urged the existing and prospective exporters to approach the Directorate General of Foreign Trade for assistance with certifications and regulatory compliance. He said the government would also support micro and small enterprises in meeting European Union requirements, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the EU Deforestation Regulation. Support for other businesses would be provided on a graded basis.
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The fifth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam is scheduled to be held from the 28th of next month till the 12th of December. The programme will celebrate, reaffirm and strengthen the age-old civilizational bonds between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, the two ancient seats of learning, strengthening the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. The Ministry of Education said the theme of this edition is Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen.
As part of the Sangamam, around one thousand four hundred participants from Tamil Nadu, divided into seven groups of approximately two hundred members each, will undertake an eight-day journey. The itinerary will include Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya and featuring cultural, academic, domain-specific and spiritual engagements. The emphasis on youth participation will enable a new generation to engage meaningfully with India’s classical knowledge traditions. Ministry of Education invites eligible applicants from Tamil Nadu, especially youth and students, to register for the programme and participate in this celebration of India’s cultural oneness, linguistic diversity and shared civilisational inheritance. Interested applicants can register through the official Kashi Tamil Sangamam portal, hosted by IIT Madras, at https://kashitamil.iitm.ac.in/. Registration has commenced on the 22nd of this month and will remain open until the 13th of next month. The Ministry informed that applications are invited under seven categories, including students, teachers, writers and media professionals, agriculture and allied sectors, professionals and artisans, women, and spiritual leaders.
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In Varanasi, on the second day of the ‘Wings Over Ganga’ air show-spectators witnessed the capabilities of the Indian Air Force. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the air show tomorrow as the chief guest. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also be present on the occasion.
Prime Minister will witness the Air Force Day Aerial Display-2026 at Namo Ghat in Varanasi tomorrow. The aerial display will feature aircraft including the Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, SU-30MKI and Rafale, along with transport aircraft. Aircraft from the Indian Navy and the Indian Army will also participate, showcasing jointness in operations. The Indian Air Force’s premier display teams, including the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team and the Sarang Helicopter Display Team, will also participate in the event. The display will showcase precision flying, coordination and operational excellence. Before this Prime Minister will inaugurate a new garment manufacturing facility in Varanasi. The facility marks an important step towards strengthening India’s textile and apparel manufacturing ecosystem and promoting industrial growth in the region. Prem Chandra Gupta, Akashvani News, Varanasi.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Uttar Pradesh and Odisha tomorrow. The Prime Minister will inaugurate a new garment manufacturing facility in Varanasi. The facility is expected to strengthen India’s textile and apparel manufacturing sector, promote industrial growth and generate employment opportunities, particularly for women, contributing to the region’s economic development. Mr Modi will also witness the Air Force Day Aerial Display-2026 at Namo Ghat in Varanasi.
Thereafter, the Prime Minister will proceed to Bhubaneswar in Odisha. He will inaugurate the Reserve Bank of India’s newly established Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar. He will also address the gathering on the occasion. The facilities are designed to meet the RBI’s computing requirements and provide a secure, resilient, scalable and future-ready technological ecosystem for the Bank and the broader financial sector.
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Odisha is gearing up for intense rainfall as a developing system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen into a cyclonic storm and move towards the eastern coast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red, orange and yellow warnings for several districts, with extremely heavy rainfall possible in isolated areas this Tuesday and Wednesday. The state government has stepped up preparedness, keeping evacuation arrangements, cyclone shelters and emergency response teams ready.
The weather system over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a depression today, a deep depression tomorrow, and a cyclonic storm by Monday morning. If it reaches cyclonic-storm intensity, it is expected to be named ‘Arnab’. The IMD has issued a red warning for Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri for this Tuesday. On Wednesday, the red alert covers Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam, where extremely heavy rainfall is possible at isolated places. Orange and yellow warnings have also been issued for several other districts; the rainfall threat is likely to extend into northern and western Odisha on Thursday. Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi convened a high-level meeting at Bhubaneswar this evening to review the administration’s cyclone preparedness. The state government has already directed district administrations to prepare evacuation plans and keep cyclone shelters ready. The NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Services are on standby, while health facilities are preparing for emergencies. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea as authorities closely monitor the system moving towards the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast. Prakash Dash for Akashvani News, Bhubaneswar.
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The India Meteorological Department has issued a pre-cyclone watch for the Andhra Pradesh and adjoining South Odisha coasts, as a weather system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm.
The weather system over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a depression today, a deep depression tomorrow, and a cyclonic storm by Monday morning. If it reaches cyclonic-storm intensity, it is expected to be named ‘Arnab’. The IMD has issued a red warning for Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri for this Tuesday. On Wednesday, the red alert covers Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam, where extremely heavy rainfall is possible at isolated places. Orange and yellow warnings have also been issued for several other districts; the rainfall threat is likely to extend into northern and western Odisha on Thursday. Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi convened a high-level meeting at Bhubaneswar this evening to review the administration’s cyclone preparedness. The state government has already directed district administrations to prepare evacuation plans and keep cyclone shelters ready. The NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Services are on standby, while health facilities are preparing for emergencies. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea as authorities closely monitor the system moving towards the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast. Prakash Dash for Akashvani News, Bhubaneswar.
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The India Meteorological Department has also issued an orange alert in seven northern districts of Keralam today, forecasting very heavy rainfall. A yellow alert is in force in the remaining seven districts. In view of the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall, a red alert has been issued for Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad tomorrow, and for Idukki and Palakkad on Monday. An orange alert will remain in force in seven districts tomorrow and five districts on Monday. Fishing activities has been banned along the coasts of Keralam, Karnataka and Lakshadweep until October 26 due to rough sea conditions.
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Renowned Indian theoretical physicist Professor Ashoke Sen has been awarded the prestigious Oskar Klein Medal for 2026, becoming the first Indian physicist to receive the international honour. The award recognizes his pioneering contributions to string theory which seeks to explain the fundamental nature of the universe, black hole entropy and string field theory, which have significantly shaped modern theoretical physics.
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India delivered a phenomenal performance at the fifth Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, finishing fourth overall with a record haul of 114 medals. The contingent won 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze medals. The curtains will come down on the continental sporting event today. Double gold medallists Nishad Kumar and Mona Agarwal will lead the Indian contingent as flag-bearers at the closing ceremony, scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM Indian Standard Time.
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In Men’s Cricket, New Zealand set a 181-run target against India in the second T20 International at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Asked to bat first, New Zealand scored 180 for 5. Glenn Phillips scored 70 runs off 43 balls while Bevon Jacobs made 58. Arshdeep Singh bagged two wickets.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
- Centre achieves target of creating 11 crore Farmer IDs across the country, five months ahead of deadline.
- Union Home Ministry to build civil defence network of around 60,000 volunteers in 12 states and Union Territories as part of a pilot project.
- Centre increases 320 postgraduate medical seats across six medical colleges in Himachal Pradesh.
- Government to bear entire cost of expensive certification for micro and small enterprises under Export Promotion Mission.
- Ashoke Sen becomes first Indian physicist to win prestigious Oskar Klein Medal 2026.
- Curtains to come down on Asian Para Games 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya in Japan this afternoon; India finishes fourth with 114 medals including 30 gold.
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